Chapter 19
Unbelievable.
When I roughly calculated, our family’s annual budget needs were about 500 gold.
But right now, there were only 200 gold in the treasury.
“At this rate, we might end up on the streets in half a year…”
And on top of that, I had no idea how much Aizen’s treatment development would cost.
This won’t do. I need to make money.
“But how?”
Working again as a bounty hunter had its limits.
If I wanted steady income, I needed a business, not a one-time gig.
Right, a business.
I searched every corner of the mansion and found unused land behind it, then thought about what I could do best right now.
“Ha, other transmigrators become rich overnight using their original story knowledge…”
But I didn’t even know which world I’d transmigrated into, so I had to start from scratch.
It was sad, but I accepted reality and grabbed a shovel and a hoe.
When I borrowed the servants’ work clothes, Greta looked puzzled.
“Madam, what are you doing?”
“Oh, I’m going to turn the land behind the mansion into a field for herbs.”
“…You mean you’ll do it yourself, Madam?”
“Yes!”
No matter how I looked at it, the thing I was best at right now was pharmacy.
So I planned to start a business related to medicinal herbs.
That meant I first needed to grow them, so I had to plow the field.
“You could just order me or someone else to do it. Why do it yourself?”
“Do you know how hard farm work is? I’d feel guilty making others do it for me.”
Even though I was the lady of the house, it somehow felt right to take the lead myself.
Greta looked at me as if she couldn’t believe it, then furrowed her brows slightly.
“Still, you shouldn’t be doing it alone. I’ll help you.”
“Gasp, are you sure?”
“If Madam is doing such hard work, how can I just stand by?”
Greta rolled up her sleeves.
Honestly, I’d been nervous about doing it alone, so I smiled and linked arms with her.
As expected, Greta really was the best maid.
We went to the back of the mansion, pulled weeds, and turned over the soil with shovels and hoes.
We broke up the clods and leveled the ground.
Then we spread fertilizer and left the soil to absorb it for a few days.
While waiting, I visited an herbal shop and bought the seeds I had been eyeing.
I boldly invested 80 gold out of our remaining 200 to buy only rare varieties.
“…Just so you know, these are very difficult to grow. They often die before sprouting, and there are no refunds.”
“I know. I came prepared, so just give them to me.”
“I mean it. Even if you come back tomorrow, there will be no refunds.”
“I said I understand.”
Since I had picked seeds that 99% of growers failed to sprout, the shopkeeper looked even more worried and repeated his warning.
No refunds, ever.
It felt unfair, but since this world didn’t have a consumer protection agency, I had to accept it.
The seeds I got were five kinds in total.
I decided to modify them myself to suit the northern climate.
If I just planted them as they were, I’d fall into that 99% failure rate.
“I can do this! I’ve made some potions before! And researched a bit, right?”
I had gained some experience after all.
If I made one mistake, 80 gold could go up in smoke, but I ignored that thought and got to work.
After a few failed attempts… I succeeded in modifying half the seeds I bought!
Greta and I carefully planted the improved seeds in the field.
We made nutrient solutions and tended to them with care.
Grow well, my little ones. If you fail, our family fails too.
In the end, I harvested about half of what I planted.
That meant only a quarter bore fruit, but it wasn’t bad.
I divided the harvested herbs and made tea leaves and aromatic oils.
They were rare ingredients, and since I improved them, their effects were several times stronger than average.
Full of ambition, I consigned them to a merchant in the downtown district.
“This one is made from Red Garcinia. Drink it daily and the fat just melts away.
The Blue Calendula tea restores burned skin, and Frozen Astragalus will wipe away your fatigue in one sip.”
There was more: the oil made from Singing Valerian could put even severe insomniacs to sleep in thirty minutes, and the Tricolor Nettle oil cured hair loss when applied to the scalp.
After explaining until my mouth went dry, I waited eagerly for orders.
I’ll prove I can make money on my own, without any original story knowledge!
But soon I learned reality wasn’t so easy.
A week passed, and not a single tea or oil sold — I got a report of zero profit.
“…You’re joking, right? Not even one sold? Really? Seriously?”
I clung to the merchant, but he avoided my eyes, looking guilty.
“I’m sorry, Madam. It’s just that… there are many noble sellers like you, and usually, the popular goods are from well-known figures in high society.”
“What do you mean? You’re saying my goods didn’t sell because I’m not famous?”
He nodded with difficulty.
So this must be how unknown celebrities feel.
I felt crushed by the idea that no one would buy from a no-name noble in the North.
What a rotten world.
I left the shop with drooping shoulders.
It wasn’t the merchant’s fault that my lack of fame killed my sales.
“Madam, are you all right?”
“No… I’m depressed…”
My weak reply made Greta flinch.
