IOBTML 32

‘Whether that man is handsome or not doesn’t matter. Once the snow stops, I need to send him on his way.’

Penelope had no intention of harboring the seeds of disaster that could potentially bring about an enormous calamity.

‘Should I send Ahwin away too while I’m at it? No, why would I send Ahwin away?’

She had paid Ahwin his contract fee fair and square, and as long as he didn’t reveal his identity, she could just feign ignorance. In fact, she intended to get the most out of him while she could.

Besides, Penelope had grown surprisingly fond of Ahwin in the time they had worked together.

“Are you serious?”

Ahwin asked, looking as though he had just heard the sky was falling.

Penelope silently shrugged. No matter how she answered, it felt like the truth would come spilling out, so she chose to keep her mouth shut.

Clicking his tongue, Ahwin said, “Let’s drop this topic. It’s not worth discussing any further.”

“You think so too, don’t you, Ahwin?”

Penelope responded as if she had been waiting for this moment and resumed eating her soup with a spoon.

Ahwin ground his teeth and stared at Penelope intently, so persistently that it began to feel unsettling.

Through the curtain of his hair, his pale green eyes glinted with a sharp, piercing light.

***

Fortunately, the installation of the ondol heating system within the castle was proceeding smoothly.

Currently, the work on the retainers’ offices and meeting rooms was underway. Once that was completed, the system would be extended to the servants’ quarters.

“You’re a lifesaver, my lady!”

“Absolutely, a true savior!”

Every time the servants encountered Penelope, their eyes sparkled with gratitude as they thanked her for making the winter so much warmer.

Meanwhile, Lianel continued to live and sleep in Penelope’s office.

The floor was so warm that refusing her hospitality felt impossible.

Spreading a blanket over the floor provided a level of comfort unmatched by any bed.

“How could the lord choose to sleep on the floor instead of a proper bed!”

Initially opposed to Lianel’s decision to reside in the office, his knights eventually resigned themselves to silently standing guard at the door when they saw how comfortable he appeared.

Perhaps due to the warm environment, Lianel’s feverish cold quickly improved.

His recovery could be attributed to his young and healthy body—or possibly the devoted care of the maids.

The maids were so enthusiastic about tending to Lianel that they set up shifts to ensure he was well looked after.

On days when his handsome face broke into a smile, the maid on duty would walk around beaming all day. Not to be outdone, the other maids poured equal dedication into their care for him.

Once his fever subsided, Lianel’s first priority was to send a letter back to his domain.

He knew the territory would manage the winter perfectly fine without him, so his letter merely served as a brief acknowledgment of his survival.

While Lianel focused on recovering, Penelope had been conducting her work from the reception room.

It was inconvenient not having separate spaces for work and rest, but she couldn’t bring herself to evict a sick man. For now, she simply endured.

Knock, knock.

A knock suddenly came from the door leading to the office.

“Yes?”

“May I come in?”

“Yes, please do.”

Moments later, Lianel opened the door and entered the reception room.

Since Penelope’s reception room and office were connected by a door, all it took for Lianel to approach her was a simple knock.

This is uncomfortable. Why did I let him stay in the office?

What annoyed her even more was Lianel’s nonchalant attitude.

If his cold is better, shouldn’t he return to the guest room?

Despite her inner thoughts, Penelope smiled politely at him. She couldn’t afford to show her discomfort in front of a high-ranking noble like the Northern Grand Duke.

“I hope I’m not disturbing your work.”

“Not at all. I was just about to take a break. Please, have a seat. I’ll have some tea brought in.”

Penelope swiftly tidied up the papers on her desk and took a seat on the sofa. Lianel sat across from her.

At the pull of a bell cord, Giselle promptly entered the room. She bowed politely, though she couldn’t help lingering a little longer as she directed her bow toward Lianel.

“Could you prepare some tea and refreshments?”

“I’ll bring them right away.”

Giselle answered with a bright smile.

Soon, she returned with two servings of herbal tea and scones.

