Surprised, Marienne tried to run forward, but someone grabbed her arm. She was quickly pulled into the crowd.

The carriage door opened and Nigel stepped out. The crowd stopped cheering and uniformly knelt, bowing their heads to the Duke.

But the red curly hair with wide eyes was nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, Marienne, who had been dragged to a corner alley, shook off the arm holding her with all her might.

A middle-aged man she had never seen before rushed at her, breathing heavily.

“You damned swindlers! Did you think I’d let you and your mother off the hook?”

Marienne first checked if her locket was safe, then rubbed her wrist where she had been grabbed and glared fiercely.

“What are you talking about?”

The man raised his voice and confronted Marienne.

“How long do you expect us to wait when someone’s on the brink of death? How much more do you need to stuff yourselves before you’ll save them?”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know! How much money have you swindled from house to house, you damned lot! Hurry up and set a date! Tell me when you’re going to heal!”

“Heal?”

Marienne’s heart sank. She had thought it was just the ravings of a madman, but it seemed to be related to her somehow.

“Calm down and explain so I can understand.”

“You really don’t know?”

The man, who had been eyeing Marienne suspiciously, let out a deep sigh and began to explain what had happened.

After hearing the situation, Marienne immediately went to the man’s house. There, she healed the boy who was bedridden.

Witnessing the mysterious phenomenon, the man shed tears and expressed his gratitude. Marienne left the man’s house after asking him to keep it a secret.

Walking absentmindedly, she found herself in front of the Rose Shoe Shop. The man’s words echoed in her ears.

‘Mrs. Rose heard that the child was sick and said if we wanted treatment, we should give her a silver coin. She said there was a queue, so we waited, but there’s been no news! Can you believe I had to drag the miss out in broad daylight! I’m sorry about today, but I’ve already paid, so I owe nothing!’

“Marienne?”

Mrs. Rose, wearing a parasol, had approached without notice and smiled at Marienne.

“…Mother.”

“Why aren’t you going in?”

“I was just thinking about something.”

Mrs. Rose brushed off Marienne’s crumpled skirt.

“Did you see the Duke? You should have dressed up more to catch his eye.”

Sometimes, when her mother secretly brought in sick people, Marienne would heal them. Each time, her mother would be happy, saying she was proud of her daughter doing good deeds.

“Mother, I have something to tell you.”

“Is that so? Let’s talk after we finish the shop work first.”

The mother and daughter entered the shoe shop.

Inside the shop, a well-dressed, plump man was talking with Adam.

Marienne nodded in greeting and followed her mother into the workshop behind the display. She then brought out embroidered handkerchiefs and gloves and placed them in the display case set up in one corner of the shop. These were products made by Mrs. Rose and Marienne.

Since Mrs. Rose had always been exceptionally skilled, orders gradually increased, leading to the setup of a display case in one corner of the shoe shop.

Marienne had also learned the craft and was able to display her own work since last year.

As she arranged the items to highlight the embroidery, she felt a piercing gaze.

When Marienne looked up, the customer tipped his hat in greeting.

As she was about to respond with a formal smile, the shoe shop door burst open and a young woman carrying a newborn baby entered.

The face of the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes was surprisingly pale.

“Mrs. Rose! Mrs. Rose, are you here?”

At the urgent voice, Mrs. Rose came out of the workshop, and the woman carrying the baby rushed towards her.

“Please! I can’t wait any longer!”

“What do you think you’re doing, causing a scene here?”

The flustered Mrs. Rose took the woman outside the shoe shop. Marienne, who had been watching, followed them out.

They went to the backyard where sobbing could be heard, and the two women were arguing.

Realizing it was the same situation as the man she had met earlier, Marienne took the baby from the woman and held it.

“Would it help if I healed this child?”

“Are you her daughter? Please save him. If you need more money, I’ll sell my body if I have to, just save Asher. I’m begging you so desperately. Please…”

The woman collapsed, clutching Marienne’s skirt and wailing.

Marienne sat down in front of the woman, holding the baby.

“Ma’am, I’ll treat Asher, so please don’t cry.”

With a tear-stained face, the woman clasped her hands together desperately.

Marienne smiled to reassure her and brought her mouth close to the baby’s lips. Following her breath, the energy of life flowed into the child.
Soon after, a gentle fragrance spread.

“W-What is this…!”

