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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Mount Hua Sect's Lady
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Charlotte let out a long sigh and flopped onto the bed, splaying her arms and legs out wide.
Turning her head to gaze out the window, she saw the sun still shining brightly.
'So much has happened... I thought hours must have passed by now.'
She slowly scanned her room, taking it all in.
For a room in the illustrious Setia Ducal House, it was pathetically shabby.
Even Dohwa, who had never lived in luxury back in the martial world, could see that much.
Mount Hua Sect's Lotus Peak had grown quite prosperous over the years for a place inhabited by Daoists devoted to cultivating martial prowess. As their influence expanded, merchants came and went more frequently, and the grounds became ever more lavish.
Silks, jade ornaments, mother-of-pearl furniture, hairpins...
Luxuries abounded.
Of course, the world in this novel looked nothing like the martial realm she had known—different clothes, hair colors, everything. So naturally, the furnishings would differ too.
'But anyone with eyes couldn't look at this and think it's the youngest daughter's room in the house of a Minor House Lord.'
She circled her gaze around the drafty attic space and let out a wry chuckle.
The opulent decorations of the corridors and rooms she'd passed on her way up here were nowhere to be seen in Charlotte's quarters. Not a single proper picture frame hung on the walls.
The only decoration was a massive sword she could never wield properly.
'This isn't even a joke.'
She twisted her lips and surveyed the room further.
Her dresses and accessories were valuable enough, but that was it.
Running her finger along the table, it came away thick with dust.
No doubt the maids ignored her too.
'How badly mistreated has she been?'
Charlotte had been treated like she didn't exist ever since it became clear she lacked the talent that bloomed in the Setia Ducal House's heirs. That was why they called her a side character—an illegitimate half-breed.
'They treat her this harshly just for lacking talent... Is it any wonder Charlotte turned twisted and troublesome?'
She shrugged and looked around the room some more.
As expected, there was nothing but a wooden practice sword shoved in the corner and a single training uniform. No decent blade or weapon in sight.
She was lost in thought, wondering how to improve this situation, when...
Knock knock knock.
"Come in."
Three maids entered at her response.
Two brought in her meal, while the shortest and youngest-looking one approached Charlotte to straighten her clothes.
"The physician said there's nothing wrong anywhere, right? How did you fall into the water? Are you cold anywhere now?"
Charlotte stared blankly at the maid speaking so gently to her.
The girl, with her soft brown hair tied back in a short ponytail, looked at her with eyes that didn't feel unfamiliar.
"What's wrong, Lady Charlotte?"
Charlotte gazed up at her intently.
"What's your name?"
"Pardon?"
"Your name."
"Oh, it's... Betty. What's the matter?"
'Ah, Betty.'
With one eye, Charlotte watched the other two maids perfunctorily greet her—if it could be called that—hurriedly finish setting the meal and leave without sincerity. She nodded inwardly.
Betty was her nanny.
Probably the only one in this house who truly cared about Charlotte.
'But Charlotte never treated Betty well, not once.'
Charlotte blinked slowly, taking in Betty's appearance.
She knew all too well how people treated you when you had nothing to offer.
It was natural to be ignored when your skills were lacking. Even when they improved, envy could push someone to shove you off a mountaintop.
In the midst of all that, if someone stuck by you and cherished you to the end, that was truly precious.
Charlotte grasped Betty's hand firmly.
"Betty."
"Yes?"
"This isn't repaying a debt I owe, but I'll make it up to you somehow."
"...Pardon?"
"I'll even get you a feast. Just wait a bit."
Betty's eyes went wide.
"...Pardon? What?"
A feast?
When Charlotte herself lived in such neglect.
Betty was more bewildered than moved by Charlotte's disjointed words, simply staring at her young lady in confusion.
As Charlotte reached for her hand, Betty instinctively flinched back.
Instead of forcing it, Charlotte sighed deeply.
"And from now on, I won't treat you harshly."
