The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'-Chapter 377 - Can Finding Fraud Together Really Be Romantic…?

Chapter 377: Chapter 377 - Can Finding Fraud Together Really Be Romantic...?

The Goltbred estate’s main hall felt quite cavernous. After walking through the silent city that lacked even basic staff, Klaytei now moved through the familiar spaces like someone back in their element. Her key had opened the gates, the main doors, and so many things that Dima began to wonder if it wasn’t the very master key she claimed was in the study.

She also noticed how fingertips lingered on doorframes and furniture edges. As if seeking comfort from the textures. With wistful sighs that could ’only be’ for Elua er Goltbred... the young girl that the former liaison was sure this woman was devoted to quite one-sidedly.

"She always worked late when she was here. Sometimes I’d bring her tea and find her surrounded by books and papers, completely absorbed in whatever academic thing captured her attention."

The personal servant thought back to the girl at seven years old as she pushed open the door to her charge’s private study. A desk was positioned to catch the best light from a high window in a room that felt personal. With few but distinct decorations on shelves that were lined with carefully organized texts.

Wall mounts for essence lanterns whose design spoke of someone who valued both beauty and function. If she was forced to admit it... Dima was pretty jealous of the space. It was not exactly as she would make her own - especially the portraits of Qatrand er Yecine.

’I don’t want to die so badly that I would put those anywhere near my personal things. But the rest of it... someday I will have a place like this.’

Her office at the Guild branch was nice - *too nice*. But nothing about the position she’d been granted or the furniture... that was again chosen by the heiress, felt like it ’belonged’ to her. This room meanwhile felt very much like it belonged to the brunette.

Right down to the creepy feeling of being pressured by the young girl’s overwhelming intent.

"I used to scold her for working too hard. She’d just smile and promise to rest soon, but..."

The servant’s voice ’caught’ as she moved to the desk, running her palm across its polished surface. Her acting felt a little rusty after having been cramped at the fort with her family. Especially her young sister, she couldn’t let that one see her being disingenuous!

’I would be a bad influence on an already rowdy girl...’

"I’ve missed that smile these many weeks. I miss having someone to fuss over."

While one of them was hiding who they were talking about, picturing the former liaison skipping meals and being cooked for... the other was thinking that the room, this woman, and even herself all belonged to the heiress in their own ways.

Dima found herself really looking at Klaytei’s longing profile. At the genuine affection in her expression ’for that girl’. A strange irritation slowly prickled at her thoughts - yet why should she care that a servant was devoted to her employer?

’Perfectly natural, perfectly appropriate. Probably. Right?’

"The documents we need should be in this drawer. Lady Elua was meticulous about keeping copies of everything important."

The desk drawer was close to where Dima stood. The motion to unlock it brought a shoulder against the branch manager’s arm. The moment of contact was brief, but both - to varying degrees - found themselves oddly reluctant to step further away.

"Here they are. The original agreements for the branch office construction, signed in her hand and by the witnesses that were there."

Spreading the papers across the desk’s surface, Klaytei’s fingers were deft and sure as she organized them perfectly. Dima forced herself to focus on the documents rather than watching those oddly graceful movements. Sometimes when dealing with things for the heiress, she could seem excessive to the point of being clumsy.

’But she’s surprisingly... refined. Is it because that’s what is expected of working in an affluent household?’

"You were right. These numbers don’t match what was filed with the Guild offices at all. Someone’s been changing the records after the fact."

"Which means someone’s been setting up my Lady’s family for accusations of financial impropriety. Someone with a reach in many places. I won’t let that stand."

Klaytei’s voice hardened with protective anger - and something in Dima’s chest tightened at hearing such fierce loyalty. She’d never inspired that kind of devotion in anyone. She thought.

’How am I supposed to provide a good life for my Princess if I get fired?! Will I even be able to keep working with her at the branch if everything starts coming into question?’

"L-like I said before. This is clearly bigger than simple record-keeping errors. If we’re right about this... we should get someone more important involved. Those books you kept were really detailed, they will be good evidence."

