Every other day, without fail, a basket of abundant high-quality groceries arrived, and when it was time to go to work, a splendid four-horse carriage with a coachman and servant waited.

In the modest Snowgrass Street where Radilt lived, everyone now knew about that extremely unfortunate, yet extremely fortunate widow.

A beautiful noblewoman wearing splendid dresses and boarding a carriage pulled by four horses. Her in-laws, Merdea and Erite, boasted as if it were their own achievement about how abundant their table had become, how beautiful the gifted dresses were, and how fragrant their living room was with expensive flowers that never disappeared.

Snowgrass Street wasn’t a particularly poor neighborhood. Still, most people worked under someone else, and even the lucky ones merely operated small shops.

In such a street, carriages belonging to a wealthy nobleman who supposedly owned numerous large trading ships and countless commercial buildings naturally attracted not only envy but also those seeking connections. Though people gossiped behind her back, everyone was kind and polite to her face, naturally elevating Merdea’s pride.

“Of course I’m not happy about it. To have a child who entered my family openly meeting another man, my insides burn with anger. But a girl with the blemish of having been married once could never remarry into such a place. The ending is obvious, so I’m turning a blind eye out of pity as her mother-in-law.”

Merdea portrayed herself as a generous mother-in-law covering up the promiscuity of the daughter-in-law who had devoured her son. She brazenly declared that since she would obviously be abandoned in the end, she would extract as many benefits as possible and enjoy luxury.

“Surely, for the sake of that high person’s dignity, he’ll probably give her a shop or something. Since the daughter-in-law should manage the household, it would be appropriate for my youngest to take over.”

She often laughed joyfully, saying that when her daughter-in-law received a store as compensation upon breaking up with the nobleman, she would give it to her unemployed youngest son. Then the gathered people would start counting what shops Count Duston owned.

Food businesses are the most profitable, so a large restaurant would be good; furniture made from imported wood is trendy among the rich; he supposedly owns several jewelry stores filled with all kinds of gems.

The old, unremarkable two-story mansion quickly became a space of envy. People would glance at it while passing by, even peering in hopes of encountering that famous widow.

Radilt pretended not to notice all this commotion and focused on her workshop duties. She didn’t listen to what her mother-in-law was spreading around. It had nothing to do with her anyway. She had already given up the dream of preserving most of the items she received from Pendlore.

In the end, only experience would remain in her hands. That small gem that no one could take away was enough.

Thus, her only wish and hope was to work and learn on her own, eventually having a perfume workshop with a pretty sign, a modest sanctuary of her own.

“You’ve quickly become skilled. Very neat.”

Philip praised Radilt after checking the blue magpie roots she had prepared. When first asked by Count Duston, he had been quite displeased, but this new apprentice had good dexterity and quick wit. She was particularly better than her seniors at delicate work.

“Soon you’ll be able to go buy materials.”

“Thank you, teacher.”

Radilt bowed her head, her cheeks slightly flushed with joy. Saldat, who had been preparing materials with her, rolled his eyes behind Philip’s back.

“Do you know how to ride a horse, by any chance?”

“Yes. A little. I learned horseback riding.”

“Good. Very good.”

Philip nodded repeatedly and left with a satisfied expression. So learning to handle horses was helpful. Pendlore’s stern face automatically appeared in Radilt’s mind.

In her second riding lesson, she had used a side-saddle. It was a method of riding sideways while wearing a dress. Though it was less stable than straddling with both legs and gave her trouble, she managed to progress to trotting.

And tomorrow, on the workshop’s day off, they had planned to go to the outskirts together.

‘I’ll be able to bring Serena soon.’

Coincidentally, there was an unused stable right next door to Radilt’s house. The owner, an elderly man who had retired from being a coachman, gladly accepted the Duston family’s request. He said he had already cleaned and renovated the old stable.

‘It feels like having a friend.’

Radilt quickly grew to love the large, beautiful-eyed mare. When she gently brushed the mane, feeling the warmth in her palms, her mind naturally became peaceful.

