* * *

Serena inadvertently let out an undignified “Ugh” as letters poured onto the desk like a shower.

This was because she couldn’t believe the insane amount of documents and letters right before her eyes.

‘…What is this?’

She thought with a grimace on her face.

“What is this, Pamel?”

Serena asked after a brief consideration, wondering if these might have been mistakenly delivered instead of going to Magnus.

“These are letters addressed to you, my lady.”

“Isn’t this a mistake? Like letters meant for Serina next door, not Serena.”

“There’s no one named Serina living next door.”

“Well, there could be someone named Sirena living next door.”

“My lady.”

Pamel called Serena with a smiling face.

“What?”

“Unfortunately, the Kelahinum Duchy has no neighbors.”

It was the kind of statement that would send chills down one’s spine if this were a horror movie, but in fact, Serena already knew this.

“Besides these, various bri… I mean, gifts have arrived and I’ve gathered them separately in a room.”

“Send them all back.”

I said, waving my hand dismissively.

“My lady’s status has risen greatly.”

“…Suddenly?”

“Because the business you started has become the most popular business in the empire now.”

Serena, who had been listening quietly, had a subtle change in her expression.

That meant that this mountain of letters and an unbelievable amount of gifts were all…

“Are these really bribes?”

“To put it crudely, they could be.”

Serena held her forehead at Pamel’s words.

It was a situation she hadn’t anticipated at all.

Looking at the senders, she saw names of various merchant groups and nobles famous for commerce.

‘…Where did my villainess position go?’

Serena froze up.

Because in these passionate letters, she couldn’t read any fear directed towards her.

“What on earth is going on…”

She looked at Pamel with trembling eyes, just wanting to collapse.

Pamel, whether he knew Serena’s feelings or not, just smiled brightly.

‘She really dislikes it, but it’s a very good thing for the Kelahinum Duchy.’

Of course, Pamel knew everything.

He just pretended not to know.

Because Pamel was also one of the people who was very satisfied with the current situation.

Every time he went to the butler’s gathering, those who pretended to be worried while actually scraping his insides were now desperately trying to approach him to get various information.

Of course, Pamel didn’t give any answers and just brushed them off with his characteristic smile, pretending not to know.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to answer.

He thought about teasing them a bit, acting like he might or might not give information, to relieve some of his past frustrations.

But…

‘I have no idea what she’s doing or how she’s doing it.’

That’s right.

Because Serena never discussed such business matters with Pamel, he didn’t know anything.

“……”

Anyway, he had been receiving frequent annoying yet happy contacts from here and there asking to put in a good word for them.

“Thanks to you, my lady, the reputation of the Kelahinum Duchy is rising, and I, Pamel, consider it an infinite honor.”

“Ah… I see.”

Serena answered limply.

She first sorted out the letters that absolutely needed to be answered, checked them, and put the rest aside for now.

She once again recalled a nostalgic memory.

The invitations that had to be handwritten and delivered one by one when hosting a banquet or party.

‘How long would it take to reply to all these.’

She sighed.

“How did they even know it was me…”

She had never made a public appearance.

“It’s because of the business registration form.”

“Business registration form?”

“Yes, because your name was included in the business owner’s name…”

“…Was that something anyone could look up?!”

Serena asked with a shocked face.

Pamel tilted his head with a subtle expression at Serena’s words.

“Should I say anyone can look it up… or anyone can see it…”

What kind of word play is that.

Pamel saw my expression and put on an awkward smile.

“What do you mean?”

“Usually, business licenses are displayed in a visible place near the entrance…”

“Huh…?”

“It means anyone who visits the store can see it.”

Pamel added a kind explanation. Serena just gaped.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Because she…

‘I asked for it to be just Serena, not Serena Kelahinum…!’

She had already told Bartolin the necessary requirements.

‘That Bartolin…!’

People shouldn’t be trusted.

Serena, feeling a stinging pain at the back of her head, hung her head in despair.

“What’s this strange letter?”

Serena tilted her head, looking at a letter emitting a soft blue light among the pile of letters.

“That’s… a letter infused with magic used in the Mage’s Tower.”

