Chapter 10
That Was Creepy in Its Own Way
Just imagining how hysterical Rosalyn would become after returning made his throat dry up in fear.
To make things worse, the head maid—who had always been good at catering to both the baroness and Rosalyn’s moods—had packed up and left not long ago.
‘Still, she’ll probably bring Emma back with her. That girl should be able to calm the young lady down, at least a little.’
Thinking of the bright, attentive maid who never failed to ask after his well-being whenever he sighed, he forced down his unease.
***
Three days after Ash came to see me, I boarded a train heading for Thesis.
It used to take a full twelve hours by carriage, but by train it was only four hours. The world really had changed for the better.
The train ride itself wasn’t bad. Sitting face-to-face with strangers felt awkward, but between watching the scenery outside, reading a book, and buying snacks sold on the train, I arrived at Thesis Station before I knew it.
Of course, from there I still had to ride a hired carriage for another hour before finally reaching Thesis Manor.
‘It hasn’t even been two months since I left, but it feels like it’s been forever.’
I fixed my hat again with a hairpin so that the veil wouldn’t slip down even by accident. That was the method I’d chosen to avoid having my identity exposed in Thesis.
If I said I was wearing a black veil to mourn my parents, who would dare question it?
When the carriage stopped at the main gate, Glenn came running out. He steadied his heavy breathing, opened the door, and took my hand.
“Welcome back, my lady.”
I responded only with a nod.
My heart pounded wildly, afraid he might look at me strangely at any moment.
‘Imagine it. I’m a baron’s daughter returning after losing her parents. I used to be a selfish, immature girl, but the sudden tragedy brought me to my senses.’
As I walked toward the sitting room with Glenn, I interpreted my assigned role and immersed myself in it.
I am Rosalyn Thesis. I am Rosalyn Thesis…
“Sit down, Glenn. I have something to say.”
Seated at the head of the table, I gestured for Glenn to take a seat as well. The veil obscured my face, but I could still feel his confusion.
“Is something wrong? And why did you return alone, my lady…?”
“Glenn.”
I took a deep breath.
“Mother and Father—no, my parents… passed away.”
For a moment, it felt as though time had stopped. Glenn stood frozen, eyes wide, not moving at all.
“W-What do you mean…?!”
“There was a fire at the townhouse where we were staying. I survived because I had gone out for a walk alone, but my parents…”
“My goodness…! I wondered why you were wearing a veil…”
I let out another deep sigh before continuing.
“I plan to wear the veil for three months. I don’t think I’ll ever truly finish mourning, but…”
“I understand, my lady. I truly do.”
Now that I’d explained why my face was covered, it was time to get to work. After giving Glenn a moment to process everything, I continued.
“Glenn, I need your help. I can hardly believe it myself, but they say I’m the Baron of Thesis now. I can’t let the family my father—no, my father—passed down to me fall apart in my generation.”
“My lady…!”
“I know I was childish and cruel before. I know that. But I’ll be different from now on. I won’t become a daughter my parents would be ashamed of.”
Thanks to the emotions I’d worked up, tears flowed naturally down my face. I took out a handkerchief and wiped my eyes, watching Glenn’s reaction.
Luckily, even in his confusion, he seemed deeply moved by ‘Rosalyn Thesis’s’ change.
As expected—when persuasion lacks logic, appealing to emotion works best. See? It worked.
‘This should serve as a decent excuse for my future behavior, too.’
I could act exactly like the real Rosalyn if I wanted—but if I did, this family would collapse without question. Reviving a falling house while behaving like the original Rosalyn Thesis was impossible.
And I had no intention of throwing away the noble status I’d obtained without even dying again.
I would tear down this shaky household and rebuild it properly—then live proudly like a real noble.
After wiping away the rest of my tears, I spoke resolutely.
“Did you prepare what I asked for in the letter? The documents that show the family’s financial situation.”
