This time, it was just like before.
“W-wait! Liliana, your… brother is here!”
Liliana was forcibly lifted to her feet, trembling desperately.
“Someone call my brother from the study!”
“No, it’s too late already.”
“Our family is the Valentine clan! How dare you drag away the daughter of the Valentines without respect!”
Liliana shook her head fiercely, shouting.
At first, her friends were speechless at her loss of composure, but gradually they began to speak up cautiously.
“That’s right. She’s the daughter of the Valentine Count’s family. Shouldn’t you listen to her?”
“You’d better be careful whether you’re an inspector or whoever.”
Emboldened by their voices, Liliana frowned and barked at the servants.
“Didn’t you hear me? Bring my brother now!”
For a moment, the knights’ atmosphere turned cold.
“Miss Valentine.”
The lead knight grabbed Liliana’s shoulder firmly.
‘W-what is this strength...’
Even Liliana, trained in the knight’s arts, shrank back under that pressure.
She frowned and made a cute pout, but the knights, already annoyed by the interruptions, were unmoved.
The knight spoke solemnly.
“You are being taken into custody for committing a crime.”
Only then did Liliana’s courage falter. She realized yelling wouldn’t solve anything.
“T-that’s not even certain… ah.”
“Disobedience to the imperial order is punishable by summary judgment.”
With those words came a crushing pressure that seemed to squeeze her shoulders.
“A-alright…”
“Don’t think this is merely an investigation. Under the august authority of His Majesty, your status means nothing.”
Liliana whimpered nervously.
The palace knights swiftly carried out her arrest.
Her friends, who had idolized Liliana, watched helplessly.
‘I thought Miss Liliana could do anything.’
Unlike before, Liliana could do nothing.
That day, the rumor spread throughout the social circles: the beloved youngest daughter of the Valentine family had been arrested for massive tax evasion.
“How did she get caught like that?”
“Remember the Imperial Treasure, the ‘Sun’s Relic’? It was about that…”
“No matter how precious the jewel, for a young lady to be involved in such a crime…”
The news was out, no longer secret.
Cedric managed Iris’s health with absolute strictness.
Though there were a few days when her fever flared again, cutting back her medication was necessary.
Iris’s health improved considerably, though not fully healed.
Even Iris herself was quite surprised.
‘So I wasn’t always this weak.’
She had grown accustomed to living in fatigue for so long that feeling refreshed now seemed strange.
‘…It took many people’s efforts.’
For reasons unknown, all the servants of Leontheim who had met Iris assumed her to be a fragile figure.
As if by unspoken agreement, they all rushed to care for her health.
“Milady, it’s time to rest! The Grand Duke keeps checking and insists you take breaks.”
“It’s not time to wake yet. You went to bed late last night, so rest a little more.”
Everyone fretted, worried she might push herself too hard.
Iris felt uneasy and, in some ways, even afraid of such lavish attention.
I don’t deserve this kind of care.
Because before her reincarnation, they wouldn’t have died if it weren’t for her presence.
“Milady, we’ve brought some rare seafood from the Eastern Seas that you enjoyed last time.”
“The chef tried cooking with medicinal herbs freshly harvested from the Monster Forest.”
Rare herbs appeared frequently, used in every dish imaginable.
“This time, the Duke personally led the knights to hunt beasts for milady.”
“My goodness, the ermine pelts gifted by nearby lords last time will do just fine for now.”
Warm clothes prepared carefully to keep Iris comfortable.
“My great-grandfather happened to obtain this mineral. It’s said to bring good fortune, so we’ve preserved it for generations and now want to offer it to milady.”
“No, what does your great-grandfather’s relic matter? Milady, this time I’ve procured a rare ore called the Spirit’s Gift...”
And on it went, with various methods and tokens of care being offered.
Iris realized for the first time in her life just how many ways there were to tend to one’s health — truly countless.
Chief Steward Vincent suddenly hung a painting by a famous artist in Iris’s room.
The painting was so abstract it was hard to discern what the artist had intended to depict, but it symbolized a unique aesthetic.
“This painting is by Gorteni Blumen, and it’s my secret to longevity.”
“This painting?”
“Yes. The reason this old man has lived so long is because of it. It’s a secret I’ve never shared before, but I’ll tell you especially for milady.”
Because of this, Iris’s quarters became somewhat cluttered with various objects—almost overwhelmingly so.
“Thank you.”
Iris was genuinely touched by the kindness and affection shown to her.
There was no real need to lavish such attention on a new lady just because she was ill.
Of course, the most over-the-top was Cedric. No one could outdo him in extravagance.
“Milady, I will feed you.”
“Duke, the doctor said she has fully recovered now.”
“What does that have to do with milady?”
Cedric shamelessly ignored any notion that Iris was no longer a patient and insisted on doting on her.
“My desire to feed you remains unchanged.”
By now, Iris might have been used to it, but she still felt embarrassed by these overt displays of affection—especially since Cedric didn’t care who was watching.
Was it really okay to be loved so much without reason?
...I should try to do better.
If she had no other way to repay them, then making this land safer and better was the only way she could respond.
So even while resting, Iris quietly managed the ledgers.
Payday is coming soon, after all.
She wanted to give bonuses from her own share to the employees who had struggled when she collapsed.
In her previous life, as in the Valentine family, she was the one who handled the employees’ wages, so organizing this was easy.
But...
Did such young workers usually exist? Some were only two or three years into their double-digit ages.
And they were mostly helpers in physically demanding roles like cleaning and kitchen assistance.
“Vincent?”
“Yes, milady.”
“Are these children formally employed?”
