As a result, Serpina had a guest room prepared for the two of them.

“Prepare a room for the two guests to stay in.”

At Serpina’s order, the servants hesitated and couldn’t move right away.

Reddened, swollen cheeks, clothes and hair damp as if drenched in tea.

It wasn’t hard to guess what had happened in the reception room.

Moreover, the relationship between the three was roughly imaginable.

However.

“It’s fine, just prepare it.”

Serpina was firm.

As it was the lady’s order, they had no choice but to follow.

Serpina let out a small laugh at the sight of them trudging away like cows being led to slaughter.

“Are you really sure it’s okay? You weren’t… threatened or anything, were you?”

Mari was the one who expressed concern until the end.

“It’s really not like that, so don’t worry.”

“Then why……”

‘Why are you letting those people stay?’

Mari wanted to ask desperately, but she had to keep her mouth shut, thinking it would be presumptuous to pry.

Whatever the relationship between the three, those two were the lady’s family, and it was impossible to know how the lady felt about them.

Sadly, there are often those who can’t let go of their family even when they’ve been abused……

“For revenge.”

“Pardon?”

“I said I’m letting them stay for revenge.”

Hmm. I guess she’s not the type who can’t let go.

Though it was an unexpected answer, Mari thought it was rather fortunate.

That’s right! Revenge is better!

……But, how does she plan to get revenge?

I know those two well.

I also know that even if I forcibly chase them out, they’re not the type to give up easily and leave.

If that’s the case, I need to make them want to walk out on their own.

I planned to take revenge for the past while I was at it.

Seeing the two of them, still as brazen as ever, my insides were boiling……

This might actually be for the best.

Since it’s come to this, I’ll get revenge for my pitiful past self.

My revenge plan was simple.

First of all, step one.

“Ena.”

“Oh, my lady!”

When I went to the kitchen, Ena greeted me cheerfully.

“I heard. They say your guests have arrived, my lady.”

It seemed the news of the unwelcome visitors had already spread to the kitchen.

“I was just wondering what food to serve them.”

It seems she hadn’t heard exactly who they were or what their relationship was to me.

“Just prepare traditional Northern cuisine.”

“Traditional Northern cuisine? Aren’t the guests from the capital?”

“No. They are from the capital.”

“Then, traditional Northern cuisine might not suit their tastes……”

“It doesn’t matter. The guests are Countess Adeline and Lady Adeline.”

Ena paused for a moment.

She seemed to be thinking about which family Adeline belonged to.

“Wait a moment. By Adeline, do you mean……”

“It’s my family of origin.”

“Oh my. You must not be on good terms!”

Huh? How did she know that?

I had only mentioned that it was my family of origin, yet Ena was certain that Adeline and I were not on good terms.

When I looked at her in bewilderment, Ena responded with an expression that said, ‘How could that be difficult to figure out?’

“They married you off to the notorious Richter family! How could you be on good terms?”

……Is that right?

The logical connection seems to be on the level of not just spitting in one’s own face, but punching it too.

And yet, it was a valid inference, which was absurd.

“So, in short, your plan is to use my food to give those two a taste of their own medicine?”

“When you put it that way, it seems a bit disrespectful to you, Ena……”

“Not at all! I quite enjoy that sort of thing. Seeing someone cry and snivel while eating my food. I’ll serve them properly. With traditional Northern cuisine.”

Hehehe.

An eerie laugh followed.

What kind of food is she planning to make?

Evening came amidst expectation and worry.

When news arrived that dinner was ready, Laura and Letasha arrived at the dining room.

And upon seeing me seated at the head of the table, they frowned once.

Well, well. In a bit, they’ll probably demand the head seat too.

I ignored them and casually invited them to sit.

Laura’s face contorted as she sat down.

“What is this?”

“What do you mean, what is it? It’s food.”

“No, I mean what kind of food is this?”

“It’s Northern-style duck dish.”

“Th-th-this bright red thing is duck?”

Laura asked in disbelief.

Yes. That’s duck, they say.

To be honest, I couldn’t recognize it at first either.

The food on the plate was covered in bright red seasoning. It was so covered that you couldn’t even distinguish the food underneath.

