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Chapter 27
The drink business seemed worth trying, but she had no capital or infrastructure.
To start a business, market research was a must. It was also good to check if there were other possessors here, but that would require people and money.
“Which comes first, the chicken or the egg…? I’ll need a vault full of money before I can investigate anything.”
If she remembered this transmigrated romance novel exactly, she could succeed easily without much effort.
“But I don’t even know who the main character is… This is one of those stuck, frustrating moments like in all those web novels.”
No matter what, she had to keep making money by monopolizing special recipes from now on.
If she made recipes that suited the Bastia Empire’s taste but were completely new, whether Korean or Western, and tweaked them a little to fit local tastes, she could get rich for sure.
“I need money to start a business. Sigh, but I can’t touch the marriage dowry… What should I do?”
Solia tapped the table, deep in thought.
She had no assets and no powerful family to back her up.
‘Noah’s family is already bankrupt, and four years from now, they’ll join the rebels anyway, so even if I have wealth now…’
Any money she made would be used up in the rebellion anyway. That was Noah’s choice, not hers. What mattered now was her own survival and living expenses.
If she got a marriage proposal within the promised month, she could squeeze plenty from Baron Rotten.
If not, she’d have to find another way.
‘Most of the marriage dowry will go to pay off debt. I’ll have to plan my budget with what’s left… Running the mansion and managing the land would last a year at most.’
If she was extremely frugal, she might last a year and a half.
“How can I squeeze more out of Baron Rotten? I have to give back as good as I get.”
After marriage, she would have to manage the Lenister estate herself.
Noah was technically the count and the lord of Lenister, but he had been experimented on by the imperial family for the past five years and was in bad shape.
‘Thanks to Dr. Vincent, he’ll be allowed to rest from the experiments for about a year.’
After those horrible experiments, it was a miracle he was even alive.
‘So… once again, I’ll have to run Lenister myself.’
She decided she’d act as acting lord, managing the mansion and estate.
Solia rested her chin on her hand and made her decision.
“I’ll have to meet Cheryl soon. There are things I need to check.”
She stood up, put her black notebook back in the drawer, and pulled the bell by her bed.
“Did you call, miss?”
“Buddy, I’ll write a letter for you to send to the Malone family. The recipient is ‘Cheryl Malone.’”
Normally, she’d ask careful and reliable Edel to handle this, but Edel was on vacation, so Buddy would do.
“…Oh! Yes, yes. I’ll put it straight in the mailbox.”
“Give it to the mailman directly, and tip him with a gold coin.”
“Yes, miss!”
Buddy clenched his fist, determined.
Three days later
“I sent the letter in your name, miss, but I guess it didn’t go through.”
Edel, just back from vacation, handed me a burnt letter.
That morning, I had discussed mugwort tea and sandwich business with Jeffrey during a walk, had a late lunch, and was reading the weekly gossip paper “Lime Hot” when I got the bad news.
“I never expected to find a half-burned letter in the fireplace…”
I nodded calmly instead of panicking.
“Looks like Baron Rotten used his head this time. He blocked my letter, too.”
“I’m sorry, miss… I didn’t expect the family mailman to intercept it… I shouldn’t have left, it’s my fault.”
Edel bit her lip, looking pale.
“No, this is my mistake. I should have planned more carefully. I underestimated the baron.”
I sighed and sipped the warm mugwort tea.
That morning, I’d given Jeffrey the mugwort tea recipe, and it turned out pretty well.
‘Mugwort tea doesn’t really go with regular sandwiches.’
The bread here was thicker and heavier, more like a baguette than sliced bread. The sandwiches were packed with veggies and meat, filling but not a good match for mugwort tea.
‘A lighter sandwich would be better. More like a dessert than a meal.’
Sandwiches were common, but a unique twist would be nice.
‘No one’s tried it, but once they do, they’ll say, “Oh, that’s smart!”’
‘I’ll have to think more about sandwiches, but at least the mugwort tea is a hit.’