Mrs. Rose covered the surprised woman’s mouth.

“If you want to save your child, be quiet.”

The teary-eyed woman nodded. Her wide eyes turned to the green sprouts breaking through the soil.

The grass that had grown around Marienne soon blossomed into delicate flowers. The woman, terrified, clutched Mrs. Rose’s arm.

The seductive fragrance wafted into the shoe shop. Adam, who was dealing with a customer from the Duke’s household, noticed the situation in the backyard.

He had implored his mother so many times not to ask Marienne for healing, yet why did she keep causing trouble!

What if rumors spread because of this!

And of all times, it had to be in front of Baron Aaron Ballock, the Duke’s aide.

Adam hid his bewilderment and asked the Baron.

“I heard that the lord achieved great military feats in this battle as well. We can live peacefully thanks to our lord. All the people in the territory are truly grateful.”

“I’ll convey those feelings to His Grace.”

The Baron’s gaze turned towards the backyard outside the window.

Adam had to joke around to divert his attention.

“A traveling peddler seems to have brought some fragrances, and they’re making a fuss about creating perfumes. Women, I tell you… The Duke’s shoes you ordered will be ready in a week. Would it be alright to visit the castle around that time?”

“That should be fine. He’ll need to try them on, so arrange the details with the butler.”

“Understood. Thank you for your visit.”

After politely seeing the Baron off, Adam pressed his forehead.

The Bernac family had been a precious connection since his father’s time, so for Adam, who had inherited the family business, they were a valuable client he feared might be lost on his watch.

Adam, who had broken out in a cold sweat, hurried to the backyard.

It was just as he had expected.

The woman was repeatedly thanking Marienne and Mrs. Rose while holding her child, whose complexion had improved.

“All night the child was burning with fever and vomiting, and by morning he was so limp I thought he would die.”

Adam rubbed his throbbing temples at the woman’s tearful words.

“Mother, let’s talk.”

“There’s nothing to hear. I know exactly what you’re going to say.”

Mrs. Rose cut him off sharply, her face serious.

“How can you do this? Have you thought about what would happen to Marienne if this is discovered?”

The woman holding the child was startled and said to Adam.

“I swear I won’t tell anyone! Anyone who’s been healed by Miss Rose would keep their promise!”

After sending off the woman who had sworn multiple times, Adam repeatedly implored his mother.

Mrs. Rose, who had heard this many times before, recoiled and waved her hands.

“Adam, that’s enough. I care for Marienne as much as you do.”

“What if rumors spread in this small town of Louer!”

“Would they carelessly talk about someone who saved their life!”

“Right. The risk is Marienne’s to bear. You just reap the benefits of her ability.”

Marienne, who had been listening silently, looked at Adam.

So you knew too. I was the only one who didn’t know.

“Honestly, it has helped with running the shop as well.”

“Mother!”

Mrs. Rose’s eyes widened at Adam’s shout.

“Oh my… Adam, I feel like I’m going to faint. What have I done so wrong that you’re yelling at me! Are you saying I should ignore someone dying right in front of me?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what you should do! If you consider Marienne like a daughter! You know what will happen to her if the nobles find out!”

Mrs. Rose, at a loss for words, staggered, and Marienne supported her.

“Brother, stop it.”

Mrs. Rose took out a handkerchief, wiped her eyes, and sobbed.

“Do you know how many years it took for you to get established after your father passed away? With an extra mouth to feed, money was desperately short, so what’s so wrong with getting a little help from Marienne? Do you really not understand a mother’s feelings trying to survive by any means necessary?”

Marienne, who had come in as a dependent and grown up under Mrs. Rose’s care all this time, could only hang her head.

“Please stop, Mother.”

Adam frowned and went into the shop.

As always, it fell to Marienne to soothe Mrs. Rose’s anger and listen to her complaints.

Although she felt dizzy from using her healing power, Marienne comforted the lady without showing it.

After a long while, the dejected Mrs. Rose went upstairs.

Marienne brought her a warm cup of tea and then went to Adam, who was working.

“Brother.”

“I’m sorry for making you and Mother suffer because of my lack of ability.”

Marienne gently placed her hand on Adam’s shoulder.

“I’m the one who should be sorry. Mother and you are suffering because of me.”

“Don’t say that. We’ve been able to endure because of you.”

Adam took Marienne’s hand that was on his shoulder.