Chapter 67

Chapter 67
## Chapter 67

Since Aiselin had been a prominent figure in aristocratic circles, she had witnessed the rise and fall of many noble families.

Some had plotted rebellions, broken the unwritten rules among the nobility, or exploited their servants to the limit, leading them to their deaths… In such cases, they accumulated too many faults and finally faced justice.

Others simply failed to adapt to changing times or found themselves cornered to the extreme in the management of their territories, leading to a natural decline.

As their fortunes crumbled, Aiselin had seen many disgraced noblewomen end up in miserable circumstances. According to her observations, those who managed to survive and retain some influence shared certain traits.

First, they were resolute. Second, they did not let themselves be easily overcome by despair. Third, they possessed practical skills.

Aiselin already possessed some of these values and attitudes. What she lacked were practical skills—that is, the ability to manage day-to-day life.

The number of servants had decreased drastically, and there was hardly any external staff like squires or knights left, so she had to handle many tasks by herself.

Since the mansion was half-destroyed, most of the remaining labor focused on restoration work, which meant she often had to take care of her own personal hygiene and meals alone.

In short, she had to cook, sew, clean her surroundings, and do the shopping on her own… she had to take charge of all the tasks necessary to get by.

As she rolled up her sleeves and personally took care of each task, she sometimes wondered if this was really alright… but those thoughts simply passed through her mind.

“This is… a little fun…”

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“What?”

About a month had passed since the mansion was destroyed.

Amidst the still-damp ruins of the building, Diella, who was eating roasted turkey with some seasonings, looked at her with a strange expression.

“Aiselin… sister?”

“Oh, no… It’s just… with everything being so difficult and so many people suffering, maybe I shouldn’t be thinking this way, but…”

At that moment, Leigh and Miriela were still unconscious.

The servants lived in constant worry about the future of the mansion, and the state of the two noble ladies was a cause of continuous anxiety. In that somber atmosphere, Aiselin toyed with her hands, uncomfortable for having said something inappropriate, and quickly lowered her gaze.

“I had never cooked for myself before. Nor sewn… I had never even stood staring at the night sky because I had free time… I had never done any of those things alone…”

“R-really? I thought you were quite capable, Aiselin.”

“Of course, I learned a lot under the guise of a young lady’s education, but they weren’t practical skills. I know how to embroider a beautiful peacock, but I don’t know how to mend a torn skirt. I know how to prepare exquisite desserts, but… I never learned how to roast tough meat so that it becomes tender.”

“Well, maybe so, but…”

“Diella, don’t misunderstand me… This might sound strange…”

Aiselin continued talking while cutting the low-quality turkey.

Despite the simplicity of the dish, her movements conveyed elegance, creating a surprising contrast.

“Going to the bustling market to haggle over ingredients, scrubbing dusty windows until they shine, washing carpets until they are impeccable… I think I enjoy those things… When I see all the dirt completely removed, I feel a strange satisfaction, a kind of euphoria… Is it weird?”

*Maybe I’ve lost my mind,* she thought silently.

In reality, a person’s temperament can manifest in unexpected ways.

Just as Diella, an indomitable prodigy mage, had been born into the Duplain family—known for their disciplined approach to magic—there were many cases where the environment one was born into did not match their true nature.

Aiselin had been the noblest lady of the Ebelstein social circle. Everyone saw her as the purest flower blooming in the most beautiful garden.

She herself had long believed that was her role. But as circumstances changed, she discovered parts of herself she never imagined existed.

“Today’s turkey isn’t the best quality, but I used spices from the Alderete region, so it turned out better than expected, right? I marinated it this morning and it seems it absorbed the seasoning well. Next time I’ll try to get more pepper. I’m sure the servants will like it too.”

