During the carriage ride back to the mansion, Zerlak was endlessly briefed on work matters.
As soon as he boarded the carriage, his aide pushed a mountain of documents towards him and began to recite things that may or may not have been related.
“The progress on the Omelon side is somewhat slow. There are rumors that they haven’t even started on the ice statues.”
“Send someone to check.”
“Understood. And didn’t we decide to create a new map of the Ernberg Peninsula this year? But…”
Zerlak looked extremely busy.
And no wonder, since next week was St. Oberli’s Day.
It commemorates the day St. Oberli protected the Ernberg Peninsula from demons, and the festival lasts for three days.
For three days, the festival is truly grand.
Close ones exchange sacred relics and blessing mages cast blessings, wishing for peace, but!
For me, it’s not such a good memory.
The way I died was different each time, but I always met death on that day.
Truly tragic.
Anyway, now it was almost like a day of opportunity for me.
Of course, it would only become a day of opportunity if I did well.
With that thought, I glanced at Zerlak.
‘He looks worse than when I saw him in the bookstore.’
He was listening to the aide’s report with a dry expression.
Whether it was because of the rain or the sheer volume of work, he looked quite tired.
“Your Grace, there are companies that are charging exorbitant prices for sacred relics.”
Just overhearing it from the side was tiring.
“They’re charging a lot?”
“Yes, it seems that those who want to make a solid profit are taking advantage of the special day.”
“Hmm.”
“It seems people are willing to pay even though they think it’s expensive because they feel they must give gifts.”
“Compile a list of the companies caught doing this and bring it to me by this afternoon.”
“Yes, I understand. Oh, and…”
I wanted to talk in the carriage, but my turn never came.
And it didn’t seem like it would come in the future either.
I had no choice but to sit quietly and wait.
I wonder if I’ll be able to talk before we arrive home.
Besides, with the aide glued to Zerlak’s side, it seemed unlikely we could discuss sensitive matters.
Ah, I thought wrong…
That’s when it happened.
“I’m sorry.”
Zerlak’s low voice came through the sound of the rain.
He was staring straight at me.
“No, not at all. You don’t need to apologize. I have a lot to think about too. Ah, how to handle that.”
I furrowed my brow and looked out the window.
Tapping the window with my finger as if I had many things to ponder, Zerlak’s lips curved strangely.
“Do you have worries?”
“Ah, yes. Who doesn’t have worries?”
“Tell me.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ll solve it.”
Oh, why does that offer to solve it sound so scary?
“Ah, no. It’s a very trivial and personal matter.”
I waved my hands repeatedly, but Zerlak’s gaze did not move from me, as if it were stuck.
That’s when it happened.
“Orie.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“Cover it all. I’ll deal with the rest after we return.”
“…But.”
Poor Orie muttered in a small voice but closed the thick ledger.
He knew well that once the duke gave an order, it couldn’t be reversed, as there was still much to do.
I’m sorry, aide.
I swallowed dryly, feeling unnecessarily conscious of his gaze.
But remember, I saved you from being fired not long ago.
So please, just this once.
“You always seem to have worries.”
“…”
“I really want to know what it is today.”
My heart rate began to speed up at Zerlak’s words.
I wanted to say the prepared words right away, but seeing Orie sitting there with a somewhat uncomfortable expression, I couldn’t open my mouth.
I couldn’t say in front of the aide that I’m not interested in Zerlak and that I want to stop meeting him.
He’s a duke, after all; I can’t show such a scene in front of a subordinate.
“It’s just, I have a lot of random thoughts. It’s nothing important.”
Zerlak’s gaze suggested he didn’t completely believe my words.
“I’ll tell you next time.”
“Next time?”
“Yes.”
I sneakily glanced at where Orie was sitting.
“Ah, I see.”
Zerlak finally seemed to realize and nodded.
That’s when it happened.
“Then, may I talk about one of my worries?”
“A worry?”
I looked at him in surprise at the sudden statement.
“I heard you recently created a new trend in society. Impressive.”
“…”
“So, I thought, maybe you have a clever way to handle this issue too. I’d like to hear your opinion.”
At that, I laughed awkwardly.
It was something I had no idea how to think about.
“But don’t expect too much help. It happened by chance, not because I wanted it to.”
I spoke honestly, but Zerlak didn’t seem to believe me.
Oh well, what’s the use of talking?
“What’s the worry?”
“The exchange of sacred relics.”
On St. Oberli’s Day, close ones exchange sacred relics and bless each other.
It’s also a long tradition for blessing mages to cast blessings, wishing for peace.
“Exchanging sacred relics is a good thing. Is there a problem?”
“Scammers selling fake relics without blessings at high prices and merchants looking to make a quick profit are rampant.”
“Ah.”
I frowned at that.
“How can they do that?”
St. Oberli’s Day was always the worst day for me, but for others, it was a joyful and happy festival.
A long time ago, about 300 years to be more precise, demons took over the Lexton area and spread a plague.
As a result, a third of the population died, and most suffered hallucinations and chaos.
At that time, Oberli, a low-ranking blessing mage in the temple, awakened and defeated the demons, becoming a hero of humanity.
St. Oberli’s Day was a very important day to remember and commemorate that day.
‘Yeah, important to you all.’
Thinking of that day made me shiver, but I tried to keep a calm expression.
“Why not ban it?”
I was annoyed at dying several times on that day, what gifts?
Just stop all gifts and everything!
I blurted out anything, but Zerlak’s eyebrow twitched.
“Ban?”
“Yes, just ban all unauthorized sacred relic transactions from now on, and pay the blessing mages from the empire like a salary. Then, during St. Oberli’s period, if they bless people for their salary, there won’t be any under-the-table deals, right?”
I had just spoken off the top of my head.
“Oh, my goodness.”
Orie stared at me as if mesmerized and let out a sigh.
What’s with that expression?
“Your Grace, why didn’t I think of that? If we manage the blessing mages, there won’t be any overcharging or exorbitant fees for blessings.”
Orie took out a pen and began to scribble notes frantically.
“Is that so? I just said anything.”
The reaction was so good, I felt embarrassed.
Hehe.
Then, Zerlak narrowed his eyes and said to me, “You really…”
“…”
“Drive me crazy.”
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