003.

The dim dawn air seeped through the window cracks. It carried a pleasantly moderate coolness.

Radilt combed her disheveled hair and changed out of her thin nightgown. Yesterday’s flowers still spread their rich fragrance from an old vase.

What fault did these flowers have, forcibly robbed of their chance to bear seeds by human hands? So she had carefully brought them to her bedroom. Radilt released a short sigh and went downstairs.

The dusky living room remained quiet. Today and tomorrow, Pendlore wouldn’t seek her out. Since she would start at the workshop the day after tomorrow, she should attend to the neglected housework.

Radilt thought she would feel comfortable for these two days, then caught herself in surprise.

‘Goodness, to think home feels more comfortable.’

After losing Lushen, she had considered this place nothing but a bed of thorns. Only her small bedroom provided a tiny, peaceful nest, while her heart trembled whenever she encountered her resentful in-laws.

But now, just knowing she wouldn’t run into Pendlore made her heart relax.

Human hearts prove so fickle.

Radilt removed the sofa covers with a bitter smile. Too thick to wash frequently and quick to wear out with repeated washing, they only needed dusting until changing to summer covers.

She stacked the covers aside and was about to get a brush to sweep out the dust when….

Knock knock—

A knocking sound came. Who could visit at this early hour? Radilt went to the entrance and opened the door. A young boy about twelve years old stood on the low steps.

“Good morning, madam!”

The cute boy in a blue vest and white pants greeted her cheerfully with a bright smile. An embroidered salmon surrounded by laurel leaves adorned one side of his shiny vest.

“Thank you for using Piasont Grocery, always providing fresh, superior quality ingredients!”

“……Huh?”

“Here’s your ordered Piasont Golden Ribbon basket. Please continue to patronize our Piasont Grocery!”

The boy spoke melodiously and lifted a large basket. Under the thin cloth covering it, she could see a fish tail protruding.

Radilt shook her head in confusion.

“I’m sorry, but I never ordered grocery delivery.”

The boy opened his eyes wide, then spoke again.

“This order came from House Duston, madam. They ordered a one-year contract for delivery every two days. Aren’t you Mrs. Radilt Brill?”

“……What?”

Ordering such an expensive-looking grocery basket every two days for an entire year.

“I am, but……”

“Wonderful! Thank you again for your patronage!”

Radilt accepted the grocery basket with its gold ribbon, wearing a disgruntled expression. It felt surprisingly heavy, impressive for the small boy to have carried it.

The delivery boy looked at Radilt with expectant eyes. Houses that regularly ordered such premium grocery baskets usually gave generous tips. But Radilt failed to understand his look.

“……Have a good day!”

The boy turned away, slightly disappointed. He climbed into the waiting cargo wagon. Radilt stared blankly at the departing grocery store wagon.

‘……Perhaps because I mentioned not being able to go to the market in fancy dresses.’

He must have arranged grocery delivery to eliminate her need for shopping. Do the wealthy always behave this way?

Radilt carried the basket to the kitchen. When she removed the covering cloth, all sorts of foods revealed themselves.

“……My goodness.”

The first thing catching her eye was a plump ptarmigan. Completely cleaned with not a single feather remaining, its innards removed, ready for roasting.

Beside it, smoked salmon with its red flesh exposed peeked out its tail wrapped in paper, and a thick sausage coiled like a child’s wrist. Fresh eggs, ten of them, freshly baked bread still warm in its bag, various vegetables and fruits, even a bottle of milk.

With such baskets delivered every two days, she would have no need to visit the market. For a moment, she wondered if she should accept this so readily, but.

‘He hates me going to the market.’

So what could she do? This merely compensated for meeting his demanding conditions, Radilt decided to be more shameless.

Regardless, seeing such abundant, premium ingredients after so long naturally excited her. Especially whole birds like this—she could barely afford one for Thanksgiving. Not even common chicken or duck, but wild ptarmigan. Game birds proved extremely rare in the city.

‘I’ll season the ptarmigan and set it aside, then grill the salmon with vegetables for breakfast.’

The salmon looked so large that half would suffice. Slice the bread, add scrambled eggs. For lunch, making a plum pie would work nicely. The round, reddish plums looked so glossy they made her mouth water.

“……”

Radilt glanced toward the living room. Listening carefully, she detected no sign of anyone coming out. Her hand pulled out a well-ripened plum from the basket. She rubbed it clean on her apron and took a big bite.

‘Delicious.’

Sweet and tangy juice overflowed on her tongue. She suddenly remembered her childhood, freely picking wild fruits from mountains and fields. Those innocent days without worries or concerns.

