Marked as the Tyrant's Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 34

“Heave-ho!”

“Put some more strength into it!”

Duke Guermont’s soldiers lifted and moved the storage containers that hadn’t been brought over yet, and set up new tents for the waiting lines.

Since they had disarmed their intimidating weapons, no one felt threatened by their presence anymore.

And the people who said they were from the Department of Economy took charge of each process of the tasting event, promoting my red sugar beet business quite effectively.

“I’ll explain the difference between Miss Arinel’s red sugar beets and other existing fruit desserts.”

“This is the nutritional content table for red sugar beets.”

They seemed like the empire’s top elites overflowing with intelligence, and I felt somewhat guilty for having them do this kind of work.

‘Anyway, I must convey my gratitude to Uncle Amrus for this.’

“…”

Feeling a gaze, I glanced at Mas beside me.

I thought I heard a chuckle…?

“Are you laughing at me?”

When I poked his side, Mas turned to look at me.

He indeed had an amused look in his eyes.

Mas started making paper cones again.

Sigh, today was a bit hectic, but it seems my tasting event is progressing smoothly anyway.

“It’s so delicious!”

“Wow, I’ll definitely have to buy this later!”

“Sweet, crunchy, and even a bit sour… There’s a reason why everyone’s been talking about red sugar beets lately.”

Excited voices of tasters could be heard here and there.

***

The long day has finally ended!

All the sugar beet samples prepared for tasting were gone.

According to Adam, there might be an even more enormous crowd on the opening day.

My business… Can I really look forward to it?

“…”

After finishing work, I was lying on the roof of the Marquis’s mansion with Mas, looking at the stars.

The twinkling, beautifully shining stars seemed to be watching over us.

“Thank you for today. I didn’t know you’d come to help… Having you by my side gave me strength.”

Mas shrugged at my words.

As if it was a matter of course.

“It feels a bit chaotic, but… I think I’m achieving my goals one by one. I’m studying about elementals, learning about Dad, and even starting the red sugar beet business to prepare for the famine and rebuild the Marquis’s household…”

“…”

“It probably would have been difficult without the support of people who like me. Adam and Mrs. Alens too… And you, Mas. Thank you.”

I smiled at Mas. Somehow, Mas’s eyes seemed to waver slightly.

“Ah, right!”

Looking at Mas, I remembered what I had discovered earlier. I reached out and grabbed Mas’s hand.

“…”

Mas’s hand, unlike usual, was full of scratches. I frowned as I lifted his hand.

“What happened to this?”

Mas tried to pull his hand away, avoiding my gaze, but I held onto it firmly and asked.

With a look that said I wouldn’t let go unless he told me.

“Why is your hand such a mess, Mas? Did something happen?”

Finally, Mas seemed to hesitate for a moment before taking my hand and writing on my palm.

It wasn’t an answer to my question, but it made my heart sink.

‘I think I’ll be going away for a while.’

Surprised, I opened my eyes wide and asked urgently.

“What do you mean? Did something really happen?”

Mas wrote on my palm again.

‘No, just.’

Mas’s eyes behind the mask seemed a bit submerged.

‘I think I’ve been lazy, neglecting what I need to do.’

I looked into Mas’s eyes.

I couldn’t understand what Mas meant.

“I don’t understand. Please explain so I can…”

Mas wrote again.

‘It will take a long time, but I’ll come back.’

I don’t know what changed Mas’s mind, but his attitude seemed firm.

“…Mas.”

I wanted to stop Mas, but seeing the strong determination in his eyes, I didn’t know what to say.

Finally, I asked Mas with sad eyes.

“When are you leaving? Where are you going?”

The boy’s stiff shoulders seemed even more rigid today.

‘I can’t tell you the details.’

I could see Mas’s black eyes full of complex emotions behind the white mask.

“Do you… really have to go?”

I asked Mas one last time.

Mas nodded quietly, as if confirming his resolve.

“But… you’ll come back, right?”

Instead of answering, Mas gave a faint eye smile at my words.

And slowly nodded.

Very slowly, making my heart thump.

Even though the boy said he would return, rather than feeling relieved, a deep sense of emptiness washed over me at the fact that he was leaving.

“…Mas.”

I clenched my fist and stared into the distance for a long time.

