“Oh my, look at these orders! Isaac and Jerome are going to be busy for a while, aren’t they?”
“There were the most orders for the fine soap, as expected for this time of year. I think we should start developing several other lines based on this!”
Anna and Derrick couldn’t stop smiling as they looked at the stacks of orders in their hands.
Across from them, the Frost siblings observed the scene while munching on cookies and murmured.
“…Mom and Dad are acting weird. They’re drooling over paper.”
“For adults, that stuff is better than food.”
“But you can’t eat it, so why do they like it?”
“Because it’ll let them buy a ton of food later.”
“…Is that good?”
“Yeah, just know it’s a good thing for our family.”
Hestia patted little Elvin, who was thinking hard with his small head.
The Winston Duke’s wedding had just ended yesterday.
During the three-day event, Derrick and Anna had gone around tirelessly promoting their scented soap to the guests, and even Icarus had helped advertise their products.
As a result, they’d received a flood of orders.
Among those was an order from Count Humphrey.
‘Even if Baron Harbor didn’t show any interest till the end…’
She distinctly remembered catching him glancing at their products before leaving.
‘He must be feeling bitter.’
No matter how much he’d slandered them, he was still a businessman, and there was no way he didn’t recognize the value of scented soap.
It was likely his pride that kept him from acknowledging it to the end.
In any case, the wedding had been fruitful in many ways.
“Hestia.”
“Yes?”
Hestia looked up at Anna’s call.
“I’m asking just in case, but are you interested in the young lord of the Winston family?”
She had been wondering when that question would come up.
With a resigned expression, Hestia clenched her fists.
Anna looked at her with a somewhat expectant gaze, while Derrick anxiously glanced at Anna.
Anna was unaware that Hestia had already received a marriage proposal.
Derrick and Hestia had kept that information to themselves.
However, before they’d left the Winston estate, Icarus had brought it up one last time, ensuring everyone nearby knew about it.
‘I would love for our dear Hestia to become part of the Winston family. And it doesn’t seem like Luciard is too opposed to the idea, so think it over carefully, won’t you?’
Flora, who was fully on the same page as Icarus, had smiled brightly, while Luciard had a sour expression, indicating his disagreement.
‘He knows exactly how his brother feels, so why ask again?’
Fearing that the topic might come up again among the adults, Hestia and Luciard discreetly parted ways without exchanging greetings.
They both share the same idea about engagement.
But to avoid further misinterpretations from the adults, it was probably necessary to state things clearly at least once.
“Mom, I’m only eight. Why are we talking about engagements?”
“Still, it’s the young lord of the Winston family. It looks like the Duke is very fond of him, and he’s quite handsome, don’t you think? Hestia, you’re too young to understand this, but a child with such beauty at that age is bound to grow up very handsome. Just look at the Duke. It wouldn’t hurt to claim him as yours early on.”
What? Is she really suggesting I accept the proposal just because of his looks?
Hestia was momentarily dumbfounded by her mother’s absurd reasoning, and Derrick quickly interjected.
“Dear, looks aren’t everything.”
“They’re not everything, but they’re definitely important. And objectively speaking, the young lord of Winston is a great match. Where else could we find such a good proposal?”
“But Hestia doesn’t seem interested in the engagement, and her future life will be something she has to bear. You wouldn’t want our choice to control her, would you?”
He had a point, and Anna pursed her lips.
“…If someone overheard, they’d think you care more about Hestia than I do.”
“Even so, you chose me because I care for Hestia, right?”
“That’s not entirely wrong.”
Anna snorted playfully.
Then, catching each other’s eyes, the Frost couple looked at each other lovingly and soon started holding hands and kissing.
Hestia squeezed her eyes shut and covered Elvin’s eyes.
“Mom and Dad are being lovey-dovey.”
“They’re at that age. Let’s just let them be.”
“Hmm! Hestia, where did you learn to say such things?”
“Come to think of it, our daughter seems quite mature for her age.”
Derrick and Anna, feeling embarrassed by their behavior in front of their children, flushed and blamed Hestia unnecessarily.
Hestia gave them a knowing look.
“I grew up being very perceptive, so it’s not unusual for me to be called mature for my age.”
“Perceptive? Who gave you that idea?”
“Ah.”
Anna and Derrick’s expressions rapidly darkened.
Hestia had been referring to her previous life when she’d spent twelve years struggling to take care of her siblings.
“I don’t know, someone just said it before. Was it wrong?”
“…Just in case, if anyone ever gives you that kind of treatment, you should tell your mom and dad right away, okay?”
“Yes.”
Parental concern was always nice to hear.
Hestia smiled softly, and the couple seemed somewhat relieved, easing the tension in their brows.
“But Hestia, your mother was serious about what she said earlier. It might seem a bit early to talk about engagements at your age, but in noble circles, talks of engagement often start early.”
The weight of Anna’s words had changed slightly, causing Hestia to straighten her posture.
“You’re my precious daughter, Hestia, but you don’t have noble blood. As you grow older, there will be people who comment on that.”
“Dear, that’s…”
“I’m not finished yet.”
Derrick tried to intervene, but Anna was firm.
As a mother, Anna wanted to offer her daughter realistic advice about the hardships she might face in the future.
