Volume 2 Chapter 16 - Winds of Discipline
The morning light filtered gently through the tall windows of Aerith Manor, illuminating dust motes that shimmered like drifting petals.
The once-abandoned estate had life again — servants moving through the halls, carrying linens, sweeping floors, and opening the wide, arched windows to let the breeze in.
Cindy stood at the grand staircase, quietly watching everything. She wasn't used to being called Lady Aerith, but the staff insisted on it.
Puff hovered beside her, nibbling an apple tart. "You look serious," he said, crumbs on his cheek.
"I'm just... trying to see what kind of home this will be," Cindy murmured.
She watched as two maids polished a vase with care, while another pair gossiped idly near the kitchen door. Some bowed politely when she passed; others gave quick, uninterested glances.
Her nurse's instincts — and the quiet precision she'd honed from years in the emergency room — made her notice everything.
Something in the manor's rhythm felt off.
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The Servants' Meeting
By noon, she gathered the staff in the central hall. About two dozen servants stood before her — cooks, maids, stable hands, and guards.
The steward, Master Renald, stood beside her, looking both nervous and hopeful.
Cindy's voice was calm but clear as the breeze.
"Thank you all for your work. I'm grateful that Aerith Manor feels alive again.
This place isn't just a noble's estate anymore — it's the heart of the Vale.
We'll live here with respect, honesty, and harmony.
That means we treat each other — and the spirits of this land — with care. "
A ripple of murmurs went through the group. Some nodded in agreement. Others simply exchanged glances.
One of the younger maids, eyes bright with admiration, raised her hand timidly. "My lady, you speak as though the wind itself were watching us."
Cindy smiled faintly. "It is."
Puff, perched on her shoulder, grinned and whispered, "She means that literally."
A few chuckles broke the tension.
But not everyone was smiling.
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The Unpleasant Ones
Among the servants, three stood apart — two men in fine livery and a woman with sharp eyes and a sharper tongue.
They whispered among themselves, their posture oozing disdain.
Cindy had already noticed how they ordered the others around earlier, speaking harshly while doing little work themselves.
When the meeting ended, she caught the sound of one of them muttering, "Hmph. Acting righteous, like she's some saint from the heavens. She's just a commoner who got lucky."
Cindy turned her head slightly. Her expression didn't change — but the air in the hall grew still.
Puff's ears twitched. "Uh oh."
The wind that had been softly blowing through the open windows suddenly shifted, circling them. Papers fluttered; curtains danced. The servants looked around nervously.
Cindy stepped forward, her voice calm, but the air carried it like a firm breeze.
"If you have something to say," she said softly, "say it to me."
The man who had spoken flinched, paling. "L–Lady Aerith, I meant no—"
"Respect and sincerity are not optional here," Cindy interrupted. "If you cannot treat your fellows or this home with dignity, then this is not the place for you."
The woman beside him scoffed. "We've served nobles far greater than—"
Cindy raised her hand. A soft gust of wind swept through the hall — not violent, but firm. The banners on the wall rippled sharply, and the air shimmered faintly with mana.
Her calm eyes met theirs. "Then you should return to them."
Silence.
The steward stepped forward uncertainly. "My lady, shall I—"
"Yes," Cindy said simply. "Pack their belongings. They'll leave before sunset."
The three servants bowed stiffly, faces pale with anger or shame, and left without another word.
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After the Storm
When the hall cleared, Puff let out a long sigh. "You're scary when you're calm."
Cindy smiled faintly. "I don't want fear. I just want peace. But peace needs order."
The steward bowed deeply. "My lady, forgive me for not addressing them sooner. They were assigned by the royal quartermaster before your arrival."
Cindy shook her head. "It's all right. From now on, hire those who love this land. People who believe in its wind, not just its title."
Renald's eyes shone with respect. "As you command, Viscountess."
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Evening at the Balcony
That night, as the servants finished their work, the manor felt... lighter.
Laughter and chatter drifted from the kitchen; the maids sang as they worked. Even the air seemed to move more freely through the halls.
Cindy sat on the balcony, sipping warm tea, watching the glowing rivers below.
Puff stretched lazily beside her. "You really changed the whole mood, huh?"
Cindy smiled softly. "Sometimes, to make a place breathe again, you have to clear the still air first."
The wind brushed against her cheek, carrying a faint whisper:
"Well done, child of air. The Vale stirs anew."
She closed her eyes, letting the wind flow through her hair, her heart steady and calm.
For the first time, Aerith Manor felt like home.