Chapter 50
Jealous of Ruan? That’s ridiculous!
They said he once ate rats and snakes on the battlefield when there was nothing else to eat.
So when he went into the mountains, hunted a wild boar, and left half of it outside my door, I nearly fainted from shock.
And as if that weren’t enough, he somehow turned out to be good at cooking, though I have no idea when he learned it.
At this rate, all my plans to make him suffer were completely useless.
Marican smiled faintly as she watched Ruan busily moving about inside the shop.
He was better at the shop work than she had expected.
Not just good—he was far too good.
In just a few days, he had learned to make sandwiches nearly identical to Marican’s, and even picked up the art of serving tea to Zelda.
Before long, they were selling sandwiches and tea together.
And with steady work, regular meals, and exercise, Ruan’s appearance improved day by day, until more and more young women from nearby villages began coming to the shop—not to see Marican, but to catch a glimpse of him.
“Thanks to my well-chosen employee, our sales have been breaking records almost every day. Zelda, at this rate I’ll become the richest person in Phenomenon Village.”
Marican murmured as she glanced around at the shop packed with female customers.
“Hohoho, exactly. And since his looks keep improving, the shop will only get more crowded. At this rate, Rosalin ’s future looks brighter than ever.”
Zelda chuckled, eyeing the crowd of women.
“But Zelda—don’t you think that woman over there has been staring at Ruan a bit too openly?”
Marican discreetly pointed toward a woman seated right up front, her eyes locked onto Ruan.
“Really? I didn’t notice… oh? Now that you mention it, you’re right. She hasn’t looked away once.”
Marican’s gaze slid to another young woman nearby, who kept stealing glances at Ruan.
“And that one—she’s been coming here every day for the past several days. I asked casually once, and she said she lived in Pecaon Village. That’s an hour’s carriage ride away. No sandwich is worth that much trouble. Surely she’s here for something else?”
Zelda caught the sour look on Marican’s face and smiled slyly.
“Rosalin, don’t tell me you’re jealous?”
Me? Jealous? Absolutely not.
It wasn’t jealousy.
No, it was just that these women lingered too long after buying their sandwiches, slowing down the shop’s turnover.
That was all.
Yes—that was all.
Jealous of Ruan?
That’s absurd!
Marican nearly jumped in protest at Zelda’s teasing.
“What? Zelda, what are you talking about? Me, jealous? Of course not!”
She waved her hand, flustered.
“Hmph. You can deny it, Rosalin, but ever since yesterday, you’ve been watching every woman who looks at him. If that’s not jealousy, then what is it?”
“That’s because… because I’m worried they’ll distract him from working! And when they order only one sandwich and then sit around forever, the turnover slows down. That’s all. I promise, it’s nothing else.”
“Oh? Is that so? Well, if you say so.”
Zelda nodded, amused, and Marican quickly added, her face stiff,
“I mean it!”
“All right, all right. No need to bite my head off. Anyway, I should be going. See you later.”
“Yes, Zelda.”
Jealous? Me? No, no, impossible.
After Zelda left, Marican found her gaze drawn once more to Ruan as he worked.
She quickly shook her head, muttering to herself, and retreated into the storeroom.
“Excuse me? When do you finish work here?”
“Ma’am, do you need something?”
The moment Marican disappeared into the back, one of the women who had been staring at Ruan spoke up.
“How much are they paying you here? I’ll pay you double—no, triple. Come work for me.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that’s possible. If you’re not ordering, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
“H-hey!”
“Yes, ma’am? Do you need anything else?”
“What I need is you. How about dinner after your shift ends?”
The woman smiled seductively, but Ruan’s warm expression vanished in an instant.
His voice dropped low and cold.
“I don’t need you. If you’re not here to order, then get out of this shop.”
The woman shot up to her feet, face flushing with embarrassment.
“W-what did you just say to me?”
Ruan stepped closer, his gaze like ice.
“I said, if you’re going to spout nonsense, then get out of here. Now.”
“You—you think being handsome excuses everything? How dare you speak to a customer like this?”
Ruan’s eyes flicked briefly toward Marican’s empty seat.
Confirming she wasn’t there, he set down his tray and glared, his voice sharp as a blade.
“Listen. I don’t care if you waste your day staring at me. But if your presence upsets my employer, then we have a problem. I already owe her more than I can ever repay—I won’t let you make her uncomfortable. So get out. And if I see you here again, it won’t end with a warning.”
The murderous edge in his voice froze her blood.
Red with shame and fear, she bolted for the door, slamming it behind her.
“And you…”
Ruan turned toward another woman at the next table.
“M-me?”
