"Oh my, look over there. It's the Duchess."
"Who is that, the noble Duchess?" The maids, gathered in groups of twos and threes, whispered to each other. The Duchess of Vattenberg was walking down the hallway without a single maid in attendance.
Chloe, the Duchess, didn't even bat an eye when she heard their voices. The giggling maids spoke loudly enough for her to hear as she approached them.
"Let's get out of the way so we don't block the hall." Then one of them burst out laughing and ran away. The others followed, shouting to the one lagging behind; "Ellie, what are you doing? Run!"
If it were the old Chloe, she would have thought of calling after the disappearing maids, "Hey, over there. Can you get me some water?"
She would have tried to stop them with the same words she always did, but now Chloe knew it was pointless. It was meaningless. She would only end up providing them with more amusement.
Once the maids had disappeared, Chloe frowned and returned to her room. Even though it was clearly the Duchess's residence, the place was a mess.
It hadn't been cleaned properly, with dust on the dresser and the bed was still unmade since she had woken up that morning. The tulips in the vase on the table had long since turned yellow.
Chloe made her own bed.
"Now I have to put new flowers in the vase." These were chores the maids should have done. It was not something a Duchess, who already had a lot of work to do, should have to do.
Nevertheless, Chloe was thinking of getting flowers herself. She had long since become accustomed to this kind of life; a life ignored by maids and servants. Although she was a Duchess, she lived a life where she was not treated as one.
"It's been a few days already." Chloe sighed as she flipped through the calendar next to her nightstand. At first, the new world was confusing. She was surprised and angry at the attitudes of those around her, but eventually, she adapted.
"It's been a week actually."
Chloe drew a circle on the calendar. It indicated how many days had passed since falling into this world. Chloe put down the calendar, then buried her face in her hands.
This world was not her home. She had been born and raised in South Korea on Earth. This change had come out of nowhere. The name 'Chloe Vattenberg' belonged to a Duchess who was ostracized by the maids and servants.
"Ugh! What a crappy life!" Chloe— no, Park Ha-Jeong— found herself facing the biggest crisis of her 28-year life.
Park Ha-Jeong had lived her life only paying attention to what others thought of her. Like everyone else, she received 12 years of regular schooling and took the college entrance exam. She went to college based on her scores, then got a job on the accounting team of a company.
For 28 years, that was what Park Ha-Jeong feared most: doing something that attracted negative attention. So at her job, she worked hard to avoid being disliked. No matter what task her boss gave her, she did it quietly, without complaining.
It was always Park Ha-Jeong's fault when her greedy colleagues took on projects that were beyond their ability to handle and then failed to deliver. However, when Park Ha-Jeong completed work even outside of her working hours, the credit would go to her colleagues, who always received the projects.
She was confident in her abilities in her field. Her contribution to the company would have been enough to set up her own office, if not an entire building.
However, Park Ha-Jeong's efforts led to her being asked to resign. She was given a high-risk project with poor prospects that everyone had struggled with, as if it were a given. As always, she did her best, but it was beyond her ability.
The project failed miserably, causing the company to suffer huge losses. All the responsibility went entirely to Park Ha-Jeong. On the day she submitted her resignation, she cried in her studio apartment, cracking open several bottles of soju.
When she was tired from crying and fell asleep among the snack bags and liquor bottles that covered the floor, she found herself in a state between dreaming and wakefulness.
At that moment, she made a firm decision: she would no longer live worrying about what others thought of her. Then she opened her eyes and found herself here.
Chloe looked coldly at the basin in front of her. The maid had left it behind, claiming it was her wash water. She dipped the tip of her finger into it slightly. The water was as cold as ice. Of course, the water typically provided to nobles was lukewarm, just right for washing.
Chloe knew from previous experience that the maids had given her ice-cold water not to refresh her, but to mock her. She could almost hear them giggling beyond the wall.
Chloe furrowed her brow for a moment and then splashed the cold water on her face with a calm expression.
'At least it will wake me up.' She thought.
She dried her face with a towel, then combed her hair herself and got dressed. Normally, this would have been the maids' job, but Chloe's personal maids were likely lounging around somewhere today, as they often did.
Though she had fallen into this strange place, there was one fortunate thing. Chloe's, that is to say, the memories of the original owner of this body, were available Park Ha-Jeong. Thanks to this, she was able to quickly learn the lifestyle habits, ways, and manners of this world.
Chloe looked at herself in the full-length mirror. The clothes were difficult to put on alone, so the result wasn't perfect, but it was presentable enough— not so untidy that others would notice. Plus, Chloe was beautiful, so much so that her imperfect dressing didn't matter.
Her dark brown hair cascaded in waves down her back. With smooth, fair skin, large clear green eyes, and a beautifully curvy figure, she wasn't a peerless beauty, but she was certainly striking enough to turn heads.
Park Ha-Jeong had an average face for a Korean woman in her twenties, nothing more or less. But how happy she was to suddenly have such beauty. Still...
Chloe sighed.
'What's the use of being pretty?' she thought.
In her memories, the original Chloe had a personality that didn't match her beautiful appearance—no, that was putting it mildly. Chloe's original personality was enough to trigger Park Ha-Jeong's own traumas. Like Park Ha-Jeong, the original Chloe was excessively concerned with what others thought of her, but to an extreme degree.
The moment she saw Chloe's memories, Park Ha-Jeong realized that her own personality, which had led to her recommended resignation from the company she had devoted several years of her life to, was relatively ordinary by comparison.
Chloe was five times, no, twenty times more self-conscious than Park Ha-Jeong. All of her actions stemmed from a desire not to be disliked by others. She was servile and timid. Despite learning manners designed to boost confidence, her hunched shoulders and fearful eyes never improved.
As a result, none of her natural beauty and the cultural refinement she worked hard to develop as a noblewoman were all overshadowed by her lack of confidence.
Instead of being clear and decisive, she often muttered to herself, making her a subject of ridicule in social circles.
Like a person with no self-esteem, she obsessed over trends in taste and fashion, boasting about her supposed knowledge of popular hobbies like wine-tasting, only to be embarrassed when it was revealed that she knew nothing.
Her personality, which was formed because she did not want to be hated by others, paradoxically earned her only hatred and ridicule.
