I Reincarnated As A Villainess, But Why Did I Become A Cat Butler Instead? - Chapter 93
Translator: Nabi
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Chapter 93
Even if I were to leave Blois, the shelter established under Blois’s name would continue to operate because Dimitri promised to do so.
‘Besides, even if I were to step down from the position of Blois’ Duchess, I would still be able to visit the shelter.’
Since the shelter would be treated as an institution operated by Blois, I was supposed to maintain a cooperative relationship as an individual who could provide assistance to the institution at any time.
In that sense, the intention was to set up the shelter using the welfare funds from Blois.
It was actually a plan that Dimitri fleshed out after I told him I wanted to open up a shelter. No matter what happens with our contractual marriage, he mentioned that the shelter was a gift to me and he would continue to allow me to be involved with the shelter in the future, even after the divorce.
I thought I would completely leave Blois after the divorce and not look back, but he was surprisingly generous to me.
‘Once you get to know him, he’s truly a delicate and kind person.’
It was a mystery why someone like this was portrayed so negatively in the novel.
I comforted Baron Placen.
“Don’t worry too much. Everything will turn out fine.”
In addition, the elders wouldn’t dare to rashly mess with us now that they knew Dimitri was watching their actions.
Now was the perfect time to establish the shelter.
…That was what I thought.
As soon as the shapeshifters were moved to the shelter, it seemed like the council of elders had convened a meeting as if they had waited for this moment.
Dimitri and I, along with the elders, gathered once again in the assembly hall.
“That welfare fund is a personal fund meant for the Duchess to carry out charitable activities under the name of Blois. It can’t be used in a private manner like this.”
Count Schdental, whose white hair was scattered sparsely around his temples, seemed even more formidable, perhaps due to his appearance, as he sharply represented the council.
I didn’t step back and rebutted his statement.
“It’s not being used for a private matter. This is the charitable work I’m carrying out under the name of Blois.”
Another elder spoke with a determined attitude.
“No one would consider that charity work. Collecting shapeshifters is just the Duchess’s hobby, isn’t it?”
It was unbelievable for them to treat the shapeshifters as mere objects, especially in front of Dimitri.
“Collecting? Even though they may be in the servitude class, slaves aren’t objects. They are beings with the same intelligence as us. Please choose your words carefully.”
“Ha! To say that shapeshifters have the same intelligence as us!”
Count Charlerois sneered as if finding the idea ridiculous. At that moment, Dimitri, who had been observing, stared at him with an emotionless gaze and calmly spoke without even a hint of anger.
“Is the Count trying to forget or pretending to forget the fact that the person overseeing you is a shapeshifter?”
Count Charlerois’s face grew pale under the pressure.
“I, I made a slip of the tongue. How could I say such a thing? I meant to say slaves, not shapeshifters. It’s unthinkable for a slave to be equal to us.”
“A slip of the tongue?”
Dimitri scoffed.
“Aren’t you aware that you are entrusted with an important responsibility, representing the nobles who support Blois? If you’re so frivolous as to speak in such a solemn setting, one can only imagine how you might ridicule me and Blois in public.”
“I-I didn’t mean it like that, I would never…!”
Dimitri seemed unwilling to let go of Count Charlerois. In addition, he probably had no intention of doing so. Right now, it would be most advantageous for us in the current situation to steer the meeting by deflecting the topic of his attack on me in this manner.
The chairman, Count Schdental, seemed to realize that, as he didn’t intervene to protect Count Charlerois and tried to bring the conversation to an end.
“That behavior just now was quite unpleasant even for us who serve Blois, Count Charlerois. Please be more careful.”
Despite the fact that he tried to cover it up appropriately, Dimitri didn’t back down.
“Come to think of it, there have been reports lately about tolls being levied on Blois’ emissaries in the territory of Count Charlerois, causing damages to their business.”
As he finished his words, Count Charlerois anxiously mopped away sweat while his gaze flicked toward Count Schdental. It was truly callous to see Count Schdental, who should have stood by his side, exhibiting indifference, leaving Charlerois to fend for himself.
‘It seems that the harmony among the elders, which has been maintained until now, has become strained due to the slave trader issue.’
Count Charlerois had been adroitly traveling to and from himself within Blois, all while meticulously gauging Dimitri’s reactions. Nonetheless, over the past few days, it had become apparent that Count Schdental had firmly cast him aside.
Seizing this opportune juncture, Dimitri astutely seized upon this rift, biting down on Count Charlerois’s lack of qualities befitting an elder. Unfortunately, no one was willing to come to the aid of Count Charlerois, who was abandoned by the chairman, Count Schdental.
In the end, Count Charlerois was expelled from the meeting.
“Wa-Wait! Give me a chance to explain! Let go of me!”
Given his unwillingness to step out on his own, he was carried and escorted by the obliging knights, his feet dangling as they bore him out for his departure. The sight was too mortifying for the elders who had been close to Count Charlerois.
Unable to witness their friend’s humiliating state, they turned their gazes away.
‘By the time the trial concerning the slave issue with the Emperor concludes, it seems that Blois’ council of elders will undergo changes once more.’
