Chapter 11
Johannes Schultz was kind and merciful.
But he was every bit as aristocratic and arrogant.
He simply knew not to cross a certain line.
“I’m proposing to you, Miss Prim.”
Even when he had said those words…
His expression hadn’t changed in the slightest.
It had been utterly absurd.
At the time, I had been so flustered that I wasn’t even sure whether I’d answered him properly.
When I firmly rejected him…
He concealed that strange side of himself as though it had never existed.
Then, just like when we’d first met outside…
He became the gentle Duke of Schultz once again.
The compassionate, gracious nobleman I remembered.
“You may leave for today.”
“I’ll see to it that the unfair treatment you’re receiving from the servants improves.”
After saying that…
He behaved as though he’d never proposed to me in the first place.
“What on earth was that…”
Even now…
It still didn’t feel real.
“What exactly is he planning?”
Surely he wasn’t going to dismiss me just because I’d rejected his proposal…
Saying I would quit had been a spur-of-the-moment outburst.
I had never truly intended to resign.
I quickly shook my head, trying to forget what had happened.
But his voice kept echoing in my mind.
In the end, I slapped my own cheeks several times and hurried home.
Only to find an unwelcome visitor waiting for me.
“Ha…”
I should’ve walked home more slowly.
A sigh escaped me.
Staring blankly at the thick bundle of papers stuffed into my mailbox, I pulled out the most conspicuous document.
Acknowledgment of Debt Repayment
To: Isaac Prim
“What is this now…?”
A crushing sense of despair settled over me.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
The amount owed was staggering.
One hundred and thirty-five million Berk.
Why would Father ever borrow that much money…?
The repayment deadline…
Was only one week away.
The hand holding the paper trembled violently.
For the first time…
I found myself resenting Father.
For just a fleeting moment…
The insane thought crossed my mind.
Should I simply accept Johannes Schultz’s proposal?
The fact that Müsen was a peaceful city…
Didn’t mean crime didn’t exist.
To be more precise…
It meant there were almost no violent crimes involving serious bodily harm.
Petty crimes, however…
Occurred just as often as in any other city.
The difference was that Müsen was a wealthy commercial city.
Most of its citizens were merchants.
Naturally…
Moneylenders flourished as well.
As a result…
Financial lawsuits were extremely common.
Even so…
This was too much.
Fifty percent annual interest.
It was outrageous.
I had no idea why Father had borrowed such an enormous sum.
But according to the documents…
He had borrowed one hundred million Berk three years ago.
He had already repaid one hundred and ten million Berk.
However…
He had failed to repay the remaining forty million Berk.
Because of that…
The accumulated interest had increased the debt to one hundred and thirty-five million Berk.
“This is unbelievable.”
Mrs. Pensler clicked her tongue in disbelief.
Having no idea what to do…
I had gone to ask her for advice.
She, too, couldn’t hide her troubled expression.
“I don’t know why your father borrowed such a large amount…”
“But fifty percent interest?”
“This contract is absurd.”
“No matter how much I search, I can’t find a copy of the original contract.”
“And now they’re demanding repayment next week.”
“Where are we supposed to find that kind of money…?”
A throbbing headache spread through my temples.
Pressing my fingers against them, I looked at Mrs. Pensler.
“Before the war, you might’ve been able to borrow elsewhere at a lower interest rate.”
“But these days everyone is struggling.”
“I don’t know how willing they’ll be.”
“Will they take the house?”
“Well…”
She looked doubtful.
“For now, I think the best option is to ask them to extend the repayment deadline.”
“I can only lend you ten million Berk myself at the moment…”
“No, Mrs. Pensler!”
“I couldn’t possibly trouble you like that!”
“How could I shamelessly accept your money?”
Startled, I protested.
Mrs. Pensler gently took my hands.
“If I don’t help you…”
“I’ll be too ashamed to face your father.”
“He helped me more times than I can count.”
“But still…”
I knew I should refuse again.
Yet I couldn’t.
At this point…
I had to grasp at anything I could.
Mrs. Pensler assured me everything would be alright as she squeezed my hands.
“For now…”
“Let’s wait until the moneylending company comes to see us.”
I nodded.
At the same time…
I made up my mind.
The moment I arrived at work tomorrow…
I would apologize to Johannes Schultz for my disrespect.
“I was rude yesterday.”
“Please forgive me.”
I bowed deeply before Johannes Schultz.
The back of my neck began to ache.
When am I supposed to straighten up?
There was no response whatsoever.
For a moment…
I even wondered whether this was his revenge for rejecting his proposal.
After waiting as long as I could…
I slowly raised my head.
Only to realize…
I’d been mistaken.
He wasn’t paying me the slightest bit of attention.
His eyes remained fixed on the newspaper as he calmly turned another page.
