Chapter 8: Monster Subjugation (I).
With the request of monster subjugation in need.
Lady Olivia Charlotte Alarie to ease her mind out of the heroine she decided what better way to do that than fill your days with work?
Work, work, work.
How lovely having work.
"Father, may I come in?" She knocks on the door, document in hand.
Memories of the man were vivid, the villainess was never close with her father- maybe... perhaps when she was younger but as she grew older, busier things started to change as well as her priorities.
"...who is it?" A voice called out inside the study.
Olivia gains the courage to open those doors, to meet a man she has remembered more than she can count in the memories she retained but... in reality she has only met him a few times in her time in this world.
"It's me, father, it's Olivia."
There was a moment of silence before she got a reply, "Come in then."
Olivia takes a deep breath already in her hunting uniform, she prepared beforehand and will leave at the last minute. While Sebastian might've told the master of the house in advance, in her heart Olivia feared that she won't be allowed to take on this responsibility because of her actions in the past.
Which was partying and doing well... some of her studies. The old Olivia would usually skip some of her home tutoring with the hired tutors, everyone of her servants would get fed up with her attitude when it comes to their service.
The villainess was very vocal about her dislikes and she doesn't say thank you for anything they do.
Olivia opens the door, she sees her father sitting on the desk.
"Father, good morning." She greets a goodmorning as the man in silver hair, uptight dark purple noble attire with their family crest.
It was Duke Owyn Alarie.
A man who is known to be quiet, out of touch and too inclined with his work to think of anything else. He was the younger brother of the famous Head General and the High Duke of the main branch, Duke Vernon Alarie.
Also known as the father of Evelyn Alarie.
He gestures for his daughter to sit down.
She walks over with stride, sitting in one of his front seats and never leaving eye contact.
"Olivia, I... see that you have your hunting gear on." He stops filling out his paperwork to look at his daughter, wondering what brought the change. "I have read a copy of the monster subjugation request on my end. Are you really serious about handling this task?"
It all started a few months ago.
Duke Owyn eyes his own daughter like a hawk.
Mannerisms changed, the way that she talked- that also changed.
Even... the way that she looked at him- it also changed. It was no longer soft, Olivia no longer called him daddy like she always did. It's as if she grew up in a blink of an eye and he couldn't accept it.
"I am serious about this father, I've been handling our family expenses as well and I know you like to splurge sometimes but I really do think that the expensive rug that you bought would leave a dent in our vault. If you ask our financial adviser, he'll say that our conditions have improved." (Olivia) taking a huge part of the family business, they've been thriving and have been getting better in the servant's daily life in the mansion.
Everyone is getting paid on time unlike before where it was always a week or a month late.
The mansion is getting repairs where it's needed.
Each one of the family land and assets is properly being maintained, budgeted and managed to perfection. She has read a few law books and made sure that everything is within legal boundaries, doing what she only can and if it's too much or not within her limit in power she'll leave it untouched for her father to solve with written documents for solutions.
Some of the changes and solutions will take time to be applied but Olivia is clearly doing her best with her newfound purpose and responsibility as the new villainess of the story.
"The town where I'll be heading I've already managed some of its areas. I'm doing well, father. I won't get lost or robbed, I'll be taking your gifted sword with me and I will be safe." No one knew this fact but Sebastian who's been tasked by her father to watch her like a hawk.
Sebastian would laugh every time he would send the Duke for a report about his daughter.
"She seems quite to be an heir in the making, I have never seen anyone so dedicated and passionate in keeping the Alarie name afloat even if you're considered the lower branch milord- the young lady is beyond that title." He pats the young lord he has been watching and taking care of all his life. "She reminds me of you when you were young, when your beloved was still with you to keep you steady on your feet. Lady Olivia seems to know where she's headed and now she's hungry for her goal."
These were Sebastian's words.
He ponders over if his right hand man was right.
"...!" He notices that the sword he gave to her was on her waist. His heart was secretly jumping for joy that his daughter is using.
Duke Owyn sighs, staring at his own baby girl who's turned into a fine lady. Where did the time go wrong? Has he been out gambling too much that he can't see his own daughter thriving and taking on the Alarie responsibilities on her shoulders for the past month?
He can't even look at her because he fears his shame.
His shame of not being a proper father.
"Sigh..." He lets out a very long sigh.
"There will be slimes and new sightings of goblin's nest. I could hire adventurers to fix the problem but the cost will be pricey. I understand that you're doing this for the sake of the family, but should you truly be fighting off monsters when your days at the academy are close?" (Duke Owyn) asks.
Olivia nods knowing that her decision is final. "I am strong enough to fight them, father. I've been learning magic and making sure my swordmanship is never rusty these past months. I want to prove to you that I can lead the family someday."
"If you die then-"
"I won't die."
"Father, I can handle myself now. Do you... not believe in your own daughter?"
Duke Owyn looks down at the subjugation request in deep thought. Olivia's mother would kill him for sending their only daughter into such a dangerous mission, but the look of determination on her eyes says it all.