The tea tasted much better than expected. She’d only used the top leaves of lion’s foot mugwort, so the scent was rich and the taste soft.
“Here, Edel, have some. Take the rest to share with Buddy.”
“Yes, miss! I’ll be sure to drink it with Buddy!”
Edel looked relieved—I knew she was afraid I’d fire Buddy for the letter problem.
“Do you have a teapot? The old one must be worn out. I’ll tell Jeffrey to get you a new one.”
“Thank you, miss.”
Edel bowed politely, then spoke hesitantly.
“…Um, tomorrow is the day you promised to meet Countess Malone…”
“Right. Since my letter didn’t go through, Cheryl won’t show up. She’ll probably think I refused.”
Edel’s face grew darker.
I patted her shoulder and gestured to the tea.
“It’s already over, Edel. I’ll think of a solution, so drink your tea first.”
Edel nodded quietly and took a sip. At first, she frowned a little, then her mouth opened in surprise.
“I’ve never had this before… The scent is so nice!”
“It’s mugwort tea.”
“Mugwort? Cough…!”
Edel’s eyes widened. Here, mugwort was just a weed.
“People don’t really use mugwort in tea or food. It was hard to find at the pharmacy.”
“Wow… It’s better than I expected! I don’t know why they call this a weed.”
“If people think of it as a ‘weed,’ they’ll avoid it. I’m glad you like it.”
I let out a sigh of relief and added,
“If you make tea with one-year-old mugwort, the color is bluish, but after three years it turns yellow and the scent is really nice.”
I took Edel’s cold hand. Even though it was summer, her fingers were chilly.
I asked about her symptoms, and she touched her chin.
“Hmm… I think I get indigestion often, ever since I started working as a maid… Oh, and my hands and feet are always cold now. Even in summer.”
“I’ll give you some mugwort leaves. Try the tea whenever you feel cold or your digestion is bad. It’s especially good for women.”
I shared what I’d learned from the plant guide.
“Mugwort is warm-natured, so it’s good for cold hands and feet. The scent compound, cineole, helps your stomach and is great for cramps. It also helps your blood vessels.”
“How do you know so much, miss?” Edel asked, amazed.
Embarrassed, I scratched my nose.
“I read a lot of plant books as a kid. The covers almost fell off.”
“No wonder you know so much! I never guessed you’d studied medicine.”
“Well… there was a time when I almost sent someone to the afterlife, so I studied like crazy after that.”
I couldn’t say it was Noah. That was the fifth time I possessed Solia.
Edel spoke up, her voice firm.
“Miss, if you want, I’ll go to the Malone estate right now!”
She was worried I wouldn’t get to meet Cheryl.
“Hmm… That would help, but it’s okay. I have another plan.”
I shrugged and offered her more tea.
“Another plan…?”
If Plan A failed, she’d switch to Plan B.
“Yes. It’s a tricky but surefire way.”
I smiled coldly.
“It’s just like hunting a hyena. You set a trap with tasty bait.”
Resting my chin on my hand, I let the cool breeze from the window wash over me.
Rustle.
My golden hair fluttered in the summer breeze and tickled my cheek.
“The wind feels nice today.”
“Yes, miss.”
Edel answered politely. I closed my eyes and smiled softly.
“I’ll wait until it’s ripe… and then devour everything. Not even a bone left.”
A faint smile flickered and vanished, like a budding iris.
Meanwhile…
“Tsk, that’s not how you do it! Hey, are you using your head for decoration? Cut sideways, sideways!”
Baron Rotten shouted, veins bulging in his neck.
“Even a goldfish could do better than this! Give it here!”
He pressed the gardener’s forehead with his gloved hand, furious even in the early evening.
The young gardener was sweating as he pruned. Because of a red animal tattoo on his neck, he kept it wrapped with a towel.
“If even one of these withers, I’ll cut off your head first.”
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I’ll do my best, sir.”
“Oh! If you mess up, I’ll make sure you’re cut with all your effort, got it?”
