The next day, on a passenger ship bound for Bereut.

Eileen sat with a hardened expression, lips tightly sealed, silently staring out the window.

“……Um, Miss Eileen.”

Mary cautiously called out to Eileen. However, seeing no response from Eileen, Mary’s face fell.

If only that man hadn’t rushed over and bumped into her!

Ever since yesterday, when she had brushed off Mary’s offer to buy another tart with a smile, she had remained in this state.

The intuition developed from years she spent with Miss Eileen was screaming. Miss was definitely extremely angry with her.

“I didn’t intentionally take sides against you yesterday……”

Though her miss always treated her with familiarity, when angry, she was more terrifying than anything in the world.

“I just couldn’t let you stay there after you fell and dirtied your clothes……”

Mary rolled her eyes around as she poured out excuses.

“I know. And I also know that your actions were correct in that situation.”

“Then why……”

Though her lips were smiling, Eileen’s expression remained so coldly subdued that Mary’s eyes looked like they might burst into tears at any moment.

“I’m not angry at you.”

“What?”

“It’s because of that annoying silver-haired bastard.”

Even though a day had passed, Aaron’s cold gaze and harsh words hadn’t been forgotten.

I should have shot back one more retort!

Eileen’s previously calm breathing gradually quickened with anger.

“Miss, forget about that person now! We’re returning to Bereut anyway, so we’ll never run into him again.”

Mary stood up from her seat and clenched her fist tightly.

“……”

Though she had jokingly told Mary they should come back for milk tea sometime, Fresher and Bereut were quite far apart.

“You’re right, Mary.”

Getting angry over someone she would never meet again would only hurt herself.

“What’s the use of getting angry over that annoying silver-hair when I’ll never run into him again.”

Eileen raised her head and took in the sight of Fresher.

It was too beautiful a city to leave behind while buried in anger.

“You silver-haired jerk who doesn’t know how to apologize! Don’t live your life like that!”

Eileen shouted one last time toward the receding Fresher, shaking off all the bad memories of Aaron.

Hoping that her new life beginning again in Bereut would be peaceful.

* * *

“These are very fresh strawberries that just came in today. I don’t know when you’ll be able to find such delicious strawberries again if not today.”

Though still chilly, the bustling marketplace already felt like spring had arrived.

“Could you please package everything from here to here?”

“Yes! Thank you!”

Among them, one particularly cheerful voice that pierced the ears caught everyone’s attention.

“Next is this way!”

The owner of the voice was none other than Eileen. Having just casually purchased an enormous amount of strawberries, Eileen hummed a tune as she moved on to the next store.

“Miss, let’s go home now! Lord Daniel, please try to stop her too!”

Mary had a pitiful expression on her face as she carried a huge amount of items in both hands.

“And why did you buy these toys? It’s not like there are any babies in the Ceres family……”

A teddy bear with soft brown fur and wooden toys that could be assembled in various ways.

No matter how she thought about it, they seemed useless.

“Mary, you don’t understand. These are late Christmas presents!”

“Christmas? What’s that?”

“Christmas is a day when Santa rides Rudolph and gives presents to people who do good deeds every year.”

“Miss. Is there really such a peculiar person?”

Daniel, who had been quietly listening to Eileen’s explanation, tilted his head in confusion.

“Of course! I am that Santa. And Rudolph are you, Daniel and Mary.”

With giggling laughter, Eileen opened the door to the next store.

“Could I have everything from here to there?”

“……Miss!”

Ignoring Mary’s scream, Eileen quickly completed the payment and left the store. While actively moving through the marketplace, a painting caught Eileen’s eye.

“Oh?”

A swan swimming gracefully in the middle of a lake with white foam rising.

It looked as if it might fly away at any moment.

“Mary, Daniel! Next is over there! It would be perfect as a gift for Dad.”

“What?”

Despite the voice of bewilderment that reached her, Eileen paid no attention and walked into the gallery.

The antique-style gallery was beautifully decorated with various artworks including the swan painting she had just seen, along with pottery, accessories, and more.

“Welcome, customer!”

The owner greeted them with a friendly smile as Eileen’s group entered, as if he had been waiting for them.

“Hello.”

Eileen nodded lightly and quickly approached the swan painting without even glancing at the other paintings, gesturing toward it.

“Could you wrap this painting for me?”

“This painting would be nice.”

Simultaneously with Eileen’s cheerful voice, a slightly deeper voice resonated from right beside her.

“Um, one of you two customers will have to give up……”

When their fingers pointed in the same direction, the owner looked at the two with a troubled expression.

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped.”

Eileen slowly turned her head to concede the painting.

“Wait, you!”

Dazzling silver hair that couldn’t be forgotten once seen, and cool purple eyes that revealed no emotion.

