COARV Chapter 32

"She checks the frozen lake every single day."

"Oho."

The frozen lake was somewhere the people of the central Grand Duchy could never simply detach themselves from. Demonic beasts mostly appeared in winter, though occasionally an unpredictable one would break with the season entirely.

A Stern was something like a star. A sacred existence, holding the demonic beasts of the frozen lake at bay. Most Sterns were arrogant, and preferred the flourishing capital besides—but if one simply applied a little diligence, even briefly, in the central territory, they could win the hearts of Berke's people this easily.

Of course, a Stern was welcomed wherever she went, so pouring herself into that cold, terrifying lake every single day wasn't exactly a fair trade in most people's accounting.

"And she's terribly quick at her work, too. I've never seen a noble of such high rank work like that—actually, if you go by efficiency, she might even be a touch faster than His Highness?"

"That's certainly something Linon would appreciate."

Linon nodded. The firewood crackled, sending up sparks. Crouched in front of the great fireplace, warming himself, his frozen body still hadn't thawed quickly.

Just then, a middle-aged woman close to Masha's age approached and spoke. She had a warm, welcoming face.

"Linon. The water's boiled."

"Ah, thank you. Miss Joanna."

"No need to thank me for that."

Linon rose to his feet.

Masha was—for the Grand Duchess alone, devoted to her and no one else—the Grand Duchess’s own right hand. After the previous Grand Duchess passed away, that duty had naturally fallen onto the newly appeared "provisional" Grand Duchess.

Which meant that every drop of hot water in the manor had gone straight to Masha. Barely enough for one noble lady's bath, so naturally, Linon was still waiting, shivering, for more water to boil. He didn't show it, but his fingers had gone quite stiff from the cold.

Just as Linon took a step forward—

"The shadow's spread all the way into the kitchen. We only just managed to get the food out in time... Linon? Why's your face so pale?"

Linon's shoulders jerked. He blinked. A woman roughly the same age as Masha and Joanna had somehow drawn close without his noticing.

"Why aren't you burrowed under a blanket somewhere? Ah, right—it's that germ obsession of yours, isn't it. You'll drop dead early living like that, Chief Aide."

"I am, unlike the rough-mannered Miss Susan, a clean and delicate chief aide—"

"That mouth of yours is still alive and kicking, I see. I'd rather not be cleaning up a corpse in this green mansion, thanks."

"Aah! Miss Susan!"

Susan's expression turned deadly serious as she grabbed Linon by the back of the collar and hauled him off, dragging him along.

"I can walk on my own!"

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

"Aaaugh! At least put on gloves before touching my clothes!"

Linon screamed. Susan didn't so much as flinch. No matter how hard he struggled, his frozen hands couldn't put up much of a fight.

"Still just as squeamish as ever, are you. Good thing you've never treated Lady Seria that way."

"Of course not! Lady Seria—!"

Splash. Susan dumped him, no ceremony at all, straight into a tub already steaming with hot mist.

"Puh-hah!"

Linon shrieked as he shoved his soaked hair back from his face.

"You demon! This den of demons! I'm having this whole place sealed up and left to rot, someday!"

Knowing perfectly well he had a germ phobia and touching his clothes and body anyway on purpose—how could this not be the work of a demon?

"Linon."

To the drowned-rat wreck he'd become, Butler Ben said politely,

"The laundry soap and fragrances are in the third drawer on the left."

"I heard you, now would the two of you please just leave!"

Linon was, without question, going to scrub himself thoroughly and wash every stitch of his own clothes as well. If only Linon hadn't been chief aide, they really could have hired him as head washerman for the laundry room. Ben smiled at the impractical thought. He didn't mind, really, hearing chattering noise ring out through this perpetually quiet green house, so thick with the shadow of death.

Susan, who'd dumped Linon into the tub without a second thought, seemed to be thinking something similar. She watched him furiously fumbling for the laundry soap and muttered to herself,

"Lucky, really, that this house still has exactly two bathrooms that work."

Her mouth was smiling. But her voice carried something closer to rue.

I feel like I've turned into mugwort.

Masha had oiled my skin as well and given me a light massage—that too had clearly been homemade, and smelled strongly of the herb.

"Now then, my lady. I'm afraid there aren't many clothes left in the manor for us to offer... but this should keep you warm."

"Thank you."

I put on the fur robe Masha had brought me. The supply cart hadn't arrived yet, and my clothes were all in it.

