LIEWB 47

Chapter : 47

In the beginning, back when she was still very young, Paula had been happy to be adopted into the Ulmer Ducal House.

For someone who had once been grateful just to have a piece of dry bread at the daycare center, becoming a noble lady with “her own room” felt like an unbelievable stroke of fortune.

Of course, she was slightly bothered by the presence of Adelheid, who had been adopted alongside her. But Paula endured the difficult life in the duke’s household by holding onto the fact that she was still ahead of Adelheid.

However, that didn’t last long either.

“You adopted her because of her potential, and now you say it was all a lie?!”

When the chance to sell the adopted daughter to a magic tower or temple fell through, the Duke of Ulmer’s already violent demeanor worsened drastically.

Paula tried desperately to find a reason to stay in the family… but in the end, what awaited her was a marriage to a lecherous old man.

To avoid that, she had to seduce a young nobleman from a family prestigious enough to satisfy the Duke.

But that was impossible. The respectable young men from noble families wouldn’t even glance at someone like her—someone who acted like a maid for other noble ladies.

The only time Paula ever got attention… was, miserably enough, when she badmouthed Adelheid, her fellow adoptee.

“Adelheid is truly vicious. It’s chilling to see the vulgar things she does.”

“Oh my, that must be difficult for you. It must be hard having such a low-class sister.”

“Yes. Just yesterday she slapped the maids, and the day before that, she kicked the gardener in the back. It’s truly horrifying.”

And it wasn’t long before Paula realized something.

People were merely using her mouth to hear stories about Adelheid’s outrageous behavior—things normal nobles would never do.

What’s more, coming home and facing Adelheid after talking badly about her in public… was even more dreadful than she had expected.

I should stop. I won’t sell stories about Adelheid anymore.

With that resolve, Paula continued to attend social gatherings for several months.

…And now, she had to admit it, without a doubt.

She was a known outcast in the social circle—someone who would never fit in with the rest.

That was also one of the biggest reasons she had tried to keep Adelheid away from high society.

“Young Lady, the carriage is ready.”

“Ah.”

She frowned for a moment at the maid who entered without knocking, but quickly bit her lip and nodded.

“Lead the way.”

The maid didn’t even respond and simply walked ahead.

The servant’s insolent attitude was probably because Countess Mueller had specifically ordered it…

The feeling of misery returned, but Paula clenched her fists, trying hard not to cry.

‘It’s not over yet.’

The day after tomorrow, she had to attend Lady Hartman’s book club—a gathering she was barely invited to through relentless flattery.

If she could impress them, she might even get introduced to a decent husband candidate.

Holding herself together, Paula climbed into the carriage.

But even the ducal mansion no longer felt like a place of rest.

Meanwhile…

‘Is she okay?’

Paula had returned home later than usual, face flushed. She was climbing the stairs when she came face to face with me.

“……”

“Move.”

After a long silence, she shoved me aside and stormed into her room.

The sound of her door slamming echoed down the hallway—it seemed her stress levels were through the roof.

Well, I’d feel the same if I were about to marry Marquis Vente.

Still, watching all of this unfold like it wasn’t my business would be stupid.

‘Why do you think Paula was nicknamed “Newbie Eradicator” out of all things?’

She’s definitely not someone to take lightly.

What worried me most was Paula’s authority as the “First Daughter”—meaning, she had oversight powers.

Although the Duke allowed me to come and go freely, if Paula decided to interfere, who knew what kind of mess it could cause?

So, should I try to make her an ally?

“Yeah right…”

There was supposedly a strategy route in the game where you could befriend Paula.

But given this was an otome game, being close with a rival character was already a stretch—and the strategy itself was annoyingly convoluted.

Even I had dropped it early on because it was too frustrating to read. Anyway…

“Sophie, I’m going for a walk.”

“Huh? Sh-should I prepare something for you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll be back soon.”

Thinking I couldn’t just sit still, I decided to shake off Sophie—who clung to me like goldfish poop—and headed for the stables.

Why, you ask?

“Hey.”

I wanted to meet Marcus, the middle-aged stableman grooming a horse with care.

Just a note:

· Status: Method

He wasn’t the real Marcus.

“Oh, Young Lady.”

At my call, Marcus—or rather, Randolph with Marcus’s face—answered nonchalantly.

“What brings you here?”

“Drop the act. There’s no one else around.”

“What are you talking about?”

I gave him a look, clearly not buying it. Randolph finally dropped the act and returned to his usual stoic expression.

“What brings you here? It’s still bright outside.”

In other words, it wasn’t night yet—his usual working hours.

I totally understood how annoying it was to be contacted outside your work hours.

Still…

“I have a job for you.”

If it was extra work, that changed the conversation, right?

“A job? Did you just say a job?”

Randolph’s face hardened as he looked at me.

He already looked annoyed, and as I hesitated, he began to speak sharply.

“I didn’t sleep a wink last night, swinging a pickaxe. I thought my back was going to snap trying to meet the quota.”

“O-oh? R-right…”

So mining wasn’t just hard for me?

I figured things were going fine since he hadn’t complained before, but clearly, he had a lot built up inside.

“You’ve used me enough, and now you want to dump even more work on me? Unbelievable.”

I didn’t expect such a hostile response from the start.

Maybe I was nervous because I was about to bring up something even more annoying.

Trying to win him over, I began gently.

“It’s really not that hard. I swear.”

“Even going up the mountain mine every night is exhausting enough. So—”

Grrrrk.

He gritted his teeth and glared at me fiercely.

“If you’re thinking of making me do more, I suggest you keep that plan to yourself.”

Damn, was this guy going to stab me or something? His eyes were seriously intense…

Honestly, I was kind of scared, but I couldn’t back down now.

Randolph was the only person I could ask for this.

“I know you’re tired… but this is something only you can do.”

“…Hmph. Let’s hear it.”

“Thanks. It won’t be too hard. You just need to change your disguise while staying at the mansion.”

“Change my disguise?”

For the first time, a curious look appeared on his face.

“Into who?”

“One of Paula’s maids.”

Randolph stared at me, then smirked.

“You want me to spy now? Didn’t you say at first all I’d do was swing a pickaxe?”

Well, that was the plan… at first.

But circumstances always change, don’t they?

“I’ll raise your pay. How about that?”

“No thanks. I refuse.”

He cut me off before I could even finish the offer.

Seeing him so firm…

‘Hmph. Guess I have no choice.’

I needed to push back a little too.

“You shouldn’t refuse.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You planning to force me?”

Randolph’s face turned stone cold.

The heavy mood gave me chills, but I couldn’t retreat now.

No—I had no reason to.

“A deal is a deal. Right?”

“What the hell are you talking about? I’ve been keeping my promise—that’s why I’m mining every night.”

“I’m talking about the employment contract.”

“…?”

“This employment contract that you signed with your own hand. Can’t you see it?”

As he stood there, completely clueless, I pulled the contract from my coat and held it right in front of his face.

“I’d like you to honor it.”

Randolph’s expression froze as he read the paper I shoved at him—his face hardening with every line.