Chapter 6 - Inside the castle

Wei Wei quickly noticed that Sardinson Castle was far from the romantic and beautiful castles depicted in modern films.

Made entirely of stone, the interior was dark, damp, and cold.

The narrow and winding hallways made it easy to get lost, and the small, narrow windows—designed for safety rather than aesthetics—allowed little to no sunlight inside.

As a result, the castle always felt dim, humid, and filled with a persistent stench.

When she stepped inside, she even saw a group of rats scurrying across the corner of the hall.

For someone who wasn't afraid of much but had a deep fear of snakes, insects, and rodents, this was a true test of courage.

Wei Wei forced herself to endure it, resisting the urge to flee, and followed Felix into the castle.

However, her face had turned pale with an unnatural flush (from holding her breath), and her unsteady steps made her look like she might collapse at any moment.

Felix noticed her state immediately.

"Miss Wei Wei, you don't look well. Should I summon a doctor for you?"

Wei Wei's body stiffened.

She had heard a bit about medieval European medicine—and aside from the infamous bloodletting treatment, countless other horrifying procedures seemed closer to torture than healing.

Calling one of those doctors might kill her faster.

"N-No need. I think I'm just tired from my journey."

Felix recalled that she had escaped from a group of servants with ill intentions, so she must have endured great hardship along the way.

He nodded understandingly, then called over his butler.

"Then my butler will escort you to a room where you can rest. If you need anything, you can ask him."

He also summoned two maids to assist Wei Wei.

By the time Felix had returned to the castle, the servants had already lined up to welcome him.

The butler gave Wei Wei a polite bow and gestured toward the corridor.

"Honored guest, this way, please."

Wei Wei instinctively smiled and thanked him, then turned back to bid Felix farewell, also asking him to take care of her horse.

She didn't notice the fleeting look of surprise that crossed the butler's face.

As they left the main hall, the corridors became even darker.

The butler led the way, while the two maids followed behind, carrying her bundle of belongings.

Perhaps because they were servants of the Earl himself, these three didn't smell particularly bad.

Then again, it was also possible that the overwhelming stench of the castle masked their odors, and Wei Wei's near-shutdown sense of smell simply couldn't detect anything anymore.

She couldn't take it anymore.

Wei Wei once again begged the Reincarnation System for help.

"System, please save my nose."

[I can't. That would be an unauthorized modification. I don't have permission.]

The Reincarnation System, at its core, was just a lottery-style transmigration system created by the Underworld. Most of its power had already been exhausted during the failed teleportation, and the small amount it had left was reserved for returning to its original world.

If it used up any more energy to help Wei Wei, the system wouldn't be able to return at all.

It was only staying behind for now because:

It was partially responsible for the teleportation error and had to take some accountability.It still needed to retrieve Wei Wei's game inventory.It was terrified of getting reported—if the higher-ups found out about its mistake, it might be completely erased.

To its relief, Wei Wei hadn't threatened to file a complaint despite being annoyed about the situation.

This small act of kindness made the system feel oddly touched.

[Here, take this. It should help.]

A moment later, Wei Wei felt something appear in her hand.

She looked down and saw a small, exquisitely painted snuff bottle.

Through the clear glass, a delicate painting of red plum blossoms standing proudly in the snow could be seen inside.

It was stunning.

The system knows my tastes, huh?

Wei Wei's lips curled slightly.

"Thanks, but I don't smoke. And isn't snuff supposed to be carcinogenic?"

[This isn't real snuff. It doesn't contain tobacco—just a blend of medicinal herbs and fragrances that refresh the mind. It's completely harmless.]

Wei Wei was relieved and opened the snuff bottle, bringing it close to her nose.

A strong, invigorating scent immediately filled her lungs.

Her mind felt clearer, and the stench clinging to her senses was instantly overpowered by the refreshing fragrance.

For the first time since stepping into the castle, she felt a moment of relief.

However, something strange happened.

As soon as she inhaled the scent, her mind automatically identified the ingredients in the mixture.

Mint, borneol, angelica… and jasmine as the primary fragrance.

Wei Wei froze.

"Wait. How do I know that?"

The system sounded exhausted.

[You asked for this yourself, remember? Your character in the game was a Female Physician. You're supposed to be a medicine expert—of course, you can identify herbs.]

