Has the knight lady who married into the countryside fallen into depravity today?

While Ophelia was changing back into her everyday clothes, Klein had already settled the remaining payment with Lillian.

He gave her three extra gold coins, and stopped her with a smile as she frantically tried to get her change. The gold coins felt heavy and warm in the girl's calloused palm.

"This is extra pay for the craftsman." Klein's gaze swept over the wedding dress hanging back on the mannequin, his eyes filled with pure appreciation. "It's worth this price, or even more."

Lillian's cheeks flushed again. Clutching the gold coins, her fingertips were burning hot. She muttered to herself, "Too much," "Not enough," but she didn't know how to return the money.

At this moment, Ophelia, having changed her clothes, emerged from behind the curtain.

She put her smart outfit back on, tied her long golden hair back up, and regained her usual dashing and heroic appearance.

However, the lingering blush, like the color of the sunset, betrayed the turmoil in her heart.

"The length of the skirt... and the sleeves, will they get in the way when you walk?" Lillian finally found a way to distract herself when she saw the person in question, and mustered up the courage to ask a professional question.

Her voice was still soft, but her enunciation was clear. It was her instinct as a seamstress.

Klein smiled and looked at Ophelia, leaving the decision to her.

"No," Ophelia shook her head, recalling her feelings just now, and added, "It fits perfectly, and I have no problem moving around."

Upon receiving this answer, Lillian seemed to breathe a huge sigh of relief. Immediately afterwards, a gleam appeared in her usually timid eyes, the kind of light that only a craftsman would have when conceiving a perfect work.

She was somewhat excited, even forgetting her nervousness, and stepped forward, saying, "Then, then I'll embroider the initials of your name in silver thread on the inside of the neckline... Is that alright? I'll use a very special stitch, so it'll be completely invisible from the outside! And for the cuffs, I'd like to change to small, rounded pearl buttons; the luster will be softer..."

The little girl was completely immersed in her own world. The more she talked, the brighter her eyes became, as if she could already see the finished product. She even unconsciously reached out and gestured the direction of the needle and thread in the air.

Klein listened with great interest, while Ophelia's expression was somewhat subtle.

She had no concept of these intricate details; her mind was filled with sword techniques and formations. Hearing these words, which were even more complex than magic spells, made her feel a little dizzy. But looking at Lillian's infatuated expression and Klein's amused look, she sighed helplessly, yet a strange warmth welled up in her heart.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Miss Lillian." Klein smiled and made the decision for Ophelia. He received a "save me" look from his wife, and he could tell that his knight lady was about to collapse.

"It's getting late, we should take our leave." He cleared his throat and said to Lillian, who was still immersed in her creative passion.

"Ah? Okay, okay..." Lillian suddenly snapped out of her daze, her cheeks flushed, and she turned back into the timid lop-eared rabbit, standing there helplessly. "Please, please take care."

Klein naturally took Ophelia's hand and walked out of the sewing shop.

……

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the manor in a thick, warm gold, and the air still carried the sweet fragrance of the flowers and plants that had been released during the day.

Klein held Ophelia's hand; her hand was somewhat rough.

Hmm... maybe something softer and smoother would be better?

Klein couldn't help but laugh out loud, drawing a puzzled look from her.

Klein simply shook his head. Bathed in golden light, the two of them even seemed to lighten their pace.

The relaxed and sweet atmosphere was interrupted by an unexpected figure as soon as I stepped into the front hall.

It wasn't Raymond the butler, nor any of the maids.

Leila.

She stood straight, like a wild grass growing tenaciously on barren land.

He held a small bag wrapped in clean linen in his hands, his expression tense, but his eyes revealed an unmistakable determination.

Seeing them come in, she seemed to have made up her mind and quickly went to greet them.

"Lord Klein."

Klein released Ophelia's hand, somewhat surprised: "Lyra? Is something wrong?"

"I've prepared the evening primrose and tranquilizing herb you requested, and I'd like you to take a look," Leila said, carefully handing over the cloth bag in her hand, as if presenting a rare treasure, her hands trembling slightly with nervousness.

Klein took it and untied the cloth bundle. A cool, earthy scent mixed with moonlight wafted out.

He picked up a little powder, rubbed it gently between his fingertips, and brought it to his nose to smell it.

The processing isn't top-notch, and the particle size isn't perfectly consistent, but it's made with care.

Each herb was cleaned thoroughly, without a single impurity, showing the great patience of the person who processed it.

"Very good." Klein nodded in approval. "Even better than I expected."

Upon receiving the praise, Lyra's tense shoulders visibly relaxed, but she felt no joy. Instead, she pressed on even more urgently, her voice trembling slightly, "Then...did I really help? My lady, was I of any help to Karen?"

“Of course,” Klein reassured, “it may be insignificant, but it’s enough, isn’t it?”

"Also... have you been reading that book I mentioned, 'Fundamentals of Alchemy'?"

This question was like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguishing the spark that had just ignited in Leila's eyes.

Her lips moved, and her face instantly turned pale.

For the first time, the shrewdness and resilience honed from her time on the West Coast docks faded from her face, revealing an almost shameful embarrassment and awkwardness.

Her gaze suddenly dropped, fixed on her rough fingertips covered in tiny cuts, as if there were a hole there where she could hide.

"My lord... I..." Her voice was as soft as a breeze, filled with a desperate sense of despair, "...I don't know how to read very well."

Saying those words seemed to have exhausted all her strength.

The air fell silent for a moment.

Ophelia, standing to the side, was stunned. Looking at Lyra's expression, as if she wanted to disappear on the spot, she felt a tightness in her heart.

Leila expected to be met with disappointment, ridicule, or even an expulsion order that said, "Then you're useless."

However, what she received was a soft laugh.

"I thought it was something serious."

Klein's voice was incredibly relaxed. He carefully wrapped the powder in his hand and put it away.

Leila looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with astonishment and confusion; she even thought she had misheard.

Klein looked at her shocked expression and smiled gently and sincerely: "If you can't read, you can learn."

Learn? Easier said than done. At her age, she'd long missed the best time to learn. Besides, who would want to teach an adult whose mind wasn't working properly anymore? A glimmer of hope had just risen in her heart when it was quickly crushed by the harsh reality.

"But...I..."

"Most of the maids in the manor can read," Klein interrupted her self-doubt, offering a very practical solution. "Go and learn from them. The manor is quiet anyway, so it'll give them something to do. Whoever teaches the best will get an extra silver coin as a reward at the end of the month."

"Thank you... thank you..." Leila's voice was already choked with emotion.

"Go and rest first; you look a bit unwell."