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Chapter 6
“But, Lady Erica… I can’t afford to buy these kinds of clothes for my child.”
“Looking doesn’t cost anything.”
The mother hugged her daughter tighter in her arms.
“If she looks, she’ll just start wanting things, and then she’ll beg me to buy them.”
Erica, who had been sitting still all this time, finally stood up.
She looked determined, so I decided not to interfere in my sister-in-law’s actions. I was curious to see what she would do.
“…Just take them.”
“But…!”
“Don’t you see? The price is gone.”
At first glance, it might have sounded like she was snapping, but this was Erica’s way of being as kind as she could.
She pulled the price tags off her stand and placed all the dresses into a basket.
Her hands didn’t hesitate for a second as she handed the basket to the mother.
The child beamed with joy, and the mother reluctantly accepted it, bowing her head over and over.
“Th-thank you. Thank you so much!”
“It’s fine. They were just leftover clothes with no proper owner anyway.”
“Waaah! Thamk you, La’y Ericahhh!”
At the child’s words, Erica’s cheeks flushed red, and she began fanning herself.
After the mother and daughter left, Erica shuffled toward me with an awkward expression.
“I didn’t want to have to say this to you…”
I kept tidying my stand and waited for her to continue.
“Why did you make me do this with you? I’m really not suited for this kind of thing.”
Selling only to end up giving it away for free — no wonder she was conflicted.
I held back a smile.
“You’re right. You really aren’t cut out for sales.”
“Of course not. I grew up as the precious daughter of a noble house.”
“Still… maybe sales aren’t for you, but I think you’ve found something else you’re good at.”
“What do you mean?”
I smiled and pointed at her now-empty stand.
Knowing what it meant, I was actually prouder than she was.
“Well done, Lady Erica.”
I patted her lightly on the back — not ready for a hug yet, but enough to tell her she did really well.
It didn’t take her long to brush my hand away.
“Do you think I did it for your praise?”
“Of course not.”
Did she realize she’d just made a donation?
I handed the packed items to the porter and dusted off my hands.
“What you did was charity.”
“Charity?”
“Yes. You did it out of a good heart, right?”
Erica bit her lip, clearly overwhelmed by the strange new feeling.
She probably never imagined herself giving anything away. Honestly, I hadn’t expected it either.
I didn’t know what exactly made her decide to give away all the clothes, but she seemed quietly pleased with herself.
“Lady Erica, should we go eat something? I earned a bit of money today.”
“I’m too full right now.”
“Congratulations.”
“For what?”
“You learned something better than sales today.”
I could tell her fullness wasn’t from food, but from an emotional satisfaction.
The sunset turning the sky red looked just like her flushed cheeks.
I felt a gaze on us as we climbed into the carriage, but I ignored it.
If anything, I hoped that gaze would be the start of rumors that could change the Cloud family’s reputation.
Despite saying she was full, Erica readily joined me for the dinner I offered when we got back to the estate.
After earning money and seeing what she did today, I wanted to treat her.
When she had barged into my room that first time, I never imagined we’d end up eating together like this again.
“You worked hard today, Lady Erica. I bet someone out there will pray for your happiness tonight. I guarantee it.”
“Really? Well… that’s not such a bad thing.”
She uncrossed her arms and licked her lips.
The Duke’s skilled chef, Baba, had prepared an exquisite meal — lamb steak with a fresh salad of vegetables and fruit.
Just as we were getting distracted by the spread, an uninvited guest arrived.
“Are you eating just now?”
Since I didn’t have the warmest feelings toward Martin, I didn’t answer — just gripped my fork like a weapon.
Can’t you tell?
I stabbed a piece of lamb steak and shoved it into my mouth.
“That’s right, brother,” Erica answered for me.
“You both look like you’re in good spirits for once,” Martin said, pacing around us as if our shared meal was strange.
Was he about to pick a fight? Even dogs are left in peace while eating.
I gave him my sweetest smile — remembering the saying that you can’t spit on a smiling face.
But my smile vanished when he spoke next.
“I’ll be away for a few days. Just so you know.”
Since becoming Gemma, this was the first time I’d heard about his personal schedule straight from his mouth.
Come to think of it, he was wearing an overcoat, ready to head out.
“Isn’t the business trip in two days?”
“I’m going early.”
He was always busy, so a late-night departure wasn’t shocking.
I took the chance to ask where he was going.
“To the Delmant region.”
He answered without looking too pleased, but at least he answered.
Martin Cloud was a talented businessman — that’s how he became a Duke so young.
If he didn’t eventually start a rebellion like in the original story, maybe the Cloud family could keep its wealth and honor.
The royal family’s sword would aim for the Clouds eventually.
To stop that misfortune, I needed to know about his business.
We have to expand our influence.
If we secured a good venture and improved the family’s image, even the royal family might not be able to touch us.
“When will you be back?”
“Soon.”
“…Before then?”
I sensed something odd in Erica’s words.
Her expression had gone from normal to dark in an instant.
Before ‘then’? What’s ‘then’?
The air between the two of them grew strangely heavy, and I couldn’t butt in.
Clearly, there was something I didn’t know.
“At least a week,” Martin said.
I didn’t know exactly what they were talking about, but I was sure there was some important event in a week’s time.
When Erica gave a bitter smile, Martin glanced at me, as if silently asking me to look after her.
If he was entrusting his sister to a wife he normally disapproved of, it had to be serious.
Not that I can do much without knowing what it is.
I nodded, though uneasily.
I’d have to ask Mari what this ‘then’ meant.
Martin patted Erica’s head, then made to leave.
I added my own parting words.
“Have a safe trip.”
His success was in my best interest, after all.
At my words, he turned back, as if he’d almost forgotten something.
“Oh.”
“…?”
“Don’t cause trouble. Behave yourself.”
“…Are you talking to me?”
It sounded like something you’d say to a child. I pointed at myself in disbelief.
He nodded, pulled his hat down low, and left without waiting for an answer.
Not even bothering to hear my reply — typical.
After he was gone, Erica burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
I went back to my seat and cut my steak.
“Lady Erica, are you going to laugh all night?”
These siblings… too much.
I popped another piece of steak into my mouth and chewed hard.
That night, I couldn’t sleep and tossed and turned for a long time.
I’d heard suspicious footsteps somewhere in the house.
It wasn’t like the Duke’s estate had lax security.
No way it’s been breached… right?
Still, I kept listening.
The footsteps grew louder until they stopped right outside my door. I even heard a sigh.
Are they insane?
To come right to the Duchess’s bedroom while the Duke was away?
I sat up. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness after staying awake so long.
I grabbed a big pillow and crept to the door — only to drop it.
No, this won’t do.
My eyes landed on a small, tall vase on the dresser.
No time to take the flowers out — the doorknob was already turning.
I raised the vase high, glaring into the dark.
“Eek!”
Hearing the familiar voice, I quickly lowered the vase.
“Lady Erica…?”
She stood in the doorway, hugging the big pillow like it was a teddy bear.
“Sister-in-law… I want to sleep here tonight.”
Something in her voice was almost pleading, so I let her in.
She still had a childlike side to her that softened me — until she spoke again.
“I can’t share a bed with anyone.”
What?
I put her in my bed and tried to lie down beside her, but she flatly refused.
Then why did you come to my room?
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said.
I looked at her, sprawled in the middle of the bed.
“Oh, you do?”
“It’s still not happening.”
Who was she to say that?
In the end, when Mari came running at Erica’s scream, I told her to bring me bedding.
That night, for the first time in ages, I slept on the floor.
