PSTB 59

~chapter 59~

I narrowed my eyes.

I’d definitely seen it somewhere before. What was it again?

Come on, you useless memory of mine.

Ah! I remember now.

Before I came to the imperial palace, when Étienne bought me various accessories, it was something I secretly purchased then.

A wedding ring I’d prepared so I could get along better with Étienne—so I could cling to him for a long, long time.

But why did Étienne have it?

I was sure I’d lost it on the day I got blackout drunk.

Yeah. It disappeared after I drank with Étienne and got wasted.

…So it wasn’t lost.

Did Étienne steal it?

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“What kind of look am I giving you?”

“A displeased look. A suspicious one.”

So he did have some awareness after all…

“No matter what you’re thinking, divorce is off the table. I can’t give you that.”

Said the shameless ring thief.

I shot him a sideways glance.

“Mm… okay.”

I answered obediently—for now.

Étienne stared at me.

“Why aren’t you asking for a reason?”

Was he suspicious? Did he think I was plotting something?

Absolutely not. I’d just decided to stop letting myself be shaken by his every action—stop expecting anything from him.

So that even if one day Étienne pushed me away again and asked for a divorce, I wouldn’t get hurt!

To prove my innocence, I smiled even wider.

“I’m not curious.”

“You’re not… curious?”

“Should I be? You’re doing it because you want to, right?”

It clearly wasn’t the answer Étienne expected. His expression darkened.

“But regardless of that, I want to go to Dayron. It’s an imperial order, and I want to see my parents too. Who knows? My memories might come back.”

“So you’re going back to Bethes.”

“Not because of Bethes. But I guess that is the outcome.”

Étienne lowered his gaze briefly, as if thinking.

“Then I’m coming too.”

* * *

I tried to stop him, but it was useless. Étienne insisted on going together no matter what.

No! What about all that work? The territory residents waiting for their lord?!

He said he’d finished things in advance, so there wouldn’t be any problems for a while—spouting nonsense like that.

What kind of logic was that?

When I looked unconvinced—

⟨Then just send Simon. He doesn’t look like it, but he’s good at his job.⟩

…he argued like that.

In the end, I had no choice but to allow him to come along.

Thinking back now, that was strange too.

Why was I the one giving permission for Étienne to accompany us?

If he’d just said, I’m going, I’d have had no choice but to follow…

Strange. Very strange.

Anyway, I wanted to leave immediately, but after Étienne’s overly passionate insistence, I decided to rest a few more days before traveling.

“Lady Dahlia, I’m deeply moved to see you looking healthy again.”

“Simon, at least wet your mouth before lying.”

“I’m serious.”

I shrugged and patted Simon on the shoulder. Reliable shoulders, no matter how many times I saw them.

Grinning along with me, Simon handed me a letter.

“It arrived this morning. Sir Nathan sent it. Shall I read it for you?”

“No, give it to me.”

I didn’t want to hear Nathan’s sharp tone coming out in Simon’s ultra-low voice. Just imagining it gave me chills.

Whew. I wonder if things are going well.

My future depends on this business!

To Her Highness, Crown Princess Dahlia Demerov,

How have you been?

Since arriving here, we’ve been completely overwhelmed every single day.

To confess now, there were moments when I doubted your business plan. A noble lady who’d barely commanded servants within her own chambers—what kind of business could she possibly run… I apologize. Truly.

I’d like to severely punish my past self for ever thinking that.

You are a genius, Lady Dahlia.

We did exactly as you instructed. When noble ladies flooded in, we turned them away, saying all reservations were full. I wondered whether those prideful ladies would tolerate such treatment—but just as you predicted.

At first they showed clear displeasure, but later they came back on their own. That’s when we said:

For you, milady, we’ll make an exception and prioritize you over other reservations. But—this must remain our little secret☆

Honestly… it’s incredible.

Anyway, it’s hard to explain everything in writing. I hope you return soon.

P.S. We could really use more hands. Someone quick, perceptive, and smart—someone who won’t dare criticize my designs. I haven’t slept properly for days, and my skin has completely dried out.

I’ll be waiting for your reply.

—Genius Designer Nathan Lawrence

I carefully folded the letter again. My cheeks puffed up with excitement.

Nathan said he doubted my business abilities, but honestly—so did I!

Across both my lives, I’d always been an employee, never an employer. I’d never even considered running a business.

