Episode 25

“It may have helped you gain credibility, and there are reports of better treatment, but that’s about it. It’s still early in the harvest, so there’s no direct impact on income. If anything, it’s doubled our budget.”

“……”

“And don’t you think it looks even more suspicious that you’re asking us to believe you?”

I was at a loss for words. Perhaps I had been treating him too casually all this time.

I thought Leonel would trust me more now that I had gained the trust of others more easily than before, even to the point of sacrificing my life.

It was all my misconception.

Leonel’s cold voice hit me like a dagger as if he were confirming an assassination.

“How far should I tolerate the estate manager’s leniency?”

I lost. Even if I bowed down now, he wouldn’t bat an eye.

Engaging in an argument here would only fuel Leonel’s fiery paranoia.

“I have overstepped my bounds.”

“……”

I apologized politely, but Leonel’s brow furrowed even more. He sighed deeply and waved his hand.

“Leave.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Rest well.”

I walked out, deliberately stomping on some white papers.

And I left the mansion. With each step I took, my anger surged.

As soon as I reached a secluded place, I exploded.

“Ugh!”

Damn it! I tried to help despite the losses! Without knowing my speed and doubting me!

Yes, I’ve been too lenient in seeking revenge! I’ve only done good things for the Duke!

I stood still for a moment, then took a deep breath.

“No? You won’t grant a 10-year extension?”

Well, I’ll make you grant it. If you tell me not to do it, I’ll want to do it even more.

I’ll have the ranch keeper kneel! By any means necessary, I will!

Nelly Pepper, is a relentless woman who never gives up!

“Wait and see, Leonel!”

I stomped on the ground as if it were Leonel’s smug face. But my anger still didn’t subside.

After finishing work and the sun was setting, I finally went to the pasture.

“Guadang!”

The donkey, which had been nibbling on grass, came running towards me like a puppy.

Even petting Guadang’s pure white muzzle didn’t calm my anger.

It was because of its black fur, which reminded me of Leonel’s black hair. Coincidentally, his handsome face and crimson eyes also came to mind.

“Leonel….”

I was sulking alone, and he abandoned me and went back to his pack.

I didn’t stop him. I had things to do too! I angrily approached the keeper’s cabin and knocked on the door.

“Frer! Are you there?”

“I’m here.”

A weak voice came from behind the thin door.

“I’m coming in!”

As I opened the door, I saw all sorts of weapons displayed on the wall. But my focus was on Frer.

The cabin was narrow, so even a slight turn of my gaze revealed Frer. He let out a long sigh after throwing the letter he was holding into the fireplace. I couldn’t hear what he muttered.

As I approached, Frer looked up.

“What did the Duke say?”

“Earlier, you acted like you were going to leave right away. Now that you’ve met people, do you think you can get used to it?”

“Well, there’s that too.”

He laughed weakly and stroked the back of his head.

“Due to some circumstances, I might have to stay longer. So, did the Duke grant an extension?”

“No!”

With my firm tone, Frer tilted his head. His expression soon deflated, as if he were very disappointed.

“It’s okay. Leaving is something I’m used to…”

“No!”

I slammed the door shut and grabbed Frer’s shoulders.

“Frer, you’re going to stay here.”

“But the Duke said no, so what can you do?”

“Leonel may have said no, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make you stay here!”

“Huh? Is it even appropriate to address the Duke so casually?”

“Well, why not? They say they even curse the Queen when she’s not around.”

“That’s punishable by death…”

“Of course, I wouldn’t do that!”

Frer returned with his usual impassive expression and stared at me intently.

“Anyway! I’m going to employ you for a hundred years, Frer. I’ll make you work until you’re just a skeleton!”

“Do you have any ill feelings toward me?”

“Now we’re on the same boat!”

Frer looked at me with a subtle expression. Despite my offer to be helpful, he didn’t seem particularly pleased.

“Do you not want to be in the same boat with me?”

“No, it’s just that I wonder why you’re being so nice.”

“Both you and I are strangers here.”

