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Chapter 67
"From now on, our friend here, Fin, will provide a lot of help to Viscount. He's someone I particularly trust."
“Please take care of me, Viscount.”
Fin politely bowed his head toward Daniel
Daniel, who had thought that the other party might look down on him, felt a slight boost in confidence just from that fact.
While shaking hands with Fin, Daniel entertained reasonable suspicions.
'A friend she particularly trusts, huh? Could it be because he confessed his conscience?'
Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense how Baron Franz was handled so neatly.
A whistleblower who made up his mind to bring justice even belatedly, and a person who kept his conscience until the end... Putting it all together, it seemed like a pretty plausible combination.
Besides, looking at that trusting gaze Iona was sending to Fin, Daniel was sure about it.
A highly regarded talent like her wouldn't have eyes that were completely blind.
Perhaps he himself was more capable than he thinks.
At least he could be a more righteous substitute than his predecessor, Robert.
Daniel's enthusiasm swelled up in an instant.
"Th-thank you for trusting me. Dame Iona, I will do my best not to disappoint you."
Daniel promised with a spirited voice. Iona encouraged him by patting his shoulder.
"Yes, let's officially start working from tomorrow. But before you return home, let's take a look at the lord's chamber, the space that you will manage in the future. It's good to get familiar with it beforehand, isn't it?"
The space he would manage from now on.
It was truly some attractive words.
Daniel nodded his head as if he was possessed. Iona called a servant as if she had been waiting for him and had him accompany Daniel.
Until just a moment ago, Daniel was trembling with nervousness, but now he had an expression as if he was walking in a dream.
Iona and Fin smiled and stood side by side, seeing Daniel off.
After the door closed, Fin slowly tilted his head toward Iona and asked.
“Are you sure you want to be the person in charge?”
"Isn't it obvious? He'll probably be loyal."
Iona answered with a satisfied look on her face.
Daniel didn't have the personality to commit corruption like Robert, and above all, he was someone who could easily be replaced when Iona wanted it.
For now, that was enough. Iona wasn't expecting much from Daniel.
No, it would be more accurate to say that she had no expectations at all.
"Especially if you want someone to follow your instructions, they need to be 'open-minded', don't you think?"
Daniel didn't have a clear understanding of what the deputy lord actually do.
Perhaps until Daniel properly grasped the job, Fin would make most of the decisions on his behalf.
Fin was planning to engage in inefficient tasks from the ruler's perspective, and for that, it was better to have a blind fool in the position of decision-maker.
However, they couldn't completely ignore the opposition that would come from external sources.
Thinking of the faces of the various deities who had served with Robert, Fin spoke.
"The voices of objections will probably be loud. Regarding the appointment of the deputy, as well as the future tasks."
"They may have opinions, but they won't have the power to sway the decision."
Iona let out a contemptuous chuckle.
The vassals appointed by Count Modrov were all following their respective families and had come up to the capital. The majority of those left in the territory were the incompetent ones.
Even though they were people who were not in the count's eyes, they committed a serious mistake of embezzlement.
Iona had only singled out Robert as the mastermind, but the truth was that most of the nobles within the local community saw him as their accomplice.
The reason Iona didn't publicly summon them was simply to handle them more conveniently. Keeping their weaknesses hidden and using them for blackmail would be more useful.
"Speaking of which, I have something to give you."
As if she suddenly remembered, Iona rummaged through the messy desk.
Finding several letters piled up on one side, Iona pushed them towards Fin and said:
"It's a present."
"What is this?"
Fin, with an inquiring gaze, examined the writing on the envelope.
While the senders were unified as Iona Modrov, the recipients' names were diverse. The common factor was that they were all nobles who used to associate with Robert.
"I don't think there will be time to meet each of the vassals individually and give them a warning. So I prepared it in writing."
“… … May I ask what is written inside?”
"Corruption, the threat that they can be exposed, and a friendly suggestion to live well."
Iona looked back at the contents written inside and tapped the surface of the envelope with her index finger.
"When you encounter someone bothersome, take out one letter at a time and deliver it. Then they will feel like I'm behind you."
Fin stared at the letter Iona handed over for a while without moving.
Eventually, he looked at Iona with a strange expression and asked.
"Why do you trust me, Dame?"
It caught Iona off guard because he was asking something so obvious.
In her previous life, Fin had been someone who worked for her like an extension of her hands and feet.
He had never acted against her intentions, and he had even faced death as a consequence.
For Iona, trusting Fin was as natural as the rising of the sun and the setting of the moon.
Iona asked with a bewildered expression.
“Why do you suddenly ask such a thing?”
“Aren’t I the one who worked longer than anyone else under Baron Franz?”
"So, have you developed affection for your enemy? Are you so loyal to the Baron despite being treated like that?"
It wasn't really a question Iona brought up with that in mind. She just pointed out how Fin's words sounded to her.
Naturally, Fin showed a disgusted reaction to Iona's suspicion.
"I would never."
“I don’t understand why you are suddenly so sentimental.”
“Sentimental, I just pointed out the parts you should naturally be suspicious about."
No, in Iona's opinion, he was indeed acting sentimentally. He wanted to attach special meaning to her trust by asking such a question.
Iona had saved Fin from the enemy and provided him with a different path to live.
From Fin's perspective, meeting her felt like destiny.
However, that was an exaggerated interpretation.
Although Iona had helped Fin, she hadn't gone through all the trouble just for him. It was simply because the future Fin desired aligned closely with Iona's objectives.
In the process, she showed some kindness, but it wasn't something that would warrant such an unusual reaction.
"It seems like you're doing too much for me... I wanted to let you know that it's not necessary."
Fin avoided Iona's eyes and slurred his words.
Iona knew that if she spoke a few good words here, she could easily manipulate his remaining future. But she truly didn't want to do that.
Struggling to suppress the emotions in her voice, Iona spoke.
"Have you forgotten everything you have done for me? If I didn't have the evidence you provided, Baron Franz would still be sitting in this position."
"But the baron has already disappeared. You have no reason to take care of me anymore."
“I think I know roughly how hard you have lived your life thinking of the world as a harsh place.”
"Yes, Dame you were the first one who wasn't harsh to me."
Fin replied resolutely.
Iona thought it would be better to dismiss both Daniel and Fin.
Fortunately, Iona had the upper hand as Fin's superior, and even if she openly changed the subject here, there would be no backlash.
"I'm worried that Viscount Klaus might cause trouble somewhere. Why don't you go and assist with his field trip? You can also introduce the staff who will work together in the future."
Iona dismissed him casually and went back to her desk.
In a clear tone of dismissal, Fin remained silent for a long time.
Eventually, he straightened himself and bowed politely toward Iona.
“I will see off Viscount Klaus and come back.”
"No, there's no need. Another guest is scheduled to arrive soon."
--- End Of The Chapter ----
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