The Lady of the House Receives the Keys

The damp underground air stabbed deep into her lungs. As Rodin walked down the warehouse corridor, a mix of old mold and dust clogging his nose, he frowned. He hadn't come here to find some legendary treasure that could decide the fate of the continent. He was just looking for the pouch of 'This Year's Finest Cabbage Seeds' he'd shoved into a corner of the storage room.

"Hey, Boss. The cabbage seeds are over that way, aren't they?" Dagan asked from behind, holding a torch with a puzzled look.

Instead of answering, Rodin kicked an old box rolling around on the floor. Thud! The dull sound echoed as the box flipped over, kicking up a cloud of dust. What tumbled out was a clump of dark iron keys tied together with a leather strap.

"Oh, so that's where it was."

Rodin picked up the keyring. A dozen keys clinked and clattered against each other, the metallic jangle ringing through the corridor. The heavy weight traveled up his wrist.

"Isn't that the vault key we got when we hit those nobles last time? That fat duke was crying his eyes out, saying it was more precious than his life."

"That's right, Boss! Good grief, you finally found it? Just the gold and jewels inside could buy an entire castle in the southern empire, but you said it was too much of a hassle and never even opened it."

Dagan's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he shouted. The key to the secret fund vault that the empire's knight commander had been desperately searching for had been rolling around in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a corner of a bandit stronghold's warehouse alongside rat droppings.

Rodin blew the dust off the keys with a quick whoosh.

"What's the point of opening it? I don't need money to eat or plant cabbages. It's just heavy to carry around. And that jingling sound is annoying."

Looking thoroughly bothered, Rodin stuffed the keyring into his pants pocket.

"As expected of the Boss! That iron will to value cabbages over gold! You are truly the greatest farmer of this era!"

"Shut up. Where's Veronica? I haven't seen her since earlier. Tell her to come eat."

Rodin grabbed the seed pouch and trudged out of the corridor. The heavy metallic clinking in his pocket felt to him like nothing more than a chore he needed to get over with quickly.

The air in the mountain stronghold's main living room was heavier than usual. On the central table lay Lize's ornate magic-enchanted tomes and Ivona's golden holy relics. The two women had been subtly competing since before Rodin arrived, flaunting their 'value'.

"When Rodin gets here, I'll show him. With one spell from me, no monster will dare approach this mountain. Where else would you find a woman as capable and useful as I am?"

Lize declared arrogantly, waving her staff. Waves of violet mana rippled through the living room.

"Oh Lord! My blessings don't just heal wounds—they make the meat Rodin brings back even more tender! Rodin needs me!"

Ivona clutched her crucifix tightly, eyes sparkling. Between their flashy displays of power, Veronica sat quietly in the corner, fiddling with her teacup. Her gaze was fixed on the floor.

She had once been an imperial princess, but between the Master of the Magic Tower and the Saintess, she felt endlessly insignificant.

They're both so incredible. As for me… I have nothing I can do here…

A corner of Veronica's heart ached. She wanted to stay by Rodin's side, but she felt like nothing more than a burden who couldn't help him in any way.

"Your Highness should just sit there prettily. These rough tasks are for professionals," Lize added, driving the point home.

"That's right! Instead, we'd be grateful if you could prepare some tasty snacks for our ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Rodin!"

Ivona's cheerful jab struck Veronica right in the heart. Veronica gave a bitter smile and nodded.

"Yes… I understand. I'll make sure not to get in the way."

At that moment, the door burst open roughly.

"What's all the noise? Are the parasites throwing a group tantrum or something?"

Rodin walked in with a lazy expression, hands shoved in his pockets. He treated Lize and Ivona like they were invisible as he headed for the table.

"Rodin! You're finally here? Look at my magic design!"

"Boss! I have a holy guide for cooking golden wild boar…!"

Rodin irritably shoved aside the two women who were clinging to him. Then he pulled the heavy iron keyring from his pocket and dropped it onto the table.

Clang!

The heavy metallic sound made the living room floor vibrate slightly. Seeing the dozen tangled keys gleaming coldly, Lize's eyes bulged.

"Huh…? Rodin, what is that?" Veronica asked with a puzzled expression.

Rodin scratched the back of his head and casually tossed the keyring onto Veronica's lap.

"They're the keys to the stronghold's vault. You take them all."

"What? Why are you giving them to me…?"

Veronica caught the keys in surprise. The cold, solid feel of the iron spread through her palms.

"Wait! Rodin, are you insane? Do you even know what those are worth? That's the key to a secret fund that could buy an entire province of the empire! Why would you give it to the princess?"

Lize shrieked and lunged forward. But Rodin just glanced at her before fixing his gaze back on Veronica.

"Compared to those damn parasites—the mage and the saintess—you're the one who feeds me and manages my money. That makes you rank one around here."

"……!"

Veronica's breath caught. Rodin's indifferent voice thundered in her ears like a bolt from the blue.

"Don't shrink back. If the person managing my money keeps her head down, it makes me look bad. From now on, no one touches the stronghold's budget or storeroom without your permission."