She glanced around, then gently took my wrist.
“They’re selling ice cream over there.”
“I’m not in the mood…”
“S-still, please have one.”
I waved my hand listlessly.
Not knowing what to do, Greta took me to the ice cream stall anyway.
Since it was a busy afternoon, there was quite a long line.
“I’ll buy it, so please sit here and rest. Don’t go anywhere.”
She seated me on a bench near the shop and repeated her warning before leaving.
Too tired to move, I sat quietly when a conversation between women on the next bench reached my ears.
“I heard Duke Kalrad’s annual ball is being held at the end of this month. Did you get an invitation?”
“No, not yet. What about you?”
“Me neither. It’s famous for inviting only nobles with status.”
“Ugh, if I could just attend once, I’d make a name for myself in society right away. I’m so jealous of those who got invited.”
My ears perked up.
I glanced sideways and saw young noble ladies chatting.
They talked about Duke Kalrad’s ball for a while, then left when their maids arrived.
Soon, Greta came back holding ice cream neatly wrapped in paper.
“Even if you’re not hungry, just one bite—”
Chomp.
Before she could finish, I took a big bite.
Sweet apple jam melted in my mouth, making me smile.
Greta blinked in surprise and carefully asked,
“Do you… feel better now?”
“Yes, thanks to you. Thank you.”
The world that had felt foggy and directionless suddenly seemed full of hope again.
I had spent 100 gold on those herbs, including the cost of cultivation.
There was no way I’d give up now.
With renewed determination, I returned home.
When dinner came, I looked straight at Aizen and declared,
“Darling, I want to go to Duke Kalrad’s ball.”
“…What? Where?”
Aizen froze mid-cut, his elegant movements halting.
Looking at his confusedly handsome face, I repeated clearly,
“I said I want to attend Duke Kalrad’s ball.”
If my goods weren’t selling because I wasn’t known, I’d just build my reputation myself.
And from what those girls said, Kalrad’s ball was the fastest way to do it.
Aizen wiped his mouth with a napkin and sighed.
“…But we weren’t invited. And even if we were, it’s exhausting to attend such events.”
“I still want to go. Isn’t there a way to get an invitation?”
“There isn’t. Kalrad doesn’t even look at lower-ranking nobles like us.”
His firm tone made my lips pout.
Honestly, I had guessed as much from what those girls said.
But the fact that we were excluded just for being poor and minor nobles was irritating.
“So petty, really.”
“…”
“If you’re such a great noble, act like one. Invite everyone. Why be so stingy?”
I poked my meat with a fork as I grumbled.
Aizen choked on his water and coughed hard.
While patting his back, I kept talking.
“If I were a Kalrad, I’d invite people without discrimination. Guess being from a big house doesn’t mean you’ve got a big heart.”
“Ahem… They must have their reasons. Don’t think too harshly of them.”
Hmph. Petty is petty.
His gentle tone made me swallow my retort and nod reluctantly.
Aizen took my hand firmly.
“I can’t go to crowded places for health reasons. So forget the Kalrad ball, all right?”
“…”
“Dear?”
“…Hmm.”
It wasn’t quite a yes or a no.
Aizen’s face turned uneasy.
I smiled reassuringly.
Then the next day, I went straight to Duke Kalrad’s mansion.
Sorry, darling. I’m not someone who gives up easily.
I checked the teas and oils I brought and knocked on the gate.
A gentlemanly old butler appeared and politely refused my visit.
“I’m sorry, Madam, but unless you have an appointment, you cannot enter the ducal estate.”
“Really? Then I’d like to make one. Please ask when I could meet him.”
“Unfortunately, the Duke’s schedule is full for the next three months.”
“It’s urgent. Can’t I please see him now? I have something important to say.”
“My apologies, Viscountess, but perhaps another time.”
With a kind smile, the old butler closed the iron gate right in front of me.
Hmm, as expected, it wouldn’t be easy.
“But as we say in Korea—if you strike the tree ten times, it’ll fall eventually.”
So I came back the next day. And the day after that. And the one after that.
No matter how much Greta or Aizen tried to stop me, I didn’t care.
If I was going to lose 100 gold, I’d at least give it everything I had.
After seeing me come every day, the old butler finally asked awkwardly,
“Madam, how long do you plan to continue visiting?”
“Until the Duke leaves the house. I only need five minutes of his time.”
I wasn’t trying to waste anyone’s time.
If he was going out anyway, he could just listen to me on the way.
“By the way, the Duke must be quite introverted. He never comes out.”
A homebody, maybe? He’d definitely test as an I on the MBTI.
The old butler gave a troubled smile and stepped back.
After standing for hours, my legs ached, but I stayed persistent.
About a week later…
At last, Duke Kalrad opened the door and came out.
