# 6
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Episode 6
The Duke's low voice froze the air around him.
Ruelia tried to guess the intent of the question he had just asked.
'What do I do? It seems the Duke has found out about my resignation.'
Kyles, as you know him, is not the type to cling to his subordinates too much.
-If you are no longer able to continue, just submit your resignation. I will let you leave whenever you want. So did my former assistants. –
So he said when they signed the employment contract.
If he discovered the resignation himf, he might expel her from the dukedom without hesitation, saying that those who had lost their passion were not needed here.
Ruelia swallowed.
You have not yet finished carefully calculating the timing of your resignation.
She needed more money, especially since the cost of Melissa's medication was not insignificant.
She has alternative sources of income from her diary, but the capital is not enough, and she needs to work for at least another two years.
So, now is definitely not the time.
‘If you fire me now, you will regret it, sir!’
Ruelia repeated in her heart, not knowing whether it was a curse or a wish.
“My lord Duke, well, this is...”
While she hesitated to answer, Kyles tensed as he waited for her response.
His life before she came was terrible.
Slow work, frequent daily mistakes, subordinates who are good at flattery but unable to provide correct advice. He always had to clean up their messes.
So, he had no intention of returning to those days.
Kyles clenched his fist.
'That damned resignation, if I destroy it every time I see it, won't it be over?'
He said she had to resign to leave the job. Without her, Ruelia can't leave.
An oral contract is also a contract, and it must be respected.
“No, my just question doesn't mean anything...”
But Ruelia's response was faster.
“I enjoy working with you more, sir, haha.”
He did not feel comfortable, but rather nervous. Are you thinking of returning to Countess Bellona?
Did someone try to steal the Duchy of Aber's aid? Who is he?
'The imperial family?'
Only the Imperial Family would dare target the Duchy's talent.
But that is unlikely.
The imperial family, which sanctifies lineage and family, does not employ women from the common people except as servants.
Ruelia would not resign to work in a job like this, especially with such a low salary.
'Maybe she's lost because of the difficulty of the work.'
Kyles came to his own conclusion.
“That's good. If you feel tired, tell me. I'll give you time off when I find time. And as for your salary...”
He knew very well what Ruelia needed.
“From next week, I will increase it by 500 gold pieces per week.”
Ruelia's eyes widened.
Her surprise quickly faded, and happiness took its place.
“Thank you, Monsieur Duke!”
Ruelia bowed deeply, then straightened. There was no longer any confusion in her bright eyes.
Kyles watched this with satisfaction before speaking.
“By the way, do you have a dress for the banquet?”
“Oh, right, it's a celebratory banquet, right? So, I'll need a suitable dress.”
Ruelia looked puzzled.
She had never attended a noble banquet as a guest.
She was always waiting in the carriage or supervising arrangements with the servants.
“Can a dress be made in two weeks?”
I felt embarrassed.
Why did they send the invitation so late?
If you had spent a fortune, the sewing shop might have produced a dress on time.
But spending money on such a thing makes the hands of Ruelia, a commoner girl, tremble.
“Okay, I'll take care of your dress. It's best if both partners coordinate their outfits together.”
"What? Partner? Who? Me? Your partner, sir?"
Ruelia released a series of question marks like a broken down machine.
“So, in what capacity did you think you would accompany me?”
The corner of Kyle's mouth rose like a soft meringue.
He no longer thinks about resigning.
“Ah, well, that makes sense.”
Ruelia answered indifferently, lost in other thoughts.
She had a brilliant idea to change the planned future and keep her perfect job and high salary.
'If the Duke's love is fulfilled, there would be no reason for him to turn evil, right?'
If you remove the root cause, its perfect function will remain forever.
Monogamous love.
A word not at all appropriate for the ideal duke.
“The Duke’s partner...”
Ruelia muttered to herf, arranging a realistic plan in her mind.
Kyles responded.
“Yes, because you are my ‘assistant’.”
Emphasize one word in particular.
Ruelia understood her master's words without missing anything.
It belongs to the Duchy of Aber. For the sake of the family's reputation, she should dress properly, right?
“Okay, I will gratefully accept your generosity.”
Ruelia held the hem of her skirt and bent her knees slightly, like a lady being invited to the first dance at a banquet.
Suddenly, Kyles felt like he was back in the training ground.
His heart was beating as fast as it had felt after running a hundred laps.
Looks like he needs to see a doctor.
* * *
When Ruelia returned to the vicinity of the training ground, it was lunch time.
She was later than she expected due to her report on the location of the new granary during her meeting with the Duke.
Kyles was listening so seriously that she didn't notice the passage of time. She also had to prove that she deserved a pay raise.
“As expected of a duke.”
She wrote in her diary that a small lake near the site of a possible warehouse would overflow, causing an epidemic in the duchy.
Now, the lake doesn't look like it will ever overflow.
-You don't do anything in vain, so I trust you. Do what you want. It doesn't matter how much it costs. –
A president who blindly trusts his help.
How could she think of leaving such a master?
Not because her salary increased, of course. Although the 500 gold helped speed up her calculations.
'I have to get rid of my resignation letter before anyone sees it.'
She quickly searched every corner on her way to the square.
But it seems like it's too late.
“Oh, where did she disappear?”
She did not find any trace of the resignation letter in the places she passed.
Not a leaf, not even a leaf. Everything is clean, as if someone took it.
At that moment, she saw a group of knights gathered in a corner of the square.
They surrounded a small fireplace.
Ruelia Beilin caught sight of them. .
This in itf is a problem.
‘They will take her to the Duke for sure.’
Ruelia waved at Belin enthusiastically, pretending to be friendly.
“Sir Belin!”
“Help!”
Belen flinched as he threw something burning into the fireplace, then turned to her in amazement.
At the same moment, Ruelia recognized what he said.
'My resignation!'
What luck!
They used it as fuel without knowing that it was a resignation.
The knights of the duchy are undoubtedly her saviors.
Ruelia approached, rubbing her chest comfortingly.
Belen and the rest of the knights were frozen, watching her warily.
“Um… help.”
“It seems like you're training hard. If you need anything, let me know anytime. I'll try to work out a budget.”
Ruelia replied with a bright smile, full of gratitude to the knights who dropped the resignation letter.
"Okay! I mean!"
But Belen, who did not know her intentions, continued to stammer.
He looked like someone who had been caught doing something bad.
The other knights clicked their tongues at his stupidity, then exchanged glances.
They nodded their heads in turn, as if they had agreed on a decision.
One of them turned to Ruelia, and then the rest followed.
“Help, we have something to say.”
The eyes of the knight who spoke first were serious, carrying the determination of a leader advancing on the battlefield.
Courage.
The knights of the duchy encouraged their comrade.
“What's wrong?”
“Miss, what do you think of our Lord Duke?”
“Answer honestly.”
They were serious. And desperate too.