A Guide to Raising a Villainess-Chapter 118: New problem (2)

When Ruby suddenly appeared in the office, our conversation with the butler was naturally interrupted.

Edison, as always, instantly grasped the situation. He bowed slightly, but before leaving, he glanced at me questioningly, obviously wanting to make sure that his presence was no longer required.

"Would you like me to stay, ma’am?" he asked calmly.

I nodded slightly.

"No. We’ll discuss everything else later."

"As you wish," he replied with a slight bow and, stepping back toward the door, quietly left the office, closing the door behind him.

For a few moments, silence reigned in the room. The only sound was the soft rustling of papers on my desk, stirred by a light breeze from the half-open window.

I looked up at the girl standing at the entrance.

Rubiella looked a little nervous — too nervous to hide behind her usual reserve. She seemed to hesitate, not daring to come closer.

"Rubi," I finally said, "has something happened?"

The girl paused for a moment before taking a few steps forward. Her gaze betrayed a mixture of anxiety and inner determination.

"I’m... sorry for coming without an invitation," she said quietly but firmly. "But I wanted to talk to you, Auntie."

I put down my pen and leaned back slightly in my chair, watching her.

"Yes? What is it?"

Rubiella lowered her eyes, as if slightly embarrassed.

"Auntie, I heard the news about the mine," she said quietly, but with obvious excitement in her voice.

I involuntarily raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm. News travels fast..."

"I just happened to overhear it as I was passing by..." she admitted, not looking directly at me.

"I see." I sighed softly. "Well, since you already know, then it’s easier to talk about it."

Ruby moved a little closer. She stood upright, her hands clenched, her eyes full of anxiety.

"Is it true that someone is trying to take our mine away from us?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

"Yes," I replied calmly, making no attempt to sugarcoat the reality. "The Earl of Trevern’s heir has decided he can lay claim to it."

"But..." Ruby frowned. "That’s impossible. This mine has belonged to our family for years. Does he even have any proof?"

"We don’t know yet," I shook my head slightly. "But he has already filed a petition with the magistrate. If the case goes to the imperial chancellery, there could be problems."

Rubiella paled and clenched her fingers even tighter.

"Auntie, you won’t let them take it away, will you?"

I glanced at her for a moment. The girl’s gaze was indeed full of confidence in me, and it made my heart flutter.

"Of course not," I said firmly. "I’m not going to give up what is rightfully mine."

Rubiella clenched her fists and looked up.

"Then... you’re going to go there, right?"

"Yes. I think I’ll need some time to resolve this matter."

I leaned back in my chair and thought for a moment. Of course, I wasn’t going to drag out the decision for too long — the sooner everything was settled, the better. But who knew what the circumstances might be when I met the new Earl of Trevern? This man, by all accounts, was far from as harmless as his father.

Deep down, I knew that such a trip could turn out to be much more difficult than I would like. Perhaps this time I would have to stay away from home longer than usual.

I was about to tell Ruby that I would be leaving in the next few days and that she would have to stay here and look after the house, but before I could open my mouth, she suddenly interrupted me decisively:

"Auntie, then I’ll go with you!" she exclaimed, taking a small step forward.

"What?" I said in surprise.

I frowned slightly.

"Ruby, I don’t think that’s a good idea..." I began, trying to keep my voice calm.

"But Auntie, I want to go with you," she insisted, looking at me almost pleadingly."I don’t want you to go there alone."

I sighed quietly.

"Ruby, this isn’t just a trip," I said firmly. "Besides, things are unstable in the south right now. I don’t want to put you in danger. And the journey will take more than a day. You’ll be better off staying here, where you’re safe."

I tried to explain the situation as reasonably and calmly as possible, without pressuring her. But, as it turned out, none of my arguments mattered to her now. The girl stood in front of me with that stubborn expression I knew so well.

"Right," she said unexpectedly, crossing her arms over her chest. "This is a business trip, right? That means I have to be there too."

"That’s..." I faltered for a second, not expecting that answer.

But Ruby didn’t let me finish.

"Auntie," she said in a more serious tone, "I’m the future Duchess of Weinstein. Shouldn’t I know how real business is done? You always say I need to learn responsibility. So let me do that now."

There was not a hint of capriciousness in her voice, only determination, and it made me freeze in surprise.

For a moment, I hesitated, not knowing how to respond. The argument she made was indeed compelling.

Well... it was hard to argue with that. And yet, despite my reluctance to admit it, there was a grain of truth in Ruby’s words.

Many noble families taught their heirs in this way — through personal involvement in affairs, through observation and experience. It was considered natural, even necessary, for future rulers. After all, no textbook or tutor could replace real experience.

But...

I still had my doubts.

Estervood was located in the far south, almost at the border of the empire, and the road there was not only long but also tiring. Ruby had never left the capital for such a long time before. It could be too difficult a test for her.

Besides, Edison was right — those parts were restless now. Rumors of land disputes between minor lords had been circulating for a long time. The intervention of higher-ranking aristocrats could only exacerbate the tension.

I understood perfectly well that in the event of the slightest incident, attention would be focused on us instantly. And the last thing I wanted was for my interference in the affairs of the southern provinces to become a topic of discussion in the capital.

And while I wasn’t worried about myself — after all, I had faced far more dangerous and difficult situations in recent years — things were completely different when it came to Ruby.

In other words, I was simply worried about my niece.

And yet, despite all my fears, Ruby stood before me and looked very determined.

"Please, Auntie!" she exclaimed, looking at me with her charming, sincere amethyst eyes.

That look... oh, how many times I had seen it before.

And how many times it had proven stronger than any argument of reason.

From the moment Ruby came into my life, I had always tried to be an example of strength and experience for her, but when it came to her requests, I was invariably defenseless.

And now, seeing her look at me with such pleading eyes, I simply couldn’t bring myself to refuse.

I sighed wearily, feeling my resistance gradually melt away.

Part of me wanted to cut this conversation short immediately and forbid her from going, just as I had done before when she was younger.

But now standing before me was not a girl, but a young woman who was beginning to realize her future position and was eager to prove that she was ready for it.

And I knew I shouldn’t stand in her way.

I sighed quietly and looked away.

"All right," I finally said, resigned. "But you will go only on the condition that you follow all my instructions, without exception."

Ruby instantly lit up, as if the sun had broken through the clouds.

"I promise!" she replied eagerly, her voice filled with genuine joy.

I couldn’t help but smile as I shook my head.

"I’m serious, Ruby."

"I understand."

Her eyes shone with determination.

Although I tried to remain strict, it was becoming increasingly difficult. In the end, I couldn’t help myself — the corners of my lips twitched involuntarily, revealing a barely noticeable smile.

Perhaps I really had been keeping her under my wing too often, not giving her the opportunity to take steps forward on her own. The years had flown by too quickly, and I didn’t immediately realize that Ruby was almost an adult.

But there was truth in her words.

She would become a duchess next year. And if I continued to treat her like a child, what good would that do?

No, she needed to learn to see the world as it was, with all its difficulties and injustices. That would be the right decision.

"Then get ready," I said finally. "We’re leaving at dawn tomorrow."

Ruby nodded happily, and I smiled slightly in response.