CHAPTER 52………..
When she turned her head, she saw a fountain crowded with people.
Next to the fountain stood a placard that read “Wish-Making Event.”
“Alright, let’s check it out.”
Curious, Claire readily walked over.
As they arrived, a man held out a basket full of stones.
“Throw one into the fountain while making a wish.”
Claire closed her eyes, clutching a smooth, white pebble in her hand.
Please let me succeed in my revenge, and let the people around me be happy.
She earnestly whispered her wish inwardly, then tossed the pebble with a flick.
Plop.
Her stone landed among the many others already brimming with people’s wishes.
“What wish did you make?”
Unlike Claire, who had thrown hers right away, Theodore still stood with a stone in hand, unmoving, as he suddenly asked.
“Me? Just… that all the things I want will come true.”
“I see.”
Theodore nodded quietly, then suddenly fell silent. Soon after, he tossed his stone into the fountain.
Watching his pebble sink safely into the water, Claire asked him the same question.
“What did you wish for?”
“For your wish to come true.”
“…Huh? Really?”
“Yes.”
Claire was a little flustered by his sincere, straightforward reply.
“You should’ve wished for something you want.”
“I want you to do well.”
“Why?”
Through his glasses, her light green eyes looked up at him curiously.
After a pause, Theodore answered.
“You’re my main client right now, aren’t you? If you do well, it’s good for me too.”
Blinking at his answer, Claire let out a faint laugh.
“So basically, you’re cheering for me? That doesn’t feel bad.”
Whatever his reasoning, even small words like this gave her strength at that moment.
Having someone on her side—
She knew all too well how precious that was.
After finishing their tour of the festival at the fountain, the two returned to the carriage.
As Theodore opened the carriage door, he said,
“I’ll be going separately from here.”
“You’re going to walk? It’s quite a distance.”
“It’s fine.”
Since their destinations differed anyway, his thought was to part ways here without imposing on her.
He gave a small nod and was about to leave when Claire stopped him.
“Teddy, wait a moment.”
She gestured for him to hold on and stepped into the carriage.
A moment later, she came back out holding a rose.
“Take this.”
It wasn’t just any rose—it was one with sapphire petals.
Theodore stared at it a little dumbfounded.
“…Isn’t this a gemstone flower?”
“That’s right.”
“There can’t be many of these on the market. Are you really giving it to me?”
“No need to worry.”
Claire took his hand and pressed the bright blue gemstone rose into his palm.
“We agreed to settle accounts at the end, but I felt I should at least show a token of gratitude.”
Strictly speaking, the Episteme Guild had been working for her entirely free of charge so far.
Of course, she intended to pay them properly later, but for now, she wanted to thank the man who had trusted her and always followed through diligently.
“In fact, when I made my wish earlier, I asked for the people around me to be happy.”
“Am I included in that?”
“Probably? I don’t have many people around me, you know.”
To Claire, Teddy was someone who stood at an ambiguous boundary—not quite a stranger, but not fully “close” either.
Still, after spending today together, they had grown a little closer than before.
Beneath his half-mask, Theodore’s lips curved into a smooth smile.
“Then I’m glad I wished for your wish to come true.”
He gazed at the sapphire rose, the shimmering blue glow fitting perfectly with his taste.
“Have you given a gemstone flower to anyone else?”
“No, you’re the first.”
She might gift one in the future if needed, but up until now, Teddy was the first and only recipient.
Her answer left Theodore with mixed feelings.
He was happy to be the first, but a little regretful that it was given to Teddy—not as Theodore.
Still, the fact that he was the very first wouldn’t change, so he chose to be content with that.
“And… it feels a bit awkward to say this right after giving you a gift, but I have another favor to ask.”
Claire looked embarrassed, but Theodore didn’t mind.
“Go ahead, say it freely.”
“Investigate the gambling den that Marquis Ravello frequents. He’s a serious gambling addict—he’s surely still sneaking around behind the family’s back.”
Claire, who knew her father’s behavior inside out, was certain.
Especially when stressed, he always relieved himself by going to the gambling halls.
It’s about time I deal with Father and Stepmother as well.
Her eyes gleamed sharply, ready to move on to the next stage.
