CHAPTER 10
“Is our family finances really that bad? Will there be a salary next month?”
I was worried because I had heard from Greta before that salaries were often delayed.
“Yes, there will be. Don’t worry.”
“That’s a relief. But how much surplus do we actually have? Can salaries continue to be paid without delay?”
If there wasn’t enough, I’d have to earn money again, so I couldn’t help but ask in detail.
As the lady of this house, it was natural to fully understand the financial situation.
“You don’t need to worry about that either. The head matron is managing the finances strictly on behalf of the lady, whose memory isn’t fully intact.”
“My mother?”
“Yes, you can be at ease.”
Miriam bowed politely and left. Strangely, her demeanor seemed as if she was drawing a line with me.
As if to say I shouldn’t meddle with the family finances.
‘But how could I not?’
If my mother was struggling because I had lost my memories, it was originally my responsibility, so I might as well handle it quickly.
Even though I hadn’t truly lost my memory, learning things step by step from now on was a much better choice for the future.
“Greta, I’m going to see Mother… Oh right, she stepped out for a moment?”
I stopped, realizing Greta had gone out briefly while calling Miriam, who had come for a task.
But Mother’s room was just downstairs. I could go by myself.
There was no need to bring Greta along, so I headed straight down. The rooms for Mother and Father were on the left.
Come to think of it, this was my first time visiting both their rooms. I slightly regretted not bringing a gift as if for a housewarming.
I knocked cautiously.
“Mother, this is Jena. Are you there?”
I could hear faint voices inside, so I instinctively opened the door. Inside, I saw Mother taking medicine.
Laura was standing beside her, the physician I had met in the garden.
Both of them looked extremely startled as they looked at me simultaneously.
“Mother, are you sick? What medicine are you taking?”
I asked anxiously, thinking she might have caught a cold in the cold weather.
“You, who told you to barge in without permission? I never allowed you to enter!”
“Yes? I-I’m sorry. I just wanted to discuss something with you… I really didn’t mean to intrude. I’m truly sorry.”
I admitted my fault and lowered my eyebrows as I bowed my head.
Mother, who had glared at me coldly, quickly hid the medicine bottle in her sleeve and nodded.
“You went beyond rude, into disrespect. Don’t ever do this again.”
“Yes.”
I walked hesitantly across from Mother, hearing a faint unpleasant giggle.
“Pfft.”
“…?”
When I turned my head, Laura was covering her mouth with her hand, laughing.
Was she laughing at me?
‘Maybe she finds it satisfying that Mother scolded me?’
I focused on Laura to see if it was just my imagination, and she stopped laughing and served tea to Mother.
Even though she didn’t greet me, I turned my attention elsewhere, not wanting to interfere with her serving Mother.
For now, my main concern wasn’t Laura’s strange smile, but the medicine bottle Mother had hidden.
“So you’re not sick, right?”
“No, I just have cold hands and feet, so Laura prepared medicine that helps blood circulation.”
“Ah, I see. That’s a relief.”
I briefly panicked, worrying if my terminally ill father was followed by Mother also getting sick.
Then suddenly I became curious about how Laura had prepared the medicine.
“May I ask how you made the medicine? I’ve been studying pharmacy recently, so I’m curious.”
Laura, who hadn’t served me tea and had just set the kettle down, tilted her lips with a slight smirk.
“Oh, of course. It’s a valuable opportunity to teach the lady a thing or two.”
Hm, I didn’t ask to be taught a thing.
From the start, Laura had been unusually haughty toward me. She lifted her chin and spoke in a proud tone.
“She used a herb called Angelica to dilate blood vessels and improve circulation. She also served tea made from sage leaves.”
“Laura, you must have worked hard because of me.”
“No, madam. As long as you are healthy, I don’t mind climbing the mountain every morning to collect herbs myself.”
Laura, whose sprouts had once been pale, now turned lush green serving Mother with a fawning smile.
Even as a beginner in pharmacy, I had gained enough knowledge to understand herbs like Angelica and Sage.
I spoke toward her, observing her overly virtuous smile for Mother.
“Hmm… Laura? I understand your loyalty and devotion to Mother, but I think you made a mistake.”
“A mistake? What do you mean?”
“Sage constricts blood vessels and helps stop bleeding, so it shouldn’t be taken with Angelica. Their effects cancel each other out.”
“…Yes?”
