BEW 2

 

Since I got a new life, I needed a new life plan.

After regaining my memories, I spent a few days planning my future.

I decided to think later about how to become friends with the male lead and how to part ways beautifully.

Anyway, the male lead was currently away in the northern forest for a reconnaissance mission on magical beasts.

He would probably return in about two weeks.

So, for now, I should plan my life beyond that point.

After a beautiful parting with the male lead, I still needed to make a living.

I had no intention of returning to the count’s manor, and if the male lead gave me some alimony, I would leave with it and settle somewhere.

What should I do after settling down?

…Should I try running a business?

* * *

“…What do you want me to get for you?”

“A shovel. A hand trowel would be fine too. And it would be great if you could get some herb seeds as well.”

“Herbs?”

“Yes. Find the herbs listed here. They grow well on barren land and can withstand the cold.”

The maid stared at me blankly.

She only snapped out of it after I waved the note in my hand a couple of times and finally took it.

Even then, she kept glancing at me with a puzzled expression.

Yeah, it must seem strange.

After being cooped up in my room all the time, I suddenly started doing ordinary daily activities, and now I was asking for herb seeds.

But what can she do?

I’m going to change now, so she has to adapt.

When I smiled, the maid awkwardly smiled back.

“I’ll inform the butler and try to get them as soon as possible.”

The maid nodded and quickly walked away.

She would definitely talk about me behind my back.

I hoped she wouldn’t go as far as to say, “I think that woman’s gone mad.”

True to her word about getting the items quickly, within a few days, the hand trowel and herb seeds were in my hands.

“These are the items you requested, madam.”

It was Barhan, the butler, who brought them to me.

Seeing that he had taken over the maid’s errand, he too must have found my change quite intriguing.

“May I ask what you intend to do with these?”

“What do you think? I’m going to plant and grow them.”

“…Herbs?”

“Yes, herbs.”

Seeing his utterly confused expression, I led him to the garden.

Perfect timing. I had been wondering where to set up my plot.

This kind of issue was best discussed with the butler.

I led him to a secluded spot I had scouted earlier, solving his curiosity along the way.

“It was my childhood dream.”

“Growing herbs?”

“Specifically, my dream was to make and sell desserts and teas with herbs in them.”

It was an old, forgotten dream that I remembered as I thought about my childhood and previous life.

I found that I quite liked this dream that I had remembered so late.

It was imbued with memories of my mother and grandmother.

My mother and grandmother were from a small tribe, which the imperial family forcibly relocated to the empire under the guise of protection.

The tribe, which lived in harmony with nature and plants, struggled to adapt to life in the empire.

Even those who managed to adapt couldn't erase their deep-seated love for nature.

〈Nature generously gives us many things. There is nothing else that loves us so selflessly.〉

Among the gifts nature provided, herbs had the most direct impact on humans.

My grandmother was an expert on medicinal and poisonous herbs, and my mother, taught by her, was equally knowledgeable.

I only inherited half of their teachings, so while I wasn't an expert, I was quite knowledgeable.

A good knowledge of herbs.

A hobby of baking in my previous life.

I had all the necessary conditions, so now I needed to practice growing herbs.

If I wanted to make and sell a fixed menu of items, it would be better to grow the herbs myself.

Ah, here it is.

Lost in thought, I arrived at the plot of land I had scouted earlier.

“I’d like to use this much land, would that be okay?”

“So, you’re planning to plant herbs here?”

“Yes. Is that a problem?”

“No. The garden is originally yours, madam. You can use it however you wish.”

It’s originally mine?

Come to think of it, I heard that the lady of the house usually takes care of the garden.

I looked around.

The vast garden of the Richter estate was honestly quite unimpressive.

It seemed like it was just kept in basic order.

On reflection, it must be due to the past ladies’ indifference.

Though none had been reclusive due to depression like me, it was evident that none cared enough to tend to the garden.

“Is it okay if I turn the entire garden into an herb field?”

Barhan flinched when I asked after looking around for a while.

“…Is that really what you want? Truly?”

“No, I was joking.”

Barhan let out a deep sigh of relief at my response.

Isn’t he being too obvious in his relief?

For a moment, I felt a surge of irritation and almost decided to turn the whole garden into an herb field out of spite, but I held back.

“This place will be filled with flowers and trees later.”

"Really? Is that true?”

Instead of answering Barhan, who was looking at me with sparkling eyes, I shrugged.

‘I can’t exactly tell him that later the female lead will appear and plant a bunch of flowers and trees here.’

