“Lady, you’ve changed a lot. You seem like a completely different person from back then.”

Caleb, who had been crying for a while, spoke as his mind returned.

“…….”

Ahaha, that’s right. Because she is a completely different person. But can one say that so easily? Brody responded with an awkward smile.

“People change, you know.”

“Well, it’s not something I should say.”

Caleb looked at the back of her hand, which seemed to have only bones left.

Following her gaze, Brody looked at her hand, then stood up beside Caleb.

After soaking the towel in water and squeezing it tightly, she handed it to her.

“Eat well, sleep well, and live diligently, my lady. That helps you. You know you have to treat yourself well, right? I’ll make sure you can wear more elegant clothes than when you were in the duke’s mansion.”

Awkwardly smiling at her words, Caleb wiped her face with the towel. Here in the North? Is that possible?

The North… It was poor.

Although it was not originally wealthy, the situation became even more difficult due to prolonged drought and the emperor’s looting.

Maybe she doesn’t know the situation well yet since she hasn’t arrived at the Duke’s castle. No, maybe not. It didn’t seem likely. If it was the Brody from her memories when she was in the duke’s mansion, she might have concluded that. However, the current changed her didn’t seem like such a careless person.

If it’s her, maybe, she might do something. That thought crossed his mind.

‘Come to think of it, I don’t know anything about the lady.’

Brody returned to the place where she was making herbs and busily worked with her hands.

Seeing her casually returning to daily life like this gave Caleb comfort.

Caleb held the towel and watched her hands move repeatedly, lost in thought. Her mind settled down calmly.

Druk druk, amid the sound of the mortar and pestle clashing, Brody’s voice suddenly rang out.

“But, Caleb, were you familiar with the Chief of Staff originally?”

Caleb’s body flinched at the sudden question. But since Brody wasn’t looking at Caleb, she couldn’t tell.

After clearing her throat, Caleb calmly answered.

“Huh? Chief of Staff River from the North, are you talking about?”

“Yes, him.”

“Well, of course, I knew. If you’re from the North, you usually know him.”

“Oh, not personally then?”

“Yes. This is the first time we’ve talked.”

“Hmm. The Chief of Staff seems to know the lady, though.”

“He… knows me?”

“Yes. Although he only saw your face, he said he knew that Mrs. Murphy raised you like a daughter.”

Brody glanced briefly at Caleb. She seemed genuinely surprised by the news that the Chief of Staff recognized her.

‘Hmm, isn’t it? Is it just my mood? There was a strange atmosphere between the two.’
Brody recalled the moment when River first recognized Caleb. It was brief, but did she see surprise or astonishment on his face? Caleb also seemed to cast an indiscernible gaze at River.

Could it be an old acquaintance or something special between them?

At first, Brody guessed so.

However, upon further thought, Caleb was thirty-eight, and River was thirty. If Caleb got married in her twenties, River would have been twelve at the time. After her husband’s death, Caleb went down to the capital with her daughter. Considering the timing… well, it seemed unlikely.

Caleb showed no reaction to Brody’s explanation that River recognized her. It seemed like nothing after all.

‘Well, whatever.’

So, Brody pushed that thought into the corner of her memory.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Afterward, Brody began learning the job in earnest at River’s office.

How administrative documents were classified, what to focus on, what to check and receive, and how to organize and process them.

River taught Brody various chores quite enthusiastically.

But Brody was someone. She went to college after going through the college entrance exam hell, studied English and exercised in the early morning, worked part-time between classes, and received scholarships while attending college.

Then, due to family circumstances, she took a leave of absence, worked in various occupations as they came, and accumulated experience in a haphazard manner.

She was good at living a busy life, multitasking, speed-reading, and memorization.

Her memory was especially good; she didn’t easily forget what she saw and heard. Without that ability, she wouldn’t have been able to successfully study at university within a busy schedule.

Moreover, the lifestyle of the old era was, in any case, more leisurely than the busy modern civilization society. At least, in terms of time.

Having to live by candlelight after sunset, candles were not cheap. So, the daily schedule had to be limited.

The basic level of education was entirely different. Just doing mental arithmetic multiplication was surprising, and if she attempted factorization, she might have to write a paper.

River was surprised. Despite Brody trying not to show it as someone who generally didn’t admit others, there was a hidden expression of amazement.