“Estate manager?”

He seemed puzzled. It was understandable that he would think that way since the residents liked me. But because of the memories of being rejected in the past, I couldn’t get close to the residents.

Moreover, I’ll leave when my revenge is over!

There’s no specified time, but I’ll stay due to the contract, so it won’t be much different from staying with Frer.

I nodded and changed the subject.

“Do you have any special skills?”

“Oh, I know a bit about herbs. I can also handle first aid…”

“Not folk remedies, right?”

“I’ve been properly trained.”

Frer replied unevenly.

Herbs. Herbs, huh. I thought about how to keep him in check and came up with a good idea.

“Hehehe.”

When he heard my laughter, he took a step back. I opened the cabin door.

“Well, then, I’ll be on my way!”

“Are you leaving like this? Just laughing mysteriously?”

“Trust me!”

At that, Frer muttered softly.

“I should run away.”

I thought I heard something strange from behind, but I pretended not to notice.

* * *

A month passed quickly.

During that time, I regularly made plant-based poisons and sprayed them. I did it consistently, but I couldn’t closely examine the progress because I was busy with other matters.

Instead, I focused on keeping Frer in the estate.

Whenever I had free time, I searched for laws. I asked around to learn how shepherds and ranchers were treated in different places.

On my days off, I roamed the estate looking for a suitable house.

And on the day Frer’s contract was due to end, Leonel came looking for me. As I entered the office and opened the door, his crimson eyes met mine.

“Manager.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

He held his head in pain and sighed as if he were about to release his soul. I chuckled inwardly, but Leonel looked up.

“You used the money from selling the dress I gave you to buy a small cabin, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you allowed the former ranch keeper to live there, didn’t you? Is this your way of trying to compete with me?”

“What? No?”

He blinked as if asking what I meant by that, elongating his words. I put on the most innocent expression I could muster. Of course, it might not look very innocent to Leonel, but still.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Levance looked like he was about to burst into laughter, but he held it in and put on a very innocent face. I wasn’t sure if it would look innocent to Leonel either.

In contrast, Lizzy was glaring at Leonel as if she were about to devour him. Then, she finally stood up from her seat.

“Why does Your Grace always seem to hate Ms. Nelly so much…”

But before she could finish her sentence, she was dragged out by Levance.

When the surroundings quieted down, Leonel spoke again.

“The keeper whose contract has ended must leave.”

“There’s no such law.”

“It’s a tradition.”

Generally, that was the case. After all, they were strangers. Moreover, as Frer admitted, there were many unique people. They didn’t appreciate keepers staying after their contracts ended, probably because there was a possibility of trouble.

In addition, there were often disputes with new ranch keepers after the old ones left.

But Frer was not that type of person.

“Frer has a place to stay, pays taxes, and has become friendly with the residents. Do we need to chase him away?”

“It’s not about chasing him away—”

“It means you’re going to let him stay, right?”

“I mean, leaving is natural.”

“Do people always have to live so naturally?”

“….”

Leonel fell silent, unable to respond to my relentless questioning. Well, when you can’t win an argument with a logical person using logic, sometimes you have to resort to illogical arguments. After all, arguments require some degree of agreement to be won!

Sure enough, Leonel let out a deep sigh with an expression that suggested he was going crazy. 

“I told you not to be too lenient.”

“No, you asked me how far you should tolerate leniency.”

“It wasn’t a question; it was a warning.”

Sure, I knew that, or not.

“Is that so? It’s been a while, so my memory…”

“It’s only been a month.”

“With so much work lately, a month feels like a year.”

“If I didn’t let you hire more supervisors, you’d forget my name, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes!”

Leonel frowned when I responded with a bright smile. I approached him as he pressed his temple firmly.

When I leaned in close enough for our noses to almost touch, Leonel, who had been surprisingly calm, suddenly furrowed his brow and leaned back in his chair.

Is he uncomfortable? Well, it doesn’t matter if he’s uncomfortable, since that’s what I intended!

“Are you really going to send Frer away?”

“….”