HSDTVM| Chapter 9

Episode 9

Illia wished she could stay at the Duke’s house for a long time, a really long time.

And Riheel had learned at a very young age from his father how to tame cute animals like squirrels.

Illia opened her eyes groggily.

“Huh? You’re awake… Did you take your medicine?”

“… Illia.”

“Huh?”

“Do you want some acorns? Do you like acorns?”

Illia blinked in surprise at the sudden question.

Acorns… Acorn jelly… She liked them.

Illia yawned and nodded.

“Yeah, I like them.”

“Well, that’s good.”

Riheel smiled with a much better expression than the day before, his face a little more mature than other boys his age.

From that day on, Illia’s room was stocked with her favorite snacks, fluffy blankets, and cushions. The room was always kept at the right temperature, and delicious meals and soft clothes were provided.

Without realizing it, Illia became addicted to the comfort of the Duke’s house.

Illia closed Riheel’s door and stepped out.

She had checked that Riheel had taken his medicine and promised to eat lunch together if he wasn’t too sleepy. It was actually Illia who was running late, so she hurriedly ran out.

“Oh? Head Maid!”

“Madam, you’re up?”

“Huh?”

Why was everyone so calm?

“What about Lord Norman? I’m late for our meeting…”

“Oh, Lord Norman had to leave for an urgent matter today. He’ll be back soon. You’re not late at all. In fact, he asked me to tell you he’s sorry for being late.”

The head maid smiled brightly.

Illia nodded, relieved that she wasn’t late.

She felt a little proud.

Not knowing what the head maid was thinking, Illia gathered her thoughts again.

‘Today, I need to bring up the topic of Rutana.’

Illia couldn’t do everything alone. She needed Norman’s help to protect the Duke’s family. One thing she had to discuss was Rutana.

Later, Rutana would be called “the god’s crop.” It was a business that the female protagonist, Lizienne, started after discovering it.

‘Sorry, but I’m a little in a rush…’

It wouldn’t matter when Lizienne came here anyway.

Illia nodded with determination. She could do this. She was ready.

‘Okay.’

Illia turned to the head maid.

“Let’s go now!”

“I’m ready!”

Illia clenched her fists excitedly, making the head maid smile softly. It was a secret that the head maid found it adorable.

Illia’s proposal to Norman was to use the potential of Rutana.

Rutana was a common crop found in both rural paths and the city. But if processed in a special way, it could be something extraordinary.

Rutana would be the most powerful crop in this kingdom with its long winters.

“Are you saying we can make something like this from Rutana? What should we call it…? It’s going to be an amazing crop, Madam, replacing wool.”

“Hmm… How about calling it cotton?”

Illia smiled brightly, her chubby cheeks puffing up adorably.

In the real world, cotton comes from cotton plants. But here, it was Rutana. Lizienne had suggested keeping the name “Rutana,” but Illia thought “cotton” was easier to say.

“Wow…”

Norman gasped in surprise. How did Illia know such amazing information? And cotton? The name was simple enough that it would sell well in the market.

“Right now, wool is too heavy and expensive. With this, we could make blankets and clothes. We could even make winter clothes for the knights.”

What had Lizienne done again?

And in the real world, what had she made and sold?

Illia thought for a moment and continued slowly.

“Oh, and we could use cotton to make winter bags. Gloves would be good too. Hmm… If we compress the cotton in layers, we could make even warmer blankets. And they’d be light.”

“Impressive! Madam! Really impressive!”

Norman clapped in amazement.

Illia’s white cheeks turned pink. She shyly lowered her head as Norman melted with admiration. How could someone be so cute, lovable, beautiful, capable, and perfect?

“It’s… nothing.”

Illia answered awkwardly.

Actually, this idea came from Lizienne, the author of the novel, and the real-world cotton process. It was Illia’s job to apply it, but she had always been humble. So, this new version of Illia was still shy.

“It’s not nothing! Where did you come up with such a brilliant idea? Rutana has never been noticed before. But with the method you mentioned, we can make Rutana the best crop!”

“Oh… you just need to read a lot of books.”

What excuse could she come up with now?

Illia murmured, unaware that she looked like a squirrel storing acorns in her cheeks. Norman looked at her with a pleased expression. Even if Illia had made a deal with the devil to learn these things…

‘I’ll sell my soul and get it back!’

So, he was ready to accept whatever Illia said with an open heart. Of course, Norman wasn’t the only one thinking this way.

The head maid, the butler, and even the maids who volunteered to care for Illia all shared the same sentiment.

Illia’s tea cup was always full, and the snack plate was always stacked with treats, ready for her to eat anytime.

Illia munched on a cookie the size of her palm. It melted in her mouth, and it tasted so good that she couldn’t stop eating more. But the head maid had strictly told her not to eat more than three cookies a day, so she was trying to savor them slowly. Illia followed the rules to maintain their favor.

Illia spoke while nibbling on the cookie.

“Oh! I’ve heard a lot of stories too. I’ve thought about what people might need.”

And also…

Lizienne had learned how to process Rutana from ancient books in the novel. The processing of Rutana had been practiced long before the Crownheart family, but it was an ancient method that people had forgotten.

Back in the day, there was no market for processed Rutana, nor the capital to keep the business running. Illia aimed to develop it and make it Crownheart’s.

“It was a book called ‘The World’s Additional Crops.’ It mentioned the processing method, and maybe we could add more processing to it and get a patent?”

“That’s possible.”

Norman was nearly in tears. When only two young children remained in the Duke’s family, he thought it was about to collapse. But after Illia came, everything changed. Illia had so many keys to lift the Duke’s family.

And Rutana was one of them.

If they could sell Rutana and fund the Duke’s family, they’d survive until the children grew up.

“I’m glad I could help.”

Illia chewed on the last cookie with a sad face. It was times like this that she wished she were an adult. She kept fiddling with the cookie plate, wishing for just one more.

The maids sighed with pity as they watched Illia.

Maybe one more wouldn’t hurt?

The head maid and the maids exchanged glances, thinking the same thing. Illia wasn’t eating enough, and if she ate too many snacks, it would affect her main meals, so they had restricted her snacks. It wasn’t because they disliked her.

A 12-year-old girl needed enough nutrition.

But sometimes, exceptions could be made, right?

“Would you like one more, Madam?”

“Really?”

Illia’s violet eyes sparkled. Which 12-year-old could be this sweet, cute, and charming? Everyone wanted to brag about their adorable Madam. How could anyone be as adorable as Illia?

It was a shame that they couldn’t show her off.

So, the Duke’s household eagerly awaited the day Illia would debut in high society. They planned to dress her up as the perfect lady.

The head maid nodded.

“Of course. The chef made too many, so there’s some left.”

“Wow! In that case, I’ll have one more!”

As Illia chewed her cookie again, everyone tilted their heads in unison, watching her with loving eyes. The cookies melted in her mouth, and it was too cute.