Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 389: Arielle’s New Daily Life (1)

Chapter 389: Arielle’s New Daily Life (1)

Arielle woke up to the soft sound of birds chirping outside her window, the morning light filtering through the heavy curtains of her room. She blinked, momentarily confused by her surroundings. It still felt strange to be in such a lavish room, the soft sheets of the large bed she slept in, the gentle floral scent that hung in the air, the meticulously arranged furniture—it was all a far cry from the dingy cell she had been confined to not too long ago. She took a deep breath, her gaze wandering to the fine tapestries on the walls and the plush rug that covered the stone floor.

She pushed herself up, stretching out her arms as she glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was still early, just after dawn, but Arielle had always been an early riser. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her bare feet touching the soft rug. The sensation made her smile—she could certainly get used to this kind of comfort.

There was a soft knock on the door, and before she could respond, the door opened slightly. A young maid entered, her eyes bright and her smile polite.

"Good morning, Lady Arielle," the maid said, her voice soft as she approached the bed with a tray in hand. "I’ve brought your tea."

Arielle blinked, watching as the maid set the tray on the table beside her bed, the delicate china cup and saucer clinking softly as they were placed down. She couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward—she had never had anyone wait on her like this before.

"Uh, thank you," Arielle said, her voice a bit hesitant. The maid just smiled, bowing slightly before turning to leave.

Arielle sighed, shaking her head slightly as she picked up the cup, the warm aroma of the tea filling her senses. She took a sip, savoring the taste as she looked out the window at the castle grounds below. It was beautiful here—peaceful in a way that she wasn’t quite used to yet. The luxury of it all was almost overwhelming, but she couldn’t deny that she enjoyed it. Maybe just a little.

She set the cup down, standing up and making her way over to the desk that sat in the corner of the room. Papers were already spread out across its surface, the ink on some of them still drying from her late-night work. She sighed as she looked down at the documents, her fingers brushing over the edges of the parchment. There was still so much to do—trade permits to approve, finances to balance, reports to go over. She picked up a quill, dipping it in ink before she began to work, her mind slowly slipping into the familiar rhythm of her duties.

She had to admit—it was different now. She wasn’t just a secretary, working under the thumb of a corrupt noble. Now, she had authority—real authority. She had the power to make changes, to improve the lives of the people in the territories under Lyan’s rule. It was empowering, and a part of her relished the responsibility. It was what she had always wanted—a chance to prove herself, to make a difference. And Lyan had given her that chance.

Arielle couldn’t help but smile as she thought about it. Lyan—that man was something else. He had given her a position of power, trusted her completely. She was even starting to enjoy the dynamic with Wilhelmina—their competitive spirit driving each of them to be better. She set her quill down, taking another sip of her tea as she glanced out the window. Yes, she could get used to this life.

Once she was ready, Arielle dressed and left her chambers, making her way to her office. The castle was quiet at this hour, only a few servants moving about, their footsteps echoing softly in the corridors. She greeted those she passed with a nod, her stride confident as she made her way to the wing where her office was located.

The moment she stepped into her office, she was greeted by a pile of papers on her desk. She let out a sigh, shaking her head slightly as she moved to her seat. She had barely sat down when there was a knock on the door, and one of her underlings—a young man named Thomas—poked his head in.

"Lady Arielle, the merchants from Valmere are here to discuss the new trade permits," Thomas said, his voice polite.

Arielle nodded, gesturing for him to let them in. The door opened wider, and three men entered, each of them dressed in fine clothes, their expressions a mix of curiosity and nervousness. Arielle smiled politely, motioning for them to take a seat.

"Gentlemen," she began, her voice steady, "thank you for coming. Let’s discuss the permits, shall we?"

The men nodded, and Arielle listened as they began to explain their needs, their concerns. She took notes, her expression thoughtful as she considered their words. It was a delicate balance—making sure the merchants had what they needed while also ensuring that the townspeople weren’t taken advantage of. But Arielle was good at this—she had always been good at finding the balance.

The meeting went smoothly, and once the merchants were satisfied, they left, each of them bowing politely to her before they exited the room. Arielle let out a breath, leaning back in her chair as she glanced at the papers scattered across her desk. There was still so much to do, but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She was making progress.

