Ch.385Chapter 385 – The Repairman is a Family Man

Another peaceful day in the Gelebrio Empire.

I was handling the duties of the Grand Duke’s household with the Head Butler.

Originally, managing the Grand Duke’s household was Karen’s responsibility.

But would it be good for a pregnant woman to do strenuous work in early pregnancy?

Since the risk of miscarriage is high during early pregnancy, I told Karen that I would take over the Grand Duke’s household duties for about a month to prevent her from experiencing stress.

“Hmm, are you sure you’ll be alright? The duties of the Grand Duke’s household aren’t exactly easy.”

“I’ll be fine with the Head Butler by my side.”

To be honest, until then, I had underestimated how difficult the Grand Duke’s household duties could be.

“Your Grace. Here is this month’s tax report from the Grand Duchy.”

“…Why is this tax report so thick?”

“Well, naturally because it’s made of parchment for long-term preservation.”

Parchment is used in this world when records need to be preserved for a long time.

And tax reports from each territory must be written on parchment because they are related to the overall tax collection of the nation.

For reference, the parchment obtained from one fully grown sheep can make about 4 pages in the size used for making bibles.

For general document writing, about 8 pages can be produced.

Parchment isn’t as thick as one might think because the skin is stretched and flattened during the manufacturing process.

But the amount of parchment piled in front of me now… I’d guess it required hundreds of sheep.

“That’s quite a lot of paper for collecting taxes. Tax reporting is important, but I imagine it would take hundreds of sheep to make this much parchment.”

“Ah, you needn’t worry about that. Since tax reporting parchment requires uniform quality, we use artificial parchment manufactured by the Magic Tower.”

“Artificial parchment?”

According to the Head Butler, sheep skin is also used as fabric for making clothes, and because it was being used for various document records, there wasn’t enough fabric left to make clothes for people.

So the Magic Tower succeeded in developing parchment that regenerates to its original size when cut in half, utilizing the properties of slimes that divide when attacked.

Of course, it doesn’t divide infinitely; you need to spray it with a culture medium made from leftover parchment scraps or ground-up old or decayed leather or oils.

However, it was beneficial for both sides: the ruling class could receive a stable supply of consistent quality parchment, and the ruled class could receive a stable supply of sheep skin.

So all parchment used for official documents is artificial parchment.

“That’s somewhat of a relief, but is all that parchment dealing with just one matter?”

“Yes, that’s correct. That parchment contains the total taxes collected from the Aurelion Grand Duchy ‘this month’ and the basis for collecting those taxes.”

…Now I understand why tax offices and tax officials are so relentless in collecting taxes.

With so many documents to process, how troublesome would it be if even a small discrepancy existed between what was actually collected and what was recorded in the ledger?

Moreover, they would have to go back through all the documents they’ve reviewed to find where the discrepancy is…

Even I would naturally become stern if I had to do this work.

Anyway, I was slowly working through the Grand Duchy’s affairs with the help of the Head Butler.

Just then, the door suddenly opened, and the Head Maid appeared.

“What is it, Head Maid? His Grace is currently busy with tax-related matters.”

“I apologize, Your Grace. But the Grand Duchess is urgently looking for you.”

“The Grand Duchess?”

Karen is looking for me? Has something happened?

Just in case, I opened the desk drawer and took out the hammer that Ironbeard had made for me.

With this hammer, I could quickly heal even someone on the verge of death, no matter where I went.

‘Has something happened to Karen?’

Since it was common knowledge that early pregnancy is the most dangerous period, I rushed to her room in one breath, worried that something might have happened to her and our children.

“Karen!”

When I opened the door to Karen’s room, someone else was lying in the bed where Karen should have been, groaning.

And Karen was holding that person’s hand beside the bed.

“Patos.”

“What’s going on?”

The person whose hand Karen was holding was a woman who appeared to be about the same age as her.

But her complexion was so pale that she looked like she might breathe her last at any moment.

Shallow, rapid breathing.

Something was definitely wrong with her condition, perhaps she was ill?

