TVEWD 26

‘Mr. Albert used the ointment.’

Honestly, it was a plan almost like gambling.

Fortunately, Albert used the ‘Grow Hair’ ointment, and the results were satisfactory.

Barret, the elder who closely observed the change in Albert’s hair volume, happily approved the ointment’s sale.

Albert had come to deliver that news, and seeing his hair twice as thick, Fresa and Lycaon couldn’t keep their mouths shut.

With increased hair volume, Albert’s face strangely appeared softer.

His unfamiliar smile was an added bonus.

“After all, hair is precious. Who would have thought he could smile like that?”

Moreover, news arrived that Daisy’s medicine alleviated her allergy symptoms.

It was a relief that young Daisy no longer had to suffer under the sunlight.

‘Thanks to Mr. Albert, the ointment’s promotion worked out well.’

This morning, right after hearing rumors that the Gilespie Count couple’s honeymoon had ended, I resumed the pharmacy business.

The limited edition hair loss treatment was sold out in no time.

‘I never imagined so many people in this small village suffered from hair loss.’

The response was much more enthusiastic than expected.

Fortunately, Jed had returned yesterday, so we weren’t short-handed.

As soon as Jed arrived, he became an excellent worker at the pharmacy.

“While I was away, you developed some amazing medicine, Lady Resa.”

Jed muttered with a face that looked even more exhausted than Lycaon’s.

Apparently, the journey by ship wasn’t smooth.

“Gilespie and I worked pretty hard, Jed.”

Meanwhile, Lycaon’s complexion had already brightened remarkably.

Of course, he was still steadily taking medication for his lingering aches.

Fresa tidied up the sales counter and asked the two.

“Tomorrow will be even busier, are you okay? We need to make more peppermint water early in the morning.”

Seizing the opportunity, Fresa sold peppermint water with the hair loss ointment as a package deal.

She called it a service, but it was also a strategic sales tactic.

Soon, more people would be looking for peppermint water.

Things were going surprisingly smoothly.

“The staff follow the boss’s orders. It’s nice to spend more time together.”

Lycaon seemed indifferent, but Jed was not.

He cautiously asked with a tired face.

“Starting early in the morning, what time do we begin?”

“Probably around 5 a.m.?”

“That’s not morning, that’s dawn…”

Jed protested, but his words were cut off when Lycaon poked him in the side.

Jed’s expression darkened further.

Fresa smiled cheerfully at Jed and Lycaon.

“Then you both should go home early and rest. We’ll have to start working at dawn tomorrow.”

Jed was about to take off his apron immediately, but Lycaon was not.

He waited until Jed left, then approached Fresa.

“Resa, would you like to have dinner with me? To celebrate the success of the new medicine sales.”

“Hm.”

Fresa pretended to hesitate.

Lycaon lowered his gaze, giving a puppy-like expression with his tail between his legs.

“Not interested?”

As Fresa took a long time to respond, Lycaon hurriedly asked.

Finally, Fresa spoke.

“I want to treat you today. How about it?”

“…You? Cooking yourself?”

Lycaon’s eyes widened.

It looked as if Fresa had made a very big decision.

Fresa narrow her eyes in a somewhat amused way.

“Why? Don’t you believe me?”

“Oh, that’s impossible. I’m just a little happy.”

Lycaon smiled, as if he hadn’t just looked surprised.

He truly had a difficult-to-get used-to appearance.

Perhaps because he was recovering, Lycaon now looked almost like a shining sunlight.

Though once he seemed somewhat forlorn and full of stories, he now openly radiated that level of confidence.

Fresa averted her gaze, feeling overwhelmed by his sparkle, and spoke.

“Jed, come along too.”

“…Am I not the only one invited?”

He sounded disappointed, as if he was letting it show.

“Jed has also worked hard since he returned. It’ll just take a little time to prepare, so please come comfortably.”

Lycaon still looked disappointed but nodded obediently.

“Understood. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Don’t worry.”

“See you later, boss.”

Lycaon stared at Fresa’s face with a mischievous smile and then left the pharmacy.

‘Ugh. Really, he shouldn’t smile like that everywhere he goes.’

He acts in a way that easily charms people without a second thought.

Fresa shook her head and checked her earnings for the day.

‘The customers in Paro Village aren’t enough. I need to distribute to other villages too…’

From what she roughly learned, there was no direct distribution method in this village.

She would have to use an outside company, but that would mean dealing with commissions again.

‘Dealing with the guild or the upper class is probably the most stable.’

But she couldn’t just choose any place.

Somewhat trustworthy.

‘Business is really tough.’

Having to think about so many things made her head spin.

Even if she prepared in advance, facing the reality was another story.

“Busy without even having time to talk. I can’t even leave the pharmacy, and you’re the only one I can talk to. Do you know how boring that is?”

Reese, who had been quietly floating around the pharmacy all day, spoke with a dissatisfied voice.

