Chapter 56: The Weight of Leadership and a Familiar Face

Luluti was a high-born young lady, yet simultaneously, she was also one of the heirs to the Astria family.

As a young lady, she could indulge in her whims, acting impetuously and imperiously, unconcerned with the opinions of others, doing exactly as she pleased.

However, the moment she assumed the mantle of an heir, she was compelled to rein in all her arrogance and childishness, transforming into a cold and ruthless enforcer.

From ancient times, the human heart has remained the most inscrutable thing in the world.

When faced with profit, everyone harbored hidden motives, making it impossible to discern another’s true intentions.

Thus, a leader had to constantly project an aura of strength; only then could they command respect and unite their subordinates.

Should even a hint of weakness be revealed, subordinates would harbor ill intentions, instantly scattering like sand, causing even the most robust and perfect system to collapse in an instant.

Luluti was a born leader.

Although she appeared to be merely a child in the eyes of most, within the precocious demi-human society, she had reached an age where she was capable of standing on her own.

It was for this reason that the family had entrusted her with the affairs of Elanmia.

Naturally, she was still far from capable of shouldering such a weighty responsibility, and so the vast majority of tasks remained entirely under Raymond’s purview.

Luluti’s role was merely to learn the processes involved and, at crucial moments, to appear in her capacity as a leader to implement Raymond’s recommendations.

Even so, this burden weighed too heavily upon her.

“Young Lady, are you feeling unwell?”

Raymond stepped forward, inquiring softly.

“It’s nothing, I just… a little tired.”

Luluti shook her head.

Yet, her emerald eyes were dull and listless, appearing exceptionally weary.

“Young Lady, please do not fret; you have actually performed admirably today.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

Luluti managed to force a faint smile.

After a moment of hesitation, she spoke, “How have you handled the matter concerning Fav?”

“Rest assured, it has been concluded.”

“Hmm…”

Raymond paused, and after a brief silence, he lowered his voice, “I did not kill him; I merely broke his legs, ensuring he will live out his days as a cripple. After all, he leaked confidential information and had to be punished.However, he has now been expelled from the guild and severed all ties with the Astria family. With the money provided by the Badley family, he should be able to save his wife.”

“I see… Forgive me for troubling you.”

Luluti lowered her head, her emotions a tangled knot.

There was anger, regret, and even… a faint sense of relief?

This was certainly not the mindset a leader ought to possess.

Fav was a foolish man.

Had he approached Luluti initially to explain his plight, she would undoubtedly have lent him the money needed to resolve his urgent predicament.

Regrettably, he had chosen the most foolish course of action.

In his haste, he succumbed to temptation, betraying the family’s interests and becoming a traitor.

Such a person deserved to die, and being silenced would have been the most common outcome.

Yet, despite this, Luluti could not bring herself to order his death.

Taking a life was never an easy feat.

For any ordinary person, confronting death or inflicting it upon another demanded a profound resolve.

Evidently, Luluti was still far from possessing such resolve.

Even if Raymond’s hands were the ones stained, she would subconsciously believe the person died because of her, fostering a deep sense of guilt.

“Young Lady, you are a kind person,” Raymond offered in a tone devoid of emotion, attempting to console her.

‘Kind?’

Luluti scoffed inwardly, a self-deprecating smile playing on her lips.

In truth, she knew better than anyone that it was merely hypocrisy.

Her inability to act stemmed from her own weakness and incompetence; that was the true reason.

Consequently, Raymond had to consider her feelings and make unwilling compromises.

‘How utterly selfish.’

Raymond, undoubtedly aware of her thoughts, remained silent, allowing him to continue.

“However, the marketplace is akin to a battlefield, and excessive clemency will only become your weakness.”

“This time, the Badley Merchant Guild was too hasty. In their eagerness to outmaneuver us, they acted three days too soon, failing to seize all the fishing hauls, which meant our losses were not particularly severe.Rather, seizing this opportunity to ascertain their stance towards us could even be considered a blessing in disguise.”

Raymond’s tone shifted, and his already stern expression grew even more severe.

“Nevertheless, such incidents are bound to recur in the future.After all, this is not the Capital, and the Astria family’s influence does not yet extend everywhere. Every decision you make will have a crucial impact on the guild’s development.If we continue to yield blindly, it will inevitably lead to irreparable consequences.”

Raymond’s words were undeniably true, each one striking Luluti’s chest like a heavy hammer, leaving her breathless.

“Yes, I know…” Luluti murmured.

“I’m sorry… for always making you worry about these matters.”

“These minor affairs are my duty. The Young Lady need not dwell on them; you are still young, and with time, you will surely change.”

Raymond bowed elegantly; as a butler, his every action exuded flawless perfection.

Luluti offered a soft chuckle; the taciturn Raymond always brought such a sense of reassurance.

Sometimes, she often found herself wondering if entrusting all power to Raymond would not be such a bad idea.

In that scenario, perhaps she could live a perpetually carefree life, much like a young princess.

Alas, such thoughts were ultimately mere fantasies.

“I am rather tired, so I shall retire to my room to rest. I leave the remaining matters in your capable hands.”

“Understood. Please rest assured, Young Lady.”

Raymond bowed his head respectfully, only slowly lifting it once Luluti’s figure had completely vanished.

A flicker of gloom passed through his cold eyes.

“Indeed… do you truly lack that talent?”

The academy’s dismissal bell rang, and as Professor Fulin departed, the classroom immediately erupted into a clamor.

Yalin sighed, burying his head on his desk.

It was yet another utterly dull session of , and Yalin had arrived early, specifically choosing a corner seat with the intention of enjoying a good nap.

To his surprise, Professor Fulin seemed unusually attentive to him today, her gaze lingering on him every now and then.

Not only that, but she also specifically called on Yalin to answer questions, having done so no less than three times today alone.

Consequently, by the end of the lesson, Yalin felt utterly exhausted, as if his very soul were about to drift away.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached.

Immediately afterward, a tall figure appeared before him.

‘Damn it, why is this scene so familiar again?’

‘This moment, precisely like that moment!’

Yalin recalled an unpleasant memory, and he weakly lifted his head, only to find that the newcomer was indeed ‘that man.’

The seemingly dim-witted, muscular Cat-boy—Totomia!

However, unlike last time, Cat-boy carried no hint of hostility on this occasion.

He grinned, revealing a smile as radiant as the sun.

‘Honestly, it looked quite disgusting…’

‘Brother, how about you just continue to pick a fight with me instead?’