Chapter 176: Report from the Duchess
“The royal treasures inherited by Rest… regarding the estate of Third Prince Rodel, the organization has been completed.”
This was the task that Rest had entrusted to Celestine.
When Third Prince Rodel Aiwood received the poisoned chalice, Rest had inherited his estate according to the prince’s will. Since Rodel’s inheritance also belonged to the late Queen Dowager, who once ruled the country, it held significant weight. While items classified as national treasures had been confiscated by the royal family, the remaining gold, goods, and land deeds had become Rest’s property.
(Celestine was tasked with organizing that estate, wasn’t she…?)
Until recently, Rest had been a commoner, and while he could understand the value of gold, he was clueless about the worth of art and books. Thus, he had asked his father-in-law, Marquis Albert Rosemary, for assistance. However, Albert suggested that it would be better to consult the Crocus Duke House, as they were relatives and had more expertise in royal possessions.
(I felt a bit guilty asking Celestine for help, but she graciously accepted, which was a relief…)
He had also informed her that she could keep a portion of the estate as a fee for her efforts. In fact, he was in such a surplus of gold that he almost wanted to offload some of it.
“I will provide you with a detailed inventory later. There were some items that were difficult to dispose of, so I have included the sales details as well.”
“I appreciate the trouble you’ve taken. It must have been quite a task, wasn’t it?”
“No, not at all… The actual processing was handled by our butler and a favored appraiser. I hardly did anything myself.”
Celestine’s tone dropped slightly as she continued, “However… there were a few items that piqued my interest. I thought it would be best to inform you directly.”
“Items that piqued your interest…?”
“Yes…”
Celestine glanced briefly at Yuri, who was munching on a piece of bread and tilting her head in confusion at the halted conversation.
“Oh, it’s fine. I don’t mind,” Yuri said casually.
Among this group, Yuri was the only one who was unrelated to the matter. The silence had been a question of whether it was appropriate for her to hear this, given that her fiancées, Viola and Primula, were present.
“Understood… then,” Celestine said, receiving Rest’s permission to proceed.
“First, there are several magic tomes. Among the estate, there were rare magic tomes.”
“Magic tomes… that sounds intriguing.”
“Yes, there were valuable items that would make any aspiring magician drool. Of course, the forbidden tomes were confiscated by the royal family…”
“So there were other valuable books as well…!”
Primula’s eyes widened in excitement, a clear contrast to her sister’s demeanor, revealing her passion for research and reading.
“Then, could those magic tomes be sent to the Rosemary Marquis House? After all, you are the head of the court magicians, so it would be quite fitting.”
This way, Primula could read them whenever she wished. Rest was also interested, making it a perfect arrangement.
“Understood. I will arrange that.”
“As for historical documents, I will donate them to a specialized institution. Keeping them would be a waste, and it would be better to donate art pieces that are difficult to sell for gold.”
“Certainly. I will make the arrangements… I’m sure the director of the Royal Museum will be delighted.”
“No matter how valuable an item may be, it’s pointless for someone who doesn’t understand its worth to possess it.”
Rest shrugged with a wry smile. Many wealthy individuals in the world collected art and antiques, only to stash them away in their vaults. It was far more beneficial for such items to be utilized effectively rather than sit idle in Rest’s hands.
“Additionally, there was one more peculiar item among the estate: a deed to a piece of land in a remote area.”
“A land deed? Is it a royal territory?”
“No, it’s something entirely different. It appears to be a villa personally owned by Prince Rodel… or rather, by Queen Dowager herself.”
Celestine’s puzzled expression suggested she was unsure why the Queen Dowager would possess such land.
“What kind of land is it?”
“It’s a coastal area on the western side of the kingdom. It’s neither a summer retreat nor a tourist spot, and there are no notable specialty products… After sending someone to investigate, it seems that in her later years, Queen Dowager lived there incognito for her health.”
“……..”
Even the power-hungry Queen Dowager seemed to have sought a peaceful existence in her final days. It felt like a matter that could be left alone, yet it strangely piqued Rest’s curiosity.
“…Is there anything else you know about that land?”
“There’s a small fishing village facing the western sea. Its unique feature is that the locals have a rare custom of eating raw fish.”
“Raw fish… you mean sashimi?”
In this kingdom, the culture of consuming raw fish did not exist. Rest felt a slight dissatisfaction at the absence of soy sauce or miso.
“By the way… it seems that in that fishing village, Queen Dowager used a pseudonym and was known as ‘Sanada Shoko’ by the locals.”
“……..!”
Upon hearing that name, Rest’s eyes widened in shock. The name that had come from Celestine’s lips was familiar to him—a distinctly Japanese name.