"...What do you...?"
"I'll improve your conditions as much as I can, and cover your father's medicine costs too."
Betty had assumed Charlotte—who treated her servants like mere stones—didn't even know her father existed.
Betty froze in shock, but Charlotte had already moved on, signaling the end of her words as she pulled the meal tray closer and lifted the lids on the dishes.
Too flustered to attend to her, Betty just stood there blankly, watching her lady.
Lady Charlotte was always anxious around others, desperate not to be outshone. On days she met the House Lord or Minor House Lord, she'd spend the whole day moping, shut away in her wardrobe.
And lately, after meeting her playmates, she'd return seething with resentment and take it out on the servants.
Betty had endured her tantrums multiple times—cushions and pillows flying everywhere, sprawling on the floor screaming without moving. It was practically routine.
But today was utterly strange.
Even after meeting the Minor House Lord, she seemed in high spirits... speaking so softly, like she was addressing an equal.
"How do I eat this?"
"...Pardon?"
Seeing Charlotte point at the stir-fried vegetables, Betty startled and sat beside her.
"You're going to eat this?"
"Yeah. Why not?"
"You hate vegetables so much usually..."
Charlotte gave her a small smile, as if to say not to talk nonsense.
"The foundation of training is healthy food. Nutrients keep your organs working smoothly, build quality muscle, and aid external martial arts practice, right?"
"...External martial arts?"
"Martial arts. You know, fighting techniques."
Charlotte spoke as if Betty should know, then speared a piece of cooked eggplant with her fork and popped it into her mouth.
Betty's mind flashed to the Minor House Lord suddenly summoning physicians.
'...Good heavens. When he said Lady Charlotte was acting like a different person and to examine her, I just thought he'd gotten angry at her again...'
As Betty gaped, Charlotte next lifted a cooked tomato to her mouth. She even chewed it thoroughly.
Still too shocked to close her mouth, Betty felt Charlotte glance her way and suddenly pick up an asparagus spear, stuffing it into Betty's mouth.
"...Me?!"
"Can't eat alone."
"I-It's okay, you eat it."
"Really?"
"Of course, you're the lady."
"Hmm. But that feels awkward to me. And food tastes bad alone."
In the martial world, there was no hierarchy by profession.
Even wanderers of the rivers and lakes couldn't survive on swordplay alone. Chefs, craftsmen, builders—they all supported them.
No one treated a lowly servant or errand boy as disposable.
Respect for those attending you was a given.
After all, protecting and honoring the weak was the bedrock of a martial artist's way.
'And having endured contempt myself... I want to treat precious people with the care they deserve.'
But to Betty, this was just bewildering.
'Maybe it's some new form of torment.'
As Betty attended her warily, Charlotte barely finished her meal before nodding off to sleep, head drooping.
Betty smiled softly, looking down at her.
'Of course. She's only nine. No one can be all bad. She just hasn't known love until now. I always knew she had good sides.'
Seeing her treat me so kindly made her look so peaceful and beautiful today—like a different person.
Even though it was the same face as always.
Dismissing her odd thoughts, Betty stopped scrutinizing Charlotte's features and gently lifted her lady, laying her down in bed.
Late that night.
Waking in the dead of night, Charlotte stared at the unfamiliar ceiling of her room, recalling the day's events.
A long illness ending in death. Meeting the Reaper of Souls. Gaining new life.
The suicide attempt, met only with mockery from the children.
Meeting Joseph, enduring an unimaginable miserable childhood.
And the encounter with her utterly useless father.
"...No one warned me about a life like this."
Charlotte grumbled belatedly at the Reaper of Souls as she sat up.
She hadn't asked for a grand life, but every time she remembered her status as a disposable side character who could be cast out anytime, a hollow laugh escaped her.
She stretched her arms wide.
Staring at the empty ceiling, Joseph's face kept floating into her mind.
The face of a child with nowhere to turn.
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