“If you ever look at me like that again, I’ll put your eyes out. This is a place to eat sandwiches, not to gawk at me. Understand?”
“Y-yes. I’ll be leaving now.”
She, too, scrambled to her feet and fled.
A moment later, Ruan’s expression softened back into a gentle smile as he calmly cleared their table.
“Oh? Where did those women go?”
Marican emerged from the storeroom carrying supplies.
Ruan was already there, taking the load from her hands.
“Rosalin, you should let me handle this. Here—I’ve brewed some rosemary tea for you. It’s good for your body and mind. Please, rest for a while.”
“For my body and mind, hmm? Well… thank you, Ruan.”
While Marican sipped the tea, Ruan carried on with his work as if nothing had happened.
“Are you tired?”
On their way home after closing the shop, Marican asked the question softly.
“Not at all,” Ruan answered with a smile. “Spending the whole day by your side is so precious to me. I only wish the days wouldn’t pass so quickly.”
His words made her heart flutter unexpectedly.
Yet alongside the warmth came an uneasy thought.
Is this really right?
Can I keep holding onto him like this?
For all his talk, Ruan was still the duke’s son, the Empire’s so-called hero.
“Ruan… do you still wish to earn my forgiveness?”
“Of course,” he said firmly. “If you forgive me, I’ll never disappoint you again.”
“Ruan, to be honest, I can’t say that I forgive you—not yet. I still remember what happened back then. It still unsettles me whenever I look at you.”
“I understand. I know forgiveness won’t come easily. But if those memories overwhelm you, come to me. Do whatever you need until your anger fades—I can take it. Just remember this: no matter how many years pass, my feelings for you will never change.”
Marican had intended to tell him to return to the ducal house.
But at those words, she hesitated.
She had no desire to leave Phenomenon Village.
Life in the ducal estate had been comfortable, but it had always felt like a contract, a cage.
Here, in this simple village, she lived the life she had dreamed of since her days as a viscount’s daughter.
If I send him back now, he’ll never go.
Just two weeks more.
I’ll pretend to watch him for two more weeks, and then tell him I forgive him and that he must return home.
Once I forgive him, his feelings will settle.
He doesn’t love me—he’s only clinging out of guilt.
When that guilt fades, he’ll worry I’ll cling to him instead.
Better to send him back before either of us grows more attached.
I’ve lived without him until now.
I’ll live without him again.
I don’t need to grieve anymore, not now that I know he’s alive.
I can finally live in peace.
With that resolution, Marican felt her heart grow lighter.
“Thank you, Ruan. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She smiled, waved, and went inside.
But Ruan didn’t enter his own house.
He lingered outside hers for a long time, watching, before finally turning back.
There, waiting with wagging tail and dirt-streaked fur, was his namesake—the little dog Ruan.
“Ruan… where have you been this time? You make your mistress worry every day. Come here, I’ll wash you again.”
He cradled the pup gently and carried him home.
A few days later—
“Rosalin? Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else I knew.”
Zelda hurriedly apologized to a woman passing by.
“My goodness. Someone who looks like me, in a backwater like this? How absurd. Ugh, what rotten luck.”
Rotten luck? Zelda bristled, glaring.
“Excuse me? What did you just say?”
“This is exactly why I hate the countryside. So noisy. Anyway—do you know where that sandwich shop is? The one with the handsome man?”
Though her dress was plain, the woman had the air of a noble. Zelda smirked.
“Ah, so you’ve heard the rumors too. Look, young lady, you certainly seem like a noble’s daughter. I don’t know what brings you here, but if you’re so interested, find it yourself. I’ve had enough of this nonsense.”
“What did you just—ha! Do you have any idea who I am? Typical commoners, always so insolent. Anyway, I heard Ruan is here in this village. They said he was in a bad state after Mer left him… but to think that useless man could become so handsome. It’s a blessing Mer finally came to her senses and left. I may be dressed a little simply, but I resemble her enough. I’ll take care of Ruan instead. Now… where could he be?”
Luciane glanced down at the dress Marican had once given her, smoothed its folds, and strode gracefully into the village.
***
Six months earlier, at the Viscount’s estate of Beanoman—
“What are you saying? The duke is truly dead?”
“Yes. It happened sooner than expected. I was only worried about Mer…”
“Mother, her? Did you forget? Mer flaunted her title as the duke’s wife and stole all of our dowry. She always pretends to be so kind, making everyone take her side. That’s why the duke’s people, even the duke himself, coddled her endlessly. Every time I remember that day… I still can’t sleep at night.”
Lucianne scowled, recalling the incident at the crockery shop.
