A man who seemed to be the manager appeared upon hearing the commotion.

The manager bowed to Wolfgang.

“Excuse me, Your Grace. What seems to be the matter?”

“How do you train your employees? How dare that woman here disrespect me!”

The manager’s expression hardened.

Then, a servant who had apparently offended Wolfgang stammered anxiously.

“Ah, no, no, Manager! I—”

“......”

“I-I was only asking if the others would be coming since only one of the four guests was present...!”

Ah.

‘I see what’s going on.’

Wolfgang used to be the loyal dog of Duke Chateaubriand.

But after the duke’s downfall, it seemed he was looking for another powerful backer.

‘None of them accepted the invitation.’

So, when asked, “Isn’t the other person coming?” he flew into a rage as if having a seizure.

Overwhelmed by inferiority.

The innocent servant was just venting her anger on the wrong person.

However, the manager glared at the servant.

“Hurry up and drag her out.”

“M-Manager! I was just following the training! Your Grace is picking a fight with me for no reason... screech!”

Even while being dragged away, she looked wronged and burst into tears.

And I clearly saw.

‘As expected, it’s a familiar face.’

I quietly stood up from my seat.

“I’m going to the restroom for a moment.”

Excusing myself, I stepped into the corridor and glanced around.

‘Which way did the servants go just now...?’

While looking around, I heard a voice from afar.

“I’m wronged! I really—”

‘There.’

I hurried toward the voice.

Someone was pushing the servant who had offended Wolfgang toward the back door.

“Where have you been putting your sense?! This isn’t the first time, damn it.”

“T-this time I’m really innocent, senpai! I really—!”

“Shut up. Stay out until Your Grace leaves!”

Bang!

The door slammed shut.

I hid behind a corner and waited for the man to leave before heading to the back door.

When I stepped outside, the servant was crouched by the door, quietly sobbing.

I asked in a stunned voice.

“What on earth are you doing here?”

“...Huh?”

Immediately, the servant’s eyes widened.

I sighed deeply and said.

“Masa.”

That’s right.

This servant was Masa, the younger sibling of Mari, and the very child I suspected might be the original owner of Dalia’s body.

It was Masa.

Masa flinched and lifted her head.

“Y-Your Ladyship, what are you doing here...?”

“I came to eat. Why are you working here?”

“W-well, I got a job...”

“You’re being paid enough every month so you don’t have to work, aren’t you?”

“Y-yes! It’s more than enough, even. B-but with my sister’s medicine costs, I can’t waste anything...”

Apparently, she was short on living expenses because she was saving money for medicine.

I stared closely at Masa, her eyes and nose bright red.

“Alright, pack your things and come out.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll take you home.”

“My work isn’t finished yet... If I leave on my own, I’ll be fired.”

“You look like you’re going to be fired anyway.”

Masa’s face darkened.

“Do you really think so? The manager misunderstood me just because he trusted the noble’s words...”

‘That’s probably not the real reason.’

The manager dragging Masa out was likely just for show.

‘The real problem lies elsewhere. And it’s your fault.’

But it felt cruel to point that out to a kid who was already upset and crying.

I quickly looked away.

“Anyway, hurry up and come out. If you stay here, you’ll catch a cold—”

Just as I said that, the back door opened.

A girl about my height came out.

I was so surprised I shouted.

“Mari?!”

Mari, Masa’s older sister, appeared.

Mari narrowed her brows in surprise when she saw me.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to eat! Did you get a job here too?”

‘Mari shouldn’t be allowed inside the capital!’

Mari was probably the biological daughter of Uncle Grimyé.

While I could tolerate Masa, I didn’t want Mari, the biological daughter, to encounter Grimyé.

While I was thinking that, Mari shook her head.

“I just came to help Masa for a bit.”

“You don’t look well.”

“Thanks to the good doctor you introduced, I’m much better than before.”

I pressed my forehead.

