Chapter 107: Dealing with Suu

Suu, I want to directly hire you in my household. But first, I must confirm something.

Yes, anything.

After that turmoil, the three of us were now having an interview in a room prepared for us.

By directly employing her, shell serve into my household.

Do you wish to get married?..Dont make such an expression, Bea! Its not what you think.

..Do you want Suu as your concubine?

Even this Bea, who frowns at me, is quite adorable.

But its not that.

No, its different. I want Suu to be out steward.

Ah, in this case I agree.

S.steward!? You want me to be a steward?

Suu was extremely surprised by Beas consent.

She had a mincing expression on her face.

Master saidI mean, I heard it from father-in-law. That Suu will make for the perfect steward.

If thats what father said, all I can do is agree.

Wait, its not that! I am akemonobitowoman, you know? Someone like me to become a steward.

The steward in a dukes household has to attend to highly ranked nobles.

While Im away, she might also have to get involved in politics.

In short, she will be the head of all the servants in the dukes household, and shell be responsible for managing my assets.

Its easier to understand when I put it like this.

Hm? Is there a problem with women stewards?

No, there is no such rule.

Right? Bea, youll feel safe too with her as our steward, right?

Yes, our dukes household has become like a big family.

UrmIm akemonobitowoman, you know?

Yeah, she does have a complex for being akemonobito!

Its all right, its all right. Youll work on the domain that freed all thekemonobito.

I wont even let his Majesty complain about this.

And its also for the sake of stability.

This is my house. You can rest assured because I wont let anyone complain about it. However, stewards cant get married..Thats why I asked.

Thats right..Wont it be a waste since Suu is so young?

No, it wont. This great duty.I will gladly accept it.Kemonobitocan give birth until late in life, after all. Until then, Ill devote myself to raising an exceptional successor.

Suu said and lowered her head.

She lifted her skirt a little and bent her knee; her shape was perfect.

I get why the elite maids in the Frontier Counts Household said thatSuu is only lacking years and a husband.

I dont have a servant inside my mansion that I can trust.

But Suu is someone who will never betray me.

She can learn about her job as a steward little by little. What is important is the fact that she wont betray me.

Good. Its settled then.

I felt relief as I informed them, but Suu asked me to wait.

&ldquo

;There is something I must decline first.

She was still bowing as she said this.

I dont mind. Say it.

My maximum priority is Zest-sama. After him comes the child and the madam comes last. If you can agree to this, then Ill accept the job.

.Shut! Beas releasing a dark aura.

.What do you mean by that?

Yes. The madam is replaceable. However, Zest-samacant be replaced. And the same goes for the child.

In short, if we are ever in danger.

Zest-samawill be my utmost priority. If I can save Zest-samaby sacrificing the madam, I will do it.

The room returned to silence; I had a feeling that only the sound of my trembling body could be heard.

Suu-chan, that reasoning of yours is a bit too extreme

Bea, whats with that magical power?

Too..scary! These two are too scary!!

The silence continued for what felt like an eternity, until Bea broke it.

I will ask one more time. Zest-samais your top priority no matter what, right?

Yes, theres no mistaking it.

Zest-sama?

Yes maam!

It couldnt be helped that I jumped a little.

She startled me.

Lets make Suu our steward. I wont let anyone complain about this.

Bea said and smiled, and all I could do was nod in agreement.

She hired her! Are you sure about this? Are you really sure about this?

This is great!This is great, right?

We finished the interview and started preparing for our travel to the imperial capital.

I wrote a letter to Katalina, and prepared some documents of the Dukes Household for Suu.

Its been a while since I last did office work.

The Frontier Count and my master were very pleased when they heard about Suu becoming my steward.

ThekemonobitoSuu is a steward.Grandson-in-law-donos domain is so peaceful. No people will rise against his excellency the duke when he cares this much for thekemonobito.

Are you planning a rebellion or something, since youve created such a stronghold? The kemonobito peoples hero-dono?

They told me, with a dark laughter.

Youre reading too much into this, you two.

Will you not believe me if I say that I honestly hired her because shes Alberts little sister?

Hoho, such an amusing joke. When it comes to you, grandson-in-law-dono, this is not possible.

Thats because son-in-law-donois extremely wary. I bet he considered both his domains stability and thekemonobitos traits before deciding upon doing this. Besides, he already asked his intelligence unit to investigate Suu and find out if she hides something. Right?

.

I praise you, grandson-in-law-dono.

Youve become quite a noble.

The two smiled happily.

The Frontier Counts Household which never ceases to smileIt seems that our relations will continue for much longer.

I remembered this exchange as I finished my office work.

And so, tomorrow well depart for the imperial capital.

Still, will Suu be all right?

I understand why she wants to prioritize me.Im the head of the household after all.

If I were to say, it was really inevitable, but strangely..after that, Bea started to get along quite well with Suu.

I cant understand what women think..

Or perhaps, I cant understand what nobles think.

Well, its important to have a steward that will never betray you.

The vassals are important too, but I also have to protect my house.

I already feel pity for my children though; theyll go through a lot of hardships.

I put the documents in order and leaned against the chair.

My children, huh?.I will have children in a different world.

Theyll have a lot of troubles for being born as nobles, but at least they wont die unreasonable deaths like common people often do.

Until my children grow into adults, I will found un unshakable household and leave it to them.

I drank some tea as I made my resolve, all alone.

Its rather cold.I rang the bell and called for a maid.

It was Suu who answered my call.

Did you call, master?

Yeah. Prepare some tea.

She lowered her head gently. She then quickly finished the preparations.

About tomorrows trip to the imperial capital. How are the arrangements?

Yes. I prepared a thickzabuton1for madam. I thought it might be more comfortable for her.

I see. I leave her in your care.

As you wish.

Suu prepared the tea before my eyes and was about to leave the room.

However, she stopped right in front of the door and turned around.

Did you forget something?

No.Master, about the matter with madam from last night..

Can I do it if its only for a little!?

I called out, finishing Suus phrase.

It cant be helped, can it? I had to resist my urges for such a long time.

Master, please use this.

She said and left the room quite pleased with herself.

She left Beas panties on top of my desk.

.In short, she wants me to take care of myself, by myself.

.Is that so?

Maybe it was a mistake to make her my steward.

Translation: Nana