The problem started with the report of the captain of the guards. The captain of the guards, who opened the mansion early in the morning, informed the higher-ups that some important people had arrived.
“You mean the people of Roman Dmitry have entered our estate?”
“Yes.”
“What is their purpose for entering?”
“There is a man named Hans among the servants of the Dmitry family. He is in charge of Roman Dmitry, and his granddaughter’s birthday is today. She lives here in Adelian. Judging from the fact that they prepared various items, it seems like a party.”
“… hmm.”
Count Adelian just nodded. Hans was just a servant but sending someone to care for a servant’s granddaughter was something a noble couldn’t understand.
‘This is why we cannot let this go.’
Roman Dmitry. He was a powerful noble in the northeast. By absorbing the alliance that was once against the Dmitry family, the Dmitry family now holds overwhelming power.
Roman Dmitry, in particular, had a lot of work to do as an acting lord. People weren’t ignorant of the flow of power, and while they pretended not to be interested, they were all keeping an eye on Roman Dmitry.
That was why he sent someone. Count Adelian was sure that something was happening.
‘The northeast area was united under the name of the alliance. It’s true that nobles in areas far from Cairo should look out for each other, but the alliance exerts a kind of bond. The forces outside the Dmitry family’s eyes cannot join in without offering some help.’
Adelian—they were the northernmost region, and because of their geographical advantage, they could be called the center of commerce. On the contrary, it also meant that they were the most vulnerable when a civil war broke out. It was ironic, so Count Adelian always cared about his relationship with Dmitry.
And it was the same this time. Things that could be easily overlooked by others were what he held on to.
Thirty minutes later, the captain of the guards had gathered information about Hans.
“Hans is regarded as the person who raised Roman Dmitry since he was a child. Even when he was called the fool of the family, the man stayed by his side, and it is said that he has the right to speak within the Dmitry family, probably because of his years of experience and work. It appears that their intention is to genuinely care for Hans. Given Roman Dmitry’s positive attitude toward his people, his action of looking after Hans isn’t strange.”
“Right!”
His thoughts felt good. If Roman Dmitry regarded this person as someone precious to him, the image of the Adelian family actively caring for him was a golden opportunity to appeal to Roman.
Servant? It didn’t matter. If Roman thought Hans was important, then he was not just some servant.
“Call the vassals of the family right now! We’ll think about what we can do for Hans from now on. So Hans does not feel uncomfortable, and Hans’s son, Harrison, can be happy. Their happiness must be so great that the Dmitry family thinks well of us!”
Five hours before the party, the Adelian family seized the golden opportunity first.
The Adelian family wasn’t the only one keeping an eye on Dmitry. Lawrence heard the information one step slower than Count Adelian.
“Lord! I heard from a person working in the Dmitry family that Hans, their servant, had decided to leave early due to his granddaughter’s birthday. What do we do? The Lord wanted me to report every small and big thing related to the Dmitry family, but I am not sure if we should even consider this since this only involves his servant.”
The information wasn’t perfect. Adelian confirmed the purpose of the visit through the captain of the guards, but Lawrence had no way to find out more about it. Yet Viscount Lawrence didn’t miss this chance.
‘Hans is the person who looked after Roman Dmitry. Even if Roman doesn’t think much of the man, he is still someone who manages things for Roman, and he is one of his people. People’s emotions change over the most trivial things. If everyone who follows Roman has a positive thought about the Lawrence family, it will give us a better chance.’
Since last year, Viscount Lawrence has taken care of every detail about Dmitry. At first, he wasn’t interested in people like Hans, but he always showed his face in meetings like the ones with Baron Romero, Rihanna, and Jonathan too. And now he was interested in this.
Knowing that Roman Dmitry was looking after his people, Viscount Lawrence didn’t intend to miss this chance. He had to take care of the occasion. No other special effort was needed. He thought that a friendly relationship with Dmitry was good enough.
“Hans is a person worthy of congratulations. Find out what his granddaughter likes, and prepare gifts for her.”
“Yes.”
It started with Adelian then Lawrence. They all thought they were the only ones doing it, but there was no way the foxes of the northeast weren’t aware of it. The nobles, who later learned of the news, rose to their feet. Those who weren’t as meticulous as Lawrence hurriedly prepared their gifts, not wanting to fall behind others. And so the gift-buying craze spread like wildfire.
And two hours before the birthday party, Viscount Conrad, who had slept soundly the night before due to heavy drinking, was the last to hear the news about Dmitry.
“What?! Why are you only telling me that now?!”
“… the Lord was sleeping so soundly that I couldn’t wake you up.”
