* * *

After a short while, the carriage came to a stop at its destination. They were in the middle of a bustling street, making the surroundings slightly noisy.

“Take my hand.”

Luna took Antes’s extended hand and stepped down from the carriage. She went into the human resources office.

Then she saw a woman prostrated on the ground, begging.

“Any job would do! As long as the pay is above average! Please make use of me!”

“No, they said they won’t! They don’t hire women at that wage!”

“Please! Even a word on my behalf will do! My mother is sick, and I need money for her medicine!”

“How many times do I have to say! It won’t work!”

The office staff was distracted by the woman, so Luna cleared her throat to draw attention.

“It seems you are busy. I came here to hire servants.”

“Oh, I am sorry. I’ll assist you right away. You, get out!”

As he tried to shoo the woman away, she suddenly clung to the hem of Luna’s dress.

“Noble lady! If you are hiring servants, please take me! I am strong, can chop firewood well, and can clean the stables!”

Apparently, her claim of being strong wasn’t false, for she didn’t budge no matter how hard the staff tried to pull her away.

Even as her grip almost tore the hem of Luna’s dress, Antes managed to pry the woman off Luna.

“What should we do, let her go?”

After a moment, gazing into the desperate eyes of the woman, Luna lowered her head.

“No. She’s strong, can chop wood well, and can clean the stables, so we should at least hear her out. We came here to hire servants anyway.”

Though that was a reason, Luna also couldn’t ignore the woman’s plea about needing money for her sick mother’s medicine.

“We are actually looking for a coachman, can you drive a carriage?”

“… A carriage? I… I haven’t driven before, but I can learn quickly!”

She looked at Antes as if to confirm, and he shrugged, seemingly at a loss for words on why she was behaving that way.

“Alright. Work can be learned. What I require is simple. Do not cause trouble, get along with everyone, and have no secrets from me. If that’s possible, I’ll hire you.”

“…!”

The woman’s eyes widened at the immediate offer of employment under such simple conditions.

The staff, who was just trying to shoo her away a moment ago, chimed in as if he was about to recommend her anyway.

“I was about to recommend her, you’ve made a great choice!”

“…”

It seemed the iron was struck while hot. With that, they could continue their business in the capital.

Luna, easily convinced, asked for recommendations for other servants.

“We will hire a total of fifteen. Please recommend only those with good characters. Any discord, and they’ll be dismissed without mercy. Interviews will be held at my mansion.”

“Understood! Don’t worry, I know such people. By the way, what do you have in mind for the salary…?”

“5 gold.”

There was a brief silence at the mention of the wage, which was twice the average pay.

“That’s because I’ll work them hard, be prepared. I am a terrifying master. I will drain servants to the bone. Over ten servants ran away crying. If they can’t work, I’ll show no mercy.”

Despite her words, Antes snickered at Luna’s twinkling, non-threatening face, but the woman nodded seriously.

* * *

From the day following their visit to the human resources office, people queued for the interviews, drawn by the high salary.

Moreover, the emphasis on character over skills attracted many.

Furthermore, new rumors enveloped the capital after the adult ceremony party. It was rumored that the widely known past of Luna wasn’t very credible.

The rumor spread too quickly to too many, and unlike during the trial, it was impossible to stop.

Thanks to that, Fersen was more than furious.

“Damn, damn! What the hell happened that this kind of rumor spread?”

Smash!

Staring at the shattered ornament against the wall, the Duke’s butler heaved a quiet sigh.

It was good that he ceased his obsession with Luna Peils, but the days without fear hadn’t come as Fersen had become even more vicious than the Duke.

“I apologize. We silenced the people who attended the trial, but Baron Peils himself has been blabbing about it everywhere…”

It wasn’t easy to cover up an existing fact. If there were no evidence, they might have counteracted with other rumors, but there was no way to block it since a verdict had been given in the court.

“Then somehow Luna’s mouth should have been shut!”

The butler quietly bowed his head to Fersen who mentioned the impossible task. Cursing under his breath for provoking an austere person which was self-inflicted.

If Fersen hadn’t imprisoned the Baron – no, if he hadn’t even sent a confessing letter, it wouldn’t have come to this.

But he couldn’t say that, so the butler quietly endured Fersen’s anger. It had been a recurrent event lately, so it wasn’t surprising.

Moreover, someone would appear to shut Fersen’s mouth if he waited a bit. Someone who would take his anger with a consistently gentle heart.

“Young lord Fersen!”

