I shrugged my shoulders and sank into the chair, making it clear I had no intention of withdrawing my decision. A brief silence fell, and Demian, who had been lost in thought while biting his lip, spoke.

“We’ll need to hire many mercenaries.”

“That’s right.”

“Since you always have a plan, I’ll trust you. Please just don’t do anything Tangerous.”

My lips curled up at his firm tone.

Even though he would lecture me endlessly, when it came to important decisions like this, he was always on my side.

“Yes. Thank you.”

As I looked up at him with smiling eyes, Demian’s ears turned red.

Though everyone still looked at me with eyes full of concern, there were no further attempts to dissuade me. Sion, who had been deeply contemplating something with a serious face, finally spoke.

“I need to train harder.”

“Let’s train together.”

“I’ll join you, too.”

Demian and Lionel quickly responded, not to be outdone by Sion. As they all dispersed to find their respective tasks, only Soho, Mia, and I remained in the living room to enjoy the peace, as usual.

***

Knock knock-

“Miss! Lord Limpe has arrived!”

At this welcome news, I went down to the living room to find an even more welcome person waiting.

Dressed in a mahogany semi-formal suit, sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, he spotted me and smiled brightly. I smiled back as I approached him.

“Limpe! Welcome.”

“Lora! It’s so good to see you. Your house is really impressive.”

The mansion’s residents gradually gathered in the living room to see the new guest.

Limpe greeted them with his unwavering iron wall of a smile.

“It’s been a while. Demian, and Sion.”

“Hello.”

“It’s been a long time.”

Before catching up on everything that had happened, we decided to discuss the charity work first.

The setting was the sunlit living room. Limpe smiled at the uniqueness of our business discussion as we sat facing each other on the floor instead of the sofa, looking at the fireplace.

“You always show me new ways of doing things.”

“I know. Shall we begin? Please look at this.”

His eyes sparkled as he examined the proposal I handed him.

Once he started speaking, the process moved swiftly.

“Lora. This way, children would have to be separated from their parents. Why not accommodate them together? Of course, if the cost isn’t an issue.”

“I think that’s possible without bankrupting me.”

After exchanging a few words with him, I ended up entrusting the entire charity project to him.

Not because I was lazy, but because his plans were more forward-thinking than mine, who had lived in the modern world.

He possessed an insight that seemed impossible for someone from this era.

“Then, Limpe. Please proceed with this. I trust you.”

“I’ll report on the progress weekly. Ah! I saw a building on my way here that we could acquire and use as a facility.”

“Let’s do that.”

“Sounds good.”

After several hours of discussion, the direction of the project and the proposal were finalized.

He looked at me with smiling eyes, and I rested my chin on the desk, looking at him playfully with a wink.

“By the way, how does it feel to be able to do something without worrying about your family’s approval?”

“I’m happy. Thank you, Lora.”

Limpe lowered his eyes and smiled gently.

A warm atmosphere filled the cozy living room bathed in sunlight.

“If you’re happy, then I’m happy too.”

“Haha. Well, I’ll go ahead and acquire the place to use as a facility.”

“Already?”

“I need to secure it before someone else does.”

Limpe was full of enthusiasm for the opportunity to freely exercise his capabilities.

As I watched him leave with a farewell, closing the door behind him, I thought.

Now that I’ve entrusted the work to Limpe, I can rest well for the remainder of winter.

And in spring, I’ll resolve the matters with the Grand Duke and Asmodeia, and from autumn onward, I’ll live in peaceful abundance.

As always, my plan was flawless, but as usual, things didn’t go according to plan.

That’s because the passionately enthusiastic Limpe wouldn’t leave me alone.

I repeatedly told him that I had plenty of money so he could run the charity without worry, but it was of no use.

“No way. Lora, the sustainability of charity work depends on securing donors.”

He was incredibly skilled. He knew how to appropriately use his affable, handsome face and his background as a Count’s son, and with that, he brought in numerous sponsors.

And I was dragged along in the process of creating these sponsorships. Though my work was mainly paperwork, creating lists of donors, it was extremely bothersome.

“I don’t want to. I’m telling you, I want to live like a grasshopper.”

“Lora. Grasshoppers have limited time. They freeze to death when winter comes.”

With a perfect smile on his face, he dismissed all my protests. It was a shudder-inducing time.

And today, finally having a day of rest with nothing to do.

“What is this?”

As I sipped my morning tea and picked up today’s newspaper, I froze at the content on the front page.

Irena, who was pouring tea beside me, had a contrasting happy expression with sparkling eyes.

“Finally, the world is recognizing you, Miss!”

No wonder her footsteps seemed lighter than usual when she brought me the newspaper.

Let me explain what this is about.

It had already been a month since we started the charity work. The charity organization occasionally made the news, but it was usually Limpe who appeared. Since he was the planner, manager, and public face, this was natural. He was happy to reduce his family’s interference this way, and I had little interest in public opinion.

But this time, my face was plastered across the front page in huge print.

[From Epine’s Despised Illegitimate Child to Charity Founder.

Lorazie Epine, What Does Her Growth Symbolize?]

And with such a title.

The content was even more impressive. According to the newspaper, I was practically a saint who had overcome adversity.

“This is almost at the level of a biography? What on earth has Limpe been doing?”

After worrying all this time about people criticizing me, he had finally started manipulating public opinion.

While I read the article with a peculiar expression on my face, seeing how truths had been cleverly edited, Irena was thoroughly excited.

“I always thought that someday the world would recognize your character, Miss!”

“My character, huh.”

After briefly staring into the distance, I put down the newspaper.

Then, leaning back on the sofa and lifting my teacup with one hand, I spoke.

“Well, if this reduces my infamy even a little, it might lessen the hardships I’ll face in the northern social circles.”

“Miss…”

I don’t ask for much.

As long as there were no troublesome issues related to Kalschmitz, that would be enough.

“And we’re departing next week already. Time flies.”

“From tomorrow, we should purchase new dresses, accessories, and fans.”

However, signs of annoyance were already strong before departure.

I crossed my arms and spoke in a firm tone.

“Irena.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll leave all my preparations to you.”

“Hmm.”

Normally, Irena would be burning with enthusiasm, but her expression was somehow lukewarm.

“Miss. You’re just being lazy, aren’t you?”

Now Irena had completely figured me out.

I ran a hand through my hair and answered.

“Yes.”

“No. You have to do it yourself.”

“I don’t want to.”

When I firmly refused and closed my eyes, Irena sighed and trudged away.

Muttering, ‘Other mansion maids live for the joy of dressing up their masters.’

I saw Demian behind her retreating figure.

But we didn’t end up having to go shopping.

This was because, coincidentally, the very next day, an enormous compensation arrived from the Kalschmitz Grand Duke’s family.