“Mmm… No matter how much I wash the sheets, the old stains don’t disappear… Leaving them to soak for a long time doesn’t seem to work… When Katarina returns from Ebelstein with the supplies, I’ll ask her about it…”

“I found some brooms in the basement, and honestly, they are surprisingly good, you know? The bristles are soft but firm; not a speck of dust escapes them. They are top quality. Why would they have left something so good down there? I’d love to know which workshop manufactured them…”

Without her knowing it, Aiselin was always seen with her sleeves rolled up when she wasn’t in public.

One day she was helping the maids carry old sheets during the mansion’s restoration. Another day she was in the mountains testing if certain plants were edible.

She even tried to go to the construction site with a shovel, but a maid stopped her, thinking that was going too far. It was one thing to help with household chores, but for a noble lady to perform manual labor was considered crossing the line.

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It was then that Diella realized something. There was a side to her sister that even she didn’t know. Aiselin had been born to be a housewife.

Nearly two months had passed since the destruction of the mansion.

“Aiselin! What are you doing?”

“Diella! You’d better not get too close! One, two!”

Diella had just returned from Ebelstein, where she had gone to gather information on the local situation before returning to the Rose Hall.

Behind the mansion, still under restoration, the furrows that Aiselin had dug in the field were perfectly aligned. She was no longer wearing a dress, but a light skirt and a blouse, and she wiped the sweat from her neck with a handkerchief.

Her face, though without makeup, was still beautiful. But with her hair tied up and soaked in sweat, she looked like a true laborer.

When Aiselin set down the heavy wooden bucket, it was full of reddish-brown soil. A foul odor filled the air, and Diella took a step back.

“W-what is that?”

“Fertilizer. Mixing the mansion’s manure with fallen leaves and construction sawdust results in a fairly good compost.”

“Are you… thinking of taking up farming?”

“I think we need a certain degree of self-sufficiency, so I prepared a field. What do you think? At first the servants opposed it, so it took a while… but it wasn’t bad, right?”

Standing in front of the pile of fertilizer, Aiselin had a very serious expression, evaluating how to distribute it.

“As for the crops… I think it’s better to buy grain and plant vegetables for cooking. The servants will have to take care of it when I’m not here, so I hope it’s not too much work… It would be ideal if it were pest-resistant…”

“Where did you learn all this?”

“I studied the books in the mansion. And when I did inspections of the territory, I more or less observed what the farmers did… Let’s see, we should plant turnips, radishes, onions, and cabbages…”

At that point, the servants stopped trying to stop her.

When Diella saw the servants busy with the restoration work, they all lowered their heads in shame.

“And also tomatoes… We can use them in salads… What else could we plant…?”

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Aiselin’s eyes sparkled. There was no doubt she was enjoying it immensely.

People always say that extraordinary people have something eccentric about them… but no one expected her eccentricity to take this turn.

Diella was so stunned she couldn’t even close her mouth.

***

The fall of the Duplain family became one of the main topics of conversation in the Rose Hall. It was inevitable.

The most solid pillar of the three—Duplain, Belmierd, and Beltus—had collapsed.

This not only signified the weakening of the Hall’s influence but also created new opportunities.

The Belmierd and Beltus families could not absorb the entire power structure of Ebelstein on their own. Inevitably, gaps would emerge in the vacuum left by Duplain.

Some saw this great upheaval as an opportunity for social climbing; others interpreted it as a sign to protect the status they had already achieved.

Amidst the tense atmosphere of the Rose Hall, rumors began to circulate that the young Duplain ladies would attend the meetings again.

“Oh, my goodness…! I heard that the late Miss Duplain, the one who dared to cross the line, wants to return to the Rose Hall.”

“Life is ephemeral. Miss Aiselin was beautiful, noble, and kind… Who would have imagined she would fall like this?”

“If she really has hit rock bottom, she’d better stay away from the hall. But if she has nowhere else to go, maybe she’s seeking refuge with us. It’s pitiful, in a way.”

“At least Miss Aiselin inspires pity. But Miss Diella deserved what happened to her. She thought she was superior and treated Miss Denise poorly. So this is her due.”