'She had so many natural charms, but none of them were put to good use. How pitiful.' Chloe thought as she looked at herself in the mirror. She tried to practice a bow, holding her skirts in both hands, as was typical of noble etiquette. A charming smile appeared on her pretty face.
Just then, she heard the sound of laughing women and footsteps outside the door, and suddenly, the door opened without a knock.
"I'm sorry, ma'am!" One of the maids said, though her attitude and expression showed no real remorse. "I was late because I had something to do… Oh my, you're already ready?"
Chloe observed them and thought; 'They must have been chatting somewhere and came in late.'
The original Chloe was a born noblewoman and had never dressed herself since she was young. If she had always been timid, she wouldn't have dreamed of getting ready on her own just because her maids were late, and would have been shivering, waiting endlessly in her nightgown. They must have come in expecting something like that.
Chloe crossed her arms and glanced at their faces before speaking. "Yes, I prepared myself today. But just because I can do it myself doesn't mean you can slack off."
The maids' faces instantly hardened at Chloe's confident attitude. Their expressions said it all. 'Why is she acting like this?'
Chloe was taken aback by how they looked at her. That was the face of someone who completely looked down on her, like a cat looking at a mouse, the same face as when someone feels infinitely superior.
Chloe— no, Park Ha-Jeong— had already seen that face before. It was the same expression her former employer and coworkers often made when they handed over their work to her.
"Make sure you come on time tomorrow, or there will be no forgiveness."
"Um… ma'am?" Among the women, the one standing in front spoke up. Chloe knew who she was. She was Lady Jean Colin, her head lady-in-waiting. "What is it, Colin?"
"You seem a little different than usual today." Lady Colin was clearly laughing, as if to say, 'What can you do?' It was the face of a cat that thought even the mouse's courage was a joke.
Lady Colin was unique among the staff.
She conspired with all of Chloe's direct maids to lie about the mealtime with the Duke and made Chloe wait for two hours. Disobeying orders, laughing, and making sarcastic comments were daily occurrences. Chloe was extremely angry at Lady Colin, even though these were not her own experiences but those of the original Chloe.
The worst offense was when Chloe's maids suddenly treated her well. They smiled kindly like ordinary maids, helped Chloe, and even spoke to her in a friendly way. Chloe was so happy about that. Alone in the duchy's residence, she was starved for human kindness and did not even think that the sudden change in circumstances was suspicious.
She just thought her direct maids had changed their minds. She clung to the maids and Lady Colin, craving their kindness and affection, only to be abandoned the next when the bullying started again.
Chloe knew from hearsay that it was all Colin's plan. She glared at Lady Colin, who had a sneer on her face.
"Colin."
"Yes."
"Come closer to me." Lady Colin flinched, as if she were going to disobey orders again, but she soon approached with a sneer on her face, curious about what Chloe would do.
Chloe looked at her for a moment, and then... She slapped her cheek as hard as she could.
Everyone except Chloe was shocked by the scene.
Colin, caught completely off guard, stumbled, and barely managed to regain her balance. She covered her cheek, which was red from Chloe's slap.
Her face was a picture of utter disbelief.
"It's none of your business whether I change or not. You are to follow my instructions no matter what."
Chloe placed her hands on her hips in a graceful motion.
"This is your punishment for neglecting your duties. I am punishing you, Colin, as my head lady-in-waiting. If you are late again, it will not end with just a slap. Do you understand me?"
Lady Colin, who had been completely stunned until then, opened her mouth like a fish gasping for air. It seemed her embarrassment rendered her speechless, and Chloe couldn't tell if Colin was complying with her instructions or rebelling.
Regardless, it didn't matter. Chloe firmly said,
"You may go now."
With that command, the maids departed, tugging Colin with them.
Once the door was completely closed, Chloe took a deep breath and let it out. She clenched her fists, and trembling slightly, silently punching the air.
'I did it!'
Park Ha-Jeong, who had spent 28 years worrying about what others thought, couldn't completely change her nature in just 8 days. Even though it was merely borrowing someone else's face, speaking assertively felt like a huge step forward.
It was.
'I think I sounded really impressive! Ah, I feel so refreshed!'
As someone living in the 21st century Republic of Korea, Chloe did not favor violence. In fact, she was someone who avoided it as much as possible.
For the first time in her life, hitting someone in the face was not a pleasant feeling. Despite the constraints on her power as a duchess, this was the only way she could think of to make a strong impression.
But even so, the pleasure she derived from watching the maids' stunned faces at Chloe's unexpected words was greater than the guilt of striking someone.
Although she had boasted that next time it wouldn't end with a slap, the truth was that even this was difficult for Chloe.
In this world, so similar to Europe on Earth, the roles of aristocratic couples were fixed. The husband handled external matters, while the wife managed internal affairs, such as overseeing the budget and supervising employees.
This was Chloe's responsibility, but unfortunately, her personality and aptitude did not suit the job at all.
The task of supervising the servants was soon transferred to the head Butler and head maid. After Chloe made several significant mistakes in managing the budget, the butler hired a financial expert and left her out of the task.
The duke, Chloe's husband, was unaware of these circumstances. Not wanting to be disliked by her husband, Chloe had gladly agreed to the butler's suggestion to keep it a secret from him.
Thus, Chloe found herself powerless to punish or fire employees, even if they harassed her. She couldn't threaten them with their salary. As a result, despite being a duchess, Chloe had become a figurehead with no real authority to manage the budget or supervise the staff.
Anyway, Chloe was secretly enjoying her moment.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Startled, Chloe shook herself to come to her senses.
"Please come in."
Who could it be at this hour? The question was soon answered as the door opened and a young girl with braided pigtails entered.
It was Ellie, a maid who was particularly well-liked by Chloe.
"Hello, ma'am. Did you have a good morning?"
"I did. What brings you here?"
Ellie answered hesitantly.
"I-I want to apologize."
"Apologize?"
"Uh, about what happened yesterday..."
Ah, Chloe remembered. Yesterday, as she was walking down the hallway, a group of maids had been running and giggling away from her.
Among them was Ellie. As another maid dragged Ellie away, she kept looking back with an apologetic expression.
Although Ellie was the friendliest person to Chloe in the mansion, she was shy and lacked confidence. When everyone in the mansion ridiculed Chloe, Ellie wasn't brave enough to stand up alone.
But Chloe was grateful for her.
