Chapter 5 (Part 1)

When the dress made by Cecilia was delivered to the Richard ducal residence, it caused quite a commotion.  

“Why on earth would a nameless dressmaker dare send a dress to the Richard family?”  

Maria Richard, who looked at the box as if it were garbage, grimaced and caused an uproar.  

“Throw this box out immediately!”  

To her, anything other than a dress from a high-end atelier was nothing but trash.  

Tacky and shabby.  

Maria Richard, who had reigned as the queen of the social world for decades with her elegant demeanor, had always led the finest trends.  

So something like this was utterly unacceptable.  

At that moment, Therese, who had stopped by the drawing room on her way out, intervened to stop the servant.  

“That was sent to me. Please take it to my room.”  

Maria glared fiercely at her daughter-in-law, who had suddenly appeared and obstructed her orders.  

“Who gave you permission to wear such garbage?”  

“…….”  

Now that she thought about it, in the past, Therese had to ask her mother-in-law’s permission even to wear a single dress.  

If she didn’t dress up, she was accused of disgracing the family’s reputation, and if she dressed up too much, she was criticized for flaunting her vulgar blood.  

Eventually, Therese only sought out monochrome dresses, not wanting to fall out of her mother-in-law’s favor.  

“It won’t disgrace the Richard family.”  

When Therese replied curtly, Maria scoffed.  

“The fact that you exist is already a major stain on our family, yet you have the audacity to say such things.”  

“…….”  

Therese’s lips twisted slightly at Maria’s cold tone.  

‘I must have been truly foolish to endure such words for five years.’  

Even someone with the strongest mental fortitude would find it hard to stay sane when constantly exposed to such remarks.  

Recalling her past self, who had shrunk endlessly, Therese pressed a hand against her chest.  

“Are you dissatisfied with the marriage that His Majesty the Emperor personally arranged?”  

“What… What did you just say?”  

Maria Richard’s face turned pale at Therese’s question.  

It was said that there was no place the Emperor’s eyes and ears could not reach. Rats planted everywhere would report anyone who dared to speak of treason.  

‘If His Majesty the Emperor misunderstands even slightly, it will be disastrous.’  

Suddenly changing her expression, Maria gently patted Therese’s shoulder.  

“I was only worried you might embarrass yourself somewhere. Who else would look after you if not me?”  

Therese’s arm broke out in goosebumps at her mother-in-law’s affectionate act. Therese, who struggled to keep her reaction hidden, bowed politely.  

“Thank you for your concern. I will take my leave now.”  

Bowing to her mother-in-law was for the sake of her father’s dignity.  

Suppressing the tears that threatened to rise, Therese quickly climbed into the carriage. As she leaned back against the seat, she couldn’t help but glance out the window.  

‘Could he be following me again?’  

Lately, the Duke had been appearing everywhere out of nowhere, making her nerves unbearably tense.  

When Therese stopped by the bazaar, she ordered a large amount of flour early in the morning. As she watched the sacks of flour being loaded onto the cart one by one, Roshan let out a small cough.  

“I told you to stay in the office because you weren’t feeling well.”  

“I’m fine.”  

Who would believe such an obvious lie after seeing his injuries?  

But she couldn’t stop him from insisting on standing guard.  

“Fine. You must be doing wonderfully.”  

Shaking her head, she waved the documents in her hand.  

“Don’t forget to infuse the storage room with cold air using magic stones. Otherwise, the flour might go bad.”  

“Understood.”  

True to its reputation as the largest market in the Caspian Empire, the bazaar was bustling with merchants and customers from early morning.  

From expensive jewels to delicious bread, the bazaar had everything, and its mingling aromas created an exotic atmosphere.  

Standing beside Therese as she navigated the crowded streets, Roshan offered a word of caution.  

“Madam, please slow down.”  

“Do I look like a child who can’t walk? And who’s worrying about whom here? I should be the one supporting you.”  

Therese shot a sideways glance at Roshan, who was needlessly worrying.  

“It’s just that there are so many people…”  

“Which is wonderful. A bustling bazaar means everyone is happy.”  

Therese looked around the crowded streets with satisfaction.  

The Grand Bazaar only lacked merchants and customers during times of war or severe epidemics, so its current state meant everything was fine.  

