Ellie's long journey finally reaches the imperial capital, but settling in is only the beginning. A single business decision soon leads her to an encounter that could change the future of her company.
The episode 4 of A Livid Lady's Guide to Getting Even: How I Crushed My Homeland with My Mighty Grimoires starts with Lunoa receiving another horseback riding lesson as she's reminded not to force the horse and instead relax because the animal can sense her nervousness. After finally calming herself, she successfully controls the horse, and the group's destination soon comes into view. Standing before them is the heart of the empire, the magnificent imperial capital where Ellie intends to begin the next chapter of her business.
Once they enter the city, Ellie asks Mireille to contact Sir Lucas after they have secured a place to stay, knowing he should have already returned to his mansion. Before continuing together, the group says goodbye to their traveling companion, who thanks Ellie, Mireille, and Lunoa for making the journey enjoyable. Ellie also reminds him not to drink too much despite his training, ending their travels on a warm and friendly note.
The trio checks into an elegant inn that immediately leaves Lunoa overwhelmed. She quietly points out that the hotel looks far too luxurious for someone like her and even suggests staying somewhere much cheaper. Ellie quickly dismisses the idea, explaining that running a company in the imperial capital means people will constantly judge them by appearances. Staying at a cheap inn would only damage their reputation before business even begins.
Rather than treating the expensive accommodations as a luxury, Ellie tells Lunoa to consider them part of her education. She explains that successful merchants must understand how to conduct themselves in high society, especially when dealing with wealthy clients. Although still nervous about the extravagant surroundings, Lunoa accepts Ellie's reasoning and realizes there is much more to learn than simply helping with everyday work.
Not long after settling in, Ellie meets Arnauld Langley, the man who previously managed her company back in the kingdom. Arnauld warmly welcomes her arrival and reveals that he has already prepared both a mansion for her residence and a commercial property where the new company can operate. His efficiency surprises Ellie because she never informed him exactly when she would arrive, yet everything has already been arranged.
The following day, Ellie visits the commercial property first. While the location impresses everyone, Arnauld points out that the building is slightly beyond their original budget. Even so, Ellie immediately decides to purchase it, believing opportunities like this are too valuable to lose. Her confidence catches Lunoa off guard, especially since Ellie had shown the same decisiveness when choosing the mansion as well.
After securing the property, Lunoa suggests renovating the building so it better appeals to the noble wives who will become the company's primary customers. Ellie likes the proposal and instructs Arnauld to oversee the renovations while preparing the mansion for their move. Arnauld gladly accepts the responsibility, allowing Ellie to focus on the next stage of establishing her business inside the capital.
With the afternoon still free, Mireille shifts the conversation toward recruitment. Ellie initially surprises everyone by explaining that she isn't searching for company employees yet but instead wants to hire additional household servants. Mireille understands the reason immediately, pointing out that as the business expands, she will likely spend more time managing company affairs instead of personally attending to Ellie throughout the day.
Mireille first suggests searching through the Merchants' Guild, but Ellie hesitates because she cannot freely trust strangers with her personal secrets. As a refugee from the kingdom, exposing her true background could create serious problems. Looking for someone who can remain completely loyal becomes a priority, prompting Mireille to raise another possibility that catches everyone's attention—a slave bound by contract magic.
The group begins visiting slave dealers across the capital, but the experience proves unsettling. One merchant casually describes a slave as replaceable and even offers a discount, leaving little concern for the person's wellbeing. Although Ellie politely declines, the visit paints a grim picture of how many slaves are treated. She explains to Lunoa that many are abandoned children or people ruined by failed businesses, reminding her that this harsh reality cannot simply be ignored.
Eventually, they arrive at the Cedric Commercial Firm, a place unlike any of the others. Mireille explains that its owner belongs to the influential Imperial Merchants' Guild Council, one of the empire's most powerful financial organizations. The slave trader known as the Educator supplies servants to the imperial court itself, making his establishment stand far above ordinary dealers. Curious about what makes this place different, Ellie steps inside to meet its famous owner.
Inside the establishment, Ellie immediately notices a clear difference from the previous slave markets. The atmosphere is calmer, and the people there appear to be treated with far more dignity than those she has already seen. The owner greets the visitors politely before asking what kind of servant Ellie is searching for. Rather than focusing only on skills, Ellie explains that trust and loyalty matter more than anything else.
The Educator listens carefully before presenting several candidates, explaining each person's background and abilities without reducing them to merchandise. Even so, Ellie refuses to make a rushed decision. She wants someone who will fit naturally into her household instead of simply choosing the most experienced servant available. Her careful approach surprises the merchant, who is clearly used to buyers making quick decisions.
As the introductions continue, Ellie's attention is drawn toward a quiet beastkin girl named Misha Tail. Unlike the others, Misha remains silent and avoids making eye contact, showing almost no reaction while the candidates are being evaluated. Her reserved attitude immediately catches Ellie's interest because it feels completely different from the polished performances of the other applicants.
