Be My Heroine Chapter 42
New Count Gordon (2)
Beth kept a calm appearance despite the chaos that ensued. For some it was natural, but it still surprised the nobles.
To appoint a commoner as an aristocrat’s guardian!
Claire was unfamiliar with other nobles. Even then, Beth was the only one who was confident in her. The young Claire was aware of this. She knew Beth was the only one who would protect her.
“Cl, Claire!”
On the floor, the deposed Count looked up at Claire with despair. Beth returned his gaze with indifference and replied,
“So, what was your given name? I forgot because it wasn’t important.”
Anger was engraved on his face. She knew he wanted to strangle her thin neck and snap it like a twig, but he couldn’t. The knights would stop him.
The former Count glared at Beth. In response, she said,
“You shouldn’t force children to understand the circumstances of adults.”
When the former Count begged Claire it soured Beth’s mood. What did his own inferiority complex toward his superior brother have anything to do with Claire? This was what Beth thought.
” Your Honor.”
Beth stood up and faced him with a tranquil face.
She wasn’t just any maid. Now she was Count Claire Gordon’s guardian.
With polite deference, Beth asked,
“No matter how wrong he was, he is still the Uncle of my master. Would it be okay for us to determine his punishment?
The judge was flustered at the question. When he turned to Claire, she hesitated then nodded her head.
“I will allow it.”
Thus, the trial concluded.
Court proceedings did not feel as strict as Korea. In fact, should she say, it was flexible? Just like in a drama, it was easy to win their case.
Beth scorned the deposed count who was now a criminal. She still couldn’t recall his name. She couldn’t be bothered to learn his name, but what should she call him now?
At Beth’s cold expression, the Count screamed evilly.
“For four years!! You’ve forgotten my generosity towards you!!! You planned this!!”
“No, I never planned for this. It just turned out this way.”
Beth planned to pull the Count along until she reached her goal. However, the schedule would have been pushed back. If the Count had never expelled Beth, he would have continued to live in extravagance.
Still, the outcome would have been the same. In fact, it might have led to a more calamitous end.
While the Count screamed, Beth thought how glad she was that Claire was in the other room.
The Count’s soldiers maintained eye contact with Beth.
Beth explained the punishment she planned for the removed Count.
“Still, I should prepare a remote location for the esteemed Count, correct? Claire’s room on the top floor of the tower is available…I’ll allow the Count to stay there.”
“…!!!”
“You cannot leave the room to socialize. Occasionally, someone will visit and hit you to release their anger . Oh, also the roof leaks when it rains…Well, I’ll provide some food. If I remember.”
“…What!!”
“What’s the matter? The young miss endured such treatment, yet you can’t? You should be prepared to live with such conditions for at least eight years.”
Beth said, rolling her eyes and continued,
“Then, on the eighth year, I’ll send over a new maid. If she wants to help you, you’ll be able to come out, but if she doesn’t…then stay there forever.”
It would be better to die. Beth swallowed such words.
“Perfect, isn’t it?”
Beth then left the hysterical Count to the soldiers. As her eyes were poisoned by the view before her, her headache began to throb again.
Once the ex-Count was locked away in the tower, she sold all of the previous Count’s and Countess’ possessions. What she really wanted to do was throw it all away, but that would waste money. Money. Despite the items being used, they still fetched a good price.
Still, money was wasted.
Beth devised a plan to send the couple deeper into hell.
She planned to ensure the couple would have no private property, not even one silver. Perhaps just one copper coin. Then she shook her head upon her exceedingly generous and compassionate thought.
A person shouldn’t be so weak-minded.
Daniel, the butler that the former Count and Countess fired, was sought after and rehired. It was certain that the only reason he was fired was because he did not support the previous master’s actions. So Beth intended to delegate more work to him.
As for the six maids who were unfairly fired by the former Countess, Beth struck a deal. She offered a higher salary than before and wrote letters of recommendation to the rest. This allowed them to work for other nobles.
Jenny was also sent a recommendation letter to work for another aristocrat as her relationship with Kedrick was ambiguous. It was the least Beth could do for her.
Claire moved from the mansion’s top floor to the previous Count’s room.
“….Wow.”
Claire looked around to see how nice her new room would be. The best part was that she could not see the tower out the window in this room.
Beth made the decision to move Claire to this room.
“Master, do you like the room?”
“… yes! But ……”
Claire would laugh without care the last few days whenever she was with Beth. Now she looked at Beth and pondered.
“But?”
“You know…”
Claire wondered if she could say how she felt. Therefore, Beth encouraged her to say whatever is on her mind.
“I like Beth calling me Miss….”
“….”
Claire mumbled because the word “Master” bothered her
“That’s what I like ……”
The title “Master” was more suitable considering Claire’s new position than “Miss”. But Claire didn’t want it, so Beth just smiled and nodded in agreement.
“If my lady wants it, then I will follow her request.”
Claire’s face beamed at Beth’s response and hugged her.
“Beth, I really like it.”
“Me too, Miss.”
Did Claire really know everything Beth had done for her until now?
Warm rays of sunlight shined on them. Beth’s straw-colored hair sparkled in the light and appeared blonde.
“Ahem.”
It was the sound of a young child who cleared his throat.
Beth looked behind her.
“Ryan.”
“Beth, I have something to say.”
“Good, I also have something to say.”
Beth responded and then asked Claire to wait. She then led Ryan to a vacant room next door.
Then she handed over some documents that she had kept to Ryan.
“What is this?”
“… Application for admission?”
Beth debated whether she could actually call it an application for admission.
“Where am I going?”
“Right. Starting today, Count Gordon will sponsor you, Ryan.”
