Chapter 24

“Is anyone here?”

Alec, carrying a sack full of wool, was the first to open the shop door.

As he naturally stepped inside and put down the sack, a middle-aged man, who appeared to be the owner, approached.

“Welcome.”

The owner, who had spoken absentmindedly, looked up at Alec’s face and widened his eyes.

Then he looked at me and Eloise in turn, and his complexion turned pale.

“Wh-where do people like you come from…?”

“Do you buy wool, by any chance?”

However, Alec ignored the owner’s reaction and went straight to the point.

“Oh, yes, yes. Let me take a look.”

“This is it.”

Alec lightly lifted the sack and placed it on the shelf.

The owner opened the sack, carefully examined the wool, and soon a bright expression appeared on his face.

“The quality is quite good. I think I can give you about 10 gold for it.”

“How about 15 gold?”

Seizing the moment, I quickly asked.

With merchants, there’s usually a margin of plus or minus 5 for negotiation.

I confidently began to explain further.

“This is organic wool from free-range sheep. We let the sheep roam freely to minimize stress. Plus, the wool is only sheared once a year, so the quality is excellent.”

Finishing my explanation, I naturally feigned indifference.

I could feel Eloise looking at me strangely from the side.

However, the wool owner was not easily swayed.

“Is that so? Actually, 10 gold is already a generous offer. I was originally thinking of offering 7 gold… But if you have something else to sell, I’ll give you 300 gold.”

“What? Something else?”

Eloiae and I looked at each other in bewilderment.

We didn’t have anything else to sell that would fetch 300 gold.

“What could it be…?”

Instead of answering, the wool owner stared at me intently with his dark grey eyes.

No, to be more precise, he was staring at my hair.

Although it was silver, my hair sometimes looked elegantly golden in the light, and the wool owner couldn’t take his eyes off it.

‘…Oh, he must be coveting this too.’

At noble social gatherings, some people would occasionally fixate on my hair.

‘Duchess, your hair is more delicate and radiant than any precious gold or silver thread. When it catches the light, it’s like watching an aurora.’

‘So, could I possibly have a small lock? It would add such a unique and enchanting touch as a tassel for our bedroom carpet.’

There were even people who asked for a lock of my hair to use as decoration.

Decorating a carpet with human hair—were they in their right mind?

I doubted whether those noblewomen had any common sense.

The wool owner’s eyes gleamed as he swallowed hard.

It seemed he was also quite taken with my hair.

Previously, I would have firmly refused and felt disgusted, but now, a different feeling arose.

Maybe I could sell a bit of this hair?

After all, I had nothing else, and he was offering 300 gold.

I was about to ask for more details when Alec’s firm, deep voice interrupted.

“No.”

Alec stepped forward and blocked me.

“…?”

What was this?

“Just buy the wool. We’re here to sell wool, not hair.”

“Oh, yes, yes. My apologies.”

The wool owner quickly looked away from me but smacked his lips in disappointment.

Alec began to watch the wool owner with a stronger, displeased gaze.

I felt like my words were stuck in my throat and looked at Alec with wide eyes.

Wasn’t he being too harsh with the rejection?

“Why not?”

Eloise’s cheerful voice suddenly broke the silence.

“They’re offering 300 gold for your hair, sister. Just cut off a bit and sell it. We can buy something tasty with that money.”

Eloise, sounding regretful, ran her hand through my hair.

My hair flowed over her palm like a silver river.

“Besides, hair keeps growing back. We could get 300 gold every month.”

Hearing Eloise’s words, the wool owner perked up again.

“Will you sell it? That’s a wise decision. But a little won’t be enough—”

“Are you in your right mind, Eloise?”

“Huh?”

Eloise blinked at the sharp words that came out of nowhere.

I also looked at Alec in surprise.

Did Alec just say that?

Alec glanced at the wool owner with displeasure, then looked back at Eloise.

“Are you suggesting we sell Louise’s hair just for food?”

“Why? I just thought, hair is…”

Eloise couldn’t finish her sentence. Alec’s presence was overwhelming enough to leave both her and me speechless.

A crease appeared between his brows.

“Sell someone’s hair just to eat? Does that make any sense?”

“…”

Eloise blinked blankly, seemingly in deep shock at the unexpected rebuke.

Before the atmosphere grew any more tense, I hurriedly spoke up.

“Alec! Actually, I was considering it too. 300 gold isn’t a small amount. Besides, when my hair gets too long, I trim it anyway.”

“What?”

Alec turned towards me with shaken eyes, looking down my hair from top to bottom with an incredulous expression.

“Are you really thinking of selling your hair?”

“I don’t want you to bear the burden of our living expenses alone forever. Selling wool has its limits. I want to contribute too, Alec.”

I had told him before.

He didn’t have to shoulder everything alone.

Selling my hair wasn’t a big deal. The real issue was feeling guilty about burdening him.

He opened his mouth in shock and said, “No. That’s not necessary. Selling wool is your decision, but selling your hair is a different matter.”

“……”

“I can find more money even today. Even if things get worse, I don’t want you to sacrifice your hair.”

“Alec…”

When I couldn’t find words to respond, he sighed lightly and spoke clearly.

“I don’t want to be someone so incompetent that my wife has to sell her hair.”

“……”

I couldn’t say anything in response to his heartfelt words.

I didn’t truly want to sell my hair, so I didn’t press the issue further.

Alec turned slightly cold as he addressed the wool shop owner.

“We won’t be selling hair. Please give us 10 gold for the wool.”

“……”

Watching his firm back, my heart started to pound.

Thump, thump…

A peculiar sense of admiration made my heart beat faster and louder.

Was the idea of me selling my hair so unacceptable to Alec?

Was he trying to protect something of mine?

Even if it was just hair, Alec’s refusal to accept my sacrifice made my heart race.

Alec eventually turned back and met my eyes.

I looked up at him intently.

* * *

[Congratulations!]

[Affection has increased by 1.]

“……?”

Alec, who was about to leave the wool shop, stopped in his tracks.

Floating above Louise’s face, who was looking up at him, were pink letters.

My affection level increased again?

His eyes widened slightly in surprise.

What just happened?

The first time his affection increased, he thought it was because he had made her a delicious meal.

But now, he couldn’t guess what had caused it.

Was it because he stopped her from cutting her hair?

Or was it because he said he didn’t want to be incompetent?

Despite his confusion, Alec pulled himself together and spoke.

“Let’s go.”

He handed Louise the 10 gold coins.

Louise glanced between the gold and Alec before nodding and accepting the coins. Only then did he step out of the shop.

Jingle.

A small bell rang as they left the wool shop.

It seemed like a stroke of luck, but the affection level had increased again.

He checked the system for the basic explanation of affection.

[What is affection?

Your wife’s affection makes you stronger.

As affection increases or when you follow Louise’s commands, special skills unlock.

For example, the “Don’t Touch My Husband” skill makes enemies lose the will to fight completely.

Increase your wife’s affection and defeat the forces of evil!]