I could sense such signs as I glanced at Dimitri, who scrutinized the elders as if they were prey.
When Count Schdental clearly brought up the topic related to the shapeshifters’ shelter once more after Count Charlerois’s exit, the elders turned their attention back to me and began speaking again.
“There are many orphans in the world and plenty of poor people as well. We can’t waste taxes on caring for shapeshifters and looking after them.”
Anticipating such a question, I responded firmly.
“If you’re so concerned about orphans, why not have the elders step forward and volunteer their services instead of confining the responsibility only to Blois?”
“I’m mentioning this because we have the welfare budget that can be utilized for such purposes within Blois, don’t we? We’re also putting efforts in our own way towards welfare…!”
In order to get the desired answer, the debate went back and forth in circles without making any concessions.
It was then that Count Schdental, pretending to calm down the overheated atmosphere in the meeting, opened his mouth in a meaningful tone to me.
“It might be worth keeping in mind that besides the emissaries of Blois, many nobles of the Empire are also observing the actions of the Duchess.”
He seemed quite composed for someone who was ostensibly paying attention to Dimitri’s reactions.
However, aside from that, during this meeting, Count Schdental didn’t take as prominent a role as initially expected despite the fact that he originally raised the issue of the welfare fund’s usage, pointing out that it was the personal funds of the Duchess of Blois, which fell under my jurisdiction.
He made it clear that if I remained steadfast in my stance, it’d be an issue the council of elders couldn’t further hinder.
‘…He’s withdrawing too easily, considering that he urgently convened the council of elders.’
It seemed that I wasn’t the only one who thought it was strange. As we left the meeting and reconvened in my office, Dimitri warned me.
“It seems like Count Schdental is orchestrating something.”
“I thought the same. The council of elders has been suppressed enough, and now everything has been hurriedly concluded after saying it’s my responsibility, right?”
“It might be a good idea to keep an eye on the elders. If you notice anything strange, let me know.”
“Alright.”
As I was about to part ways with him, I hesitated and sat back down.
“Is there something else you wanted to say?”
“It’s not certain yet, so I was planning to tell you a bit later.”
“I’ll listen to you, so please go ahead and tell me.”
“It’s about Dieppe Leon.”
When the topic of a relative came up, Dimitri narrowed his brows as if he wasn’t pleased.
“Did that herbivore-like guy do something?”
“Herbivore-like…?”
I recalled my first impression of witty Dieppe. Even though I thought he seemed to have about twice as many teeth as others*, I remembered him not giving off a particularly gentle and mild impression like a herbivore.
[ T/N: I mentioned this before, but just in case somebody forgot! The phrase ‘이가 두 배쯤 많다’ (literally, ‘having about twice as many teeth’) is often used metaphorically to describe someone who is quick-witted, clever, or sharp-minded. Also… he also literally has more teeth than normal people. ]
Sensing my curiosity, Dimitri explained with a nonchalant expression.
“Those who eat plants tend to have many teeth.”
“Hmp!”
If I had been drinking something, I would have spewed it out. Unable to contain myself due to our unexpectedly seamless telepathy, I burst into giggles.
Why did Elaine’s comment from earlier come to mind all of a sudden?
‘Similar? Maybe…’
As I laughed a little too much, Dimitri, who didn’t seem to have been joking, also chuckled.
“Laughing at someone else’s appearance… pfft, it’s not right, Dimitri.”
“How hypocritical of you since you’re the one who laughed first.”
“To be honest, my sense of humor is too shallow to extend to anyone other than my cats.”
“If that’s the case, it doesn’t matter since I never had a good sense of humor to begin with.”
Forgetting that we were in the midst of a serious conversation, we exchanged jokes for a while before finally returning to the main topic.
“Anyway, I wanted to mention that Dieppe left.”
“Did he look like he had something up his sleeves?”
“Madam Elbas seemed quite fond of him. I wondered if there was a reason why they brought him here while the elders were in turmoil? Perhaps they intend to use him as a focal point to gather the scattered council members back together?”
Dimitri raised an eyebrow. He seemed to think that I was the only one who noticed that Madam Elbas intended to make Dieppe the next Duke.
“Sometimes you have an eerily good sense, Rowaine.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
I smiled obligingly and pretended to slightly lift the hem of my skirt.
“I’ve attached someone to Dieppe, so I’ll let you know about his movements.”
Dimitri said the exact same words that had been on my mind.
“Sounds good. If he’s suddenly trying to increase his influence within Blois’ social circle, it’s safe to assume that Madam Elbas and Count Schdental have prepared a significant countermeasure.”
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Translator’s Note: Hello, it’s Nabi! I’m the translator of this novel ପ( ๑•ᴗ•๑ )ଓ♡ If you like the novel and would like to support me, please feel free to click the button below to go to my kofi~! Thank you so much for always supporting the novels I work on, even if you don’t buy me a coffee, I really do appreciate it a lot. ❤︎
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Usurpadora
Eles são um casal tão bom, não posso acreditar que a Rowaine falou pra ele esquecer o beijo