“There was nothing to prepare. Everything is kept safely in the secret safe in the late baron’s study.”
“Good. I’ll change clothes and check them immediately. Stay with me and explain everything.”
“Yes, my lady.”
This couldn’t have been welcome news for him—unexpected extra work, and on top of that, having to play the role of a tutor.
But I desperately needed his sincere help, so I spoke just as sincerely.
“I’m sorry. And thank you.”
At that, Glenn looked even more shocked than when he first heard of the baron and baroness’s deaths. Even through the veil, I could clearly see his widened eyes.
Yes—this was shocking. The spoiled, ill-tempered young lady apologizing and expressing gratitude to a servant.
I knew Rosalyn wasn’t the kind of person who would do that. This was a gamble: earn his trust, or raise his suspicion.
I placed my bet because I knew Glenn Hill to some extent.
He was soft-hearted.
“I will offer what little strength I have, my lady—if it means you can become a great head of the Thesis family.”
As expected. The reason this man could never leave the Thesis household was surely that overly gentle heart of his.
‘Poor Mr. Glenn. Still… that’s lucky for me.’
Even though I was exhausted from switching between trains and carriages since early morning and desperately wanted to rest, I changed clothes right away and headed to the baron’s study.
I used to carry tea here—now I was sitting in the lord’s seat. Life really is strange.
From the very day I arrived in Thesis, Glenn and I began our private lessons.
An ordinary commoner probably wouldn’t even understand what was written in the ledgers, but I could roughly follow Glenn’s explanations—thanks to the turbulent, complicated life I’d lived.
“So this is accounts receivable, this is current cash, and this is bank debt?”
“Yes. The reason bank debt is listed as an asset is—”
“Debt is obviously my asset too. You can grow money using borrowed money.”
“…That’s correct. Did the late baron ever give you any training as an heir, my lady?”
I hesitated, then simply smiled faintly and shrugged, letting him interpret it however he wanted.
“Our family’s finances are worse than I expected.”
I had anticipated trouble, but this was severe.
There was still some tax income, but the bank loans were the real problem. Just paying the monthly interest was overwhelming.
“Why did Father borrow so much money?”
“Well… about that…”
Glenn’s explanation was infuriating.
Adam Thesis, who wanted to make a lot of money without much effort, invested a huge sum into an acquaintance’s business without properly investigating it.
And after receiving the investment, the other party completely disappeared.
‘He was scammed. Completely scammed.’
Another major issue was the Merchant Alliance, which was refusing to pay taxes. Not only that—they were receiving subsidies under the excuse of running a vigilante group.
‘We were handing money to the people who should be paying us. Unbelievable.’
Look at that. The world never leaves foolish, naïve prey alone—not even if that prey is a noble.
But I had no intention of remaining an easy target.
“Glenn. Let’s stop here for today. Tomorrow, contact the Merchant Alliance and arrange a meeting with them.”
“Y-You plan to meet them personally?”
“Of course. I’m the baron now.”
Glenn’s face lit up with emotion. Yes—that expression could only be described as gratitude.
“Th-Thank you, my lady! No—Baron!”
“Thank me for what? It’s my responsibility.”
Pretending not to notice why he was grateful, I muttered with a strange sense of discomfort.
“Come to think of it… this is the first time I’ve been called ‘Baron.’”
In truth, I was already the Baron of Thesis.
But in the Kingdom of Darka, young unmarried women were not addressed by their titles. It wasn’t law—it was custom.
Women who inherited titles early were usually called ‘Lady’ only after marriage. Even if I held the title, the one called ‘Baron’ would eventually be my husband.
‘No wonder even a rural noble house like Thesis could show its face in Herona—there’s such high demand for titles.’
So this is how noble society works.
But now that the title was mine, this convention irritated me deeply.
‘Is there a law saying women can’t be heads of households? I’m the one who’s going to save this miserable house.’
Clenching my teeth, I narrowed my tired, aching eyes.
