The First Step of Raebi's Workshop

Ms. Jihye.

Yes.

What should I do about this?

......

Even Han Jihye couldn't answer.

As a rule, gifts from upper-ranking nobles were to be treasured. Unless there were special circumstances, one wasn't supposed to throw them away or damage them.

......But surely this counts as a special circumstance, doesn't it? Whatever happens, they have to leave me enough room to live.

Besides, doesn't the scene before me look less like a gift and more like 'an assault by nature'?

The visuals reminded me of a documentary about humanity going extinct and vine-like plants growing over their former homes.

In fact, I could already see vines beginning to creep up the walls.

I called Vincent first.

Big Brother.

-(Keep quiet, she's here!) …Huh?

'What's coming?'

"About those potted plants..."

-Bwahahahaha!!!!

"Big Brother...?"

-Ahahahaha-kakakaka-!!!!!

'......'

I simply hung up.

The moment he heard my voice, he began laughing like a maniac, making conversation impossible. I could hear another man's voice beside him as well, probably one of Vincent's brothers.

From what I heard about 'You have to go through this at least once to become a true noble,' or something like that,

Eretria seemed to be an annex for complete lunatics.

Next, I called April.

I still hadn't exchanged contact information with Matthew, and she seemed to know the situation better than Ribi, who had been holed up with us in Eight City.

-Pfft...! It finally happened? I was going to do it myself, so it's a shame I missed my chance.

"How amusing! Enough with the asides—give me his number."

Matthew's expression had seemed a little brighter lately. He's so taciturn that his expression hardly ever changes… but these days, I keep getting to see such entertaining sights.

"His number!"

-Why are you acting like an amateur? How could I just hand over someone else's contact information? ......But what do you say? This big sister knows just the solution. You only need one item...

Click.

'Seriously!'

There wasn't a single sane person among them.

People obsessed with potted plants, that is.

According to Han Jihye, it was still a sort of initiation rite practiced among close acquaintances.

She said selecting the plants was surprisingly troublesome because they had to be chosen carefully so their meanings wouldn't be distorted,

and apparently it was the kind of prank that even the other nobles of Thebes couldn't receive, no matter how much they wanted it.

She said that depending on how one handled it, one could become either a laughingstock or an example for others to follow.

"I see... So what should I do?"

"Um... You have to grow them."

"What?"

"You must raise them. I'm afraid I can only give you this by-the-book answer. I'm sorry."

With no other choice, I went to find Douglas.

It was only a guess, but when Han Jihye used the word 'principled,' I interpreted it to mean that there was an unprincipled solution.

Whatever it was, going to the most powerful person in the family ought to resolve it.

‘……?’

But when I arrived at the main house, something was different from usual. The attendant sent by Douglas to meet me after receiving word had stiffened, then whispered, 'You mustn't take the bait.'

When I asked what he meant, he replied that 'Douglas isn't alone right now.' His wife was in the room.

“I was instructed to warn you in advance should an unexpected situation like this arise.”

"Understood."

Even so, I couldn't turn back now. I swallowed hard and entered Douglas's room.

I saw a beautiful woman sitting across from Douglas. Unlike Douglas, who looked to be in his sixties or older, she appeared to be in her mid-to-late thirties, with a carefully maintained appearance.

'A scoundrel is a scoundrel,' I muttered inwardly as I crossed my arms.

"I am Raebi Na Tiernected Douglas Kim. As Douglas Kim's eighth adopted child, I greet you, Lady Jennifer Kim."

"......"

It was frigid.

I could tell without even making eye contact. Her pale face gave me the first impression of a cold witch.

Since she didn't immediately return my greeting, she either disliked me or was observing me. It had to be one of the two.

I remained perfectly still for several minutes without relaxing my posture. I couldn't give her anything to latch onto.

While Douglas also sat in silence without saying a word, Jennifer finally opened her mouth.

"......Still, it seems you've received some education. I'm Jennifer Kim. Straighten your posture."

I uncrossed my arms and looked at her with a sociable smile.

Douglas gave me a look that said 'Well done' and offered me a seat. It was between Jennifer and Douglas, but to be safe, I asked Jennifer once more whether I could sit there.

Jennifer shot Douglas a look and answered curtly, "Permission granted."

"......Ahem! All right. What brings you here today?"

"Today? So this isn't the first time you've come without notice, is it?"

"......!"

Douglas looked as though he'd just realized his mistake. He belatedly mumbled something about only meeting me often because of the recent issues, but Jennifer's gaze had already grown even colder.