For the first time, a crack appeared on Laura’s haughty face when she looked at me.
I carefully took the teacup from Mother’s hand and said:
“I recently read a book called <Choose 101 Herbs>, so I know quite well. It details the effects of Angelica and Sage. Would you like me to lend it to you?”
Though I hadn’t fully studied, I could lend it for Mother’s sake.
I could buy another copy if I needed it urgently.
No, in our situation, that might be overindulgent.
Then Laura’s face flushed red, and she shouted.
“Are you saying I treated the lady incorrectly?!”
“Yes.”
“That’s impossible! I couldn’t have! I’m a veteran with over ten years of experience…!”
“Calm down. Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes, as the saying goes.”
Ah, is that only in Korea?
I patted Laura’s shoulders, who was huffing in excitement, to comfort her.
“People make mistakes. At least it’s just medicine for cold hands and feet, so there won’t be severe side effects. We can fix it from now on.”
“So I…!”
“By the way, you don’t need to thank me. I would do this much for Mother without any hesitation.”
Winking with one eye, I sat down in the chair. Laura, perhaps feeling guilty, stood stiffly like a statue.
“And excuse me, could you step aside? I want to speak with Mother alone.”
“…”
“Thank you for your effort. From now on, don’t serve Sage tea to Mother. Understood? Goodbye.”
I waved Laura out. Since Mother didn’t stop me, Laura left reluctantly.
Mother called another maid to bring fresh tea and began to speak.
“What did you want to discuss?”
“I heard that you’ve been managing the family finances instead of me. I don’t want to burden you with my duties.”
I sipped tea and spoke seriously.
“I want to manage it from now on.”
“That part is well handled by Miriam and me. You focus on developing the medicine as before.”
“Of course, I’ll do my best to make the medicine, but I can’t neglect my duties as Countess. I’m good at handling multiple tasks at once.”
I straightened my shoulders and confidently pounded my chest with my fist.
“I will eventually have to handle it again, so it’s better to learn now. After all, I’m Countess Kreutz.”
“…You really are a tiring child.”
Mother pressed her forehead and closed her eyes. But what did she mean by tiring?
I hadn’t specifically made her tired… Does she just think I look tired?
Since there was no reason for her to dislike me playing the lady’s role, that must be the correct interpretation.
“No, really. I’m not tired at all. Thank you for worrying about me.”
I waved my hands and laughed lightly.
“…”
Mother looked at me with a blank expression, furrowing her brows and sighing deeply.
Why is she like that? Did she mean I’m tiring?
I tilted my head and returned to the main topic.
“Mother, I’m confident in handling the finances. Really, I’m good at it.”
I was the only one who had grown my settlement funds given by the orphanage when I became an adult and had been praised by the director.
“So please leave it to me.”
“…”
“Don’t act so stubborn. This isn’t a decision I can make alone, so I’ll discuss it with Aizen and let you know.”
“Okay.”
I nodded, believing that my husband would support me.
“Now go and rest.”
“Yes, and if you ever need someone to talk to, I’ll be waiting anytime.”
I left the room, leaving Mother embarrassed and silent behind.
‘…Wait, did she really mean I’m disgusting?’
No, I must be cute.
There was no way this face could be disgusting. On my way back, I bumped into Greta in the corridor. She saw me and ran over urgently.
“Lady, where have you been? I thought you disappeared and came looking for you.”
“Oh, sorry. I went to see Mother.”
“From now on, please always take me with you. And always tell me your destination.”
“Okay. But Greta, do you think I’m disgusting?”
Startled by the unexpected question, Greta briefly hesitated before shaking her head flatly.
Unsatisfied with just her reaction, I went to a mirror in the room to check my face.
Hmm, cute.
Mother must have misspoken. There’s no way I’m disgusting.
***
After Jena left, another visitor came to Renée’s room.
“Um, Madam, it’s Laura. May I come in if you’ve finished your conversation?”
“You may enter.”
Renée, like before, was sitting at the table drinking tea.
Laura stood politely with her hands together, watching Renée carefully.
She had returned, embarrassed by being outshone by the impostor pretending to be a noblewoman in front of the lady.
“Madam, please ignore what that woman said earlier. I made a clumsy excuse in my hurry and made a mistake–”
“I know.”
Renée’s elegant voice cut off Laura’s hasty excuse. She had effectively spoken what Laura truly wanted to say.
