Episode 70

The remaining weeks of the imperial summer villa event passed rather quickly.

Though it was called a summer retreat, it was anything but relaxing for me.

“You’ve been up to quite impressive things, haven’t you?”

Helena, who arrived a few days late due to preparations for her sister’s wedding, summarized my unveiling of the new cape with that single comment.

She seemed genuinely pleased, as if she approved of my efforts. The lingering tension between us felt as though it had finally dissipated.

For the first time in a while, Helena laughed warmly.

“The Countess of Claire must be thrilled.”
“And so must you. Weren’t you planning a new silk farming business?”
“Yes, the one you invested in and designed. It seems to have really taken off.”

Raisha, too, often joined us in conversation. She even sent an article about the cape I had worn at the villa to the Marrit newspaper.

As soon as the article was published, the cape business soared. Demand for Tanina stalks surged, and northern artisans found themselves inundated with requests.

The Tanina plant, which had long been a burden to the North, now had a purpose, and fur artisans, who were typically idle during hunting bans, gained new work.

The results were immensely satisfying.

“Good day, Lady Mindia.”

With Helena and Raisha treating me so kindly, several other ladies began to acknowledge me and exchange greetings.

“We’re from the western region…”
“We haven’t been to the capital in so long…”

I didn’t have much interest in the social scene, but I didn’t reject casual connections, thinking they might one day prove useful for Chris.

“Whether I want them or not…”

Those people might become necessary someday. It was a lesson learned from living many lives.

Even so, while making these minor connections, a few things bothered me.

“Miss,” Marie whispered, slipping me a note. I sighed in annoyance.

“Is it that person again?”

“No, I think he left yesterday.”

After our conversation, Asad had lingered around the villa, occasionally sending me notes. Sometimes, he even blended in with the nobles, pretending to be a young businessman tagging along, all the while keeping an eye on me.

“You seem well-versed in business, Mr. Asad.”
“I suppose it’s because I’ve dabbled in it.”
“You must have quite the talent.”
“Not as much as the families present here.”

Perhaps because of his royal lineage, even as a cadet branch member, his looks, manners, and honeyed words of flattery were unmatched. No one seemed to suspect him, and a few ladies even appeared smitten.

“Don’t you think he’s ruggedly handsome?”
“Absolutely. That dangerous edge makes him even more appealing.”

Occasionally, he would speak to me directly, though only when no one else was around.

“I’ve sent the Cor seeds your way. But I think I’d like some compensation.”
“…If it’s money you want, I’ll pay.”
“Couldn’t I receive it with a kiss instead?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then how about exchanging it for information on the North?”
“Why don’t you try asking His Grace the Grand Duke directly?”
“You’re quite the expensive lady. Fine, consider the seed payment a loan for now.”

…He was a bold and incredibly annoying man.

At least now that Asad had left, I felt a little relief.

“One person throwing flirtations is more than enough.”

“My lady…”

“Then, I suppose this note must be from the other one?”

Even without Asad, there was still someone I had to deal with.

Crown Prince Albert Alathes.

“How did you know?”

“Usually, if a lady has something to say to me, she would come directly, not send a note like this. This isn’t Helena’s way either. And most importantly…”

“Most importantly?”

“The awful perfume smell.”

Marie looked confused, as if she couldn’t even tell what kind of scent was on the note.

“Considering how faint the fragrance is, I can see why you wouldn’t notice.”

“How do you know, my lady?”

When you’re constantly near that person, enduring all the torment, even the faintest fragrance gets ingrained in your memory. It was like an ingrained detection skill from a past life.

“Has His Grace the Grand Duke sent any news?”

Marie looked a little downcast.

I thought about Chris, who must be busy dealing with the courier town by now, and felt the absence of him painfully.

If he had been here…

Perhaps I would have refused the invitation to this summer villa and suggested a trip for us instead.

‘After all, I’ve been to many places in my past life.’

I learned a lot about traveling without much wealth back then.

Of course, now that I have enough funds, I’d like to leisurely show Chris the various parts of the Empire.

He likely hadn’t had the opportunity to relax and travel around, apart from the northern battlefields and the capital.

‘…Maybe this is a bit presumptuous of me.’

I didn’t know how Chris would feel about it if he found out.

Still, the thought of taking him to peaceful, quiet places kept crossing my mind, and I couldn’t suppress the desire to do so.

