The arms of both men holding the barbells were trembling like aspen leaves.

Estella had stirred their competitive spirits, but she hadn’t expected either of them to push themselves this far.

Internally, she was stunned.

Each barbell weighed nearly 100 kilograms.

‘These guys are incredible! With the right training, they’d be phenomenal!’

Estella was excited like a master who had discovered hidden prodigies.

She wanted to see how far they could go.

But judging by their current state, they could only last another two or three reps at most.

This was the moment for a reward.

“To whichever team hits fifty reps—I’ll treat you to meat and booze!”

Estella shouted loud and clear.

“Waaaaaaaah!”

“One more!”

“One more!”

“Commander, you can do it!”

“Don’t lose, boss! This is about the pride of blacksmiths and dwarves everywhere!”

The fierce cheering resumed on both sides.

Before anyone noticed, Katrin had been completely forgotten.

“Well, looks like everyone’s busy, so I’ll come back later. Good work, everyone.”

Katrin’s gentle farewell was drowned beneath the monstrous roar.

She forced a smile and left quickly.

Her steps were hurried—she wanted to get away from the stink of sweat, the stench of metal, and the eardrum-splitting noise as fast as possible.

‘The smell of sweat is killing my nose. I feel like throwing up.’

This place clearly wasn’t meant for her.

Getting in had been easy, but getting out took twice as long.

Knights and blacksmiths kept surging forward, trying to get closer.

“You’re back, my lady!”

“Shall we draw your bath?”

As soon as Katrin returned, Marie and Natalie rushed up to her with bright smiles.

Serving as Lady Katrin’s personal maids in the marquisate meant they had passed through fierce competition—so they held great pride in their position.

They too believed, without a doubt, that Katrin was the true heir of the house.

“No, I just want to rest a bit. You two go ahead and finish early today.”

Katrin spoke to them in a kind voice.

“But…”

“I’m really fine. I just want to be alone for a while. So going now is your way of helping me, alright?”

She gently wrapped an arm around each of their shoulders as she spoke.

Marie and Natalie hesitated, but the joy of finishing work early kept the smiles stuck to their faces.

“Oh, and here. I brought these cookies from the kitchen just for you. Take them and enjoy.”

Katrin handed them a basket full of cookies.

A sweet scent drifted up from beneath the linen cloth covering it.

“Thank you so much, my lady…”

“How did we get so lucky to serve someone as wonderful as you…”

“Thanks for saying that. I’m the lucky one to have you. Now go on, I’m going to lie down.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Rest well. Thank you again.”

Katrin smiled and waved until the two exited the room.

She knew they would immediately run their mouths about what had just happened to the other maids.

That was exactly why she had chosen those two to serve her.

They were the perfect messengers to spread word of her calculated kindness—and to raise her stature.

“Ugh, those annoying bitches. When I say go, just go. Why do they always talk so damn much?”

The moment the door shut behind them, harsh words spilled from Katrin’s lips.

They didn’t suit her angelic face in the slightest, but Lucille didn’t even flinch—she was already used to it.

In fact, she was relieved.

This was milder than what she had been bracing for.

Smack!

Lucille had stepped closer to assist Katrin, only to have her head whipped to the side by a sudden slap.

The blow had been hard enough to leave her dazed.

But it wasn’t the first time.

She simply lowered her head in silence.

“I’m sorry, my lady. It was my fault.”

“What the hell were you doing while Estella stirred up all that trouble?! Why didn’t you report it properly?!”

Katrin, who had been just as clueless herself, pinned all the blame on Lucille.

She believed everything involving the knights fell under her jurisdiction.

When she first heard Estella was building some workout room, she’d thought, What could that useless thing possibly amount to?

So she hadn’t paid it much attention…

But thinking back on what happened earlier made her blood boil all over again.

Smack!

Lucille’s cheek swelled red from a second slap.

Katrin’s eyes welled with tears like she was the one who’d been hit, even as she stretched her stinging palm and shouted.

“Go fetch something to ice my hand! It hurts like hell!”

“Yes, my lady.”

Lucille bowed deeply.

The bench press competition ended with Commander Lucius’s victory.

Dolan collapsed after his forty-fifth rep.

“Waaaaaaaah!”

“Long live Commander Lucius!”

“We won!”

The knights cheered like they’d triumphed in a real match.

With the recent rise in monster attacks, they had been worked to the bone.

This was the first fun they’d had in a long time.

Lucius had given it his all, knowing how exhausted his men were—and because he couldn’t possibly allow himself to lose to a blacksmith in front of them.

His arms felt like they were about to fall off, but Lucius laughed loudly, like a child.

Dolan had lost, but he wasn’t upset.

He’d done his absolute best—and the fact that he’d managed this much against the commander of the territory’s knight order was something to be proud of.

“You two were amazing. I didn’t think you’d push this far. Truly impressive.”

Estella sincerely praised the two exhausted men.

“As promised, the winning knight team will be rewarded with meat and alcohol! And don’t worry—it’s coming from my personal funds, not the estate’s.”

“Wooooo!”

“Long live Lady Estella!”

The knights shouted with joy.

The blacksmiths, though disappointed, still clapped in celebration.

Their boss had gone all out, after all.

It was an immense point of pride that he’d held his own against a noble like this.

“Even though you lost, thanks to you and your men, we now have a fantastic training room. And to finish five days ahead of schedule? I’m truly impressed.”

Estella’s continued praise made Dolan grin shyly.

His fellow blacksmiths beamed with pride.

It wasn’t every day you met a noble—especially not the daughter of the lord himself.

And here she was, praising them in front of everyone.

It would be a story they’d proudly tell for years.

“This is the payment I promised.

I’ve included a bonus for finishing early.

And here’s some extra—so you can all enjoy a drink on your way home.

Thank you again for your hard work and for finishing strong.”

Estella handed Dolan the payment directly, in front of everyone, patting him on the shoulder as she gave him the extra pouch.

“Thank you, my lady. If there’s ever anything you need, just leave it to us—we’ll give it our all.”

“To receive such a promise from a master craftsman!

I should be thanking you!”

“Wooooo! Hooray for Dolan!”

“Hooray!”

“Hooray for Lady Estella!”

The blacksmiths burst into cheers.

Dolan raised the pouch high over his head like an Olympic gold medalist, waving it triumphantly with a huge, toothy grin.

The Marquis, who had only come out of vague curiosity over Estella’s first serious undertaking, stopped in his tracks when he heard the thunderous cheering.

It was coming from the training room Estella had built.

“I’ll go find out what’s going on, Tom.”

“Yes, sir!”

At Raul’s command, his assistant Tom—also his nephew—rushed off.

Moments later, Tom came back panting, flushed from the run.

“Lady Estella…!”

Though he was out of breath, Tom reported everything he saw, not leaving out a single detail.

He kept repeating “It’s true, I swear!” as if he couldn’t believe it himself.

Both the Marquis and Raul looked skeptical throughout the report.

But then, from the same direction, more cheering erupted—this time with Estella’s name clearly audible.

Hearing it, the Marquis gave a faint smile and turned back.

“Aren’t you going to see for yourself?”

Raul had hoped his master would go praise the lady for once.

“This moment belongs entirely to Estella. It wouldn’t be right for me to intrude.”

Though the Marquis’s tone was still gruff, Raul could tell—his master’s footsteps were light for the first time in ages.

My lady… It seems you’re finally becoming your old self again!

Raul wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and hurried after his lord.

Chapter 11

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