[Chapter 167] Why Me?

"Honey, please help our brother! What if he really ends up in prison?"

Struck by the sudden urgency, the Elendria Viscount was in a gloomy state. Watching his wife cry in the study for an hour already, the Viscount sighed.

"My dear, of course, I want to help my brother. I'm doing my best. But it takes some time."

In the noble-owned territories, even conspiring with subordinate lords to plan a mass slaughter of the territory's residents. They even went as far as secretly killing the noble's attendant maid on the way up.

Rumors about the deeds committed by the Wells family had spread far and wide. Despite it being something that should have been hushed up.

As if someone had been waiting for an opportunity and spread the rumors as soon as the incident occurred.

With all those involved, including the Wells family members living in Troop, being arrested as soon as the festival day dawned, the Viscount only received the news as the rumors naturally reached him. The slight delay in handling the situation was also due to this.

It was strange. The Wells family members, who were originally close to the Lord of Troop, were arrested in an instant, as if their plans had been thwarted from the beginning.

Honestly, what sense did it make for nobles to try to kill commoners? Yet, it seemed as if a terrible crime was about to happen, judging by the uproar.

The Viscount was truly troubled.

"Our younger brother is frail, experiencing such outrageous events on a cold day like this! Oh, dear...! You know we can't just leave our younger brother like this, right? Right?"

"Of course."

The Viscountess has been absent-mindedly repeating the same words since earlier. The Viscount affectionately stroked his wife's shoulder.

"How much my brother has helped me. As I said, I'm doing my best. But Lady Mariah is being firm, and the charges under investigation are serious, so it inevitably takes time. Please don't worry and wait."

The Viscount's statement about doing his best was true. Wells was one of the Elendria Viscountess's largest assets.

The problem was that as strong as they were, the Viscount was 'too' reliant on them.

If his second brother-in-law were to have all his assets seized in the Troop region. So, if there were problems with the already strained financial situation of the Viscount's estate.

What about the political funds promised to be given to the Mo family in three days, and the urgent salaries for the servants who had to leave in four days? In ten days, the Emperor would hold the New Year's Guard Parade, and the customary imperial military funds provided by the nobles at that time?

They could dispose of a few treasures or small estates of the Elendria family, but it would be difficult to get a fair price. Even other families who could lend money due to good relations would face financial difficulties if the Wells family was in such a state.

The Viscount had been frantically searching through all sorts of old documents until now, looking for items that could be turned into money.

"But, dear... How do you know how long it will take?"

The Viscountess honestly believed that her husband could resolve the situation quickly. She had downplayed the situation to avoid worrying her adorable youngest son, which led to a minimized version of the situation being conveyed.

So, she was disappointed by her husband's passive tone. They were not just any other household; they were the Elendria Viscount's family. Apart from the royal family, focusing on the most noble family should be able to handle anything, right?

Perhaps if this had happened at a different time, she wouldn't have been as disappointed. She was not naive and knew that her relatives didn't usually tell her about bad things. So, she likely perceived the situation as more serious than she initially thought and deliberated with her husband.

However, there were already subtle doubts and resentment growing in her heart.

Her husband, who wouldn't even entertain the idea of sending away an unwelcome guest.

Even when their beloved daughter begged and cried, he refused to bring back a mere maid, stating, "Since the theft has already been exposed in front of people, it's unavoidable for the family's reputation."

All for the "benefit of the family."

But what exactly is the family's benefit?

Isn't the happiness of the family the greatest benefit?

"It's true that your brother is in a bit of trouble this time, my lady. Collaborating with subordinate lords and secretly interfering with other residents under the superior lord's authority. Refusing to bring back the maid who was so trusted, why did he touch her again?"

The Viscount only learned for the first time this time that the maid of Lady Mariah, Monica, had died at the hands of the family. To be honest, he was angry with his second brother-in-law.

He understood the financial difficulties. He knew he wanted to solve them himself. But why did he do something he couldn't handle?

If he had killed someone who shouldn't have been killed, he would have waited for the situation to calm down. Why rush and get caught now?

If he had succeeded, the story would be different, but since he failed, all the mistakes of the Wells family had crushed both families.

Feeling the tone of the criticism, the Viscountess sharply retorted, "Of course he did! What's the point of talking about the past?"

The Viscount was taken aback and slightly annoyed. His wife had always been unpredictable, but was now the right time to respond so irritably?

