Kallian, who had been watching the man from behind Elliope, met her gaze.

“Did you frighten him, perhaps?”

“No, I didn’t.”

Elliope sighed and was about to knock on the door again when suddenly…

“AAAH! AAAAAH!”

“Hey…”

“Go! Go! GAAAACK!”

A series of desperate screams came from inside. Soon the door was locked.

“We’ll break it down if you don’t open it.”

Then Kallian said it casually. Elliope pulled him back and bit her lip.

“I don’t want to do this.”

“But you’ll need those herbs.”

“Let’s try to find other herbalists first.”

It felt wrong to break into someone’s home when they didn’t want to sell. It probably wasn’t the best way for a lord and lady to behave.

“It’s not too late to visit one last time.”

Kallian nodded nonchalantly and began to walk alongside Elliope. Elliope glanced back at the hut and then walked towards another house.

***

A few days later, Elliope bowed to the assembled crowd. 

“I’m glad you could all come.” 

“We’re from Elsen too, so of course we should help.” 

Among them were the wives of vassals and knights who had attended the salon for married women. Their presence in Zenya was the result of an errand Elliope had sent before she left, requesting cloth, supplies and doctors from each family.

‘I hadn’t expected them to come in person.’

Since she had made such an impression at the salon, Elliope had thought she would get her help easily. But for them to come in person to a place plagued by disease… Elliope was deeply grateful.

“Thank you very much.”

“When something like this happens, we should lend a hand, Your Highness.”

…and surprisingly, Charlotte was at the forefront.

“I wasn’t sure, so I rushed over.”

Like the first day she entered the Grand Duke’s estate, Charlotte was dressed in a seductive black gown. The black dress reminded Elliope of the time she had seen her at Theodor’s funeral.

‘Such a pitiful person.’

That’s just a useless thought.

Elliope quickly pushed those thoughts aside. There were more pressing matters to focus on at the moment. 

Kallian, always composed, offered a polite greeting. 

“Thank you all for coming.” 

The women’s excitement was evident as they giggled and exchanged amused glances. Some leaned forward to whisper to Elliope. 

“Seeing you like this… it seems what the lady said is true.” 

“Pardon?” 

” Just look at that body. He could easily do it three times in one night.” 

At her bold and brazen remarks, Elliope’s face instantly flushed red.

Unlike Elliope, the noblewomen didn’t get directly involved in the relief work. Instead, they discussed holding charity events or donating family fortunes, while encouraging the patients from afar. 

Meanwhile, Elliope and Kallian continued to visit the remaining herbalists. 

By the afternoon, the priests had prepared a luncheon for the noble couple and the noblewomen of Elsen. When Elliope expressed her gratitude, the priest simply bowed his head in recognition. 

“Madam, you’ve contributed a great deal as well. For now, I plan to begin making the medicine with the supplies you’ve provided.”

Fortunately, there were other herbalists who had moonlight herbs. Although the first herbalist had the largest quantity, there was enough to make the necessary amount of medicine for the time being.

Elliope nodded and joined the priest in the makeshift dining area in the temple garden. However, she suddenly froze and stopped.

“Oh my, that’s really sweet.”

“Isn’t it? I found it when I was tidying up Her Highness’s carriage earlier.”

Charlotte, along with the other noblewomen, stroked her dog doll gently and whispered to each other.

It was the doll Kallian had bought for her at the night market. Kallian noticed the doll and tilted his head in silent curiosity.

‘I thought I had left it behind when I dried it.’

Elliope realised only now that the maids had looked after it and brought it with them.

Perhaps because it was so wet, they decided not to throw it away and even got help to wash it. Elliope was sure they had taken good care of it – cleaned it, dried it and carefully placed it in a corner of the carriage, believing it to be important. She remembered Sien’s mischievous smile as he handed the doll to Emma, making it clear that he had looked after it for her.

“This doll… doesn’t it look a bit like Kallian?”

Charlotte hugged the doll as she said this. Elliope jumped, but quickly controlled her expression.

“I wonder what kind of craftsman made this doll?”

“I may have to order a similar one soon.”

“It’s just a doll.

They were the wives of influential vassals of the Grand Duchy of Elsen. If she were the only one to express her displeasure or demand its return, it might seem narrow-minded for a lady of the manor. Elliope reminded herself. 

“How much more of the herbs will we need?” 

As she tried to ignore the doll in Charlotte’s arms and concentrate on the priest who had escorted them into the dining room, she suddenly heard him speak.

“The more I hear, the more impressive you are, Your Highness.”

Charlotte interjected with a playful smile.

“The ladies need to talk, so… I’ll see you next time.”