Even though it risked making her an object of bullying herself, Ellie continued to care for Chloe.
Chloe replied casually.
"It's okay. That wasn't your intention."
Ellie, filled with regret, stammered her thanks.
"Oh, and by the way, ma'am, I have a message from the duke. He's busy with work today, so dinner will be delayed by two hours."
Chloe tilted her head at Ellie's words. Usually, the duke's messages would be passed on by dedicated staff.
"Thank you. But why did you come yourself?"
"Oh, well. Lady Colin said she didn't want to deliver the message, so she asked me to do it."
Chloe realized what had happened. After Chloe slapped her today, Colin, not wanting to face the duke with a bruised cheek, had sent Ellie, the laundry maid, on the errand.
Ellie left feeling happy at Chloe's simple thank you.
••🍂••
Chloe ate breakfast quietly in her room and took a walk in the garden. Early summer had brought warmth, but the wind was cool.
For the first time in her life, she decided to stop worrying about what others thought and live the way she wanted. Despite the awkwardness of becoming a different person overnight, this promise still held.
So now, what did Chloe want?
Of course, the best thing would be to return to her original body, Park Ha-Jeong. This place was so unfamiliar and hostile to her. Above all, the feeling of inhabiting someone else's body was deeply unsettling.
However, there was no alternative for now. She couldn't even find a way back. Asking anyone for help with such a problem seemed impossible.
'Actually, there's no particular reason to go back other than familiarity.'
For Park Ha-Jeong, the only place she could return to was her small studio apartment. She had no blood relatives, and her friends were merely classmates and former colleagues.
Her only regret was losing her job not too long ago.
Chloe sighed.
If she couldn't go back to being Park Ha-Jeong, then her next wish was to become a more ordinary duchess who was no longer harassed by the mansion's residents. To be an ordinary duchess and live peacefully while fulfilling her duties.
But this wasn't a problem that could be solved right away. It would require a more long-term effort.
"What I want next..." Chloe muttered.
It was obvious. In this life, it would be a lie to say that she wasn't tired. There was something she always longed for when she needed a short break that enveloped her in warmth.
This was the only time in Park Ha-Jeong's life when she could truly be herself, free from worrying about others and just focusing on what she enjoyed.
There was this one thing. Neither studying nor work was something she pursued out of desire, but one thing she truly enjoyed.
She had lost the opportunity to experience it when she arrived here, but she wanted to get it back if possible. If she had it, she felt she could lean on it and endure even in this strange situation.
Chloe decided what to say to her husband, the Duke of Vattenberg, at dinner that evening.
••🍂••
There was no love between Chloe and her husband, Alphonse Vattenberg.
From the beginning, it was an arranged marriage for family interests. Most nobles had arranged marriages, so this was nothing unusual.
Alphonse, the head of the Duke of Vattenberg, had no interest in love but needed a wife to carry on the family line. A family that would not have the slightest influence on the power of the Vattenberg family.
Chloe, from the Grey family, was a perfect match for such a position. The marriage between the Vattenberg family and the Grey family was concluded smoothly.
Chloe had been forced by her parents to sign a marriage contract with a man she did not love. Thirteen months had passed since then.
While eating, Chloe glanced at her husband sitting across from her.
Though she had adapted well to living here in just eight days, she still couldn't get used to the fact that this man was her husband.
First of all, it was unfamiliar to Park Ha-Jeong, who had lived alone for several years, to suddenly be married to a complete stranger. She had thought she wanted to live more focused on herself, but finding herself married so abruptly was a huge shock.
Moreover, there was another, even more embarrassing reason.
Alphonse was incredibly attractive.
His straight, golden hair was dazzling. Beneath it, his facial features and jawline were perfectly formed, and his body was filled with solid muscles from years of swordsmanship.
Though he was not boyishly handsome or feminine in appearance, the term 'beautiful' suited him. His broad shoulders, muscular arms with beautiful lines, and crimson eyes that revealed nothing about his thoughts exuded a captivating allure.
Of course, Chloe was also beautiful, but she dared not compare herself to Alphonse. She contemplated this fact as though it were someone else's issue.
Alphonse Vartenberg had wealth, power, beauty, ability, and strength. He was the man every woman desired.
He was a husband worth longing for. In fact, before marrying Chloe, he had received love letters and marriage proposals from numerous young ladies.
One might consider it lucky to have such a man as a husband, but... Chloe ate her food awkwardly.
'Only I know this. He is not a good husband.'
...In some ways, he was the worst husband imaginable. It was worth saying.
Because he loved no one and could not show affection to any woman. Chloe received many things from him: the status of a duchess, a huge and beautiful mansion, hundreds of dresses, and rare jewels that even other noble families would envy.
However, he did not provide her with human attention or affection. For all these 13 months of their marriage.
"Does the dish suit your taste, Duchess?"
Chloe, lost in her thoughts, was startled by the sudden voice. She raised her head.
Her husband, Alphonse, was watching her with his red eyes.
There was no interest or sincerity in his gaze.
It was entirely out of politeness. Even though he might not have been sincere, he considered it essential for a husband to exhibit the necessary courtesy toward his wife.
Unless something significant occurred, dinner was one of the things they always shared.
Chloe also smiled politely.
"Yes, very much."
"Thank goodness."
Chloe was not entirely at ease with Alphonse's gaze. It had an intimidating quality, like being pricked with a needle.
He had such a strong presence that even the duke's staff, who were familiar with him, avoided making eye contact. There was no way Chloe, with her timid past, could feel comfortable around him. She feared Alphonse.
Chloe, who already found it difficult to ask for things, had never once asked her husband, whom she feared, for anything. Even though there was no love between them and they were supposed to be lifelong companions, she couldn't even talk about her desires.
Alphonse also noticed that Chloe had never asked for anything from him. But it was none of his concern. He provided his wife with everything she would need as a duchess (luxurious dresses, jewelry, etc.) without speaking. His duty ended there.
If Chloe asked for something, he would never refuse, but he saw no reason to anticipate her needs without being told first.
Alphonse thought this way, so he remained indifferent to his wife.
"I need something, Duke."
Alphonse was surprised, as it was the first time Chloe had asked for something in the 13 months they had been married.
As his red eyes focused on her, Chloe felt her mouth dry up. Even though she was merely speaking, she felt as if she had done something wrong.
