Episode 89
All day long, Edwin had been helping me without a second thought, so it made sense he might feel hurt and misunderstood.
If I put myself in his shoes—if he had thanked some other girl, especially someone like Diana, instead of me—I would’ve felt pretty upset too.
‘I didn’t even realize…’
Guilt washed over me as I glanced at him. Maybe misinterpreting my silence, Edwin grew impatient and pressed me.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? What did that guy say to you?”
“N-nothing much! He just… said he’d make good use of the cure-alls.”
Not wanting to share the truth, I quickly made up an excuse.
His scowl softened slightly, so I seized the moment to speak.
“Listen, Edwin. Honestly, I’m not thankful to the Crown Prince at all!”
“What?”
Edwin furrowed his brow, looking at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Then why’d you mention him in your acceptance speech?”
“It was just to let everyone know how great my cure-alls are!”
“…So, in other words, you were just using his status to promote yourself?”
As expected of sharp-minded Edwin—he immediately got it.
I decided to go all in, hoping to erase any lingering resentment he might have.
“Exactly! The Duke, Madam Cloud, and the Crown Prince—all of them are just high-profile clients of Belze’s Trading Company!”
“…”
“But not you!”
‘Sorry, Duke Kallios,’ I silently apologized. ‘But it’s the only way to get your son to stop sulking.’
“…Hah.”
Edwin stayed quiet for a moment, then let out a deep sigh, covering his face with one hand. Through the gaps between his fingers, I thought I saw a hint of red on his face.
When he finally lowered his hand, I noticed the tips of his ears were still pink, like little strawberry tops.
As I stared at his ears in a daze, he muttered through gritted teeth.
“Don’t smile in front of those guys.”
“Huh? I wasn’t smiling…”
“And don’t call them brother.”
“Then what should I call them?”
Annoyed by his ever-growing list of forbidden words, I puffed out my cheeks.
“I can’t just say ‘hey’ to everyone older than me! What if someone actually hits me for it?”
“Who would dare hit you?”
His eyes narrowed in a fierce glare, then he added in a somewhat grumpy tone, “Just call them Sister, like Joshua does.”
“….”
‘Seriously?’
I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh of disbelief.
‘Does he really hate the word brother that much?’
Well, new information acquired:
[Trigger: Edwin has a meltdown when called brother]
It wasn’t a difficult adjustment to make. Since Edwin clearly despised it, it wasn’t like I had any special attachment to the term either.
“…Alright.”
The moment I nodded in agreement, his expression finally relaxed, looking far more at ease.
Clunk!
Suddenly, the carriage lurched as if it had hit a rock on the road.
“Whoa…!”
Edwin, who was heavier and sturdier than me, barely wobbled, while I practically bounced in my seat.
“Come here.”
Before I knew it, Edwin had steadied me and, as soon as the carriage stilled, he lifted me onto his lap.
“Huh?!”
I was shocked.
‘Isn’t this… a bit much?’
We’re both kids, but sitting on his lap like this?!
I wanted to scramble down immediately, but at that very moment, the carriage jolted again, even harder this time.
Clunk!
Edwin pressed me close, resting his chin on top of my head and holding me securely. Strangely enough, I didn’t feel any of the rough movements anymore.
My heart thumped wildly.
Though he was only four years older, Edwin was bigger in every way—his hands, his shoulders, his arms, his legs…
He was far stronger than me.
Unable to resist, I squirmed a bit. “Um, I can get down now…”
“Stop fidgeting and stay still. You’re heavy enough as it is.”
“Guh!”
His words made me freeze, face scrunched in an almost tearful expression.
‘He probably does this with Joshua too! It’s not just me, so calm down!’
I repeated this mantra to myself, willing my fluttering heart to settle.
Thankfully, since we weren’t facing each other, the awkwardness slowly ebbed away. As I stared at the empty seat across from us where Edwin had been sitting, the silence felt stifling, so I spoke up.
“…Hey, so…”
“…”
“Edwin, is that why?” I asked softly.
“Why, what?”
His voice rumbled above my head, low and close. Holding my breath, I gathered the courage to ask.