The yellow flesh disappeared instantly, leaving only the pit in her palm.

Should she eat one more?

Nobody watched, and nobody would know how many there had been, and originally.

‘This was sent for me…… after all.’

Whatever the reason, this grocery basket belonged to Radilt. She bit into a second plum.

This one tasted sweet too. Sweet enough to make her eyes close involuntarily.

“Wow, what’s all this? What happened, sister-in-law?”

Surprised by the unusually abundant breakfast table, her sister-in-law Erite gaped in amazement.

Beautifully grilled smoked salmon sat in large pieces on each plate. Fresh vegetables accompanied it, and the scrambled eggs contained ham while the bread looked white and soft.

While Erite brightened, her mother-in-law’s gaze remained cold.

“How disgraceful. Did that rude man stuff money between your thighs?”

Radilt quickly shook her head at Merdea’s vulgar insinuation.

“No. He sent a grocery basket. Our contract never involved receiving money.”

“Why not take money?”

A man’s voice suddenly interjected. Her brother-in-law Garden, rarely seen at breakfast since he usually woke late, emerged with a face worn by fatigue and spoke gruffly.

“Squeeze him while you can!”

“But young master—”

“This child makes sense. For a man playing with a woman he won’t marry, shouldn’t he pay a generous price?”

Radilt lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together at these chilling words. The cry hovered on her tongue: Are you pushing your daughter-in-law to sell her body?

She did not play the lover for money.

That remained Radilt’s final line. Though accepting various forms of help, she never requested anything first. Everything served only to maintain the appearance of a woman suitable beside Count Duston, which Pendlore desired.

The splendid dresses, the new job, the abundant grocery basket.

Radilt never greedily demanded any of it. But if she actively sought money, not objects. If she reached out her hand demanding payment.

How would that differ from a pr*stitute who seduces men and removes her clothes?

“Mother. Don’t make sister-in-law miss the big prize for mere pocket change.”

Erite, who normally would have piled on, firmly stood in front of Radilt this time. Quickly sitting down and picking up her fork, Erite’s bright blue eyes glared alternately at her mother and brother.

“We must be careful at least until I catch a wealthy groom!”

“……But your brother’s words aren’t wrong—”

“Count Duston might leave tomorrow on a whim, but my husband will become family! You should consider that.”

Of course, Erite had no intention of spending her husband’s money on this wretched household. She would rather buy another dress with such money. Didn’t they say a woman becomes a stranger after marriage?

Hiding these thoughts perfectly, Erite smiled brightly, saying her success would pave the way for her mother and brother too.

“That’s true.”

When Merdea nodded, Garden, having lost his ally, silently finished his portion quickly and rose from his seat. Before turning away, his gaze fell on Radilt. His eyes held a dark, sinister energy. After briefly glaring, he retreated to his room.

“Completely different from that skinny freshwater fish~ I should quickly marry into a house where I can receive such breakfast tables daily.”

“You certainly will.”

Grateful for her protection against her mother-in-law and brother-in-law, Radilt softly agreed.

The salmon, full of meat just as Erite said, tasted soft and delicious. The vegetables also couldn’t compare to the usual wilted ones. Placing scrambled ham and eggs with salmon on the white bread, the rich flavor seemed to flow endlessly down her throat.

After breakfast, Radilt resumed cleaning. The other family members soon left, leaving her alone to sweep and wipe every corner.

Moving her body this way eliminated stray thoughts. The visible cleanliness spreading wherever her hands touched filled her heart with satisfaction, occasionally prompting her to hum.

She carried laundry to the backyard, filled it with water, pressed it firmly while washing, shook it out, and hung it under the sun. A cat climbing over the wall saw her and raised its tail.

“Hello.”

In response to her hand wave, it meowed and trotted past. Radilt straightened her back and stretched long. The sky above looked perfectly clear blue without a single cloud.

If only things could always remain like this, she would want for nothing.

‘Someday, perhaps they can.’

Peace and quiet, after all these storms pass.

* * *

About 250 years ago, after a long, dangerous voyage with no visible end, the first new continent was discovered. Afterward, through the efforts of those who valued discovery above their lives, other continents were found one after another, revealing that this world contained four continents in total.

The Empire of Ild Denangtuna occupied half of the largest continent, making it a powerful nation. After long wars ended, the country focused on restoring devastated lands and accelerating various industries.

Among these efforts, they particularly emphasized trade routes beyond the continent and pioneering sea routes.

With substantial support for maritime trade, a trading port established itself on the capital’s eastern side. It became the country’s largest, most prosperous harbor, connecting to major domestic ports and several routes extending to distant continents.

Boooooom—