Chapter 50
Chapter 50: I Don’t Have Money, You Know? (1)
“Hmm? Knight Commander, what brings you here?”
Ghislaine asked, feigning ignorance.
She had already confirmed that there was a gift from Randolf on the list she received earlier that morning.
Seeing that he couldn’t wait until the thank-you note was sent, it seemed he was quite anxious.
Randolf swallowed dryly as he looked at Ghislaine, who was acting coy.
‘Yesterday, he acted like a heartless bastard. How could he think of consuming all of that by himself? What a greedy little shit.’
Although he cursed Ghislaine in his mind, he wore a bright smile on his face.
“After witnessing Grand Duke’s gallant appearance yesterday, I truly believe the future of our territory is bright. However, dear Grand Duke, can our territory develop just by fulfilling your personal ambitions?”
Ghislaine tilted her head, responding, “Personal ambitions? I clearly stated that I would support the territory instead of Raybold.”
Randolf shook his head.
“No. There are matters that can’t be resolved with mere grants. It’s the knights, you see.”
In truth, the position of Knight Commander in Perdium was more trouble than it was worth.
You just had to fight in the North every single time, and the salary was dreadful.
Thus, there was always a shortage of knights. Recently, there had even been traitors.
When Jamal and Philip betrayed them, Randolf was the angriest, but he also understood them the most.
‘Honestly, who would want to live as a knight here?’
Being a knight requires skill. If you lack talent, you can’t even become one, and even if you have talent, it takes a long time to grow it.
In other territories, they offer high salaries, and lords with large lands grant small manors so that they can collect taxes.
The knights who remain in Perdium typically fall into two categories: those who still have loyalty and those who are just a bit off and want to fight barbarians in the North.
But loyalty vanishes when you go hungry; it’s human instinct.
Feigning a sad expression, Randolf said, “To maintain the order of knights… ahem, the Grand Duke’s generosity is somewhat needed. Uh, I mean, something like a donation. Or a development fund?”
In short, he was asking for money specifically for the knights rather than all this talk about taxes and grants.
However, Ghislaine looked confused as if to say, “What are you talking about?”
“Development fund” is a phrase Ghislaine loved to blurt out, but not one she enjoyed hearing.
That was something she could only use when asking Amelia for money.
“I don’t have money, you know?”
Her unapologetic expression was exceedingly annoying.
Randolf raised his fist in frustration but barely controlled himself and pretended to scratch his head.
‘Calm down. I need to find a way to get money from him one way or another.’
“Hahaha, saying you don’t have money when you are the richest person in the territory is like saying a bandit won’t rob me! Hahaha!”
That comparison was quite aggressive.
Ghislaine, while internally baffled, laughed just like Randolf.
“I’ve already spent it all, so it’s practically the same as saying I don’t have money. Hahaha.”
Randolf facepalmed, trying to catch his breath.
‘I must endure. There’s no hole from which the money is going to come out.’
Even if he went to Albert, all he ever heard was that there was no money, and persuasion was impossible.
Even when money came in, it usually got spent elsewhere first, so the knights’ situation could never improve. No matter what he tried, he couldn’t get anywhere.
Even though Ghislaine promised to support instead of Raybold, in reality, it was likely the same.
After all, it would just be filling in the amount they used to receive, so there was no way the knight order would get more budget allocated.
It was obvious that it would remain just as poor as it always had.
Consequently, Randolf had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away.
“Wait, where exactly are you spending all that money? It needs to go for the territory! For the territory!”
Ghislaine nodded, looking impressed.
She parroted back what Randolf had just said like a parrot.
“Of course, it has to be spent for the territory. Naturally, I intend to spend it all for the territory.”
“For the territory… how?”
“I have all the plans worked out.”
Randolf cautiously asked, “Does knight order support fit into those plans?”
Ghislaine’s eyes widened.
“That won’t happen, you know? It’s not included.”
Randolf buried his face in his hands, trying to suppress his panic.
‘Wow, she really seems to be planning on keeping it all for herself. Should I threaten her or something?’
Just as the Knight Commander was contemplating extreme measures, someone came to see Ghislaine. It was none other than Albert, the territory’s Treasurer.
“Ahem, oh, I see someone was already here. Grand Duke, how are you doing today?”
Randolf immediately grew vigilant, sensing why Albert had arrived.
“Brother? No, Treasurer, why are you here? You should be working! I was in the middle of a conversation with the Grand Duke. Can’t you come back later?”
Randolf subtly pushed Albert away, but he stood his ground firmly.
He clicked his tongue and admonished Randolf, “It’s the Knight Commander who should be focusing on training, not just sitting around here! Hurry up and devote yourself to your training. A single drop of sweat during training saves a drop of blood during war.”
“Really, what do you know about sword fighting? You’ve probably never even held a sword… I can manage myself, Treasurer; you should just go do your accounting.”
“Without money, there’s nothing to account for.”
The two exchanged smiles while glaring at each other in a standoff.
Watching them, Ghislaine shook her head.
It was clear those two had no intention of leaving her room anytime soon.
Eventually, Ghislaine asked Albert, “Did you come here because you need a bit of a donation or development fund… something like that?”
Albert coughed awkwardly, taken aback by the direct question.
“Ahem, Grand Duke, your keen mind is truly admirable. Indeed, it’s this sharp intelligence that allows you to undertake the great feat of bringing back Runestone. You are truly destined for greatness.”
Albert flattered Ghislaine to his own level of enthusiasm, which was on par with Randolf’s.
Not knowing if Ghislaine could see through that insincerity, Albert gazed at her with an approving look.
“Um, while I appreciate you offering support in place of Raybold… we require some substantial funds to resolve urgent matters right away, you see.”
Ghislaine nodded.