"...System, you're too honest for your good."

Wei Wei had originally expected to gain some basic medical knowledge, assuming she would have the skills of an average Chinese doctor.

She hadn't imagined that the system would make her so knowledgeable that she could analyze medicine just by scent alone.

This wasn't a normal physician's ability—this was almost superhuman.

If the system was this honest, what else had it added beyond her expectations?

Excited, Wei Wei couldn't wait to get to her room and investigate further.

Arriving at Her Room

The castle's atmosphere remained eerie, almost like a haunted mansion from a horror story.

However, the stone walls were adorned with wool tapestries, covering their rough texture.

The floors were laid with red carpets, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise gloomy setting.

Wei Wei lifted the hem of her dress, carefully avoiding contact with the floor.

The two maids couldn't take their eyes off her, while even the butler stole occasional glances as he led the way.

They had seen many noblewomen before, but none quite like Wei Wei.

Her features were not Western, but her poise and elegance—combined with her distinctive, exotic attire—made her stand out even more.

And when she pulled out the snuff bottle, the butler nearly had a heart attack.

A glass (or possibly crystal) bottle with an intricate painting inside—he had never seen anything like it.

Even his former master wouldn't have been able to obtain such an exquisite item.

No—perhaps even the nobles of the royal capital wouldn't possess something so rare.

Who was this mysterious lady?

Could she be a princess from a distant land?

The butler couldn't help but wonder.

Selecting a Room

As they continued walking, Wei Wei noticed that they had been going upstairs the entire time.

However, the hallways were so winding and complex that she completely lost track of their route.

Finally, the butler spoke.

"Honored guest, do you have any preferences for your accommodations?"

Wei Wei thought for a moment.

"I'd like a higher-level room, preferably facing a garden, where I can enjoy fresh air and a nice view. Also, the brighter the better."

She wanted to add "far from the foul-smelling moat and free of rodents", but that might have sounded rude.

She just hoped the upper floors weren't as bad as the lower ones.

The butler nodded.

They climbed several more flights of stairs, passing through a noticeably brighter corridor, before stopping in front of a door.

The butler retrieved a key and unlocked it.

Inside, the room was exactly what she had asked for.

Spacious, bright, and well-maintained.

Most importantly, it had a large balcony that overlooked a beautiful garden.

As sunlight streamed in, the castle's usual dampness disappeared, leaving the air feeling fresh and pleasant.

For the first time since arriving, Wei Wei took a deep breath—and didn't regret it.

Wei Wei twitched her nose slightly, carefully sniffing the air in the room.

She detected no unpleasant odors—just the faint scent of fresh flowers.

Only then did she nod in satisfaction.

The room was well-maintained, with no dust on the furniture. Several freshly picked bouquets had been placed in the corners, filling the air with a delicate floral fragrance that was neither overwhelming nor artificial.

Wei Wei walked onto the balcony and looked down.

Below was a large, vibrant garden—so the air here really was fresher.

Her current position was even higher than the outer castle walls, nearly level with the pointed rooftops of the nearby towers.

Beyond the castle walls, she could see vast stretches of land and scenery.

She also took note of the room's position—it was located on the same level and side as two other balconies, meaning that someone daring enough could potentially jump from one to another.

Wei Wei frowned slightly, turning to the butler.

"Does anyone live in the rooms next to mine?"

"No, miss," the butler replied promptly. "Those rooms originally belonged to the late Earl and Countess. After their passing, Lord Felix did not move into his father's chambers and instead chose to remain in his room on the lower floor."

As a long-time servant of the Williams family, the butler still addressed Felix as 'young master', a habit from serving the previous generation. Felix himself never corrected him.

The castle had plenty of guest rooms, and under normal circumstances, Wei Wei would have been placed in a designated guest chamber.

However, the butler had noticed how much Felix valued this guest and had therefore chosen a more prestigious room for her.

Of course, placing her right next to Felix's chambers would have been too obvious, so the butler had cleverly assigned her to the vacant Countess's quarters instead.

This way, it wouldn't seem improper, yet it still showed a high level of respect toward their guest.

Upon hearing that no one lived next door, Wei Wei finally felt relieved.

It wasn't that she mistrusted people—but as a single woman, it was always best to be cautious.