Chop, chop, chop.

The meat, quickly cut into appropriate sizes, was wrapped in blue leaves commonly used as packaging paper.

“But don’t give your heart. Your former husband was a minor noble without even a territory, and your mother-in-law strongly opposed. Would a proper great noble from an overflowing wealthy family take in a widow?”

Just a brief fling, don’t get fooled or you’ll only get hurt. Radilt smiled faintly at the butcher’s concerned grumbling. Though his words were rough, she felt his care for her.

“Don’t worry. I know it best.”

Radilt said while placing the wrapped meat in her shopping basket.

“It will cool faster than a midsummer night and quicker than a midwinter day. I have no intention of flailing about trying to grasp a passing breeze.”

A contractual relationship that would soon end. A story that begins with its ending already determined, like roots withering before flowers can bloom.

“That’s good then. Just take what you can get and think about living comfortably. That’s best.”

“Yes. I should.”

“Don’t mind the nonsense talk. They’re just jealous.”

These voices would soon subside. When a new interesting topic appears, they would flock to it like sparrows discovering a farmer threshing grain.

Radilt bought some vegetables and a little flour. She also wrapped a fresh loaf of bread and turned around.

“The white dove-colored girl said love is like spring barley sprouts. Growing quietly even on days when eyes are closed, and when eyes open, the whole field is green.”

From somewhere came the humming of someone drunk early in the day. The white dove-colored girl said love is just a natural flow.

The wind that had grown gentler caressed her cheeks. Yes, even rough winds eventually subside. With the brighter weather, Radilt’s heart lightened considerably.

Everything passes. Holding onto that one truth like a lifeline.

Her footsteps trudged home along the path.

“……!!”

Then she suddenly froze. A four-horse carriage bearing House Duston’s crest waited for her in front of her house.

Her calm heart began to pound heavily. The trembling grew stronger at the sight of onlookers gathered around. Judging by the small number of people, the carriage must have arrived not long ago.

Before the commotion grows, either send the carriage away or get in.

Thinking this, Radilt hurried her steps but stopped again like she’d been struck by lightning.

Her mother-in-law, Merdea. Having heard the commotion outside, Radilt’s mother-in-law opened the front gate and walked out with her eyebrows raised stiffly. Her gaze, like that of a barren coyote whose territory had been invaded, fixed on the carriage.

Radilt swallowed dryly and blocked Merdea’s path toward the carriage.

“Mother.”

“What is this commotion? It’s utterly embarrassing.”

“I’ll send the carriage away immediately, so please go back inside.”

Merdea coldly brushed off Radilt’s restraint and stepped forward.

“I want to see the face of the man who bewitched you.”

“Why would a busy person come here? Obviously, they just sent the carriage. So please—”

Clatter, the carriage door opened as if hearing Radilt’s words. For a moment, everything went quiet. Under hushed gazes, a smooth shoe stepped onto the worn stone pavement.

A tall man whose full stature couldn’t be taken in at a glance, naturally making others look up to him. He lightly tapped the carriage door with the tip of his short cane.

Tap, at that signal, a servant quickly closed the carriage door. An attitude completely accustomed to commanding and employing subordinates. The onlookers unconsciously retreated, shrinking back from the natural pressure of authority flowing from him.

“Mrs. Brill.”

The perfectly dressed man without a single flaw stepped forward and spoke.

“Your welcome greeting comes slowly. May I selfishly assume that overwhelming joy has sealed those beautiful lips?”

Radilt snapped to attention at what sounded like criticism of her inadequate welcome and replied.

“……My surprised breath swallowed my voice. I never dreamed you would visit in person, so honestly, surprise precedes joy.”

“Not giving prior notice was my oversight. I foolishly imagined we had grown closer after your casual visit.”

“……What?”

His response contained a barb, suggesting Radilt too had appeared without warning. But more than that sting, Radilt trembled at the disaster the words “casual visit” would bring.

Sure enough.

“Are you telling me you walked on your own four feet into a strange man’s house?”

“Mother, that’s not what—”

“How disgraceful!”

Contempt filled Merdea’s eyes as she looked at Radilt like an immoral woman. Pendlore’s voice reached Radilt’s ear as she stood helplessly.

“Your mother seems strict. Since it stems from care for her daughter, I won’t blame the rudeness.”

“……What?”

Mother? Pendlore surely knew Radilt’s personal details already, so why? Before Radilt could express her confusion, Merdea stepped forward boldly.

“I am this child’s mother-in-law.”

Merdea tilted her chin up and narrowed her eyes, trying to display dignity. No matter how great a nobleman, as her daughter-in-law’s man, she remained his superior.

That arrogant attitude showed plainly in her entire body.