Vincent looked at the ones Iris indicated and shook his head with a sigh.
“They’re listed in the paperwork for legal protection, but they’re basically auxiliaries individually hired by those department managers.”
Ah, so that’s why I had no memory of this in my previous life.
These extra aides usually quit quickly, and it seemed the Child Protection Edict hadn’t yet been enacted at that time.
Sometimes, when time periods blurred like this, confusion swirled in my mind.
‘Such young children…’
Of course, I knew there were many young heads of households responsible for their kin in Leontheim.
After studying their details for a while, I cautiously called out to Vincent.
“Would it be all right if I visit where the children are?”
What if they refused again, citing health concerns?
If that happened, I could at least show that I could stand properly outside the bed.
Vincent looked troubled but thankfully nodded, though a heavy sigh escaped him.
“Only, if you feel unwell, return immediately.”
“Understood. Don’t worry.”
How could anyone deny their mistress’s earnest wish?
Vincent was a capable steward, and my preparations didn’t take long, so we arrived just as the servants’ break time began.
“Oh my! How could such a noble person come to this humble place?”
One of the assistant stewards I hadn’t yet met hurried out, bowing deeply.
I returned the courtesy with a gentle tone.
“Greetings. I came to inquire about salaries.”
“Of course, of course. The head maid told me. Children, come here!”
At her call, the clatter of dishes sounded from inside.
Perhaps it was late mealtime, as children with crumbs around their mouths appeared one by one.
“Wow…”
“Ah, hello!”
At first, the children were dazed by my presence, then quickly bowed in surprise.
‘Their expressions aren’t somber.’
Though I needed to observe longer, it seemed none of the worries I had yet came to pass.
“Nice to meet you. I am Iris Leontheim.”
The children’s innocent reactions showed clear astonishment.
It was rare for the Grand Duchess, the head of the Leontheim clan, to visit such a place.
Their round, childlike eyes grew even wider as they glanced at each other.
‘By the way…’
Counting the children one by one with my eyes, I tilted my head.
“There seems to be… fewer of you than expected.”
“Oh dear, yes. Luke isn’t here. Luke! Come out quickly!”
Luke was definitely a name I saw earlier in the documents.
‘Also the youngest.’
Would he be lively like the others? Or quiet?
While pondering, when Luke finally appeared before me, I was at a loss for words.
‘Is this the child…?’
The records said the children here were at least ten years old.
But the fragile girl before me, with anxious eyes, looked barely ten.
Her brown hair was unevenly cut, her limbs thin and gaunt. The clothes given as work uniforms hung loosely, floating as if too big for her.
“Are you Luke?”
At my words, she froze and then slowly nodded.
She was by far the most shy child here.
‘She’d be startled if I got too close.’
Thinking that, I knelt down to meet her eyes.
“Oh my!”
“M-mistress!” The hem of her skirt was completely dragged through the dusty floor, becoming a tangled mess.
Both adults and children alike gasped in shock, but Iris paid it no mind.
Pale-faced, Luke hurried over and lifted Iris’s skirt.
“It’s… it’s getting dirty.”
Iris shook her head gently, as if to reassure the trembling child, and asked,
“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”
Luke, awkwardly holding up the heavy, slipping fabric, nervously averted her eyes.
After hesitating for a long moment, she finally whispered,
“I’m… eleven years old.”
Her age matched the records exactly.
As if fully aware she didn’t look it at all, she hung her head low after speaking.
Seeing the timid, anxious child stirred a strange sense of kinship in Iris.
It was like looking at a younger version of herself.
“The reason I came to see you all is because I have a personal gift to give.”
At Iris’s words, the girls who had been holding up Luke’s dress gasped and widened their eyes.
“For us? Why?”
“There’s a coming festival for children in the Central Capital soon. Though this is Leontheim, I’m originally from there.”
In truth, the festival was a month away, but Iris chose to tell a harmless lie.
“Is there anything you wish for?”
At her question, the children glanced at each other, hesitating.
‘I should have asked that earlier.’
Smiling, Iris added,
“I’ll also prepare gifts for your families, so tell me what you’ve personally wanted.”
That one sentence brightened the children’s faces instantly.
Being responsible for their families, they had never dared voice their desires.
Like chattering chicks, one by one they timidly added their requests:
“A new hairband! One with a ribbon like this!”
“Pens and academy books…”
“Black lace-up shoes!”
Though their wishes varied, all wanted gifts for themselves.
Iris informed Vincent one by one and then looked toward Luke.
Startled, the girl nervously glanced around, then softly said while shuffling her feet,
“Could it be… given as money instead?”
“Luke! That’s rude to the mistress!”
The assistant steward scolded, but Iris gently stopped her.
“If you want extra pay, that’s fine. But this time, I’d like to offer you a personal gift.”
“Um… well… then maybe plates…? We don’t have plates at home.”
“Huh? Luke, didn’t you buy dishes a few days ago? You said some broke at home.”
A companion’s added comment made Luke fumble for words,
“Well, it’s just that…”
“Is there nothing else you want?”
Iris asked again, but Luke still couldn’t answer.
A child who couldn’t even ask for what she liked, instead asking for things she’d already bought.
“I understand.”
Saying that, Iris reached out toward Luke, who trembled violently and recoiled.
As she curled away, Iris noticed a small patch of her back beneath the collar, previously unseen.
“Mistress, Luke is afraid of human hands.”
“I see.”
Iris had already suspected as much.
When she saw the scars and bruises covering the child’s back, she had no doubt.
‘As I thought.’
There was definitely something deeply wrong in this child’s family.
Chapter 24