My daily routine has been quite simple these days.

  Coming to Pellet’s Company three times a week to receive a report from Clerivan was all that was planned.

  For the rest, I go to the Palace to see Perez or hang out with my cousins.

  I was looking around the square leisurely today and stopped by Pellet’s office.

  Violet, who had been dispatched to help because something busy happened at Gallahan Clothing Store, was also waiting for me in the office after a long time.

  "How did the wheat purchase end in the South?"

  "Yes, we had good harvests in the West Sussew and the far south of the Empire, so we were able to buy them at a good price."

  I nodded without saying much.

  It was as I remembered that southern farming was an unprecedented good harvest this year.

  Clerivan, who saw my reaction not surprising, asked me in a half-hearted tone.

  "Did you know that?"

  "What?"

  "That the South will have a good harvest this year."

  You’re quick-witted.

  But I shrugged and put on an expression on my face that I didn’t know what he was talking about.

  "I’m not some prophet, how did I know that?"

  "But a little while ago, the reaction……"

  "That’s because I believed from the beginning that Clerivan, Violet, and the competent staff of Pellet Company would do well."

  "Ah……"

  The corners of Clerivan’s mouth crept up by my sudden bombshell of praise.

  He hastily covered his mouth, which has been twitching a few times, but I can see everything with my sharp eyes, so it’s no use.3

  After all, Clerivan is very weak at compliments.2

  I let such a Clerivan calm down for a moment and asked Violet.

  "Did you find out what I said about the top of the Reds, violet?"

  "Yes, but nothing special came out…… I’m sorry."

  Violet offered a thin report and said with embarrassment.

  But I shook my head.

  "It’s not Violet’s fault. This is not the place where the Reds have done so much."

  The order was made from the beginning with the thought that there would be little expectation.

  "You’ve done a good job knowing this much, Violet."

  Violet must be weak in praise, too.

  If you see her neat white face turning red.

  So I decided to do a little more while I’m at it.

  "You’re perfectly good at everything I ask you to do, so I’m a little bored because I don’t have anything to do."

  "Well, that’s what I’m saying……"

  "I’ll try harder."

  Violet turned redder, and Clerivan replied meaningfully as if determined something.

  "And Clerivan."

  "Yes, Lady Florentia."

  "Louryl brought Clerivan’s gift on her trip to the East. Send someone to the mansion from the merchant’s office and take it."

  She bought gifts for me, my father, and Clerivan, but I couldn’t give him directly because I had an eye for it.

  They were half-siblings, but they had nothing to do with Clerivan and Dillard.

  "Yes, Lady."

  After pausing for a while, Clerivan nodded in time.

  He says it doesn’t matter at all, but I don’t know.

  Clerivan, whom I’ve been watching, was a much more caring person for his sister, Louryl, than he thought himself.

  I greeted Clerivan and Violet before returning to the mansion.

  * * *

  I got off the carriage and went out into the garden and walked a little instead of going straight into the house.

  After the storm of Vestian’s betrayal and Shananet’s divorce passed, the mansion became as peaceful as before.

  No, it’s actually so peaceful that I’m a little bored……

  "Sob! Sob!"

  I heard a child crying on the way into the pine garden.

  This familiar voice is Craney.

  Sure enough, Craney was hugging something and crying as he sat by the trees.

  "Why are you crying again?"

  He raises his head buried in his knee at my voice, and Craney’s face was puffy.

  It was covered in tears, a runny nose, and sweaty hair.

  What’s more, he was grinning, burning up his face to the point where he was so upset.

  "Sigh! Tia, Tia……"

  Craney, who found me, ran and hugged me.

  And he started crying in earnest with more grip.

  "Ahhhh!"

  His crying sounds are so colorful.

  I already know from experience that Craney, who cries with a variety of sounds like a crybaby, is not a child who is comforted by soothingly.

  So I checked the stuff Craney was holding.

  "It’s a book? The book I lent you yesterday?"

  But the condition of the book was a little strange.

  "Why is it all torn apart?"

  Looking closely, it wasn’t just a modest tear.

  The bookcase, which was shredded into pieces, even had a lot of black footprints, as if someone had stepped on it.

  "I, I’m sorry…… Tia……"

  Craney’s cry grew louder as I examined the condition of the book.

  In fact, I bought it from the beginning with the intention of giving it to Craney.

  I don’t care that the book is ruined because I didn’t really care about it.

  But the same footprint on the bookshelf and Craney’s shirt are very eye-catching.

  I wonder who he’s up against, but it’s not a trace of someone his age.

  It was obviously a huge footprint, like a grown adult’s foot.

  "Who made this?"