Since Serena would continue to be known as Duston family property, there was no worry about her in-laws interfering. She could stay with her for a long time as long as Pendlore’s heart didn’t change.

‘……Still, he’s a man who keeps his promises.’

Despite being hurt many times by his cold sarcasm, forceful attitude, and frightening gaze that seemed to strangle her, she could trust that one thing. He would not deceive Radilt.

* * *

The next day, two carriages lined up in the main garden of Count Duston’s mansion. One was for the affectionate couple to ride together, and the other was for carrying luggage.

The hunting grounds in the outskirts weren’t far. It was a distance that could be comfortably traveled in a day, but nevertheless, the servants of House Duston moved busily.

They prepared lunch, tea time, and possibly dinner, and loaded soft rugs and folding chairs onto the carriage. A large waterproof canopy was essential during this season of strong sunlight and frequent rain.

With all these and various other miscellaneous items carefully packed, one carriage was filled in an instant.

Behind the two carriages stood two riding horses. The soft wheat-colored mare Serena and the large black stallion that Pendlore would ride.

“……That horse won’t fight with Serena, will it?”

Radilt, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, came out to the garden and worriedly asked, looking at the two horses. Compared to the black horse, Serena looked small and delicate. Hearing this, the horse keeper laughed and answered.

“Stallions are generally gentle to mares, so don’t worry. Especially Shtor—he’s a very courteous fellow to ladies.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. If it were another stallion, he would have already kicked or bitten, but look at that. Isn’t he putting on airs?”

Just as the horse keeper said, the black horse stood quietly with his head held high. He showed no sign of attacking Serena.

“He seems to like Serena.”

“Serena is very pretty, after all.”

Any stallion would fall for her at first sight.

Radilt boarded the prepared carriage with a slightly proud smile. Soon Pendlore also sat across from her. Finding it suddenly awkward to stay in the same space with him, Radilt turned her head to look out the window.

Soon the carriage departed. Radilt kept her gaze on the now quite familiar streets, occasionally stealing glances at Pendlore.

Next to the man sat a smoothly polished wooden box. He pulled out a thick stack of papers from inside. It was the report from the trading ship that had arrived early this morning.

Navigation records, material consumption, ship conditions, product purchase and sales details, trading partner status, and information about surrounding countries were densely written in tiny letters and numbers.

Pendlore quietly read through the reports bound together with string, taking them out one by one.

‘……Does he have a lot of work?’

His blue-gray eyes focused so intently on the reports that they never strayed beyond the white paper. He wouldn’t have flinched even if Radilt suddenly started singing and dancing. Therefore, she felt comfortable quietly observing the man sitting across from her.

His calmly composed expression, tightly closed lips, and the thick, distinct eyebrows above his slightly downcast eyes. Pendlore’s face, quietly absorbed in his work, looked handsomely drawn and even appeared impressive.

‘When I first saw him, he was like that too.’

Pendlore had instantly captured Radilt’s attention at the Plumen Party. Although she had no time to consider his handsome appearance once he approached and opened his mouth, when observing him from a distance like this, he truly was a flawless beauty. His tall stature, solid build, and beautifully chiseled face all combined in perfect harmony.

Yes, if they hadn’t been entangled in this contractual relationship. If she had merely seen him from afar and passed by.

Radilt would have remembered Pendlore as the heart-fluttering handsome man she saw at the Plumen banquet.

Radilt turned her gaze back to the window. The street where the Duston mansion stood had already receded into the distance, and they were traveling along a road she had never set foot on before.

Though she had lived in the capital for several years, Radilt had seen far fewer places than those she had visited.

Home and workplace, marketplace, the old workshop and spice market, and the cemetery.

She had circled those few places round and round like a squirrel in a wheel.

It had been ages since she’d gone outside the city gates. Those massive, thick gates she had passed through while trembling in the unfamiliar air of a distant land, staring only at her lover’s back. When was the last time she had seen those gates?

The carriage continued running, gradually approaching the tall city walls. The pointed towers came hazily into view.

“This is Count Duston’s carriage. Sir Pendlore Duston is aboard.”