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Chapter 19
How could she even begin to explain it?
Her father had always taught her that those in power—those who governed an estate—must never allow personal emotions to cloud their judgment when dealing with those of lower standing.
Now, she understood how narrow-minded that belief had been.
*But back then, I was just a daughter who followed her father’s words.*
With a bitter smile, Edith lowered her gaze to the landscape painting in her hands.
At first, it had been a matter of asserting her authority as the Grand Duchess. That’s why she’d started this.
> “Everyone’s looking forward to the festival. If I mess it up with my own hands… I just know I won’t be able to sleep. That’s all.”
A painting where everyone was smiling.
Suddenly, the cheerful image in her hands felt unbearably heavy.
Denok, who had been watching her in silence, gave a quiet nod.
> “If you need help with anything—please don’t hesitate to ask.”
At those simple words, the weight pressing down on her shoulders seemed to lift, if only slightly.
—
*Though he did say that…*
Edith pressed a hand to her forehead as she stared at the piles of papers strewn across her desk.
Days had passed, yet she hadn’t even drafted the bare bones of a plan.
Reviewing the late Grand Duchess’s collection of paintings had helped, of course. But—
*Seeing something so perfect… it made me shrink back.*
No matter what she tried to create, it would inevitably be compared to what came before. The very thought was paralyzing.
Just then, as she lifted a few sheets of sketches, a knock came at the door and Melissa entered cautiously.
> “My lady, I’ve brought the tea.”
She held a tray with iced tea and a small plate of sweets—something Edith had asked for earlier to help clear her mind.
Welcoming her with a hint of warmth, Edith smiled.
> “Come in.”
As she waited for Melissa to steep the tea, she glanced again through the stack of drawings.
> “Oh… is this a *Luminel* fairy?”
> “Hm?”
Following Melissa’s gaze, Edith found herself looking at one of her own casual doodles.
> “A *Luminel* fairy?”
At her puzzled tone, Melissa bowed her head, looking a little flustered.
> “Ah, if I was mistaken, I apologize… It just resembled one.”
> “No need to apologize. Could you tell me more? Is that a real fairy?”
When Edith gently tugged her hand and motioned for her to sit across from her, Melissa hesitated, then shyly took a seat.
Blushing slightly, she began in a hushed voice:
> “It’s from a fairy tale my younger siblings like. I heard it from my mother when I was little too…”
The tale Melissa shared was surprisingly endearing.
The *Luminel* fairy—tiny enough to sleep within the petals of a *Luminel* blossom, causing the flower to glow at night. During the day, the fairy would follow children around, blessing the kind ones and playing tricks on the naughty ones.
*A fairy, huh…*
Narrowing her eyes, Edith looked again at her clumsy little sketch. To her, it resembled more of an insect than a fairy.
Knock, knock.
> “My lady. It’s Vernon. May I enter?”
> “Yes, come in.”
> “I’ve brought the résumé for the gardener candidate. Ah, I didn’t realize you were in the middle of something.”
Vernon paused upon seeing Melissa seated.
Startled, Melissa rose to her feet at once. Edith waved her off gently.
> “Go and get some rest, Melissa.”
What Vernon had brought was a collection of applications from prospective gardeners.
Several new gardeners had already begun working in the estate, but the demand still exceeded their numbers.
Thanks to Edith’s generous wages, applicants had poured in, and it was taking time to sort through them all.
The Grand Duke’s estate had certainly changed a great deal since Edith’s arrival.
Cracked walls had been neatly repaired. The servants’ uniforms were cleaner, more respectable. And the old need to light candles every evening?
*Gone—replaced entirely with magic stones.*
One by one, the estate was reclaiming its dignity.
Edith began reviewing the resumes Vernon had delivered.
Some candidates had even submitted sketches of previous landscaping work. And then, one particular drawing made her pause.
*Could this be…?*
She grabbed her earlier doodle and laid it side by side with the candidate’s submission.
The sketch depicted a white statue of the goddess—presumably part of temple grounds—surrounded by lavish, blooming flowers.
A smile slowly tugged at Edith’s lips as she picked up her quill.
—
Meanwhile, in the depths of the annex—
Inside a shadowed room.
> “What *was* she thinking…!”
With a sharp clatter, Rachel slammed her teacup onto the table after downing the iced mint tea in one gulp.
She had been drinking it nonstop to calm her nerves, but the rage remained.
> “That foolish girl. As if she’s running some charity with the Sertia family’s wealth!”
To use her dowry to renovate the mansion—and to clothe the maids in new uniforms?
It was utterly disgraceful. A humiliation she’d never even considered possible.
Even if the Grand Duke’s estate was in shambles, such actions were beneath them.
And when she sought out Edith to offer her *candid counsel*—
> “Think of Sertia’s dignity. How can you tolerate this state of affairs?”
Edith had coldly dismissed her, claiming she’d made her choices out of necessity.
*How dare she. How dare she treat me like that…!*
She, who had never dared raise her voice before Rachel—not once.
*If it weren’t for the Grand Duke, that pitiful thing wouldn’t have amounted to anything.*
It was clear to Rachel now. Edith was getting arrogant, emboldened by the respect she was receiving in the mansion.
Gritting her teeth, Rachel glared down at the desk, her eyes narrowing.
To make matters worse, everything had been carried out through Vernon—not her.
*Something’s not right… Something about all this is wrong.*
Her lips twisted into a sneer.
Before arriving here, Rachel had been certain she would be the one to manage the Grand Duke’s household in all but name.
But reality was starkly different. The maids who once cried at a mere glare from her now avoided her altogether. They merely watched her warily from the corners.
Only a few desperate ones—those in urgent need of money—remained by her side.
*Melissa’s the only one with even a hint of usefulness left.*
Had this been the ducal household, brighter, more capable girls would be flocking to her.
There was only one path forward now.
*I have to make Edith dependent on me again.*
She had to bring Edith’s authority as Grand Duchess crashing down—to the point where she’d have no choice but to come crawling back.
If she knelt in front of Rachel and begged for help, perhaps then—just perhaps—Rachel would consider extending a hand.
A soft smile crept across her lips as she pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and pressed it to her cheek.
It was the same handkerchief the Duke had once given her in the garden, long ago, when she had scraped her hand.
Its scent was long gone now, but she held it close and murmured:
> “My lord… Do you have any idea how much I endure for your sake?”
So cold. And yet—so devastatingly beautiful.
Knock, knock.
A knock shattered the silence.
Startled, Rachel quickly lowered the handkerchief from her face.
> “Head Maid. It’s Melissa.”
> “…Come in.”
Rachel tucked the handkerchief back into her sleeve and schooled her features into composure.
Back straight, her voice firm, she granted entry. The door creaked open, and Melissa stepped in, her expression stiff.
Rachel offered a smile and gestured to the seat across from her.
> “Have a seat, Melissa. Tea?”
> “No thank you.”
Her curt refusal made Rachel’s brow twitch ever so slightly, but she swiftly moved on.
> “So, how did Her Grace spend the day?”
“…”
When no answer came, Rachel called out again.
> “Melissa?”
> “Her Grace has been busy with preparations for the festival. She seems quite focused on the planning process.”
> “Hmm. A festival. Is that important to the territory?”
> “Yes. It marks the start of the year for the people… And this year, everyone’s especially excited because the new Grand Duchess is taking part.”
> “I see. Sounds like a significant event. Mistakes must not be tolerated.”
Melissa nodded at the obvious statement—but then, her gaze drifted to Rachel’s face.
A strange feeling prickled at the back of her mind.
Rachel’s lips were curved in a smile, but… there was something unsettling about it.