‘What the hell is the guard doing?’

Two young girls living alone was dangerous.

Also, it was to prevent any possible contact with Grimyé beforehand.

‘But didn’t he report that the sisters had entered near Zone 1?’

That bastard...

While I ground my teeth, Mari said to Masa.

“You’re getting fired.”

“It’s not my fault... Ah, I need to explain to the manager again...!”

“It’s your fault.”

“No! I just asked the number of guests as I was trained! We have to know to prepare meals...!”

“The mistake was saying that in front of an excited, dumb noble.”

“...Huh?”

“If he’s already agitated, hearing that will just make him even more upset.”

“That’s...”

“You should calm him down as soon as possible to avoid disturbing other guests’ meals, but you just got him even more worked up without any tact.”

“...”

“Do you think anyone would keep a tactless person like you in a place like this?”

That’s right.

Instead of calming the guest, she just made the commotion worse.

Even I, as the manager, would see someone like Masa, who lacks tact, as a liability.

There are nobles more arrogant than Wolfgang among the great aristocrats.

‘But she said it so bluntly.’

Masa was already really upset.

As tears welled up again in Masa’s large eyes, Mari suddenly threw something.

Looking closely, it was a coat.

“Get ready to leave.”

“B-but I have to work today...”

“Don’t stay here and make a bigger fool of yourself.”

“...You don’t have to say it like that.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“It’s really cruel... When I’m so upset, can’t you at least comfort me...?”

“You need a clear message so you don’t make this mistake again. It’s for your own good.”

“I-I could have told you later...”

“Do you want to keep talking about this even after we get home?”

“Why do you always have to be so mean...?”

“Can’t you stop these pointless arguments?”

The sisters started fighting, so I awkwardly raised both hands.

“L-let’s calm down first, and talk about the rest at home...”

Just then, I heard a servant’s voice from inside the back door.

“Mari? Mari, where are you?”

Mari quickly went back inside.

I heard their conversation through the crack in the door.

“I’m here.”

“I was worried you had already left. Good.”

“What is it?”

“Are you really not going to keep working here?”

“......”

“Think carefully and get back to me. The manager said he’ll take good care of you.”

Masa, who overheard the conversation, looked extremely glum.

Her sister was being recognized, but she was the one getting chased away, so it was natural she’d be upset.

I glanced at Masa and said.

“Let’s go. I’ll tell the servant to take you home.”

“...Yes.”

“Alright.”

I sent a message to Han Jihyeok and left.

Peeking around the corner, I saw Masa hanging her head low.

That night.

Our family finished dinner and returned home.

As soon as I got back, I went upstairs to my room.

Han Jihyeok, who had taken the sisters home, was waiting outside my door.

“Come in.”

I entered with Han Jihyeok, locked the door, and glared at him.

“Anything to say?”

“...I have committed a grave sin.”

Han Jihyeok was the one who hired and managed the guards.

So the guards’ negligence in reporting was his responsibility too.

I frowned.

“What happened?”

“The sisters were quiet all along, so I let my guard down and neglected my duties.”

“You’re going to die for real?”

When I scowled, Han Jihyeok shut his eyes tightly and said.

“Please make it as painless as possible.”

Anyway...

I sighed deeply.

“Fire that guard immediately. Make sure nothing leaks out.”

“Understood.”

“Assign someone from Egritz as the new guard.”

“How about Luka? She’s competent and meticulous.”

“Fine.”

Han Jihyeok, who was taking notes, glanced at me.

“But about those sisters... It seems they’re looking for work elsewhere too, not just in that restaurant.”

“......”

“Wouldn’t it be better for them to move somewhere else? What if they run into Grimyé while in the capital?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“The story changed, so I don’t know when Dalia will possess her. I have to keep them within reach.”

This world makes the most special person the protagonist.

A girl possessed from another world.

Even a hidden daughter of the powerful Astra family.

