When Theresa returned, Steward Greg had already handled most of the matter.
The issue was actually quite straightforward: several warehouse managers and servants had colluded to steal goods from the storehouse, replacing them with defective items. They then covered their tracks by citing reasons such as normal wear and tear or improper storage to write off the losses in the accounts. After concealing their actions, the profits gained were divided among them.
This practice had been going on for a long time. Previously, they had been very cautious, and although others had heard rumors, they kept quiet out of fear of retaliation due to their lower positions. As a result, the issue had never been brought to the attention of their superiors.
Moreover, such incidents were not uncommon. Not only were these individuals involved, but others, even in different places, engaged in similar practices to varying degrees. Even the lowest-ranking serfs would occasionally take small items home while working for the lord. The nature of these actions was essentially the same.
If such matters were not exposed publicly, even if those in authority became aware, as long as the amounts were small, they would often only issue private warnings. After all, other managers were not necessarily entirely clean either.
However, this time, the individuals were reported directly to the new Count, which escalated the situation significantly.
The recent successive deaths of the old Count and his heir had caused unrest among the people. While many worried about their future livelihoods, some became increasingly greedy and unrestrained, taking advantage of the current lack of oversight in managing the manor. As a result, their actions grew bolder.
The person who reported them might not necessarily have been motivated by disapproval of the behavior itself. Perhaps they were envious of the benefits the others were gaining or sought to impress the new Count by making the report.
With the report already made, the other managers and servants under investigation naturally did not conceal the wrongdoings of their colleagues. Thus, the matter was quickly clarified, and the offending managers and servants were detained, awaiting the new Count’s judgment.
Accompanying Steward Greg were two senior managers responsible for the daily affairs of Villa Manor, who had come to apologize.
When Theresa familiarized herself with the estate’s affairs, she had reviewed the records. Each of the three manors was supposed to have one chief manager overseeing all matters and two senior managers.
The chief manager assisted the lord in managing all affairs of the manor. Within the manor, their status was second only to the lord, granting them significant authority and earning them the lord’s deep trust.
The senior managers served under the chief manager as their deputies and were potential candidates for the chief manager position in the future.
At Golden Manor, Steward Greg held a position even higher than that of a chief manager. Since their responsibilities overlapped significantly, and a capable steward was often more useful and trusted by the lord than a chief manager, Golden Manor did not have a chief manager. Instead, all matters, big and small, were handled by Steward Greg and the two senior managers.
Thus, among the three lordly manors of Goldenburg, only Villa Manor and Denok Manor had chief managers.
Unfortunately, the chief steward of Villa Manor had also passed away during the old earl’s illness. At that time, the old earl was already gravely ill and bedridden, and due to some of his own considerations, the selection of a new chief steward for Villa Manor was temporarily postponed.
—Greg had privately explained this to Theresa, saying that the old earl had originally intended for her to announce the new steward after her arrival. This would not only establish her authority but also ensure the new steward’s loyalty to her.
However, he passed away before he could wait for Theresa. Fortunately, the candidate he had in mind for the chief steward had been entrusted to Greg in advance, and Greg had relayed this to Theresa.
Nevertheless, the old earl had also made it clear that whether to use this candidate was entirely up to Theresa’s own consideration.
“How much was the loss?”
Greg, having completed the investigation, held a recorded ledger and began reporting the damages.
It was only because they had previously dared to engage in minor schemes, with relatively small amounts involved, and had kept a separate ledger that was discovered during the search. Otherwise, with just one day for both investigation and loss assessment, it would have been impossible to complete in time.
Even so, the final calculated loss amounted to over a hundred gold coins.
This was no small sum.
In Power and Roses, for the convenience of players, the currency exchange system followed the conventions of most games: one gold coin could be exchanged for a hundred silver coins, and one silver coin could be exchanged for a hundred copper coins. Two copper coins could buy a loaf of rye bread mixed with bran and crumbs.
In the manor, even the lowest-ranking footman’s annual income might not reach one gold coin—though, in addition to wages, they were provided with food, lodging, and other subsidies. This demonstrated the strong purchasing power of gold coins here.
Over a hundred gold coins, if converted into the cheapest grain, would be enough to feed everyone in Villa Manor for several months.
From this, it was clear that these individuals had embezzled a considerable amount.
Having grown up under the red flag, Theresa had always despised corruption and bribery. Now that they had stolen her money, it was even more intolerable.
When Greg asked her how to deal with the individuals involved, Theresa, still unfamiliar with the local laws, asked him for suggestions.
Greg replied respectfully and without emotion, “You could have them hanged or sell them to slave traders.”