As Charlotte spoke, the priest backed away quickly, seemingly trying to give way. Elliope sat down, a little disappointed.

“Let’s drink to Her Highness.”

Charlotte raised her glass to Elliope. Elliope, unable to refuse, raised her glass as well. Soon Charlotte continued, smiling.

“I heard here. They said you worked at the Imperial Apothecary, is that true?”

The women’s expressions were vague and uncomfortable. All of them knew that the Viscountess was the daughter of a consort of lesser status, but they didn’t want to mention it.

Only Charlotte didn’t seem to care.

“That’s impressive. You’ve done much more than the maids in the laundry, haven’t you?”

“…”

“If you weren’t the Viscountess, you could have been a doctor.”

“I never wanted to be a doctor.”

Elliope tried to ignore the stuffed dog in Charlotte’s arms as she examined the herbal liquid on her fingertips. She hadn’t noticed when they’d picked up the moonlight herb from the herbalists that it had been stained with an unknown substance. 

Charlotte watched for a moment before smiling amusedly. 

“If you had become a doctor, I wouldn’t have known. My husband also deals with some medicines…” 

“Oh, right, Miss Marte – the ointment I gave you for your wound.” 

“And the wrinkle cream too. Do you still have some?”

As the women eagerly questioned Charlotte, the conversation gradually turned to them. In the midst of it all, Elliope found her gaze drifting back to the doll. Although it was just an object, the way it was held in Charlotte’s arms made it seem almost pitiful. She kept imagining reaching out and snatching it away, only to be startled by her own thoughts. 

“……” 

Something brushed against her legs and slipped under her dress. 

Kallian, sitting beside her in the front seat, stretched out his long legs, his smooth leather boots brushing against her calf. The gentle friction of his boot against her silk stockings sent an unexpected shiver down her spine and a deep blush crept up to the tips of her ears.

‘What if someone notices?’

With that worry, her thoughts of the doll quickly faded. The moment Elliope unconsciously swallowed her breath and lowered her eyes to the warm stew prepared by the priests, Kallian asked.

“So, what were you going to do?”

Elliope understood the question a beat too late.

‘I never really wanted to be a doctor.’

It seemed to be a question related to that statement.

‘What did I want to do?’

Suddenly, memories of the time she had tried to escape came to her mind. The time she had failed to make love to Kallian in the hut and had been dragged to the Grand Duke’s estate, planning to escape just before the welcoming ceremony.

Looking back now, it was clear that she had come up with a terribly flimsy plan.

‘If I just ran away… that would be the end.’

‘I had never planned what I would do after running away – I just knew I wanted to try everything. It was as if I longed to experience everything the world had to offer, hoping that if something captured my heart, I would follow it. It was a desperate thought, knowing that such freedom would never be mine in the future.’ 

But now… 

‘I can still do something.’ 

Just as this thought crossed her mind, Kallian’s foot moved deeper. Elliope jumped, instinctively squeezing her legs together. Without realising it, warmth rushed to her cheeks and a sudden rush of saliva filled her mouth.

“Of course I enjoy it too.”

“……”

“But I suppose there are other things you’d like to try.”

Even in the midst of everything, this question struck a chord in Elliope’s heart.

“Yes.”

Without realising it, an honest answer slipped out. Once the whisper had escaped, it continued to flow.

“There is a lot.”

“Is there?”

“Everything… all of it.”

“Then let’s do it.”

“……”

“All the things you want to do.”

The boots that had been pressed between her legs slowly moved down, brushing her feet before finally withdrawing. At the same time, Kallian’s fingers, which had been resting on the table, brushed lightly against Elliope’s fingertips as she held her utensils. 

“Everything.” 

As Kallian spoke, a strong gust of wind suddenly blew through, disrupting the outdoor table setting. 

“Ah!” 

Startled, Charlotte dropped the stuffed dog. The doll tumbled across the floor towards them, and Kallian picked it up effortlessly, dusting it off before getting to his feet. Without hesitation, he held the doll out to Elliope.

“You can do whatever you want.”

Charlotte and the other women’s eyes scanned the pair strangely.

“Just make sure you take your dog with you.”

“……”

“If that’s the case, I have no objections.”

Kallian’s whisper in her ear felt lingering again.

***

As lunch drew to a close, Charlotte Marte moved with graceful ease. Her gaze rested on Kallian, who stood alone behind the priest’s residence. The viscountess was still busy, winding up an earlier conversation with the priest. 

“Viscount.” 

At her call, Kallian slowly turned to face her. The cold look in his eyes sent a shiver of anticipation through Charlotte. 

She offered her signature smile. 

“Shall we talk for a moment?”