Previously an idiot, now a rat. Most of the words mentioned every time she opened her mouth were ones Ludmila had never heard in her life.

Her brothers and Kedilen were no less foul-mouthed than Beressa, but one difference was that they held the thought that they were noble.

When criticizing others, they used metaphorical expressions rather than profanity.

They clicked their tongues, saying that openly cursing and pointing out others was something only street ruffians did.

As such, Ludmila too had no tolerance for this kind of profanity.

“It seems the noble Marchioness wasn’t taught not to touch other people’s belongings carelessly? Casually peeking at important documents on the desk of an unoccupied office.”

Waving the documents, Beressa took a step towards Ludmila with a sneer.

“It seems even a rat can become a Marchioness in the capital?”

“Watch your words. I admit I was wrong, but I don’t deserve to hear such things from you.”

“Oh really? Then what if these documents were so important that no one except the Duke should see them?”

“If that were the case, I would offer an appropriate apology and accept punishment. But you wouldn’t be the one to decide that.”

“……”

The smile that had been fully spread across Beressa’s lips gradually faded. Ludmila didn’t want to continue this uncomfortable relationship as soon as she arrived here, but this was the second time.

“Now……”

“And do you even have the right to say such things to me?”

She was the one who had carelessly invaded her private space and read important information she possessed.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all patience had been used up just by tolerating that.

Yet, this woman now pointed out her mistake in a reverse way, unhesitatingly throwing sharp expressions.

Many people believed without doubt that the highly respected, noble, and gentle Marchioness from the capital was meek and kind.

That wasn’t wrong. At least, until Ludmila died once.

“I too am ashamed of showing behavior different from what I said. However, if I need to be reprimanded for it, I think it should be done by the owner of the office, not you.”

Although she should bow her head and live as much as possible since her life was at stake, Beressa had already far surpassed that line.

Moderate mockery could be endured, but issues threatening safety couldn’t be ignored.

“I’ll tell Aden about today’s incident myself. After that, you can say whatever you want. Is that okay?”

“……”

Ludmila confirmed the turbulent emerald waves one last time before turning around with a light bow.

With sharp eyes like arrowheads piercing her back.

This was generally a large castle. It had at least two more towers than ordinary castles and was taller in floors.

As a result, there seemed to be easily a hundred resident servants. Given the size of the castle to manage, this scale of servants wasn’t particularly strange.

However, referring to the financial statement of the Habertz domain, having this many servants was one of the major waste factors.

For three years, Ludmila had to respond to Kedilen’s demands not only for an excellent Marchioness to show in social circles but also for the role of a perfect hostess.

The castle of Habertz, the black ramparts, seen through her eyes was clearly strange.

When finances are tight, the first thing to cut is labor costs. But the Habertz castle was violating this most basic logic.

Even trying to understand by applying irrational reasoning, this castle was full of inadequacies in Ludmila’s eyes.

‘Haah-.’

Perhaps because of that.

The habit of responding to Kedilen’s demands, which were no different from an obsession to be perfect as a Marchioness, was slowly emerging.

It was frustrating to leave things as they were when there were overflowing areas to solve. But she didn’t express or intervene directly.

She was a stranger and a wanderer. As a guest, she just needed to stay and leave.

Therefore, Ludmila tried to understand her status and position accurately and maintain boundaries.

After finishing a short walk and returning to her room, Ludmila, who was resting while reading a book, got up from her seat again.

She thought it would be sweet to rest lazily, but staying cooped up in the room was very suffocating. Naturally, her hand grabbed her coat and her legs headed outside.

She looked around, surveying the castle interior where there were still many places to explore.

A servant who didn’t recognize Ludmila greeted her as if enchanted by her appearance, then tilted his head in confusion as he passed by, but no one restricted where she went.

Thanks to that, it wasn’t particularly difficult for Ludmila to arrive at the only lumber mill in the castle.

“Who’s there?”

The manager who sensed a presence inside the lumber mill poked his head out slightly.

Rough speech and a face with a red flush, cloudy eyes. A man drunk on alcohol in broad daylight.

The smell of alcohol spreading thickly from the man standing in front of Ludmila in his work clothes was strong.

Instead of frowning, Ludmila maintained distance from him by taking a step back.

“Who are you? It’s a face I haven’t seen before.”

“I’m a merchant who just arrived yesterday. I stepped in because I liked the smell of wood while touring the castle.”

“Merchant? You don’t look like someone who would do such work……”

The sharp-eyed manager stared at Ludmila for a moment before turning away gruffly.

“Well, never mind that. If you want to buy something, go talk to the master of the castle, not me. Though you probably don’t intend to buy anyway.”

After confirming she wasn’t a noble, the man waved his hand and disappeared again.