She could barely believe that the full ledgers of the estate were allowed to be copied and kept off-site by a mere servant. That was the sort of information political rivals and top merchants would love to get their hands on, foisted onto a mortal!

"You’re right. Then we need to find out how deep this goes before the people responsible can use it against the family."

Klaytei moved to another cabinet, producing additional files with the efficiency of someone who knew exactly where everything belonged. She tossed them onto the desk and pulled out the chair - but not for herself.

"Please, sit and review these. I am going to go make tea and check around the house for... changes."

"Shouldn’t I go with you?"

Hearing the slight insistence made the woman’s heart soar, but she shook her head firmly.

"I’ll be fine. And if I were to go missing... that would just be more suspicious, right?"

Watching her leave the room while locking the door behind her, Dima felt a growing resentment. For the heiress who commanded such devotion. Without even being present to appreciate it, she had someone looking out for her. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

The former liaison was not sure she had ever had that. Not from someone other than family... and even they did not approve of or support her fully.

⟠ ⟠ ⟠

Humming happily as she entered the kitchen, a certain personal servant tilted her head at a soft sound. She pretended that she didn’t hear the vermin as she began to open a few cabinets. All perishable food was removed and taken from the larders, but she was sure that no one had touched the secret places.

Elua had shown some of them to her, the few that held stocks of tea in special containers meant to preserve their freshness. Holding and twisting it where she had been instructed, the lid unsealed smoothly and the scent of fine leaves quickly overpowered her light perfume.

"I hope she’ll like this kind. She seemed a little particular about tastes that were too rich. I’ll taste test it first and add something to make it smoother if necessary."

As she boiled the water and prepared a set of the servant’s cups - she was sure Elua would not mind if she used anything other than the set given to her on her wedding, but overstepping was overstepping! - a few more of those soft movements were caught.

Her young sister had long complained that she had the ears of a cultivator. Catching every whispered complaint or insult from the girl before her ’second mother’ mode flipped and made Klaytei scold her appropriately. The servant couldn’t wait to introduce her family to the former liaison!

Another quiet scratch, this one distinctly from the pantry area. Klaytei’s expression shifted from domestic contentment to something far more determined. She quickly reached for the heavy cleaver hanging from its hook.

’Oh no, you don’t. Not in my kitchen. Not while I am preparing my Princess anything.’

With quick feet, she moved with surprising stealth toward the sound. The cleaver glinted in what light came through the kitchen window and by the fire now heating the kettle toward a boil.

Approaching like someone who had dealt with persistent rodent problems before. One hand on the door handle with the cleaver raised in the other - to chop down if it bolted out on her - she jerked the door open with sudden force.

"Got you, you-"

The words died in her throat as russet fur and amber eyes stared back at her with intelligent calm. Clearly not a rat of a variety she’d ever seen. Not even a normal house pest! A fox was there as if it belonged, sitting primly among scattered grain sacks... that most certainly did not belong there.

’Nothing should have been left here. And these have Ironclad and Army stamps on them...’

More unsettling, the creature had somehow gotten into a hidden compartment of Elua’s she was certain had been properly sealed. The creature’s muzzle was even dusted with what looked like the expensive imported nuts from across the continent.

And it showed absolutely no fear of either her or the blade in her hand. Though inside, aided by the increased thinking capacity of the avatar, it was definitely thinking it had some kind of fate with extremely terrifying females.

"How did you... that’s impossible. This latch requires... and that spot needed you to..."

The fox tilted its head and made a soft chittering sound, almost conversational. Then it deliberately pawed at the remaining contents of the bag taken from the hidden space. Before tilting its head as if asking permission to continue its feast.

Klaytei lowered the cleaver slowly. Its behavior was far too purposeful for a wild animal. Too knowing. And those eyes held a glimmer of awareness that made her skin prickle with unease.

"You’re not just any fox, are you? Someone’s pet? You feel like those birds of hers..."

’Beautiful, demanding little tyrants who somehow make you want to take care of them anyway. Infuriatingly charming and completely aware of it! Just like their owner...’

Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnovel(.)com