005.

“Good morning, Lady Brill!”

The boy delivering the grocery basket greeted her energetically. Radilt smiled back and, unlike before, gave him a coin as a tip. Tipping someone had once been an unimaginable luxury, but since she was saving on food expenses, she could afford this much.

Above all, seeing the bright light that filled the hardworking boy’s face was pleasant no matter how many times she saw it.

“Travel safely.”

After seeing the boy off, Radilt took the basket and headed to the kitchen. Today’s groceries were still abundant. Radilt set aside a couple of clean, well-shaped carrots. They were meant as a snack for Serena.

Previously, she would have been cautious about taking even a single piece of fruit, but now she didn’t mind. These were her groceries, so shouldn’t she be able to use them as she pleased? She decided to become a bit more brazen and confident.

Today, instead of eggs, there was a bundle of larger duck eggs. The skinned smoked eel was still warm. Radilt filleted the soft, gelatinous flesh of the eel lengthwise and placed it on a large plate. Then she took out a jar of pickled onions and scooped some into a small bowl.

It might have seemed excessive for breakfast, but it would taste best before it cooled. She then began boiling potatoes in water.

She placed the smoked eel and pickles in the center of the table and filled each person’s bowl with mashed potatoes, flat bread, and roasted bacon.

Not long after, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law emerged. Merdea sat down at the table primly, as if she had completely forgotten yesterday’s events. Erite’s face was also composed. Her brother-in-law Garden appeared late, and Radilt also took her seat.

It was a much quieter breakfast than usual. Garden finished his food the fastest and left, and Merdea also calmly emptied her plate.

“……”

Merdea rose from her seat, briefly stared at her daughter-in-law, then turned away without a word. After her mother entered her bedroom, Erite spoke softly.

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law. At least for a while, Mother won’t say anything strange to Lord Duston. At least until I catch a decent man at this garden party.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Still, Mother seemed quite shocked. I don’t think she ever imagined you would stand up to her.”

It seemed the daughter-in-law’s desperate struggle had been effective. Radilt quietly rose and began cleaning up. The dishwashing, which couldn’t be called enjoyable, was somewhat exciting today.

‘It actually worked.’

Perhaps it was because the mother-in-law learned that her once-docile daughter-in-law could potentially throw her out.

The guilt that had become like an old habit raised its head, but Radilt didn’t regret it. This time, she had no choice but to take a strong stance.

‘……I can’t leave this house anyway, Mother.’

She had nowhere to go and no one to take her in. So she silently mumbled to herself to please give a little ground as she cleaned the kitchen.

Two days of peace passed by. Erite received her new dress and was extremely pleased with it. Merdea was also satisfied with her daughter’s beautiful appearance, which helped ease the tense atmosphere in the house.

And then the holiday came again—the day they had to head to Count Duston’s mansion.

“Let’s go, Serena.”

Radilt mounted her horse. The thought of facing Pendlore made her stomach churn already, but today she had an escape route: the tutor.

Surely he wouldn’t lurk nearby throughout the lesson. He had seemed busy, so he would probably leave to attend to his work. Thinking this made her feel much more at ease.

“I don’t know what kind of person they’ll be, but they’ll be easier to deal with than Lord Duston. Don’t you think, Serena?”

Serena shook her head slightly in response to her owner’s words.

‘……Miss needs to be thrown out before the young lady finds a husband.’

Her mother-in-law would remain quiet for a while. But Radilt didn’t think that attitude would last long. Once Erite’s issue was resolved, she would turn her burning gaze to the last painful thorn in her side—her third son’s matter. She would undoubtedly covet Count Duston’s wealth again.

So she needed to finalize the contract before then.

“Welcome, Lady Brill.”

The gatekeeper of the Duston estate, whose face had become familiar after several encounters, greeted Radilt. When she first came here, she had been turned away at the door. Now the gates opened wide whenever she visited, regardless of time.

Radilt acknowledged the gatekeeper’s greeting and entered. The servants also welcomed her kindly. They took her horse’s reins and attentively asked if she was hot, hungry, and what kind of tea or refreshments she would prefer.

