In the end, Serafina prepared a guest room for the two of them.
“Prepare a room for the two of them to stay in.”
At Serafina's command, the servants hesitated and couldn’t move right away.
Red, swollen cheeks, clothes and hair damp as if drenched in tea.
It wasn’t hard to guess what had happened in the parlor.
Along with that, the nature of the relationship among the three was also somewhat imaginable.
However.
“It’s fine, just prepare it.”
Serafina was resolute.
Since it was the lady’s command, they had no choice but to comply.
Seeing them shuffle away like cattle being led to the slaughterhouse, Serafina let out a small laugh.
“Are you really okay? You weren’t… threatened or anything, right?”
It was Marie who voiced her concerns until the end.
“Really, it’s nothing to worry about.”
“Then why….”
‘Why are you letting those people stay?’
The urge to ask was strong, but Marie had to keep her mouth shut, thinking it would be overstepping.
Regardless of how the three of them got along, the two were the lady’s family, and it was impossible to know what the lady thought of them.
Sadly, there are those who have been abused yet cannot let go of their families…
“I’m doing it for revenge.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m letting them stay for revenge.”
Hmm. So it seems you’re not the one who can’t let go.
It was an unexpected answer, but Marie felt relieved.
Yes! Revenge is better!
…But how do you plan to take your revenge?
* * *
I know those two well.
I also know that forcing them to leave wouldn’t work; they wouldn’t give up easily.
Then, I need to make them want to leave on their own.
I was also thinking of taking revenge for my past at the same time.
Watching the two shamelessly unchanged, my insides were boiling…
This is actually good.
In this way, I’ll take revenge for my pitiful past.
My revenge plan was simple.
First, the first step.
“Ena.”
“Oh, my lady!”
When I went to the kitchen, Ena greeted me warmly.
“I heard. You have guests, my lady.”
It seemed the presence of the uninvited guests had already spread to the kitchen.
“I was just pondering what kind of food to serve them.”
It seemed she hadn’t heard exactly who they were or what kind of relationship they had with me.
“Just prepare traditional northern cuisine.”
“Traditional northern cuisine? They’re not guests from the capital, are they?”
“No, they came from the capital.”
“Then, traditional northern cuisine might not suit their taste…”
“It doesn’t matter. The guests are Countess Adeline and Lady Adeline.”
Ena paused for a moment.
She seemed to be considering which family Adeline belonged to.
“Wait a moment. Adeline means….”
“It’s my family’s name.”
“Oh dear. That must mean your relationship isn’t good!”
Hmm? How did she know that?
I had only mentioned it was my family, yet Ena was certain that my relationship with Adeline was bad.
When I looked at her in confusion, Ena replied with a look that said, ‘What’s so hard to figure out?’
“They married you off to the infamous Richter family! There’s no way your relationship could be good!”
…Is that true?
The logical connection felt like it was not just spitting in her face but also punching her.
Yet, amidst that, it was also a valid inference, which was absurd.
“So, in other words, you’re planning to serve them food that will make them suffer, right?”
“If you put it that way, it feels a bit rude to you, Ena…”
“No? I actually love that. Watching someone eat my food and burst into tears. I’ll serve them properly, with northern traditional cuisine.”
Hehehe.
A sinister laugh followed.
What kind of food is she planning to make?
With both anticipation and worry, dinner time arrived.
When the news that the meal was ready reached them, Laura and Lurtasha arrived at the dining room.
Upon seeing me sitting at the head of the table, they frowned slightly.
Oh, soon they’ll be asking for the head seat too.
I ignored them and casually suggested they sit down.
Laura’s face twisted in disgust as she sat down.
“What is this?”
“What do you mean, what is it? It’s food.”
“No, what kind of food is this?”
“Northern-style duck dish.”
“T-this, this red thing is duck?”
Laura asked incredulously.
Yes. That’s what they say is duck.
In fact, I didn’t recognize it at first either.
