YHBMF CH 07

Chapter 7 – “An Offer, a Letter, and a Dream”

A week passed.

At first, I thought: What difference could Level 1 make?
Turns out—quite a lot.

For the first time, the mansion actually looked like somewhere people lived.

‘Wow. No roach poison, no magic exterminator—and not a single cockroach left in a week. Amazing.’

Even the walls, once covered in mold, were spotless.
After years of living in dingy rooms, sleeping under moldy ceilings, and treating cockroaches like roommates, I was dying to know what kind of miracle magic they used.

And it wasn’t just the house that improved.

Cossine, one of the new hires, came in one morning with a pile of papers.

“If we submit this to the Royal Office, we can receive a confidential support grant—5,000 gold per month.”

“There’s something like that? Why didn’t I know?”

“It’s a special arrangement I have through my connections. Other noble houses can’t access it.”

It wasn’t much, but enough to keep us from starving for now.

And then came the sounds of hammering, sawing, and repairs echoing through the halls.

“All done here, my lady! Whew—looks like this place hasn’t had maintenance in nearly ten years. If it rained this summer, the mansion would’ve collapsed. Good thing we fixed it before you got crushed to death.”

That cheerful voice belonged to Integral, the engineer. His words, however, were not cheerful. Apparently, I’d been living in a death trap.

But now, with people bustling around and life returning to the estate, it finally felt like a home again.

Scar, looking energized, made a suggestion.

“My lady, now that things are better, why not change up the menu? We can’t live on greens forever! I could roast some meat—”

“No!”

I yelled so loudly even I flinched.

“No. We can’t afford that!”

“But we have money now! We can loosen the budget just a little—”

“No means no!”

“Are you… on a diet? You shouldn’t just eat salad. You’ll get sick.”

Scar wasn’t wrong—but he also wasn’t right.

I needed to save every coin I could.
Every bit of frugality meant more points in the magical ledger—and those points could change the family’s fate.

If I started splurging now…

‘I’d be a broke beggar for life.’

My stomach growled miserably, but I had to stay strong.

“You can eat properly. But I’ll have the same as always—plain vegetables, no dressing.”

“My lady, you really can afford a little more now—”

“Ever heard of ‘reuse, reduce, recycle’? Save it, share it, stretch it, and reuse it. Same applies to money.”

“…You’re incredible. Truly, a master cheapskate.”

“I prefer ‘money maniac.’ I’m obsessed with cash.”

“Then I’m an ‘Ami-maniac.’ As in, Ami-sae. A lady-maniac.”

“Want me to show you what real crazy looks like? Come here. I’ll kiss your cheek.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll just go work now.”

Scar ran off immediately.

As soon as he left, I pulled the spoon from my pocket.

“Hey, Pola, did I earn any points?”

<Just one. But you can’t spend it until next month.>

“Ugh, stingy system.”

<Oh, right. To mine the rare metal you want, you’ll need to reach Mine Level 3.>

“What? That’s ridiculous!”

<Too bad. Stingy fairies have spoken.>

“Hey! Don’t sulk, you glowing teaspoon!”

I tossed the spoon to the floor in frustration—but quickly picked it back up and wiped it clean.
It was my money-making lifeline, after all.

Then I sat down and wrote a letter.

[If the engagement we once discussed still stands, I wish to proceed with it. As this promise was made before God, I hope you will consider it favorably.]

Polite words—thinly veiled threat.
In short: You don’t want your family name dragged through the mud, right? Then let’s talk.

Even after sending it, my heart pounded. He could still ignore me.

‘I have no idea what that man is thinking…’

Cartiman Asser—the Duke of the North.
Silent, unpredictable, commanding one of the strongest armies in the kingdom.
The perfect image of a cold, distant northern noble.

They said he hadn’t always been like that—he’d once been social, even warm.
Then something happened a few years ago, and he became the icy man everyone feared.

‘What could’ve caused that?’

No clue.

