Chapter 293

The State of Count Galette’s Domain
The one topic that caught Young lady Shami’s attention most was economics and governance.

Frankly, these aren’t the kinds of discussions one would expect from a young lady preparing for marriage.
Suspecting there might be more to it, I decided not to meet with Young lady Shami today and instead sought an audience with Marquis Vardmoi.

“Hmm, Count Galette’s domain, is it…”

Even Marquis Vardmoi frowned at the mention of it.
As expected, the management of the territory must not be going well.

“Honestly, I don’t know much about it myself, but I’ve heard the situation is quite dire.”

“Huh? Even you, Marquis Vardmoi, don’t know much about it?”

“What do you take me for? Even among southern nobles, different factions don’t exchange detailed information. That’s just how it is.”

It seems that Count Galette’s family is a subordinate vassal of Duke McFarlane.
While the houses of Vardmoi and McFarlane are on good terms, when it comes to economic matters, things get heated.
The subordinates of House McFarlane resent the relative prosperity of House Vardmoi’s subordinates.

However, this tension stems from the differing policies of the McFarlane Dukes and the Vardmoi Marquises over generations and isn’t a matter for vassals to quarrel over.
Still, it seems that Duke McFarlane’s focus on developing their own lands, rather than their vassals’, has caused this disparity.

That aside, Marquis Vardmoi admitted to not knowing much about the internal affairs of Count Galette’s house.
However, as a “nobleman’s duty,” he had gathered some information and shared what he knew.

First, the current head of Galette Household is said to be rigid and reluctant to invest in new ventures.
While this could be seen as prudent, the marquis remarked that a lord who cannot implement new measures despite the impoverishment of their domain is unfit to lead.

Second, the Count’s household includes two wives.
The first wife is reportedly a spendthrift who squanders the family’s finances.
The second wife and the household staff manage what little remains to maintain their dignity as nobles.

The heir, the eldest son of the first wife, isn’t particularly intelligent.
Though he graduated from an elite school, his academic performance was abysmal, and he’s apparently hopeless at administration.
Worse yet, his decent skills in swordsmanship have made him an untouchable bully.

Apart from Young lady Shami, the eldest daughter of the second wife, there’s another daughter: the second wife’s younger daughter.
This younger sister is bright, cheerful, intelligent, and popular among the domain’s residents.
However, her popularity has caused friction with her elder brother.

The only reason their disputes haven’t escalated into outright fights is the status difference between the two wives.
The first wife was originally a baron’s daughter, while the second wife came from a count’s family, giving the latter more influence within the household.

As for why the spendthrift first wife is allowed to act unchecked, it’s because the head of the house enables her behavior.

So, the family dynamics are a mess: the head supports the spendthrift first wife, the heir is a violent and unpopular man, and the younger sister is adored by the people but disliked by her elder brother.

What a headache.

“In short, the Galette Household is in a complicated situation. The only reason you’re handling Young lady Shami’s dress is because of Princess Rodenlight’s letter. Honestly, I’d prefer not to get involved in their family drama and risk angering Duke McFarlane.”

This is a deeply rooted issue.
For Young lady Shami to marry with peace of mind, her family’s internal conflict must be resolved.

That said, it’s not my place to interfere.

What should I do?

What do you think about this chapter?