"Ugh… my head hurts…"
Liya held her head and slowly climbed up from the bed.
How much did she drink yesterday? She felt like part of her memory had vanished.
In a daze, Liya could only remember eight empty cups placed on the table.
So her limit was eight cups? For her first time drinking, her alcohol tolerance shouldn't be considered too bad, right?
Thinking this, Liya sat up from the bed.
She shook her head, easing the dizziness a little.
She was wearing the pajamas the maids must have changed her into, and Liya didn't bother thinking about how exactly she got back yesterday.
After all, with Cocotte by her side, that fourth-tier mage definitely wouldn't leave her drunk and unattended.
Thinking that, she stood up and pulled the curtains.
Less than five minutes later, Liya opened the curtains and walked out.
By now she had changed into a different outfit, returning to the appearance of a sharp, capable merchant.
She tugged at her collar, revealing her fair neck and delicate collarbones, along with a pair of bright, expressive eyes.
Liya looked at herself in the mirror and nodded.
"Mhm, not bad."
She didn't like having maids do her makeup and tidying.
It was slow, and often didn't meet her strict standards.
After all, Viktor was a head of the family who paid absolutely no attention to house affairs.
That arduous task fell on Liya's shoulders.
Even if in name Liya wasn't the head of the family, in reality, everyone knew she was the true mistress of the Clavenna family.
Unless she married elsewhere.
So Liya always had to maintain her most perfect, most beautiful appearance.
Her appearance represented the face of the Clavenna family.
Once everything was in order, Liya's complexion glowed. The light makeup concealed her slight fatigue and restored her earlier strong, confident aura.
Liya walked out of her room. As usual, the maid waiting outside handed her the financial report. Liya read it while walking and signed her name at the same time.
While eating breakfast at the dining table, Liya asked again, "Anything else happening over at the territory?"
The maid bent down slightly and slowly explained, "Mr. Halnarsen has taken in some more homeless 'children.'"
Liya nodded, quickly finished her simple breakfast, and dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
Then she said, "Those old enough, let Leon and the others take them for training."
"Yes."
Standing back up, she headed toward the office, with the maid jogging behind her.
"Miss Liya, the shipment from the territory needs your inspection."
———
"Miss Liya, this is the profit report from the item shop from a few days ago."
———
"Miss Liya, the mining operations have stalled somewhat lately. Many workers are dissatisfied with their treatment."
"If they're dissatisfied, let Leon and the others go over there. Have them talk to the workers. I want to see what they think they have the right to be dissatisfied about."
"Yes."
———
Soon, the morning passed amidst tedious work.
Only when the sun had risen to the middle of the sky and begun to descend did Liya finally have her own time.
She rolled her aching shoulders to relax them a little.
The exhausting labor of the entire morning left her feeling extremely tired.
But there was no helping it, the entire machine known as "Clavenna" could never run without Liya, the operator who controlled it.
Anything that could be done personally, Liya tried her best to do herself, even though she now almost never returned to the territory.
Of course, that only made things more tiring. After all, messages going back and forth could easily miss the best time for judgment.
She could only rely on her own experience to make the most suitable decisions.
Even so, Liya still didn't really feel like going back.
She didn't even know why.
Liya sat on the rocking chair, lying back, stretching out a hand, turning it over as she studied the gloves she wore.
The gloves fit her perfectly, and the six differently colored stones on them shone brilliantly under the sunlight.
Not every magic stone was priceless, but finely crafted ones like these that could perfectly store and cast magic, each one was worth a million Geo on the market.
She didn't know how Viktor had done it, fixing the stored magical power completely into the gloves.
Making them hold the magic without releasing it, and the magic inside the stones wouldn't dissipate.
Because of that, the price of these gloves could easily multiply several times.
But to Liya, no matter how much money someone offered, she wouldn't sell them.
This was the first gift Viktor had ever given her. To Liya, it was priceless.
After all, "This is what Viktor owed me over the years."
"Miss Liya."
Under the sunlight, the maid's silhouette appeared again in Liya's view.
Liya had been planning to take an afternoon nap, but hearing the maid's voice, she knew something was up again.
She sighed, just about to stand when the maid suddenly said, "This was sent by the royal family. They said it is to express their apology to you, and they hope you will accept it."
The maid handed her an especially luxurious gift box.
Under the afternoon sun, the gift box looked dazzling. The golden ribbon seemed to be woven from gold thread, and the outer shell of the box was painted with exquisite patterns, releasing a refreshing fragrance.
Liya blinked, then untied the ribbon and opened the box.
