“This much is at the level of play between young lovers. Unable to even lower a hand below the waist, leaving only traces of unfulfilled heat. A childish and clumsy clinging.”

At his mocking words asking why she was being so cautious over just that, Radilt only exhaled trembling breaths.

Her body felt as if it wasn’t her own. It trembled and pounded on its own, releasing a sticky heat.

Surrounded by all kinds of shock, the most astonishing thing was…

It wasn’t entirely unpleasant. She couldn’t feel only dislike.

She was scared, angry, sad, and miserable, yet still a small, honest desire stirred within her to willingly accept the man’s breath. The gentle rise of that desire felt the most terrible of all.

“……”

Pendlore, who had been quietly watching Radilt curled up and trembling, was the first to leave the bathtub. While taking off his soaked shirt, he said,

“Though I would gladly give up my place for you, who seem unbelievably pure for a widow, I cannot be a shameless man who leaves his tired lover alone.”

“……”

“I’ll turn around as you wish. Please let me know when you’re ready to face me.”

After those words ended, silence descended. In the quiet where even a single drop of water sounded like thunder, Radilt slowly turned her body.

Beyond the variegated light, Pendlore stood tall. His broad back was completely exposed without covering. His wide shoulders were as solid as fortress walls, and the lines of his body below were drawn with beautifully balanced muscles.

Unable to lower her gaze below his wet back, Radilt carefully came out of the bathtub.

‘……I’m crazy. This is truly madness.’

Why am I not more angry? Why am I not more scared? Why is there a fluttering excitement forming in the place where indignation should rise?

Radilt tried to forget the man’s n*ked back. She wanted to deny that it had been extremely attractive.

‘Stupid and foolish. Pathetic.’

Cursing herself over and over, she dried herself with a towel and picked up her undergarments and petticoat that she had taken off. That man was just being rude. It was an act deserving anger and hatred, but why.

Radilt dressed with a feeling of wanting to cry. She didn’t even have the confidence to sit across from Pendlore for a meal and wanted to run far, far away right then.

“……I’m dressed.”

At her voice that sounded weak and withdrawn, Pendlore turned around.

Radilt slightly twisted her head and avoided looking at him. The marks on her nape were distinct.

“Please go out first.”

Saying that he also needed to change clothes, Pendlore spoke to Radilt. Radilt silently nodded and quickly left the bathroom.

“Lady Brill.”

Assistant butler Rosie, who had been waiting outside, called to Radilt. Unable to raise her reddened face, Radilt spoke in a small voice.

“Um, please bring Lord Duston…… new clothes.”

“Yes, madam. I will convey that. In the meantime, please go to the reception room and rest.”

Rosie, like a respectful employee, pretended not to see the marks on Radilt’s neck and led the way.

‘Lunch…… how will I eat?’

Buried in the reception room armchair, Radilt anxiously glanced at the door. She didn’t have the confidence to face Pendlore directly. Just thinking of him made her nape feel warm.

Eventually, she got up from her seat and paced around the reception room. She tried to forget what had happened in the bathroom.

‘Think of something else, something else.’

Yes, let’s think about the work at Langfiel’s workshop. A wonderful workplace with all kinds of scents mixing.

Radilt recalled Philip’s kind voice. She had now completely settled into the workshop.

After giving Radilt a few more tasks to try, Philip said he would have to consider accepting her as an experienced worker. Her relationship with the other two senior apprentices wasn’t bad either. The only problem was Saldat.

Saldat increasingly viewed Radilt as a thorn in his side with each passing day. As Philip showed signs of acknowledging her, his face remained constantly scrunched up.

Even his one advantage of being diligent was diminishing as he increasingly dumped his work on Radilt and idled about, causing Philip and the other two apprentices to gradually disapprove of him. Judging from the atmosphere, it seemed he might be kicked out before long.

‘Since that day, he hasn’t directly laid hands on me.’

Was it because he had met Pendlore and was completely overwhelmed by his presence? Although he spewed all kinds of verbal ab*se, his actions didn’t go beyond unreasonably demanding that she do his work too. Radilt could handle that much on her own.

‘If he changed his mind even now, he wouldn’t have to be kicked out.’

