Chapter 39
“It’ll be hard to blame just this spice. There must be other reasons as well.”
Edin rose from the sofa and approached me.
Then, after pacing meaninglessly around the sofa, he looked at me.
“Miss Daphne, it’s no longer easy to think that they’re only targeting us. That man intends to slowly seize and strangle the Empire’s very lifeline.”
“…Perhaps the Leodid family was merely used as a stepping stone.”
“I think so too. And it seems the situation worsened because they tried to cut ties with Radipal.”
“Can we really keep this knowledge to ourselves? Shouldn’t others also be prepared?”
“You’re right. But we can’t very well go around publicly announcing Radipal’s existence and telling everyone to be cautious. For now, I’ll send a magician I know to Miss Rose’s fiancé, but…”
Silence filled the drawing room.
Edin’s face, burdened by the difficult situation before him, was full of exhaustion.
If everything is delayed—no, if it turns out nothing can be handled—we mustn’t postpone Edin’s marriage. It’s time to introduce him to a new lady again.
Perhaps it seemed far too carefree to be speaking of marriage when the Empire itself might be in danger.
But if Edin couldn’t realize the wish he first shared with me, how despairing would that be?
He said he wanted to show his parents a happy family. Let’s help him. Surely, somewhere in the Empire, there’s someone who could move Edin’s heart?
After hesitating, I finally opened my mouth.
“Your Grace, I think we really need to hurry now.”
“…What are you referring to?”
“Finding the lady you’re going to marry! Yes, other matters are problems too, but for you, marriage is a very important goal, isn’t it?”
Edin let out an uncharacteristic sigh—“Ah…”—then nodded.
“Yes, that is also an important matter. You’re right, it must move forward.”
He agreed with me in his composed, gentlemanly tone.
It was wonderful to have our thoughts align so well, and yet—
Suddenly my chest prickled. Instinctively, I pressed a hand against my heart.
It felt like heat was rising in my head too.
Fidgeting with the frills on my dress, I shook my head to clear my mind.
It’s just because I haven’t slept. Stop thinking strange things. Time to go. I’ve already delivered the important message.
Edin probably needed time alone to think as well.
With so much tangled in his head, he’d hardly be able to sleep as it was—having a guest lingering in his house would only make it worse.
I grabbed the bag beside me and stood up.
“I’ll be heading back now. Ah! I’ll be writing to my precious collaborators today, so you can set marriage aside for a bit… And the shirt! I tailored it really splendidly, so you can look forward to it!”
What on earth was I babbling?
I was covering up these suspicious feelings with unnecessary chatter.
I knew I’d regret these words later, realizing how foolish they made me seem.
“Well then! I’ll be going now.”
I had to hurry home before blurting out anything else.
Words spoken in an overloaded state always leave regrets.
I’d sleep for a few hours at least, then write letters to Selvia and Sophia.
I also needed to check with Miss Rose to make sure the magician Edin had promised to send actually arrived.
Aside from that, I’d just spend the whole day making wedding dresses, shaking off these pointless thoughts.
Please, let this familiar feeling not be what I suspect…
The idea of facing a feeling I’d once known—one that had ended in tragedy—filled me with dread.
I hurried, almost running, to the carriage waiting outside.
From the start, he and I were never meant to suit each other.
A stubborn lower noble and a lofty duke—stories like that belonged only in novels.
As soon as I climbed into the carriage, I bent forward and took a deep breath.
…Aljerf, outside of the Academy, you’re just a noble without any land. Don’t you get it?
“Ah, at last I don’t have to see that stiff smile of yours anymore. They say your stupid father’s finally gone bankrupt? Goodbye. No reason for us to ever meet again.”
Back then, I thought those words hadn’t hurt me. But now, they echoed in my head.
“Rahee, I really am sorry. But… wasn’t our marriage always just about me compromising for you? Do you really think you could meet someone decent and live well without me?”
Why were these memories surfacing now?
My face twisted at the flood of unpleasantness that surged up.
What good is there in recalling that time?
I shook my head, trying to drive away the thoughts, but with little success.
All I could wish for was to lie down in bed soon—or at least for the morning sun to come quickly, so I could forget this pain, even briefly.
I made a mistake no beginner would.
Looking at the decoration I’d attached to the dress, I gave a hollow laugh.
Even if I tear it off, the needle holes will remain. I’ll have to start over completely. At least it wasn’t expensive fabric.
Today was Monday.
The shop was closed, but I was here alone, making dresses.
Not just wedding dresses either.
I’d written letters early in the morning—one to Selvia, and another to Rose, asking whether her fiancé’s condition had improved even a little.
When I wrote the line to Selvia—“I think I must introduce her to him as soon as possible”—my chest prickled and even my fingertips tingled with shock.
Still, I managed to finish that painful letter.
Now I could only hope Edin would like the lady Selvia introduced him to and free me quickly.
But then again—
Shouldn’t I keep seeing Edin? Radipal might really sink the Empire into his grasp!
If the Empire collapsed, what meaning would there be in me relaxing at a townhouse on holiday?
That man would surely wipe out the noble families and slowly carve up the Empire with his underlings.
No matter what, I have to keep watching Edin… Ah! Isn’t this far too much to be doing just for cleaning up Lena’s mess?!
My resolve not to resent her was fading.
More and more often, I thought—if I ever met her again somewhere, I’d like to at least curse her out once to my heart’s content.
With a sigh, I carefully unstitched the decoration from the dress.
Then I spread out new fabric and began cutting again.
Should I try meeting someone myself? …No. Honestly, ever since my past-life memories came back, I’ve lost any desire to date. Marriage, too—I don’t want it.
I’d never been especially interested in marriage to begin with, and that’s why I never engaged actively in social gatherings.
So why did my heart stir only when it came to Edin…?
At that moment, Rowan Leodid’s face suddenly flickered across my mind.
Ah! That’s right—I used to like Rowan too, didn’t I? Maybe I just have a bad habit of liking any man I grow close to.
So I was the easily-swayed type after all.
Otherwise, why would I feel this way?
The thought brought me comfort.
If I distanced myself from Edin, wouldn’t I one day look back, like with Rowan, and think, “Why did I even like him?”
Then all my current agonizing would seem laughably absurd.
Hehehe.
Suddenly, my hands moved faster.
Focusing harder, I finished cutting and began sewing.
I miss Berry’s quick magic… Should I hire another employee?
I was seriously considering it while I worked, when—
Knock, knock.
Someone tapped on the locked shop door.
But it’s a closed day. The postman, maybe?
It was midday, the shop filled with all the magical tools Edin had stocked up for me, and the street outside bustling with people.
Relaxed, I peeked through the curtain.
It is the postman. But… he knows the shop is closed today, doesn’t he?
Goosebumps rose along my back.
The postman always knew we were closed Mondays and would leave mail in the mailbox.
I quickly shut the curtain and pretended I wasn’t inside.
Luckily, he’d been looking down when I peeked, so he didn’t notice me.
Holding my breath until he left, I heard faint muttering from across the way.
“That’s strange… I saw her go in this morning. They said she’d definitely be here.”
I swallowed hard, watching him carefully.
“Well, I’ll just leave it. It seemed urgent, so I wanted to hand it over personally.”
An envelope slipped through the door gap.
I waited until the postman left before picking it up and checking the sender.
