The treasurer turned to Penelope and spoke earnestly.

“I will work tirelessly to ensure the debt is repaid. Within a year, we’ll surely find a way to make it happen.”

He was immensely grateful for the one-year grace period.

The situation had been dire—within a week, the food supply would have run out. With survival on the line, there was no room for pride or hesitation.

"These so-called retainers of the lord, unable to see an inch beyond their noses, spouting nonsense," the treasurer thought, clicking his tongue in frustration.

Penelope was the acting lord by law and the true owner of the fief, granted to her by the Emperor himself.

Thus, she had the authority to govern the territory as she saw fit, including using the lord’s castle as collateral to secure funds.

“For now, our lives have been saved. We must find a way to make this work,” he thought, beginning to draft practical strategies in his mind.

It was then that Penelope quietly spoke up.

“…Should we call in the merchants first?”

Penelope still felt a twinge of unease from the retainers’ earlier uproar.

She had gone to the bank and secured the loan because the territory was on the brink of starvation, yet their fierce opposition had caught her off guard.

Of course, Penelope had a hidden card she hadn’t shared with the retainers—the heroine’s luck.

If she simply waited, the money would flow in on its own. She was confident that her stock investment would lead to a massive windfall.

But explaining that to the retainers wasn’t something she was prepared to do.

The treasurer, in his usual calm tone, said, “I’ll summon the merchant guild leader right away. The food supplies brought from Pellar won’t be enough to last the winter.”

“Good,” Penelope said, organizing her thoughts before continuing.

“I’ll allocate 100,000 gold to purchase food for the winter. Additionally, I’ll provide 200,000 gold for the salaries of soldiers and staff, as well as for the materials needed to repair the outer and inner walls. We can discuss the remaining funds later.”

“As you wish,” the treasurer replied, his expression brightening as though it were noon in broad daylight.

With 200,000 gold, they could store enough food and essentials to last not just the winter but even into the following spring. With careful budgeting, it might even stretch into the summer.

On top of that, the acting lord had brought back an ample supply of magic stones and purification stones, further boosting their morale.

The treasurer felt full without even eating. The same was true for the steward.

“All that’s left is to ensure we have enough firewood for the winter,” the steward remarked.

“Perhaps we should consider purchasing wood instead of cutting down trees this year,” suggested Worcester, the overseer of estate facilities, warning that reckless deforestation could lead to landslides.

Now that the immediate crisis of survival was resolved, they could afford to focus on other matters.

Penelope, who had been quietly listening to their discussion, suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”

The retainers all turned to look at her.

Penelope quickly collected herself and shook her head.

“It’s nothing. Well, I mean… most of the residents use fireplaces, right?”

“That’s correct, my lady,” the steward replied.

Penelope muttered to herself, almost absentmindedly, “But underfloor heating would be so much better.”

“Underfloor heating?”

The steward looked puzzled. It was clear he didn’t even know what the term meant.

Penelope flushed with embarrassment. She had gotten too excited about an idea that had just popped into her head.

“Forget I said anything. Or rather… hmm, I have a project in mind for the territory, but I’m not sure how feasible it is. I’ll consult with the wizard first and get back to you.”

“Understood. In the meantime, we’ll brainstorm ideas for projects that could benefit the territory. We need to find ways to repay the debt and keep the residents occupied during the winter.”

“Good idea,” Penelope said, nodding approvingly.

“Now that I think about it, it might not be impossible.”

She knew the basic principles of underfloor heating and could probably sketch out a rough blueprint.

Since the wizard was supposedly skilled in alchemy, he might be able to help.

“Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”

The harsh winters in this world were one of its greatest inconveniences.

The lord’s castle, made of stone, and the residents’ log homes both allowed icy winds to seep through every crack.

It was why no one dared to take off their shoes indoors.

But if underfloor heating could be installed, even the bitterest cold would be no match.

As Penelope mulled over her idea, the steward cautiously spoke up.

