ITMLWKM 27

Chapter 27

Karsian took advantage of the fact that the marquis and his wife were still arguing and slipped out to an open area in the back garden.

It hadn’t been long since he had finished reciting the magic spell used to summon a siren.

Piiik…

A siren flew toward him, letting out a cry that resembled the call of a hawk.

She descended to the ground, appearing as an elegant woman with wings.

“Oh my, it’s been a while. Are you sending another letter?”

“Yes. Is my father doing well?”

“Of course he is. He’s quite a remarkable man. It’s just a shame that he still hasn’t forgotten his late wife, so he never pays any attention to us.”

The siren laughed softly as she accepted the letter.

Unlike Albus’s curse, the fact that his father was alive and well brought Karsian immense relief.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure your letter reaches him safely.”

“Thank you, as always.”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Thanks to your father, we sirens are much safer these days.”

Sirens had always been the number one target of pirates.

With just a siren’s wings, it was possible to create wind even in windless waters.

That was why many unscrupulous pirates always kept one or two sirens aboard their ships.

But now they were safe?

“Because of my father?”

“Oh? You didn’t know?”

The siren smiled lazily as she prepared to take flight again.

“Your father is bringing the seas under his control.”

Mother eventually packed her belongings and returned to her family home.

Not only would they lose the support of her family, but the couple’s conflict would undoubtedly damage the image of the Gladellis Marquisate.

Apparently, Father had tried desperately to stop her from leaving, but…

“Well, whose fault is it for cheating?”

I smirked at Father, who was standing at the entrance in complete despair, before quickly retreating to my room.

The reason this whole disaster had happened was because Father’s affair with Betty had been exposed because of me.

I had been worried that I’d receive a severe scolding, but surprisingly, nothing had happened overnight.

Yawn…

Stretching lazily that morning, I asked Susan,

“Nothing happened?”

“No, Miss. I think Lady Ciel handled things quite thoroughly.”

Susan smiled as she brought over a basin of warm water for me to wash my face.

Before leaving yesterday, Ciel had told me not to worry about Father’s situation.

“I’ll keep our partnership a secret, but I think it would be better to make it public that I’ve become your teacher. I’ll need the marquis’s approval, after all.”

“If it’s Father, he’ll gladly welcome you with open arms for all the benefits he thinks he’ll gain whenever you visit.”

“Oh my, you even know expressions like that? You said reading was your hobby, but your vocabulary is certainly unusual.”

“Ahaha…”

I decided that I’d need to be even more careful whenever I was around Ciel.

“As soon as Lady Ciel returned, a letter was delivered. Apparently, she said she wanted to discuss things in person and suggested arranging a meeting.”

Just as Susan finished speaking, another maid brought in breakfast.

No one had mentioned any special instructions from Father, yet the meal was incredibly lavish.

After the maid left, Susan smiled.

“Everyone’s changed overnight.”

“Well, I still don’t think I’m being treated like a proper young lady.”

The maid had entered without greeting me and left without saying anything.

Still, it was a tremendous improvement.

With both Mother and Betty gone, the people who had once bullied Susan and me had begun to tread carefully.

After all, I was the one responsible for driving out the two women who had held the greatest power in the estate.

Apparently, the words I’d said to Betty—

“You should’ve chosen whose side to stand on more carefully.”

—had also left an impression on the other maids.

With Susan’s help, I washed up and ate breakfast with her.

“So? Did Lady Ciel say when she’d be coming?”

“No. Since she’s arranging things with the marquis, I think it depends on his schedule.”

“Hmm…”

I reached for the bread, then stopped myself and drank some water instead.

That bread is for Karsian.

I set aside bread, fruit, and milk for him.

Then I stood up and quickly changed into more comfortable clothes.

Since Ciel had already laid the groundwork for me, it was time for me to start producing results.

After helping me get ready, Susan asked,

“Where are you going?”

“To the back garden.”

Father was still asleep, suffering from a hangover.

While he was asleep, I intended to prepare something that would ensure he could never oppose me again.

Betty had been driven out, but Mother would eventually return.

She might even blame me for destroying the family’s peace and treat me even more harshly.

I needed a shield.

And if this process completely destroyed the relationship between Father and Mother, that would be even better.

Together, Susan and I headed toward the herb garden behind the estate.

Unlike most noble estates, the back garden of the Gladellis estate wasn’t filled with flowers.

It was a field.

And everything planted there was medicinal herbs, most of which were cultivated using secret techniques stolen from the Gruan Trading Company.

They were only a small portion of the vast herb fields throughout the Gladellis territory.

As Susan held up the hem of my dress, I carefully examined the herb garden.

“I guess the advice I gave Father before actually worked.”

I’d previously told him that the soil was the problem.

I’d explained that they were overusing fertilizers and growth enhancers, causing the herbs to grow too quickly before they could fully mature, which weakened their medicinal properties.