Something seemed off. It was the moment when the Viscount was about to calmly ask his wife if something was bothering her lately. Then, he heard the voice of the butler from outside.

"Your Grace, someone has come from the Morie store."

"Morie?"

"Why are those people who caused a commotion among the commoners in Troop coming here?"

The faces of the Viscount and Viscountess twisted with confusion and disgust.

The Viscount had no answer to his wife's question. As he gestured for the person to come in, the butler entered.

Behind him stood a shop assistant, clearly employed for noble errands based on his attire.

The shop assistant greeted the Viscount and Viscountess respectfully, not faltering under their gaze. Cheerfully, he spoke, "It is an infinite honor to meet Your Graces! I have come to collect payment for the items ordered by Your Grace!"

If it was "Your Grace," it was undoubtedly Valentine. It was not unusual for shop assistants to come to collect payment for items purchased by Valentine, as it happened every few days.

At such a time. It didn't seem like they had come from the Morie store for any negotiations related to the Troop incident. It would have been more welcome if that were the case. Frowning at the butler, the Viscount asked, "Then you just need to pay, don't you? Don't you know I'm busy?"

The butler looked embarrassed.

"Well, the amount that requires Your Grace's permission to be taken out directly from the mansion..."

It meant that the price was too high to be paid with the cash on hand.

The Viscount, accustomed to his daughter's extravagance, was taken aback by the statement. How much did he spend for the butler to say that? No, did he really have to go shopping now?

Seeing the Viscount's expression, the Viscountess blinked her wet eyes. After a moment, she firmly told the shop assistant, "We didn't know the payment was due today. Go back for now. Give the bill to the butler, and we'll send the payment tomorrow."

Nobles sending merchants away because they don't have money on hand was a very embarrassing situation. However, it was also impossible to produce what they didn't have.

The shop assistant smiled knowingly, showing his white teeth, and replied that he understood well. Then, he cheerfully left. He seemed to be the only one feeling cheerful within the confines of this house.

The Viscount remarked with a glint in his eye, "It seems it's time to teach Valentine to think and disappear."

The Viscountess understood the context of the statement. The timing was not right now. However... suspicion kept creeping into her mind.

What was most important to this person?

This incident... would probably pass smoothly. Both the Viscount and the Viscountess believed that. However, the Viscountess couldn't be sure if their priorities would be the same in the 'bigger' events that might unfold in this house in the future.

Deep in her subconscious, she had already started thinking about it.

When the Viscountess emerged from the Viscount's study, Neris happened to be walking around. It wasn't entirely coincidental; it was a natural part of her activities to subtly observe the Viscount and Viscountess's interactions.

"Oh, it's you."

The Viscountess, coming out of her husband's study with a perplexed expression, greeted Neris coldly. Neris smiled.

Seeing that smile, the Viscountess asked coolly, "Are you happy?"

"Do I have a reason to be happy?"

Neris deliberately responded with an innocent face to slightly uplift the Viscountess.

The Viscountess had lived a life of luxury, receiving precious treatment all her life, which made her inexperienced in accurately conveying her own dissatisfaction to others. If she showed annoyance, those around her would automatically analyze and eliminate the cause of that annoyance.

If she pretended not to know the cause, that was the end of it.

The Viscountess glared at Neris with icy, cold eyes.

"I was just about to have a conversation with you. Seems like it went well."

"Yes, Your Grace. What is it about?"

"Lady Mariah called for you, right? What did you talk about?"

"Well... It was about my innocence. What else could it be?"

"So, did you reach a conclusion?"

"Unfortunately, no. Lady Mariah has been trying her best, but it seems she still needs more time."

That darn time. The Viscountess looked around and led Neris to a nearby chamber. It was a secluded place where no one would eavesdrop.

With the door tightly closed, the Viscountess gazed at Neris's eyes, shimmering in the darkness like the evening sky under a bewitched spell. She didn't like what she saw in those eyes.

If that look was directed at her daughter.

"If that were the case, we wouldn't be living like this."

While she loved both her son and daughter, the Viscountess always felt more drawn to her honest daughter than her always troubled son. Despite knowing that Neris, who seemed innocent, was actually cunning, and Delma, who seemed cunning, was actually loyal to her own maids, there was a reason she let things be.

Moreover, while Delma would argue with the Viscountess's maids, she always showed respect to the Viscountess herself. Unlike the sinister and inscrutable figures in front of her.