"What is it, Duchess?"
Chloe gathered her courage and spoke.
"I need tea."
••🍂••
When Alphonse heard that Chloe needed something, the first things that came to mind were jewelry or a fancy dress.
In Alphonse's experience, no woman had ever refused jewelry. In fact, even men would likely do the same. Jewelry was valuable personal property that remains in one's possession even if you get divorced or have an unexpected accident— no one with a normal sense of money would dislike jewelry.
A dress was also a possible option. According to Alphonse's prejudice, women are people who loved beautiful and flashy things. No woman had ever refused a dress commissioned by a famous designer.
Objectively, the jewelry and dresses that Alphonse had provided to Chloe were already excessive, but it didn't matter. No matter how many jewels one buys, it will not have the slightest effect on the wealth of the Vattenberg family.
Alphonse, with such arrogant thoughts, silently lifted his wine glass and took a sip. He put down his glass, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and cast an emotionless gaze at Chloe.
"What is it, Duchess?"
However, the answer that came back completely caught him off guard.
"I need tea."
Chloe realized that her words had surprised her husband. Not wanting to lose the element of surprise, she quickly followed up with what she had planned to say.
"When I was a girl living at my parents' house, I enjoyed drinking tea for personal relaxation and as a hobby. I have not yet fully adapted to married life and feel the burden of an unfamiliar routine. I need something to help me relax. Tea is not very expensive. It probably won't be a burden on the Duke's finances..."
"Stop."
Before Chloe knew it, Alphonse, who was smoking a cigarette after dinner, interrupted her. Only when she saw the faint wrinkle between his brows did she realize she had offended his pride.
This extremely arrogant man had more doubts about her abilities than about what she wanted.
What was more important was the fact that she had asked him instead of ordering it herself.
"I will instruct the butler to order enough tea to satisfy your hobby. Also, from now on, you don't have to ask me for permission to buy anything. You can buy as much as you want within the budget provided. Buy whatever you want."
"Anything?"
"Anything." Alphonse resolutely set the boundaries.
Chloe was dumbfounded.
All she wanted was a can of tea leaves to drink while relaxing. But now it had turned into a much larger issue!
As he took a deep pull of his cigar, Alphonse was thinking about dresses as expensive as a mansion and small bottles of cosmetics worth the price of a horse or cow. But what came to Chloe's mind were pretty teacups and teapots.
Chloe— or rather Park Ha-Jeong— loved tea. She had spent 28 years of her life only studying and working, always mindful of what others thought.
In the midst of all this, the only reprieve she had was tea.
Tea was her only hobby and pleasure. Even if her unreasonable boss nagged her until her stomach churned, or if her difficult junior colleague ruined all her hard work, a cup of hot tea could make her happy, even if just for a little while.
It was her only hobby, so, of course, the money she invested in tea and the collection she had amassed was significant.
They were not in her possession now. They were probably somewhere in another world.
It was unfortunate and unfair, but what could she do? That wasn't the only thing she had lost now.
Still, being able to continue drinking tea here made Chloe very happy. As she returned to her room after dinner, she was filled with anticipation about what kind of tea Alphonse would order through the butler.
••🍂••
The next day, when Chloe woke up, all of her maids were waiting. With their help, Chloe got dressed and did her hair.
Although the maids' attitudes were brusque and their hands were rough, it was faster and more convenient than dressing by herself.
As she finished breakfast in her room, a maid came to her with good news. The tea she had ordered yesterday had arrived.
She had thought she would have to wait a few days, but it arrived quickly. Chloe was happy and eager. Ignoring the uncooperative maids, she went to get the tea herself.
When Chloe reached the hall on the first floor, she couldn't help but be taken aback.
Unfamiliar wooden boxes and other things were piled up in the hall. Looking out through the front door, she saw men sorting through boxes that hadn't yet arrived.
Chloe looked at it for a moment, then remembered that she had come to get the tea and refocused. She thought Alphonse had bought some furniture. After all, the Duke seemed to have a lot of money.
Chloe asked Kiehl, the butler who was nearby giving instructions to the workers, about the tea that had arrived. Kiehl looked at her with a smile.
"It's over there."
"Where?"
"It's piled there, Madam."
With a polite wave, Kiehl gestured to the wooden boxes piled higher than any person.
Chloe thought she had misheard or misunderstood something. Chloe asked again to confirm.
"When I say tea, I mean the tea I will drink—tea leaves that are steeped in hot water."
"Yes, that's right, Madam."
Chloe couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"All of the crates here are the tea leaves ordered by the Duke."
Chloe checked herself and found that all the wooden boxes indeed contained tea leaves. Hundreds of varieties from all kinds of producing regions and tea gardens.
Each package was either wrapped in paper, stored in boxes, or ceramic containers, and then placed in large wooden crates.
Even though it was packaged well, a complex and gorgeous aroma came through the thick packaging. It was a sweet discordant symphony created by tea leaves with different scents.
'Ah, that man Alphonse, his pride is ridiculous.' Chloe thought, intoxicated by that powerful aroma.
Whatever his intention, she couldn't help but be thankful that he bought her so much. She resolved to thank him at dinner that evening.
The butler approached.
"Do you like your gift?"
"Ah… yes. Very much." Chloe, still dazed, replied. The butler smiled kindly.
"If you need anything in the future, please let me know. I will order it for you."
"Ah... yes."
Chloe was then gently nudged out of the hall by Kiehl, who promised to move all the tea to her room.
••🍂••
Once all the tea leaves arrived in her room, Chloe chose the mildest-scented tea leaves for her first teatime. A sweet aroma emanated from the pitch-black tea leaves that were cut to the perfect size.
She was on her way down to the kitchen to prepare the tea when she ran into Ellie.
Chloe smiled, happy to see her. She had been thinking that tea tasted better when shared. It would definitely be fun to have Ellie join her for her first teatime.
With that thought in mind, Chloe invited Ellie to join her.
"I'm really sorry, but it's difficult right now, Madam!"
Ellie's answer was unexpected.
"Mrs. Miller gave me a task. I'm really sorry." Ellie spoke while holding a basket filled with laundry in her arms.
Chloe noticed that Ellie's fingers were pruned and wrinkled. Her hair was damp with sweat, and her clothes were somewhat disheveled.
