Chapter 3

It seemed like she was a maid responsible for cleaning, judging by her attire and manner of speaking.

"This, this carpet is really not in good shape."

I was sitting on the floor, pretending to examine the state of the carpet, and I tried to stand up as naturally as possible, tapping the floor a few times with a smile.

"The carpet should be replaced with something softer and fluffier. Don't you think?"

"Right? I'm sure the lady would agree, wouldn't she?"

I asked this question to avoid the awkward situation, but the maid was overjoyed. She approached me with sparkling eyes and started spilling out information I hadn't even asked for.

"I think so too. Not just the carpet, but the curtains, bedding, furniture... no, the entire castle needs to be renovated! Oh, by the way, my name is Anna, Lady! Pavel, ah, Pavel is the butler who manages the castle, and he told me to come and assist you."

For a maid to blurt out so much information without being asked was unheard of in the Bain family, or in any other noble household. I was so surprised that my mouth dropped open. But Anna, who was thrilled, didn't seem to notice my reaction.

"Anyway, I've always thought so, but the lord isn't interested in such matters. He's as stubborn as a rock and doesn't understand how important beauty and elegance are."

"R-Really?"

"Yes! He talks about practicality all the time. He says it's better to repair the castle than to buy more food for the knights and the people of the fief. Our fief is poor, you see."

Anna looked a bit dejected for a moment. I already knew that the Eilsford fief was poor. If there was anything Melissa said that was true, it was that the Baron of Eilsford was called the 'pauper baron.'

'The state of the castle is... indeed...'

I quietly looked around the room. A shabby and dilapidated room. Even though this was the best room in the castle for a baroness, if this was the best, the rest of the castle must be even worse.

"But now that you're here, Lady. Since you're from the capital, you must know about sophistication."

"Um... yeah..."

Anna seemed to expect a grand baroness, but I was only thinking, 'First, let's survive leaving the capital!' I had never thought about being a proper lady after marriage. However,

'The role of a baroness in the barony...'

Altear didn't marry out of boredom. He must have had a reason, and if it was because he needed someone to play the role of a lady... I actually felt confident I could do it without causing any trouble. I was naturally timid and spent a lot of time reading, so my mind was full of knowledge. I had also learned how to manage a fief as the only daughter of a marquess. As a reincarnated person, I had additional knowledge, so I could navigate the situation somehow. I wasn't good at taking the lead, but I was good at planning from behind. Being able to make flawless plans was the only strength of anxious and timid people.

'But the villain Altear in the novel was a single duke.'

I could understand why, now that I was in the fief. It was so poor that no lady with a normal background would want to marry here. After becoming a duke and gaining wealth and fame, he appeared in the capital with a terrifying appearance, and no ladies dared to get close, let alone marry him. So, the future of 'the wife of the villain Altear' was an unknown variable in the novel. It could change depending on what I did. Of course, just thinking about Altear's face made me feel like I might faint...

'Come on, Nadia!'

I clenched my fists and tried to erase Altear's face from my mind. * * *

I carefully opened the door and peeked outside. Anna had left after helping me wash and dress, telling me to rest. But I couldn't just sit around and do nothing, which made me feel even more anxious. I decided to take a look around the Eilsford castle instead of worrying. I tried to pull the bell rope hard, but no servants appeared. I wondered if the bell rope was broken or if they were intentionally ignoring it. After a while, I decided to go out and look for someone.

The corridor was eerily quiet. I left the room and started walking. With nothing to rely on, I could only trust my eyes, ears, and sturdy legs. I thought I would soon run into someone working in the castle. The corridor was dimly lit, making it very dark. This made the already gloomy castle even more depressing. I couldn't imagine servants slacking off under a terrifying lord, so it must have been due to budget constraints. But it was hard to walk properly.

'Do the people of Eilsford all walk these dark corridors well?'

I started moving carefully, touching the wall to avoid falling. The wall was in terrible condition, with some parts completely falling off, leaving large holes. When I turned my head to look through the dim light, I saw that the windows were made of low-quality glass, making it hard to see outside.

'Anna's words about renovating the entire castle weren't just exaggeration...'

Squish. My hand, which was feeling the wall, touched something unfamiliar. It wasn't completely soft, nor was it completely hard. How could I feel such a texture on a wall? I turned my head in confusion, but it was too dark to see what it was. I had to rely on my hands. I carefully felt the wall, trying to figure out what it was, until a voice came from above me.

"What are you doing right now?"

It was a voice I recognized. Once you hear it, you never forget it.

'Huh? Is that Altear's voice?'

I was startled and looked up, only to meet two red eyes glowing in the darkness. Only Altear had such red eyes.

'So, what I touched just now...?'

"Ack!"

I screamed in shock. I stumbled backward in panic, but before I could fall, a strong force pulled me forward. I collided with a large wall, which turned out to be Altear.

"Why are you wandering around alone? Were you planning to run away?"

"No, no!"

