While the four nobles were panicking because of their lack of funds, Noel was relaxing in his office. There wasn't a lot of work because of the lack of supplies. All he could do was wait until the situation was resolved before restarting all the projects again.
"Master." Charlotte entered his office with a worried expression. "Are you sure you're not going to meet them?"
Noel knew what she was talking about. He shook his head while saying, "No. It's hard for them to reunite like that, so it's fine for Anna to have some private time with her family. I'll meet them tomorrow. Instead of that, have you prepared their accommodation?"
"Yes. In fact, the lady is the one mostly taking care of everything."
"That's good then. How about Laivaen City?"
"A few nobles have arrived. The rest will most likely arrive by tomorrow or the day after. Dimitri is the one taking care of the problem over there. Howard has also been dispatched to ensure security over there. Harley has reported that there's no abnormal situation yet."
"Well, if they mess with me during the ceremony, no one will bat an eye if I declare a territorial war. So, I don't think they're going to ruin the ceremony. However, tell Dimitri not to let his guard down and eliminate the spies."
"Understood." Charlotte nodded. She stood there for a moment, staring at Noel as though she wanted to say something.
"Is there something wrong?"
Charlotte didn't reply immediately. Instead, she remembered all the memories of when she served Luke.
"Master. The young master is lazing around the garden again. Are you not going to punish him? If this continues, I'm afraid the young master is going to become a bad lord."
Luke only smiled. "Are you sure about that? You've been following me since you were young, Charlotte, so it can't be helped if you use me as the model. However, Noel is much more amazing than you think. If you don't believe me, you can ask the maids around him."
Charlotte didn't understand what he was talking about, but she followed his instructions and asked around.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})When she asked, "Has the young master harassed you?" The maid always replied, "No way. The young master is very gentle. He has never touched me in that way, and whenever I feel like my legs are going numb, he will always ask me to stand up and change with another maid. I don't even know how he is aware of that."
Surprised, Charlotte went to a second maid with another question. "Do you have any trouble working with the young master?"
The second maid shook her head. "In fact, all my trouble is gone because of the young master. He talked with us from time to time. I once had a problem with my family, and the young master offered me a solution. From that point on, everyone in my family has always been in harmony."
Not believing the outcome, Charlotte asked the third maid, "What do you think of the young master's behavior? He is too lazy. He has to learn how to become a good lord."
"I'm not sure about that. The young master always asks us about the city. Whenever he feels something is wrong, he always asks us to inform the master. We're often rewarded for it."
"…" Charlotte never expected that the maid actually held Noel in high regard.
At one point, Charlotte went to the garden personally and told the maid to exchange with her.
However, Noel said, "No."
"Young Master?" Charlotte was shocked.
"You're not a maid. Besides, you're too old. It won't be comfortable." Noel snorted.
Charlotte's eyebrows twitched as she wanted to drop all the good opinions she had about him.
However, Noel added, "Lecturing me, finding information about me, or testing me. If you can deny any of that, I will let you exchange places with her."
"!!!" Charlotte widened her eyes in shock. She had been sneaking around to find information about him. She wanted to test him this time and prepared to lecture him if she found something wrong.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"I'm trying to do my best for the sake of the family." Charlotte didn't deny any of them and tried to change the topic.
"By the time my father retires, you will be close to sixty, Charlotte. You've worked for more than twenty years, and people deserve to enjoy their retirement."
Charlotte looked surprised that he even remembered her information. After listening to the maids' high praise of Noel, she realized that the young man before her was already aware of everything around him. And he didn't plan to use her once he took the mantle of his father because he wanted her to enjoy her retirement.
Charlotte chuckled.
"What's funny?"
Charlotte raised one finger. "It appears that you're unaware of one thing. I've told your father that I'm still going to serve you for a few years until I can find my replacement. Don't you think you should know more about me so that you know I won't stab you in the back?"
"Geh." Noel dropped his book, looking very annoyed.
Charlotte understood from this reaction how important she was. The fact that Noel didn't say anything about firing her showed his full understanding of the family.
"I've gotten your father's permission. From tomorrow, you're going to have a one hour discussion with me."
"Guh…" Noel bit his lips before lowering his shoulder, resigning to his fate.
Their relationship was probably the most unique. Charlotte was simply playing the bad guy to make sure Noel was ready to become a lord, only to be surprised by his awareness. Without her realizing it, she always came to Noel whenever the family had a problem to ask about his opinion.
While remembering this memory, Charlotte shook her head and said, "It's nothing. Please excuse me."
When Charlotte was about to leave, Noel said, "The ceremony is only four days away. Please bear with me for another four days, Charlotte."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Charlotte looked surprised but soon smiled. "I have worked harder than this, Master."
Noel smiled back before making a playful grin, teasing her, "After that, you can finally enjoy your retirement, right?"
"What did you say? Rose is still nowhere near enough to replace me yet! I'll still nag you about everything for another one or two years."
Noel and Charlotte looked at each other for a moment before laughing out loud. Charlotte opened the door and walked out of the room while thinking, 'What a good lord you've become, Master.'
…
On the other side of the city, Anna guided her family to the mansion where they would be staying.
"How is it?" Anna asked.
"To think there would be such a magical city… I feel like I'm in a fairy tale." Anna's mother, Vivian, said this while placing her hand on her cheek. "But I guess the biggest shock I've found is that genuine smile on your face."
"Ah!" Anna scratched the back of her head. She had done a lot of wrong things to her family, so that comment struck deep into her heart.
They had been focusing on the city the whole time, so when they settled down, it was no wonder that they began to shift their focus on her.
"I'm not complaining." Vivian shook her head. "I'm just glad that you've changed for the better."
"Sorry." Anna's head hung low. After all, it wasn't just her. This feeling also came from the original Anna, who hid inside the sword.
"There's no need for such a sad thing in this joyous moment." Kevin waved his hand, shifting the topic. "Besides, where is Noel? How dare he not show his face?"
"It's not that he doesn't want to show his face… I was the one who asked him… I wanted to at least spend a day with all of you because it's been years since the last time we've spent time together."
"Is that so?" Kevin scratched the back of his head.
Anna glanced at Dylan because he was the reason she did all this. He had gone away for too long because of her, so she wanted to make a lot of memories with her family together.
"It's the duty of the big brother to protect his sister. You don't have to feel guilty about it. The only thing I hate is that Josephine, not you." Dylan patted her shoulder.
After hearing such a response, Kevin decided to reveal the plan that had been in his mind for a while. "By the way, I'd like to add one thing. During the ceremony, I won't be the one accompanying you."
Everyone looked shocked. After all, it was common knowledge to have the father accompany and deliver the bride to the groom during the ceremony.
But before they could say anything, Kevin pointed at Dylan. "It will be your brother."
"Father?" Dylan widened his eyes in shock.
Kevin smiled. "I've owed you a lot of things and haven't done much as your father. That's why I'd like you to replace me."
The father role was a representation of their duty, a reflection of their hard work, and the importance of their presence. By giving this to Dylan, it would show that he was the most important person in Anna's growth.
"That's a good idea." Vivian nodded her head without hesitation.
"Mother?!" Dylan didn't expect that her mother would even support this decision.
However, Anna held his hands and looked at Dylan with a sad expression. "Father's decision is a good idea in my opinion. Are you really not going to do it, Brother? If not for your sacrifice, I won't be able to reach this point."
Facing her puppy eyes, Dylan's heart melted.