The merchant explains that Misha possesses outstanding abilities but has been difficult to sell because of her personality. She rarely speaks, keeps her emotions hidden, and has trouble expressing herself, causing many previous buyers to lose interest. While others see these traits as flaws, Ellie studies Misha more carefully instead of dismissing her after hearing the explanation.
Rather than accepting the merchant's description at face value, Ellie decides to speak directly with Misha. She gently asks several questions, hoping to hear the girl's own thoughts instead of relying on someone else's opinion. Although Misha answers only briefly, her quiet honesty leaves a stronger impression than any carefully rehearsed response could have.
Ellie notices that beneath Misha's timid behavior is someone who sincerely wants to be useful but lacks confidence. Instead of appearing lazy or unwilling to work, she simply seems frightened of making mistakes. That realization completely changes how Ellie views her, making the decision far more personal than a simple business transaction.
Believing that potential matters more than first impressions, Ellie tells the merchant she wants to purchase Misha. The decision surprises both Mireille and Lunoa because there were candidates with longer experience and stronger recommendations. Even the Educator appears slightly caught off guard, as he expected Ellie to select someone with a more impressive record.
Before completing the purchase, the Educator carefully explains the conditions of the magical slave contract. Ellie listens without interruption, making sure she fully understands every responsibility that comes with becoming Misha's master. Rather than treating the agreement casually, she approaches it with the seriousness expected of someone accepting another person's future.
Once the contract is finalized, Misha officially becomes part of Ellie's household. Instead of celebrating the purchase, Ellie immediately speaks to her kindly and makes it clear that she expects honesty and hard work above everything else. Her respectful attitude contrasts sharply with what they witnessed at the earlier slave markets, where people were treated as disposable property.
Although Misha still struggles to express herself, her reaction suggests she never expected to be treated with such consideration. Lunoa also seems relieved to see Ellie acting according to her own principles instead of following the cold attitudes shown by many other buyers. The moment quietly establishes the beginning of a new relationship built on mutual trust rather than fear.
With a new servant joining the household and preparations for the company's headquarters already underway, Ellie leaves the establishment feeling that another important piece of her plan has fallen into place. However, settling into the imperial capital is proving to involve much more than purchasing buildings or hiring staff, as every decision continues to shape the future she hopes to build.
The group's return from the slave merchant marks the beginning of Misha Tail's new life. Although she has officially joined Ellie's household, she still struggles to hide her nervousness. Ellie notices the girl's uncertainty almost immediately and avoids placing any pressure on her, choosing instead to let Misha become familiar with her new surroundings at her own pace.
Back at the mansion, Misha is introduced to the household and quietly begins learning her responsibilities. Rather than expecting perfection from the start, Ellie encourages her to focus on one task at a time. The relaxed atmosphere surprises Misha, who clearly expected much harsher treatment after everything she had experienced before arriving there.
As preparations for the new business continue, Arnauld reports that work on the commercial property is moving forward as planned. Renovations are progressing, and the building is gradually being transformed into a location suitable for welcoming noble customers. Every update brings Ellie's ambitious plan one step closer to becoming reality inside the imperial capital.
Ellie also spends time discussing future operations with Mireille and Lunoa. Instead of rushing toward the grand opening, they carefully review the work that still needs to be completed. Their conversations show that building a successful company involves far more than simply purchasing a store, requiring careful planning behind the scenes before serving a single customer.
While everyone remains busy with preparations, Misha quietly watches the household members interact with one another. She seems surprised to see Ellie treating both servants and companions with respect regardless of their status. The welcoming environment slowly begins easing her anxiety, even if she still struggles to express her thoughts openly.
Lunoa also makes an effort to help Misha settle into her new role. Having once lacked confidence herself, she understands how overwhelming unfamiliar surroundings can feel. Their interactions remain brief, but they hint that Misha may finally have people willing to support her instead of judging her before she has the chance to prove herself.
Ellie's attention soon returns to the larger goal that brought her to the empire in the first place. Every property she purchases, every employee she chooses, and every decision she makes is carefully connected to building a stronger future. Rather than chasing quick success, she continues laying a solid foundation that will support her plans for years to come.
The episode spends its remaining moments reinforcing how much Ellie's circumstances have changed since leaving her homeland. She is no longer simply traveling from place to place. Instead, she is steadily establishing a new base of operations, gathering reliable allies, and creating an environment where capable people like Misha can receive opportunities they were previously denied.
The episode ends with Ellie looking ahead to the next stage of her journey as preparations for the new business continue. With a mansion secured, a commercial property under renovation, and Misha officially joining the household, the foundation for her life in the imperial capital is finally beginning to take shape, setting the stage for the challenges that await.
A Livid Lady's Guide to Getting Even Episode 4 takes a slower pace than previous installments, but it uses that time effectively to expand Ellie's new life in the imperial capital. Instead of relying on action, the episode focuses on careful decision-making and meaningful character interactions. Misha's introduction stands out as the emotional centerpiece, while Ellie's thoughtful leadership continues to define her character. By the end, the episode leaves viewers invested in both the growing business and the relationships forming within Ellie's expanding household.
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