Veronica's lips trembled. This wasn't simple trust. Rodin had handed over the very foundation of the stronghold—everything that could be called his—to her completely.

"P-parasites?! Rodin, that's too much! You know how sacred my blessings are!"

Ivona dropped her crucifix in shock, but Rodin just snorted.

"Did I say something wrong? All you two do is pointless experiments and eating. Veronica, from now on you decide whether those two get any allowance. If they don't listen, you can starve them."

Veronica gripped the keyring tightly in her lap. The heavy weight had become responsibility, and the cold metallic sound had turned into the heartbeat that made her pulse race. Life began to return to her eyes.

In an instant, the hierarchy had been flipped. Lize and Ivona wore dumbfounded expressions at first, but seeing Rodin's firm attitude, they faced reality. To survive in this stronghold from now on, they would have to watch their step around Veronica, who held the purse strings.

"Um… Lady Veronica? You know I was just joking earlier, right?"

Lize approached with an awkward smile.

"The Magic Tower needs a bit more budget for the new mana stones we've developed… Since you're so wise, I'm sure you'll recognize the value of my research."

"Oh Lord! Lady Veronica, the halo of mercy around you is especially radiant today! Could you possibly approve the budget for the whole roast pig we'll have for dinner? A sacred table brings peace to the stronghold!"

Ivona clasped her hands and stuck close to Veronica as well. Veronica felt her chest swell with emotion. What Rodin had given her wasn't just money. It was her reason for existing in this stronghold.

She fastened the keyring securely to her waist and wore an expression far more dignified than she ever had as a princess.

"Since Rodin entrusted this to me, I'll review everything very thoroughly. There won't be any wasteful spending. Lady Lize, please submit the mana stone receipts on time."

"……Understood."

Lize answered through gritted teeth. Rodin sat down, crossing his legs as he added,

"Yeah. If those two start whining about being hungry, tell them to go pull weeds in the field. They've got to earn their keep."

"What?! You want the Master of the Magic Tower to pull weeds? Rodin, have you lost your mind?"

"If you don't like it, leave. I don't do free meals."

At Rodin's firm stance, Ivona made a tearful face but nodded in acceptance.

"A saintess working the fields… that could be a rather sacred form of training, I suppose. Haha… Lady Veronica, you'll give us more meat if we pull the weeds, right?"

When Veronica stepped into the courtyard with the jingling keyring at her waist, the atmosphere of the stronghold changed. The bandits who had been training all stopped at once. Their eyes locked onto the heavy iron keys swinging at Veronica's waist.

"Ooh! The Boss has finally handed the storeroom keys to the Lady of the House! Congratulations!"

Dagan was the first to rush over and prostrate himself on the ground. The other bandits followed, dropping to their knees one after another.

"The real power of the stronghold is now with Her Highness! Please take good care of our request to increase this month's food budget!"

"Wait, is that really the Master of the Magic Tower and the Saintess working in the field over there…? Is this for real?"

Where their gazes turned, Lize was pouting as she pulled weeds while Ivona sweated, leveling the soil.

Veronica gave an elegant smile and nodded.

"Everyone, calm down. Managing Rodin's precious assets is my duty. Those who work diligently will receive their due reward."

"As expected of Her Highness! No, the Lady of the House! The Boss really has an eye for people!"

Veronica's heart fluttered at the bandits calling her 'Lady of the House.' Lady of the House. The title that let her stay closest to Rodin.

"Lady Lize, Lady Ivona! That patch of soil still needs more work. Dagan, go help them."

"Yes, ma'am! It is the Lady of the House's command! To the fields!"

The bandits cheered as they ran toward the field. Veronica gently touched the keys at her waist and thought,

Rodin… For every bit of this weight you've given me, I will devote everything to you.

Deep in the night, silence fell over the stronghold. But Veronica couldn't bring herself to go to bed. The cold touch of the keys against her fingertips kept her nerves on edge. She stood in front of Rodin's door, fidgeting with the cold metal ring.

"Rodin… are you asleep?" she whispered softly.

"Not yet. Don't lose the keys and go to sleep already."

Rodin's lazy voice came from inside the room. Veronica pictured him beyond the door and placed her hand against it.

"I won't lose them. Never. These aren't just keys—they're your everything, Rodin."

"Everything, my ass… They ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were just lying around. Don't overthink it."

Rodin replied indifferently as always, but Veronica's eyes shone with fierce determination.

No. I know. You gave me every right in this stronghold to protect me and keep me from feeling small. From now on, I won't let anyone bother you.

A massive plan was already forming in her mind. Rodin's wealth, Rodin's time, and even Rodin's daily life.

Your money, this stronghold, and even you yourself… I'll manage everything perfectly. So no one else can interfere.

A mysterious, deep smile curved Veronica's lips.

The next morning, a massive notice titled 'Stronghold Entry and Expenditure Regulations'—personally written by Veronica—was posted on the main gate. And the very first article read:

It was the beginning of another kind of 'war' for the peaceful farmer named Rodin.