Inside, wrapped in a layer of golden silk, Liya lifted the silk away and stared curiously at the elegant pendant lying quietly at the bottom.
In the center of the pendant was an extremely large and gorgeous diamond jewel, surrounded by black gemstones with matching patterns.
Underneath the pendant, there seemed to be a handwritten letter.
———
[I am deeply sorry, Miss Liya Clavenna. I feel endless remorse for my rudeness.
[Although it was caused by Jace Lesser acting without permission and upsetting you, I also bear absolute responsibility.
I wish to express my highest respect to you. Please accept this gift as my apology.
—Albany Sol.]
———
Under the sunlight, the letter seemed to shine slightly. Liya let out a cold laugh.
"Tsk tsk, they all say this Crown Prince is a perfect man. Who knows how many girls he's hooked using this trick."
"Too bad I don't fall for this."
And the luxurious pendant looked incredibly valuable. Liya picked it up and tossed it directly to the maid beside her.
"This thing, find a mage to engrave some new magic arrays… Oh, never mind, we have one in our own house."
"Anyway, change its appearance and take it to auction later."
"When an idiot gives me money, why wouldn't I take it?"
After this, she didn't feel like napping anymore.
She stretched lazily, satisfied from having just made a big pile of Geo.
She really wanted to share this amusing matter with someone, and as for who... Liya already had someone in mind.
"Where's Viktor right now?"
"Miss Liya, the head of the family is in the garden."
'The garden?'
That was Cocotte's territory now, because only a lazy elf like her would choose to live in the garden.
Liya stood up and waved her hand.
"You may rest. I'll go myself."
———
"Y-You… don't come any closer!"
Cocotte clutched the cloud beneath her tightly and fearfully backed away. Half the cloud sank into the flowerbed, and she didn't even notice.
She looked so terrified, it was almost like an outsider would think she was about to be violated.
And Viktor was standing right in front of her.
Finally, Cocotte's voice rang out again, "I absolutely won't be your teaching assistant!"
"You can forget about making me work for you every day!"
Viktor looked at her and said calmly, "In a few days, it'll be the academy exam. I need your magic to construct some spatial areas."
Cocotte was a fourth-tier mage, with enough mana to open up some small spatial magic spaces.
And she was very skilled in space magic. After all, she originally learned it just to create a good sleeping environment.
Over time, she became more and more proficient.
"So what? If I become your assistant, doesn't that mean working for you every day?"
As soon as Cocotte finished speaking, a contract dropped in front of her.
Liya didn't know when she had appeared beside Viktor. Smiling with squinted eyes, she said, "Miss Cocotte, don't forget the contract you signed."
"According to the agreement, if the Clavenna family needs help, you are obligated to assist."
Cocotte's eyes widened.
"Wahh! What do you mean!"
But a contract was a contract. After signing that magical treaty, she couldn't go back on it.
Viktor added calmly, "Actually, you only need to work for me for a few days."
"After the exam, the academy goes on break. You'll have time to rest."
Cocotte blinked.
"Really?"
"Really."
She completely failed to notice Liya holding back laughter beside her. Like a bobbing drum doll, she nodded rapidly.
"You said it! After that, I won't have to work anymore!"
"If anything comes up later, just call me. I'm going to sleep!"
Cocotte felt the siblings definitely had bad intentions, but she was staying under their roof, so all she could do was resist silently by sleeping.
She sat back on her cloud and drifted away.
Completely unaware... That after the academy break… the academy reopens.
Which was exactly why Liya was holding back laughter.
Viktor turned and looked at Liya, "What is it?"
"Oh, right, this."
Liya took out the letter. A gust of wind lifted it, placing it in front of Viktor.
He scanned it quickly, and a flame burned the letter to ash.
"Don't bother with him."
His voice was calm, but it filled Liya with a deep sense of reassurance.
Since their family's mage lord said so, she naturally wouldn't care further.
The letter burned to ash and scattered in the air. Liya shrugged.
Just as she was about to turn around and leave, Viktor called out to her, "Drink less from now on."
"Eh?"
Liya was stunned by that remark, frozen in place.
A sweep of his coat passed before her eyes, Viktor had already turned away. Liya could only see his slowly receding back.
Under her gaze, it looked faintly dreamlike.
But Viktor's words still lingered in her ears.
"I won't always come pick you up."
"…"
Liya reached out and touched her face.
Her cheeks felt slightly warm.
She didn't even dare check a mirror. She lowered her head quickly, afraid others would see her current expression.
For some reason, she felt a little happy.
Liya seemed to understand why she didn't want to go back.