Episode 4
Second, she needed a way to make money. The Grand Duke’s house had many resources, mines, and people, but after the Duke and Duchess died, everything had stalled. Ilia had to figure out what was usable nearby and get things back to normal as fast as she could.
There was a plant the female lead later discovered on the estate, called rutina. Rutina was the source of huge wealth for the Grand Duke’s house.
Sorry, Rijien, but Ilia felt she had to claim that rutina first.
And there was another thing to do.
Third, become friendly with the female lead.
Whatever Rijien had asked of Ilia, Rijien would be the one to save Lihil. So Ilia planned to get close to Rijien and give Rijien chances to grow closer to Lihil. If Ilia did some of the things Rijien would have done, there’d be fewer chances left for Rijien to bond with him.
Rijien and Lihil met about two years later in the original story.
So Ilia wanted to get close to Rijien first, give Rijien chances with Lihil, and also keep making it clear that Ilia had no intention of staying in the marriage long term.
Ah, and then she should keep her distance from Lihil too.
In the original, Lihil was drawn as a tyrant, but Ilia thought he was simply a very good person who lived his whole life with guilt over his dead sibling.
She did not want him to carry that same guilt again.
Also, seeing the characters from the book in person was kind of fun.
She thought, he was so pretty, and his hair shone in a way she could not stop staring at.
Watching Lihil and the female lead happy from afar might be okay.
Ilia had no strong will to live anyway.
She wanted to live decently and then die on a sunny day without pain.
Thinking about her brother Doyun made her throat tighten. She grimaced at the name just thinking about it. Doyun’s last face, gasping for breath and begging to live, was stamped on her heart like a scarlet letter.
If she could die and finally meet Doyun, she would hold him tight and tell him everything that had happened.
Ilia used to end each day beside her brother, reading the stories she had read him. The story she was in now was the last book she had read to him.
So Doyun would be happy to hear it too.
Ilia fell asleep imagining that little miracle.
When Ilia had awoken in this body, the Sprout Laboratory had not yet received investment. Ilia was still twelve. It was only after a small article about the lab appeared in a newspaper that the butler noticed.
That was a little late.
She needed to donate money to the Sprout Lab and speed up their research.
The novel gave a pretty detailed description of where the Sprout Lab was, because it was the scene of an important episode.
Rijien and Lihil met there two years later because Rijien went there to buy medicine. Rijien’s mother had been exposed to too much magic and got sick, so she visited the lab. Lihil happened to be there for a regular checkup and they met dramatically.
So Ilia’s top priority, after winning the household’s goodwill, was clear.
“Jenna. Um, I want to see the butler.”
Ilia folded the paper with the Sprout Lab’s address and called for the head maid. Because of yesterday’s welcome party, she now knew who everyone was.
“The butler? If you call for him, he’ll come right away. One moment.”
“You could go, but you are busy.”
“No. You are the mistress of this house.”
The head maid bowed.
She had been scribbling something carefully on the paper. Even though Ilia had been raised in the palace, she was still small for a twelve-year-old.
Like a chipmunk, the head maid thought with a small smile. She sent a maid to call the butler.
As expected, the butler rushed over the moment he was called. After yesterday’s welcome party, he was smitten with the young mistress. Her round cheeks, quiet tone, big round eyes, and mature, lovely manner made her impossible to dislike.
“Did you call, madam?”
“Well… could I use the Grand Duke’s funds if I need to?”
She asked carefully, her clear eyes serious. Her lips pressed together looked resolute.
The butler nodded with a pleased expression.
“Of course, madam.”
Ilia’s eyes went wide. Really? That easily?
“Really? I can use the estate’s assets?”
“Certainly, madam.”
These people were really kind.
So in the original story, Ilia would steal everything and run off and the house would almost collapse.
“Is it really okay to approve this so easily?”
Ilia asked cautiously.
“You are the proper lady of the Grand Duke’s house. It is right to hand over the keys to the storeroom.”
The butler replied as if it were only natural.
Ilia sighed inwardly, feeling guilty about tricking such kind people. She was not the real Ilia. The affection they were giving should have gone to Rijien, the true heroine, but Ilia had taken it first.
Maybe tasting it first was okay.
For someone who had been lonely forever, being cared for felt like a dream. She was used to caring for others, not used to being cared for. This attention felt sweet.
And Ilia’s appearance explained a lot. Ilia Avery was naturally adorable. Her looks softened people’s hostility. Chubby cheeks, friendly puppy-like eyes, heart-shaped mouth, and a gentle gaze. The author had described her as reminiscent of a squirrel.
Let’s just accept it, Ilia thought, smiling. She handed over the folded paper like taking out a hidden acorn.
“If I can manage the estate’s assets, I want to invest this.”
“Sprout Laboratory? Do you have a connection there?”
“I overheard it when I was in the palace.”
Ilia fiddled with her lips, trying to look embarrassed. She did not know what excuse to give, but the head maid and butler took it differently.
“Oh, so you heard it as a secret!”
In that case, they would play along.
“Then I will keep it secret, madam.”
“I will too, madam.”
There was no real need to keep it secret, but it was a good reaction, so Ilia nodded slightly. If it was a secret, they would not pry about the source.
“I heard the Sprout Lab is researching ‘Kerita’ disease. Since it is spreading across the empire, even the palace is interested.”
Kerita disease was the exact name of the illness Lihil and Ruel had.
The butler and head maid’s eyes widened.
“The children I saw yesterday looked really sick. I heard it was Kerita. I hope they get better soon.”
Most twelve-year-olds would beg for dresses and shoes, but Ilia asked to cure two children instead. What a wonderful girl.
At first, when Ilia mentioned using the estate’s money, they did not expect much. They thought she wanted to redecorate a room or buy jewelry. Those things would not hurt the estate. But Ilia was thinking deeper.
She grew up mistreated by the palace, yet she showed an admirable, mature compassion for strangers she had just met. That was moving.
Thank you, she thought silently.
Since Ilia was sent away by the palace like trash, she felt grateful these people were kind.
“I will speak with Sir Norman and ask him to investigate in detail. Also, you should meet Sir Norman.”
“Sir Norman?”
“Ah, Sir Norman served the late Duke and Duchess. You can just call him Norman.”
Oh, that person.