I looked down at my designated plot of land.

A somewhat sunny, secluded rectangular piece of ground.

This was my farmland.

That would be the female lead’s garden.

* * *

“…It’s really amazing.”

Sienna, who was vigorously cleaning the window, mumbled blankly.

At the end of her gaze was Serafina, busily digging the soil in the garden.

“How can a person change so much overnight? Is that even possible?”

“She must have experienced some kind of inner transformation.”

“No matter what, still…!”

Sienna pursed her lips tightly under Marie’s stern gaze.

Hmph. Uptight girl.

But she couldn’t help but keep watching Serafina.

No matter how much she looked, it was amazing and fascinating again.

The lady, who had withered away, cooped up in her room like a recluse, suddenly came out one day, holding a hand trowel and digging the ground.

What was even funnier was that within a few days of Serafina starting to dig, the plot of land began to take the shape of a proper vegetable garden.

She removed large stones, scraped away the nutrient-poor topsoil, and after watering, turned over the soil, sprinkled some fertilizer, and made furrows.

How could a noble be so good at farming?

“Oh, it’s Mr. Markovs.”

Gina, who was dusting the window frame next to her, pointed out the window with her finger.

Markovs was the gardener's name.

Even though the garden was mostly just for show, he was responsible for keeping it from looking desolate.

Ever since Serafina picked up a shovel, he had been lingering around with a pale face.

He probably felt uncomfortable seeing the lady of the house dirtying her hands with soil as a gardener.

“Oh, and the butler’s here too.”

Soon, Barhan, the butler, cautiously approached Serafina and Markovs.

He also had a similar reason as Markovs, although his curiosity and interest were a bit stronger.

Barhan was quite interested in the sudden change in the lady’s behavior.

Sienna, repeatedly scrubbing the same spot, kept watching out the window.

The two awkwardly standing men and the lady, who was diligently digging the soil.

Sienna’s eyes sparkled.

* * *

“Great. My skills haven’t died.”

I proudly looked at the land I had cultivated.

It was worth racking my brain and putting in the effort with the shovel.

Now, the next step was to plant the herb seeds and seedlings that Barhan had procured.

In fact, the real battle began from here.

“Madam, I can really do this. No, please let me do it.”

Markovs, the gardener, almost pleaded with me.

However, I shook my head firmly.

“I’ll do it.”

I had personally overturned the soil, made the furrows, and sprinkled the fertilizer just for this.

It would be akin to a thoughtless favor to skip the highlight of the song after doing all this work.

Even if I strained my voice on the high notes, I would sing the highlight myself.

I made up my mind and brought some seeds soaked in water.

“Here’s the shovel.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll leave the watering can here.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“I meant, thanks.”

“Ah, got it!”

...But whose voice was that?

I turned my head at the unfamiliar, cheerful voice and found myself looking at a woman bending beside me. Despite her cheerful tone, her face was familiar.

“You are…?”

“Sienna. I’m a maid.”

Ah, now I remembered.

She was one of the maids who had looked at me in shock the day I declared my second life after regaining my childhood and past life memories.

“I also want to help with your gardening, madam.”

“I already have too many volunteers.”

There were Markovs, and Barhan too.

“I'll just be in charge of delivering the watering can and any tools you need. I’ll fill the can in advance and bring anything you ask for. If you need any other help, just let me know.”

“Oh, that sounds quite appealing.”

“I was here first!”

Markovs interjected in alarm at my admiration.

“The world doesn’t run on a first-come-first-served basis, but on ability. It’s about whether you can efficiently handle the tasks your superior wants.”

Damn, that’s frustrating.

Markovs gritted his teeth while Sienna gave a triumphant smile.

What are you guys doing?

In the background, Barhan watched with a somehow pleased expression.

In the days following, more and more people began to hover around.

Whether Sienna's involvement sparked more interest, the other servants started passing by my plot and greeting me for no particular reason.

Despite me being a lady who had locked herself in her room and suddenly started this odd behavior, none of them seemed to mind.

Everyone was indeed kind.

I felt so guilty for having misunderstood this place as a hellhole that I wanted to bang my head in shame.

So, I decided to make an effort and talk to the servants.

After all, it’s good to get along if I’m going to stay here for now.

Of course, I planned to leave someday.

Maybe I was getting too comfortable.

“Ah, that’s not how you do it.”

“Hmm, don’t you think you’re giving it too much water?”

Was it just my imagination, or were there more people giving me unsolicited advice?

Caught in this strange feeling, I noticed the first seeds I had planted starting to sprout.

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