“The tutor hasn’t arrived yet. Please go to the east annex and wait.”

“Will I be taking lessons in the annex?”

“Yes. The master has ordered that the annex be set aside exclusively for Lady Brill.”

That beautiful resting place had become Radilt’s own space, if only temporarily. Radilt unconsciously looked around. Noticing her movement, the servant quickly said,

“The master has gone out. He is expected to return in the afternoon.”

“Ah… I see.”

While thinking this was for the best, a faint sense of disappointment brushed against Radilt’s heart.

Following the servant’s guidance, she entered the annex, which had changed significantly in the meantime.

It was now furnished with fashionable pieces from distant foreign lands, and one of the former guest bedrooms had been converted into a study for lessons. The previously empty dressing room was filled with clothes tailored for Radilt, and the bathroom had also been renovated.

“I am Rosie Famia, the assistant butler assigned to the east annex.”

The assistant butler who would attend to Radilt’s needs bowed politely. Not just one or two servants, but an actual butler had been assigned to her. Radilt, feeling burdened, bowed her head in return.

“I will be waiting outside the door, so please feel free to let me know if you need anything.”

“Ah, yes…”

Rosie left the study. Radilt looked at the closed door with bewildered eyes. Would she really stand out there the whole time?

‘This really doesn’t suit me.’

Radilt let out a small sigh and carefully examined the study.

A bright-colored desk was placed by the window where light streamed in well, and bookshelves covering one wall were packed with all kinds of books. Radilt pulled out one book. Though not illiterate, she rarely had occasion to read. The last book she had read was a plant guide that her husband had owned.

“The Origin of the Prineidan Forest. Is this a book about forests?”

She wondered if there might also be books on perfume manufacturing methods or perfumers.

Radilt searched among the difficult and complex titles. As she was pulling out a book cataloging plants native to the southern plains, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a respectable-looking woman, appearing to be around forty, entered carrying a large bag.

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Brill. I am Edni Roud, the tutor who will be teaching you for a while.”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Roud. Or should I call you teacher?”

“There’s no need to call a simple tutor that. You stand beside Count Duston, so in my case, you may call me Lady Roud, as you just did, or social instructor.”

“Ah… I see.”

“Except for those with noble imperial blood, most can be sufficiently addressed as ‘Madam’ or ‘Lady.’ So today, let’s learn about people who require special forms of address.”

“Yes. I look forward to your guidance.”

Fortunately, the tutor seemed to be a kind and good person. Radilt focused on the lesson as Lady Roud took out an imperial directory she had prepared.

* * *

There was once a time when being the eldest son of a noble family with farmland was enough to become a lazy head of household, frittering away each day in lavish entertainment. However, society gradually changed, and now it had become impossible to enjoy the luxurious glory of the past with just a few plots of land.

Above all, the biggest reason was the rising value of tenant farmers. Unlike the past when farming was the main occupation, now many fields required labor. Naturally, tenant farmers left the agricultural lands in search of positions that paid more money while being less physically demanding, and landowners had to struggle with labor shortages.

They couldn’t very well pick up hoes and sickles themselves and go out to the fields, so they had to hire farmhands for wages. It was no longer possible to simply take a portion of the harvest and work them comfortably as in the past.

Some nobles adapted quickly to these changes, using their status advantages to expand into various industries. As a result, several had acquired even greater wealth than in the past.

However, some nobles couldn’t see beyond their high walls and, intoxicated by past glory, floundered and gradually declined. Fallen nobles who could only stare blankly at their barren farmlands as their money dried up and debts accumulated.

“I’m sorry, Lord Sanfes. I am not a moneylender.”

Pendlore looked at the man sitting across from him without the slightest trace of regret.

The wealthy Duston family was frequently visited by people seeking financial arrangements. Pendlore Duston was not particularly stingy when it came to investments. If one demonstrated thorough documentation and commensurate ability, his coffers would readily open.