“Pardon? No, I—…”

Martin was visibly flustered, but Eliza spoke gently.

“It’s all right. I won’t tell him.”

“He only said that I shouldn’t cause any inconvenience to you, Lady Ashton.”

“That doesn’t quite explain it, though.”

Martin quickly reached out for the clothes, but Eliza pulled her bag closer to her chest.

It was clear that she had no intention of letting him go without answering her.

Martin hesitated, looking miserable, before finally giving in.

“He said… that I shouldn’t make you trouble yourself over an unimportant guest…”

“Ah.”

A rush of memories flooded her mind.

She had always found it difficult to receive guests. Whenever someone came to visit, she would become anxious and rush around for hours, ensuring that the house was immaculately arranged and spotlessly clean. She lived in constant fear of making a mistake or failing to meet their expectations.

Even when guests praised the tea and biscuits she had served, she could never quite believe them, which only left her feeling more unsettled.

In the novel she had read in her past life as Im A-young, James’s displeasure at her behaviour had been mentioned more than once.

She pressed her lips together as a swell of emotion rose in her chest.

Now, she finally understood where it had all begun.

Of course, It had been Lorina.

At first, Lorina would only make vague, suggestive remarks.

“For some reason, to me, it looks like…”

“Hm? Lorina?”

“No, it’s nothing, Eliza.”

“What is it? Tell me.”

“No… it’s really nothing.”

“But your expression just now looked so dark.”

“Well… it’s just that your social etiquette seems a bit awkward at times, and I don’t know why. But don’t worry about it. These days, etiquette varies depending on one’s ‘background,’ doesn’t it? I’m probably just being overly sensitive.”

“……”

Lorina had made it seem as though the problem lay with her ‘refined’ standards as a noblewoman.

Then, with an almost careless delight, she would recount how certain ladies, unaware that their hosting etiquette was flawed, became the subject of ridicule behind their husbands’ backs.

Eliza was terrified each time.

She was terrified that she might become that woman, and that her husband, James, would be mocked because of her.

Even now, she realized that it had all stemmed from Lorina’s malice.

A quiet irritation rose within her, and when Martin smiled at her, she found herself frowning without realizing it. He looked as though he were looking at a perfectly harmonious, affectionate couple.

Clenching her teeth, she handed him the garment bag and asked—

“It seems he’s suddenly become quite busy.”

“A ship has come in, my lady. Then, I wish you a pleasant evening.”

As if that explained everything, Martin turned and left.

‘So it’s that time…’

Now she understood.

The Silomon merchant fleet had returned from the open sea, having weathered violent storms, and were bringing crucial documents and key figures with them.

From that moment on, James spent several nights poring over the information they had delivered.

Reviewing the Silomon resource development project would not only cement his position as a formidable figure in the world of finance, but also serve as a stepping stone towards becoming the Count’s son-in-law.

‘Time is moving forward, steadily.’

Trying to shake off the lingering unease, Eliza headed upstairs—only to stop abruptly in front of the dressing room.

She had forgotten to include socks in the bag she had sent with Martin.

“Ahh!”

***

The next day, Eliza stared at the small bag containing the damned socks and thought,

‘Should I have it delivered again?’

But no matter how she considered it, that wasn’t a good idea.

“He sent the clothes through someone else.”

Even now, the cold look James had given her when he said those words made her shake her head.

There was no need to knowingly do something he disliked and give more momentum to his affair with Lorina.

And the thought of Martin’s good-natured face only made her feel worse.

‘James will definitely reprimand him for not carrying out the errand perfectly.’

The thought of seeing James again made her feel uneasy and distressed. However, she couldn’t allow Martin to suffer because of her mistake.

Steeling herself, she set out for the bank.

However, after stepping down from the carriage in front of the building, she suddenly remembered Sierra, James’s secretary, and turned around.

She decided to buy her a small gift.

‘Sierra has just as hard a time dealing with James.’

Sierra was a young woman with curly brown hair and glasses. Eliza didn’t know much about her personally, but she knew that Sierra played an important role in her married life.

She was the one who reminded James of Eliza’s birthday and their wedding anniversary, chose the jewelry, bought the flowers, and wrote the cards on his behalf.

Catching sight of an upmarket chocolate shop with an enticing display, Eliza stepped inside.