There are always those who gloat a little over others’ misfortune.

As Ellen walked down the hall of the salon, she saw some ladies whispering gossip and approached them with determination.

“Miss Rovent… weren’t you practically one of Miss Aiselin’s supporters? How quickly you turned your back on her!”

“W-what? Ugh… M-Miss Ellen…”

*No matter how much you move like a bat, do you think many people speak well of you, Lady Rovent? You should look in the mirror.*

Rovent looked at her impassively. Ellen, paying her almost no attention, turned around and entered the Hall. She was exhausted after staying up all night preparing today’s magic philosophy class.

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It was to be expected that the Duplains would be defamed. Once someone falls from grace, they become the first target for gossip.

Although she detested such social cruelty, Ellen was nervous that day and perhaps spoke more than she should have. It was best to avoid making enemies, but that was precisely what she did.

She sighed sadly as she entered the classroom.

“Oh, Lady Ellen! Hello! It’s wonderful to see you again.”

‘…?’

Aiselin looked much healthier, and her expression was much more radiant.

At first, Ellen thought it was an act, but after exchanging a few words, she realized it wasn’t. Aiselin was not one to hide her emotions.

“I am so happy to be back in Ebelstein after so long. Lately, I’ve been so busy that simply enjoying the carriage ride through the countryside was wonderful.”

“I’m glad to see you well, Lady Aiselin.”

“Well, aside from being alive, I feel like a corpse! I have to keep standing.”

Although she was wearing a pretty dress, it was simple and discreet. Few accessories, no fresh flowers in her hair.

However, she looked at Ellen with bright eyes and said:

“Thank you so much for not blaming us for the great disaster at the Duplain mansion. Thanks to your intervention, many important families didn’t blame Belmierd either. Most are still filing claims, but the burden has been considerably reduced.”

“Don’t worry about it. I simply did what I thought was right.”

“Even so, the Duplain family owes you much. I will never forget this debt.”

“It’s not necessary. You must have many things on your mind these days, so if you need help, please tell me. I’ll do what I can.”

“…Then, may I make a bold request?”

“…Eh?”

It was a polite introduction, but Aiselin seized the moment like a free spirit. She sounded more determined than ever.

“Right now I don’t have many funds available, so I’m selling the artwork and magical items from the mansion at bargain prices. But, as you know, many are very valuable and don’t sell quickly. It’s a big problem.”

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“Oh, really?”

“So I’m handling direct sales myself. It might be ideal for you, Lady Ellen. You won’t find these prestigious pieces or these magical items at these prices anywhere else. I spent all night putting together a catalog, would you like to see it?”

Ellen stepped back, overwhelmed by Aiselin’s energy.

The old Aiselin radiated an untouchable nobility. Now she exuded a ghostly determination.

“Odelton’s grimoire costs only 300 gold coins. The Drest Academy would faint from outrage. Also, I have a collection of sculptures by the Northern master, Theon, for only 100 coins. If you buy the complete collection, I’ll give you a 30% discount. Will you let an opportunity like this pass?”

“…”

“And look here, and here too… There are staves I had reserved for myself, and magical items that belonged to former high officials. The prices are crazy, right? To miss this opportunity would be barbaric. Many people are interested in these items… If you don’t buy them now, you’ll surely be thinking about them tonight when you’re at home.”

“…Hoo.”

They weren’t empty words: there really were high-quality items. After all, they were Duplain property, so quality was to be expected.

Ellen was on the verge of giving in after carefully examining the catalog until she shook her head.

“Ah… Is it really alright to sell these items?”

“And now is the time to get picky? Better than letting the servants starve. Art doesn’t fill stomachs, does it?”

“…”

Ellen, remembering the elegance and dignified conversations Aiselin had maintained in the past, lost her balance.

“Look at this too: this portrait of Count Antras costs less than 100 coins. I know that deep discounts offend the artist’s intent, but given our situation, we have no other choice.”