It's screaming, father let me go to war and fight for the Alarie name.
The Alarie genes are deep in their blood and they're a family of fighters and brave people.
"Best to take Sebastian with you then, I trust him more than I trust any guards in the family. He'll keep you safe, he might be old but do not underestimate the man who came from war and lived until his hair turned grey." (Duke Owyn) laughed, as if lifting off something heavy from his chest. He takes his stamp, dipping it in red ink before stamping the monster subjugation request with his own seal.
Sebastian would keep her safe, he was his mentor and second father.
He's been in service to the family for decades now.
"I believe in my daughter." He states and gives the document to Olivia looking proud and worried.
Olivia smiles, taking the stamped document and putting it in her inventory and thankful for the given chance she could not only distract herself from that woman but also prove herself that she's no longer the same villainess as before. "[Inventorium]. Thank you, father. I will keep our lands safe before I leave for the academy. Of course, I will still do my work there."
She plans to make a name for herself in her own way.
The reincarnated business woman had to make sure that her father wouldn't be buying anymore expensive rugs only to gain dust in the living room.
"Olivia..." Hearing that his own baby girl was stepping up to help with family affairs and work, he didn't know what to say. When his wife died, he was the only one shouldering all of the work- even some of the business in the main family as the younger brother it was easy to toss the eldest's work and responsibility to the younger sibling.
It was heavy.
To the point he gained this hobby of spending money on useless things, gambling and even smoking to destress- But... Now that Olivia was mature and grown enough to handle some of the responsibilities, she was willing to help- improve the conditions here and manage finances herself...
That really helps.
"Sniff... ahem, you know as part of the Alarie family we might not be the main branch. The other family looks down on us, I'm... just so happy to see you taking the lead." (Duke Owyn) who was a quiet man was secretly a crybaby that kept only to himself. "I'm sorry if... daddy hasn't been... working as of late but I'll slowly pick up the pace."
He was... a man child so to speak.
"..."
Olivia lowers her head, not knowing what to say to this man who has raised the villainess to be spoiled and cold. The lack of attention and love needed to raise a child, now he was showing vulnerability and wanted sympathy.
She could only say a few comforting words, to the tired man in front of her.
"Father, let's do our best. I promise to make you proud- I swear on our family name. Also... do your best here. After all, I'll be leaving to attend the magic academy soon. I won't be here to make sure you won't buy anything stupid that we won't use." She was really worried for him, after living in this world and following the rules of the noble world... it was understandable that even someone from the oh so great noble family of the Alarie household can crumble and have signs of depression.
She understands that he has his own battles but during that he neglected to raise his only daughter which in turn, if it continued then the real villainess would've brewed a lot harsher bullying for the heroine.
"O-Oh." (Duke Owyn) already knew what his daughter was hinting on and laughed for such a long while. It was only a few times that they've talked for long but this has been one of the best and special moments with his daughter that he will cherish. "Haha... I suppose the rug was a bit much."
Olivia tried her best not to raise her eyebrows in a mean way.
"It was a bit much." As if it wasn't that obvious.
Duke Owyn stands up from his seat unexpectedly, leaving his papers and settling down with his daughter to invite her for a cup of tea before leaving on a dangerous mission. "You don't have to leave right away, Olivia. Do come sit for tea, the water is hot and... could you tell me what I've missed out on my daughter for the last couple months."
Olivia watches as the old strange man pours her a cup of tea with the softest smile on his face.
"I know... you've changed so as your father, I want to meet the new you too. I'm really behind on my own daughter's life, I wish I could have been more present." He tells her softly, as he passes the hot cup of tea- Olivia notices the wrinkles and scars on his hands.
The eyebags under his eyes and the tired stature from his shoulder.
"..."
Olivia blew on the hot tea and drank it, oddly it was refreshing.
"Better late than never I suppose. If you must know what's been going on in my life... I suppose I'm taking great interest in the family business. I want to expand and improve things a bit more in hopes it would make our family be on equal footing with the main branch." (Olivia) talked to her own father, full of business ideas and leaving out herself.
Duke Owyn could tell the passion in her eyes and he was just over the moon finally having time to talk with his daughter, in a way he was also getting to know her better.
"By the way father, I don't plan on getting married or if I am getting married make sure it's someone rich or useful for the family to use." (Olivia) truly was a very business minded person.
"Ahaha... of course, dear." (Duke Owyn) honestly, doesn't want his daughter to get married soon but surely with her current status as pure many would want to have her hand. "Would you care for a biscuit while we continue this conversation?"
He shows her a wonderful tray of colorfully arranged biscuits, knowing that his daughter loved sweet things.
"Lovely." (Olivia) smiled as she took one, taking a big bite she wanted more so she grabbed seconds.
Duke Owyn smiles in relief, thank god that there's some things that never changed.
"Hmm..." He eyes her own daughter once more and realizes that a mere hunting uniform won't be enough for her to wear when she's going to be commanding. "I should call Sebastian over, have him prepare something for my daughter. It would be dangerous if she got hurt without proper armor."
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