* * *

“Thank you for taking me home like this.”
 
Remida, who had been bowing her head, wavered slightly due to her protruding belly.
 
“Be careful.”
 
As I quickly grabbed her arm, I heard someone inhale sharply. When I turned my head slightly, I saw people who had been hiding and watching us from a distance quickly ducking their heads.
 
There are some people who were hiding and taking a peek,
 
“She won’t even turn her head this way, saying it’s dirty. Geez, what kind of whim is that?”
 
Some were openly whispering and gossiping. I could clearly feel that any gaze directed at me was not friendly.
 
Lily and Milto glared at the people who were bowing their heads to avoid their gaze. Before they could say anything, Remida turned around and shouted.
 
“Be careful what you say!”
 
Remida apologized to me with an expression of not knowing what to do, as if she were being scolded.
 
“I’m sorry, ma’am. They were just scared, please forgive them.”
 
“I didn’t hear anything.”
 
When I smiled, Remida, who had been at a loss for words, visibly relaxed and then gratefully smiled at me.
 
“Lily, that one.”
 
“Yes, ma’am.”
 
Lily took out a shopping bag full of items from the carriage and handed it to Remida. Remida, who had received the shopping bag by accident, looked at me with a puzzled expression.
 
“It’s a gift.”
 
“What?!”
 
Startled, Remida threw the shopping bags back with a fearful look on her face. But Lily, noticing my glare, shook her head and refused to take them.
 
“M-Ma’am, what is this…”
 
“I’m giving it to you because I want to, so don’t refuse it.”
 
“But I got those expensive ones, too.”
 
Remida looked at the boxes with the Rocco Bakery logo and said.
 
“This is for the baby.”
 
“What?”
 
“I bought a few sets of baby clothes and shoes. I also bought some fabric just in case you want to make them yourself.”
 
“Ma’am… Thanks to you, I was able to get a carriage and sell my goods well, not to mention receiving such expensive desserts. If I receive this too, it feels really shameless. It’s too much for me.”
 
“Just think of it as picking up a lottery ticket on the street.”
 
“A lottery ticket…?”
 
“It’s like you got some free money. Isn’t that nice?”
 
As I jokingly smiled, Remida blinked her round eyes.

* * *

“It seemed like she was really touched, right?”
 
In the carriage heading back to the Duke’s mansion, Lily was happily chatting away.
 
“At first, I wondered if there was really a need for the Madam to go to such lengths to gather all those gifts. But seeing how happy she was, it made me feel proud too. I thought it would be difficult to give her even one set of baby clothes, but it turned out well.”
 
For a moment, Lily’s face wrinkled as she was reminded of Remida’s shabby house. But then her expression immediately brightened as she looked at me as though I was some kind of saint.
 
“I was also completely touched by the Madam, you know? As a woman with a child, it must be hard for her to be left alone and struggling. How can you be so thoughtful?”
 
It wasn’t that I had any great feelings about it, but my mother suddenly came to mind. My mother, who had left me alone early on because of her poverty and weak body.
 
I smiled wryly and turned my gaze out the window.
 
‘By the way, I was so looking forward to seeing my Edgar. Why did the crown prince have to show up there today? He’s useless.’
 
As I grumbled about Crown Prince Jarvis, I naturally remembered the sensation that flowed into my elbow when he grabbed it.
 
It’s weaker than I thought… If that’s the case, do I have to hold his hand all day long for the curse to be neutralized? After all, in the book, the cursed Beast Wheaton didn’t leave his bedroom all day.
 
It seems like a knight escort wouldn’t be good enough. Should I just lock myself up in my bedroom like Beast Wheaton? Or is it because it’s my elbow and the intensity is different if I come into contact with other places?
 
‘Oh no, there are only two days left until it manifests. What should I do? I can’t just let anyone touch me.’
 
Lily jumped up as if she had interpreted my serious expression.
 
“Those people don’t know the mistress’s true worth, that’s why!” 
 
“…Huh?”
 
“If they knew who the Madam was, they would regret their actions today!”
 
Lily was desperate. She seemed to think that I was feeling down because of the commoners who had shown hostility towards me earlier in the village.
 
“That’s not it, Lily.”
 
“Everyone will soon know that the mistress is a good person! Just a few days ago, I was afraid of the mistress, but now I think there’s no one in the world who is more kind than her! How happy I am to serve someone like the Madam. It’s true!”
 
Lily was worried that I might be upset, but I couldn’t help but smile at her cute and pitiful appearance like a whimpering puppy.
 
It wasn’t because of that reason that I was so serious, but I decided to keep my mouth shut, at least for the time being. Lily’s efforts to comfort me were more effective than the energy that flowed into me when I made contact with Crown Prince Jarvis earlier.
 
“Thank you, Lily. You’ve given me strength.”

