“So this is meant to substitute for a dowry?”

The viscountess, who had broken into a wide smile without quite meaning to, cleared her throat and smoothed her expression.

“It’s rather little. I assumed there would be more in here.”

“They are top-quality pearls, excellently preserved. They should fetch at least a hundred and fifty gold.”

A hundred and fifty gold?! That was a perfectly respectable sum for a dowry.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Anyone can see these pearls are old!”

“If you don’t believe me, I could sell them and bring you the money instead——”

Before Charlotte could finish, the viscountess yanked the jewel case into her own arms.

“No, no! There’s no need for that. It wouldn’t do to sell something the late Viscountess Prairie left behind. Ohoho.”

The viscountess hugged the case to her chest and went on her way in high spirits. Charlotte stood at the entrance and watched the carriage carry her off into the distance.

When the carriage disappeared from sight and quiet settled around her, a soft sound of crying suddenly broke the stillness.

“Maji, why are you crying?”

Charlotte said gently, with a faint smile.

“Those aren’t the only things Mother left behind. And I’m sure she would be glad I had something to offer as a dowry.”

“No she wouldn’t. If the madam were here, she would never be pleased to see you become the daughter-in-law of someone who speaks to you like that……”

Charlotte’s eyes wavered. Surely——

“……Did you hear?”

“Every word! She was shouting loudly enough to rattle the whole corridor — how could I not hear?”

Maji thumped her own chest with her fist.

“It makes me so angry. Why should you be treated like this? You are so capable, miss. What does she think is keeping this household afloat to begin with——”

Charlotte’s eyes grew red at the rims. She forced a smile at Maji and said lightly, as though it were nothing.

“What have I done, really. I was just lucky.”

Years ago, the moment Charlotte’s father passed from this world, a tidal wave of debt crashed down on them. The sum was so enormous that selling everything in the house wouldn’t have covered it, and young Charlotte had found it nearly impossible to breathe.

In the end, she had the jewelry her mother left behind appraised. Selling it all wouldn’t resolve the debt — but she had to do something.

And then, around that time, a stranger came to the door.

My name is Peter Daern, a merchant who received the late Viscount Prairie’s support. I am so terribly sorry to be coming to you only now.

He explained that it was thanks to Viscount Prairie that his latest voyage had ended in success, and he had come to deliver Viscount Prairie’s share to Charlotte. It was a substantial sum — enough to pay off the debt.

I noticed that spices fetch quite a high price at the local market here. Which is why I wondered — if you would be willing, might you consider doing business with me? I would supply you at the lowest possible price.

With that, Charlotte had been able to open a small spice shop. She sold at modest prices and had few clients, so the profits were never great — but Charlotte was grateful for the simple life she had now.

Had that merchant abandoned his conscience, had he shown her no consideration, Charlotte would have struggled to keep herself going at all, let alone hold on to her mother’s jewelry.

“In any case, Maji — don’t worry too much. The viscountess will come around gradually, with time.”

“I’m sure you’re right. You are such a good person, miss. She will surely have a change of heart. But thinking of what you’ll have to endure until then……”

Maji was wiping at her tears when an unfamiliar and remarkably grand carriage pulled up to the estate. Maji blinked her wide eyes and turned to Charlotte.

“Were you expecting a visitor, miss?”

“No. I haven’t received word from anyone……”

Maji hurried over to the coachman, exchanged a few words, and opened the gate.

Who could it be?

Had it been a stranger, Maji would not have opened the gate. And sure enough, as Charlotte had half-expected, the person who stepped out of the carriage was someone she knew.

“Charles?”

Charles — Charlotte’s fiancé and the only son of Viscount and Viscountess Roman — waved with a bright grin. Despite the bitter cold, he shone like sunlight on a fresh summer’s day.

“Charlotte, good——”

Just then, a petulant voice rang out from inside the carriage.

“Honestly, you should be escorting me out first!”

“Ah — you’re right.”

Charles reached his hand back into the carriage, and a lovely young woman with golden hair and a snow-white dress emerged, taking it in hers.

“Charlotte, it’s been so long!”

She came running and wrapped Charlotte in an embrace. Charlotte was still blinking in bewilderment when the woman puffed out her cheeks.

“You don’t remember me? It’s Fiona!”

At that, Charlotte’s eyes wavered.

“Fiona? Fiona Chester?”

“That’s right!”

Fiona was the daughter of Brad Chester, a man who had learned the trade working under Viscount Prairie and handling various small affairs for him. Upon learning that Chester was raising his daughter alone, Viscount Prairie had suggested he occasionally bring the girl along to spend time with Charlotte and Charles — and Chester had gratefully agreed.

That was how Fiona had entered Charlotte’s world.

Wow. Charles, you’re so handsome!

From the very first day, Fiona had taken a shine to Charles, and from then on she followed him everywhere. She behaved as though Charlotte were practically invisible.

