COARV Chapter 32

"She checks the glacier every single day."

"Ho."

The frozen lake was inseparable from the territory's people in the central Grand Duchy. Demonic beasts appeared mainly in winter, but occasionally aberrant ones ignored the seasons and emerged.

Sterns were like stars. Sacred beings who protected against the demonic beasts of the frozen lake. Most Sterns were arrogant and loved the prosperous imperial capital far more, but with just a little diligence in the central territory, you could easily capture the hearts of Berke's people like this.

Of course, Sterns were welcomed wherever they went, so pouring effort into the cold and frightening frozen lake every day didn't make good business sense.

"Besides, she works incredibly fast and well. She's the first high noble I've seen like that besides His Grace. No, in terms of efficiency, she feels even faster than His Grace...?"

"That's certainly an aspect you'd appreciate, Linon."

Linon nodded. The firewood crackled and threw sparks. Crouched in front of the large fireplace, warming himself by the fire, his frozen body still didn't thaw quickly.

Then a middle-aged woman around Masha's age approached and spoke. She had a warm impression.

"Linon. The water's boiled."

"Ah, thank you, Joanna."

"You thank people for everything."

Linon rose from his seat.

Masha was devoted to the Grand Duchess alone—for the Grand Duchess, only for the Grand Duchess, dedicated only to the Grand Duchess. After the previous Grand Duchess passed away, that duty seemed to have transferred entirely to the newly appeared 'temporary' Grand Duchess.

Thanks to that, all the hot water in the estate had been taken by Masha. It was barely enough for one noble lady to bathe, so naturally Linon had been trembling while waiting for water to boil. Though he didn't show it, Linon's fingers were quite curled from the cold.

Linon had just started walking when—

"The shadows spread all the way to the kitchen, what a disaster. We barely got all the food out... Linon? Why is your face so pale?"

Linon's shoulders flinched. He blinked. Another middle-aged woman around Masha's age had approached close before he knew it.

"Why aren't you getting under the covers? Ah, it's because of that damned mysophobia. You'll die young at this rate, Chief Aide."

"Unlike rough Susan, I'm a clean and delicate chief aide..."

"Your mouth's still alive. I don't particularly want to dispose of corpses in this Laurel Manor."

"Eek! Susan!"

Susan grabbed Linon's scruff with a serious face and dragged him along.

"I can walk on my own!"

"You'll freeze to death on the way, Linon."

"Ahhh! At least wear gloves when touching my clothes!"

Linon screamed. Susan didn't budge. No matter how he struggled, his frozen hands couldn't muster much strength.

"That mysophobia is unchanged. At least you didn't act that way with the young miss, so that's fortunate."

"Of course not! Lady Seria is...!"

Splash. Susan dropped Linon directly into the tub billowing with warm steam.

"Puha!"

Linon swept his soaked hair back with a scream.

"You demon! This demon's den! May you all be sealed away together this time!"

Knowing he had mysophobia and deliberately touching his clothes and body like this—how could she be anything but a demon?

"Linon."

To Linon, now resembling a drowned rat, Butler Ben said politely.

"The washing soap and fragrance are in the third drawer on the left."

"I understand, so would you both please leave!"

Linon would definitely wash himself thoroughly and scrub the clothes he'd been wearing until they were stiff. In fact, if Linon weren't the chief aide, they could have hired him as the head laundry worker... Ben smiled at the unrealistic thought. In this eternally quiet green estate thick with the shadow of death, the chattering sounds weren't bad at all.

Susan, who'd unceremoniously dumped Linon in the tub, seemed to be thinking similarly. She muttered while watching Linon angrily search for the washing soap.

"Lucky there are exactly two intact bathrooms in this estate."

Her mouth was smiling, but her voice carried distinct regret.

‘I feel like I’ve turned into a human made of mugwort.’

Masha had applied fragrant oil and given me a light massage too, and that also seemed homemade because it had an extremely strong mugwort scent.

"Now, miss. The estate doesn't have many clothes left, unfortunately... But you'll be warm."

"Thank you."

I put on the fur robe Masha brought. The luggage carriage hadn't arrived yet, and all my clothes were in it.

When I stepped out of the steam-filled bathroom into the cool air, it touched my skin. And I blinked. Three people were waiting outside.

