The maid nodded, but didn’t seem to understand much.


    Well, it can’t be helped, can it? Or perhaps it’s better to be called scary for a while.


    [It is desirable for a monarch to be loved and feared, but if both are impossible, it is much better to be feared.]


    A famous passage from Machiavelli’s [The Theory of Monarchs], a famous book from my previous life. At eighteen years of age, big brother is too young to be both loved and feared by the powerful men in his domain as a lord. Butst night, when he wiped out the Novadine faction, the powerful people in the fief who were present at the feast came to fear him.


    It was amazing that brother had seeded in making himself feared at such a young age, not even a year after his session to the title.


    And Machiavelli also wrote, as I recalled, People would rather hurt those who love them than those who respect them. A favor that was done to someone in kindness would be cut off as soon as the stakes became too high.


    Big brother was loved by the people of his domain. It was because he had protected their lives. He was not just doing them a favor, but he was also holding their interests in check.


    However, some powerful people in the fiefdom may have found it more convenient when my father was a duke, because he neglected his duties as a duke. Some of them may have attempted to challenge Big Brother in order to protect their own interests. But after seeing how he mercilessly crushed Novadine, I was certain they would reconsider defying him.


    So for this reason, I would never say that my brother was really kind. I want to respect the way he tried to be kind.


    Because he would be most wonderful the way he is!


    “Young Lady is really wonderful, isn’t she? You are younger than me, but you are like a much older person.”


    The words of the nonchnt maid hit Ekaterina spot on. Sorry! Inside, I am already in my thirties!


    Mina was standing next to the maid before she knew it, staring down at her with a nk expression on her face.


    Laiza, giggling even more, strode up to the maid and grabbed her by the cor.


    “I apologize for the rudeness, Young Lady, and as the housekeeper in charge of the female servants, please ept my apologies.”


    “I don’t mind.”


    Ho-ho-ho, Ekaterina showed a smile, but perhaps from now on, this cheerful maid’s work life will resemble a Spartan training camp.


    Keep up the good work.


    “I hope big brother has eaten his breakfast. I’m worried about his health.”


    “Yes, he has. He said he didn’t need it at first, but we told him that the Young Lady would be worried if he didn’t eat. So he asked us to prepare it for him.”


    As expected of my siscon Brother. It was good that he cared about his health.


    “I’m d to hear that. I’d like toe say hello to himter.”


    “I will let him know right away, mydy.”


    After seeing Laiza off with the maid in tow, Ekaterina ate her breakfast served by Mina and gazed out the dining room window while waiting for Laiza to return.


    There was a certain crispness in the air, as if the atmosphere of the castle was closer to that of Alexei.


    A new master hadpletely taken over Yurinova Castle, or rather, Yurinova Domain.


    When Laiza returned, she was apanied by a servant carrying arge package, which she imed was a delivery for the Young Lady.


    Upon hearing the sender’s name, Ekaterina asked her to unpack it right away and was delighted by the contents, which appeared to be securely wrapped.