I remembered Father looking intrigued at the time.

Later, I’d heard that all the growth supplements used in the herb fields had disappeared.

“Yes. Even when I dug up the Softleaf Herb to give to Betty before, I noticed that the soil had changed.”

Susan stood up as she spoke.

I nodded and walked toward the area where I’d transplanted the herbs I’d purchased from Celtron.

I’d also moved the Softleaf Herb from the flowerpot Betty had broken.

“But, Miss, what are you planning to do with the herbs you bought from the Gruan Trading Company?”

Susan tilted her head.

She looked curious, as if she was thinking,

“I’m sure you have a plan, but…”

As I looked over the herbs, I selected the healthiest one.

“What am I planning to do? I’m going to drive the final nail into the coffin.”

Hmm.

The leaves were vibrant, and the fragrance was strong.

This one will do.

Just as I walked toward the herb I’d chosen—

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

A loud shout erupted behind me.

Startled, I turned around and saw a man gripping a hoe while glaring furiously.

“Get out of there right now!”

He appeared to be the groundskeeper, but judging by his flushed face, he was drunk.

Seriously?

He was drinking while working?

Then again, that probably explained why he couldn’t even recognize the young lady of the estate.

“Didn’t you hear me?! Get out!”

The man shouted at the top of his lungs.

There was never any point in arguing with a drunk person.

Especially not one holding a hoe and possessing the strength that came from working in the fields every day.

Susan and I exchanged glances before slowly stepping out of the garden.

He looked me up and down with a disrespectful gaze.

His expression clearly said,

“Who is this little brat?”

Keeping my distance from the alcohol-reeking man, I spoke.

“Drinking in broad daylight? Is the marquis aware of this?”

Despite my childish voice, I tried to sound as dignified as possible.

“Is he aware?”

The man mocked me.

Susan immediately became angry, but I spoke first.

“Apparently not. Otherwise, he wouldn’t allow a drunkard to continue working as the groundskeeper while insulting a young lady of the family.”

“Young… what?”

His eyes suddenly widened.

“Young lady? Of this estate?”

“That’s right. I’m Latia Gladellis.”

“Huh…”

For a moment, genuine interest flashed across his face.

“So this little kid is the one?”

His gaze was still disrespectful, but it was no longer threatening.

Honestly, I was a little surprised.

He clearly knew who I was.

That meant he also knew I was an illegitimate child.

Yet he wasn’t laughing at me, nor did he seem disappointed that I wasn’t Elene.

Instead, he looked fascinated, as if he were finally meeting someone he’d only heard about through rumors.

Who exactly is this guy?

I was suddenly curious.

“You seem to recognize me. Is that all you’re going to do?”

“What?”

“When you meet a young lady…”

I sensed that the threatening atmosphere around him had disappeared, so I walked closer and placed my hands on my hips.

Then I looked at him expectantly.

“You should greet her.”

At my words, his eyes widened again.

Then he suddenly burst into laughter.

“HAHAHAHA!”

He laughed so hard that he practically bent backward.

Oh? What’s this?

So you’re one of those servants who look down on me, too?

I decided to ignore him and continue with my work.

Then—

“I failed to recognize you, my lady. Please forgive me.”

The man removed the straw hat resting on his head and bowed respectfully.

His posture was absolutely flawless.

“Will this do?”

He lifted his head again and grinned playfully.

I stared at him in confusion.

As he straightened up, he stroked his rough, bearded chin.

“You’re a lot sharper than Karsian described.”

“…Huh? You know Karsian?”

“The stables are nearby.”

Still stroking his beard, he continued,

“So it’s only natural that we’d become acquainted. I also felt sorry for the kid.”

I blinked.

Come to think of it, I only knew that Karsian worked in the stables.

I didn’t actually know anything about his daily life.

Feeling slightly embarrassed by my lack of concern, I listened as the man continued.

“My name’s Gilbert.”

“You’re speaking informally to a young lady?”

“I am Gilbert.”

The man who had introduced himself as Gilbert narrowed his eyes, as if to say that I really didn’t leave any room for mistakes.

I glared at him.

“Still, drinking in the middle of the day is neglecting your duties, isn’t it?”

“Neglecting my duties?! As a botanist, I’m simply remaining dedicated to my research!”

Gilbert practically jumped in protest.

“Wait… what kind of research?”

What did botany have to do with drinking?

I looked at him suspiciously.

Gilbert answered with a sly grin.

“All alcohol begins with plants.”

“…What?”

“Wine comes from grapes. Tequila comes from agave. Scotch is made from barley. Bourbon is made from corn. Rum is made from sugarcane.”

He nodded confidently.

“Therefore, drinking alcohol is the purest form of botanical research!”

I see now.

This wasn’t just an ordinary drunk.

He was a professional drunk.