TWRO 29

Chapter 29

With the arrival of new employees, the mansion gradually began to transform.

The rotting wooden floors were being replaced, cobwebs had been cleared away, and repairs on the roof had finally begun.

Though it wasn’t perfectly restored yet, the progress was visible day by day.

“You seem to be in a good mood lately, Miss.”

“I heard some good news.”

“What is it?”

Sophie’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

The elixir from Herace sparkled just the same in my hands.

“Regarding the ingredients for the medicine, including the evening primrose you mentioned—essential components indeed—we’ve arranged for a private garden to ensure a stable supply. Though the clinical trials are complete, I hear you wish to test the medicine yourself. I can only imagine what your health has been like until now. Please take care of yourself.”

According to Herace, the medicine I had invested in and helped develop was finally nearing completion.

To someone else, it might seem like just another medicine—but to me, it was everything.

“It’s a secret.”

“Then promise me—when it’s no longer a secret, I’ll be the first to know.”

“Of course. Don’t worry. By the way, how’s Marie? She didn’t look well yesterday.”

“It’s hard to expect her to get much better. I’m more worried about Will. With his grandmother—his only guardian—so sick, he must be struggling.”

Will’s anxious eyes came to mind.

Watching shadows fall over a child’s face is always a difficult thing.

I, too, spent a childhood riddled with anxiety—unsettled by not knowing who I truly was and the constant unease of being a burden to the family because of my memory loss.

“If things get worse, I’ll help.”

“Miss, that child has nothing to do with you. You don’t have to take responsibility for every unfortunate soul in the world.”

Sophie’s voice was gentle but firm.

“Just like with Eva. I think you trusted her too easily. That precious scarf…”

Even if she didn’t know it was a gift from the Crown Prince, it was clear from its sheen alone that it was a luxury item.

Sophie was concerned that I had given something so valuable to Eva without hesitation. She thought I trusted people too easily.

“It’s fine. More importantly, we really need to find someone soon…”

I still hadn’t hired a fencing instructor or a steward for Sir Aiden.

Despite my efforts, it was hard to find the right candidates—both roles were quite specialized.

Sigh…

Just thinking about it made my head throb again.

Back when I lived with the Estarion family, my headaches hadn’t been this frequent.

I must have grown weaker after everything I went through.

My body and spirit were both worn thin.

Still, I couldn’t just lie in bed and rest. Pushing forward helped keep my mind steady.

I pulled Herace’s elixir from the drawer and took the recommended dose.

Sophie watched with curiosity and asked:

“What’s that?”

“A restorative tonic.”

“Then please take more. You need all the help you can get, Miss.”

As the migraine eased, I took Sophie outside with me.

With lessons finished, it was time to inspect how the mansion’s cleaning was coming along.

“Sophie, you check inside. I’ll go inspect the exterior.”

“It’s still quite chilly—wouldn’t it be better to stay indoors?”

“I just want a breath of fresh air.”

I walked around the back of the mansion to see if the graffiti on the outer wall had been removed.

“…What is that?”

What I found behind the mansion made me frown deeply.

“Mr. Jackson. Drinking on the job is prohibited, isn’t it?”

Jackson, one of the newly hired servants, was crouched in a corner, sipping from a bottle.

He was big and muscular—strong enough to lift heavy objects with ease.

“Oh, it’s our tutor, isn’t it?”

His face was flushed with drink as he staggered to his feet.

He tried to hide the bottle behind him, but it was too late. I’d already seen everything.

More baffling was the fact that he was drinking in broad daylight—before the sun had even set.

“Where did you get that alcohol?”

“There’s a wine cellar in the basement. I… borrowed a bottle.”

“That’s called stealing.”

“Come on, we’re all hired help here. Can’t we just pretend we didn’t see it?”

“I may be staff, but I’m also your supervisor. I can’t overlook it. You’ve only been working here for a week, and there’s a mountain of work left.”

“Well, it’s a hard job. A man needs a little something to keep going.”

Jackson chuckled under his breath, clearly drunk.

I had to swallow my frustration.

“The graffiti’s still there, and it looks like no one’s even started cleaning the chimney.”

“So, you’re firing me?”

“If it comes to that. Finish everything by the end of today. And let this be a warning—drink on the job again, and you’re gone. Immediately.”

To be honest, I wanted to fire him on the spot. But the mansion still needed manpower.

“Yes, yes. Thank you for the warning, Supervisor.”

Though his tone was sarcastic, he bowed politely—a gesture that seemed more habitual than respectful.

As I headed back, I felt my headache vanish, even amidst the stress.

That was when I heard it.

“Hurry up and clean this already!”

The voice came through the open window—Ginny, one of the maids.

I stopped just beneath it. From where she stood, she couldn’t see me.

“That’s your job…”

“Come on, Becky. What are friends for? You help each other out, right? Isn’t that what friendship’s about—supporting each other when things are tough?”

“You could just do it yourself.”

Unlike Ginny’s pushy tone, Becky’s voice was timid.

“I had trouble sleeping last night. I’m too tired to work. You know I have insomnia, right?”

“I didn’t sleep well either—”

“And the neighbor’s baby cried all night. I couldn’t get a wink of rest.”

“…”

“So please clean the windows for me. And the floors, too, if you could. Thanks!”

Her footsteps moved away.

Before she could disappear completely, I stepped up to the window and called out:

“Ginny. And Becky.”

Becky turned pale as she saw me.

“M-Miss Selena…”

“Miss Selena—I thought you were resting in the study.”

“What perfect timing, Ginny. Don’t you think? Now, the two of you—we need to talk.”

Personal conflicts between employees weren’t my business.

But when those conflicts interfered with their duties—that was a different story.

“Th-There’s no need!”

“From what I just heard, you were pushing your work onto Becky. And that is my business.”

“You must’ve misheard.”

“This isn’t your concern. You’re our tutor, not our employer.”

“But I am your supervisor. Ginny, care to explain why you were ordering Becky around?”

“I wasn’t ordering—just helping each other out, that’s all.”

Her dismissive tone made my blood boil.

I remembered Siena, who had mocked me.

And I remembered how I had knelt in front of her, powerless.

“Do you think I’m stupid? Or just a fool you can laugh at? You think I can’t tell the difference between helping and bullying?”

Ginnie muttered with a startled expression.

“Then stop right there.”
I took a step forward, staring straight at her.

“Don’t ever speak down to someone while calling it friendship. That’s not camaraderie. That’s exploitation.”

Ginnie opened her mouth as if to say something, but no excuse could justify her behavior.

“You’re not here to make friends or enemies. You’re here to work. And I expect everyone to treat each other with the minimum respect due to a colleague.”

“I understand…”

“From now on, don’t force your responsibilities onto others. And Becky—”
I turned to her, who still looked shaken.

“If something like this happens again, don’t just stay quiet. Speak up. You’re not alone anymore.”

Becky bit her lip and nodded.

“Good. Now, both of you, return to your tasks.”

“Yes, Miss Selena.”
“…Yes.”

They walked off, and only then did I release the breath I was holding.

The house was changing, slowly but surely.
But it wasn’t just the house—it was also me.

I was changing too.

No longer the girl who had to silently endure.
No longer the child who had no choice but to bow her head.

Now, I could speak. I could stand my ground.
And protect others, even if just a little.

Just like I wished someone had done for me once.