Chloe thought Ellie needed a break.
"It's okay, I'm the Duchess. Just tell Mrs. Miller that I called for you. Come with me."
Mrs. Miller was the manager of the laundry maids. Ellie, the last to join and the youngest among them, often took on extra work given to her by the senior maids and was always busy.
If the older maids were overburdening the youngest, Mrs. Miller should have intervened, but she didn't seem to care much about Ellie's circumstances.
Chloe thought Ellie looked just like she had at her old job.
Ellie had taken care of Chloe a lot (even though the Chloe back then and the Chloe she is now were different people), so Chloe felt it was only fair to take care of Ellie in return.
Ellie ran to the basement laundry room, informed Mrs. Miller, and returned. Chloe and Ellie then headed to the kitchen.
Generally, the kitchen of a nobleman's residence is the kitchen maids' domain. An ordinary noblewoman would never set foot in it, let alone do anything there. A noblewoman is wealthy and has no need.
Going in and out of the kitchen was considered vulgar, unrefined, and shameful.
But Chloe thought to herself, 'I'm not an ordinary noblewoman.'
Thinking this way, Chloe opened the kitchen door with her own hand.
The attention of the kitchen maids immediately focused on her. It was still too early to prepare dinner, so there weren't many maids present, and those who were there were leisurely chatting among themselves while washing dishes or preparing ingredients.
"Madam?"
The kitchen maids who encountered Chloe were confused. Chloe was not regarded as the hostess throughout the entire mansion. Most of the staff just passed by her without even acknowledging her.
However, the kitchen maids were not accustomed to someone of her status entering their space, and when they encountered her, they greeted her politely. Chloe smiled in return.
Chloe, taking Ellie with her, walked among the whispering kitchen maids and took a seat at an unoccupied table.
It wasn't a very pleasant feeling to have all the kitchen maids' eyes on her. Chloe, at 28 years old, had never enjoyed being the center of attention. But here she was, feeling like she was giving a presentation.
The situation was tolerable though.
Even though aristocrats didn't usually venture into the kitchen, Chloe still had the mindset of a 21st century woman. Moreover, judging by the typical attitudes of the residents here, there was a high probability she would be ignored if she asked someone to bring her hot water to make tea.
Since that was likely the case, she decided to brew the tea herself, the way she was accustomed to. So, she made her way to the kitchen.
There was a reason she had decided to come.
One of the kitchen maids, unable to resist her curiosity, asked, "Madam, what brings you here?"
Chloe exchanged glances with Ellie and smiled. "I'm here to make some tea. Please, don't worry about me and continue with your work."
"Tea... Madam?" The kitchen maid asked, as if the concept was foreign to her.
It was understandable. In the Empire, tea was not a widespread practice. Even though it was an imported product, coffee was far more popular, and few people drank tea. Tea here was something from a distant, lesser-known foreign land.
'I don't know why.' Chloe thought to herself.
She nodded to the kitchen maid and then winked at Ellie, signaling her to set down the tea caddy.
Ellie carefully placed the luxurious tea caddy, embossed with a peony pattern, on the counter. She was so nervous that her joints felt stiff, almost as if they might creak.
Handling such high-quality imported goods for the first time in her life left her feeling both nervous and at a loss. As a commoner, or even a maid, it was difficult to encounter, let alone taste such items even once in a lifetime.
Chloe addressed the kitchen maid who had asked her why she was there. "Could you please bring me a kettle to boil some water?"
The kitchen maid looked blank for a moment, then fetched a thick iron kettle from the shelf.
"Do you have a kettle made of copper?" Chloe asked.
"Huh? A copper kettle?" The kitchen maid looked embarrassed, as if thinking, 'Water boils just the same, so does the material of the kettle matter?'
Of course, if Chloe had been an ordinary duchess, the kitchen maid wouldn't have reacted so openly or arrogantly. But Chloe, unaffected, replied with a gentle smile, "Yes, if you have a copper kettle, please bring it to me."
"Can't you just use the iron kettle? We're a bit busy right now." The maid replied, though it was clear she wasn't busy at all. Chloe shook her head.
"No, no. It's important to boil the tea quickly so that a lot of air remains in the water, but iron kettles have low thermal conductivity and boil too slowly. Please bring me the copper kettle."
Only then did the kitchen maid bring out a copper kettle. It was the perfect size, about 500ml, and Chloe was pleased with it.
After asking Ellie to boil the water, Chloe began searching for a pottery set that could serve as a tea set. There wasn't a proper teapot or teacup; instead, there was a coffee pot and coffee cups. While coffee and tea sets were technically different items, Chloe would have to make do with what was available.
She heated the coffee pot with hot water, added the tea leaves, and then poured in the freshly boiled water.
'Now all I have to do is wait for it to steep.' Chloe thought as she flipped over a small hourglass.
After a while, the last grains of sand finally fell. Chloe strained the tea and poured it into a cup.
The aroma was quite good— a scent with the soothing warmth unique to black tea. Chloe lifted the cup to her lips with excited anticipation.
...
Chloe frowned, causing Ellie, who was standing nearby, to rush over in surprise.
"Madam, are you okay?!"
Seeing her lady frown as soon as she tasted the tea seemed incredibly suspicious to Ellie. Her mind raced with thoughts of historical incidents of poisoning using drinks.
But, of course, it wasn't that. Chloe shook her head. "No, I just brewed the tea incorrectly."
She began to worry. The tea was so bitter and astringent that it was difficult to drink. She had brewed tea many times in her previous life, so it wasn't likely that her skills had disappeared.
Why, then? The tea leaves seemed fine, and the pot was clean. If those weren't the issues, the problem was probably the water.
Water makes up 99% of tea, so it has a big impact on the taste. Chloe asked the kitchen maid, "Where does the mansion get its water?"
Even among the nobility, few would wonder where their household water came from— it was typically handled by the servants. The kitchen maid, who clearly thought the question was odd, answered, "The servants draw water from the well every morning."
Morning-drawn well water. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with it. In fact, it was good water.
'Often, the well water drawn in the morning is the best water for making tea.' Chloe thought. This was common knowledge among tea enthusiasts, though modern Koreans rarely had the chance to drink well water. Chloe had always used tap water or bottled water in her past life.
'Could that be the issue?'