Since I felt that explaining everything was entirely my responsibility,

I began with something that showed off my abilities as much as possible while being unlikely to get me scolded.

"......You've secured top place in theory at the academy?"

Jennifer's gaze shifted slightly.

"That's right. I ran into friction several times during the process, and I had no choice but to seek the family head's advice."

I answered calmly, as though it were nothing special. If I acted excited, she would certainly think I was being arrogant.

She stared at me intently, then spoke with a mocking smile.

"Friction... In the end, weren't your actions ultimately the cause? Didn't you consider resolving it yourself?"

"That's right.”

“Why?”

“I am young and of commoner origin. Unlike born nobles, I am ignorant of the ways of the world, so I was worried that a foolish choice might harm the family.”

'Hehe... How about that!'

I had developed a technique through my conversations with April.

It was called 'lowering my stance.'

Since many born nobles looked askance at adopted nobles, showing off one's abilities did little to promote friendship with them.

Rather, from the perspective of an adopted noble, lumping people in similar circumstances together and putting us down could produce better results.

This applied not only to April, but to other nobles such as Ribi as well, and Douglas, the family head, was no different.

Fortunately, I felt some of the wariness ease from Jennifer's eyes.

"......Good. Then why have you come here? Have you made contact with the Cecil family again?"

"No. Today..."

Hesitantly, I brought up what had happened at the annex. I could have changed the subject, but under the pressure, I couldn't think of another excuse.

More than anything, I had to rescue the suffering attendants as quickly as possible.

At first, she tilted her head at the prank I'd suffered, but soon began asking about the additional circumstances.

As expected, once she'd heard my answer, Jennifer's expression grew sharp again.

"Not only did you tease siblings far above you in rank, now you can't even bear the price? Even for a child, you're terribly spoiled."

'......She was determined to find fault with me.'

Only Han Jihye had warned me about Jennifer. I had asked Ribi and Vincent as well, but they had a very positive image of her.

They said she was gentle regardless of faction.

Of course, they did say she was somewhat displeased by Thebes's adopted nobles, but they treated that discrimination as little more than a minor issue.

......They probably hadn't anticipated that their own prank would lead to this situation.

Still, since things had come this far, I had to see it through, so I cautiously opened my mouth.

"I'm sorry. Then would it be all right if I displayed the potted plants in the annex hallway?"

"Are you saying you'll manage the entire hallway?"

"......"

"Ahem, Jennifer. She seems to need a place to stay, so..."

"Be quiet. Because you keep accepting anyone you please out of greed, we've ended up in this state. I wonder if you even understand my troubles at all."

"No, well..."

'Head of the family...'

......So that's why.

I'd wondered why she was so hostile toward adopted nobles, but now I understood.

I'd heard that a family's standing among noblewomen was important. The family head might be able to play king while living on the island, but the aftermath and all the support work fell entirely on his wife.

If he accepted nobles who were unfit, she would suffer that much more humiliation in high society.

Thinking of the exiled Gale, I muttered without thinking,

"That must be a headache..."

"You came in shamelessly even knowing that."

'......?'

My throat tightened—

This is so unfair.

I sympathized with her, only to get scolded in return.

Besides, I was in the position of a delicate girl who had come to ask for help with bullying. Why was I being berated here? I couldn't understand it.

Of course, that didn't mean I shed tears. Unlike with Douglas, this situation was clearly different.

'If I cry here, it'll be a catastrophe.'

No matter how effective a skill was, common sense dictated knowing where it would and wouldn't work.

I looked Jennifer straight in the eye.

"Lady Jennifer. I want to help Douglas Kim. I'll prove that I'm different from those fools who prance around, taking delight in trading on the noble name!"

"Hmm... Are you sincere?"

"Yes!"

"......How amusing. How will you do that?"

Oof.

"Well..."

At a loss for words, I fidgeted with my fingers.

It was understandable. What could I possibly know when I'd only just been adopted?

Then Jennifer abruptly seized my hand. When I looked up at her in surprise, she spoke with a meaningful smile.

"Then I'll give you a special opportunity."

"An opportunity...?"

"Yes. There's a good place to put plants. The gardener has just been fired, so how about managing the artificial forest at the back of the island?"

"Lady Jennifer, that's..."

Han Jihye stepped forward as if to dissuade her.

But Jennifer didn't give her so much as a glance. She stared at me and made an expression that seemed to ask, 'What will you do?'