According to rumors, the original Aileen Dante had loved him desperately, writing letter after letter, even when he never replied or visited.
Apparently, he ignored every one of them.

So information about him was scarce.

‘Whatever. It’s not like I care.’

This was just a contract marriage.
I wasn’t planning on any romance.

Ideally, we’d each do our part, stay out of each other’s business, and separate cleanly after a year.

He’d probably prefer it that way too.

Then I remembered what he’d said the last time we met:

“You used to be a quiet, graceful woman. The kind who cried over a single stain on her dress.”

Clearly, his type was the fragile, delicate sort.
And I? I was not that. Sitting still made my skin itch.

‘Good thing we’ll only be stuck together for a year.’

I just hoped he’d say yes—because if not, my next plan involved holding Scar’s hand and finding a construction job.

***

Meanwhile…

Tangent, the new head maid, was a highly capable woman.

Born an illegitimate daughter of a count, she’d never inherited wealth—but she’d received a noble’s education.
Through sheer competence, she’d become one of the most sought-after maids in the capital.

Until recently.

“I’ve done this job for twenty years, and they pay me five thousand gold a month? What a joke.”

Most servants didn’t even make a thousand, so it was a decent salary—but for someone of Tangent’s skill, it felt insulting.

She’d been planning to quit and retire quietly…
until she had a dream.

In that dream, her deceased grandmother appeared.

“Tangent. Listen to me.”
“G-Grandma?”
“You mustn’t retire yet. There’s one last thing you must do.”
“What is it?”
“Go to the Dante Marquisate.”
“That’s where you used to work!”
“Yes. Go there—and work for free. Then something wonderful will happen in your next life.”

“For free?” Tangent had protested.

“What good is that? Why would I volunteer to be a slave?”
“Because if you do, you’ll marry a handsome, blond man who’s kind, cooks well, and works hard.”
“Are you joking, Grandma?”

The ghost broke into a nervous sweat.

“Go to the Dante Marquisate.”
“Fine! I’m going!”

Grandma’s face brightened immediately.

“Phew… thank goodness. We did it, Marquis. Debt paid.”
“What?”
“Nothing! Now wake up and get moving!”

Tangent woke up feeling half-confused, half-inspired.
Surely this was divine guidance.

So she packed her bags and went straight to the Dante estate—only to find dozens of other well-known workers had done the same.

‘Wait… did everyone have the same dream?’

Before she could make sense of it, the butler appeared. Behind him stood a young lady with calm eyes.

“Please, come in,” Scar said.

He showed them to their rooms, and even though it was still dawn, Tangent didn’t rest.
She requested an audience with her new employer immediately.

And when she finally met Aileen Dante…

‘So the rumors were wrong.’

The gossip about Lady Aileen painted her as a fool—weak, scatterbrained, rejected at her own debutante ball.

But in person, she was nothing like that.
Pale, yes—but her eyes were sharp and full of life.
Even the way she crossed her legs radiated composure.
She reminded Tangent of her grandmother, who’d scolded her daily with “Save money! Work hard!”

Tangent instantly thought, She’s a good woman.

Then Aileen opened her mouth.

“I’ll say this once more. I have no money. I can’t pay you. If you came here to negotiate your salary, you can leave.”

…Okay, maybe not such a good woman.

Aileen’s expression hardened.

“I can’t raise your pay. I can’t even afford my own meals! Call me a tyrant if you want—it’s still better than being called ‘the poor noble!’”

“Ahem… I didn’t come for money. I came because I believe working here will bring rewards greater than gold.”

Aileen’s look clearly said, Yeah right. There’s nothing money can’t buy.
But Tangent just smiled politely.

“Anyway, sorry for arriving so early. I just thought it’d be best to start right away. May I inspect the household?”

“Of course! Eager workers are a blessing. Let’s do great things together.”

She was definitely… a bit odd. But Tangent had a good feeling.

“…Just to be clear,” Aileen added, narrowing her eyes. “You really agreed to work for free, right? No backing out later?”