When the familiar face entered her vision, Eileen’s eyes gradually widened.

“That annoying silver-haired bastard from Fresher?!”

How heartless the gods were.

Eileen covered her face with her hands and let out a low sigh.

“What? You’re that lemon tart from back then.”

Aaron looked down at Eileen with sharp eyes.

“Why are you in Bereut?”

“That’s what I want to ask.”

When Aaron responded to her question with sarcasm, Eileen felt irritation rising, making her body tremble slightly.

‘Concede? No way!’

She would never let this annoying silver-haired bastard take the painting, no matter what.

“I’ll be buying this painting.”

Eileen straightened her back and spoke in a haughty voice.

“What are you saying? I think the ownership of this painting belongs to me since I chose it first.”

Aaron let out a scoff as if he found it ridiculous.

“Ownership?”

Hearing the cool voice flowing into her ears, Eileen shifted her gaze to him.

“If we’re going by that logic, I was faster than you.”

There was still no mercy in the purple eyes that met hers. Eileen didn’t back down and responded with a cold gaze.

“Don’t talk nonsense. I entered the store first and I said I would buy it first.”

“Why don’t you stop talking nonsense?”

“Um. Customers……?”

As sharp exchanges began to fill the quiet store, the store owner tried to intervene with a troubled expression.

“Quiet. Don’t interrupt our conversation.”

“Could you please be a little quieter? We’re discussing who will take this painting.”

But the cold eyes glaring at him at the same time were terror itself.

In the end, the owner tightly sealed his lips and took a step back.

“Fine. If you won’t concede, there’s no choice.”

Aaron wore a cold smile and tilted his head slightly to look down at the store owner.

“I’ll give you twice the selling price, so sell it to me.”

“What? T-twice, you say?”

At Aaron’s outrageous proposal, the store owner opened his eyes wide and gulped.

The store owner widened his eyes and gulped at Aaron’s outrageous proposal.

“Then I’ll pay three times the price.”

“Th-three times!”

When it came to competing with money, Eileen was confident she wouldn’t lose. Eileen looked at Aaron with arrogant eyes while lifting her chin high.

“Tsk.”

At that look, Aaron clicked his tongue lightly and showed four fingers.

“Then I’ll pay 4 times.”

“F-four times?”

The owner’s mouth gradually opened as the two people haggled as though they were at an auction.

“Fine. I’ll pay 5 times and buy every painting in this store.”

“F-five……”

The owner took a deep breath as if about to faint. The fortune he encountered for the first time in 20 years of business was so wonderful it made him dizzy.

“Ha.”

Aaron glared at the store owner who was gasping for breath without making a decision. Then, without hiding his frowning expression, he rolled his eyes to stare directly at Eileen’s green eyes.

“You, do you know who I am to engage in such a pointless competition?”

“Do you know who I am?”

Sparks continuously flew between the two pairs of coldly sunken eyes. Neither of them thought of backing down easily.

“I am Bereut’s……”

In the end, Aaron was the one who couldn’t handle the rising irritation. Aaron opened his mouth to reveal his identity while brushing up his silver hair.

“Master! Here you are! I’ve been looking all over for you! You must hurry if you don’t want to be late for your appointment!”

However, Aaron’s voice disappeared like bubbles due to his servant Liam, who burst through the door with a bang.

“Master! We don’t have time for this!”

“Ha.”

Why are all the people around me so tactless?

Aaron sighed deeply at Liam’s tactless behavior urging him.

The atmosphere that hadn’t leaned toward either side now tilted toward Eileen.

“Oh? I have plenty of time. How unfortunate for you.”

“You…!”

“Well, goodbye then. Mr. Unpleasant Silver Hair.”

Eileen giggled and wiggled her fingers at Aaron, who was gradually moving away while being held by Liam.

“Now that the nuisance is gone……”

When the noisy store became quiet, Eileen slightly raised the corner of her mouth.

“As promised, I’ll buy this painting for 5 times the price and purchase all the paintings in this store.”

“……You don’t have to go that far.”

The store owner, who valued his conscience more than money, shook his head.

“It’s fine. Don’t worry and please wrap them all.”

However, unlike him, Mary answered with a resigned, calm expression.

“But……”

“Our lady’s hobby is spending money, so there’s no need to worry.”

How did it turn out like this again? Mary shook her head and let out a low sigh.

“Th-then where should I send the paintings?”

“Please wrap them all and send them to Ceres.”

“What? Ceres? Are you referring to the Ceres ducal family?”

The store owner covered his mouth with his eyes wide open.

Oh my goodness!

The store owner’s delighted scream resonated throughout the store.

“Please take care on your way back, lady! I will wrap the paintings carefully and send them to you!”

* * *