Chapter 32: Hausen Family- Muge’s Discontent

Muge’s life continued, alternating between secluding herself in her room and taking care of Maggie.

One day, she received a summons from Donovan.

Heading to her father’s study after a long time, she opened the door to find a weary Donovan and Rolf waiting.

No butlers or maids were in sight; the place seemed deserted.

Muge plopped down on the sofa and spoke with a sulky tone, “So, what’s the matter that you had to call me?”

“There’s something I want you to do, aside from taking care of Maggie,” Donovan said.

Muge, bored and frustrated every day, retorted, “Something other than nursing Maggie?”

“I want you to take this letter to Duke Noah Stein’s territory,” Donovan said, placing a letter addressed to Duke Noah Stein on the table.

“What? What do you mean? Why do I have to take this? Especially to the remote border, taking a whole month!” Muge exclaimed, standing up from the sofa.

“It can’t be helped. You need to explain the situation of the swap with Fiene and deliver the apology directly to Duke Noah Stein,” Donovan replied.

Muge was taken aback by Donovan’s sudden request. “What? Isn’t that your job, Father?”

“I can’t leave this house. The Hausen family is on the brink of ruin now. In such a situation, I can’t leave the family and go.”

Donovan explained it with difficulty.

“Then, let my brother go as the representative of Father!” Muge suggested.

“I can’t move from this house either. Like Father, I can’t leave,” Rolf added. “Moreover, the person who swapped needs to go and apologize. It will significantly affect their response.”

Muge perceived Rolf’s words as excuses.

“That’s outrageous! You’re burdening me with such difficult things!” Muge exclaimed, raising her voice.

However, unlike before, no one, neither her mother nor the maids, came to worry about her. The mansion was quiet, as if everyone had vanished.

After a while, Donovan spoke again: “If that’s the case, there’s no help for it. The letter will be sent tomorrow with a fast horse. But in return, don’t expect any marriage proposals in the future.”

“What? Is it my fault? In that case, my brother too!” Muge protested.

“Rolf informed me about the Restriction Magic incident,” Donovan said, surprising Muge.

“Why? Brother, why did you?” Muge asked, not expecting Rolf to reveal it to their father.

“Muge, we did something irreversible. It’s too late to regret it now. If you could read the account books and assist Father, I’d be willing to go to the border and bring Fiene back,” Rolf said, dropping his shoulders in resignation.

“That’s… I don’t understand account books, and I’ve never been interested. Father, that’s the only matter?” Muge replied.

“Exactly. You can go back to your room now,” Donovan said, resigning.

“Just wait a moment. I can’t accept that I would not have any marriage proposals for me! Besides, if I send an apology letter, maybe they’ll forgive me.” Muge insisted.

“And what if they demand you be handed over?” Donovan asked.

“No, I refuse. It’s not my fault! It’s because Father failed in his investment!” Muge declared.

“I understand. However, we’re beyond the point of making such statements now,” Donovan sighed.

“I can’t accept this! Father must take responsibility! That’s your duty as the head of the family!” Muge declared, leaving her father’s study.

However, soon after that, Muge was summoned by her mother. Since Daisy was busy with financial matters every day, Maggie’s care was often delegated to Muge.

Reluctantly, Muge headed towards Maggie’s room.

“My body feels hot. It’s so uncomfortable,” the patient complained in a gloomy tone.

“Irritating. Since you have a fever, it’s only natural,” Muge interrupted, annoyed. She was in the midst of reading a romance novel she brought from her own room.

“Fiene was very kind. She often read books to me and told me various fairy tales to distract me. Even though I was feeling down. But Muge, on the other hand, is always mean,” Maggie said, looking at Muge sitting beside the bed with watery eyes.

“Why are you saying that now? You let Fiene go because you didn’t want to marry the eccentric duke.”

“That’s not the same as you. If you hadn’t been so selfish, everything would have been settled by now. It’s your fault.”

Lately, both Father and Mother seem to blame everything on Muge. Because of that, Muge was always on edge.

“Shut up! It’s your fault that the family is in such a mess because you got sick like a little child. Don’t you feel sorry for causing trouble to the family, Father, Mother, and brother?”

“It’s not just me. Father and mother said that if only Muge could be convinced, everything would be fine. And why did you hide sister Fiene’s limited lifespan?”

Angry at Maggie’s reproachful tone, Muge retorted, “Be quiet!”

When Muge glared at her and scolded her, Maggie burst into tears.

“I hate you, Muge. I want to see Fiene again,” Maggie said, leaving Muge stunned.

“What? Now you’re saying that. Just a while ago, you were making fun of Fiene, calling her a magicless and differently colored, embarrassing sister. Oh, it’s so annoying. Why do I have to take care of you? Take your medicine properly; it’s expensive. Because of you, this house is in financial trouble, and it’s a mess!”

“No, I… because if I didn’t make fun of sister Fiene, I thought I wouldn’t be recognized as part of the family. If I praised my sister Fiene, Mother and Father would look sad, and you and brother Rolf all made fun of me.”

“You’re the worst. Even though you were taken care of so much.”

With those parting words, Muge left the room without ensuring Maggie took her medicine, feeling angry.

Returning to her room, she began preparing to go out. Although she was technically not allowed to leave, Muge had discovered an invitation to a masquerade ball addressed to her when she went to the study earlier.

She had snagged one of them.

“A masquerade ball. It was not a bad distraction. I couldn’t go last time because I gave the invitation to Fiene last time,” Muge thought.

Fortunately, the house has fewer servants now, making it easier to slip out. Muge excitedly prepared for the ball.