Chapter 233 - Diplomatic immunity...?
A few days after her conversation with Beldon, Scarlett returned to Freybrook late in the afternoon from a day-long dungeon expedition, accompanied by her party. As they arrived, the party members quickly dispersed to deal with their own business, while Scarlett was greeted by Garside in the foyer as she was heading to her office.
“My Lady,” the elderly butler began, his well-groomed mustache moving slightly. “Young Lady Evelyne asked me to relay that she received a response from the Rising Isle while you were away.”
Scarlett paused, turning towards him. “Where is she now?”
“In her office, my Lady. Would you like me to send for her?”
“No, that will not be necessary. I will go to her myself,” Scarlett decided, proceeding to ascend the stairs to the third floor of the mansion’s western wing, where Evelyne’s office was located.
This wing primarily housed the majority of the staff and functioned as the center for most of the estate’s operational needs, making it an unusual choice for the barony’s current heir to have her office. Those unfamiliar with the nuances of Scarlett and Evelyne’s relationship might interpret this as a sign of animosity or malice on Scarlett’s part. However, Evelyne had chosen her office location freely, and as Scarlett understood it, the woman simply preferred the western wing for its ample space and functionality — two qualities she needed after having brought on a number of new people to deal with her increased workload in recent months.
Although, to be fair, most of that increased workload was because of Scarlett. She could at least acknowledge that she hadn’t exactly made life easier for Evelyne since coming here. While she wasn’t sure if she was truly capable of pitying Evelyne for the additional burdens, she did respect that the woman still tackled these challenges with zeal and efficiency.
Scarlett often wondered what she would have done if she couldn’t rely on Evelyne’s support in managing the noble household and all its related businesses. If she’d been responsible for all of that, coupled with all the game-related things here, the weight placed on her shoulders would undoubtedly have been far greater.
Case in point, after receiving crucial information from Beldon, Scarlett had needed to make contact with representatives from the Rising Isle, but she’d been uncertain how to go about handling that. The Rising Isle could be a contentious topic among certain circles in the empire, one which she had no previous experience handling. Evelyne, however, already had connections with the Isle due to the barony’s previous dealings in selling artifacts to them.
Upon arriving at Evelyne’s office, Scarlett knocked just once before entering.
The office was modest in size, filled with shelves packed with ledgers and books on governance and law, all illuminated by simple wall-mounted lamps. A large oak desk occupied one corner, cluttered with scrolls and documents, beside which lay an assortment of quills, ink pots, and wax seals for official correspondences. A detailed map of the empire hung on the opposite wall, seeming to highlight certain key trade routes and regional specialties.
Evelyne, seated behind the desk with her dark auburn hair framing her face, looked up in mild surprise as Scarlett entered.