Charles, too, found it easier to play with Fiona. Ever since Charlotte’s injury, he had been perpetually tiptoeing around her feelings — with Fiona, there was no need for that.

Charlotte drifted to the edges of the two of them, yet she never once let her father see how it hurt. She simply endured, believing that someday they would turn and look her way.

Then one day, something happened. A brooch — the birthday gift Charles had given Charlotte — fell from the inner lining of Fiona’s skirt with a soft clatter.

Why is this brooch coming out of there?

I don’t know. It must have gotten caught up somehow.

Met with Fiona’s brazen indifference, Charlotte spoke firmly for the first time.

Do you really think that’s possible?

Perhaps Fiona had assumed Charlotte would let it go as she always had — her face flushed red with visible shock.

Why won’t you believe me? Why are you suspecting me? Is it because I’m a commoner? Is it because my father crawls around like a dog for yours that you think you can treat me however you like?

Fiona wept bitterly, crying that she had been wronged, and from that day on she never came to Charlotte’s home again. Not long after, Fiona and her father emigrated, severing every last tie between them — and yet here they were, meeting again.

The ending had not been a pleasant one, but Charlotte had no wish to carry a childhood grievance into the present.

“It’s good to see you. Have you been well?”

Fiona placed a hand over her chest.

“Of course. You should see how well my father’s business has done.”

That wasn’t quite what Charlotte had meant. She had wanted to know whether Fiona had been healthy, whether she had settled into her new life——

Well. Either way, she seems to have done all right.

Charlotte smiled warmly and led Fiona and Charles into the reception room. But Fiona promptly seated herself right beside Charles. Charlotte was momentarily taken aback — though——

She’s just sitting close to him, that’s all.

Telling herself it was nothing, Charlotte took the seat across from them.

After that, Fiona didn’t so much as touch her tea. She chattered away in a bright, excited voice about herself.

“Neither of you has been to Gracian, have you? It’s a world apart from here, truly.”

Fiona laughed her bright, trilling laugh and chattered on about her life. Charles couldn’t take his eyes off her, listening to her stories with obvious delight.

They seemed to exist in a world entirely their own. Charlotte felt her mood sink as memories of being left out as a child drifted back to her unbidden — but——

……No. It’s different from back then.

The two of them were simply absorbed in conversation.

I’m grown now. I can’t go feeling hurt over something like this.

Just then, Fiona — laughing so hard she could barely hold herself upright — leaned heavily against Charles’s shoulder.

“Ahahaha. I never in my wildest dreams imagined a count’s daughter would do something like that!”

Charlotte felt a jolt of shock. How could she be so utterly uninhibited? Even between close friends, surely there were limits. They weren’t children anymore.

And yet Charles simply laughed along without a moment’s hesitation, as though nothing were the matter at all.

Am I the one being unreasonable?

Charlotte was still turning the thought over when Fiona covered her mouth with her hand.

“Oh, I heard the news. You two are getting married soon?”

Most people would have offered congratulations — but Fiona’s expression was clouded.

“You’ll be run off your feet after that. No more attending parties and things, I suppose?”

“Ah……”

Charlotte managed an awkward smile. Since the family’s decline, invitations had grown rare, but even the few that did arrive were ones she couldn’t accept. Viscountess Roman had told her to avoid social gatherings as much as possible before the wedding.

My son is busy with his heir’s education — there’s no need for him to attend pointless parties on your account, is there?

If I were to attend on my own……

Oh, and have people speak ill of our family? Surely you’re not saying that’s what you want?!

Charlotte was mid-thought, rubbing at the headache those memories brought on, when Fiona let out a long sigh.

“Ahh. But what am I to do? Sandhem is so strict about rank. A woman attending parties alone is frowned upon as well.”

“What about your father?”

“Father will be staying in Gracian……”

Just then, as though a wonderful idea had struck her, Fiona’s eyes lit up. She reached out and caught hold of Charles’s sleeve.

“Charles, couldn’t you help me out?”

“What?”

Charlotte’s eyes went wide with a start. Fiona stared only at Charles and stuck out her lower lip.

“If you’re with me, no one will dare treat me badly. Besides, Charlotte is too busy to attend parties anyway, isn’t she?”

“Well, that’s true, but……”

“Hmm? Please. I’d only need your help occasionally.”

Charles considered it briefly, then answered with an easy shrug.

“All right. Fine.”

“Really?”

Fiona broke into a radiant smile and covered her mouth with both hands. Charlotte’s eyes wavered.

She had been certain he would refuse……

“Yes. If it helps you settle in……”

“Thank you so much, Charles! You’re truly the best!”

Fiona threw her arms around him.

Only then did Charles glance over at Charlotte. The moment he took in her expression — dark and still — his brown eyes filled with something like unease. Yet he did not take back his words, not even once, for as long as Fiona remained.

By the time the sun had sunk low and cast the afternoon in shadow, Fiona was gone. Alone in the reception room now, Charles spoke first.

“You understand, don’t you?”