I lowered my gaze for a moment and thought.

......An artificial forest.

If a gardener had been managing it, it must have been more than a simple walking path through the woods.

I suddenly remembered what had happened in Egypt.

I remembered trying to decorate a garden as prettily as I could, only to fail. The anguish I felt over my lack of mana was still vivid.

My skills had been sufficient. If only I had had mana—if only I had really had mana—I wouldn't have ended up in that state. That was the thought I had repeated over and over while Kim Younghak beat me.

......Now I have more than enough mana—it's overflowing.

'Hehe.'

Her proposal began to feel sweet rather than dangerous.

A regret I'd set aside for a while raised its head, and I spoke as if shouting the words at her.

“……I-I'd like to try! But would it be all right if I completely changed the forest?”

Surprise flickered across Jennifer's face.

"Uh, what? ......How?"

I want to turn it into an ornate and splendid fairy village that would captivate even nobles.

"So you mean you'll make other nobles come here?"

I nodded without a word.

Jennifer furrowed her brow as though she understood even less.

She pondered for a moment and exchanged a glance with Douglas. Then her gaze subtly changed as she asked,

"How long will it take?"

"Five days if we're only considering the exterior."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

"Hmm...... Then go ahead. If you really produce results, I'll acknowledge you as a member of the family."

'......!'

"R-really? You can't take it back!"

"Yes. Go ahead and do your best."

"Of course! Understood!"

I answered with both fists clenched tightly,

vowing never to fail again.

***

"Why?"

-...A-are you doing well?

"What are you talking about? If you have nothing to say, hang up."

-Of course I have something to say! Want to have dinner together?

Han Jihye let everyone know that I'd had a disastrous first meeting with Jennifer.

Vincent said he never expected things to turn out that way and offered to take the potted plants back, while Matthew sent an attendant to retrieve them secretly and got caught.

But I had no intention of returning them. If I did, I'd be breaking my promise to Jennifer.

Fortunately, our conversation had shown me that she didn't blindly hate adopted nobles.

If I could prove that I was different from them... perhaps I could build a good relationship with her.

There were about ten days left until the social season.

I decided to devote all my abilities to the artificial forest during that time.

The first priority was organizing the attendants.

"Starting today, Ms. Nari is on leave for four days. Mr. Gihwan, you need to take a walk in the forest with me every day."

"Understood."

"We'll keep the Eight City personnel as they are. Sis Ribi says she'll protect them, so tell them not to worry."

"I'll tell them right away."

"Ms. Sooyoung, are you really all right with not going to Eight City?"

"I'm comfortable here. I'll follow Dayoung's wishes and schedule."

......Good.

"Then... lastly, Mr. Cheol."

"Yes, Lady Raebi."

"Think of some brunch dishes that would be enjoyable in the forest."

"Yes."

".....Yes?"

And so I finished making all the preparations to head to my own playground.

Because there were so many potted plants, we decided to transport them by vehicle, and I filed a truck-movement notification with the main house.

"Ho ho ho! You're doing well!"

Douglas made an unusual visit to Thebes. He claimed he had come because he was worried about how bad the condition of my room was, but after glancing over the potted plants, he took several away, saying he would 'lighten my load.'

According to Han Jihye, they were plants with considerable rarity value.

'Amazing. In a way.'

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"There is! Please supply some mana here."

Once I arrived at the forest, Vincent came to see me.

He kept hovering around with an apologetic expression, so I assigned him a few simple tasks.

At first, he balked at being asked to do work a gardener would normally handle, but when the trees began growing into the shapes of statues, he found it fascinating.

The artificial forest, which had been a Nordic-style coniferous woodland, gradually transformed into a splendid fairy village.

'......Everything's good, but I don't understand noble sensibilities. Now I need to decorate it properly.'

After filling in the emptiness to some extent, I began making detailed plans in earnest.

I needed expert advice to build houses that could actually be lived in, along with cafés and other facilities.

After coaxing April over with an item, I was able to get some valuable tips.

“There are far too many statues. This isn't supposed to be the site of a pond, is it…? If it is, clear them out immediately. And if this is a fairy village, you shouldn't just have paths running along the ground—you need to connect them with bridges through the trees. This is supposed to be a house site, right? It's not like commoners are going on a cabin trip, so why did you put it here…”

.

.

.

And so the day drew to a close.

"Everyone was getting cramped, right? Come out, it's labor time."

Ding-

[The stored pygmies are being summoned.]

[Number of stored individuals: 35 total]