SMC 06

Chhapter 06

(6) Trouble Drunk Alexis

For the current Roan, surviving was never something easy. She had to struggle and put in effort just to get through each day, so she had far more grit than others her age.

“Look, it’s already sprouting and growing!”

The world she had possessed into, the Kingdom of Medland, had a warm climate all year round. There was even a rainy season at times, making it an ideal place for plants to grow.

Roan discovered herb bushes that grew vigorously on their own without the gardener’s care, as well as small trees full of sweet-and-sour fruits hanging in clusters, and she carefully tended them. She cleared a patch of land behind the annex that was overgrown with weeds, prepared a small garden, and began planting various vegetables.

At first, Leah strongly opposed it, questioning why a noble lady would plant vegetables instead of flowers meant for admiration—but soon her eyes sparkled.

“I didn’t think they would sprout this quickly…”

Although she had helped Roan while grumbling, Leah found it fascinating to see all the seeds they planted sprout at once. Even though she worked as a maid serving nobles, this kind of proper farming was her first time.

“Don’t underestimate the power of strong sunlight.”

Dreaming of the day she would harvest what she had planted, Roan smiled brightly. Leah watched her with curious eyes as Roan watered the garden herself under the blazing sun, not caring if her skin tanned.

“Sell all of these too.”

From time to time, Roan would sort through the items in the annex and have Leah dispose of them. Even if they couldn’t get a good price, she told her to bring back cash.

At first, Leah begged her, saying she couldn’t dare sell belongings of the Glester family, but Roan was firm. After all, anything placed in this eastern annex wouldn’t be expensive valuables anyway.

Besides, in Roan’s opinion, it was better to quickly clear out dull, space-taking items and turn them into cash for emergencies.

Of course, they couldn’t sell large furniture or tapestries, but things like vases or piles of dishes could easily be explained away as having been broken.

‘Maybe that was a bit too much.’

Roan sometimes felt a little embarrassed. Strictly speaking, the items in the annex weren’t her personal property.

But still…

‘Tch, if I worry about all that, how am I supposed to survive?’

She quickly shook her head.

‘If they made me live here, it must mean I can use what’s here however I want. And…’

If one looked deeper into it, she was the rightful eldest daughter of the Hartwood family and the daughter-in-law of the Glester family—yet they had thrown her into a place like this and neglected her.

Roan had to secure her own survival. In the worst-case scenario, she was even prepared to leave both families behind and live on her own.

“Lady Roan, should we sell this too?”

“Hmm… let me see.”

Leah had just taken out some glass cups from the corner of a kitchen cabinet. Roan approached and examined them. Covered in dust, they looked like they hadn’t been used for a long time.

Now, Leah had become even more proactive than Roan in selling things. The timid girl who once cried and refused to sell anything belonging to the Glester family was gone. Everything is hardest the first time.

“It really is nice to have cash.”

After they began earning a little money, they bought tasty food from the city to share and started purchasing things they needed for the annex.

Although the noble household regularly sent money, daily necessities, and food from the main residence, it wasn’t particularly abundant. Feeling sorry that Leah’s future as a maid had become uncertain because of her, Roan would set aside a portion for Leah whenever they got cash.

At first, Leah was horrified and refused, waving her hands, but when Roan told her she might not be able to take care of her forever and that she needed to prepare for her own future, Leah gradually began saving money bit by bit. And once you start saving, it brings its own sense of satisfaction.

“Isn’t this cheap curtain much prettier?”

Even though the old curtains were expensive and high quality, they were heavy and outdated. After selling them and replacing them with cheap, easy-to-wash curtains popular in the city, the house felt much more comfortable.

Roan hung light, flowing curtains with a daisy pattern that suited her taste, and let Leah decorate her own room however she wanted.

“Yes, it’s much prettier.”

They were no longer just a noble lady and her maid—they had become companions living together through thick and thin in the eastern annex. Like comrades who form bonds in war, Leah couldn’t help but grow deeply attached to Roan.

‘The lady is a bit unusual, but still…’

She was a good person.

The two cooked the food sent from the main residence and shared it equally.

“Add a lot of that Karea herb to the soup. It’s not bitter, so it’s easy to eat.”

“Alright. And I’ve ground the dried Marun leaves—can I sprinkle it on the meat we’re marinating later?”

“That sounds good. Before sunset, I’ll pick some lemons from the tree. I want to drink fresh juice tonight.”

After watering the garden and doing another round of organizing, Roan washed up and came down to the first-floor living room. Changing into a light muslin dress, she stretched her legs out and half-lay on the couch sofa with a refreshed expression.

“Leah, you should wash up too. I’m going to rest now.”

“Okay. I’ll finish organizing the cabinet and then wash.”

“Sure, no rush.”

After finishing in the kitchen, Leah came out and saw Roan lightly dozing on the couch.

Dressed in a simple, comfortable dress bought cheaply from the city and altered for ease of movement, Roan slept with a completely relaxed face.

Leah’s maid outfit was similarly loose and simple. Humming quietly, she went to wash up in the bathroom.

Time flowed like water.

That night was no different from any other. As usual, Roan was peacefully asleep. Even though she had possessed into a strange world, she wasn’t particularly shaken. The life she had endured in reality had been no easier than this one.

In fact, things were more comfortable now. She stayed in a palace-like annex without worrying about rent, received regular supplies, and could peacefully tend her garden while saving money.

These days, Roan slept deeply and peacefully.

That peace was broken several months after she had moved into the eastern annex.

“…sorry.”

Even so, her tension had never completely disappeared. Hearing a faint whisper repeated, Roan’s eyes snapped open in the darkness.

“…I’m sorry…”

Her eyes darted around.

Had she finally encountered the ghost of someone who died here with deep resentment? After all the effort she put into fixing this place—now a ghost?

Roan took a deep breath. She had nowhere else to go. Ghost or not, she couldn’t back down.

‘Let’s see whether the living wins or the dead wins.’

Steeling herself, she moved toward the source of the sound.

“…I’m sorry.”

In the darkness, an even darker shadow was crouched across from her bed. At first sight, her heart nearly dropped, but in the faint moonlight from the window, she could make out its shape.

“…sorry…”

The figure was large, yet curled up tightly. As she approached, Roan realized her guess was correct.

Hair softly reflecting the moonlight.

A beauty she could never forget.

It was her husband—Alexis.

“Excuse me.”

Though he was her husband, they were no better than strangers. They had been forced into marriage as unwanted members of their families and hadn’t even spent a few hours together.

In fact, she had almost forgotten his strikingly beautiful face.

Roan carefully tapped his shoulder.

But Alexis only kept muttering the same words, almost like he was sobbing. His voice was so quiet that one had to listen closely to hear it.

“…sorry…”

What was he so sorry about?

Roan tried to shake him awake, but then withdrew her hand.

‘Ugh… the smell of alcohol.’

So he came here drunk to cause trouble.

Roan frowned.

‘What a troublesome drunk.’