“Madam, what are you planning to do with all this flour?”  

“I’ll use it later.”  

After arguing with her mother-in-law over a dress, Therese had stopped by the office and, out of habit, picked up a newspaper.  

Though newspapers were mainly used to relay news about the Imperial family, they occasionally contained interesting tidbits.  

The Emperor of the Caspian Empire had issued a decree to eradicate illegal gambling. He hoped to remind the people of the noble value of labor earned through sweat.  

Therese, unlike others, immediately realized that this decree was prompted by the Emperor witnessing a cockfighting ring.  

‘I knew he wouldn’t stay quiet about it.’  

At least it was fortunate that there hadn’t been any news of armed soldiers storming the cockfighting rings.  

Then, as she absentmindedly checked the date, Therese recalled the past.  

‘If my memory serves me right, a severe drought will occur soon.’  

The year Therese got married, a bad harvest had caused crops to fail, and the price of flour skyrocketed. As a result, commoners couldn’t even dream of eating bread.  

‘If I buy it now and sell it then, I’ll make a huge profit.’  

Next, she bought a few sacks of expensive pepper.  

She also remembered how the price of pepper had skyrocketed back then.  

Watching Therese purchase pepper, which cost as much as a sheep for just a handful, Roshan wore an unreadable expression.  

“Roshan, shall we go over there and have something to drink?”  

Intending to let Roshan, who looked exhausted, rest, she entered a small restaurant that was still busy preparing for the day.  

“I think I’ll have some wine.”  

“Madam, that will harm your health.”  

“Sophia once said that drinking a glass of wine a day strengthens the heart.”  

In the end, Roshan’s dissuasion led Therese to sip tea instead. Holding the steaming teacup in her hands, she felt some of the fatigue from running around all morning melt away.  

“Have you taken your medicine?”  

“Of course I have. Did you take your painkillers?”  

“I’m perfectly fine.”  

It was clear that Roshan hadn’t taken any painkillers, judging by how he avoided the topic. Why did he refuse to take medicine despite occasionally grimacing in pain?  

Lately, Roshan seemed to be hiding so many secrets, and Therese was genuinely curious.  

“Roshan, are you going through puberty?”  

“…Pardon?”  

At her question, Roshan nearly spat out the tea he was drinking.  

“Why are you so startled? Did you fall in love with someone?”  

Despite his large build and being three years older than her, Roshan had an innocent side. Unlike Therese, who had grown tired of unrequited love in her younger years, Roshan had never shown interest in the opposite s*x.  

‘Judging by how flustered he looks, there must be something.’  

Even though he often covered his face, Roshan’s striking beauty always drew attention. It was strange that he had never experienced romance.  

If puberty had arrived late for him, it would explain his recent behavior.  

The things he couldn’t share with her.  

The odd way he had been acting lately.  

Soon, Roshan composed his expression, sat upright, and spoke stiffly.  

“I don’t have time to waste on such things.”  

“There’s no need to get so serious about it.”  

Seeing him react so sharply, she wondered if he was harboring a love that was hard to confess. Then she thought of Victor, who was always by his side.  

‘…They say there are all kinds of love in the world.’  

Therese decided to pay more attention to Roshan.  

‘Finding a match for Roshan is also my responsibility.’  

In the Caspian Empire, where Roshan had no other ties, she was his only family.  

And there was more she wanted to do.  

She wanted to buy a comfortable house for Sophia to spend her old age in and find medicine to cure her father’s illness.  

The Goddess Diana had given her a second life, but there was no telling when this fragile existence might end.  

As the thought of the end crossed her mind, Therese’s eyes stung with tears.  

“I only need you, Master.”  

Hearing Roshan’s soft, almost whispered words while he held his teacup shyly, Therese, who had been on the verge of tears, laughed instead.  

She needed to stay strong for Roshan, who trusted and followed her despite her shortcomings.  

“Alright. Just trust me, Roshan.”  

“…Of course, Master.”  

At Therese’s confident response, Roshan reluctantly nodded.  

“If you’re done, let’s get going, Roshan.”  

“Master, do you still have more to do?”  

“There’s still more to buy.”  

Her plan was to buy goods before prices skyrocketed and make a profit later.