“If the Treasurer is saying it’s urgent, then… it must be about the debt problem.”
“Exactly. I believe paying off our debts has to come first. In the end, it’s the Grand Duke who will inherit the territory’s debts. A family debt is your debt, and your money is family money, correct?”
Albert spoke with a gentle smile.
Ghislaine revealed a look of disbelief, as if to ask what absurdity he was saying.
“That’s not how it is.”
“What?”
“My money is my money.”
What kind of trick is this guy trying to pull?
The cold and cutting attitude of Ghislaine caused Albert’s face to crumple for a moment.
‘Wow, didn’t see her as such a money demon. A real money ghost.’
Though Albert grumbled silently, he couldn’t let it show as he wore an awkward smile instead.
“Ahem, regardless of whose money it is, it wouldn’t make sense for the Grand Duke to act as if nothing’s wrong with the territory’s difficulties. Honestly, just paying off the debts would improve the territory’s situation drastically. This is all for the sake of the territory, you know.”
Ghislaine was astonished by how versatile Albert’s expressions were.
Normally, he always wore a cold expression.
Now, his face shifted from grim to jovial, changing every moment, it was quite a spectacle.
Not really paying attention to what was being said, Ghislaine found herself focusing on his ever-changing face and then tilted her head.
“But, I don’t have money, you know?”
Having heard that, Albert looked just as pained as Randolf did earlier.
He seemed to struggle with his rising frustration, slowly articulating, “Why… don’t you have any money?”
“I already told the Knight Commander, but all the places I could spend it have been decided. So, I don’t have any money.”
Desperate for understanding, Albert pleaded with her.
“Where exactly are you planning to spend it? Don’t you think you should discuss such a substantial amount with us first?”
“Why would I have to discuss using my money? I’ll handle it my own way, so no need to worry.”
“How can you not worry about that!”
Albert cried out, but Ghislaine was starting to find it bothersome to deal with both of them and tossed it aside.
“Don’t worry; it will be used for the territory.”
Naturally, neither of them believed that at all.
Considering Ghislaine’s past, it was common knowledge she’d waste it on her personal frivolities instead.
There was no way she could just squandering all that money on useless things.
Both were desperate in their refusals.
“No, what’s more urgent than paying the territory’s debts? Isn’t letting interest money go to waste a problem?”
“What are you saying? Looking after the knights should come first! Look at other territories. Even if they are in debt, they ensure that the knight order is maintained in top condition. The knights are the power of the territory! Power!”
“How naive! Just not accumulating interest opens up many opportunities. What do you mean by prioritizing knights?”
“Oh, it seems you’ve lost your sense of reality from being cooped up with money every day. In the end, without fighting strength, everything gets obliterated, you know? If we have power, no one can say a thing even if we don’t pay back the money!”
“Tsk tsk, that’s not what being a knight is! Everything in this world has its order.”
“The order starts with the knights and the army!”
At some point, the two began raising their voices and fighting among themselves, instead of speaking to Ghislaine.
Fearing she wouldn’t get her money, they began taking their frustrations out on each other.
“What will you do? Let’s just start with paying off the debt! Our territory’s credibility is in shambles!”
“Let’s start with the knights! I’ll handle the creditors! There’s no transactions in front of a sword!”
“….”
Why are they deciding the order with someone else’s money?
Ghislaine sighed, trying to drive them away with force, when one of the knights came in.
“Grand Duke, the Lord urgently requests your presence.”
“Oh, really? Then I should go right away.”
As she was eager to leave, Albert and Randolf both tried to follow her.
However, the knight declared firmly, “The Lord insisted that it be only the Grand Duke.”
Under the stern order of the Lord, the two could only holler behind her.
“What if I need to pay off the debt?!”
“Give us the knights! If you don’t let us, we’ll cause trouble every time you spend money! We’ll destroy it all!”
Leaving the two jumping around, Ghislaine headed straight to her father’s office.
Honestly, she felt like they might all go crazy together if they stayed much longer.
The knights standing guard at the office slowly opened the door upon Ghislaine’s arrival.
Creeeak.
It was cold. A chilling air pierced through her chest.
The room was filled with tension, akin to the calm before a storm.
Zvalter stood with his arms crossed, gazing out the window.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Ghislaine cautiously spoke up.
“Did you call for me?”
“Yeah, are you doing well?”
“Yes, it seems I wasn’t seriously injured after all. I recovered faster than I expected.”
“Glad to hear that. Given the great tasks ahead, you must take care of yourself moving forward.”
“Yes. I will make sure to do that.”
While responding, Ghislaine tilted her head.
She had been in situations where she had caused far more trouble and gotten hurt worse before. But her father had never expressed such concern for her before.
Zvalter continued to stare out the window, still with his arms crossed, and said, “The weather is fine. So, have you thought about how you will use the proceeds from selling the Runestone?”
“Yes, as I mentioned previously, I will support you with the amount that Raybold lost, and I plan to use the rest for something I have in mind.”
After a moment of silence following Ghislaine’s response, Zvalter spoke again.
“Okay, I trust you’ll handle it well. I believe your words that you will use it for the territory.”
“Yes.”
“You caused quite a bit of trouble since you were young. You’ve brought a lot of harm to the territory.”
“… Yes.”
“When your retainers suggested locking you up multiple times, I forgave you each time. Because you are my child. That’s how a father’s heart is.”
“Y-yeah…”
Ghislaine tilted her head again, unable to follow the flow of conversation.
Was he calling her here out of concern for her injury, or was he suddenly blaming her for past mistakes? It was hard to discern.
Then, Zvalter repeated what he had said previously.
“I trust your words that you will use it for the territory.”
“…”
A hint of understanding began to dawn on Ghislaine. She squinted at her father.