The foolish man trying to break his own ankle was somewhat pitiful. Still, as an apprentice personally accepted by Philip, he wasn’t without talent. Yet his needless jealousy of Radilt—who had far more experience as an apprentice from helping Lushen run the perfume shop—was nothing more than digging his own grave.

After clicking her tongue several times inwardly and shaking her head, the bathroom incident became somewhat blurred. Thanks to this, Radilt was able to not be overly startled by the knock.

“Lady Brill, the meal is ready.”

“Ah, yes.”

Radilt picked up her bag and rose from her seat.

Just think about work, just think about work. And think about investments too. Just imagine the future of building your own workshop with the money you saved.

Perhaps because the weather outside was hot, lunch was prepared in a greenhouse that held spring year-round. A few bulbs had already been planted in the land given to Radilt. The seedlings she had chosen were also scheduled to be transplanted soon.

“Welcome, Lady Brill.”

Pendlore, in his usual neat appearance as if he had never been soaked in water, welcomed Radilt. He embraced her hand with a gentle smile.

“I apologize for my rudeness in the bathroom.”

He kissed the tips of her neatly trimmed nails. Radilt’s ears inevitably turned red.

“Are you feeling alright?”

Pendlore whispered softly as if inquiring about a lover’s well-being after sharing an intimate relationship. Radilt, with her mouth tightly closed, only nodded slightly.

That appearance was, to anyone watching, the shyness of a woman immersed in the crimson afterglow of lovemaking.

Lunch was peaceful. It was a quiet atmosphere with a few light words exchanged. After putting the last spoonful of soft cream dessert in her mouth, Radilt picked up her bag and opened it.

“I’ve brought my savings.”

Radilt said the amount wasn’t much.

“Before this, I didn’t have the capacity to save, so more than half is money I received when I quit my job. Still, I’ve barely spent anything since then, so altogether it should be worth three silver coins.”

Not having to spend on groceries thanks to receiving food baskets was a big help. Pendlore’s brow furrowed slightly at Radilt’s words.

“Not three gold coins, but silver?”

“Gold coins? I’ve never held such large sums even once.”

“……So your severance pay was a few silver coins.”

“Less than that, but they gave me a whole week’s worth of daily wages.”

Radilt quietly sent a look that said, wasn’t it you who gave it, Lord Duston? Instead of answering, Pendlore briefly clicked his tongue. Then he said to Radilt,

“Please pick up your bag and stand.”

“Pardon? Now?”

“It’s basic to check the business situation with your own eyes before investing.”

“Ah…… yes.”

Radilt nodded without much thought and rose.

“Your investment will go into a merchant ship.”

After boarding the prepared carriage, Pendlore began his explanation.

“First, this is a ship expected to arrive within this month. It’s a merchant vessel that travels the eastern waters of La Morte. As long as it doesn’t sink, the minimum return will be three times your investment.”

The minimum was calculated for when the ship was less than half loaded, but usually the return exceeded ten times the investment. The Duston family’s merchant ships traveling the new sea routes received tax exemptions, so the profits were enormous.

Investments in merchant ships were made before departure, and naturally impossible for ships scheduled to safely arrive soon. In the end, Pendlore was giving Radilt a portion of his own shares.

For him, three silver coins were merely like a single leaf from a lush, towering tree.

“Three times?”

Radilt, who knew nothing of such matters, expressed genuine surprise.

“However, in the unlikely event that it sinks, your investment will also disappear to the bottom of the sea.”

“Ah……”

At those words, Radilt hesitated but soon nodded her head firmly.

“That’s fine. It’s your ship, Lord Duston. Besides, I was able to save this much money thanks to you.”

“I don’t recommend taking on such a large risk for your first investment, but since the opening of the new sea routes, not a single Duston family merchant ship has sunk. If you were aware of that fact, then it’s a good decision.”

“……I didn’t know that at all.”

Radilt admitted honestly, though somewhat embarrassed.

“From now on, before making decisions, request past trading records. Actually, I recommend avoiding investments through anyone other than myself.”

Radilt hesitated for a moment before looking straight into his blue-gray eyes. Then she spoke clearly.

“I’m afraid to let go of even a single coin from my hands. I only feel secure when I keep it hidden close by. That’s how I’ve lived. But I trust you, Lord Duston.”

Pendlore’s eyes softened at her pure trust. He casually brushed his fingertips below his chin.