The morning after Eleanor disappeared, the breakfast gathering at the Earl Cromwell residence was wrapped in a somewhat buoyant atmosphere.
“Fufu, to think Sister stormed out putting on such a brave front like that.”
Marianne, dressed in a negligee lavishly trimmed with lace, chuckled to herself as she spread honey generously on her toast.
Across from her, Cedric — who had been staying over since the previous night — was elegantly tipping a teacup to his lips.
“By now she’s probably crying and regretting it at some cheap inn in the royal capital. That woman is stubborn and prideful. If we let her cool her head for a few days, she’ll definitely come crawling back pale-faced saying ‘I was wrong.'”
“Yes, that’s right. When that happens, let’s forgive her kindly. After all, Sister will have to help behind the scenes with the preparations for my wedding.”
The Earl, too, puffed on his pipe with a satisfied air.
“Indeed. If Eleanor gets a bit of a scolding, she’ll learn her place. Marianne, you just take care of your health. The change of engagement and the renunciation of inheritance rights were submitted to the Council of Nobles this morning. As for the rest of the practical work, it can just be sorted out however.”
The Earl did not even glance at the approval documents placed at the end of the dining table.
Normally, Eleanor would come by the time breakfast ended. If she returned, he could just have her explain everything all at once.
Three hours later, the old butler came rushing into the study clutching that bundle of documents.
“M-master! Regarding the bank documents due by noon today…!”
Along with the documents, the old butler held out a small, folded piece of paper.
“What is it, making such a racket. Is it a letter of apology from Eleanor?”
The Earl furrowed his brow in displeasure, and the butler shook his head vigorously.
“N-no…! The young lady is not in her room. Her travel bag is gone, and on her desk there was this note left behind…!”
The Earl snatched the paper and unfolded it roughly.
It was not fine stationery, just a plain memo sheet.
On it, in Eleanor’s flowing, familiar handwriting, a short message was written:
“There is no handover document. I leave all duties and authority to you capable people.”
“Wha…!?”
The Earl’s hand trembled.
“W-what is the meaning of this!? Where is the loan extension application to the Royal Bank that was supposed to be settled this week!? What about the compilation of the tax reduction petitions from the territory’s people!? Where is the budget allocation for next month’s social season!?”
The old butler, with trembling fingers, pointed to the top of the bundle.
“The application is here. The young lady had been requesting your approval since last week…”
“Then just submit it!”
“I’m told the bank won’t accept it unless additional collateral is decided upon.”
The Earl pulled the paper toward himself. In the margin, candidate properties and their yields were noted in Eleanor’s fine handwriting.
But which land should be let go of, and which should be kept — the Earl had no idea.
“The ledgers! Bring me the ledgers!”
He opened the ledgers brought from the bookshelf. The dates and accounts were all properly recorded.
Even so, sweat beaded on his forehead just from comparing the entries.
Normally, Eleanor would explain the key points. If the Earl refused to listen and sent her away, she would come back again before the deadline. It was also she who went to the bank to request an extension.
The documents remained. But there was no daughter who would come bowing her head again and again until her father felt like listening.
Just then, Cedric came rushing in from the hallway, his face drained of color.
“Earl! What is going on!?”
“Cedric, sir…?”
“Just now, a courier came at a gallop from my family’s — the Marquessate’s — treasury officer! Saying, ‘Finalize the repayment plan for the loan to the Earl’s house by the end of today!’ It’s a strict order from my father! Eleanor was supposed to have drawn up a proposal!”
“S-such a thing, I know nothing of! I left all matters of money entirely to Eleanor!”
“You left it to her… you mean to say you didn’t even grasp your own daughter’s work!?”
The old butler pulled out yet another sheet from the bundle.
“This as well is something that was awaiting Master Cedric’s confirmation…”
Cedric fell silent. It was the paper Eleanor had brought before last night’s discussion. He recalled having sent her away, telling her to save talk of money for later.
The two of them, who until yesterday had mocked each other saying things like “Eleanor is nothing but sturdy, replaceable at any time,” now began hurling insults at one another, spit flying.
Marianne, hearing the commotion, timidly poked her face into the study.
“Um… everyone, what’s wrong? If you raise your voices like that, my chest starts to…”
Normally, Cedric would have paled and rushed to catch her in his arms.
But now, Cedric’s eyes were bloodshot with anger and impatience.
“Marianne! You too said ‘It’s fine even without Sister,’ didn’t you!? Then read this repayment plan right now and explain what needs to be fixed!”
Thrust in front of her face with the bundle of documents, Marianne caught her breath.
“Eh…? B-but, I can’t read difficult documents full of numbers like this… Cedric, please don’t make such a scary face…”
Marianne let tears spill, one after another.
Normally, those tears would have appeared to him as “what an adorable, delicate woman I must protect.” But to Cedric now, they looked like nothing more than useless, spoiled whimpering.
Cedric clicked his tongue and spat out the words:
“…If crying solved anything, no one would ever struggle! Hey, send someone out right now! Search the inns, ask the carriage drivers too! Bring Eleanor back!!”
The Earl pushed the documents in front of him aside.
Cedric, too, made no move to pick up a pen.
While they squabbled over who would go searching, the bell tolled to announce noon.