Chapter 18
Benjamin didn’t seem like the type. He didn’t look like someone who would lock the door out of fear of damage or theft.
“Still, he is a count in name at least. He should know where the key is. I’ll ask him when he returns.”
After making up her mind, Helena turned to Joe and spoke.
“Even you must have noticed, Steward—we’re severely short on manpower right now. Gather every worker in Burwood if you must. The moment they hear they might become servants of the count’s household, they’ll drop whatever they’re doing and come running.”
Joe nodded respectfully.
“As you command.”
“The problem is the retainers…”
That was the real headache.
Judging from the former head steward, Benjamin had apparently taken over the count’s estate and driven out all of its retainers—without leaving even a single servant behind.
‘That man is insane.’
Helena had never heard of a family head expelling all of his retainers.
For a household of a count’s standing, no matter how capable the lord was, it was impossible to handle everything alone.
Even her own maternal family, the Winston Count’s house, had countless retainers managing estate affairs, external business, and internal finances.
They were people who devoted their entire lives in exchange for status and stipends, serving a noble house faithfully.
Not just their lives—normally, they served the family across generations, sharing its rise and fall.
Such retainers were irreplaceable human resources.
‘Did he really expel all of them? Unless he truly intended to ruin the family in his own generation, that would be impossible.’
Once things were somewhat stabilized in the castle, she resolved to look for the former retainers of House Ishfern.
That evening, Helena was finally able to watch the setting sun in relative peace.
The count’s estate was still as chaotic as ever, but at least today was better than yesterday.
Unlike the day before, Joe was now by her side, along with dozens of workers full of energy and determination.
And dinner tonight looked promising.
A merchant supplying food to the castle had, with surprising intuition, brought in women skilled in cooking from a nearby village while delivering provisions for the workers.
They had come rushing over upon hearing rumors that a new lady of the house had arrived, abandoning even paid work to roll up their sleeves.
There was a reason they came so eagerly.
“What if the count’s house collapses and Burwood goes down too—we were so worried!”
“So we can finally feel at ease now, right?”
The simple hope in the sun-browned faces of the villagers made even Helena—who had been constantly plotting Benjamin’s downfall—feel oddly warm inside.
While sitting at her dressing table drying her hair for the first proper meal in a long time, Helena thought:
‘I’m sorry, everyone. Benjamin is beyond saving. But once he falls, Her Majesty the Empress will appoint a new lord to Burwood. That will probably be much better for all of you.’
Thinking that made her feel lighter.
If she thought of it as helping a new lord instead, then even cleaning the castle and searching for retainers would feel worthwhile.
A new lord would govern Burwood for the sake of these simple-hearted people, under her guidance, in a newly cleaned castle, with retainers she had gathered.
‘Benjamin Ishfern, just wait. Your downfall is coming soon.’
Helena silently sharpened her resolve as she finished dressing.
Since she had no one to help her, she had to abandon elaborate gowns and choose a simple indoor dress instead. Even so, in this castle, it looked like ceremonial attire from the Empress herself.
Just as she was lightly powdering her face—
The door suddenly burst open, and Benjamin appeared.
His eerie red eyes swept quickly across the room before stopping on Helena, who sat at the dressing table.
Helena flinched when she saw his face. His deathly pale expression looked as if it had hardened like candle wax, full of displeasure and irritation.
‘What is it now? Why is that insane man acting like this again?’
Before Helena could speak, Benjamin strode toward her.
Even without running, his long legs closed the distance in an instant, leaving her startled.
He stopped beside her, leaning slightly over her as he stood crookedly.
“You’ve done something quite interesting.”
Helena calmly continued looking only at herself in the mirror.
‘This must be about my new steward and the workers.’
She was slightly surprised.
Because she couldn’t find even a trace of fear or intimidation in her reflection.
The elegantly dressed woman in the mirror didn’t look subdued at all—instead, she wore a faint, charming smile.
Still looking at her reflection, she turned to Benjamin and spoke gently.
“Dinner is ready.”
“…?”
“If you have something to say, come to the dining table. I have things to say as well.”
“Now? Yesterday you barged into my room and only said what you wanted. And today you’re telling me to come to the dining table?”
He seemed intent on bringing up last night’s bathroom incident again.
At least say it properly if you’re going to, she thought, noticing the faint redness creeping into his stiff cheeks.
The sight of his unnecessarily dramatic behavior almost made Helena say it out loud:
‘You lunatic—I only saw your shoulders.’
All she had seen was his broad, mountain-like shoulders as he crouched in the bath.
‘If you’re going to make such a fuss, you should’ve shown everything!’
She desperately wanted to shout while tearing open every button on his shirt down to his collar, but she kept her thoughts hidden and spoke calmly.
“Women from the nearby village insisted on preparing local dishes for us. We can’t refuse their goodwill, so come to the table before the food gets cold.”
The banquet hall was unusable, so dinner was set in a small reception room beside the bedroom.
In other words, a private dinner for just the two of them.
Amid the ruins of the estate, with a rough bouquet of flowers Joe had picked from the garden decorating the table, Helena spoke as they sat facing each other and waited for the meal.
“Benjamin Ishfern. Do you remember the marriage oath?”
“…?”
“You swore before God and the honored houses that you would serve as the master of the Ishfern estate—living as a wise and noble husband and wife, bound together in body and soul.”
The food soon arrived.
The appetizer was a thin flatbread baked in a hearth, topped with bitter leafy greens, small fish preserved in oil, and a generous grating of local cheese.
Helena cut into it with a sharp fork and knife.
The crisp bread split the moment the blade touched it.
The sharp sound of metal against plate rang between them as she continued in a precise voice.
“As the mistress of House Ishfern, I have both the right and duty to manage the household’s affairs. In other words, I will not allow this castle to remain in such a disastrous state.”
Benjamin picked up his food without even cutting it and shoved it into his mouth. The sound of the crunchy bread echoed as he chewed.
After swallowing only a few bites, he brushed crumbs from his lips and said,
“There was a slight misunderstanding. The estate was not prepared at all for receiving new occupants.”
The second dish arrived: wild mushrooms and assorted vegetables simmered in cream made from buffalo milk, served with half-grilled lemon.
Benjamin grabbed the lemon with two fingers and squeezed it. With barely any pressure, it flattened like parchment, releasing all its juice.
“Have the workers you brought start cleaning the annex first. It is far cleaner and more suitable for living than the main building. That young steward—hire him if needed. You may also find a few maids to indulge your lady’s whims.”
His voice was calm, yet sharp enough to cut.
“But that is as far as it goes. As I said before, life before and after marriage cannot be the same. Accept what I allow you, and step back.”
Helena pressed the roasted lemon with the flat side of her knife, its sour warmth rising into the air.
“Isn’t that dish too sour? You really do like squeezing things too much.”
she said lightly.
“I have no intention of turning this castle into something like the Winston estate—or the townhouse I used to live in at Elarion in the capital. I just want to make it livable.”
She tasted the properly balanced cream sauce and continued.
“I’ll return your words. Benjamin Ishfern, life before and after marriage cannot be the same. Especially not a life like this—self-destructive and miserable. I have no intention of being dragged into it with you.”