“I believe I overstepped my bounds.”
Even after I said that…
The Duke never looked at me.
Still…
His silence didn’t wound my pride.
He was an extraordinary nobleman.
And what mattered most to me right now…
Was money.
As long as I wasn’t dismissed…
Everything would be fine.
If I remained employed here…
The bank would approve a loan.
Servants employed by noble households had excellent credit.
“Please…”
“Just don’t dismiss me.”
Only then did he slowly lift his head.
In an even voice, he asked,
“Should I take that to mean you’ve accepted my proposal?”
I had expected that question.
Without panicking, I answered,
“No.”
“If you’re considering dismissing me simply because I refused Your Grace’s request—”
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“I have no intention of dismissing you.”
He didn’t seem to have changed his mind.
Nor did he seem curious about why I had suddenly come to apologize.
It was as though…
He had never asked me to marry him at all.
Was it merely a whim?
Or perhaps… pity?
I kept my mouth shut for a moment.
Then, deciding he probably wouldn’t tell me the truth anyway, I smiled politely.
“Thank you for your generosity.”
“I’ll be more careful with my words and actions from now on.”
“As you wish.”
“…May I take my leave?”
As soon as he nodded…
I practically fled from the Duke’s office.
For people who lived in a bustling port city…
Being perceptive was an essential survival skill.
Since I’d been born and raised in Müsen…
I wasn’t entirely lacking in that regard.
Though admittedly…
I was nowhere near as sharp as the merchants.
Even so…
The current situation left me utterly bewildered.
“Good morning, Miss Prim.”
“I heard we’re having sausage with soufflé for lunch today.”
“Let’s eat together.”
“Is work difficult?”
“If you ever need help, just let us know.”
The servants’ attitudes had changed so drastically that it was almost unbelievable.
Not only did they greet me warmly…
They no longer treated me with hostility.
Some were even genuinely kind.
So…
When the Duke had said he’d improve the unfair treatment I was receiving…
He hadn’t been making an empty promise.
It left a bitter taste in my mouth to realize their attitudes had changed so completely because of a single word from him.
Still…
They seemed sincere.
It truly felt as though every trace of hostility toward me had vanished.
Perhaps…
It turned out my salary was actually lower than theirs.
Or maybe the Duke had simply told them,
“She’s leaving soon, so be nice to her until then.”
He had said he had no intention of dismissing me.
But…
People could always change their minds.
One hundred and thirty-five million Berk…
At this rate…
I might really lose the house.
The thought drew another sigh from my lips.
Lost in thought…
I walked absentmindedly for quite some time.
When I finally came back to my senses…
I was already standing in front of my office.
The office always carried the rich scent of a dense forest.
An oak desk stood opposite the entrance.
Dark green curtains concealed the large windows behind it.
I slowly walked over and shut the windows.
Whenever I drew the curtains and closed the door…
The room became so quiet that it felt as though I were the only person left in the world.
This office was far too luxurious for someone like me.
I knew that better than anyone.
Which was precisely why…
“I’ve lost my mind.”
I let out a self-deprecating laugh as I recalled yesterday’s disgraceful behavior.
Kindness for kindness.
Rudeness for rudeness.
That principle didn’t apply to one’s employer.
When someone paid your wages—
Especially wages beyond anything you could have imagined—
The proper thing to do…
Was to lower your head.
“Has something happened?”
Just as I sat down at my desk…
Sir Fret, who had come to deliver today’s documents, asked the question.
When I didn’t answer…
He added,
“You don’t look well.”
“Ah…”
“I just didn’t sleep very well.”
Raising a hand, I rubbed my tired eyes.
It was my way of saying,
I’m exhausted.
Please don’t ask any more questions.
Fortunately…
Sir Fret understood immediately.
He handed me today’s stack of documents.
“There are rather more documents than usual today.”
“Now it’ll finally feel like I’m actually working.”
I joked lightly.
Sir Fret smiled.
After exchanging the usual formalities—
A request for another productive day and a wish that I spend the day well—
Our conversation came to an end.
Even then…
The anxiety inside me refused to disappear.
Just as Sir Fret reached for the doorknob…
I spoke without thinking.
“Sir Fret…”
“Do you report every conversation we have to His Grace?”
He turned around.
“No.”
“Unless it’s something particularly important, I don’t report it.”
“Then…”
“Has His Grace perhaps instructed you to dismiss me?”
“Hm?”
“Has something happened?”
Sir Fret looked genuinely confused.
Apparently…
He didn’t even know that his master had proposed to me.
That was a relief.
“No.”
I forced a small smile before finally getting to the point.
“Um…”
“Would it be possible for me to receive a certificate proving that I’m employed by the House of Schultz?”
“Of course… only if it wouldn’t be an inconvenience.”