‘I want to go to peaceful places with him.’

That was always my wish for us both.

Complete peace.

‘…Even if this relationship is destined to end.’

Thinking that made my head stop spinning. I let out a sigh in frustration.

Marie asked me,

“What should we do about the Crown Prince’s note, my lady?”

“I don’t think I should even give him the chance to know I’ve opened it. Leave it, unopened, in front of the Crown Prince’s room.”

After Marie left to return the note, I sat on the bed and continued to think.

For Chris, I really needed to deal with the Duke’s estate.

‘If the current business brings in enough funds… perhaps next, I’ll look into the money sources.’

The businesses I’ve invested in and started seem almost guaranteed to succeed, but compared to the vast assets of the Duke’s estate, the amounts are not that large.

So, I needed to focus on cutting off their money sources first.

“Just like how I took this textile business from them.”

In the original story, after Lady Aria wore the fairy-winged dress, the Duke bought up nearly all the textile shops in the Empire, monopolized the textile market, and sold the fairy-winged dresses. He managed to drastically undercut the price of northern textiles, like Tanina, and made huge profits.

‘With that money, he even built a new building in the Imperial Palace for Aria’s wedding.’

It would be difficult now. I had already cornered that market.

Some smaller things were beginning to accumulate in my favor, though.

‘It’s still a long way off, though.’

There was still much to take from the Duke.

Real estate, mines, and other assets he was bidding on. Anything he already owned could be devalued by spreading rumors or other means.

I couldn’t confront the Duke directly, so I needed a reliable agent. It would take time to choose several trustworthy individuals, as I couldn’t use the same one repeatedly.

Ideally, I wanted to hire agents from the North, individuals who would have less animosity toward me.

It would likely be a difficult and tiresome task…

‘I have to do it.’

I thought about Chris, who had reached out to me in the dense, green hunting forest during my time of despair.

Once again, I desperately longed to see him.

‘…Even though I never sent him a proper reply to his letter.’

Since the letter he sent was intercepted, I hadn’t been able to send him anything. It seemed like he didn’t send me any more letters since he hadn’t received a reply.

By the time I had finished organizing things, it was evening. I decided not to go out during dinner time and let Marie help me get ready.

“My lady, you’re ready to go.”

Marie adjusted my dress.

I looked down at myself.

“It’s dazzling. This will definitely be enough to promote the cape. Thank you.”

“Have a safe trip, my lady.”

The last event left at the villa was the outdoor banquet in the garden.

No matter how aloof or distant one might be from others, attending this event was customary.

I put on the new cape that Helena had brought with her. It was quite thin, and though it looked a bit see-through, it was embroidered with daffodils, not roses.

Daffodils were hardy flowers, common in the North.

“That flower suits you as well.”

Marie whispered happily as she saw me off, blending into the gathering of other household servants.

She had also been quietly building her own connections and gathering information among them.

“I’ll need to hurry.”

I muttered to myself as I entered, and the young nobles who had already gathered were chatting in a lively manner.

As soon as I entered, the steward of the villa announced.

“The little sun of the Empire, His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Albert Alathes has arrived!”

All eyes turned toward the Crown Prince, who appeared bathed in golden light.

His attire, too, was almost golden in hue.

I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that came over me.

‘…Why is he here so early?’

He was notorious for being late to official events.

Given that, and considering how much time he must have spent preparing, his arrival was shockingly early.

“Thank you all for coming.”

As the formal greetings began, the audience gazed at the Crown Prince with starry-eyed admiration.

Every word he spoke seemed to send his radiant golden hair sparkling, like a living golden statue.

Only two people didn’t stare at him in a daze.

Aria and me.

The moment my eyes met Aria’s, I saw her give a small smile.

“…….”

Nothing had happened between us during the remaining time at the villa. There was nothing to be concerned about, except for the incident on the day I first showed the cape.

Yet, strangely, that smile was bothering me.

“Come to think of it, I should raise my glass. The last banquet just isn’t complete without a toast, is it?”

At those words, the Crown Prince raised the glass handed to him.

The pale blue liquid, the color of summer, swirled in the golden goblet. All eyes were on it.

“Furthermore, isn’t it customary to give this toast to the lady who carries the honor of that year?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Crown Prince’s hand turned toward me.