chapter 8
The underground entrance was surprisingly next to a door leading to the garden.
The garden looked very different from how it appeared from Lacal’s carriage.
It was a simple garden with just a couple of flowers and two trees.
But from the inside, it felt like a small, lush forest.
“Looks like there’s a space-expansion spell here too. I’ll have to visit after dealing with the basement wizard,” Charlotte thought.
Unlike the first floor, the basement had only a few lights on the walls.
Instead of a normal door, there was just a black iron door.
To avoid trouble later, Charlotte politely knocked on the iron door.
Bang bang.
“I’m the owner. Please open the door.”
No response.
“I’m the new owner. Please open the door.”
Even after calling twice, there was no answer.
“You can’t fool me by pretending no one’s home. I know you’re inside because of the explosion earlier.”
Charlotte pressed her ear to the iron door, trying to provoke Pierce.
The thick iron blocked any sound, even the slightest movement inside.
“Are you avoiding me?”
Charlotte stared at the door for a moment, then spoke confidently.
“You’re not afraid of killing people, but you’re scared of me, huh? No answer tells me so.”
Still nothing. The corridor was silent, almost eerily so.
Charlotte smirked. It was ridiculous.
Even without meeting him, there were plenty of ways to deliver her message.
“Since you’re a wizard, maybe you’re watching me, or storing my image in a magical device,” she said.
Stepping back from the iron door, she boldly announced:
“Mr. Pierce, please vacate this building within three days.”
“Lyla, I’m back.”
Charlotte called loudly as she headed toward the Dowager Countess’s study.
She remembered Lacal’s words about handling the inheritance legally.
She needed to check the tenant contract papers.
Of course, asking the tenant to leave after the chain of explosions was reasonable…
“But that shameless wizard probably won’t listen to me easily,” Charlotte muttered.
She needed a legal plan just in case.
The Dowager Countess’s old-fashioned study was tidy and well-organized, reflecting her meticulous nature.
Charlotte opened all the drawers, examined every box, and searched every corner of the bookshelves.
But she couldn’t find the tenant contract.
Only countless books and a small ledger with incomplete rent records were left.
“Even for someone obsessive about cleanliness, this is extreme. Did she destroy the contracts while organizing?”
She searched again, but the result was the same.
“No. Maybe she gave the papers to someone else. Could that be Lacal?”
It was possible, since he was the lawyer handling the inheritance.
But how could she ask Lacal directly?
“Oh! He said to send a letter with a blue ribbon if I wanted to contact him.”
Charlotte left the study to get the ribbon Lacal had given her.
Lyla happened to come out of the living room and saw Charlotte heading to the room.
“Miss, have some lunch.”
“Is it that late already?”
Charlotte checked the time on the living room clock.
She hadn’t noticed lunchtime while searching the study.
Thanks to Pierce, her morning discomfort had already gone, like having taken too much medicine.
“Yes, let’s eat first. In this story, eating well is important to stay healthy.”
After all, the blue ribbon on the table wouldn’t run away.
The dining room was the same as in the morning.
Sunlight streamed softly through the windows.
Marble tables were decorated delicately with grapevine patterns.
The room was warm and inviting, enough to comfort Charlotte after failing to find the contract.
There was even delicious-smelling soup.
But…
“The taste will still be Terras-style,” Charlotte sighed.
“I’ll have to find a solution soon. If I can’t, I might have to train Lyla properly.”
If she kept eating Lyla’s meals, she might end up malnourished.
Charlotte planned her three meals carefully and closed her eyes before grabbing the spoon.
“Huh?”
Her eyes widened.
What was this flavor?
She tasted the soup again.
Rich, natural flavors. The taste was completely different from the bland, clumpy breakfast.
Charlotte looked at Lyla.
“This is delicious, Lyla.”
“Right?”
“Yes. Really good.”
Charlotte smiled brightly. She tore some bread to dip into the soup.
Maybe because of the morning ordeal, even simple bread and soup felt like a gourmet meal.
