“Ah, you’ve come such a long way! Thank you for your trouble!”
Just then, someone came running out of a shabby hut.
It was a middle-aged man with a thin mustache and a wiry frame.
Hestia smiled warmly and gave a slight bow.
“I’m Hestia Frost, the newly appointed guardian of the Winston Duchy. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Baron Sears.”
Baron Sears, the owner of the abandoned mine up for auction.
His poverty was evident in his clothing, which, despite being his best, still reflected his dire circumstances.
“So, you’re the new ruler of the southern lands.”
“I wouldn’t say ruler, just a guardian. Please be mindful of your words, as it could cause misunderstandings.”
“Oh, my apologies. I suppose I got nervous, knowing you came from the Winston Duchy.”
“…Baron Sears, don’t you remember me?”
“Pardon? Have we met before…?”
Baron Sears seemed flustered but quickly tried to recall.
‘The guardian of Winston is an important guest! I can’t afford to make a mistake!’
The mine he had put up for auction hadn’t garnered any interest. He was worried about losing even the auction registration fee when the Winston Duchy expressed interest in inspecting it.
This might be his last chance to make something out of nothing.
“About seven years ago, I came here to purchase raw gemstones myself.”
“Seven years ago…?”
“Yes. I would’ve been about 11 years old then, so it’s understandable you don’t remember. But what’s my last name?”
“Frost… Oh!”
“Now do you remember?”
“Yes! Yes, I do! My, how you’ve grown, little lady!”
The two exchanged greetings like old acquaintances meeting after a long time, and the knights watching from a distance were a bit surprised.
“…So she can be like that too? Do they know each other?”
“No idea. I’ve only ever seen her cold and distant.”
“They seem pretty close, huh?”
Within the Winston Duchy, Hestia’s reputation was that of a strict and sharp guardian. She was always composed, strict about keeping things professional, and quick to point out any mistakes or oversights. She wasn’t unfair, but she was certainly a tough superior.
As the knights whispered about this new side of her, one knight silently watched her.
“I never imagined that our paths would cross again like this,” said Hestia.
“Nor did I. The gemstones from this mine have always been the finest, in my opinion. Our craftsmen in Byron always regretted not being able to obtain more.”
After exchanging pleasantries, their conversation turned casual.
“Haha… Back then, we were still able to extract some gems, but now there’s nothing left,” Baron Sears admitted, laughing awkwardly. But his smile quickly faded as he returned to the gravity of his situation.
“Still, this mine has boundless potential! While I’m forced to put it up for sale, with Winston’s capital and technology, I’m sure you’ll be able to dig deeper and uncover more valuable minerals!”
“Yes, I’m planning to do just that. Would you mind showing me around?”
“Of course! Give me just a moment to prepare.”
Baron Sears hurried off somewhere, leaving Hestia and her knights behind.
He approached one of the miners and began shouting orders. The difference between how gentle he had been with Hestia and how he was acting now was striking.
‘That must be his true nature.’
While the public thought the Sears family’s situation had gotten worse, there was a deeper truth hidden beneath the surface.
Even with their problems, nobles were still nobles.
It was unusual for a family like that to crumble overnight.
In fact, even in Hestia’s past life, she had dealt with many schemes and traps, but it took her ten years to be slowly destroyed.
Only seven years ago, the Sears family had been quite wealthy, owning this very mine. The gemstones extracted from it were of exceptional quality and size, bolstering the baron’s finances.
So, what had happened that left him in such a state?
‘Gambling addiction.’
Baron Sears was a notorious gambling addict. Like most gamblers, he had initially enjoyed some success, but as time went on, he began to lose more and more, eventually squandering his family’s entire fortune.
For months, the Baron convinced himself that he could win back what he had lost, and he continued to gamble. Before long, he had lost all his savings, and then everything else.
‘He still hasn’t quit, I’m sure of it.’
The dark circles under his eyes and the bloodshot gaze gave it away—classic symptoms of a gambling addict.
“Hestia!”
A cheerful voice called out from behind, and Leonhard came running, clutching Hestia’s waist.
He was already drenched in sweat, probably from running around too much. Smiling, Hestia took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead.
“Did you enjoy looking around?”
“Yep! But I couldn’t go inside the mine.”
“We’ll be going inside now. It’s dangerous to go alone, so stay close to me.”
“Okay! But it seems like no one’s working here. I saw the miners, but they didn’t look like they were doing anything.”