“And have you been selling these things to other women too?”

“Of course. Sales are going well. When Lady Denise arrives, I plan to show her the catalog too. If you don’t buy it now, someone else will.”

Aiselin clenched her hands tightly.

“This could be the best opportunity to sell!”

“Please calm down, Lady Aiselin. You can’t run your business from the Elfontaine Hall, can you?”

“That’s why I watched from the hallway. They don’t prohibit ‘artistic exchanges’ among women. This qualifies as one of them.”

“Well… if you say so…”

*Creak.*

Someone entered. Aiselin straightened her dress and looked up, more like a salesperson seeing a customer than someone greeting a friend.

“Oh, Lady Denise! Long time no see!”

She rushed forward, catalog in hand.

Denise appeared, well-dressed but tired. Aiselin froze upon seeing the man accompanying her, her face flushing, as she hurriedly gathered her belongings from the table.

“Miss Aiselin. You look very healthy.”

“Yes. Lady Denise, as always, you look gorgeous! Could you spare me a moment? I have a catalog and the prices are quite reasonable, so…”

Just as with Ellen, she was determined to speak enthusiastically and push her sales with Denise.

But just as she was about to start her sales pitch in earnest, she saw the man who had accompanied Denise… and she was left speechless. As if she had seen something she shouldn’t have, her face turned red and she hurried to put away all the items she had left on the table.

“Miss Aiselin. You look well.”

“Dereck?! What are you doing in the Elfontaine Hall…?”

“This afternoon, the royal magic counselor wanted to see me, so I’m accompanying Miss Denise while we are in the noble district.”

“R-really?”

Ellen felt a pang of discomfort at Aiselin’s reaction.

Aiselin, normally serene, suddenly became nervous in front of Dereck: she lowered her gaze and shifted uncomfortably.

Like a wild animal in front of its natural predator, she looked down and turned restlessly toward Dereck.

“What are those documents?”

“Oh… these… are some items I wanted to show Miss Denise…”

“It’s nothing too important. I was just surprised to see Dereck here, so I mentioned it.”

“Eh? It’s not strange to bring a servant or someone from home to the Elfontaine Hall, is it?”

“Lady Denise is right, but… I was curious. How have you been, Derek?”

“Fine. As always.”

“R-really…?”

Aiselin left the sentence unfinished. Normally she was able to evade such situations, but this time she couldn’t.

In reality, Aiselin had been attracted to Derek for some time.

From the day she visited the mercenary guilds to find a mentor for Diella, to his arrival at the Duplain mansion, where he taught other young women and she even tried to receive training directly, she had hoped he would become her mentor.

Now, with the decline of her family and Derek’s inflated value, that desire was impossible. She had to give it up.

But her feelings for Derek only intensified. Every time their eyes met, memories of him cleaning her blood in the rain at the Duplain mansion came back to her mind.

Her cheeks flushed and she could barely look him in the eye.

“D-Dereck…!”

“Yes?”

When Aiselin suddenly pronounced his name, Dereck responded naturally.

“You are incredible!”

“What…?”

“I mean… that the royal magic counselor sought you out personally means the royal family wants to reward you for what you did at the Duplain mansion, right? You could receive valuable magical items, or with luck, even a magic weapon…!”

“That my deeds are recognized is an honor, but… from what I’ve heard, it may not just be about a celebration. They say Sir Melverot of the North is looking for me…”

“R-really? If it’s Sir Melverot, it must be important…”

“…?”

Startled by her own words, Aiselin covered her mouth and whispered a low apology.

She rarely let something like that slip when speaking, so Denise and Ellen narrowed their eyes.

“…”

“…?”

A strange, dense, and uncomfortable silence followed the scene. Aiselin continued to cover her mouth, her gaze lost.

Ellen looked confused, while Denise, a romance novel writer, immediately understood the meaning of her reaction.

Right away, Denise’s face tensed, and she began to break into a cold sweat.