“No more? Even though it’s good?”
“Huh?”
A familiar voice. Charlotte looked up.
Pierce was standing there, wearing a bright red apron and holding a plate like a waiter.
Startled, Charlotte choked on her bread and drank water, patting her chest.
“Why are you here?”
“I usually eat here.”
“Why… here?”
“It’s part of the tenant contract.”
“….”
“I cook for you, but you eat here.”
Pierce was effectively acting as her personal chef every day.
“That’s… impossible.”
“Doesn’t matter. The contract says so.”
“So you come to my kitchen every day?”
“Only if I’m free.”
“You don’t have to come anymore. It must be inconvenient.”
“It’s fine. It’s a hobby. Cooking relieves stress.”
He placed a plate in front of Charlotte: a brown, perfectly cooked salmon steak.
“If you don’t believe me, check the tenant contract.”
Pierce’s smile was irritating. She should have checked the contract before.
But it wasn’t too late.
“Good timing. I was heading to the basement anyway for the contract issue.”
“Really? I didn’t know you were here while I cooked.”
Sure. A wizard who could teleport magically.
Charlotte elegantly cleaned her mouth with a napkin and said:
“Please vacate.”
Pierce, sitting across from her, looked puzzled.
“Vacate? Why?”
“If you stay, the mansion might collapse from the explosions soon.”
“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”
“Oh, you didn’t notice the big crack on the first floor wall?”
“I did.”
“Then pay for the repairs before leaving.”
Pierce leaned back, thinking for a moment.
“Fine, I agree.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s a bit disappointing, but if I’m let go, it benefits me too.”
Charlotte was surprised. She thought he’d be upset.
Was there something in Pierce’s tenant contract?
He picked up a silver knife.
“One condition. If you agree, I’ll pack up and leave quickly.”
“What condition?”
Pierce cut the salmon steak and said with a meaningful look:
“Burn the tenant contract in front of me.”
After leaving the dining room, Charlotte went to her room to get the ribbon.
Of course, she had also eaten the salmon steak.
She even smiled and thanked Pierce. He seemed confused.
But Charlotte wanted to eat properly while she could—her health mattered.
And Pierce’s cooking was really excellent.
“Maybe the Dowager Countess tolerated Pierce’s explosion because of his good cooking,” Charlotte thought.
She checked the study again, just in case, but still found no papers.
“Looks like I need Lacal. He might know where the documents are.”
Charlotte picked up a quill to write a request but paused.
Lacal was the Duke of Statuah. She couldn’t summon him casually.
“Hmm… what should I do… Ah, right, that’s it.”
Charlotte wrote an invitation carefully.
[Thanks to your generosity, the arrangements were completed quickly.
I would like to honor our promise of tea tomorrow.
Could you make time for tea? If not, please suggest another time.
I will prepare accordingly.
Charlotte Able.]
She tied the invitation with a blue ribbon and wrote “Lacal Statuah” on the end.
“Will this work?”
The invitation shone and then turned into sparkling dust, disappearing.
“The invitation should reach Lacal just fine.”
Charlotte left the study.
All that was left was waiting for Lacal’s reply.
She hugged a cushion with alcohol scent and sat on the living room sofa.
“Come to think of it, I know nothing about the other tenants. Which floors, how many people, lease terms…”
Hopefully, not all tenants are troublemakers like Pierce.
Charlotte’s suspicion about the mansion being troublesome returned.
“Lyla.”
“Yes.”
Lyla waddled forward but slipped and stopped in front of the carpet.
Charlotte quickly reached out.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Lyla stood up, tapping her rounded belly with her tiny winged hands.
“I fall a lot now, but it doesn’t hurt anymore. Also…”
She pointed to the area she had slid across.
“Sliding makes it faster, so I like it.”
“Good, that’s great, Lyla.”
Charlotte quickly agreed so Lyla wouldn’t feel embarrassed.
“By the way, why did you call me?”