Stepping out of the steam-filled bathroom, cool air met my skin. I blinked. Three people were waiting outside.

"It's an honor to meet you this way, my lady. I'm Ben, Berke's butler. I'd be glad if you'd simply call me Ben."

A butler?

I blinked in surprise. I hadn't known this Berke ducal household even had a butler. I'd never once heard of a butler here—I'd assumed the castle simply didn't have one at all. Given how little Lesche cared for formalities, it seemed reasonable enough that there'd be none.

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

Ben smiled.

"There have been circumstances keeping me from the main castle. Please forgive my rudeness."

"There's nothing to forgive... It's fine."

"Thank you, Lady Seria."

Watching the mild and dignified Ben, I tilted my head. Because the original novel had never mentioned a butler at the Berke ducal house either.

Maybe he just up and dies not long from now? But he looks awfully healthy for it.

It seemed this butler must give up his position at Berke Castle at some point for some reason—though what that reason was, I had no way of knowing. A butler and a head chef were, generally speaking, the two highest-paid staff in any noble household. And a Grand Duke's butler in particular would earn more than most lesser nobles' entire fortunes—so why give up a position that good was hard to fathom.

And he seems like such a genuinely likable person, too.

His neatly pressed clothes, his cufflinks—understated but unmistakably marking him as a butler—his hair combed cleanly back, all of it screamed butler of a distinguished house at a glance. He seemed capable, too, which made it even more of a waste. If he were at the main castle, I imagined I'd have gotten a great deal of help from him.

"Allow me to introduce these two as well, my lady."

While I was still lost in regret, Ben gestured to the two middle-aged women behind him.

"This is Joanna, our gardener. And this is Susan, our seamstress."

"Hello, my lady. I'm Joanna."

"Susan."

Both greetings were courteous. But Joanna, the gardener, was staring fixedly at my hair. I felt puzzled. Was there something on it?

"What is it?"

"Green..."

"Joanna."

Susan jabbed her in the side, and Joanna dropped her head, looking embarrassed. The two of them withdrew, saying they'd go dry my clothes, and Masha followed after them.

Ben looked apologetic.

"My apologies. Our manor's gardener is quite fond of the color green."

"I thought she was looking at me because she was annoyed."

"What? Absolutely not. Who would ever—your hair is truly beautiful, my lady."

I shrugged and smiled. Seria's hair really was a bright green, and it split opinion pretty sharply. Those who liked it said it reminded them of a vibrant summer meadow full of life; those who didn't said it looked like some ominous seaweed.

The second group's opinion was, frankly, a little depressing. Seaweed—that basically meant she looked like a strip of dried kelp....

Especially the two young lords of House Keliden, who really hated it.

Side characters in the original who courted the female lead, Lina. In Seria's memory: absolute bastards, her half-brothers by another mother.

"You must be famished. Please, let's get you to a proper meal."

Ben guided me toward the dining hall.

"We've prepared something for you to eat."

Just as Ben said, the dining hall already had a meal set out. I sat in the chair he pulled out for me, and glancing at Ben, who naturally moved to stand beside me, I said,

"You don't need to attend the meal."

"Then please call for me if you need anything."

Once Ben left, the dining hall—already quiet—grew even more still. Filling my empty stomach with the modest but steaming-hot stew felt like coming back to life. I was working my way happily through the bowl when I suddenly sensed someone behind me.

"Lady Seria."

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

"Eek!"

I'd thought a water ghost had appeared. Linon was walking toward me, dripping wet from head to toe.

"My apologies... The supply cart still hasn't arrived, so I have nothing to change into."

"But Masha brought me clothes—didn't anyone bring you anything? Oh, I could give you this robe? There are two layers."

"Is that your robe, my lady?"

"No. Masha gave it to me."

It looked slightly worn, so it was probably a hand-me-down—it hadn't bothered me at all, since it was kept clean, but apparently it bothered Linon.

"Then I'll respectfully decline. It doesn't look like it would fit me anyway."

Linon had a point—the robe didn't look like it would fit his frame. But wasn't that still better than dripping wet like this? The water might be warm now, but it'd cool fast. What if he caught a cold? I knew perfectly well how much he hated the idea of catching a cold.

Must be that germ phobia of his.

"At least eat something first. Masha set aside a portion for you too."

"Thank you, my lady."

Linon sat down across from me. Even while fervently rejecting someone else's worn clothes, he was clearly cold enough that the steaming stew drew a look of pure relief across his face.