Mist Empire’s Rise: Fake Noble to Fog Queen

"How should I handle the maids competing for favor in my household?"

Luo Wei contemplated for three seconds before deciding to feign ignorance.

"The roasted barley tea tastes excellent," she deflected, "You've been at Siria for two days now. Have you adjusted to the climate?"

Belial and Chris nodded eagerly, "Yes, it's much warmer here than in the North."

"Good to hear," Luo Wei continued, "I'll be residing at the academy during term time, so there's no need to wait on me."

"Chris, spend some time each day at Hawkins' shop studying fabrics and fashion coordination. There are jewelry pieces in my room - examine them carefully to develop your eye for quality."

"Yes, Master." Chris responded cheerfully.

"Belial, go to the flower market and catalog the seasonal flowers. Learn their scents, blooming periods, and flowering times. Record all this information on linen."

Belial's face fell: "Master, I'm illiterate."

Illiterate... right, she kept forgetting about the poor literacy rates among the lower classes in this era.

"As I always say, if you don't know something, learn it," Luo Wei said with gentle exasperation. "There will be reading lessons in the study this afternoon. Both of you should attend, and bring Yves and Gal along."

This would mean extra work for Roman - originally tasked with teaching only Rosie, now responsible for four more students. She hoped it wouldn't stunt his growth from exhaustion.

After dismissing the two maids, Luo Wei finally had some peace and quiet.

The oak charcoal glowed crimson in the fireplace. She reclined on the plush couch with a small blanket draped over her. The warmth soon made her drowsy, and she drifted off to sleep.

It was a deep slumber. When she awoke, the sun had already descended toward the western mountains. Troy stood like a sentinel by the fireplace - his presence startled her when she turned her head.

"When did you return?" she asked, voice husky from sleep.

"Just moments ago," Troy replied.

Luo Wei sat up, adjusting the small blanket over her legs. "How did our subject react upon waking?"

"Nothing remarkable," Troy recalled, then added, "He ran through the streets twice before hiding in a tavern, where he's been drinking since."

"Fear has taken hold of him. As expected." Luo Wei commented, rhythmically tapping her knee.

Silence fell, broken only by the soft crackling of charcoal in the fireplace.

"Troy," Luo Wei spoke deliberately, "Have you ever sampled Death Fruit or Devil's Tooth?"

Troy's voice was low: "I've heard of them but never tried them."

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I have," Luo Wei remarked. "They're quite delicious."

Troy gave her a bewildered look: "They're... edible?"

Death Fruit grew on decomposing corpses, and Devil's Tooth was notoriously foul-smelling. Who would consume such things?

Why did his employer have such peculiar tastes?

"Of course they're edible," Luo Wei looked at him hopefully. "Troy, could you procure some for me? Please?"

Troy coughed and averted his gaze: "These magical plants are scarce in the market. I can only post a recruitment notice to see if anyone's willing to gather them."

"Yes, do that," Luo Wei immediately produced her small leather notebook. "While you're at it, please help me locate one more item."

"It looks like this - red and pointed, like a hollow horn containing round seeds. When eaten, it causes burning lips and a painful, numbing sensation on the tongue."

Troy studied the pointed plant she had sketched on the parchment, asking puzzled: "What is this, another magical plant?"

Luo Wei tore out the page and handed it to him: "Not necessarily magical. It's actually a spice called chili pepper."

"A spice!" Troy's posture immediately stiffened as he accepted the drawing with both hands.

Expensive spices warranted his utmost attention!

Luo Wei rolled her eyes - typical miser, perking up at the mere mention of "spice."

Around four in the afternoon, the children returned to Star Luo Residence after school.

Roman burst through the gates, his gray misty eyes quickly scanning the garden. Not finding who he sought, he dashed into the living room.

"Miss!"

Upon seeing the gentle young lady by the fireplace, Roman's chubby face instantly lit up with a brilliant smile.

Deliberately ignoring Troy's presence, he ran to Luo Wei's side, eyes sparkling: "Miss, were you bored sitting here alone?"

"I learned to play Senet today! Would you like to play? I can keep you company!"

Troy's face darkened as he cracked his knuckles.

"No thank you, I don't know Senet," Luo Wei said, pinching Roman's cheek affectionately. "But I do know Go and chess."

"Miss, what are Go and chess?" Roman's eyes widened with curiosity.

"Go is a complex strategic game originating from Huaxia; chess is another strategic game from a place called Ancient India."

Roman grew more intrigued: "Those names sound so strange! Miss, are Go and chess fun?"

"Very much so. Some people play for three days and nights without leaving the board," Luo Wei said with dramatic flair.

Roman clenched his fists excitedly: "Miss, I want to play too! I want to play with you!"

"Tell you what - I'll give you a task. Complete it, and I'll teach you both games," Luo Wei smiled.

"Yay!" Roman jumped with joy. "What's the task, Miss?"

"I plan to build an estate outside the city where I'll raise chickens. I need affordable labor to help tend to them."

Roman immediately grasped her meaning, thumping his chest in assurance: "Don't worry, Miss! There are many street children in Siria. I'll bring them all to our estate!"

Luo Wei's lips curved into a smile: "Roman, you're so clever!"

Silkworm cultivation required too much initial time investment. She intended to develop the mulberry garden into vertical agriculture.

Chicken manure made excellent organic fertilizer for the mulberry trees, and the chickens would help control pests, reducing the risk of infestations.

After the silkworm moths laid eggs and died, their carcasses could feed the chickens. If more feed was needed, she knew how to cultivate earthworms - which would both aerate the soil and serve as chicken feed. A perfect cycle.

Having successfully employed her child labor, Luo Wei returned to school in high spirits.

Unfortunately, her good mood didn't last long. It vanished the moment she stepped into the Rose Garden.

"Junior, I've been looking everywhere for you." Veronica Malachi, the student council president, strode toward her.

"Senior, did you need something?" Luo Wei stopped to ask.

"Yes," Veronica said with a smile, "I came specifically to remind you that your disciplinary assignment starts today. Don't forget to patrol the warning line at nine tonight."

Luo Wei: "...I understand. Thank you, Senior."

"No need for thanks. If it gets cold, you can rest in the student council office - after all, you'll be patrolling until five in the morning."

"Oh, and," Veronica added, "While you're patrolling the warning line, you might as well complete your first community service task."

"Someone might try to steal the self-criticism letters from the wall tonight. Please help catch them - you can earn back one credit if you do!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
patreon.com/BZDXG - Unlock a HUGE stash of advance chapters now!
Dive deeper into the story ahead of everyone else!