Chloe looked at Ellie. "Ellie, could you get me a glass of water?"
"Yes, right away!"
Ellie fetched a glass of water. The well water drawn that morning was very clear and clean. Chloe took a sip.
'It's light on the palate, and the taste is clean. It's familiar... Of course!' She realized. The water here was soft, not hard.
In her previous life, when she was Park Ha-Jeong, she had been fortunate enough to participate in a short-term language training program in Europe, sponsored by a large company when she was in college.
She had gone to England. At that time, she struggled with the unfamiliar water. Not only was the water unpalatable, but the more she washed her hair or showered, the more brittle her hair and skin became.
The texture of the water that touched her tongue every time she drank it was heavy. When she tried to brew tea, the tea didn't steep well. Her British roommate explained that this was because European water was hard and contained a lot of minerals.
"There's lime in the water. You should steep the tea for at least 3 to 4 minutes." Her roommate had advised.
Accustomed to the soft water of Korea, which brews tea well, she had found the experience of drinking hard water in Europe unfamiliar.
So, when she arrived in the Empire, where the culture and lifestyle were similar to Europe, Chloe had assumed the water would be hard and brewed the tea using the same methods she had used in England.
However, the water here had almost no minerals. The water was soft, just like in Korea, and it should be brewed for a shorter time.
Realizing this, Chloe set about making the tea again. She discarded the failed tea, boiled water in the copper kettle, measured out the tea leaves again, and brewed the tea for a shorter time to suit her taste. She tasted it carefully.
'Delicious!'
Her face lit up as if a switch had been flipped. She offered some tea to Ellie as well.
"This is black tea. If you drink it, you'll notice the nutty and sweet aroma of malt. Since this is your first time drinking it, it's okay to add some sugar."
Chloe picked up a sugar cube with tongs.
Ellie, flustered that her lady had prepared such an expensive drink with such care, hesitated. She took a sip, barely managing to avoid spilling it.
'Ah...!'
A unique flavor, unlike anything she had experienced before, filled her mouth and nostrils. Unlike plain water, the tea had a silky smooth texture that enveloped her tongue, and the warm liquid spread a comforting warmth throughout her body.
Though it was her first time drinking it, the sweetness of the sugar combined with the rich aroma of the black tea made her feel strangely at ease. Ellie felt like she might lose herself in the experience.
Chloe asked cautiously, "Does it taste good?"
Ellie's eyes, wet with admiration behind her glasses, lit up as she replied, "It's delicious! The scent and flavor are so sweet!"
Only then did Chloe smile, relieved.
Meanwhile, the warm, sweet aroma spread throughout the kitchen, drawing glances from the other kitchen maids. Some of them swallowed nervously at the unfamiliar scent, while others licked their lips in anticipation, though Chloe and Ellie didn't notice.
"Shall we move to a more comfortable place?" Chloe suggested. Ellie nodded, carefully holding up the tray with the tea set. A calm anticipation appeared on Ellie's face as she prepared to enjoy tea for the first time.
••🍂••
Later, Chloe sat by the window of her room, admiring the early summer view of the garden.
What Chloe had realized during that teatime was not just that the water here was soft. The reason tea was an unfamiliar culture in this place was also connected to the water.
On Earth, especially in Europe, there was a highly developed beverage culture. For instance, beer and tea were commonly consumed in England, and wine and coffee in France.
People hardly drank water.
The reason was the poor water quality in Europe. European water, which was hard and full of limestone and other minerals, was tasteless and not good for the body. So, instead of tasteless water, they drank delicious alcohol and tea daily.
'On the other hand, the water here is very clean.'
In an empire with clean water, water sufficed for daily beverages, so there was no need for tea culture to develop as much.
I heard that some of the countries around here enjoy drinking tea, but most were treated as barbarians by the arrogant empire. In an empire where alcohol and coffee were already favored, tea was seen as a lowly drink consumed only by 'barbaric' countries.
Chloe was bitter about that fact, but it was not without hope. Didn't Ellie enjoy drinking black tea?
Ellie enjoying her tea. Chloe remembered her smile and smiled to herself.
Knock knock!
Chloe tilted her head at the sudden knocking sound. At this time, there was no one who would come to her. She told whoever was behind the door they could come in.
The person who entered was unexpected.
"Mrs. Miller?"
Mrs. Miller, wearing an apron with crisp folds, had a stern look on her face. Her expression seemed disrespectful, considering Chloe was the highest-ranking person in the household, but Chloe didn't mind.
"I came because I have something to discuss with you, Madam." Mrs. Miller said.
"What is it?"
"I would appreciate it if you didn't pull Ellie away from her work anymore."
Chloe's eyes widened. What...?
Mrs. Miller continued in an unkind tone. "It interferes with my work. I had to punish Ellie."
Chloe couldn't believe her ears. By her own order, she had told Mrs. Miller in advance and taken her away, so why was Ellie being punished?
"She was pulled away on my orders, so why did you punish Ellie?"
"Handling the maids is my job. There is no reason for you to interfere, Madam." Mrs. Miller said with a sneer.
'This is ridiculous.' Chloe thought. As the Duchess, it is natural for her orders to have priority, but Mrs. Miller was speaking as if her orders were above Chloe's. It was a clear overreach.
Chloe stood up, her eyes stern as she looked straight at Mrs. Miller, who seemed shocked.
"There is no reason? I am the Lady of the Vattenberg family, so how could there be no reason?"
"Well that's…"
"Mrs. Miller, who is your superior? Am I your superior, or are you mine? Answer me."
Mrs. Miller had clearly let down her guard, thinking Chloe was still the timid and weak Chloe she had been before. She stammered, realizing her mistake.
"Madam, you are the superior."
"But how can you put your orders before mine? I am the rightful and undisputed Lady of Vattenberg. And yet, by challenging my authority, do you mean that you are challenging the authority of the Duke of Vattenberg?"
"T-That's not possible! No, ma'am!" Mrs. Miller exclaimed in shock, as if she had been burned. Chloe herself wasn't intimidating, but invoking the authority of Duke Vattenberg certainly was. Chloe laughed inwardly.
She remembered all the humiliation she had suffered from Mrs. Miller in the past. When Lady Colin dressed her in clothes with obvious stains, Mrs. Miller had always been the first to laugh.
Chloe gave orders in a clear, strong voice.