“When you mentioned a wizard earlier… you mean the gentleman who traveled with you in the carriage, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right. Is the wizard still asleep?”

“It appears so. We’ll prepare a meal for him as soon as he wakes.”

The retainers exchanged worried glances.

The man Penelope had brought back from the Mage Tower didn’t look like a wizard but rather a beggar on the verge of starvation.

It wasn’t until Penelope showed them the Mage Tower’s guarantee document that they felt reassured.

“Once he’s done eating, bring him to my office. He needs to set up the magic stone barrier. The cost has already been covered with the money from the herb sale,” Penelope instructed.

“A magic stone barrier? Then we won’t need to hire additional mercenaries for the winter,” the treasurer said, his face brightening again. The other retainers shared his relief.

None of them were fond of mercenaries, whose presence often brought trouble to the territory.

Mercenaries were notorious for harassing women and sometimes even fleeing to avoid punishment for heinous crimes. Vetting them thoroughly was a difficult and time-consuming process.

Wizards, on the other hand, were typically educated at academies or had undergone higher education, making them much easier to deal with.

“I plan to assign him various tasks that will benefit the territory, including the new heating system. As I said, his payment has already been covered, so all you need to provide is food and lodging. His term of service is until the end of this winter.”

“Understood. We’ll take excellent care of him,” the steward replied confidently.

“If everything goes smoothly, that would be ideal,” Penelope thought as she watched her retainers, now buoyed by hope and optimism.

But, as always, things never went as smoothly as one might hope.

***

Penelope’s unease quickly took shape.

By dusk, the wizard had kicked off his blanket and gotten out of bed, only to sit down at the table prepared for him and immediately start complaining about the food.

“This meat smells fishy. How am I supposed to eat this?”

“I’ll prepare another dish,” the maid stammered, flustered.

“These vegetables are all wilted, and the bread is dry and crumbly.”

“I’ll bring fresh ones,” she said, trembling.

“This sauce is too greasy and salty.”

“…I’ll…”

The castle’s head chef, who had been trying to appease the wizard’s whims, finally reached his breaking point and foamed at the mouth.

“Does being a wizard make you the center of the universe? That’s it! I’m done! Tell him to come down here and cook for himself!”

The chef, infamous for his meticulousness and fiery temper, brandished a kitchen knife in outrage.

The maid, on the verge of tears, went to plead her case to the steward.

“With the ingredients available in the castle, it’s impossible to satisfy the wizard’s taste.”

“You’ve done your best. I’ll speak with him,” the steward said, trying to console her.

The steward then attempted to reason with the wizard.

“We’ve arranged for merchants to visit the castle tomorrow to procure special ingredients for you. Until then, could you kindly eat the meals prepared by our chef?”

“I’d rather starve,” the wizard retorted flatly.

He was a nightmare of a guest.

Not that there was any expectation of wizards being easy to please, but this young one was in a league of his own when it came to being difficult.

The steward was already worried about what lay ahead.

When Penelope heard the steward’s account, she let out a heavy sigh.

“Could you bring the wizard to my office? Serve him a cup of herbal tea made with the finest herbs we have. If we have scones, bring those as well.”

“As you wish.”

A short while later, the steward entered the office, leading the wizard in.

Penelope, who had been reviewing the schematics she’d drawn throughout the afternoon, looked up belatedly—and flinched.

The wizard looked as though he were walking under a storm cloud.

It was obvious he hadn’t slept properly after staying up all night.

“Can he even cast spells looking like that?”

A creeping sense of unease began to take hold, but Penelope forced a smile, pulling the corners of her lips into what she hoped was a pleasant expression.

“Welcome. Did you sleep well?”

“This territory is so impoverished it’s laughable. Wouldn’t it be better to just let it collapse into bankruptcy rather than try to salvage it?”

Instead of answering, the wizard went straight for a completely unprovoked jab.