“Ugh. You moron. I told you to inform me of anything related to Dmitry, and report it to me even if I am about to die. Because of what we have done, we are not being looked at favorably. So we must not fall behind others!”
“I apologize.”
The knight bowed his head, but this wasn’t the time to punish him either. Viscount Conrad’s face turned pale, and he shook his head.
‘What gift do I give?’
There was no time. He wanted to prepare a personalized gift for the child, but the time to deliver the gift in two hours was tight.
Finally, he hurriedly ran to his wife’s room. His wife smiled brightly, but he immediately went for her jewelry box without even looking at her.
“H-Honey?!”
“Sorry! I am really sorry!”
Just a few days ago, he presented her with an expensive ruby ring as a gift. Thinking it would be the perfect gift, Viscount Conrad took out the ruby ring and ran without looking back.
Witnessing this, his wife said,
“You insane husband!”
His wife threw things at him, but what could he do? The future of the family was at stake here.
Unaware that Hans’s child was six years old, Viscount Conrad stole the adult-size ruby ring with an elated expression.
‘With this, the birthday party would be complete.’
The truth about the presents at the birthday party was all due to excessive loyalty to Dmitry.
The presents in front of him were dazzling. Harrison was at a loss for words at the ruby ring he saw and the other luxurious gifts.
‘… what is all of this?’
The presents were something he was happy about. But Harrison was taught from a young age that things have consequences. It was a phrase that was engraved not only in his bones but also in the bones of all commoners. They knew greed would pull them into danger. So he was more worried than happy.
‘I don’t know why the nobles have decided to send me such gifts, but with the exception of a few, many aren’t for my daughter. If I get greedy with these things, I might have to pay a huge price later. I will smile now since these are presents, but I will return them all later.’
He was sure of it. Since his father lived as a servant all his life, he knew how dangerous it was to covet the nobles’ things.
“And the last present.”
A small envelope. Since the size was small, it didn’t seem like it was a present from a noble. Harrison, who was expecting something small, opened it and checked its content.
“Huk!”
What was written on the small piece of paper caught his eye.
[Recommendation for Admission to Glory Academy.]
His hands trembled. The Glory Academy—the best academy, where no commoner would even dream of going. It was an academy that the prestigious children of nobles attended.
A place one couldn’t enter without money. Harrison hoped for his daughter to attend the academy, but he knew that it wouldn’t be an easy task. But now he has received a recommendation letter. It was different from the other gifts, and he confirmed that this was from Roman Dmitry.
“… Roman Dmitry wrote a letter of recommendation to Glory Academy for my daughter.”
A moment of silence fell as everyone was shocked. The previous gifts were good, but Glory Academy and a letter of recommendation were better.
‘No.’
Harrison thought back to a month ago. He spoke to his father about his daughter, and at that time, he casually mentioned the academy only to inform him and nothing more.
So he looked at his father. He was also shocked by this. It seemed like even his father didn’t know.
‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’
Roman Dmitry. His gift was a surprise even Hans wasn’t aware of.
On that day, the party ended on a happy note. Hans returned to Dmitry earlier, saying that he was worried about Roman, and went straight to him.
“… the presents were too much. I didn’t ask for any special presents. I feel rewarded for the work I do for you, Young Master, and just remembering and acknowledging my existence is all I need.”
His voice was low. He was trying his best to speak calmly, but Hans was too moved by Roman’s actions.
Roman looked at him.
‘Hans is a bond left by Roman Dmitry.’
The relationship he had with him wasn’t intentionally formed. Hans was by Roman’s side when he was cursed and subjected to humiliation, and he still took care of him. And because he had the memories of the past, Roman knew how sincere this man was despite not having experienced them himself.
When he started living as Roman Dmitry, he was the first person he allowed to step into his comfort zone, and Roman never thought of Hans as a mere servant.
“Hans.”
“Yes.”
“It is now a blurry memory, but looking back on my childhood, I spent more time with you than my father. At that time, my father had just become a noble, and he had too many things to do, and my mother, being as good as she is, was unable to care for me because of her new kids and other events. That is why the person named ‘Hans’ is special to me. Regardless of the difference in status, it stays the same.”
“… Young Master.”
Hans’s eyes turned red. What happened wasn’t much. Roman was just taking care of his people, and because he gained strength, the nobles also pitched in.
In such a situation, Roman was all alone. He wanted to do something for him where he shone the brightest.
“People’s emotions are not one way. Hans, you are my person, and because you blindly directed pure emotions toward me, you deserve everything I give you.”
Hans looked at Roman.
Looking at Hans like that, Roman smiled.
“I sincerely wish your granddaughter a happy birthday.”