The food on the plate was covered in a bright red sauce. It was hard to distinguish what was underneath the sauce.
I was a bit surprised by this overwhelming visual, but I tried not to show it.
“Please, dig in. You’re not planning to refuse the food I prepared for my guests, are you? That would be quite rude.”
Right. Refusing food prepared by the host for the guests is considered impolite in noble culture.
Thus, it’s common to set the table with food that guests would enjoy…
But, I’m rude. What are you going to do about it?
I smiled nonchalantly and picked up my fork and knife, determined to sacrifice myself to make those two suffer.
However.
“Umm.”
The food was unexpectedly delicious.
I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. The meat was incredibly tender, and the seasoning wasn’t as spicy as it looked.
Can such delicious food really be a form of revenge?
While I pondered this question, the two of them hesitated and took a bite.
And then, the next moment.
“Gack! Cough, w-water!”
“Ugh! It’s too spicy!”
The two began to gasp, letting out screams close to shrieks.
What’s going on? Why are they like this?
What’s so spicy about it?
As I blinked in confusion, I locked eyes with Ena, who peeked her head around the dining room.
She smiled and winked at me.
Ah, I see!
The clever Ena must have prepared separate dishes for me and those two.
Though they looked identical, unlike my non-spicy dish, theirs was…
“It’s too spicy, I’m dying!”
“Get me more water! Hurry!”
Wow, it must have been really intense.
I gave a thumbs up to Ena, who was grinning at me.
You did great, Ena.
* * *
In the end, Lurtasha and Laura had to fill their stomachs with water.
It was because Serafina kept eating in front of them, giving them pointed looks.
“Surely, you’re not thinking of leaving any behind, are you? That would be quite rude.”
That wicked woman.
How can she eat something so spicy without batting an eye?
With Serafina insisting on manners while forcing them to eat, Laura and Lurtasha bit their lips.
They wanted to shout, ‘Is this what you call food?’ and get up from the table, but…
“Ah, I wonder if northern food will suit your taste. I am Barhan, the steward of Duke Je.”
With eyes watching them, it was difficult.
The one who introduced himself as the steward of Duke Je was continuously writing something in a notebook the size of a palm.
“What are you writing?”
“Oh, it’s a report.”
“A report?”
Barhan kindly answered Laura’s question.
He explained that it was a record being written to thoroughly report what had happened in the mansion while the duke was away.
“If anything happened, it would need to be handled by the duke.”
Handled…?
What kind of handling?
How does one handle it?
Somehow, the word ‘handle’ felt ominous, causing both Laura and Lurtasha to flinch simultaneously.
“Please eat. The food we prepared with care will get cold.”
As Barhan’s urging, which resembled consideration, continued, the two had to continue eating, almost like crying while eating mustard.
“Ugh. My tongue is still tingling.”
“…That woman is definitely doing this on purpose to make us suffer.”
“But she ate it just fine. How can she eat something so spicy without even blinking? Huh.”
“Maybe she’s gotten used to northern food. Since she’s so lowly, perhaps lowly food suits her taste.”
Laura nodded at Lurtasha’s words.
Well, that bug-like creature has lived off spoiled food just fine.
Even when given rotten food, she would only shed a few tears and eagerly pick it up.
Hmph. How pathetic.
“I’m going to take a bath. I’m all sweaty from eating spicy food. It’s uncomfortable.”
“Yeah. Go wash up and rest. Sleep well, my daughter.”
“Good night, Mom.”
After the warm exchange between mother and daughter, Laura headed to the bathroom to take a bath.
“Ugh. Why is it so cold in the north?”
Shivering from the cold, Laura quickly submerged herself in the tub filled with water.
She intended to relax her fatigue in the warm water.
But.
“What’s this? Why is the water temperature like this?”
The water was lukewarm and had cooled down.
Did the water cool down quickly because it was so cold outside?
Whatever the reason, it was not a suitable temperature to warm her body in this chilly weather.