After having a box of chocolates wrapped, she left the store and overheard the voice of a gentleman who had just passed by. He was joining a group gathered outside.

What caught her attention was how excited they all sounded.

“Tonight, you’re paying for everything, right?”

“Everything? Isn’t that a bit unfair?”

“You’re going to keep all the blessings of the ‘Queen of Farmin’ to yourself? And all your wife gets is a box of chocolates?”

“I told you to bet with me! But you insisted there’s never been a horse in Athern’s racing history that’s won five times in a row!”

“Hahaha, you’re right—I was wrong! Since I’ve admitted it, now it’s your turn to be generous.”

“Exactly! Be generous!”

Pressed by his companions, the gentleman relented with a sigh.

“Ha… so I really have to treat all of you? Fine—come with me. Tonight’s on me.”

They burst into laughter as they walked away.

‘The Queen of Farmin?’

“…Ah.”

Eliza knew exactly what they were talking about.

The ‘Queen of Farming’ was the most famous racehorse in Athern — a black mare that made history by winning five races in a row before losing her winning streak one morning when she slipped in the mud left behind by a brief shower.

Eliza knew this story because of Lorina.

In her previous life, Lorina had come over for tea and told Eliza that she was planning to go to the racetrack with her father to bet on a horse called the ‘Queen of Farmin’, who had recently caused a frenzy in Athern. However, after an argument with her father, she ended up staying home.

Unexpectedly, the horse then lost, throwing Athern’s high society into an uproar.

“I won’t even tell you how much Father lost that day! I didn’t realize even Lady Luck was so fond of me. Hohoho.”

She hadn’t said it to boast; Lorina truly believed that she was blessed with good fortune.

This incident was proof that misfortune would never touch her.

Perhaps it was this warped belief that had hardened her resolve — she was bold enough to contemplate murdering another woman to steal her husband.

‘Of all things… the day Lorina Winclaire ends up being useful.’

As Eliza walked towards the bank, her mind was racing.

Although she believed her decision was the right one, she couldn’t shake off her fear.

Changing the course of one’s life so abruptly was never easy.

In the past, she would have chosen to gain nothing rather than risk losing something greater.

However, she had come to the conclusion that a new life necessarily required a new way of living.

***

When Eliza entered the bank, the receptionist recognized her and greeted her.

“Good afternoon, Lady Ashton.”

“Good afternoon.”

As she went up to the fourth floor—to James’s office—Sierra came out to meet her.

“Lady Ashton! Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon, Miss Sierra. I’ve brought his clothes.”

The moment Sierra saw the small bag in her hand, her expression stiffened noticeably.

“Did Mr. Sandel forget something? To trouble you like this… the director will surely be upset.”

‘Oh, that man…!’

Eliza gave an awkward smile and waved her hand.

“No, it wasn’t Mr. Sandel. I was the one who forgot. I’ve been rather absent-minded lately.”

“Oh dear… are you feeling unwell?”

Sierra’s tone suggested she already knew that something was wrong with Eliza’s health.

A flicker of suspicion rose, and Eliza asked.

“He said something, didn’t he?”

“No, my lady! It’s not that…”

The secretary’s face flushed slightly before she broke into a small smile.

“A few days ago, the bank president invited you both to dinner, but the director said that you had not been well lately. Honestly, of all the people at Roycobs, who else but the director would turn down the bank president so decisively? Hoho.”

Seeing the faint admiring smile on Sierra’s face, which was so similar to Martin Sandel’s, Eliza felt a small pang of irritation.

Of course, she knew why James had declined the invitation.

He didn’t want others to see how awkward his wife was in social situations.

No, he didn’t want anyone to see her standing there, rigid with fear and terrified of making the slightest mistake.

‘Lorina, you wretched woman.’

After silently blaming Lorina once more, Eliza found herself wondering, almost incredulously, whether she ought to pity James instead—living like this, unable even to attend social gatherings as a couple.

‘Still, how could he reject the bank president so bluntly! He could’ve at least asked me first—… no, wait.’

Just as she started to resent him, she realized that she would have refused the invitation even if he had asked her.

Before, it would have been out of fear.

Now, however, it was because she had no desire to spend any time with him.

This time, Sierra seemed to notice the change in Eliza’s attitude and asked, somewhat hesitantly,

“The director’s meeting should be ending soon. Would you like to wait in his office? I’ll have some tea brought in right away.”