No matter how much parents could act as a shield, they couldn’t protect their children from every storm that might come.
“That’s why I think seizing a good opportunity when it comes your way is also a part of your fate and your ability. It’s wonderful to fall in love and plan for a happy future. But there are many things in life that love alone can’t solve.”
It was a tough lesson for a child, but Hestia understood.
After all, the person sitting in front of Anna wasn’t really her eight-year-old daughter—it was her thirty-year-old daughter.
Anna had also lived a rough life, just like the thirty-year-old Hestia.
She had married her beloved childhood friend, had a daughter, and lived happily until her husband’s sudden death turned her into a widow overnight.
Anna was considered objectively beautiful, so much so that it was hard to believe she had a daughter.
And in a world that was harsh on single women, losing her husband had made her life unbearably difficult.
If she hadn’t met Derrick by chance, she wouldn’t have the comfort or the ability to provide Hestia with so much love now.
Circumstances change people. Love alone wasn’t enough to survive.
If Anna hadn’t met Derrick and ended up with a bad second husband, she couldn’t imagine how things might have turned out.
“…But that’s just your mother’s opinion. As a mother, I just want my daughter to live comfortably and without trouble. So, what do you think, my dear? Do you really not want to be engaged to the young lord?”
After hearing this, Hestia realized she couldn’t just brush the matter off anymore.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve only read about engagements in fairy tales.”
The typical age for marriage was around 18 to 23.
During that time, Hestia had been too busy supporting her younger siblings to even think about marriage.
She had so many responsibilities that she couldn’t focus solely on love.
As time passed and she missed the ideal age for marriage, when she first married off Elvin, she felt mixed emotions.
She felt some sadness, and perhaps envy towards the happy Elvin.
But the pride of raising her sibling safely was the strongest feeling.
So she managed to suppress the negative emotions she had initially felt.
Since she herself couldn’t marry, she was determined to ensure her siblings married well.
It was a form of vicarious satisfaction.
She had lived her entire life for others, not herself.
Even now, after being reborn, she was constantly preparing for future dangers.
Perhaps having lived her whole life for others, focusing solely on herself felt strange.
When Icarus had brought up an engagement with Luciard, it hadn’t felt like it was about her at all, but someone else.
But that didn’t mean she had never dreamed of it.
“I read in books that the happiest thing is to build a family with someone you love.”
Ordinary. It seems like the happiest thing, yet it’s one of the hardest to achieve.
It was also the life Hestia had longed for.
She wanted to live an ordinary life after removing all the dangers.
Seeing the unwavering look in Hestia’s green eyes, Anna closed her eyes and smiled softly, thinking of her first husband.
“Alright, then we’ll pretend the engagement talk never happened.”
“Really?”
Hestia and Derrick widened their eyes in surprise, having not expected Anna to back down so easily.
“My, my. Did you think your mother would force you to get engaged?”
“Umm… a little?”
“To be honest… yes.”
When even Derrick raised his hand, Anna let out a helpless chuckle.
“My goodness. I’m still your mother, you know. I wouldn’t force my daughter to do something she doesn’t want to. As you said, Tia’s life is hers to live, and if our choices lead her down the wrong path, who would bear the blame?”
Anna shuddered at the thought of hearing her daughter’s resentment.
Crossing her arms, Anna snorted arrogantly before glancing at both Derrick and Hestia.
“Tia, just live your life however you want.”
“…Mom?”
“We might not have been able to give you much up until now, but things will be different from now on. If anyone ever dares to look down on you because of your bloodline, just come straight to your father or me. We’ll make sure to teach them a lesson.”
“But didn’t you just say to be careful?”
“Thinking about it, it annoys me. How can people discriminate based on lineage? Even if I had risen in status overnight and heard such things, but I’ll never tolerate someone speaking like that to my daughter.”
Anna, gritting her teeth, seemed to recall all the times she’d been treated with disdain.
“Your father and I are behind you, so don’t worry about anything. Live your life as you wish! I’ll support you in everything!”
Had Anna ever been this proactive before?
Was it because she remembered the times she’d been looked down on, or perhaps she just wanted to raise her daughter in a better environment?
Feeling her mother’s overwhelming love, Hestia’s nose tingled, and she felt herself tear up.
“Honey…”
“…No matter what you say, I’m not going to hold back my support for Tia. So, you better cooperate too.”
Even though Derrick trailed off at the end, Anna stood firm. But soon she looked at Derek with a somewhat anxious expression.
Worried that he might not agree with her.
But her concerns were soon dispelled as Derrick’s eyes widened, and he smiled warmly at her.
“I would never hold back on supporting our children either, and that includes Tia, of course.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. Hestia is my eldest daughter. Though I may not be as well-off as you, I didn’t grow up in a particularly wealthy environment, so now that I can, I want to give our children everything they need. Honestly, I’m grateful you said it first.”
Taking Anna’s hand, Derrick reassured her not to worry about the future.
Anna teared up, and Hestia lowered her head, discreetly wiping her tears as well.
‘I really am… a happy person.’
No matter how harmonious a family might be, it wouldn’t be like this.
And to ensure that this harmony continued unchanged, she vowed to work even harder.
Hestia glanced around at her family and made a quiet resolution within herself.
