Chapter 18
Three days had passed since Roselia was invited to Cardian’s house.
Walking down the hallway, she met the butler, Jason, coming toward her. He carried a silver tray with food.
Seeing her, Jason bowed his head politely.
“Good day, Lady Roselia.”
“Are you going to Father’s study?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Roselia looked at the silver tray in Jason’s hands.
“Does Father eat in his study?”
“Yes. The fever spreading through the territory is bad, but the medicinal herbs are expensive and hard to get, so he’s overworking himself.”
“Ah… medicinal herbs…”
Roselia paused, thinking about Jason’s words.
“If you have nothing else to say, I’ll go to the study before the food gets cold.”
“Very well. Go ahead.”
Jason bowed politely and headed to the study. Watching his back, Roselia quickened her pace toward her room, as if making a decision.
“I came because I have something to tell you.”
“I understand. Sit down.”
Count Felis stopped what he was doing and replied. Roselia sat on the sofa, and he came and sat opposite her.
She looked at him, frowning slightly.
Count Felis’ eyes were dark around the edges, and his usually neat clothes were slightly disheveled. He looked like he hadn’t slept properly for days.
“You look very tired.”
“I’m fine. Shouldn’t you be resting more?”
“I’m fine. That’s why I came to see you.”
Felis nodded.
“Then that’s good. So, what did you want to say?”
“First, promise me that whatever I tell you, you won’t ask anything.”
Felis felt a strange sense of déjà vu at her words. He remembered the landslide incident.
“…Alright.”
Roselia nodded and began speaking.
“Tomorrow, someone will visit to see you. You must meet them. They will solve your greatest worry.”
Felis studied her carefully. Her blue eyes seemed completely honest.
“…I understand. I don’t know who it will be, but I’ll trust you.”
“Thank you, Father.”
The next day.
As Roselia said, a guest came to Count Felis. He watched silently from the guest room, sipping tea, as a man sat across from him.
The man was dressed somewhat like a noble, but his hands holding the teacup and his posture were not noble at all.
“Who are you? Why have you come to see me?”
The man put down his teacup and met his gaze.
“I am Gray, head of the Golden Whale Trade Guild, Count.”
‘The Golden Whale Trade Guild…?’
Count Felis repeated the name in his mind, surprised.
The Golden Whale Guild was a rising trade guild expanding quickly throughout the Ortia Empire, not just in the Hailen territory.
And its head came personally to see him.
“…Pleasure to meet you. But why did the head of the Golden Whale come to see me?”
“Oh, didn’t the Countess’ daughter tell you first yesterday?”
Felis paused, recalling his conversation with Roselia last night.
“Roselia said… someone would visit today and that meeting them would solve my worry.”
Gray nodded with a smile.
“That is correct. I came to help solve your concern, Count.”
“Before that, I want to ask how you know my daughter.”
“I met the young lady as the guild head and a client. I can’t explain in detail, but she once helped me greatly, and I came to repay that favor.”
“Hm…”
Felis folded his arms and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Gray. But Gray didn’t care; he had spoken the truth.
“I’m curious—how do you intend to solve my worry?”
Without a word, Gray took a small box from his coat and placed it before Felis.
“Open it, Count.”
Felis carefully opened the box. Inside was a glass bottle filled with red liquid.
“What is this?”
“Hibiscus extract. I have a hundred bottles like this in my carriage. This amount is more than enough to cure all the fever patients in Hailen territory.”
Felis’ eyes widened.
“Are you saying you want to trade? Hailen doesn’t have enough money to buy this much.”
“Trade? No, I’m giving it freely.”
“Giving it freely? What is your intention?”
“It’s a gift. I simply want to repay Lady Roselia’s help and hope it solves your concern.”
Though suspicious, Felis accepted the gift, realizing it was better than refusing.
That evening, Roselia was called to her father’s study.
“Just as you said, a guest visited today. It was the head of the Golden Whale Guild.”
Felis looked at her silently. Roselia, unaware of his thoughts, met her father with a bright, innocent smile.
Felis sighed lightly and spoke.
“I wanted to ask you many things, but you promised not to ask, so I’ll let it go.”
“Thank you. Did you talk well with the guild head?”
“Talked well enough… he even gave me a hundred bottles of hibiscus extract for the fever.”
“Oh, really?”
Seeing Roselia’s calm reaction, Felis realized she already knew.
“Anyway, I’ll use the extract for the people in Hailen suffering from fever. Thanks to you. If you want a pretty dress or shoes, I can give you one.”
“I don’t need that. I just want Father’s worry to be solved.”
Felis stayed silent for a moment, thinking he hadn’t done much for his daughter, during the landslide incident or now.
“…Then tell me if you need anything else.”
Roselia thought briefly before answering.
“Hmm… I don’t need anything. But please grant me one favor.”
“What favor?”
“Not now, I’ll tell you later. It won’t harm the Hailen household, so please agree.”
“…Alright.”
With that, their conversation ended. The next day, Count Felis sent the hibiscus extract throughout Hailen territory, curing the fever patients for free.
As a result, the people recovered quickly, and the reputation of the Hailen household improved day by day.
As soon as Sven’s one-month confinement ended, he immediately had all the food he had been missing brought to his room.
On his large table were juicy steaks, pies filled with minced pork, and roasted chicken brushed with butter.
Sven cut the steak and stuffed it into his mouth, tearing the chicken with his hands and devouring it.
At that moment, his personal servant quietly approached.
“Sir Sven, I’ve found out why Lady Roselia goes out so often.”
“Really? Tell me.”
Sven chewed the chicken while listening. The servant frowned slightly at his gluttonous appearance but quickly composed himself.
“She goes to bookstores and stationery shops in District 1, then stops by the blacksmith in District 2.”
“District 2… that’s mostly commoners. Is the blacksmith run by commoners?”
“Yes. She orders gardening scissors and trowels there.”
“She actually went there herself to place orders?”
“Yes, and she has done this several times.”
“Several times?”
“Yes. I confirmed it with the carriage driver. No mistake.”
Sven put down the chicken and looked at the servant with narrow eyes.
“She doesn’t go there just to order gardening tools. There must be another reason. Go and find out in detail.”
“Yes, sir.”
After the servant left, Sven smirked, his greasy lips curling, and muttered slyly:
“Roselia… this time, I won’t let you get away with it.”
