When she looked confused, the little golem became excited and started chattering about everything it had learned while she was asleep.
<Andy-on said so. Since you gave birth to me, you’re like my mom. He said I have to listen to my mom.>
“—Andy-on did?”
<So I cleaned! It’s all clean now!>
At the golem’s words, she looked around and realized she was indeed in the chamber of the castle lord—the place she had ordered to be cleaned before she passed out.
Karia was lying on the bed, though the sheets and cushions were gone, leaving only the frame and hard base.
The room was just as she had ordered: spiderwebs and dust were cleared, and nothing more.
Shivering from the chill, she looked to the window, which had been thrown wide open—evidently, her ventilation command had also been followed. Though old and broken furniture remained, the room wasn’t quite the disaster she had feared.
<Are you happy? Happy it’s clean?>
“Well, yeah. At least the dust is gone.”
Karia reluctantly replied in a lukewarm voice, but the golem bounced around the room joyfully.
“Seems like you’re the one who’s happier than me.”
<Mom is smiling, so I’m happy! I’m gonna clean more!>
Even without further commands, the golem scurried around the room, poking into every corner. After each task, it kept glancing back at her, clearly expecting praise.
Karia couldn’t hold back a sudden laugh. This wasn’t a golem—it was more like a puppy wagging its tail for approval.
Yes, it had been unreasonable to expect a newborn golem to behave like Andy-on. It might be a failure as a golem, but it was still adorably charming in its own way.
“Mom, huh…”
<Master, are you awake?>
As she leaned back on the bed watching the little golem fondly, Andy-on’s voice came through the window. He leaned in through the open frame to check on her.
Thinking of how he had somehow communicated with a being that couldn’t even speak his language while she was unconscious, Karia felt both admiration and pity.
“You must’ve worked hard, Andy-on.”
<Not at all. I’d do anything for you, Master…>
<What about me?>
Just as she and Andy-on began speaking, the mini golem ran up to them.
Expecting praise, it tilted its head for a pat, but when she obliged, it shook its head roughly in protest.
<That’s not it. Andy-on is Andy-on, and you’re Mom… So what am I? What do I call myself?>
“You mean… a name?”
The golem’s eyes sparkled. Karia fell into thought. Naming things wasn’t her strength.
Golems usually disappeared after completing their tasks, so there was never a need to give them names.
Andy-on was named only because he had to interact with guests as the castle’s guardian—and his name had been the most common one at the time.
So Karia struggled to find a reason to name this one.
“A name…”
But not everything in life needs a reason. It wasn’t hard, and the little golem had made a sincere effort. A reward seemed fair.
She sighed deeply while gazing at the golem, then finally snapped her fingers and spoke.
“Alice.”
<Alice?>
“It’s the name of a curious girl. It suits you perfectly.”
A girl so curious she followed a rabbit she’d never seen before, ate food offered by strangers, and stirred up chaos in a foreign land.
Karia chuckled to herself at the perfect match—this wild little creature in front of her.
She didn’t consider that Alice was now a century-old classic, and anyone given that name in its heyday was probably an old lady by now.
<Alice, Alice… Yeah! I’m Alice!>
The mini golem—Alice—leapt into the air with glee, humming a little tune. The pitch and rhythm were awful, but her joy was undeniable.
Alice’s happiness made Karia feel lighter too.
Yes, up until she left the Rubaltberhi castle that evening, Karia had been in a great mood.
“You’ve lost your mind, haven’t you.”
At least, until she returned to the Pandeon mansion and came face-to-face with the rigid old duchess.
“How dare a duchess stay out all night without so much as a word? Do you want to be thrown out?”
“My, what a warm welcome, Grand Madam.”
“You uncultured thing. Still can’t tell when a joke is inappropriate?”
Karia lifted her head and looked straight into the eyes of the Pandeon duchess. In her memories, the woman had been terrifying—but now?
Looking directly at her, Karia saw her clearly: an aged, frail woman. Her threats rang hollow, her voice sharp but powerless.
“I used to live in fear of… this?”
The duchess always wore her collar high, lifting her chin with a haughty air. She was constantly bragging about Pandeon’s glorious lineage and its many great figures.
Sure, someone who had served the family for over 30 years had every right to be proud.
But the real problem was how she always belittled Karia in comparison.
She’d never let her forget she was a bastard of uncertain origin, claiming Karia was no better than the lowborn and lacked any manners.
“My poor son, forced to marry the likes of you. If not for the royal order, such a ridiculous marriage would never have happened. You should be grateful and obedient.”
Her constant attacks were all rooted in one thing: control.
“You’re lucky to be duchess, but don’t get any ideas. That role is far too grand for someone like you. Don’t you dare try to wield power in this house.”
The duchess had tormented her for years out of fear that the young lady of the house might seize control. All for a measly scrap of authority Karia had never even wanted.
Watching her try to maintain her dignity with little gestures and stiff posture, Karia could only scoff.
“What did you just say?”
“Oh dear. Was I talking out loud?”
Karia had no intention of hiding her feelings anymore, and she smiled sweetly. The duchess’s face twisted with fury.
Once, she would’ve bowed immediately at such an expression. But now, she knew better.
Pandeon could never cast her out.
She wore a mountain of gold around her neck—and it was only thanks to that wealth the dukedom hadn’t already collapsed.
If they divorced, Pandeon would lose all royal and grand-ducal support, both direct and indirect.
And the duchy couldn’t survive without that support. The Pandeon territory was harsh, its winters long and its income low. It was no place for building wealth.
If the family had been financially secure, they would never have agreed to this unwanted marriage in the first place.
“You asked why I stayed out all night? I was feeling stiff after lying down so long, so I went for a short walk. It just ran late. As for not informing anyone—well, everyone seemed so busy ignoring a duchess who woke up after five days.”
“What did you just say?”
“I heard Pandeon’s motto was ‘Do it yourself’? So I tried to follow suit as the lady of the house.”
She beamed. The duchess’s fury was palpable. How dare someone who’d always bowed her head suddenly stand tall?
Her voice rose so high it echoed off the front hall ceiling.
“You dare say that looking like that?! You think I’m playing games here?! Oh, ancestors! What cursed fool brought that low-born idiot into this house!”
“There’s no need to be so ashamed, Grand Madam. I only married into this house because your predecessors squandered your fortune and the previous Duke mismanaged finances. It’s hardly your fault.”
“What?!”
SLAP!
The sharp sound of flesh hitting flesh rang out.
Everyone froze. The servants held their breath, shrinking back. The maids clicked their tongues quietly—knew that was coming.
“Say that again.”
“Ha… You dare hit me now?”
“What’s with those insolent eyes?!”
Her mouth stung and filled with the metallic taste of blood, but Karia calmly spit it onto the floor.
She was supposed to fall silent after being hit. Instead, she glared at the duchess, her red eyes blazing.
The duchess instinctively flinched.
Did she hit her head falling down those stairs?
Embarrassed by her brief fear, the duchess raised her hand again. But this time, Karia didn’t stay still.
“You… Let go of me!”
“Can’t do that.”
Before the hand could reach her, Karia grabbed the duchess’s wrist and gripped it tightly, as if she might crush it.
She didn’t actually have the strength to break bones—but the pressure alone sent the old woman reeling.
Panicked, the duchess called out for help.
“Steward! Steward! Call the knights, now!”