“It’s a closed mine. There’s nothing left to mine, so they’re probably just cleaning up.”
“Oh. But didn’t you say you’re going to buy it?”
“Yes, we’re still going to take a look inside.”
“But why buy it if there’s nothing left?”
“Well…”
Before Hestia could answer, Baron Sears returned.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!”
He wasn’t alone this time; beside him stood an elderly man with white hair. Despite his age, the old man had a solid, muscular build that made him look stronger than most younger men.
“I thought it’d be best to have someone who knows the mine well to guide us. This is…”
“Gus. I’ve been a miner here for over 40 years,” the elderly man introduced himself.
Before Sears Baron could finish speaking, Gus interrupted.
Sears Baron was clearly irritated, but Gus didn’t care at all. Instead, he shot Hestia an annoyed look, sizing her up from head to toe.
“Who’d want to buy this place? Turns out it’s just a snot-nosed kid.”
“How dare you! Do you even know who this person is…?!”
“If you’re thinking about buying this mine on a whim, you should quit now. This isn’t some playground for children.”
“Gus!”
Despite Sears Baron’s attempt to stop him, Gus remained stubborn. Usually, when nobles get upset, commoners tend to back down or get scared, but Gus didn’t seem phased at all.
People like him fall into two categories: either they’re ignorant or incredibly stubborn.
And Hestia had already dealt with her fair share of the stubborn ones.
With a slight smirk, she looked at Gus, who didn’t flinch even with Sears Baron glaring at him.
“You’re right, I’m just a kid. At 18, I’m nothing but a newborn compared to someone like you, who looks like they’re well past 60, huh?”
One of Gus’ eyebrows shot up, and Sears Baron stood there speechless, stunned by the words coming from a noble lady.
“And by the way, I haven’t said I’m buying this mine yet.”
“La..Lady Frost…!”
“I’m gonna take a good look around first and then decide. So, just do your job. Since mining’s stopped already, there’s no problem showing me around, right?”
The miners had long lost their jobs because Sears Baron couldn’t afford to keep them. Whether they were here packing up or simply couldn’t bring themselves to leave, it was hard to say. But at least with Gus, it was clear he couldn’t let go of the mine.
‘He’s got the same look in his eyes as the old craftsmen back at Byron.’
That fierce, unyielding gaze of a master, someone who wouldn’t compromise their craft, no matter how bad the situation.
A master isn’t just someone famous for creating things. It’s someone who, through deep understanding, knowledge, and experience, devotes themselves to their work with love. If they have that, it doesn’t matter what field they’re in. They’re a master.
Though Gus’ words seemed laced with mockery, Hestia could sense his deep resentment. He was sick of the mine being controlled by nobles, and he had too much pride and love for his work to hide it.
‘He’s just like those craftsmen back in Byron who are incredibly proud of their work and love it too much to let it go.’
Gus studied Hestia, who wasn’t intimidated or upset, even after his harsh words.
‘A strange kid.’
But at least she was better than that slimy Sears Baron, who was nervously fidgeting beside them.
“…You’re not wrong. So, what do you want to know?”
“First, I want to see how far the mine’s been dug. I’ve never been inside a mine before, so I’d like to take a proper look.”
“In those clothes?”
Hestia glanced down at her outfit. It was much simpler than the dresses she usually wore.
“I put on something I thought was easier to move around in… Is it not enough?”
“Once you go in there, you’ll be covered head to toe in dust. You should wear proper work clothes. Unless, of course, you’re fine with ruining that outfit.”
“I’m okay with it, but what about you, young master?”
“I’m fine! Daisy picked out something comfortable for me, knowing we’d be visiting the mine.”
“See?”
“…Alright, then. But if you start whining about sore feet or getting tired, we’re turning back. Got it?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
“I’m good at walking!”
Seeing Hestia’s confident smirk and Leonhard’s cheerful grin, Gus didn’t know how to respond for a moment.
Eventually, with a sigh, he turned and led the way. The two of them, along with their guards, followed closely behind.
Sears Baron terrified that Hestia might get offended and leave, quickly caught up to her side.
“I’m really sorry about that. No matter how many times I’ve scolded him, he just won’t change… Should I call for someone else?”
“No, it’s fine. I think Gus will do just fine. Besides, I think we’ll be taking our time here, so you can stay outside and wait.”
“Huh? But…”
“I’m sure you’ve got things to take care of, Baron. Go handle your business.”
Sears Baron hesitated, scratching his head as he watched the group disappear into the mine.