Sure enough, Seira found Fersen’s office before long. As always, she, adorned brightly and beautifully, embraced Fersen who was furiously angry.

“Lady Seira.”

Upon which, Fersen’s anger subsided a notch. Although he didn’t obsess over her as he did Luna, Seira had captured Fersen’s heart.

Thanks to that, Fersen calmed down, and the butler, having left his regards, left the office.

Once they were alone, Seira gently caressed Fersen’s cheek. It was slightly heated due to his raging anger just moments ago.

“Is the work going well?”

“Yes. It seems we will be able to take over a few business partners from Antares Merchant Guild soon.”

Fersen showed her a few documents as he answered.

“It’s all thanks to you, my lady. Didn’t you contact the family of the Marquis who you are close with?”

“It’s nothing much. It’s a successful deal thanks to lord Fersen meeting the conditions well.”

“Even so, it would have been quite difficult if you hadn’t helped.”

Seira’s eyes sparkled at the acknowledgement of help. Though the situation was more precarious than before, she was very satisfied with him looking only at her.

“I will help more. Just say the word.”

Fersen would do anything if she stayed by his side looking only at him like this. With that, he briefly kissed her forehead and smiled.

“Then, I’d like you to bring back to us the deals that fell through this time. We are still lacking a lot. I want to make the Antares Merchant Guild isolated as soon as possible.”

His previous gentleness had disappeared, and it was somewhat creepy smile now, but it was okay. It was enough for Seira that Fersen was by her side.

“I will do that for you.”

* * *

In a few days, Luna smoothly conducted interviews and hired people she liked.

“How is it? Are you satisfied?”

In response to Luna’s inquiry, Emma answered with a fairly pleased face.

“Yes. They seemed okay.”

“And Laura?”

“Me too. They’re gentle and look nice. Their experience is quite good too, surely they will be helpful around the estate.”

Emma and Laura gave their approval. With the name of the twelfth successful candidate written down, Luna penned a letter indicating no more interviewees needed to be sent.

Originally, they planned to hire fifteen, but after exchanging communications about contract termination with the previously fired servants, they thought it was okay and reinstated three of them.

Of course, it wasn’t due to good performance that they were reinstated. Like Emma, they too had been harassed before, and they were so scared that they couldn’t say anything, which was why they were more or less reinstated.

Fortunately or unfortunately, among them was a gardener, which eased Luna’s mind.

“Please convey this to the human resources office.”

“Yes, my lady.”

The servant took the letter and left the office. Luna lay on the soft sofa and savored the peace. It was a supremely satisfying day.

Having dealt with the wicked butler and servants, Emma and Laura regained their laughter. Meeting good people and clarifying misunderstandings was spreading around, and Antes, who was thought to be stuck in the mansion, also left the mansion after only borrowing a horse.

Nothing could have been happier than this.

‘There are many documents to check as usual… but can it be this peaceful and enjoyable?’

She was a hated character in the original story.

Antes, who attacked Fersen out of inferiority, received a sympathy as tiny as dust. However, it wasn’t the same for Luna. In romance novels, a supporting character who tried to interfere with the protagonist couple’s love was hated more than the real villain.

Thanks to that, though the role wasn’t big, there was a legend that got tremendous hate until the end.

Even the author seemed to still hate Luna, whenever ‘Ah? Is it okay now?’ thought came, a crisis hit right away.

‘Now is exactly that timing.’

“Miss!”

The scream echoed along with the timing of misfortune and crisis.

“Miss! A letter has arrived!”

“…!”

Having such absurd thoughts, Laura knocked on the door and informed about the letter. Luna, who was in vain imagining, brushed her surprised heart and asked about the sender of the letter.

“Come in. Who sent it?”

“Lady Rosemary sent it.”

If it’s a letter from Rosemary, the danger was close to zero. She was the most harmless and helpful person among those Luna knew.

Relieved, Luna tore the letter and began to read the content slowly. The letter, asking how she has been and if a visit to the mansion would be okay, began like that.

“She always just came, why bother with a letter now.”

Even if disliked, she would come. But that didn’t mean she disliked her. Rosemary’s visit was always welcome. She was her only friend.

Then Laura asked with a big smile:

“Is young lady Rosemary visiting?”

In response, Luna continued reading the letter and answered:

“Yes. She wants to come with her parents. So, she’s asking for permission.”

“… Her parents?”

“…?”

She froze for a moment.

Wait, what…? Her parents?