Chapter 48
The Jeckin Trading Post was located in a secluded alley off the main road, making it not the best place for a noble lady to wander around alone.
“It’s far too dangerous for you to go there by yourself, my lady. You absolutely cannot go,” Merbel said, her voice laced with concern.
“I’ll be careful, Merbel. I have to go, and there’s no other choice,” I replied firmly.
“It’s dangerous, yes, but more than that, if a noble lady like yourself goes to such a place without even a maid, people will look at you strangely,” she added, still worried.
“That’s why I brought this with me.” I lifted the cloak that was resting on my lap, trying to reassure Merbel as best as I could.
“Merbel, don’t worry about me. Just do what I asked you to do and everything will be fine.”
“So, I just need to go to Parman Street, find the items you asked for, and take as much time as I can?” she clarified.
“Yes. I have no other way to shake off the coachman, so this is the best option I’ve come up with,” I explained.
I flashed a playful smile to lighten the mood, and after a deep sigh, Merbel reluctantly nodded. If the Duke and Duchess of Mares heard that I was visiting shops in the back alleys, they would look at me suspiciously, so I had to take this precaution.
I had to be extra careful. If this ever reached Gustavo’s ears, I wouldn’t even be able to start what I intended to do. So, I had to proceed cautiously and carefully.
I first stopped the carriage in front of the usual large shop.
“I’ll get off here, and please take care of the rest,” I instructed.
“Understood, my lady. Please be careful,” the coachman replied.
I got out of the carriage and told the coachman to take Merbel to Parman Street. His expression immediately turned sour.
“Please take care of your business, my lady. I’ll wait for you and then escort you back.”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Just take Merbel and go,” I reassured him.
“I cannot do that, my lady,” he insisted.
If he had simply pretended to worry, I could have let it slide. But his attitude was openly defiant, and he seemed to think that he wasn’t obligated to obey my orders. His tone was arrogant to the point that I couldn’t overlook it.
“You’re refusing to follow my orders?” I asked, my voice steady but firm.
“It’s dangerous for you to walk around places like this on your own, my lady,” he replied, still defiant.
“In my opinion, it seems much more dangerous for you to disobey me,” I said, my tone sharp.
The coachman turned his head and pretended not to hear me. It was clear that he felt emboldened by some backing and was ignoring my commands.
I walked up to him and grabbed the whip he was holding. The coachman looked at me in disbelief.
“Get down! I have no reason to keep an employee who doesn’t listen to their employer,” I ordered.
“I was hired by the Duke,” he protested.
“Have you forgotten that I’m the Duke’s daughter?” I asked coldly. “For a mere employee to behave so disrespectfully to his employer—do you really think you can get away with this? Or did someone send you to act this way on purpose?”
The coachman pressed his lips together, clearly not knowing how to respond.
Since he could no longer keep an eye on me, his insides must have been boiling with frustration.
“If you don’t want to do your job, quit right now. It’s not hard to find someone to replace you,” I threatened.
“Are you saying you’ll fire me?” he asked, his voice shaky.
“Do you think I’m incapable of doing so? Don’t expect severance pay or a letter of recommendation,” I said, watching him carefully.
Realizing I wasn’t bluffing, the coachman muttered under his breath before driving off with the carriage.
I recalled the location of the Jeckin Trading Post and began walking in that direction. The street was quite different from what I remembered.
“I’ve never been this way before, but I see how much it’s changed,” I muttered to myself.
When I had come here with Gustavo a few times after marriage, the area had been more bustling and filled with more sophisticated buildings.
I wandered through the alley, which was filled with stores I didn’t recognize, until I finally reached the Jeckin Trading Post. The shop was tucked away in a dilapidated building, hardly more than a shack.
“This tiny shop became one of the most reputable trading posts in the Neter Empire… The money they made wasn’t just from legitimate business, I’m sure,” I thought.
After a big success, the Jeckin Trading Post had prospered.
Gustavo had used the money from this business to fund many other ventures. But during our entire marriage, I had never known exactly what he was doing. It was only toward the end of our marriage that I realized he was involved in illegal activities.
This life wasn’t going to allow him to make money freely; I had to start by tackling this place.
“There’s no rush. I’ll take my time, one step at a time,” I reassured myself as I walked into the store.
Despite its shabby appearance, the shelves inside were lined with goods that looked quite decent. I browsed around a bit, and a sales clerk approached.
“Is there something you’re looking for, my lady?” he asked.
“I’m thinking of redecorating my house. I’m just looking to see if there’s anything useful,” I replied.
“We carry everything you could need. If you tell me what you’re looking for, we can even source items that we don’t have in stock,” the clerk offered.
“That’s good to hear. I haven’t decided yet, so I’ll take a look around a bit more,” I said, scanning the shelves.
“Please, take your time,” the clerk said before walking off.
I noticed something at the end of the shelf—something wrapped in black cloth in a basket. It looked as though it was deliberately hidden.
My curiosity piqued, I quietly lifted the cloth to see what was inside.
Expecting something valuable, I was surprised to find a flower—vivid red, like blood, and unlike any flower I had ever seen before.
“Such a beautiful color,” I murmured, reaching out to touch it.
But just as I did, a man quickly snatched the basket from my hands.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded, eyeing me suspiciously.
I immediately recognized him. He was Komos, the head clerk of Jeckin Trading Post. His eyes were filled with suspicion, though not outright malice.
“This must be some sort of illegal trade item,” I thought, as I watched his reaction.
Feigning innocence, I smiled softly and asked, “This flower is so unique and beautiful. What’s its name?”
“This isn’t for sale. It’s a special order,” Komos replied sharply.
“I’d like to place a special order too,” I said innocently.
“It’s not for sale,” he repeated.
Komos quickly covered the basket again with the black cloth and hid it behind him. His reaction was so intense that it was almost comical.
“I need to find out what this flower is used for later,” I thought, intrigued.
I noticed his actions were suspicious, and I couldn’t help but feel even more certain that something was off about this place. Flowers weren’t the usual stock of a trading post, and the way Komos and the clerk acted toward each other only deepened my suspicion.
After leaving Jeckin Trading Post with no clear answers, I returned to the shop where I had originally disembarked.
Merbel still hadn’t returned. She was taking her time, just as I had asked.
Since I couldn’t stay on the street for too long, I found a nearby café and went inside to wait.
“It’s such an inconvenience to wander around alone,” I muttered to myself as I entered the café.
I stood by the street corner, waiting for a break in the traffic before crossing.
When crossing busy streets, a maid would normally walk ahead to guide the way, but I couldn’t cross the street alone without drawing attention.
Just as I was about to step out, someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder.
“Lady, may I assist you across the street?” a deep voice asked.
The hand on my shoulder was large but gentle. The voice belonged to someone I immediately recognized.
Turning around, I saw him. He lowered his hand but extended it to me.
“May I have the honor of escorting you, my lady?”