On the document Beth handed over contained the name, Ryan.
“… Ryan.”
It wasn’t Aiden, it was Ryan. ‘Ryan’ was a fake alias given to him. However, during this short time, he became more used to ‘Ryan’ than his given name ‘Aiden’.
While the child suppressed the prickly feeling in his heart, he asked calmly,
“For what?”
“…. for the development of the Innomore Empire magic association?”
In the original story, Ryan accidentally was accepted into the Magic Association. During that time, it was discovered he was a genius who possessed unprecedented magical talent. He could even use divine power specializing in white magic.
He suffered only because he was poor with no backing.
As a common slave with no money, no family, and no support Ryan grew to be a man who became embittered toward the aristocrats. Later, he met a noble who did not act as a conventional aristocrat, Cecil. The story was cliché in that Ryan then became interested in such a person.
But what if, instead, he were sponsored? Would he still become bitter towards the nobility class if he was supported? Would he still be interested in Cecil? The moment Beth brought Ryan, or Aiden, was when his fate began to change.
Beth noticed Ryan carried an expression lost for words while he fiddled with the application.
“The Gordon family is very wealthy. And the Miss will support this fine privilege. Since it’s for a friend.”
“…friend?”
Ryan’s face subtly changed to a complex expression. He slowly closed and opened his big eyes and looked at Beth.
“Do you think I can do it?”
“Become a wizard? Of course, you can.”
“No….”
Carefully, he considered his next words, as if he were going to say something serious. Slowly he asked,
“Do you think I can… be a good friend to Claire?”
What was the meaning behind those words? Beth gazed at Ryan without a word. What was his intention? She didn’t understand the boy’s inner heart.
When Beth didn’t reply, Ryan’s face gradually darkened and lowered his head. He felt that this person was far superior to him. His eyes widened when he finally lifted his head. Beth had kneeled to his eye level. Her expression was just as complex. Quite different from her typical indifferent demeanor. She was strange. Yes, she was almost human.
Before Ryan could question what was wrong, Beth asked,
“Do you want to be a good friend to the lady?”
“….. Yes”
Ryan nodded his head. While she gently brushed the young boy’s soft, smooth hair, she replied,
“Then it is possible. To be good friends.”
Then she smiled lightly. Ryan clenched the papers in his hands.
“…yes.”
“Then you need to prepare for the future. You will be busy.”
Beth laughed inside. I don’t believe this. This will be the first thing I’ve done as a guardian.
Ryan smiled.
Beth prepared extra money for Ryan to spend. Then she prepared a letter of introduction even though she wasn’t particularly worried about Ryan being accepted. Besides, he will rank first in the aptitude test.
In fact, Beth was at ease.
Even so, to show consideration to the young boy, the Gordon estate sent forth their second-best carriage. That way his back and hips won’t hurt while on the long journey. Just in case, though, Beth requested Catherine to assist Ryan.
When she first met him, he was just a skinny boy unable to hide his aggression. Now he was still tough, but he had also grown to be compassionate.
He glanced at Beth, Claire, and Kedrick. They had a bag that was half his height.
“Ryan….”
Claire, who heard everything from Beth, looked at him with tears. She seemed regretful to have such an affectionate friend leave.
“Are you crying because I’m leaving?”
Ryan asked with a tone of embarrassment.
Claire shook her head.
“I’m already so sad… what if I want to see you.”
“I’ll come visit every vacation. What do you say? Hey, don’t cry!”
Ryan seemed to have gotten used to comforting Claire. Then he smiled.
“You have to cry when you’re happy! Save your tears!”
Look at that comment.
Beth glanced at Aiden with her eyebrows furrowed. They used to be just playmates, but now they look like the best of friends.
With a large and heavy load of luggage, Kedrick said,
“I’ll move this for you, Ryan.”
“… yes!”
Ryan stared at Kedrick silently for a long time. He then nodded without making a retort that Kedrick was a monster. Then the boy gave a big wave and climbed into the carriage. Afterwards, Kedrick placed the luggage on the opposite side under the seat.
Ryan considered how to say what he wanted to Kedrick. Then he started,
“Hey.”
“…What?”
Kedrick smiled as usual and looked at Ryan. He stared at Kedrick’s face and said,
“I said you were a monster.”
“Yes! You haven’t called me that way lately!”
Kedrick replied in a refreshing manner. Then he chuckled lightly
“I’ve been watching you, I mean….”
Then the moment the words fell, Kedrick could no longer laugh as usual.
“.… I think you look at Claire, so stop it.”
Ryan replied. He turned his red face around and told Kedrick to close the door. Kedrick exited out of the carriage without saying anything. After Catherine entered, he closed the door.
Even though the carriage left, Kedrick remained in place. Beth looked at him puzzled. Then she approached him.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s just. Suddenly, it was kinda amazing to hear a kind word come out of Ryan’s mouth.”
He didn’t tell Beth what he heard from Ryan. He just smiled and turned around.
Beth slowly blinked. She felt something was missing. A feeling she normally didn’t have.,
Yes, for a minute, Beth sensed it from Kedrick.
‘I’m sure…. ‘
Kedrick was obviously in despair.
“….”
Beth felt an uncomfortable feeling wrapped around her body.
“Beth, what are you doing not coming?”
Kedrick suddenly appeared with Claire in his arms. He smiled as usual and looked at Beth. While being carried, Claire also looked at Beth.
“I’m coming.”
Anyways, there was no way to know what it was now.
Beth pushed such uncomfortable thoughts from her head and followed to the mansion that now belonged to Claire.
Starting today, she was going to be very busy.
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