Thanks to him even locking the door securely, perhaps thinking of drinking again, she was able to look around the lumber mill comfortably. After finishing the lumber mill tour, the next stop was the garden, and the last was the history hall.

“Excuse me, but could you show me your identification? Not just anyone can enter here.”

The guard guarding the entrance to the history hall blocked Ludmila’s way. It was the moment when Ludmila’s peculiar journey of freely exploring the castle came to an end.

Well, of course. No matter how lax a place is, they wouldn’t let anyone wander around everywhere.

She could enter if she presented the ring Aden had given her, but she had no intention of using it for such a place.

Embarrassed by the guard’s intervention, Ludmila wore an awkward smile.

Seeing herself move freely without being stopped, she had thought that the castle of free people had free-thinking as well. Of course, it was a misunderstanding.

Glancing at the clock, it was almost noon. Remembering Aden’s promise to have lunch together, Ludmila immediately started walking.

“…more books…”

“…are you…female…?”

As Ludmila was heading to her room, she heard someone’s voice not far from the history hall.

Ludmila, who was heading in that direction, could see men blocking the way right in front of her as soon as she turned the corner.

“Ah, please pass.”

Just as she was in a predicament with her path blocked by them, a man who noticed her cleared the way.

Ludmila, passing through the cleared path with a light thanks, turned her head at the words, “Isn’t this fake?” What the men were looking at was a painting.

“That can’t be. There’s even a certificate for this. I brought it because they said to take it without paying, but if it’s fake, I’m a dead man today.”

The naive-looking man protested, pulling out a certificate from his chest, but the others clicked their tongues as if they didn’t believe it.

Ludmila, who had been staring at this scene, soon lost interest and started walking again.

“If this is fake, the Duke will collapse! He was expecting so much since it’s the largest-scale project from last year!”

But at the same time, the voice that pierced her back stopped Ludmila in her tracks.

The morning work conducted outside was easily wrapped up.

Unlike the ominous atmosphere, the conversation with Sahara ended better than expected, and thanks to that, he was able to return without any problems. As soon as Aden returned, he handed over his horse to the stable keeper who welcomed him, then nodded to Salome who followed behind.

“I’ll be organizing internal affairs this afternoon, so don’t schedule any outings. Just handle the reception schedule and ignore the rest.”

“Understood.”

“And……”

It had been a full 3 months since he left the castle. Even with a proxy in place, work inevitably piled up.

Aden was feeling the time he had been away as the workload didn’t decrease even when he split his time and moved around.

Should I borrow a cat’s paw? Sighing, he roughly unbuttoned the first button of his tightly fastened shirt.

At that moment, he caught sight of golden threads rippling like waves through the window.

Aden, who spotted Ludmila coming out from the direction of the history hall and moving in the opposite direction, stopped in his tracks. Where is she going?

That’s not the way to her room. Aden furrowed his brow as he checked the time by pushing up his cuffs. It’s almost lunchtime.

Ludmila, who had been appearing and disappearing through the window, stopped and turned back as if someone had called her, then returned in the direction she had come from.

She headed towards a group of men.

Aden tilted his head as he watched her gesturing and pointing fingers while saying something to the men.

“Your Grace?”

“No, continue speaking.”

Salome, who had been looking at the stopped Aden with curious eyes, carefully continued his explanation.

Even as he walked slowly, his gaze was fixed on the man and Ludmila exchanging conversation.

What conversation could they be having to make such serious expressions?

‘There are occasional reports of suspicious behavior from newly arrived servants.’

Suddenly reminded of what Salome had mentioned, Aden’s eyes narrowed.

Suspicious behavior meant the act of planting spies. There must be a reason for trying to plant people again after getting caught once and having all the servants kicked out.

He couldn’t be certain those men were spies, but if they were approaching Ludmila with such intentions, there was a need to nip it in the bud.

As Aden walked slowly with his gaze fixed on Ludmila exchanging conversation, he could see the interaction between them becoming increasingly intense.

Just as Aden was furrowing his brow, feeling something was off, one of the group finally punched another man in the cheek.

He could clearly see them shouting passionately at the man who had collapsed on the floor.

Aden’s expression hardened coldly at the sudden situation.

“Is there a problem?”

Salome, sensing something odd in Aden’s gaze, finally asked again and threw his gaze in the direction Aden was looking.

Meanwhile, the men who had been in a heated argument now turned their gaze to Ludmila.

The delicate Marchioness, seemingly flustered, flinched and stepped back. The men approaching her with excited faces.

“I-I’ll send the guards right away.”

Salome, sensing something was wrong, hurriedly said he would send someone.

But at the same time, the men walking towards Ludmila all bent their knees in front of her and bowed their heads.

A metallic sound burst from Salome’s mouth, surprised by the unexpected outcome.

What bizarre thing is this now?

Aden’s lips twisted askew in bewilderment.