Chapter 37

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Raoul frowned deeply as he looked through the documents.

"The contaminated areas have already expanded this much. The speed is faster than last year."

It has been a hundred years since evil began to recklessly infiltrate the human world.

The erosion of flora and fauna by magic has become an everyday occurrence, turning nearby villages into wastelands.

Despite the royal family and nobles' best efforts to stop this, the world seems determined to rush towards its destruction, with the situation worsening each year.

'Increasing the guard is no solution, but it’s like pouring water into a bottomless bucket.'

Without a fundamental solution, the land available for humans will shrink, leading to a severe food shortage.

Raoul turned to the next document.

"Hmm."

It was a report exposing vassals who misused the family's funds or exploited the people of the fief. All of them were on the list of vassals Miranda had given to Theresa to be dismissed.

"How did she find out about this...?"

Even though she was his daughter, she was truly a mystery.

"Lord Raoul."

Raoul looked up from the documents at Donovan's call.

"What is it?"

Donovan held out a silver tray containing an important letter.

The Duke of Squire received hundreds of letters and visit requests every day.

As a butler, one of his key tasks was to discern the important ones and reduce the lord's fatigue.

However, today, a letter that even Donovan's excellent judgment found difficult to assess was included.

It was a letter from Theresa.

Usually, Donovan would check the content and only report to the lord if there was something unusual, but this time, he had a strange feeling that he shouldn't.

Thus, he decided to bring the letter to Raoul, even if it meant getting scolded for overstepping his bounds.

"Miss Theresa has sent a letter."

At that moment, Raoul's expression, which had been blank, suddenly came to life.

Though it wasn't a pleasant expression, it was the most animated one Raoul had shown recently.

"Give it to me."

'As expected.'

Donovan immediately handed over the neat white envelope, which he had already placed on top.

Raoul narrowed his brows slightly as he looked at the envelope, then took out the letter.

After skimming through it, he placed it on the table.

"She intends to appoint Damian West as a guard mage."

"He is the most prominent mage in the Squire Foundation, and there are rumors that he could be the next president of the association."

Raoul nodded, showing that he was already aware of this.

"However, I thought the relationship between Theresa and him was very bad. What made her change her mind?"

"I will check."

The conversation about Theresa didn't end there.

Raoul, who hadn't seen his eldest daughter since she went to school, was curious about how she was doing and whether she was causing any trouble.

"How is Theresa doing these days?"

Donovan, anticipating such a question, had already received a report from Theresa's maid, Eloise, the previous day.

"There is something I need to report. Miss Theresa has joined the student council."

"What? The student council?"

Raoul felt his blood pressure spike.

"Is she finally joining the student council because of Clyde?!"

Given the circumstances, there was no other reason.

Donovan, expecting Raoul to be furious, waited silently.

"Ha. At least there's a reason, but it looks like she's being held hostage by the Willow family."

The student council, under Willow's control, directly dealt with monsters and demons.

For the daughter of Squire to join the student council could be seen as an admission that Willow was superior to Squire.

Thinking about the dark intentions of the Willow family, Raoul felt a deep sense of frustration.

"I have no face to show to the previous lords."

Raoul sighed deeply several times before accepting the reality.

In fact, this was something he had been dreading for a long time. There was no need to be surprised.

"Is that all?"

Donovan continued, somewhat apologetically.

"Miss Theresa's close maid has requested that the family tailor be sent to repair her uniform. She said it needs to be mended."

"Why the uniform all of a sudden?"

"Apparently, she has lost a lot of weight recently."

Raoul's eyebrows twitched.

"How does a maid serve a lady so poorly that her clothes need to be mended?"

Theresa was a child who embodied greed.

She needed the best of everything to be satisfied, and her active lifestyle meant she was always in good health.

'But before the start of the semester, she was eating unusually little.'

Donovan quickly added:

"Since she started reading magic books, she focuses so much that she forgets to eat. She doesn't even touch snacks."

"…Theresa?"

"Yes. I heard that the books she reads change every day."

Raoul's lips twitched, then he closed them.

It was a story he found hard to believe.

Donovan's report continued.

"Moreover, she has never invited anyone to her dormitory, and there is no sign that she has been drinking."

This was also surprising.

Theresa was mad about alcohol and parties.

She drank heavily at least four days a week, causing her to be banned from drinking several times.

Even when banned, she would secretly drink and get into trouble.

The idea that she was now avoiding both parties and alcohol was unbelievable.

Raoul, after a moment of dry washing his face, asked Donovan in a disbelieving tone:

"Is Theresa lying to her maid?"

"No, she isn't."

At that moment, the door to the study was knocked, and Revi appeared quietly.

"Father, I'm here."

As soon as Raoul saw Revi, he smiled and stood up.

They held hands affectionately and sat down on the sofa together.

"You came early today. Did anything happen at school?"

"Of course not. The lectures are interesting, and I've made many friends."

Revi wasn't just saying this; she had already invited and hosted young ladies from various noble families twice this week.

The invited young ladies were well-mannered and well-educated, unlike the wild group that Theresa often brought around.

'Thought Clyde's social club would only embarrass me. I arranged an engagement to make her see reason, but now she's been dumped.'

Because Raoul had been discussing Theresa with Donovan, he started asking Revi questions he hadn't asked before.

"Does your sister seem fine? Has she fought with Lady Bruny again?"

Revi pursed her lips.

'Well, they did fight... but...'

She hadn't told anyone about the major argument she had with Mimosa, which was still unresolved.

"I'm not sure...? First-year and fourth-year students don't often meet."

"Is that social club still around?"

Revi nodded, looking uncomfortable.

Raoul, with a knowing expression, clicked his tongue.

"When will she come to her senses?"

"Father, I don't know much about my sister, but the sister I hear about and the one I experience are very different."

Instead of asking what she meant, Raoul looked at Revi quietly, waiting for her to continue.

Strangely, he could sense a hint of rebellion in Revi's sincere expression and slightly trembling voice.

However, it strangely pleased him.

"My sister is a good person, Father."

It was the opposite of what the world thought.

Even he, her father, didn't think so, but Revi firmly believed Theresa was a good person.

Raoul smiled bitterly and patted Revi's hand.

"Okay. If that's how you feel..."

Bang!

Before Raoul could finish, Giuseppe burst into the room.

"Master."

Donovan, with a troubled look, hurriedly approached Giuseppe, trying to stop him.

Raoul also frowned at Giuseppe's rude behavior.

"Giuseppe. You are too old to barge into my study without permission."

"I was going to ask for permission, but not before Revi said something strange."

Revi, seeing Giuseppe's hostility for the first time, was initially flustered but then calmly asked:

"Do you think I said something wrong?"

"Yes, completely. She's a terrible person. If you heard what she did to Mother, you wouldn't call her a good person!"

Of course, Revi had heard about it.

But the Theresa she saw didn't seem capable of such actions.

Raoul, with a stern voice, said:

"Both of you, stop. Especially Giuseppe, if you continue to act rashly, I won't tolerate it."

Giuseppe grumbled but didn't act out further.

Raoul, feeling a sudden sigh rising in his chest, dismissed both children from the study.

He suddenly felt like smoking a cigar, so he took out a case.

He realized it had been a long time since he last smoked a cigar.

With Theresa not at home, there was no need to smoke.

He couldn't help but chuckle to himself.