"Your superior is me. Remember that. If you dare to challenge my authority and refuse my instructions again in the future, as the mistress of the Vattenberg family, I will have no choice but to punish you appropriately."
"I will keep that in mind, Madam…"
Mrs. Miller bowed and hurriedly left Chloe's room as if she were running away.
••🍂••
When Chloe went to check, she found Ellie hanging up hundreds of linens by herself in the laundry yard as punishment.
It was early summer, and the scorching sun was becoming more intense. It was too much for a young girl to handle alone. Chloe told Ellie she didn't need to be punished and led her away.
"Are you thirsty? Let's go in and rest. Would you like some tea?"
"Really?" Ellie asked, surprised.
Chloe smiled and nodded.
They went down to the drawing room with a tea caddy and sat comfortably on the sofa.
"Oh my, I'm sorry. I thought no one was here." Came a voice from the suddenly opened drawing room door. Three men in the uniform of the Knights of Vattenberg stood there.
Chloe noticed they were trying to get to the west gate, the gate closest to the knights' building. The quickest way there was through the drawing room.
"Ah, have a good day..." The man with blonde hair said, smiling shyly.
As he was about to close the door, Chloe saw that all three of them were soaked in sweat.
Realizing this, Chloe called out before the door closed, "Would you like to come in and have some tea?"
"Huh?"
••🍂••
The three knights sat awkwardly together on a long sofa. Although they had lived in the ducal residence for several years, it was probably their first time sitting in the main building's drawing room.
Chloe was introduced to the three men by the blonde-haired knight who introduced himself as Jacob. The silver-haired man on the far right was Balt, and the man in the center, looking serious as if the world was about to end, was Cain.
"How dare we, knights, be invited by the lady! This is an honor. It's an honor! Even if we don't receive anything else today, this will be the pride of our lives. Truly." Jacob exclaimed.
"Ah yes…" Chloe replied awkwardly, unable to handle Jacob's high energy.
At the Duke's residence, the knights did not treat Chloe with hostility. This wasn't because they were particularly nicer than the maids but because they rarely interacted with her.
Ellie, suddenly finding herself with the knights, was completely frozen. Laundry maids and knights did not often encounter one another.
She responded to Jacob's endless chatter with soulless replies.
"Yes."
"I see."
And "Ah."
As she listened, Chloe pondered what kind of tea to serve.
A total of four people would be drinking tea. They all seemed exhausted and were sweating a lot. Although it wasn't obvious, it was certainly hot.
What kind of tea would be most refreshing and delicious for them?
Only one thing came to mind.
••🍂••
It was less than ten minutes later that Chloe returned to the drawing room from the kitchen.
She staggered back, holding a silver tray with five glasses, five teaspoons, and a large glass pitcher filled with a glowing orange liquid.
The knights and Ellie jumped up in shock, as if on fire, and quickly took what she was carrying to the living room table.
"Oh my, you didn't have to do this!" Ellie said, looking tearful.
Chloe just smiled silently.
They all sat down on the sofa again, and Chloe explained, "This is an iced fruit tea. It's refreshing, sweet, and very delicious. Try it."
Chloe picked up the pitcher and poured a full glass of iced tea for each person. Ellie, surprised, said she would do it herself.
She tried to stop her, but Chloe didn't listen. Ellie still seemed to feel sorry that her mistress had personally poured her drink.
The knights each looked at the glass they were holding with interest.
The transparent shining orange liquid was beautiful but unfamiliar. Judging by the sliced grapefruit floating in it, it seemed like fruit juice but was different from typical juice.
The ice filling the glass and the water droplets forming on the outside looked refreshing.
"Is this tea?" Balt asked, his eyes wide.
"If it's tea, isn't it supposed to be a hot drink?" Jacob added.
Cain, with his serious expression, nodded silently, agreeing with his colleagues.
"Of course, you can drink tea hot. But you can also drink it cold. This is strong black tea cooled with ice. Now, try it." Chloe explained.
Balt was the first to try the unfamiliar drink. He must have been thirsty, as he poured the entire glass into his mouth.
"Ugh!"
"What, what is it, Balt? What's the matter?"
"This... is really delicious," Balt said in surprise. After seeing that, Ellie tasted the iced tea as well.
"Oh my, this is...!" Ellie stammered, excited. "Wow, it's really sweet and refreshing. It's so delicious!"
With Balt and Ellie's enthusiastic response, the rest of the group began drinking the iced tea too.
"Wow… this really quenches your thirst."
"It's a very unique taste that I've never experienced before."
Chloe was so happy that she couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
"I'm glad you like it. There's still a lot left; would you like some more?"
"I do!"
"Me!"
Her choice was excellent. People who are sweaty and exhausted would likely prefer something cool to a hot drink.
That's why she introduced iced fruit tea, which is refreshing and sweet so even first-time drinkers can enjoy it.
It wasn't difficult to make. All you have to do is pour strong black tea into a pitcher full of ice, let it cool, and then add sugar syrup and fruit.
The three knights and Ellie thoroughly enjoyed the iced tea, which tasted better than expected.
'Drinking tea with others is definitely fun.' Chloe thought.
••🍂••
The knights Jacob, Balt, and Cain were famous for always sticking together like glue. Within the Order, almost everyone knew them as 'The Three Musketeers' or 'The Trio.'
The trio got scolded for showing off today.
"That's right! The beautiful lady, kind like a goddess, smiled a thousand times and asked, 'Would you like some more?' with a face as friendly as an angel's!"
The only people who usually listened to Jacob, the chattiest of the knights, were Balt and Cain, but today several knights sat around, looking interested.
One of the knights raised his hand and asked; "Is it really that delicious?"
Jacob nodded solemnly. "Cain, am I right? It was incredibly delicious, wasn't it?"
Cain nodded silently. Jacob continued, looking even more smug.
"It really was... Wow, if you haven't tried it, you can't imagine it. It's something you've never tasted before, very unique and strange, and sweet. The taste was amazing."
"That's right." Balt agreed. The knights sitting around showed even more interest.
A delicious, strange, and mysterious drink and the beautiful Duke's lady! It was a topic that naturally attracted attention.
One of the assembled knights joined in with a suspicious look on his face.
"That's ridiculous. I saw her a few weeks ago, and she was different from other people. She couldn't even make eye contact and didn't know how to do anything."
