~Chapter 78~
Larvihan looked for Lovelace early in the morning.
“I don’t like mint scent.”
He said this as soon as he smelled the tea. Judith, who brought the tea, looked at Larvihan with surprise.
“Sorry, Judith. Larvihan isn’t feeling well today.”
“You said you wanted to know.”
“When did I say that?”
“Don’t you remember?”
Larvihan stretched his arm beside Lovelace’s cheek, as if he was touching a wall in the air. He tilted his head a little.
She remembered talking with him while leaning on the bed’s headboard last night.
“I didn’t say I wanted to know…”
“You said you wanted to know exactly. You said there’s no reason. I don’t like mint scent. In the morning, I like simple lavender tea.”
Larvihan and lavender didn’t seem to match. But lavender was purple, right? Since seeing Arwen’s ring, Lovelace started to dislike purple.
While Lovelace and Larvihan talked, Judith brewed the lavender tea he wanted. The nice scent spread, and the taste was strange but gentle.
“What’s your schedule?”
Larvihan asked as he went back to his seat.
“I have to redo the budget with Becky.”
“Becky?”
Larvihan’s eyebrows went up a little.
“She’s our finance officer. You saw her before.”
Larvihan tried to remember, but Becky’s name and face were blurry. He didn’t care much about people unless he really had to. For example, he remembered exactly how close he could put his hand before Lovelace’s eyelashes would flutter.
Lovelace talked about things Larvihan didn’t care about, but he liked her lips moving, so he listened quietly.
“…Are you listening?”
“No, I’m watching.”
“When someone talks, you should listen. I thought you were listening.”
“You’re pretty. I can’t look away. I can’t do two things at once.”
Larvihan’s words weren’t very polite. Lovelace realized he was calling her pretty and staring at her lips, so he couldn’t listen to what she said.
“So you can’t see me because you have to meet Becky?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm, I’m jealous.”
“It’s just work.”
Larvihan always did what he said. He sounded like he was following some school assignment.
“Even if it’s work, I don’t like it. I want you to look only at me and talk only to me.”
“Why don’t you just lock me on an island?”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll think about it.”
For a moment, Larvihan’s eyes sparkled. He looked so serious, like a child discovering something new.
Lovelace got scared.
Maybe this man really would do it.
She shook her head and stood up.
“I’m just joking, so don’t even think about it. If you’re done eating, please leave, Larvihan.”
“I’m free today. So, let’s meet again after you finish your work. I’ll help Paulo with his studies.”
Larvihan left the room. Lovelace breathed in his scent that still lingered. He was really a dangerous person—but also the most lovable.
‘Should I just stay by Larvihan’s side like this…?’
She wanted to.
Lovelace and Becky visited the Harmelda sugar agency.
Since sugar was being sold everywhere, Ricocel insisted they needed a store that only sold sugar.
Before expanding the sugar shops, they came to check how the agency worked and to plan a new system just for sugar.
“How about having a main shop? We could deliver there, and small businesses could get sugar from there. That way, there won’t be any problems with distribution.”
“Yes. It’s hard to deliver to every area ourselves.”
“Because demand is going up so fast, direct delivery is getting harder and harder.”
Becky used to hesitate, but now she talked easily with Lovelace.
Lovelace suddenly remembered it was Becky who first suggested starting the sugar business.
She watched Becky writing ideas for a new distribution system in her notebook.
“Becky, about distribution. Now, we just send sugar out with the Rico merchant group. So sometimes it’s not delivered on time, and we have to do deliveries ourselves… Count?”
Lovelace held Becky’s hand. Becky’s eyes got big. It felt a little awkward, but Lovelace had to say it.
“Thank you, Becky.”
“Huh?”
“Thanks to you, our county is rich now.”
“I didn’t do anything…”
Becky looked down, shy.
“Of course you did. You looked ahead to the future. If you hadn’t given advice, our county would have stayed poor forever.”
“That’s only because you listened to me, Count. It’s all thanks to you.”
Becky really believed that. She thought no one would ever listen to someone like her, especially when her report was basically, ‘If we keep going like this, our county will go broke.’
But even then, Lovelace didn’t get upset. Instead, she praised Becky and worked hard to fix the problem.
So, the glory they had now was all Lovelace’s.
“Becky, I wouldn’t have thought of anything if it weren’t for you. We would have just barely survived, and our people would have been hungry every time there was a famine. You’re the hero of our county.”
Becky only did what she should, but the praise made her feel both uncomfortable and happy.
“Good job. Keep helping me from now on, too.”
Lovelace saw Ricocel coming. She let go of Becky’s hand and went to Ricocel.
She heard Becky and Ricocel talking about sugar deliveries. Lovelace never ignored Becky’s advice.
‘Count, I’ll give my whole life to Harmelda!’
Becky couldn’t say that out loud, but she thought it in her heart at least ten times as she followed Lovelace and Ricocel.
“Wait a second, Count. Let’s think about this.”
The meeting between Ricocel and Lovelace lasted longer than expected. Ricocel wanted to have the only right to sell sugar. He already controlled production and wanted to control sales, too.
Lovelace agreed, but only if he made a perfect system. Sugar must reach every corner of the empire.
Ricocel didn’t like it, but he couldn’t say no. Just by having the production monopoly, the Rico merchant group was making record profits.
The business was growing fast. Rico’s value—and Ricocel’s reputation—kept going up.
All because of sugar.
If he also controlled sales, the Rico group would be number one in the empire. Maybe they wouldn’t have to bow to the nobles anymore.
“I think you need more time. Also, next time we meet, bring a real plan for the delivery network.”
“Count, the Rico group already has a good delivery network. And it’s not easy to get a new delivery place.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.”
Ricocel thought Lovelace was teasing him and gave an awkward smile. He just kept laughing, so Lovelace gave him a hint.
“Isn’t your daughter an expert in that area?”
“Huh? My daughter?”
“You should ask Madam Quayerton for advice. I’ll go now.”
Lovelace stood up. She felt she might learn more if she stayed, but she was worried about Becky, who seemed restless since halfway through the meeting.
“Becky, you couldn’t concentrate…”
“Sorry, Count.”
“I’m not asking for an apology. Is something wrong?”
Becky stopped and played with her fingers.
“If you have something to say, just say it. It’s okay.”
Becky finally relaxed.
“Count, I need to go somewhere. Can I leave for a bit?”
“Of course. Is that why you were worried?”
“I’m still on work time…”
“Becky, you’re not leaving your work undone, and we finished what we had to do. Go ahead. Should I get you a carriage?”
This was the first time Becky ever asked for a personal favor. Lovelace wanted to help as much as possible.
A lot.
But Becky firmly said no to the carriage. She gave a big, bright smile.
“I’ll be back, Count. I’ll return to the mansion before it gets late. I’ll also finish today’s report before bed.”
Becky said everything quickly and ran off. Lovelace watched her brown hair swing as she left.
“She looks like a kid when she smiles. I hope she smiles more often.”
Girls Becky’s age in this world all felt like little sisters to Lovelace. Maybe it was because of her old life in Korea.
Lovelace thought she should have a personal talk with Becky soon and returned home.
But Lovelace’s little plans disappeared. Misfortune came without warning. The pink future she dreamed of suddenly turned blood-red.
That evening, instead of Becky’s bright smile, Lovelace faced her cold, lifeless body.