“Understood.”
Theodore readily accepted the new request, tucking the gemstone rose away carefully.
“Then I’ll be in touch.”
“Mm, take care on your way.”
Claire waved lightly as she got into the carriage and departed.
A faint smile lingered on Theodore’s lips as he turned away.
News that Minerva Trading Company was selling gemstone flowers spread quickly.
Thanks to word-of-mouth that the quality was better than before, customers poured in, and the hundred flowers prepared sold out in a flash.
Not stopping there, Ron eagerly marketed cosmetics and other products to the customers who came for the gemstone flowers, aiming to turn one-time visitors into repeat buyers.
With funds now abundant, Claire set into motion the final plan to swallow the House of Marquis Ravello whole.
The very first thing she did was order Franz to cut off the living allowance they had been giving the Marquis household.
That money had only been a safeguard to keep them from treating her recklessly.
But now that Claire had even seized the rights of the household’s mistress, it was an unnecessary expense.
From here on, I must apply financial pressure relentlessly. That money must never be given again.
As per her instructions, Franz abruptly informed the marquis couple that payments were discontinued, leading them to protest furiously.
“Is this some kind of joke? We clothe and feed your daughter, and you’re saying you won’t give us money?!”
“Sorry, Father. Things are tight right now because of Alex.”
Despite his words, Franz looked completely unapologetic as he sipped his tea.
At the mention of Alex, both the marquis and his wife flinched. Franz didn’t miss this and smiled slyly.
“Unless, of course, we reduce Alex’s tuition and continue your allowance?”
“That’s absolutely out of the question—!”
The marchioness nearly shrieked as she rejected the idea.
It was painful enough having her son live alone in a faraway island nation—if his allowance was cut too, how would he survive?
The marquis, however, who cared more about himself, frowned.
“Alex is young. It won’t hurt him to suffer a little!”
“How can you say that?! Do you know how lonely and difficult it must be for our Alex over there? No—I’m absolutely against it!”
“You… honestly…”
In the face of his wife’s unyielding maternal devotion, the marquis finally backed down.
And so, the 500 gold coins previously allotted to the Ravello household were cut off entirely.
They had no idea that Alex himself wouldn’t be seeing that money anyway. The marquis couple soon struggled in sudden poverty.
Already, their finances had taken a heavy blow after paying the enormous compensation to Count Merrison’s house.
They had begged to pay in installments, but the count’s family flatly demanded a lump sum—otherwise they’d press further charges.
Thus, the marquis couple had been forced to liquidate whatever assets they could on the spot.
As the Ravello family’s finances grew dire, many things inevitably changed.
From the marchioness’s perspective, the biggest blow was the drastic reduction in her “allowance for maintaining dignity.”
The problem was—she relieved her stress through shopping. And since she’d lost her head maid, who used to slip her extra money, even that source was gone.
I feel like I’ll suffocate! I can’t live like this—I need to shop!
Desperate, though penniless, she turned to buying on credit.
But even this collapsed, as rumors spread that the Ravello house had gone bankrupt from Alex’s scandal.
“Why won’t you let me buy on credit?! I’ve sold so many of your dresses for you!”
“And I’ve overlooked several unpaid bills because of that, but I can’t anymore.”
“Who says I won’t pay?! I’ll pay later, later!”
Stopped at the entrance of her usual dress shop, the marchioness raged, her face red with fury.
But the shop owner’s response was cold.
“If this continues, I’ll have no choice but to put you on the blacklist, Madam Marchioness.”
“What? Are you threatening me right now?!”
“I’m sorry.”
The boutique’s door slammed shut right before her face.
Shame and rage flushed her cheeks bright red.
That insolent…!
Her chest burned with humiliation, but there was nothing she could do.
What should I do? I have an appointment the day after tomorrow…
Of all things, it was a tea party of fashionable noblewomen, known for their sharp tongues.
She was already subtly looked down on for being the second wife—if she showed up wearing the same dress again, whispers were inevitable.
“Hah… what am I supposed to do…”
She clutched her forehead, staggering in frustration and despair—
“Are you alright?”
A gentle voice suddenly spoke up.