She picked up another document, her eyes scanning the numbers—the finances for Norhallow. It was a mess—the previous lord had left the town in shambles, the coffers nearly empty. But Arielle had a plan—she had already started reallocating resources, making sure that the people had what they needed while also ensuring that there was enough to keep the town running.

She smiled to herself, her quill moving quickly across the parchment as she made notes, adjustments. She had the authority now—through Lyan, she had the power to make real changes. She could collect resources, redistribute wealth—she could do what needed to be done. And it felt good.

But as she worked, a thought struck her. Lyan had given her so much trust—complete control over the finances, the trade, the resources. He barely even checked in on her work. She frowned slightly, her quill pausing.

Did he really trust her that much? Or was he just...naïve?

She shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. No, Lyan wasn’t naïve. He was clever, cunning. He knew exactly what he was doing. And besides, even if she wanted to do something underhanded, she had a feeling that his girls—Wilhelmina, Alina, Belle—they’d tear her apart before she even had the chance. Arielle chuckled at the thought, shaking her head as she went back to her work.

It wasn’t just the authority that made this job satisfying. It was the people she worked with. Her underlings—men of various backgrounds and ages—treated her with respect, and she valued their dedication. They were good men, hardworking, and they listened to her, trusted her. It was a healthy working environment, and Arielle couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. This was what she had always wanted—to be in a position where she could make a difference, where her work was valued.

As the day went on, Arielle continued her work, approving permits, balancing finances, meeting with officials. She was in her element—this was what she was good at, what she had always been good at. And now, she had the power to make real changes, to make a real difference. It was exhilarating.

Later in the day, Arielle met with Wilhelmina and Lyan in one of the castle’s meeting rooms. Wilhelmina was already there when Arielle arrived, her eyes focused on a map spread out across the table. Lyan stood beside her, his arms crossed as he listened to Wilhelmina explain something about the supply routes to Dunbridge.

"Ah, Arielle," Lyan said, glancing up as she entered. He smiled, motioning for her to join them. "We were just discussing the progress in Dunbridge. How are things on your end?"

Arielle nodded, moving to stand beside them. "Things are going well. The trade permits for Valmere have been approved, and the resources for Norhallow are being reallocated as we speak. It will take time, but we’re making progress."

Wilhelmina looked up from the map, her eyes meeting Arielle’s. "And the finances?"

"Balanced, for now," Arielle replied, her tone confident. "I’ve made some adjustments, and we’re cutting costs where we can. It won’t be easy, but we’ll manage."

Wilhelmina nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Good. I knew I could count on you."

Arielle felt a warmth spread through her chest at the words, and she nodded, her gaze shifting to Lyan. He was watching her, a proud smile on his face, and Arielle couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. She was doing good work—work that mattered.

They continued discussing their plans, the three of them working together to ensure that everything was in place. It was a productive meeting, and by the time they were done, Arielle felt a sense of accomplishment. They were making progress—real progress. And she was a part of it.

After the meeting, Arielle returned to her office, ready to tackle the next set of tasks. She sat down at her desk, her eyes scanning the papers spread out before her. There was a stack of documents that needed her attention—reports, requests, permits. She picked up the first one, her eyes skimming over the words.

Her brow furrowed as she read, her eyes narrowing slightly. Something about the document didn’t seem right. She read it again, her eyes widening as she took in the details.

"Rebuilding of the House of Roses... 120 gold?" she muttered to herself, her voice filled with confusion.

She stared at the paper, her mind racing. The House of Roses—that was the famous courtesan house, wasn’t it? She had heard whispers about it, but she hadn’t paid much attention. But now, seeing the expense laid out before her, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of disbelief.

She leaned back in her chair, her eyes still fixed on the document. What in the world was going on here?

"What the hell is this..." she muttered, her voice filled with incredulity as she stared at the paper, her mind already racing with questions.

The room was quiet, the only sound the soft rustle of the papers on her desk. Arielle shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. It seemed that life in Grafen was going to be more interesting than she had anticipated.