“She’s an older sister I’ve been close with since childhood, and she came to congratulate me on my pregnancy. But…”

“She suddenly fell ill?”

“Yes. She suddenly collapsed and started breathing heavily. The problem is that she’s also pregnant, so we can’t use medicine carelessly…”

Oh no, she’s pregnant too? Indeed, looking at her slightly raised belly, it seems she became pregnant before Karen.

“A doctor? Did you call for a doctor?”

“We sent for one, but it’s taking time for them to arrive. When we said the patient was pregnant, they said they couldn’t do anything…”

Since holy magic doesn’t cure diseases, it’s difficult to ask Eterna for help.

‘Hahaha, since I stepped down from the position of Saint, I took all the powers I could use as a Saint with me. So now I can only perform simple healing.’

After stepping down from the position of Saint, the power of the sun she possessed became temporarily unusable.

“So in the end, I have to step in.”

I never expected to have to use my ability on someone I’ve never met.

But the woman lying on the bed is someone Karen knows well.

‘I should cure her illness, if only for Karen’s sake.’

I approached the woman lying on the bed.

“Please understand that what I’m about to do is absolutely not out of any ill will toward the lady here.”

I gently swung the hammer in my right hand three times toward the woman lying on the bed.

A faint light began to envelop the woman’s body, and soon her breathing stabilized, and even breaths could be heard.

“Thank you, darling.”

“No need for thanks. The situation won’t get worse now. With my ability, even diseases she wasn’t aware of should all be cured.”

Yes, and whose ability is this? It’s an ability given to me by none other than the Great Goddess herself!

“So, who is she?”

“She’s an older sister who’s been with me since I was young. She was a daughter of a Count’s family, and now she’s married to a young lord from a Marquis family.”

“Ah, I think I understand.”

Since the Emperor and Empress can’t directly care for their children, and to prevent the possibility of them being influenced by bad company, they bring in people of good character and disposition from the beginning to be their companions.

I suddenly can’t remember the term for it, but that’s what I mean.

Then she must be an incredibly precious person.

Since they’ve been together since childhood.

I’m glad I didn’t hesitate to rush over and use my ability.

After all, if it were anyone else, seeing Karen sad would make me feel down too.

“Ugh, mmm…”

“Sister! Are you conscious?”

At that moment, Karen’s close sister lying on the bed opened her eyes.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duchess?”

“You’re awake. I’m so relieved.”

“How did this… Your Grace, the Grand Duke?”

“I’m glad you’re awake.”

She heard from Karen about what had happened, and after the explanation, she bowed her head to me in gratitude.

“Thank you, Your Grace. How can I ever repay this kindness…”

“It’s quite alright. How could I stand by when the Grand Duchess’s longtime friend is ill? Please make yourself comfortable as if you were in your own home before you leave.”

“I’m grateful for your consideration.”

After confirming that the situation was resolved, I returned to my office to resume my duties.

“Head Butler. Do you know anything about the Grand Duchess’s longtime friend?”

“Ah, you mean her? That’s Lady Anna Metlaine, currently married into the Metlaine Marquis family. Previously, she belonged to the Dvolon Count family.”

Hmm, I don’t know what family that is even after hearing it.

But perhaps it was appropriate to pair her as a friend of the princess precisely because she was from a family I hadn’t heard of.

Her marriage into a Marquis family was probably a reward for her service.

“Ah, Lady Metlaine didn’t marry through a political or arranged marriage. I heard she married the young lord of the Metlaine family because they fell in love.”

Oh, really? Then they just met because they liked each other. That’s good.

“Your Grace. Here, you need to review this document as well.”

“…Isn’t there a bit too much paperwork?”

“It can’t be helped. Until the Grand Duchess returns to her duties, Your Grace must handle it.”

“I’m gaining a newfound respect for the Grand Duchess.”

Karen is truly remarkable. I should spend more time with her later.

Making that promise to myself, I focused once again on processing the documents.

At this rate, I’ll be working overtime again today.