Fresa finally remembered his presence.

She had been so busy she completely forgot.

Sorry for not paying attention.

“Sorry, Lord Reese. It was a very busy day today.”

“Honestly, wasn’t my help quite significant, Resa? I feel a little disappointed.”

Reese looked gloomy, his ash-gray fur duller.

It seemed he was feeling down from not receiving her attention.

At first, he acted like an imposing spirit, but now he looked like an emotional old man with mood swings.

Fresa gently held Reese, clasping him with both hands and meeting his eyes.

“Tomorrow, I’ll plant a lot of plants. I need more herbs, after all.”

“…Really?”

“Of course. Do you think I’d lie to the great spirit of the World Tree?”

Fresa exaggeratedly praised him, and Reese’s fur turned a faint pink.

He probably felt embarrassed.

“Hmph, hmph. Then I’ll understand with a big heart today. But you must keep your promise.”

“Of course.”

Reese slipped out of Fresa’s hands and settled on her head.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

‘A guest late after hours? Maybe a customer?’

Fresa asked toward the door.

“Who is it?”

“Resa… No, Lady Resa. It’s me, Scala. Do you remember?”

It was Scala from the ‘Homeward Guild.’

Her crisp voice was still vivid in her memory.

Fresa took the jingling coins from her pocket and opened the door.

Scala greeted her with a big smile.

“Lady Resa! It’s been a while! Have you settled into the village well? I’m so glad to see you again in good health!”

“Yes, thanks to that. But what brings you here today?”

Scala asked cheerfully, but Fresa cut her off firmly.

She didn’t want to get caught up in another unexpected trouble like last time.

Scala looked hurt by Fresa’s cold reaction, but Fresa maintained a thoroughly cool attitude.

Scala glanced cautiously at Fresa’s expression and quickly got to the point.

“It’s a bit late, but the guild master wants to apologize personally. There was a little issue regarding the move last time.”

“The guild master?”

I had only met the guild master of the ‘Homeward Guild’ once when signing the contract.

I don’t really know what kind of person he is, but a good idea flashed through Fresa’s mind.

She smiled kindly at Scala.

“Please tell him I’m always available. The sooner, the better.”

Elias could not accept it.

The decision of Rowan Gilespie, the last hope of the fallen Thorpe family, was unbearable.

Elias tried to stay calm, but he couldn’t completely hide his distorted face.

He took several deep breaths inward, struggling to compose himself, then finally managed to speak.

“May I ask why you made such a decision?”

Rowan, sitting cross-legged on the sofa across from the reception room, answered calmly.

“This is not just my decision. It was discussed and decided upon by the vassals as well, so I ask for your understanding.”

Elias clenched his fists tightly.

Rowan said he could not help the Thorpe family.

No, he didn’t want to help at all.

Elias was completely unprepared for this unexpected situation.

Until now, his father had handled such major family matters, so it was understandable.

“The Thorpe family cannot bear the debt right now. Relying on only friendship, investing is pointless.”

Rowan took a sip of tea and added more explanation.

His cold tone contained not an ounce of pity.

He was so cold that Elias questioned whether this person he had discussed future plans with was truly the same.

It was hard for Elias to accept how much Rowan had changed in just a few days.

“Is there another reason?”

“No. It’s simply a choice for Gilespie’s future.”

Rowan answered without hesitation

Elias suppressed his despair.

No words came out.

If this continues, the Thorpe family will disappear.

Their noble name, honor, and assets will all turn to dust.

What he was supposed to inherit was slipping away like sand.

“I’m sorry, Count Thorpe. I hope you navigate this crisis successfully.”

With those words, Rowan stood up and turned his back.

Elias couldn’t even see him off, staring blankly at the back of his head.

As soon as the door to the reception room closed, Rowan smiled slightly, lifting the corners of his mouth.

‘Fresa, this was a choice for you. So you’ll have no choice but to accept me.’

Despite refusing the Thorpe family’s request with elaborate reasons, that was his true intention.

He wanted to show Fresa, who no longer loved him and pushed him away, what he truly thought.

Rowan knew better than anyone how Fresa had been treated by the Thorpe family.

He wondered what expression she would wear upon hearing this news.

“I’m quite looking forward to it.”

Rowan muttered cheerfully and left the Thorpe estate.

All he needed now was a little time.

Time to devise a plan to control both Alicia and Fresa.

Though his feelings for Alicia had cooled, she was still someone he needed now.

The overwhelming attention on their marriage had kept him from acting freely.

‘So I must be cautious.’

Since Alicia was beginning to suspect Rowan, it was time to soothe her.

On his way back, Rowan bought a basket of fresh roses to give to Alicia.

If he gifted her and whispered that he loved her, her suspicions would disappear quickly.

All for his wife, who was innocent and beautiful but no longer loved him.

~·~·* . * . *·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!