I was a bit surprised by this incredible visual too, but I tried not to show it.

“Please, go ahead and eat. Surely you’re not thinking of not even tasting the food that was prepared with such effort for the guests? That would be quite rude.”

That’s right. In noble culture, refusing food prepared by the host for their guests was considered impolite.

That’s why it’s common to set the table with dishes that the guests would like, but……

Well. I’m impolite. What are you going to do about it?

I calmly smiled and picked up my fork and knife. With the determination to sacrifice myself to give these two a taste of their own medicine.

But.

“Mmm.”

The food was delicious beyond expectation.

I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. The meat was incredibly tender, and the seasoning wasn’t as spicy as it looked.

Can such delicious food really serve as revenge?

While I was pondering this question, the two of them hesitantly put the food in their mouths.

And the next moment.

“Cough! Ack, wa-water!”

“Huuuh. Spicy. Too spicy.”

The two started gasping and letting out screams close to wails.

What’s this? Why are they acting like that?

How is this spicy?

As I blinked in confusion at their inexplicable reaction, I caught the eye of Ena, who was peeking her head out from beyond the dining room.

Grin.

She smiled and winked at me.

Ah. I see!

The sensible Ena had prepared separate dishes for me and those two.

Though they looked exactly the same, unlike my dish which wasn’t spicy at all, the food for those two was.

“Spicy, it’s killing me.”

“Here, bring more water. Quickly!”

Yes. It seems it was quite fiery.

I gave a thumbs up to Ena, who was grinning.

You did great, Ena.

In the end, Letasha and Laura had to fill their stomachs with water.

It was because Serpina kept giving them meaningful looks while ostentatiously putting food in her mouth in front of them.

“Surely you’re not thinking of leaving any? That would be quite rude.”

That, that vicious woman.

How could she eat something so spicy without even blinking an eye?

Laura and Letasha bit their lips at Serpina, who was forcing them to eat while mentioning manners.

They wanted to shout, ‘You call this thing food?’ and get up from their seats, but.

“Haha. I’m not sure if Northern cuisine will suit your taste. I am Barhan, the head butler of the Duke’s household.”

It was difficult with watchful eyes around.

The man who introduced himself as the head butler of the Duke’s household was constantly writing something in a palm-sized notebook.

“What are you writing?”

“Ah. It’s a report.”

“A report?”

Barhan kindly answered Laura’s inquiry.

He said it was a record he was keeping to thoroughly report whether anything had happened at the mansion while the Duke was away.

“If anything were to happen, the Duke would need to handle it.”

Handle……?

What kind of handling?

How would he handle it?

Somehow the word ‘handle’ felt ominous, making Laura and Letasha flinch simultaneously.

“Please, eat. The carefully prepared food will get cold.”

With Barhan’s considerate urging, the two had to continue their meal, albeit reluctantly.

“Ugh. My tongue still feels numb.”

“……That wench clearly did it on purpose to give us a hard time.”

“But she ate it just fine. *Sip* *Hah* I don’t know how she could eat something so spicy without even *sip* blinking. *Whew*”

“I suppose she’s adapted to Northern food by now. Being vulgar herself, vulgar food must suit her taste.”

Laura nodded at Letasha’s words.

Well. That worm-like creature used to eat even spoiled food just fine.

Didn’t she used to eagerly pick up and eat even the rotten food thrown at her, shedding only a few tears?

Hmph. How wretched.

“I’m going to take a bath. Eating spicy food has made me all sweaty. It feels unpleasant.”

“Alright. Go wash up and rest. Sleep well, my daughter.”

“Good night to you too, Mother.”

After exchanging affectionate goodnights between mother and daughter, Laura headed to the bathroom for her bath.

“Ugh. Why is the North so cold?”

Shivering from the cold, Laura quickly immersed herself in the bathtub filled with water.

She was planning to relax and relieve her fatigue in the warm water.

But.

“What’s this? Why is the water temperature like this?”

Somehow, the water had cooled to lukewarm.

Is it because the weather is so cold that the water cooled quickly?

Whatever the reason, it wasn’t an appropriate temperature for warming up on a cold day.