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Chapter 36
If you just heard the words, it sounded like Hestina was at odds with the emperor—which sounded terrifying…
But when the comment fairies said strange things, it usually wasn’t a big deal. Especially because they tended to give more accurate information the more urgent the situation was.
└ [Agreed: Insight level 100]
└ [Summary: You need spare time to spout nonsense]
└ [Why do I feel like I just got read? That stings a little]
Even the comment fairies acknowledged it.
Anyway, if Hestina were to go against His Majesty because of the Duke…
‘Then she’s decided to stay here, unlike before the regression.’
That would mean my words had changed her mind.
And she agreed that this should be a place where children can live happily!
‘Does that mean I can stay here too?!’
The issues of my guardian and residence were solved in one go.
As I was raising my hand in celebration, thinking that my life as Rose was finally beginning for real, the door opened and Nella walked in.
“Rose, I heard you went out today? Oh? What are those packages?”
“Oh! Lady Hestina bought them for me. Since I was wearing Sir Demian’s clothes…”
“So that’s why you’re all excited.”
Seeing me cheering with my arms up, she must’ve thought I was just happy about the new clothes.
Well, that wasn’t the only reason, but I did like the clothes, so let’s just go with that.
Nella offered to help me sort the clothes and began unwrapping the packages, laying them out one by one on my bed.
“Lady Hestina bought you so many clothes! She must’ve really liked you.”
“Actually, she said she’d be my guardian.”
“I see…”
Suddenly, Nella’s expression clouded over.
└ [Uh? This feels a bit off]
└ [Jealous because she’s a maid and Rose is getting a noble guardian?]
└ [Honestly, I’ve had suspicions. She’s too nice.]
I’d never seen that expression on her before, so I cautiously observed her.
But then she quickly realized and shifted the mood.
“Just reminded me of my younger brother. When I got my first paycheck, I wanted to buy him some clothes too.”
“But you didn’t?”
“He’s sick, hardly ever leaves the house, so he said, ‘What’s the point in buying clothes?’ But seeing how happy you are… maybe I should’ve just bought them anyway.”
└ [Suspicion canceled]
└ [When family’s sick, you worry all the time. Totally relatable.]
Her 13-year-old brother had been sickly since childhood.
Since she was young, Nella had been looking after him, so her whole way of thinking naturally revolved around him.
“Nella, does your home happen to be near here?”
“Not exactly nearby, but it’s within the Duke’s territory, so it’s not hard to travel. That’s actually why I got this job.”
So she was a resident of the duchy. I nodded.
If this place becomes a better place to live, wouldn’t her little brother also benefit?
‘Hestina said it would take time…’
But maybe it’ll be a lot faster than she thinks.
Because I know a future that could help accelerate things.
“Good morning, Rose. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes! Good morning, Lady Hestina.”
Though she had originally planned just a short visit, Hestina had stayed overnight at the duke’s mansion.
After what the comment fairies said yesterday, I had a feeling—but it really did seem like she was eager to put my ideas into motion without delay.
Coming to the annex early in the morning to speak with the tutor was proof of that.
“I’m not sure high-level personnel are needed just to teach reading and writing…”
“Oh, no. Due to the lack of proper education, many regions have developed their own incorrect grammar. So it’s best to have someone who knows standard language.”
This was about the school I had talked about—where kids in this region could learn to read and write.
Hestina seemed to be asking the tutor, who was from the Academy, to recommend a teacher for the new school.
“If you entrust me with additional education even after Sir Demian enrolls in the academy, I plan to settle somewhere nearby. He’ll be in the dorms, so I’ll have spare time… If you’ll just allow me…”
The tutor clearly wanted the position.
Like me, he wouldn’t have much to do once Demian left for the academy.
‘If he can keep tutoring the little duke and also work part-time at the new school… not a bad idea.’
└ [From abused tutor to expanded tutor lol]
└ [Is he a stray cat or what]
└ [Tutor’s success story starts after meeting Rose]
Well, success depends on his own efforts, but…
As Demian’s fellow caretaker, I’ll cheer him on.
“I’ve taken your lessons with Demian too! They were fun. You know lots of cool stories!”
“Really? Well, if Demian was engaged in the lessons, you must be good with kids too. Let’s talk more after we decide on a school site.”
Hestina nodded, listing the tutor as a strong candidate.
Once that discussion was wrapped up, she turned to me with a question.
“Is there anything else you’d like to see built besides the school, Rose?”
“Yes!”
There was.
After talking with Hestina yesterday, I’d thought about it all the way until I fell asleep.
I couldn’t even remember the last time I imagined such a bright future—it made my heart race just thinking of all the things I wanted.
└ [Love these dream-building moment]
└ [Rose finally has things she wants to do]
└ [This is why we love coming-of-age stories]
The comment fairies were touched by my girl-with-a-dream moment…
But actually, the thing I’d been planning all night was:
‘How to destroy Count Tortot.’
└ [Also valid]
└ [That’s a perfect revenge mindset]
└ [This is why revenge stories hit]
└ [Count Tortot, brace yourself—Rose is coming]
They would say sweet things when I had positive thoughts, but the moment I veered dark, they instantly devolved. Very fairy-like.
‘But what can I do? This gives me way more motivation.’
It’s not like I’m planning anything bad—so there’s no guilt involved.
There’s actually a way to sabotage Count Tortot and build something good at the same time.
‘I’ll steal the business he plans to start in the future.’
And I could. Because it was originally my idea.
I turned to Hestina and said,
“I’d like to build a bakery.”
“A bakery?”
“Yes. Studying is important, but hungry kids come first. We could give them bread at school. Later, we could teach them how to bake too. And then we could make more bread and grow the bakery!”
└ [This is some early universal free school meals stuff]
└ [Thought it was a business, but it’s actually social welfare]
└ [What a master plan]
└ [Here comes local economic development arc]
└ [She’s doing everything but childcare]
It might sound like a charity project, but this was also a way to make a lot of money.
“And I also want to make cute little cookies and cakes. The ladies who visited the orphanage always brought stuff like that. Some famous shops were booked out for a whole month.”
“Bakeries and patisseries are slightly different… but it’d be easier for a baker to become a patissier than the other way around.”
Exactly. Maybe because she came from the Linward family, who ran a massive trading firm, Hestina immediately understood my intent.
└ [Why didn’t Demian inherit any of his mom’s braincells]
…Let’s just say the potential lies dormant in his blood.
Anyway, the bakery is just the foundation—my final goal is to build a high-end patisserie.
Because Count Tortot made a lot of money off this.
In the post-war era, the capital had developed a culture of excessive luxury, trying to erase the scars of conflict and flaunt imperial prosperity.
People competed over who wore the most expensive clothes and accessories, who threw the most extravagant parties.
And the prices of cookies and cakes, as luxury party essentials, skyrocketed.
I had noticed that and proposed acquiring a few premium patisseries. Eventually, we expanded into distribution and luxury goods, giving the count’s family a steady income stream.
└ [So Tortot just stole her idea and ditched her? I’m angry.]
So I’m taking it back.
Since the patisserie boom comes later, preparing now gives us the upper hand.
This dukedom borders the capital, so it can absorb all that demand.
Back in my last life, this Valente dukedom had nothing notable about it—but this time, it’ll become a thriving city.
└ [Reviving the regional economy with a bakery? This sounds familiar]
└ [Is this the “Sungsimdang of the Empire” lol]
└ [Welcome to Bakery City: Valente Metropolitan]
