CH 283

I Asked About the Situation With The Count

“So he is a scoundrel that resorted to crime after drowning in debt?”

“Hahaha! You are not wrong! Well, they had been losing money for generations, and Barsler was trying to put an end to that. And so he left Anneliese to herself and focused on his businesses… Without realizing the effect it had on her.”

“I see. So that’s why she is so used to being alone.”

“It appears to be the case. Well, since they own the neighboring territory, I’ve known House Barsler for a long time… But during the last ten years, I’ve only met him once a year at most. It is likely that Claire was the only person to see Anneliese back then. Otherwise, she only met servants.”

“Were there never any gatherings where there were other nobles?”

“There were. But Barsler never took Anneliese to such events. I suppose he was too preoccupied with making connections and helping his business. But to put it bluntly, he might have had more success if he used his daughter…”

Had he taken his daughter to such parties, and she were to meet with other rich heirs… That was what he was suggesting.

If she were to marry into another family, or have someone marry into theirs…then the count might be able to get some aid that would help his business.

“Well, I’m sure he had been thinking about it in some way. After all, Anneliese had said something about how she would use herself to bring back glory to her house. But I don’t know why they didn’t consider doing that first, instead of that other plan.”

“So that’s why she proposed to me, since I had Leo, and it would help her house.”

“Wuff?”

“Mmm. It is not just our family…but the entire country sees Silver Fenrirs as special. And so just having Leo there would help them greatly.”

“I see…”

“Wuff-wuff.”

While listening to us talk, Leo heard her name and looked at me questioningly as I petted her.

So, it was because of that situation, that she had suddenly said such things in the carriage.

In order to revive the house…

Still, I had no intention of allowing someone to use Leo. And I did not want to become a nobleman either.

“Well, due to those reasons, Anneliese rarely left her father’s house, and was mostly just surrounded by her own servants. But this wasn’t because he ordered her to. She herself did not want to go outside, so it’s her own fault as well. And as you said, Mr. Takumi, she got too used to being alone with her own thoughts.”

“Only servants around her… I don’t know much about nobles, but I suppose there are not many who can detect what their servants are feeling and act on it. And so they only see them as servants, and do not think about others…”

When looking at Ms. Claire, Tilura, and Mr Ekenhart, one might assume that most nobles were like them, but it was likely not the case.

I’m sure there were other nobles like Mr. Ekenhart, but the class system made you think that you were special.

In fact, there were people like that in Japan as well.

Like certain bosses at certain companies…

“And that was why…she could come up with such plans as she did. Without realizing the kind of suffering it would cause. And Barsler listened to her, and acted on her advice while thinking only of his own profit.”

“Well…I’m still not sure I can be sympathetic.”

“Oh, you don’t have to be sympathetic towards Barsler. He has what it takes to make such a decision. He knew what he was doing was wrong. As for Anneliese… I will not say that she is guiltless, even if she only thought of things…”

“I suppose it was because of her environment…”

“Mmm. In any normal family, he would have corrected her after making such suggestions. And so that is why I asked the royal family to entrust me with educating her.”

“…Hmm?”

“What is it?”

Huh?

Did he just say that he asked the royal family?

“Well…uh, previously, didn’t you say that they asked you to take in Ms. Anne?”

“Mmm…well, in fact, I was the one to ask them. I just thought it would be a pity for her to be punished along with her father. Of course, if she does not change her ways, then she will meet the same fate as him… Their entire house will be crushed into nothing. …Well, I suppose that as a father of a daughter that is the same age, I took pity on her…”

“I see… So you think by putting her in the right environment, she will become a decent person?”

“Exactly. However, it all depends on Anneliese. Ah, do not tell Claire or Sebastian about this, you understand? It will make matters more complicated…”

“Hahaha. Because Ms. Claire will get mad at you again?”

“…Yes.”

“Wuff.”

To Mr. Ekenhart and I, the two looked like they got along very well, even if Ms. Claire often acted harshly.

But if Ms. Claire found out that Mr. Ekenhart himself had wanted to take Ms. Anne in, she might get angry.

But why did Ms. Claire treat Ms. Anne so harshly…?

I admit, it was amusing to watch them like that, but… One would think you would be a little more pleasant to a friend that was your own age.