‘What reason would the Mage’s Tower have to send me a letter?’

Serena thought as she opened the letter with a strange expression.

Whoosh, the letter that spat out its contents turned to powder and disappeared in an instant.

‘Why do such unnecessary things?’

It would have been quite good as kindling. She clicked her tongue in regret.

Thinking that it’s a pity they don’t know about wasting talent in this world, she unfolded the letter.

And quietly closed it.

“Call Drukan for me.”

“Yes.”

Pamel lightly called Drukan who was standing outside. Serena opened her mouth looking at Drukan who entered her office.

“Drukan.”

“Yes, Lady Serena.”

“By any chance… did you participate in the swordsmanship tournament that was held recently?”

Drukan lightly nodded at Serena’s words.

“…Your face must have been exposed then?”

“It’s fine because I wore a mask.”

Yes, that’s fine for Drukan.

Of course, even if it wasn’t fine for Serena.

“……”

Is there such an ungrateful person in the world who repays kindness with enmity!

Above all, for what reason would a former hero shamelessly enter a swordsmanship tournament!

Unless Magnus enters, it’s obvious that he would win no matter who looks at it!

There must have been people among the spectators of the swordsmanship tournament who knew that Drukan was missing an arm.

That means someone recognized Drukan’s arm and spread rumors secretly.

“Isn’t the problem not your face but that arm?! I told you I only gave that to you.”

“I properly concealed the arm.”

“The problem is the people who knew you were missing an arm!”

When Serena finally shouted, Drukan tilted his head.

“Why is that?”

“Because I have no intention of commercializing this at all!”

“Many people might be saved.”

“That’s not my concern. Haven’t you heard the rumors about me?”

When I spoke harshly on purpose, Drukan slightly furrowed his brow.

‘…She’s a bit cold in this aspect?’

Drukan pondered for a moment.

It was actually him who had spread such rumors.

He wrote letters to wealthy and decent businessmen he used to know, thinking that she, who likes money, would want to make a lot of money.

‘…I meddled unnecessarily.’

At least from Drukan’s perspective, Serena didn’t seem to want things to get any busier than this.

‘She’s a frugal person.’

It was the moment when her annoyance was packaged as frugality.

“I don’t want to get tired, and I don’t want to live a bothersome life. The goal of my life is to live off others. Got it?”

“Is… that so?”

Drukan thought, looking at the mountains of documents piled around her.

Actually, until just now, he thought she was a workaholic.

After all, she never left her office from morning till evening.

It was to the extent that Magnus would visit personally to meet Serena or to make her leave work when she wouldn’t.

‘So she’s not… a workaholic.’

Of course, even if he thought that, looking at the state of her office, it wasn’t very believable.

“Anyway, Drukan, that’s a secret. I’d appreciate it if you could be more careful from now on.”

“Hmm…”

Drukan pondered for a moment.

“I understand.”

He slowly nodded, recalling the ten letters he had sent.

He slightly averted his gaze, thinking of several things to correct in the content of the letters he had sent earlier.

‘I’ll just ignore it for now.’

Serena thought as she swept the letters to one side and shoved them into a drawer.

She thought that if they didn’t receive a reply, the proud merchant masters and nobles would all give up.

And less than a week later, she had to regret that choice.

Because…

[The content sent earlier was a joke, please forget it. It was a lie.]

After that, the brief content of the letter Drukan sent, as above, rather ignited the other party.

His acquaintances, who knew well that Drukan was not the type to easily change his words or tell lies, were gripped by anxiety that the other party might have already found another business partner.

Thus, the Kelahinum Duchy began to see the strange spectacle of unannounced visitors lining up.

And strange rumors began to spread.

The bizarre rumor that the young lady of the Duke of Kelahinum, who doesn’t reply to letters, would meet you if you visit in person.

“…I won’t do it.”

The reason was simple.

It was because Serena’s enthusiasm for dealing with merchants who came without notice had faded away.

And as a result, she had locked herself in her room again.

“……”

It was the moment when Magnus’s sanity, who had barely managed to drag her out, snapped.