‘She’ll become the protagonist as soon as she arrives.’

The protagonist buff is truly amazing.

It can turn a steel raven into a dragon and even boost blessings to level two.

‘Once the protagonist buff activates, she’ll meet Grimyé or her grandfather immediately.’

It happened in Possession.Dark.Hand too.

So I want to keep them close so I can respond immediately.

“But even if I give them more living expenses, they still want to work.”

“Why on earth?”

“Mari said, ‘Astra probably won’t take responsibility forever, so I have to settle down before then.’”

“Damn, that’s why smart kids are so hard to handle...”

If I promised to take responsibility forever, they’d get suspicious.

‘If their suspicion grows and they run away, that’d be trouble.’

I have to keep things smooth so that if Dalia comes, they won’t become enemies.

I sighed deeply and said.

“If that’s the case, it can’t be helped.”

“What?”

“I’d rather have them get jobs somewhere safe where even Grimyé can’t reach them if she comes looking.”

“Is there such a place?”

That’s why I cultivated so many connections.

I smiled slyly.

A few days later.

The sisters arrived at the place where Erilot had arranged to meet them.

Masa glanced at Mari.

Sitting and reading a book, her sister somehow looked refined.

“Why?”

Mari, eyes fixed on her book, asked.

“No reason.”

“You’ve been looking at me like that lately. Tell me why; it’s bothering me.”

“......”

Mari slammed the book shut and glared at Masa.

“Don’t be annoying.”

“...Since moving here, I think my sister has changed a bit.”

Before, no one liked Mari.

She was always causing terrible trouble.

She snapped at her younger sister, who worked herself to the bone for her medicine.

She shouted and even threw things.

Mari said with a blank expression.

“Maybe she’s less sensitive now because she’s healthier.”

“Even at the restaurant where I worked, people liked you more...”

Even more than me.

Originally, adults tended to adore me.

But here, they liked Masa better.

The restaurant was short on clerical help, so they introduced Masa, who was quick and accurate with calculations, and asked her to keep working.

‘I got fired, yet...’

The rich neighbors near our house liked Mari too.

That area was safe and inhabited by wealthy people who weren’t nobles.

The residents said ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) she was ‘cultured and intelligent’ and found her cute.

“How do you know such calculations? You even talk seriously with the wealthy adults.”

“I could only read books since I was stuck at home.”

“...”

“What do you want to say?”

“No, it’s nothing...”

Just then, a commotion started around us.

People walking on the street stopped and murmured.

Some children gasped, “Wow!”

“The Western Wonhwa! Mother, it’s the Western Wonhwa! Lady Erilot Astra!”

“Oh my, what’s she doing on this street? Should I talk to her? What do you think, big brother?!”

Erilot got off the carriage and was looking around.

Masa looked surprised and stared at Erilot.

‘It’s Ladyship. But was she always this famous?’

Our hometown was a quiet village far from the capital.

Even here, she rarely went outside.

So Masa didn’t know much about Erilot’s fame.

Erilot spotted the sisters and started walking over.

“You should have waited inside.”

Mari answered casually.

“Who would pay to eat in such an expensive place?”

“You don’t think she’d make you pay?”

“You never know.”

“Tch.”

Erilot chuckled at Mari’s words.

Meanwhile, people around were quietly whispering.

“Who might those young ladies with the Western Wonhwa be?”

“I don’t know, but surely they must be daughters of some powerful family? They seem close enough to ‘that Countess Astra’.”

“Well, they do look quite friendly. Those close to the Western Wonhwa are usually girls from powerful families like Biferi, Paangte, or Trang...”

Masa perked up and shyly smiled, listening to the murmurs around.

‘Do they see me as a noble lady...?’

She bowed her head and fiddled with her hands, causing Mari to frown.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“Let’s go. Erilot said she wants to introduce someone to you.”

Masa’s eyes went wide.

Introduce?

Who?