All I had to rely on was a single piece of passing information from a novel.

Even that had become unreliable as the original story went off the rails—so this kind of good news was unbelievable!

Yes! When the tide comes in, you row hard!

“Simon, when are you heading back?”

“It’s not certain yet, but we’ll leave by tomorrow at the latest. As soon as the other knights and attendants assigned to the Crown Prince and Princess arrive, we’ll depart.”

“Then could you deliver some items to Nathan for me?”

“Anything.”

* * *

Getting ready didn’t take long. Before Simon left, I wanted to buy and send as many materials and fabrics as possible.

I finished preparing quickly and was walking toward the carriage with Sophienne.

“Please make sure you return safely today. If you get hurt again, I’ll be kicked out by Lord Étienne immediately.”

Come to think of it, I do come back injured every time I go out.

Today’s goal: return perfectly healthy!

“I won’t get hurt today, so don’t worry. And even if I did, Étienne wouldn’t kick you out.”

“You really have no idea how worried Lord Étienne is about you. Truly.”

As I approached, the coachman swung the carriage door open. I lightly took his hand to step up, then turned back to Sophienne.

“That’s enough. Instead of saying things like that, just do me a favor.”

“Of course.”

“Teach me how to ride a horse. You looked so cool last time.”

Sophienne looked at me curiously for a moment, then nodded.

“All right.”

Only after hearing her answer did I climb into the carriage.

Shopping today, horseback riding tomorrow.

I’ll make the most of my time before the divorce!

Once Sophienne got in, the carriage door slid shut—but at that moment, someone grabbed it firmly.

A familiar hand.

“Where are you going alone again?”

It was Étienne, breathing heavily—completely unlike him.

Did he run here? No way.

How did he know I was leaving? Simon again?

“Just a short outing. And I’m not alone.”

Smiling, I linked arms with Sophienne beside me.

Étienne looked back and forth between us. Dissatisfaction flickered in his eyes.

“I didn’t know you two were that close.”

“Well, we are now… Wait, why are you getting in? It’s cramped!”

Sophienne quickly moved to the opposite seat.

Étienne squeezed himself in next to me.

“Why?”

The audacity! And he’s handsome, too!

“Do you even know where we’re going?”

Étienne rummaged through his coat and handed me a pouch. It had a familiar weight.

“Aren’t you going shopping?”

“Oh, please. You think I’d just say Sure, come along! over something like that? I’m not that ea—”

Three more identical bundles came out of his coat.

You…! Who spends money like that?! Do you have too much?!

I gently leaned my head against Étienne.

“Let’s go, dear.”

Instead of pushing me away, Étienne stared straight ahead.

Right. This isn’t lingering affection. I’m just following the plan—draining Étienne dry…

My eyes met Sophienne’s from across the carriage.

She smiled warmly and nodded slightly.

As if encouraging me—you’re doing well.

Sophienne rose from her seat.

“I’ll go separately.”

“Okay.”

“No, don’t go. Ride with us.”

Étienne looked at me.

What? So what?

I deliberately avoided his obvious stare.

* * *

In the end, the three of us rode together to the market district.

But our destination ended up changing—because of Étienne.

“The market? So this time you’re planning to come back half-dead again?”

“Anyone listening would think I cause accidents every day.”

“Don’t you?”

I couldn’t argue, so I just shot him a glare.

Sophienne beamed as she watched us.

“But there’s no other option. You can’t exactly hunt down fabric in the forest or fish it out of a river.”

Étienne thought for a moment, then gave the coachman an unfamiliar address. The carriage turned.

“Where are we going?”

“If you want to work, learn how to do it properly.”

I fiddled with my fingers, unable to respond.

Truthfully, I’d never talked to Étienne in depth about what I was doing.

Part of me felt guilty for filling a separate purse—but more than that, I didn’t think he’d view it favorably.

In this society, a noble lady—especially a crown princess—was expected to laugh politely at social gatherings, not run a business.

So for him to say something like that…

Did he trust me?

Or did he simply not care because we wouldn’t be seeing each other for long?

“You knew I was planning to work?”

“Wouldn’t it be strange if I didn’t?”

“Well… that’s true. But is it really okay? If you knew and didn’t say anything, that means you’re allowing it, right?”

“If I told you not to, would you stop?”

“No.”

“Then do it. However you want.”

That easily? Was this society really that tolerant of noblewomen running businesses?

My mouth fell open.