* * *

Diart, who had gone to look around the territory while I was at the imperial palace, returned to the Duke’s mansion the next evening. With little time left until the manifestation of the curse, I headed straight to his office.
 
Because he was buried in paperwork, Diary didn’t even glance at me when I entered, but I didn’t care. He wouldn’t be able to ignore me once he heard what I had to say.
 
I sat on the sofa in the middle of his office and asked for tea with a confident smile. After Gordon left and only Diart and I were left in the room, there was nothing but a cold silence. As usual, I spoke first.
 
“I have something to tell you.”
 
“Do it.”
 
Diart responded, signing the documents with a pen.
 
‘Ugh, this shitty person, that thing.’
 
In my heart, I wanted to raise my fist and pretend to hit him, but I suppressed the urge and went straight to the point without saying anything unnecessary.
 
“I heard that the Malta Company has decided to import rooftan from the Duchy of Midas.”
 
I discreetly observed Diart’s expression. It seemed like he already knew this fact, as there was no sign of surprise whatsoever. However, he briefly glanced at me, perhaps not expecting me to bring up this topic. I smiled playfully at him and spoke.
 
“Do you also know that rooftan is three times stronger than gerastone?”
 
“……”
 
Of course, he knew that too.
 
“If rooftan comes in, the swords and bows we are currently using will become useless. We won’t be able to wield our strength properly against weaponry that is three times stronger. Replacing all the weapons would cost an enormous amount of money. Of course, it’s not like the Duke doesn’t have multiple diamond mines, so it might not be a big deal. But I wonder how big those mines actually are… Ah, no, that’s not the point.”
 
I slipped up in my words. It seems like the idea of having multiple diamond mines was strongly ingrained in my mind.
 
“Ahem, in my opinion, the Duke obtained information that Malta Company will import rooftan before me. Yet, instead, you’re purchasing more gerastone in bulk.”
 
Diart’s expression didn’t change much, but I could tell that he was quite interested in what I was saying. Well, it’s unexpected for someone like me, an outsider, to bring up such a topic.
 
“If rooftan enters the market, the value of gerastone will gradually decline. Then, the profits from refining the ore will decrease compared to the cost. Harris Company will try to sell the mines. And the Duke will probably try to acquire those mines as well.”
 
“Currently, as the import of rooftan has not been publicly announced, you are purchasing gerastone in bulk. But once Malta Company starts selling rooftan, you will immediately cut off the deal. Then, Harris Company, who will be hit by declining sales due to the gradually decreasing profits from refining the ore, will probably try to give up the gerastone business.”
 
Diart’s intention was to take ownership and sales rights of the mines presented by Harris Company. It’s because gerastone has enormous value that has not been revealed until now. That is.
 
“Gerastone can store mana, right?”
 
The expressionless face that was looking at me frowned.
 
“How do you know that?”
 
“I’m smarter than you think.”
 
“Did someone tell you? Lambert, perhaps?”
 
“I’ve never heard it from anyone. I read it in a book. Reading is my hobby.”
 
Hearing that reading is my hobby, suspicion crept into Diart’s face more than ever.
 
“This is not something that Sir Lambert, or anyone in the Duke’s entourage, would say lightly.”
 
‘I really read it in a book. A book where you are the protagonist.’
 
Diart didn’t inquire further about whether to agree with me. I looked at him and continued.
 
“Someone as advanced as you, Duke, can carry an aura in your swords, but ordinary people fight their opponents only with the strength of their weapons, experience, and skills. But what if a little mana can be contained within those weapons? It might not be able to compete with aura, but weaponry like rooftan, which is three times stronger than gerastone, can be easily defeated. If such weapons appear on the battlefield, it’s obvious which side will win.” 
 
Suddenly, Diart put down his quill pen and stared at me.
 
“Ah, assuming, of course, that the opponent has similar power.”
 
I smiled brightly.
 
“Anyway, that’s why you’re buying gerastone in bulk, right? But you don’t know how to contain mana within gerastone yet. Is that right?”
 
Diart’s expression was very cold. As if I knew something I wasn’t supposed to know. Or maybe I intruded on his biggest concern at the moment without permission.
 
I smiled inwardly at his face.
 
‘You should be grateful to me.’
 
“I can help you, Duke.”
 
I said with a smug look on my face. Gordon, who had gone out of the office, came back with a tray. I waited quietly until he poured tea into the cup in front of me.
 
“Leave us.”
 
As Gordon finished pouring tea and stood up straight, Diart spoke softly.
 
“Please continue.”
 
As Gordon quietly left the room, Diart urged me. I smiled and picked up the teacup. It didn’t hurt to relax in front of the man who was always trying to get rid of me.
 
But then,
 
Clang!
 
The teacup slipped from my hand and made a loud noise as it fell on the table.
 
‘Huh?’