Now, how would he respond? Pendlore’s attitude toward Merdea’s demand for respect.

“Mrs. Brill, I request a share of your precious time.”

Complete dismissal. The blue-gray eyes focused solely on Radilt, as if not even recognizing the mother-in-law’s existence.

“……!”

Merdea’s face turned blue then flushed red at being treated as nonexistent. She pushed Radilt aside and stared directly into Pendlore’s eyes.

“How rude you are! If you intend to take someone else’s daughter-in-law, you must properly get permission from her parents-in-law!”

Pendlore quietly looked down at the woman shouting at him. The corner of his lips rose faintly as he spoke almost to himself.

“This is surprising. So Brill’s husband has returned from the dead.”

“……You!”

“Otherwise, why would a complete stranger with no blood relation presume to act as a mother?”

They were legally unrelated strangers, with no children, and she had even reclaimed her maiden name. Merdea’s complexion turned pale at Pendlore’s cold voice.

“Both of you, please stop.”

Unable to watch any longer, Radilt stepped in front of Pendlore.

“Though I lost his name, Lushen Sentangs remains my husband. Sir Duston, I’ll apologize for my mother’s rudeness, so please stop here.”

Instead of answering, Pendlore raised the end of his thick eyebrow. His hand reached out and took the shopping basket Radilt was holding. Then he tossed it into Merdea’s arms.

“This insolent—!”

“How many more times must I tolerate this molting sparrow.”

Tsk, Pendlore clicked his tongue and tapped the carriage door with his cane. A servant opened the door, and he pulled Radilt’s arm. After hesitating briefly, Radilt obediently got into the carriage. Right now, the priority was getting Pendlore to leave this place.

Left alone after the carriage departed, Merdea chewed her lips with a terrifying expression. The reed basket made a soft crunching sound under her bloodshot grip.

Inside the carriage, only the dark echoes of wheels and hoofbeats on the road circled. Though Radilt and Pendlore sat facing each other, they looked in different directions in silence. Radilt’s soft voice first broke through that heavy air.

“……First, let me apologize again.”

Only the powerful can openly show displeasure. For powerless Radilt, bowing her head and speaking first was the best option. Why antagonize the man before her for the sake of meager pride?

“From my mother-in-law’s perspective…… she can’t help finding it unpleasant that her daughter-in-law meets a new man while her dead son remains. She knows nothing about our contractual relationship.”

“You keep your word, Mrs. Brill.”

Pendlore turned his gaze from the window to look at Radilt. His hard expression softened slightly.

“Her temper must have been frost-sharp.”

“A promise is a promise.”

A satisfied light briefly shone in his blue-gray eyes at Radilt’s answer that she wouldn’t break their contract. However, Pendlore’s voice remained curt.

“For someone making promises, your appearance remains unchanged. You walked around carrying that filthy bundle of straw while dressed in such clothes.”

“……It’s reed. Luxurious clothes don’t fill the stomach. I’m an ordinary human who must go to the market daily to buy meat scraps and bread to satisfy my hunger.”

The market streets mixed with waste from various crops and meat trimmings, along with the excrement of horses pulling carts. Wearing flowing dresses and leather shoes there would mean throwing them away daily.

Radilt had neither a humble carriage nor a mangy horse. For someone who must walk on her own two feet, heavy and cumbersome clothing was no different from shackles.

“Still, I’ll wear a hat pulled down low from now on.”

If only her face remained hidden, wouldn’t that be acceptable? Radilt’s calm response suggesting she would try not to tarnish his reputation made Pendlore close his mouth. His expression made it difficult to tell whether he accepted this or simply found it tiresome to deal with.

Silence fell again. Only after the carriage passed through unfamiliar streets and entered another unfamiliar street did Radilt carefully ask.

“Excuse me…… where are we going?”

“I too keep my promises.”

“……Yes?”

Promises? While Radilt felt confused, the carriage stopped. The door opened, and Pendlore got out first, extending his hand. Radilt took his escort and glanced around slightly.

‘This is…….’

Blue Runiel Street, where Runiel parrot sculptures boasting brilliant colored feathers and fluent language abilities welcomed visitors. An elegant and classical commercial district in the center of the capital, not far from the imperial palace.

The ancient buildings each possessed a long history, yet under careful hands, they appeared flawless as if built just yesterday. The various colored and shaped doors lined up in a row featured sculptures and patterns of various birds.

A grand stage where brilliant birds displayed their lifelong polished feathers and voices.

Simple merchants couldn’t establish themselves on this street. To open and maintain a shop here, one needed to be recognized as a master craftsman in some field. Clumsy apprentices who pushed their way in without their own brilliance would soon close their doors amid the cold indifference of discerning customers.