SMW Chapter 04

The Marquis Next Door’s Beloved Slave – Chapter 004

[Chapter 1: Never Ignore a Neighbor in Need]

Hayden nodded in agreement the moment he read the first line. This was a small village with only a few people.
The best way to make friends in a place where no one knew you was to help neighbors in need.
It was a great strategy.

He stepped out of his house and sat on the terrace with the book in hand.
It listed all sorts of neighborly acts in detail: fixing broken lights, lending a lawn mower, and sharing spices or cooking ingredients.

Hayden read aloud to himself as he studied the examples, just in case he needed them later.

“Get out! Or I’m calling the police!”

Just then, a loud voice snapped him out of his reading.
Because the houses were close together, he could hear what was happening outside quite clearly.

‘What’s going on?’

Someone calling the police was no small matter.
Hayden closed his book and got up from his chair.

“Miss Ella, please calm down and take another look at the notice—”
“Leave now, or else!”

Hayden immediately realized this was exactly the kind of moment the book was talking about.

Helping a neighbor in need—this was it.

“Is something wrong?”

He was tired after traveling all night by carriage, but he didn’t want to miss the chance to make a good first impression.
He was used to dealing with public appearances he didn’t want, so this was nothing new to him.

“Ah, we’re investigators from the Central Bank. This woman is resisting an official government action, which caused some noise…”

“What nonsense! You scammers are so shameless!”

Despite being small, the woman didn’t look scared at all, standing up to two grown men.

Hayden heard words like “foreclosure notice” and “official duty”—clearly this was about a bank loan.

So, there was only one thing to do.

“May I see your IDs?”
“Uh… yes, of course.”

Hayden, experienced with documents, quickly checked their IDs and papers.

“You really are with the Central Bank.”
“Yes! We are! We’re not shady people like she says—”

The ID matched perfectly. No signs of fraud.

Hayden felt a little disappointed.
So, it was true. The neighbor was in debt.

A debtor.

She didn’t look that kind at all…

He glanced at her innocent-looking eyes and, for some reason, ran a hand through his hair.

“You should sign.”

“Who are you?”

“I just moved in next door today. The IDs are fine. The documents seem normal. Just sign and let them go.”

He remembered seeing a notice addressed to someone else in his mailbox earlier.
It all made sense now.

“Your mail ended up in my mailbox.”
“Huh?”

“I didn’t know who it belonged to, but now I think it was yours.”

As the woman read through the notice, her face stiffened.
She looked like she had just realized the loan was in her name.

“If I suffer financial damage because of you, I’ll sue you for everything you’ve got.”

Her pride was kind of cute… but only a little.

“Go ahead.”

“Just wait. I’ll prove I didn’t borrow any money. And when I do, you’re going to kneel in front of me!”

That bold statement made Hayden laugh.
No one had ever dared say such a thing to Hayden, the Marquis of Langtenbear.
Especially not a young woman barely past twenty.

‘She’ll be shocked when she finds out who I am.’

She probably lived in this countryside her whole life and couldn’t recognize the aura of nobility he carried.

And who had verified the IDs and helped her just now?

Me, Hayden Rieher Langtenbear.

She should be grateful.

‘Still, it’s a good start. I’ll forgive her because I’m generous.’

Chapter 1: Never ignore a neighbor in need.
Hayden smiled proudly, pleased that he had completed chapter one on his very first day.

***

Meanwhile, Ella was lying on her worn-out couch, staring at nothing with a disgusting meat pie in front of her.
Empty beer cans rolled across the floor—she was on her third can already.

There wasn’t a single part of this house she hadn’t touched.
She had sewed the sofa cover by her hands, scrubbed the mold off the walls and painted them anew, polished the wooden floor until it gleamed.

Even the flowers in the garden, the vegetables in the yard, and the black raspberries—she had poured her love into all of it.

This house had become her home because of all the hard work she’d done.

“Haa…”

A deep sigh escaped her lips.

Dragging her tired body to the cabinet, she decided to check her house deed one more time.

Click—

Inside the drawer, her important documents were still there.
She took out her resident ID and the deed, then sat back down to look over them.

It clearly stated that the house had been passed down legally.

Owner: Laviela Oncidium.

It really was hers.

Her grandfather had worked his whole life in a countryside clinic helping the sick and was given the surname “Oncidium” as an honorary reward.
Not a noble title or land—but the highest honor a commoner could receive.

Ella had learned all this from Mr. Escock, her grandfather’s former student, who had come looking for her after she disappeared.

He said that Ella was the only direct descendant left.
Her grandfather lived frugally, so this house was all that remained—but at least she wouldn’t starve.

When she woke up after being sick for days, it was Mr. Escock who gave her medicine and kindly explained everything.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Escock. I lost the house Grandpa left me… to a scam.”

Clink—

Her fourth beer can rolled away.
She didn’t have much time left with this house.

And the only thing she had to eat was a gross meat pie from the neighbor…

Maybe I’ll eat some raspberries.

She remembered the basket she’d seen earlier.

Ella picked up the cans and stood up from the sofa.

Yeah… let’s get some air and sober up a bit.

“Ugh!”

She stretched and stepped outside. The cool night breeze helped a little.

It was peaceful—no tall buildings or noisy cars, just quiet countryside.

– Clang!

What was that sound?

– Clang!

Something was loudly interrupting her peace.

She turned her head—it was coming from the neighbor’s yard.

– Clang!

She frowned.
What had he been doing all day that he was hammering now, in the middle of the night?

Maybe it was the alcohol, but she suddenly felt bold and curious.
She normally hated getting involved, but today… she didn’t mind breaking her own rules.

Step, step…

The houses were close, so a few steps was all it took to see what he was doing.

– Clang!

“Excuse me!”

– Clang!

“What are you doing at this hour?”

But her voice was drowned out by the banging.
Ella moved closer to the gate.

– CLANG!

The hammering hit her ears hard.

“Excuse me?”

– Clang!

“…Hello?!”