***

“Wow. It’s beautiful.”

The garden had regained its natural beauty. It had been so long since I’d felt this healing sensation, gazing at the colorful flowers and the dazzling harmony with the river beyond.

Overwhelmed with emotion, I sat by the window, resting my chin on my hand, and stared for a long time. Sion and Demian seemed to share my thoughts as they paused while carrying things and turned to speak.

“It’s fortunate that it was restored faster than expected.”

“Kalschmitz is truly impressive.”

It was all thanks to the dedicated efforts of the workers sent by Kalschmitz.

This morning, a polite contact came through a crystal ball. As soon as permission was granted, they arrived as if they had been waiting, instantly creating something, delivering the items they had brought, apologizing once more with respect, and then disappearing. Their results brought smiles to our faces.

As I grinned with happiness, Lionel passed by with arms full of luggage bags and remarked.

“Somehow, the roses seem more abundant than before.”

“That’s not your imagination—they brought and planted 10,000 perennial roses.”

Additionally, when repairing the fence, they applied marble powder to match the mansion’s walls. Thanks to this, the already shining mansion gleamed even more brilliantly.

“I guess that’s the Grand Duke’s residence for you—they’re quite generous.”

“Indeed. At this rate, we could even welcome about three more Antes, couldn’t we?”

At my words, everyone’s expressions instantly hardened as they stared at me. I rolled my eyes at their accusatory looks that seemed to ask if I was serious.

“Well, I think that might be going too far.”

“Hehe. Miss. But this is amazing! Look at all these dresses!”

“You’re right. Then let’s make it two Antes instead of three.”

Kalschmitz hadn’t just compensated for the garden.

What Sion, Demian, and Lionel were diligently carrying into the house were expensive items that seemed to fill three carriages.

Among them were about a hundred party dresses that somehow perfectly matched my size, along with plenty of jewels and defensive magic scrolls.

“It’s almost like a declaration of war, saying they won’t let it go if I don’t accept the invitation.”

“Indeed. They’ve sent everything needed for the party.”

“At least we don’t need to go shopping for dresses and jewelry now!”

“Wow! Lady Lora! What’s that?! Is that new?!”

“What?”

As I was looking at the ever-positive Irena with a peculiar expression, Soho pointed outside with wide eyes.

Where the child was pointing, a small annex had been built that wasn’t there before. It had appeared immediately after my casual remark that it would be nice to have an annex. With magicians employed for the work, it took less than a few hours.

“That’s an annex. How about spending your summer vacation there?”

“Sounds great!”

“Lady Lora, they also left the horses that pulled the carriages in the stable.”

“They built exactly what we needed at just the right time.”

Thinking that garden repairs and money wouldn’t be sufficient compensation, they had built a stable and an annex before disappearing. They also left four thoroughbred horses, each worth millions of berks.

“Miss. Where should we put the carriage?”

And a splendid carriage to match the fine horses.

“Is this their way of saying I should come with nothing but myself?”

“Pardon?”

“Did they perhaps send a marriage proposal too?”

“I’ll check for you, Miss.”

“Miss.”

“Lady Lora…”

The men’s expressions hardened as they watched Irena and me in perfect sync.

There was even a strange sense of betrayal in Sion’s gaze. As I chuckled with delight, Irena spoke up.

“But this really does exceed the wedding gifts of most nobles by far. Isn’t that right, Butler?”

“That’s Kalschmitz for you.”

“Anyway, I’m happy. How much is all this worth?”

As I got excited, Demian gave a deflated smile.

“Miss, with all the wealth you possess, do you still find these things pleasing?”

“Yes. The more you have, the better.”

Demian and Irena, who knew the extent of my wealth, looked at me with drooping eyebrows, clearly thinking I was hopeless.

“Then I’ll organize the items. Sion, Lionel, please move these to the second floor.”

“Ah, you’ll keep the scrolls with you, right, Miss?”

“Yes.”

Today, too, the organization proceeded smoothly under Demian and Irena’s guidance. As I watched contentedly, Demian approached me.

“What is it?”

“Today is the day you visit the orphanage.”

“Is it that time already?”

Today was the day to receive Limpe’s weekly report, determine the direction of activities, and check on the orphanage’s situation. Once the business operations stabilized, he reduced how often he pestered me, but since it was a joint venture, minimal oversight was necessary.

“Sigh. It’s my fault for creating this work.”

As I got up from the chair I’d been glued to since morning, the handsome Sion followed behind me with a faint smile.

***

“Hello!”

“Yes, hello.”

As we stepped out of the carriage given by the Grand Duke’s family and entered the building, adorable children came running to greet us. Seeing their lovable faces, I smiled and patted their small, round heads.

Looking up, I saw nobles who had come to volunteer or donate behind the children. I also spotted Limpe standing on a platform answering reporters’ questions. He was in the middle of giving a passionate speech to attract donations.

Upon seeing me, he gave a slight nod of greeting, and I pulled my robe down so no one would recognize me. I wanted to avoid drawing others’ attention.

“He’s really something.”

“Lord Limpe seems to have excellent business acumen.”

“Yes. It’s his calling.”

Chatting with Demian, who had accompanied me as a guard, I walked through the spacious hall and down the corridor.

The white marble floor inside the building shone brilliantly, and intricately carved columns soared toward the ceiling. Following the columns upward with my gaze, I could see magnificent chandeliers hanging from above.

“Every time I come here, I’m impressed by how extraordinary it is.”

“Haha. It doesn’t really feel like an orphanage.”

Limpe had purchased a temple that closed due to financial difficulties and converted it into a childcare facility at a low cost.

It was an insight into the psychology of nobles who wanted to showcase their character through donations and volunteering but disliked dirty facilities.

“This is probably the only childcare facility with angels and gods carved into the walls.”

It wasn’t for nothing that it made the front page of the newspaper. There was a reason why this place, merely a childcare facility, received the media spotlight.

“Anyway, it will take Limpe quite a while to finish his speech and collect donations, right?”

“Would you like to go to the kitchen first, then?”

“Yes.”

We turned away from the hard-working Limpe and headed to the kitchen. It was for a new hobby I had developed while visiting the facility.

“How many are you planning to make today?”

“Hmm, about three hundred?”

It was mass snack-making.

After the cookies I made using Irena’s “World’s Easiest Cookie Recipe” became wildly popular with the children, I got hooked on it. Even Sion did.

Creak-

A bright kitchen welcomed us as we opened the door and entered.

Sion walked over familiarly, brought an apron, and handed it to me.

“Here you are.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Let me help you.”

Having quickly tied his own waistband, Sion came behind me as I fumbled clumsily and tied the strings for me. His large figure blocked the light, casting a shadow from behind.

“Sion. I can feel your breath on my neck.”

“What? I’m sorry.”

With my hair swept to one side to make it easier to tie the strings, exposing my nape, Sion’s breath tickled me. When I laughed about it, I could feel him fumbling in embarrassment.

At my words, he pulled his head back sharply while tying the strings.

“I wasn’t complaining.”

“No, it’s done.”

Looking in the mirror, I saw a neatly tied ribbon forming a perfect symmetry. Those large hands with their calluses had tied it with surprising delicacy.

“It’s tied well. Thank you.”

“Yes, Lady Lora.”

As if he had never been flustered, Sion smiled brightly and immediately took out a bowl and started pouring flour. Then he took out eggs and began cracking them, looking quite serious.