Penelope muttered under her breath, her tone tinged with dissatisfaction.

“Giselle, I’d prefer coffee.”

“You said too much coffee keeps you awake at night, my lady. You already had some this morning, so no more for today.”

“One cup won’t hurt.”

“No, ma’am. What if you end up looking like Master Ahwin, with shadows under your eyes? It would make you look dull.”

“…Fine.”

Penelope reluctantly gave in, and Giselle nodded as if it were only natural.

After a moment of hesitation, Giselle carefully broached another topic.

“By the way, the heating installation in the meeting room seems to be complete. Have you seen it?”

“Ah, I’ll have the servants move into the meeting room from now on. I’ll inform the steward, so make sure everyone knows.”

At Penelope’s response, Giselle’s face lit up.

“Really? That’s wonderful news! Sharing the gardener’s house with the knights was quite uncomfortable. Even with proper quarters available, they still insisted on squeezing into the house at night!”

Having experienced the comfort of a heated ondol room, the knights no longer wanted to sleep on the cold beds of their barracks.

Once they’d felt the warmth of the floor beneath them, there was no going back.

Even Lianel, though almost fully recovered, refused to leave the ondol-heated office for the guest room.

It seemed that anyone who experienced an ondol room couldn’t go back to enduring the chill.

On the other hand, the knights in Lianel’s retinue, who hadn’t had the luxury of trying an ondol room, had managed to adapt to the guest accommodations.

“We’ll let the knights use the gardener’s house now. Everyone should be a bit more comfortable that way.”

“That sounds wonderful. I’ll let everyone know.”

With Penelope’s permission, Giselle happily dashed out of the reception room, her expression filled with joy.

She was clearly delighted by the prospect of improved conditions for the servants’ quarters after the meeting room was finished.

Penelope couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. This was entirely her own accomplishment.

Not only was her life improving, but so were the lives of those around her. She couldn’t ask for anything more satisfying.

Lianel chuckled softly. Their conversation seemed to have amused him.

“Oh, my apologies,” Penelope said, snapping back to reality. She had been so absorbed in her conversation with Giselle that she had completely forgotten about Lianel’s presence.

Lianel often watched her like that—quietly, with an intensity she couldn’t quite interpret. It felt more like observation than simple interest.

What is that look? Why is he suddenly paying attention to me?

Penelope kept her frustration to herself, unable to express it outwardly.

In a way entirely different from Ahwin, Lianel made her uneasy.

As Lianel sipped his tea with graceful composure, he spoke.

“I didn’t realize you were so fond of coffee.”

“Well, it’s just… a little indulgence of mine,” Penelope admitted, her response more sincere than she had intended. She recalled how delighted she had been to receive coffee in this world, a cherished relic from her previous life.

Lianel made a request.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, may I join you for coffee during your morning tea time? It’s been far too long since I last had a proper cup.”

No.

She almost said it aloud.

Penelope pressed her lips shut, swallowing her words.

This man makes me uncomfortable. I have no idea what he’s thinking, and that’s exactly why.

The peaceful winter mornings in the warm reception room, savoring coffee and gazing out the window without any interruptions—those moments were precious to her.

Now this clueless duke seemed intent on intruding on that happiness.

“I can have a servant prepare some coffee for you,” she replied flatly.

The implication was clear: enjoy it alone.

Lianel widened his eyes briefly, then covered his mouth with his hand, stifling a laugh.

How unexpected.

Penelope, surprisingly, had moments of unfiltered honesty. She didn’t come across as a typical noblewoman. Perhaps that was why the Mage Tower Master seemed so fond of her.

Meanwhile, Penelope had her own thoughts.

When a handsome man smiles gently, it’s like light radiates everywhere.

He really does look like someone straight out of a novel.

His glossy black hair, usually swept back, now fell over his forehead.

Sharp black eyes, a high nose bridge, and crimson lips—all in perfect harmony—made him appear almost otherworldly.

Broad shoulders, a slim yet muscular frame, and long legs completed the picture.

He was exactly as the original novel had described.