"What! That can't be possible. How dare you speak ill of the madam!"
Jacob, enraged, drew his sword— a real sword.
"It's a duel! Thompson, I can't forgive you for insulting the Duchess!"
"Yes! I can't forgive you for speaking rudely about Madam Vattenberg!"
Jacob and Balt started acting wildly. Thompson, startled by their unexpected reaction of 'If you criticize the duchess, I'll kill you!', didn't know what to do.
It was then that a voice cut through the commotion.
"What's all this fuss?"
"Captain!"
The knights who had been loitering around the training hall, neglecting the training they were supposed to be doing, quickly lined up in front of their leader at lightning speed. The Commander of the Vattenberg Knights sighed inwardly.
"Jacob, Thompson, explain. What's going on?"
"Well, you see, it's Thompson's fault! He insulted the Duchess!"
"Jacob, you!" Thompson, the target of Jacob's misguided defense, jumped up, panicking.
"Oh, oh! That wasn't my intention. What actually happened was…"
Thompson explained to the commander in detail how the quarrel had started. It all began when Jacob, Balt, and Cain returned after drinking tea made by the Duchess and began boasting about it to the other knights.
The more Ballon listened, the deeper the furrows between his eyebrows became. As soon as Thompson finished his story, Ballon spoke sternly.
"The knights went to see the Duchess, met her as if she were a casual acquaintance, and even drank something she made with her own hands? How could you be so disrespectful?"
Ballon pointed at Jacob, Balt, Cain, and Thompson.
"You four are on probation for the next week. Thompson, you are especially guilty of causing a disturbance."
"But Captain!"
Jacob looked as though he was ready to cling to the commander's pant leg, but Ballon would have none of it. He swiftly turned and left.
Ballon's next stop was the Duke's office. He knocked on the door.
"My Lord, this is Ballon."
"Come in."
At the sound of Alphonse's voice, Ballon removed his hat and entered the office.
The office was enormous, more akin to a grand library than a typical study, filled with an overwhelming number of books.
Opposite the door was a desk positioned before a large window, and behind it sat Alphonse.
"Sit down."
Ballon took a seat across from Alphonse, who lifted a cigar from the box on his desk and pulled out a straight cutter.
"What's going on?"
"The knights under my command committed a great offense against the Duchess, and I've come to ask for forgiveness."
Alphonse didn't care for lengthy explanations, and Ballon, who had served him for a long time, knew this well.
"An offense?"
"Yes. They had the audacity to sit across from the Duchess and even had tea with her."
Alphonse said nothing and calmly sliced the tip of his cigar.
He remembered just last night asking the butler to order tea leaves for his wife. It seemed the knights had already tasted it.
"Go to her yourself and ask for forgiveness."
"Pardon?"
"I'm not interested in my wife's personal affairs."
Ballon quickly adjusted his briefly embarrassed expression. He knew well that Alphonse was indifferent to his wife.
Alphonse put the cigar back in his mouth and spoke again.
"And from now on, don't report any trivial matters about my wife to me."
"Yes, understood. Apologies for the inconvenience."
Ballon bowed his head and apologized to Alphonse, who was twenty years his junior.
After another polite bow, Ballon began to leave the office. However, halfway across the room, something occurred to him, and he turned back.
"My Lord, there's something all your men said in unison after drinking tea from the Duchess."
"What is it?" Alphonse asked, not looking up.
"They said it was very delicious. A very special drink, unlike anything they've had before."
By Alphonse's standards, this was a personal and unnecessary detail. Ballon was well aware of this.
Alphonse's brow furrowed slightly, turning his gaze to where Ballon had been. The knight commander had already vanished.
••🍂••
Chloe decided to use an empty room near her bedroom to store the tea leaves that were piled everywhere in large crates.
The task of classifying and organizing the tea leaves by their characteristics, production area, and name took considerable time and effort. It would have been nice to have some help, but none of the staff were willing to assist her.
In the end, Chloe decided to organize all the tea leaves herself.
'At least this way, I'll know exactly where everything is.' She thought optimistically.
By the time she had sorted through a third of the tea leaves, half the day had already flown by. Exhausted, she sat down to rest when an unexpected visitor appeared.
"Are you organizing the tea leaves?"
The butler, Kiehl, said from the door while approaching her with a warm smile.
"Ah, Butler."
"Madam, as the Duchess of Vattenberg, you should call me Kiehl, please."
"Ah, yes, Kiehl."
Kiehl glanced at what she was doing.
"Why are you doing this alone? Let me help you."
With Kiehl's help, the work progressed not just twice as fast, but several times faster. Kiehl was an expert at organizing.
While they worked together, Kiehl engaged Chloe in friendly conversation, asking questions like:
"Isn't this difficult for you?"
"When did you first start liking tea?"
"How did you learn to make tea?"
Chloe answered his questions, carefully recalling Chloe's past memories to avoid contradicting any previous actions.
"Thank you so much for your help." Chloe said gratefully.
"I'm only doing my duty as a butler."
Finally, everything was organized. Tea containers filled every corner of the cupboards and cabinets in the room. Chloe looked around, feeling proud of their work.
She turned to Kiehl.
"Um, Kiehl, I know it's not much, but I'd like to serve you some tea as a token of my gratitude."
"Are you sure? I would be honored."
They happily selected a few tea containers and made their way to the living room. There, they encountered an unexpected person.
Unlike when she saw Ellie or Kiehl, Chloe couldn't help but feel tense. It was her husband, Alphonse Vattenberg, who was by no means an easy companion.
"Duke."
"Duchess."
Alphonse was sitting in the living room, smoking a cigar and reading the newspaper. Chloe, holding a tea container, nodded a little awkwardly.
It wasn't as if they hadn't had encounters like this in their 13 months of marriage. However, there had never been a friendly, personal conversation between them— not even a simple greeting to ask after each other's well-being. Alphonse was usually the first to leave without saying anything.
And obviously, it was going to be like that this time too so it was quite unexpected when Alphonse spoke first.
"Are you about to have tea?"
Chloe responded, surprised.
"Huh? Oh, yes."
"Then..." Alphonse said, looking directly at her. "Could you serve me some as well?"
His eyes, usually devoid of any emotion, held just the slightest hint of interest.