Chapter 11
The air in the great hall was thick with tension as the entire household stood before Nori. The servants lined up in neat rows, eyes downcast, shifting nervously as they waited for him to speak. Ryousuke wasn't present—he was away handling military affairs—which meant the responsibility of dealing with this matter fell entirely on Nori.
It was the first time he had exercised his authority in this household, and though he kept his posture straight, his hands remained hidden in the folds of his sleeves to conceal the slight tremor in his fingers.
Tadashi, the butler, stood at his side, his expression unreadable. He had served Ryousuke for many years, and while he was respectful toward Nori, there was a quiet curiosity in his gaze. Perhaps he wondered if the noble-born spouse would falter now that he was faced with real conflict.
Nori refused to let that happen.
"I called you all here because I have found discrepancies in the estate's accounts," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Money has been siphoned in small amounts over time, and I intend to find out who is responsible."
There were quiet murmurs among the servants, but no one dared to step forward.
Before Nori could continue, a figure emerged from the back of the group, stepping forward with an air of entitlement that set her apart from the rest.
She was striking, with dark eyes and rich, silk robes that, while not as fine as Nori's, were certainly above a servant's station. Her hair was styled elegantly, adorned with delicate pins, and her lips curled in an expression that teetered between amusement and disdain.
Nori hadn't seen her before, but the way she carried herself, the way the servants instinctively shifted to make room for her, told him that she had been here for a long time.
She crossed her arms and tilted her chin, looking him up and down.
"So, this is the main wife," she said, her tone laced with mockery.
The room fell utterly silent.
Nori didn't react immediately, but his heart pounded in his chest. The weight of her gaze felt like a challenge, a test to see if he would falter.
"You are?" he asked evenly.
She let out a small laugh. "How amusing. No one told you?"
He didn't respond, only stared at her expectantly.
She smirked. "I am Lady Mei, a concubine of this household. I have been here for years."
A concubine.
Nori's fingers curled slightly in the fabric of his sleeves.
Ryousuke had never mentioned a concubine, not once. And yet here she was, standing before him with open disdain, as if his presence in this household was an inconvenience rather than a fact.
The servants, sensing the tension, held their breaths.
Mei took a slow step closer, her gaze sharp. "And now you call us here, demanding answers, acting as if you own this place." She let out a quiet scoff. "You are new, young master. I suggest you tread carefully."
The words were a clear warning, but Nori refused to let them shake him.
He met her gaze steadily. "It seems I am not the only one who was left uninformed," he said coolly. "I was not told there was a concubine in this estate, yet here you are."
She arched an eyebrow. "And now that you know, what do you plan to do?"
He took a slow breath, keeping his emotions in check. "What I plan to do is ensure that this household runs as it should. That includes finding out who has been stealing from it." He glanced at the gathered servants. "I will not tolerate deception under my roof. I suggest that if anyone has something to confess, they do so now."
Silence.
Mei smirked, folding her arms again. "No one will speak against me, if that is what you are hoping for. This household knows its loyalties."
Nori narrowed his eyes. "And yet, the money is missing. If no one confesses, I will conduct a full investigation myself."
The murmur among the servants grew louder, some shifting nervously.
Mei's expression darkened slightly, but she quickly masked it with another smirk. "How bold. Perhaps you are not as delicate as I expected."
Nori held his ground.
The power dynamic in the estate had just become clear to him. Mei had been here for years, and by the way the servants responded to her, she had influence. But Nori was the spouse of this household. Whether she liked it or not, he was the one with authority now.
He would not let her shake him.
Mei turned slightly, as if losing interest. "Do as you wish, young master. But don't think that just because you wear fine robes, you can erase history. I have been here longer than you." She met his gaze, her eyes sharp. "And I do not bow so easily."
With that, she turned and walked away, her steps unhurried, her confidence unshaken.
The room remained tense even after she was gone.
Nori exhaled slowly, then turned to the butler. "Ensure that all financial records for the last five years are brought to me. I will go through them myself."
Tadashi bowed slightly, his expression unreadable. "Yes, my lord."
The meeting dispersed soon after, but the tension remained.
As Nori returned to the study, he clenched his fists.
A concubine. A woman who had resided here for years, who looked at him with disdain, who did not bow.
He had thought his greatest challenge would be adjusting to his new life. He had been wrong.
This was only the beginning.
Nori spent hours poring over the estate's financial records, his sharp eyes scanning every transaction. As he had suspected, small amounts of money had been siphoned away by various workers over time. Individually, the sums were insignificant, but together, they formed a noticeable loss.
However, it wasn't the missing wages that made his breath hitch.
It was the expenses listed under Mei's name.
7,000 gold. That was her official allowance as a concubine—already a generous sum. But beneath it, in a separate ledger, was a staggering 20,000 gold recorded under "beauty expenses."
Nori blinked.
He read it again.
20,000 gold.
His grip on the ledger tightened. That was an outrageous amount. Even high-ranking noblewomen would struggle to justify such expenses. He could only imagine the absurd luxuries Mei had indulged in—rare perfumes, the finest silk, imported skincare that cost more than some families earned in a lifetime.
His pulse quickened, disbelief turning into something sharper.
This was beyond wasteful. It was outright reckless.
Straightening his posture, he turned to Tadashi, who stood silently by his side.
"Summon Lady Mei," he said, his voice steady but cold. "Immediately."
Tadashi gave a slight bow and left without hesitation.
Nori leaned back in his chair, fingers pressing against the edge of the desk.
He had been willing to tolerate Mei's arrogance before. But now, with undeniable proof of her extravagance draining the household's resources, tolerance was no longer an option.
It was time for answers.