The stewards and servants in the manor were essentially serfs, and the lord inherently had the right to dispose of them as they pleased. Moreover, given the severity of their offenses, even if they were not serfs but free citizens or even Noble Descendants, the lord would still have the authority to handle them this way—all of which was explicitly written into the law.
Although Theresa detested corruption, she was not yet willing to personally order their execution. Similarly, she did not want to contribute to the institution of slavery. After a moment of silence, she said, “My uncle and cousin have only recently passed away. It is not appropriate to shed blood at this time. Confiscate all their property and expel them from the manor.”
Not appropriate to shed blood.
Though he had never heard such a phrase before, Greg quickly grasped its meaning. His loyalty to the old earl made him deeply moved by Theresa’s words.
Moreover, those people were driven out penniless. With such a stain on their records, they could no longer hope to continue living within Goldenburg. To survive, they would have to go to the territories of other lords, but the dangers along the way would make their journey extremely difficult. Even if they reached other territories, there was no guarantee that those lords would be willing to accept serfs who had committed offenses.
Even if they were accepted, they would never again live the relatively easy lives they had before.
Of course, in the eyes of the steward and the two senior overseers, this was already an exceptionally merciful decision. In the past, when such incidents occurred, it was fortunate enough if the lord did not resort to widespread slaughter, let alone spare their lives.
“Understood, my lady.”
After the report, the two senior overseers also stepped forward to plead for forgiveness.
Theresa did not know much about them, only that the two senior overseers were named Clifton and Georgia, both of whom had worked at Villa Manor for many years. Unlike ordinary overseers, these senior overseers were not serfs but free citizens, and among free citizens, they held considerable status.
For example, Clifton’s family had produced a knight son—who had naturally sworn allegiance to the Gorden Family and was also one of the knights who had yet to pay homage—marking their transition from ordinary free citizens to quasi-noble status. If his son could advance further, their family would become true nobility.
Georgia was somewhat younger, and his children were not yet adults. They had also been sent to serve as squires, and in a few years, with the lord’s approval, they could similarly be promoted to knighthood.
And that lord was now Theresa.
Thus, among the two senior overseers, Georgia was more eager and attentive in his demeanor. If the new countess was dissatisfied with him and unwilling to accept his child’s allegiance, then his years of training his son and his hopes of advancing through him would be largely dashed.
Of course, Clifton’s demeanor was equally respectful and courteous. Regardless of his personal thoughts about the new countess, she was now their lord, and whether they could retain their positions as senior overseers depended entirely on her word.
Especially since Clifton had learned that, in the few days since Theresa arrived at Goldenburg, she had not yet met any of the knights. This had begun to worry him.
His son was clearly one of the knights who had yet to pay homage to the new countess.
Clifton did not know what his son was thinking, but as a father, he knew very well that his son’s personality was not the type to make such a choice. It was more likely that other knights had made this decision, and his son had no choice but to stand in solidarity with his comrades.
This would undoubtedly displease the new countess, Lady Theresa, and might even lead to a poor impression of him as well. Clifton’s greatest concern now was that his son’s actions would affect his chances of competing for the position of senior overseer.
Thus, while pleading for forgiveness, Clifton also apologized on behalf of his son and mentioned that he had already written to his son, Vincent, urging him to come and pay homage to Theresa as soon as possible.
This was an implicit promise to Theresa that both he and his son would stand on her side.
Greg whispered beside her, “Clifton’s son, Knight Vincent, was only promoted to knighthood last year and is now a member of the Golden Knight Order.”
Although Goldenburg had only 23 official Knights, their knightly force was still referred to as an Order. In fact, any lord’s knightly contingent could be called an Order, even if they couldn’t muster a dozen knights—it simply sounded more prestigious, didn’t it?
Of course, while there were only 23 official Knights, the Order also included squires training under them and ordinary Soldiers, among others. In terms of total numbers, they could still meet the maximum military quota allowed by the lord’s noble rank—provided they could afford to maintain them.
“Those matters can be discussed later. Your task now is to reorganize Villa Manor.”
Theresa’s expression was stern. Her honey-colored skin, paired with her striking and heroic appearance, not only gave her a wild, untamed aura but also an imposing presence, much like a powerful warrior. She pressed down on the two senior stewards, who dared not raise their heads.
“I don’t want to hear about anyone in the Manor overstepping their bounds again. For past incidents, as long as they weren’t too severe and are promptly rectified, I can let them go. But if such things happen again in the future, not only will those who overstep be punished, but you, their supervisors who failed in your duties, will also face consequences—do I make myself clear?”
Those who had previously thought Theresa’s earlier punishments were too lenient now felt a wave of pressure bearing down on them and hastily agreed.