  I asked, pointing to a large footprint.

  "Th, this…… Belsach is……"

  "Belsach?"

  He’s been a little quiet lately.

  When I scoured Craney’s condition, Craney’s arm was bruised.

  "Tell me what happened, Craney."

  "Huh! That’s…… I, I was reading a book by myself but……"

  "But?"

  "Uh, Belsach came and ask…… What’s that book, huh! So…… I, I said it’s Tia’s!"

  It was difficult to understand because of the cries, but this was the whole story described by Craney.

  "You mean, you were reading a book by yourself. Belsach came, and he knew that the book you were reading was mine, and he just tore it apart?"

  "Ugh……"

  "And you were trying to stop it and this happened?"

  "Ugh……"

  "Belsach is like an ant’s ass!"

  There was an emotional and old feeling.

  "He beat his little cousin because he didn’t have anything to bother?"

  No, he was the one who beat me like that in my previous life.

  Younger Craney can’t be okay.

  "Your brother! What did Astalliu do?"

  "Well, he just by the side……"1

  "He idiot! Your brother’s really!"

  As I started to heat up because I was frustrated, Craney started sobbing next to me again.

  I can’t believe his brother was just staring at him while this young kid was trying to protect the book.

  He must have been sad.

  But I spoke harshly on purpose.

  "Stop. You cried a lot so stopped. Stop crying."

  "……Uh."

  Craney winced at my words, closing his lower lip.

  I explained calmly to Craney, who seemed a little calm.

  "Craney, how much do you think this book is?"

  "Hmm. I don’t know……"

  He hasn’t bought anything outside yet, so it’s no wonder he doesn’t have economic ideas.

  " I bought this book for four silver. How much pocket money do you get every month?"

  "1 Gold."

  Maybe Laurel and Ronnett only gave some of Craney’s allowance.

  "Yes, then you can buy this book with your allowance, so you can buy a new book and give it to me. It would be better if you could just say sorry."

  "Ha, but……"

  "You don’t have to hurt yourself with things you can barely afford. Do you understand me?"

  "Yes……"

  "It’s important to protect what you think is important, but the most important thing is yourself."3

  Whatever he was thinking, his eyes which are not dry yet, blink a couple of times at me.

  For Craney who had just turned eight, I gave him a bit of tougher advice.

  "Listen, Craney. You are Lombardy. You’re a pretty good Lombardy, too. Lombardy doesn’t just sit back and cry when he’s upset. We take revenge."

  "Revenge……?"

  "Yes, revenge. That’s the right one."2

  I have absolutely no intention of letting Belsach make this child look like this again.

  Belsach and Astalliu, a backstabbing expert, I believe that I know more about themselves than they do.

  Of course, even the weak points.

  "But Craney, you’re still young, so I’m going to avenge you this time. But you shouldn’t just cry like this from now on. Do you understand?"

  "Yes, yes! I understand!"

  I patted Craney on the head and turned to the person who had been listening to us.

  "Grandfather."

  At my call, my grandfather, who was hiding half behind a thick pine tree, walked out.1

  "Huh, how did you know that?"

  My grandfather covered his lips as if he was hiding.

  But I didn’t smile at such a grandfather.

  My grandfather, noticing that I was furious, scoured Craney’s condition and furrowed his eyebrows.

  "I have a favor to ask of you, Grandpa."

  "……Tell me."

  "Please allow me to take Craney outside for a while."

  "Hmm? Is that all?"

  Maybe he thought I’ll say, ’Please scold Belsach’.

  Grandfather looked surprised.

  But I didn’t mean to say such an easy wish.

  What grandfather can do to Belsach is scold him fiercely at best, or ban him from going out for a week.

  It’s not a fair punishment for making Craney like this and daring to tear my book apart.

  As promised to Craney, I will take care of Belsach myself.

  "Where are you going?"

  Grandfather asked curiously.

  "I’m going to feed him something."

  I replied, pointing to Craney wiping away tears with the back of his hand.

  "Well, sure……"

  I grabbed Craney’s hand right away and got back to the carriage I had just left.

  The place where I brought Craney was, of course, Caramel Avenue.

  "Here, eat this. I want you to eat a lot and grow up so you can look down at me."+

  I said while pushing milk and chocolate cake in front of Craney.

  Unlike Belsach, who is short for a man, I know that Craney is the tallest among my cousins.

  "Hehe. Yeah!"

  Craney, who had chocolate on his mouth, smiled with his swollen eyes.1

  I was handed a napkin to Craney to wipe his mouth, and a little special conversation was heard.

  "What do you mean, you’re not going to extend the monthly rent contract?"