Suddenly, I remembered the scenery of the square we used to visit together.

And the sandwiches Mas made, the fireflies we watched together in Galnem, and even the fireworks here.

During that time from Galnem to the capital, Mas was always there in my happy memories.

My tightly clenched fist started to tremble.

“…Have a safe trip.”

After a long while, words of farewell finally flowed from my lips.

“I’ll always support you. And remember what I told you before. The fact that a great famine is coming soon.”

Mas was my precious friend.

“I’m always ready to help you, so you can come back earlier than planned if you want. Of course, you’ll probably do well there without any help from me…”

And then.

“…”

Mas pulled me close and reached out to cover my eyes.

Then I heard the sound of the mask being lifted up.

“…”

The soft sensation of lips on my forehead.

When I opened my eyes a moment later, Mas was nowhere to be seen.

It felt like my heart was empty.

***

Briton was leaning against the alley wall of the Marquis’s mansion, his cheeks flushed.

His hair, now turned silver, rustled in the wind.

The white mask was in the hand of the boy whose heartbeat sounded like a drum.

“…”

He quietly raised his hand to his lips.

And gently touched his lips with his index finger.

Arinel’s warm forehead had touched here.

‘Arinel…’

Arinel had clearly lowered her eyebrows in sadness as she bid farewell.

It seemed like she was trying hard not to show such feelings.

‘I want to be by your side every day, but now I’m trying to save even that time.’

Even after coming to the capital, he had been wearing the mask to meet Arinel often, but…

‘I need the strength to protect you.’

Briton’s deep eyes wavered.

‘It’s regrettable that I can’t always be by your side as a friend like before.’

The blue moon was illuminating his figure.

‘But this way is probably the right path for me, and for you.’

It started to rain.

‘So try to understand a little.’

His lips twisted bitterly.

The dry leaves on the ground were slowly getting wet in the night rain.

***

“Oh my goodness. What happened, Arinel?”

Mrs. Alens couldn’t hide her shock when she saw my swollen face in the morning.

I avoided her gaze with a sour expression.

“Don’t tell me… you were rejected?!”

Mrs. Alens’s words hit the bull’s eye in my heart.

“Rejected? That’s nonsense!”

“But I can tell just by looking at your eyes. Full of longing and regret…”

Mrs. Alens sympathized, caressing my swollen cheeks.

“Even painful love is a precious experience of youth.”

And then she clapped her hands to call a maid.

Saying that what a heartbroken girl needs most is a sweet red sugar beet sherbet.

Soon, the maids brought the red sugar beet sherbet.

“Mmm-! See, isn’t it?”

Mrs. Alens’s exclamation could be heard.

I scooped up a spoonful of sherbet with a silver spoon and put it in my mouth.

My face had been sore from crying last night, but it felt a bit soothing.

The sweet aroma entering my mouth seemed to lift my mood a bit.

“Every girl goes through a fiery love. But not everyone is honest with their feelings…”

Mrs. Alens spoke as if dreaming.

“Sometimes, it’s only after that moment has passed that you realize it was a storm of affection. But just because love ends doesn’t mean everything ends.”

Love? That’s nonsense.

Mas was… my precious friend.

Watching fireworks together, sometimes holding hands during night walks, and someone I still miss a lot…

That’s why I was sad that Mas left.

“Because just like a rainbow appears after the rain, a new love soon begins.”

Just as Mrs. Alens’s voice trailed off, Adam’s knock was heard.

And not long after, he stood before us and reported one piece of information.

“I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince is ill.”

Briton… is sick?

Mrs. Alens said with a flushed laugh.

“I heard there’s a flu going around, he must have caught it properly. I heard he’s had a fever and severe cough since yesterday. Oh, poor thing.”

For a moment, my heart stung as I remembered Briton’s face trying to protect me at the masked ball.

I stood up abruptly.

“I need to check what herbs we have. And…”

I said to Adam, who was smiling at me.

“I should pay a sick visit.”

Actually, I had been feeling guilty about not properly saying goodbye to him back then.

Briton, who had almost gone through a big ordeal with me.

“That’s a good idea, Arinel.”

Mrs. Alens, who had put down her sherbet cup, encouraged me.

And then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she said.

“Arinel, come to think of it, I brought a gift for you. Would you like to check it out?”