* * *
Mark’s POV
“Rusto Company will not do business with Mark Kuruz personally.”
“Agrid Company will no longer engage in any transactions with you.”
“Milburn Trading Company will cease to sell grain.”
Numerous messengers visited Windsor’s estate to relay these messages and then disappeared. And uniformly, they added this later.
“Our company deals with the Windsor family, not with you, Mark Kuruz.”
“Damn it…”
Fury rose in me. It was clear to me that Windsor’s direct lineage was intimidating the merchants to pressure me!
I was planning to have a party next week!
Invitations had already been sent out. And I had invited every beauty in the territory!
I had intended to flaunt my authority before them. I had even ordered food, but now it was all being canceled!
Hmph, foolish people. There are many other shops in the territory!
There were shops run by individuals not affiliated with large trading companies. I could just purchase from them!
“Hurry up and buy anything! Just get everything!”
I sent my confidant, Priest Morius. But then.
“All the food stores in the territory have closed.” Morius returned, pale-faced.
“What? What are you talking about!”
“Truly, Milord. There are no shops open now!”
“That’s nonsense! Those petty traders live hand to mouth. They can’t afford to close!”
“That’s…” Morius hesitated before sighing. “They said everything’s already sold.”
“…What?”
“Dozens of messengers, in the name of Windsor, swept up all the food in the territory. Every piece of meat, every bottle of water, everything…” Morius looked distraught. “All the stores are completely empty, Milord!”
Empty? Every single food store in the territory? Impossible.
My lips quivered.
Is it possible for all the food stores in Windsor’s territory to be empty?
“T-That’s not all.”
Morius continued, making me flinch.
What more could there be?
“They’re distributing what they brought to the people for free.”
“…”
* * *
Allice’s POV
What’s happening?
“Lady Danae! Thank you, Lady Danae!”
I looked around, dumbfounded.
“Lady of the Windsor family!”
“Wooooow!”
What is all this?
“The saintess!”
“Thank you, Saintess!”
Why is everyone acting like this?
After a hard journey, I finally arrived at the Windsor estate. As soon as I arrived, I saw an unbelievable sight. The estate residents were gathered in crowds, cheering loudly.
“Saintess! Thank you!”
Saintess? Who could that be?
“Lady Danae!”
Why are they calling out sister’s name?
Everyone seemed crazy. Muttering to myself, I kept walking.
Why is everyone lining up like that?
The line stretched endlessly. Everyone was excitedly laughing, chatting, and calling out Sister Dana’s name.
Why on earth…?
Then, at the end of the line, I saw her.
“Please don’t call me a saintess. I am not a saintess.”
Sister Dana’s face looked troubled.
“I am just doing what is expected as a direct descendant of Windsor.”
I finally realized. Sister Dana was handing out various items to the residents. There were cabbages, meat, mushrooms, bread, cakes, cookies, wine… The variety was impressive.
No way.
“Thank goodness. I was short on food expenses this month because of a deficit, but the Windsor family saved me.”
“I know, right! Who knew she would be so amazing.”
“Mom, I’m having chocolate for the first time!”
Could it be that she’s giving out food for free? Why is she doing that? For praise? For cheers?
Sister. It’s not right to buy people’s hearts with money! Doing such a lowly thing, aren’t you ashamed?!
I quickly pushed through the crowd and walked up. “Sister!”
I reached out her hand. I had intended to place it on Sister Dana’s shoulder.
“Ah!”
At that moment, a forceful grip caught my wrist. Someone had grabbed my wrist!
“Oh, it’s you, Allice.”
It was Brother Rumie.
I stared at him, bewildered. “Brother Rumie?”
“Yes, Allice. What are you doing here? And what were you trying to do just now?”
“I was just trying to say hi to sister…”
Rumie barely listened as he meticulously examined my palm. Then he said, “Hmm, it looks like there are no poison needles.”
What?
I repeated his words in my mind. No poison needles? Does he think I was going to attack Sister Dana?
“I’m here in the capacity of serving as Dana’s guard.”
“Let go of her.”
At that moment, a man intervened from behind me. It was the bodyguard mom had assigned.
“Lady Allice is in pain.”
“Hmm? Who are you?”
“I am Yoris, Lady Allice’s bodyguard.”
“Ah, I see. Nice to meet you.”
Rumie greeted indifferently and let go of Allice. Then he tapped Dana’s shoulder. “Dana, Allice is here.”
Sister Dana quickly turned her head.
“…Allice?”
“Si-Sister Dana.”
“What are you doing here?”
I was shocked by her gaze, which looked at me like an unwelcome guest. It was a look as if she was seeing a foul-smelling mold.
“Why are you here, Allice?”
“That’s because I want to help Sister…” Tears welled up. I tried to hold back my sobs.
Yes, I came with that intention. I came all this way simply wanting to help Sister Dana. But why isn’t she happy?
“What’s going on? Why isn’t the line moving?”
“What’s happening?”
Murmuring, the estate residents in line for food distribution were whispering. The cheers for Sister Dana were also slowly dying down.
What should I do? I didn’t want to cause trouble for Sister Dana.
“Heuk, I’m sorry, Sister. But, sob, sob, you didn’t have to get so angry.”
But the sorrow was overwhelming.
“I-I came to help Sister, so…”
“Move.”
“…”
“Move aside.”
Huh?
“Can’t you see what I’m doing right now?”
“…”
“Don’t interfere and move. I’m busy.”
I was stunned. With so many people watching, Sister Dana speaks so coldly? And she even looking at me so fiercely?! Then people will start to hate her—
“What are you doing? Why are you in the way?”
The resident at the front of the line complained.
“It’s my turn now. Please move.”
It started a burst of complaints.
“Yeah! Don’t you see we’re in line!”
Huh?
“People are waiting!”
Oh, oh?
“Move aside, crybaby! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting!”
“We’re busy here!”
My face turned red.
Then Brother Rumie sighed softly. “Allice, what are you doing? Move aside.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
Stumbling, I fell on my bottom.
“Kyaa!”
It hurts!
Brother, how could you push me so hard! I looked up with a face full of resentment, however…
“Thank you, Lady Danae!”
“Thank you!”
The expression on my face disappeared. Neither Brother Rumie, Sister Dana, nor the estate residents were looking at me anymore.
No one was looking at me. No one.
“Are you alright?”
At that time, Yoris belatedly helped me up. I cried my eyes out.
“I’m alright…”
I wasn’t alright at all.
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