"It's an honor to meet you, miss. I am Ben, butler of Berke. I would be pleased if you'd call me Ben comfortably."

'Butler?'

My eyes widened. I hadn't known the Grand Ducal House of Berke had a butler. I'd never heard any mention of a butler, so I'd assumed it was a castle without one. Since Lesche's personality didn't particularly favor formality, it would have been understandable if there wasn't one.

"I thought Berke didn't have a butler."

Ben smiled.

"I've had circumstances preventing me from entering the main castle. Please forgive my rudeness."

"Forgiveness is... It's fine."

"Thank you, Lady Seria."

Looking at the gentle and refined Ben, I tilted my head. Because in the original work too, no butler appeared for the Grand Ducal House of Berke.

'Does he die soon? But he looks very healthy.'

Apparently this butler gives up his position at Berke Castle for some reason later. Of course, I couldn't know why. Generally speaking, the highest salaries in noble estates go to the butler and the head chef. Especially for a Grand Duke's butler, the salary would exceed the wealth of most lower nobles. Why he'd give up such a good position was difficult to guess.

'And he's so likable too.'

His neatly tailored clothes, cufflinks that weren't excessive but clearly marked him as a butler, his cleanly combed hair—everything proclaimed him a prestigious family's butler at a glance. He looked capable too, which made it more regrettable. He'd be a great help if he were at the castle.

"I'll introduce these two as well, miss."

While I felt regretful, Ben gestured to the two middle-aged women behind him.

"This is Joanna the gardener, and this is Susan the chambermaid."

"Hello, miss. I'm Joanna."

"I'm Susan."

Their greetings were polite. But Joanna, who'd been introduced as the gardener, was staring intently at my hair. I felt puzzled. Was something stuck in my hair?

"What is it?"

"Green..."

"Joanna."

When Susan poked her side, Joanna ducked her head with an embarrassed expression. The two withdrew, saying they'd go dry my clothes, and Masha followed.

Ben wore an apologetic expression.

"I apologize. The manor's gardener is very fond of the color green."

"I thought she was staring because she disliked it."

"What? That's absurd. Who would... Your hair is very beautiful, miss."

I shrugged and smiled. In truth, Seria's bright green hair divided opinions considerably. Those who liked it said it resembled a summer meadow full of vitality, and those who disliked it said it looked like ominous seaweed.

The latter was honestly a bit depressing. Seaweed ultimately meant kelp-like...

'Especially my two young lords at the Keliden Marquisate really hated it.'

In the original, they were extras courting the female lead Lina. In Seria's memories, they were bastard half-brothers.

"You must be hungry. Let's have you eat."

Ben guided me toward the dining room.

"We've prepared a snack."

As Ben said, a meal was already prepared in the dining room. I sat in the chair Ben pulled out and spoke while watching him naturally stand beside me.

"You don't need to attend me during meals."

"Then please call if you need anything."

Once Ben left, the already quiet dining room became even more peaceful. Filling my empty stomach with the simple but steaming stew felt life-restoring. I was busily emptying the stew bowl when I suddenly sensed a presence behind me.

"Lady Seria."

A familiar voice. Linon. I turned around without much thought and nearly fainted.

"Hiiik!"

I thought he was a water ghost. Linon was walking over with water dripping from his entire body.

"Sorry... The luggage carriage hasn't arrived yet, so I have no clothes to change into..."

"But Masha brought me clothes. Didn't she bring you any? Ah, should I give you this robe? It's double-layered."

"My lady's robe?"

"No. I got it from Masha."

It had a lived-in quality that suggested someone had worn it before. It was kept cleanly enough that I felt no particular resistance, but apparently Linon did.

"Then I'll politely refuse. The measurements don't look right anyway."

As Linon said, the robe didn't look like it would fit his body. But wouldn't it be better than having water drip like that? Even if it's warm water now, it'll cool quickly. What if he catches a cold? I knew he detested catching colds.

'It's because of his mysophobia.'

"At least eat this. Masha left a portion for Linon too."

"Thank you, my lady."

Linon sat across from me. Even while vehemently refusing clothes others had worn, he looked relieved to see the steaming stew, apparently truly cold.