Two days had passed since Susanna last visited the backyard of the manor. The area had undergone a significant transformation; the dense shrubs and untamed growth were gone, leaving behind a smooth, freshly turned earth.
Susanna felt satisfied as she stood, surveying the clean expanse. A determined gleam sparkled in her eyes as she grabbed a shovel and divided the ground into smaller pots. Each plot was to serve as a testing ground for different herbs.
With practised ease, she loosened the soil, turning it over, perfect for planting. Her movements were methodical as she selected the seeds from her collection, carefully planting them. The rhythmic sound of her breaths and the occasional drip of sweat from her brow was a testament to her effort. As she planted the last seed, she made sure to water each plot thoroughly, nourishing the tiny seeds she had entrusted to the soil.
When the work was finally complete, Susanna was exhausted. Her body ached as though she had run a marathon, and her clothes were damp with sweat. She stepped back inside the manor, seeking solace in a long, refreshing bath. The warm water enveloped her, soothing her aching muscles and easing the fatigue of her labours.
After her bath, Susanna sat in her room, savouring a moment of tranquillity while sipping her tea slowly. The stresses of her recent tasks seemed to fade away.
A knocking sound echoed in the room.
"Come in," she stated.
"Milady," came Edward's voice with a curt bow.
She responded with a gentle hum of acknowledgement.
"I have arranged everything the lady requested," Edward said, his tone measured and professional.
Susanna's eyes widened in surprise. "This fast?" she blurted out without thinking. The steward's lips curled into a smile.
"So you do know how to smile!" she remarked. "I thought you had some facial disability!" Her comment was received by a chuckle from him.
Edward's demeanour shifted, his face once again becoming the impassive mask Susanna was accustomed to. Her brow furrowed in confusion. "What did you find out?" she asked, redirecting the conversation.
"James Lamar," Edward began, "is a gambler. He has no employment and relies on handouts from his wife and daughters. His neighbours hold him in low regard due to numerous fights he's had with them and his family."
Susanna's heart went out to Emilia even more than she considered the depth of Emilia's fear. It was not difficult to understand why Emilia lived in constant unease; with a stepfather like hers, fear would no doubt be a constant companion.
"Throw him into the dungeons," Susanna ordered with a steely resolve.
Edward raised an eyebrow, a hint of concern in his voice. "Did he do something to your ladyship?"
"No," Susanna replied sharply. "He mistreated a friend of mine, and I must punish him in her stead." Her voice trembled slightly with suppressed anger. Her body felt a peculiar reaction, a sensation she dismissed as mere exhaustion.
"What about the other matter?" she inquired, shifting the topic.
"Regarding the Azalea Sanatorium," Edward said, "I have sent a letter to the principal using the duke's eagle for expedited delivery. It should reach him within a week to ten days."
Susanna nodded thoughtfully, her brow furrowed in contemplation. In her technologically advanced world, resolving such matters was as simple as making a quick call or sending a message. The nature of communication there made the slower, more traditional methods in this place feel both inefficient and bothering.
Edward excused himself, leaving Susanna alone with her thoughts. She felt a nagging sense that she was overlooking something important, but what it was frustrated her.
As days passed, Susanna stared at her new life, waking each morning in luxurious surroundings enveloped by expensive possessions. It was a life she could hardly believe she was living.
Every day, as she awoke in her new reality, it felt as though she had stepped into a dream. The vibrant colours, the surreal experiences, and the overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity left her feeling as though she had slipped into an alternate universe.
Though it was not completely wrong, since she had transmigrated.
She often wondered if this fantastical existence would fade, leaving her stranded in her former reality once again. The mere thought of this filled her with waves of anxiety that threatened to overwhelm her.
Despite her fear, she knew that she had to make the most of her extraordinary situation.
She understood that becoming too comfortable with this enchanting life might lead to laziness, hindering her ability to adapt and thrive once she returned to her world. However, she wanted to be lazy!
After freshening up, she made her way to the backyard. To her delight, the herbs she had planted were sprouting with surprising speed.
She didn't expect the backyard to have magical power! Didn't they say the duke's territory was bare? Susanna asked the steward who confirmed her previous thoughts, but the reality was the opposite.
Pondering for a while, since she had no answer, she shrugged the thought and checked the herbs. Some of the seeds, which should have taken weeks to germinate, had already begun to show signs of harvest. Susanna wondered whether the powers might have influenced the rapid growth. Inspired, she decided to expand the planting area to accommodate more crops.
Later, Susanna headed to the training ground to learn martial arts. After her experience working in the field, she realized that her body was not as resilient as she had hoped, so she wanted to strengthen her body.
Moreover, she might as well be strong enough to save her life if it was possible.
Upon entering the training hall, she encountered Edward engaged in conversation with a burly man, the same one she had seen a few days ago.
The man's imposing presence made Edward seem almost childlike by comparison. His tanned skin, rough features, and the scar running from his left brow to his cheek gave him a menacing appearance.
The man noticed Susanna and approached her. She felt a lump form in her throat but maintained her composure, meeting his gaze steadily.
"So, the duchess wants to learn martial arts?" the man mocked, his tone dripping with coldness. "Why? do you want to murder the one who annoyed you?" he added with sarcasm.
Susanna kept watching the man shocked by his words.
"Cedric! Apologize to the duchess!" Edward snapped from behind, his voice laced with anger. "She is the duke's wife, and you should show her respect."
Susanna recognized the name Cedric from the novel she had read. He was a character who had sacrificed himself for the duke and had met a tragic end at the hands of the first prince.
"You respecting her is enough. Don't you know she is a—"
"ENOUGH!" Edward bellowed, cutting off Cedric's words. The shout seemed to reverberate through the training ground, causing the ground beneath Susanna's feet to tremble slightly. The atmosphere grew thick with tension as the two men glared at each other.
"Stop, you two," Susanna intervened, stepping between them. Instantly, the oppressive atmosphere lifted, and the men's expressions shifted to bewilderment. "I only asked for someone to help me learn how to fight. If you're unwilling, I'll find someone else."
Cedric's eyes met Susanna's with a mixture of surprise and begrudging respect. "I will train you, but you must first endure a five-minute fight with me," he declared.