“Is it because… you’re worried I might end up liking you if I keep calling you brother?”
“No.”
His answer came immediately.
“I just want to mean something different to you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
I tried to twist around to see him, struggling to understand, but he kept his chin firmly planted on the top of my head, holding me in place.
“Oh, come on! Let me go!”
“If you really want to know, hurry up and grow up,” he muttered, almost like a sigh, as he tightened his embrace.
‘Hmph. I’m already grown up enough.’
I barely managed to swallow down my grumble.
Edwin probably thought I was too young to understand what he meant, but he was wrong. That wasn’t the part that confused me.
‘What more meaning could there possibly be…?’
If only he knew how much he already meant to me, he’d be the one shocked.
Maybe even horrified.
He had died because I hadn’t been able to let go. And even after returning to this life, I had stubbornly sought him out once more.
What would he think if I told him he was like my very heartbeat?
I gave a bitter smile, shaking my head at the thought.
That day would never come.
I’d long ago decided not to ask for more than what I had now.
All I could do was be grateful for the warmth he offered me in this moment.
With that thought, I relaxed into his embrace, closed my eyes, and let myself drift in the quiet comfort.
* * *
Several days passed after the temple’s charity event.
When I returned to the Duke’s household as the new Saintess, the staff welcomed me back as if I were royalty.
With their enhanced attentiveness and each meal being an extravagant feast, I spent most of my time lounging in bed, except for when I healed Joshua.
After all, I’d been incredibly busy and worn out from preparing all the products for the event.
These days, my favorite pastime was…
Filling a child-sized portable bathtub with gold coins and sinking into it to play with the shimmering bounty!
Clink, clink!
“Hehe! This is amazing!”
Throwing handfuls of coins into the air, I reveled in my triumph and newfound wealth.
The gold coins, freshly polished over a brazier, gleamed as brightly as brand-new currency.
And, thanks to my small frame, the 952 coins covered me as if I were submerged in a pool!
“Gold shower! Gold shower~!”
Humming happily, I let myself sink into the pile of coins, enjoying the feel of victory.
Then—
Bang!
The door suddenly flew open, and a familiar voice boomed.
“You brat! How long are you going to laze around and play with those coins every day?!”
It was Grandpa Gordon.
I dramatically covered my eyes, letting out an exaggerated scream.
“Ahh! How dare you barge in while a lady’s bathing! Grandpa, you pervert!”
“You little rascal! You’re fully dressed! Now get out of there already!”
“Ugh.”
Grumbling, I reluctantly climbed out of the tub, causing the coins to clatter with a clear, melodic sound.
Watching me with disapproval, Gordon scolded, “It’s about time you started working on your business, Belze.”
“Already?”
“Yes, already! While you’ve been wasting time tossing coins around, the fairy herbs we transplanted have grown beautifully!”
Gordon looked proud as he updated me on the status of the herbs.
It was good news.
Just as he said, it was time to put an end to my carefree life and officially launch the fairy herb business.
I hadn’t been entirely idle, either.
Reaching under the tub, I pulled out a large pouch and said, “Alright, but I need to visit the Duke first. Please put half of this in here—it’ll be 476 gold!”
“What, are you going to buy supplies?”
Though he looked puzzled, Gordon obediently began gathering the coins from the tub.
At this point, he was like my loyal servant… or rather, my wonderful business partner.
Just then—
Knock, knock.
Someone rapped on the door and opened it. It was the butler.
“Miss, the Duke has requested your presence.”
Talk about timing! It seemed the Duke had business with me as well.
I urged my loyal servant—no, my business partner—to hurry up.
“Let’s go, Grandpa!”
“Hold on! Not until I’ve packed up all 476 gold coins…!”
* * *
A short while later, in the Duke’s study.
“…Usage fee?”
The Duke raised an eyebrow, glancing at the hefty pouch of gold coins before him.
“Yes!”
“So, you’ve been using rare herbs from my backyard this whole time without permission?”
At the chill in his voice, I hastily replied, a bit nervous.
“Um, well… I did get permission, sort of…”