I raised my voice in response to the ridiculous misunderstanding. If I was misunderstood, I might be beheaded at any moment, so it was important to correct it. However, Altear was silent for a while, seemingly surprised by my quick and loud denial. I carefully observed the emotions in his red eyes, which were particularly clear even in the dim light.

"I'm not going to run away. I came here by my own will. I won't run away."

If I made a choice, I had to take responsibility for it. I chose what I thought was the best option in the situation I faced, and now it was time to take responsibility. I bowed my head, unable to bear the cold gaze of Altear. Clutching the hem of my dress with both hands, I mustered the courage to speak.

"I just met you at the wedding, so I don't know what role you want me to play as your wife. But since we're married, I'll do my best. If you tell me, I can do anything. I know more than you think. I won't disappoint you."

Altear remained silent throughout my long speech. I became anxious and slowly lifted my head to look at his reaction, while continuing to speak earnestly.

"So, if you tell me what I should do... Lord?"

Altear, who had been looking at me with a cold gaze, was now covering his face with his large hand.

"What makes you think you know what I want and can do it?"

It sounded like a question, but also like he was talking to himself. As I pondered whether to answer, Altear lowered his hand. His face was flushed, as if he was angry. I thought my answer had displeased him, and my head started to droop.

"If you want to do something properly, start by addressing me differently."

I didn't understand.

'Everyone calls him Lord.'

I was sure of it because I had listened carefully to avoid making a mistake. I asked cautiously.

"But if not Lord, what should I call you...?"

"You said you know more than I think. Shouldn't you be able to figure it out on your own?"

"O-Okay."

Was this a test? To see if I was competent enough to take on the role he wanted...! If so, it meant he would give me a chance. Suddenly, a glimmer of hope appeared.

"I'll figure it out. If I find the answer, will you tell me what you want?"

"...Sure."

"I'll do my best, as promised."

Altear frowned and pressed his hand to his forehead.

"...I can guarantee you don't know what I want."

"That might be true, but if I don't know, I'll study. I can read books or ask people who know."

"Ask people who know... You're in a real bind."

Altear sighed deeply and came closer to me.

"It's already dark, so you can't see anything. Ask Pavel, the butler, to show you around the castle tomorrow. The bell rope hasn't been used, so I'll have it fixed. And the way back...?"

Altear looked at where I was standing and where my room was, then lifted me by the waist with one hand.

"Ah!"

I flailed in surprise as my legs left the ground. Altear clicked his tongue.

"That's the most lively I've seen you."

I felt like I might faint, hanging from his arm.

"P-Put me down!"

Of course, he ignored my request.

"Can't you see it's completely dark? You can't find your way back alone."

"If I can't see, you can't either..."

"I can."

He moved confidently, as if he could see. I rolled my eyes, looking for another excuse.

"I can feel my way along the wall!"

"What if you fall and break a bone?"

"I won't. I won't break a bone just from falling."

"Usually, that's true. But you're a special case. I can't have anyone get hurt in my castle, so stop flailing."

No... I'm just a normal person... The abnormal one is your common sense...! I swallowed my words and tears.

* * *

The villain Altear can't stand seeing anyone get hurt in his castle. I stored this new information in my mind when the door suddenly opened and Anna burst in.

"Lady!"

"What is it?"

"Dinner, Lady. Everyone is waiting for you!"

Anna approached me with a cheerful smile. I remembered Altear frowning and insisting I attend the dinner.

'Ah!'

I jumped up from my seat.

'If I'm even a little late, he'll glare at me like he wants to kill me.'

I hadn't made a proper plan yet. I couldn't risk upsetting the villain and getting beheaded.

"Y-Yes, I'll go. Dinner. Can you help me prepare? Or should I go as I am? Am I late?"

Anna tilted her head, confused by my sudden fluster.

"You don't have to rush. Who would say anything if the lady is a little late?"

"Altear... I mean, the lord..."

"Our lord? Say something to the lady? That's ridiculous!"

Anna burst out laughing, finding it absurd. She didn't seem to find Altear scary at all. Maybe she didn't know he would become a crazy villain later.

'But just his gaze makes me shiver.'

I suddenly felt a deep respect for Anna. Whether she was brave or just oblivious, she was impressive.

"...I'll go as I am."

After some thought, I decided. Anna didn't seem capable of helping me prepare properly, and given the atmosphere in Eilsford, I didn't think I needed to fuss over my appearance.

'I won't do anything that could be criticized.'

I moved forward with this resolve. * * *

'I wonder if this is how a general feels before going to war.'

I stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, where Anna had led me with a lantern, and took a deep breath. I just had to open the door and go in, but the thought of facing Altear again made my feet hesitate. The sound of knights talking and laughing could be heard from the other side of the door.

'They're really bad at singing.'

The bizarre noise made me laugh, and I relaxed a bit. I took one last deep breath and nodded to Anna. As soon as I passed through the door Anna opened, the noisy room fell silent.