I Won't Clear Up the Misunderstanding. I Don't Mind Being the Villainess. - Chapter 37

Rain and I popped in to see how he was, and Holger had already finished writing the letter.
He looked much calmer now. I wondered if the painkiller had kicked in.
“My Lady, could you please look this over for me?”
As I approached, Holger said this and held out the unsealed letter. He even tried to sit up straight, so I hurried to stop him.
“You’re injured, so don’t be silly and strain yourself. Right, let’s have a read.”
I scanned the letter I’d taken from him.
The first thing I noticed was a long-winded apology to Kevin for having failed in his duties. Following that was his intention to recommend his son, Carvel, as his successor, along with Carvel’s brief career history.
He was twenty-four, single, the second son. And until a few months ago, he had been working at the castle as a clerk.
The letter contained both information I already knew about Carvel and some I didn’t. I knew from the comic that he was a former clerk, but I hadn’t heard that he worked at the castle.
“You mentioned Carvel was working as a clerk, but is it really alright for him to suddenly switch to being a house steward?”
“You can just call my foolish son Carvel, My Lady. I’ve already had him learn the duties of a house steward as my designated successor.”
If that’s the case, though, why on earth was he working as a clerk at the castle instead of here at Abenius House? It made me pause.
“Carvel, that brings back memories. He used to be an apprentice attendant at the Ducal Residence, didn’t he?”
It was only for a short time, Rain added, turning to Holger.
Holger gave a look that was truly difficult to read.
“Yes, Sir.”
“It seemed like he and Kevin didn’t get along, but is everything fine now?”
“…Things are different now than they were back then. Though, of course, the Duke will make the final decision on hiring him,” Holger said quietly.
If the story follows the original work, Kevin will definitely hire Carvel.
Still, this was the first I’d heard about Kevin and Carvel having a poor relationship.
True, in the original story, “A Single Flower Melts the Ice,” they both shared the common thread of loving Erica. At first glance, they might seem like romantic rivals.
But Carvel never once breathed a word about his feelings for Erica. Which, naturally, made sense, since she was the wife of the master he served.
In my previous life, I was a reader, which meant I had a god’s-eye view of the characters’ inner thoughts. Carvel and Erica held faint affection for each other, but they never expressed it. Erica only realised those feelings were love after Carvel drowned while protecting her.
After that, Kevin tried to look after her and heal her emotional wounds, unaware that Erica had been close to loving Carvel. Even so, it was typical of Kevin to be jealous of Carvel for monopolising Erica’s heart with his death and the resulting sadness.
(…It feels more like Carvel ended up assisting Kevin’s romance by dying, rather than being a true rival.)
But I have absolutely no intention of letting him drown this time, and since Kevin’s relationship with me is completely cold, that won’t even be an issue.
I carefully folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope.
“Quite right, it is the Duke who decides. Holger, may I take this letter now?”
“Yes, please do.”
I nodded to him as he bowed his head and then turned my attention to Rain.
“I’m heading to the Duke’s office now, but what are your plans, Dr. Rain?”
“I think I’ll head home soon. I need to prepare that medical kit for the Duchess… You want it as soon as possible, don’t you?”
“Yes, ideally.”
Rain nodded, understanding. I turned back to Holger.
“Right, I’m going to see the Duke now, but you’re sure you don’t need to check with your son first?”
“That’s quite alright. My foolish son is currently unemployed, and it was already decided he would take over should I be unable to continue as the house steward.”
“…I understand.”
Holding the envelope, I left the room and headed toward the Duke’s office.
It was shocking, though, that Kevin had shown absolutely no reaction to Holger suffering a slipped disc in the corridor. He hadn’t even sent a messenger to check in.
I had shouted out loud for help, so I didn’t think there was any chance he hadn’t noticed the commotion.
Could he even be in the mansion?
Thinking this, I knocked on the door of the Duke’s office. I got an immediate response.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Erica, Your Grace. I need to speak to you about Holger.”
“Enter.”
“Excuse me.”
I opened the door, and of course, Kevin was there. The portrait of Lily was displayed on the wall behind him.
Recalling my previous exchanges with Kevin in this room, I regretted, too late, not bringing a guard with me.
(…But even a guard is a Ducal servant. If Kevin ordered them not to interfere, that would be the end of it.)
Thinking about that just made me furious at how weak my position was. I realised yet again that I desperately needed my own assets, including servants, that were truly mine.