Chapter 47

Christie was dissatisfied with everything.

She didn't like Anna, who acted as her superior despite coming from a small-town shop, or Matilda, who, despite being a beast person, acted as the head of the slaves.

Once, she had been in a position where maids bowed to her in a wealthy household, but now she was annoyed that the maids in this mansion did not serve her.

This was all wrong. Her family had been one of the largest trading houses in the Galldwin Duchy, living a more affluent life than many minor nobles. The idea that she had fallen to the level of a lowly slave and was now owned by a lord of a remote village was absurd.

"Christie, next is this invoice—"

"Shut up! Don't call me by my first name just because you're from a small shop! Who do you think you are!"

Christie shouted at Anna, who had called out to her.

"Even so, I am your superior, and... we're about the same age. This way of speaking is just normal."

"Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

Even as Anna sighed and tried to reason with her, Christie refused to listen.

"At least, you need to do your job properly... You don't like working in the fields or the mines, right?"

As Anna handed over the documents, Christie made a face as if she had bitten into a bitter bug, clicked her tongue, and snatched them.

The work here, at least the work she was currently assigned, was not much to Christie. She needed to learn the fine rules and tricks of the trade, but once she got used to it, it was just routine work.

It was ridiculous to be given such a job that anyone who could read and write could do.

Cursing in her heart and sometimes letting those curses slip out of her mouth, Christie proceeded with the paperwork.

...

"Christie, Lord Noein is calling you. He said to come to his office after today's work is done—"

"Don't give me orders, you beast person slave!"

As the evening approached and the clerks and staff were about to finish their work, Christie lost her temper and shouted at Matilda, who had entered the office.

"... Aren't you a slave too? And I'm the head of the slaves, so I'm in a higher position than you."

"So what!? You're just a lowly beast person, aren't you!? And yet you act so high and mighty, you female rabbit!"

No matter how much contempt she poured into her words, Matilda's expression did not waver.

"Are you satisfied now?"

"! Don't mock me... Is it so great to be the lord's favorite toy?"

At this, Matilda's eyebrows twitched for the first time.

Is this her weakness? Christie thought and continued her insults.

"Swinging your hips for a beast person, your lord's libido must be on par with a rabbit. Still, do you have some delusions because you're kept as a sex slave by the lord? Well, if you were born a lowly beast person, you probably wouldn't survive without becoming a toy for some ignorant noble—"

The next moment, Matilda twisted her body, and a sharp sound rang out from her feet. Immediately after, a loud crash echoed from behind.

Turning around, Christie saw that the chair she had been sitting in was smashed against the back wall.

"Ah!"

"Anyway, Lord Noein is calling you. Come to his office after your work is done. I've made sure to convey that."

With a gaze so cold it seemed to want to kill Christie with a look, Matilda left the room.

"... What? What is this? Don't mock me!"

"Hehe, I think you need to say it to his face for it to get through, don't you think?"

The one who spoke to Christie, who was raging alone, was Anna, who had been working in the same room. Despite having witnessed the violent scene, she did not seem surprised and even had a smile on her face.

"Shut up! Don't gang up on me and mock me!"

In the past, when Christie shouted, everyone in her household, from the staff to the maids, would bow down to her. But here, no one was afraid of her, and no one served her.

This was an unbearable humiliation for her.

...

"Christie, I'm sorry to call you after work."

"Shut up! What do you want!"

Still in a bad mood from her earlier interaction with Matilda, Christie visited Noein's office.

"I don't really have anything specific to say. I just wanted to see how you're doing."

"Don't call me for such trivial things! Are you mocking me!?"

Faced with Christie's persistent shouting, Noein sighed.

"Can't you finally accept your situation and be honest? I've heard that you've been very disrespectful to Anna, Matilda, and our maids. Especially today, you insulted Matilda badly."

For a moment, a sinister look flashed in Noein's eyes, and Christie felt a chill and flinched. But the next moment, Noein's expression returned to its usual carefree one.

"... What! I just told the truth to that lowly beast person slave!"

At this point, it was a matter of pride. She would not give up her attitude, no matter what. Christie maintained her defiant stance.

"... I see. No matter how many times I say it, you won't listen, will you?"

"No, I won't!"

Noein's face took on a slightly sad expression, and he said, "I understand. You can leave for today," and dismissed Christie.

...

In the office, now alone with Matilda, Noein said to her,

"I expected as much, but it didn't work. We'll have to implement 're-education.' I'm sorry for making you endure Christie's insults, Matilda."

"There's no need for you to apologize, Lord Noein... While I do get angry at her, it's all her fault."

"Thank you. Still, I decided to watch and see if she would accept reality, so I feel bad that you had to endure such harsh words because of that."

"Knowing that you are concerned for me, I can easily forget the humiliation I felt from Christie's words. Please don't worry about it."

"Thank you. It helps to hear that," Noein said, leaning on her, and sighed again. He always sighed when thinking about Christie.

Matilda continued, "I thought you would dispose of Christie like you did with Beneda."

"Christie would need to be punished if she tried to harm someone for her own gain, but that's not the case. She just can't accept her current situation."

Noein spoke to Matilda, a small smile on his face.

"I decided to take responsibility for her life when I bought her, so it would be cruel not to guide her as much as I can. If she can face reality, she can use her abilities and find her place."

To Noein, Christie was already one of his subjects. As long as she did not cause significant harm to other subjects, he had no intention of being merciless.

"Besides, she was expensive. It would be a waste not to recover the investment, and it wouldn't be fair to the subjects who earned the money to buy her if I disposed of her easily."

Noein's income as a lord came from the taxes paid by his subjects and the sales from the ore mined in the Ristio Mountains. Since the money to buy Christie was not earned by him alone, he thought it would be a waste to let it go to waste.

"... I apologize for my shallow words. I am deeply moved by Lord Noein's compassion."

"It's fine. I've caused you trouble with her... Well, it's going to be a busy night."