WTTAO CH 08

“I’m sorry. My son made a mistake. I’ll apologize on his behalf, Lady Roselia. But what brings you all the way here?”

“I came to pick up the item I ordered, but I heard the smithy was closed, so I came to check.”

“Oh dear. What should I do? Due to some personal circumstances, I won’t be able to make anything for the time being.”

Roselia knew why Mark was in this situation, so she smiled at him.

“That’s all right. By the way, I heard someone at your home was sick. Is that true?”

“How did you know?”

“The elderly lady who lives next to the smithy happened to tell me when she passed by.”

“I see. Actually, my daughter is very sick right now.”

“What does she have?”

“They say it’s a… fever that has recently been spreading around this area.”

“Then have you managed to get the medicinal herb for her treatment?”

“Well… I searched everywhere around here, even in the neighboring village, but the price was far too expensive. I think I’ll have to go even farther to find it, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to open the smithy for a while.”

As Roselia listened to Mark, she took a large sack from Mary, who was standing behind her.

“Take this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s hibiscus, a medicinal herb used to treat the fever.”

“What?”

Mark was startled as he opened the sack Roselia handed him. Inside was a large amount of thoroughly dried hibiscus.

Behind him, Cardian’s eyes widened.

“I asked someone I know about it separately, and they said that if you put a handful of this dried hibiscus into one liter of water, boil it over low heat for about an hour, and have the patient drink it morning and evening, she should recover quickly.”

“Th-thank you so much. Then, as for the price of the herbs…”

Mark carefully asked, his eyes reddening with emotion.

“You don’t have to pay for the herbs. I happened to have some hibiscus on hand, so I’m giving it to you.”

“Then please come by next week! I’ll definitely have the gardening shears ready and waiting for you!”

“All right. I understand. I’ll be going now.”

After saying goodbye to Mark, Roselia turned and headed back toward the carriage. Cardian’s red eyes continued to follow her as she walked away.

According to the information sent by the Golden Whale Guild, the fever that had begun in the Imperial Capital had spread throughout the entire Empire.

Just as Gray had said, the medicinal herb hibiscus had become so rare that people were charging whatever price they wanted for it.

With all her attention focused on that matter, the week passed by incredibly quickly.

“As the head chef requested, I’ve prepared nutritious soup and meat pies.”

“Thank you, Mary. Now, let’s go.”

They loaded the basket containing the soup and meat pies into the carriage and headed toward <Mark’s Smithy>.

I hope this helps me become at least a little closer to Cardian.

As she was thinking that, they had already arrived at their destination.

Roselia inspected the sign hanging on the smithy. There were no misspelled words on it this time.

When she opened the door and stepped inside, Mark welcomed her.

“Welcome, Lady Roselia. I’ve finished making the gardening shears.”

Cardian was standing beside the welcoming Mark. When Roselia looked at him, he flinched and subtly turned his gaze away.

He still feels uncomfortable around me.

Suppressing a sigh inwardly, Roselia looked back at Mark and spoke.

“Has your daughter recovered from her illness?”

“Yes. After taking the medicinal herb you gave us, Lady Roselia, morning and evening, her fever went down after three days. She’s resting at home now to regain her strength.”

“That’s a relief.”

She carefully inspected the gardening shears Mark had handed her.

“I’m satisfied with everything, just like last time. Oh, and I brought something with me.”

At Roselia’s signal, Mary quickly placed the basket she was carrying onto the table.

“What is this?”

“Your daughter only recently recovered from the fever, right? So I brought some nutritious soup and meat pies. I hope they’ll help her regain her strength.”

“Th-thank you. You take care of us like this every time…”

“No, it’s nothing. Well, I’ll be going now.”

After paying Mark for the gardening shears, she left the smithy with Mary.

She was disappointed that she hadn’t been able to exchange a single word with Cardian, but she felt that she had definitely grown closer to Mark.

Maybe I should meet his sister next and become close to her. Cardian seems to care deeply about his father and sister.

It was when Roselia and Mary had crossed the open area and entered the alley that—

“Wait!”

Someone called out to her from behind.

Roselia turned around, only to see that the person who had stopped her was none other than Cardian.

Perhaps because he had run after her with all his strength, his black hair was disheveled and he was breathing heavily.

“Why did you call me?”

“…”

Even when Roselia asked him, Cardian simply stared straight at her without easily finding the words to speak.

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll be going.”

After waiting for a moment, Roselia turned around without hesitation.

Only then did Cardian finally speak.

“…No matter how long it takes, I will repay you for saving my sister and for the medicinal herbs.”

“Huh? You’re going to repay me for saving your sister and the herbs? Why? I told you I didn’t want anything in return.”

She had clearly told Mark that he didn’t need to pay for the herbs, so she genuinely wondered why Cardian was acting this way.

“I’m grateful that my sister was completely cured because of the herbs you gave us, but I hate owing a noble… more than anything in the world.”

Hearing Cardian’s words, Roselia fell into thought for a moment.

For some reason, she felt that she couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

“Hmm. Then how about I make you an equal offer—something that would allow you to repay me for saving your sister and for the herbs? The choice is yours.”

“What kind of… offer?”

Roselia gestured for Cardian to come a little closer.

He bent his upper body and leaned closer to her.

Lowering her voice, she whispered to him.

“I’m planning to get rid of some bastard in the Count’s household and accomplish something big later, you know?”

It really was something big, considering she had to prevent Sven from becoming the head of the Count’s household.

“But I don’t have anyone reliable and capable by my side. So, how about taking on that role and staying by my side?”

“What? But I’m… a commoner, and I haven’t received much education.”

Yes. That’s true for now, but later you’ll become a Sword Master, a fire spirit mage, and even the heir to the Duke of Neizer.

Of course, she couldn’t simply tell him all of that right now.

“So what if you’re a commoner? And what if you haven’t received much education? I care more about ability and potential than things like that.”

She stepped away from him and looked up at him with the most innocent smile she could manage.

Meeting her gaze, Cardian raised his head and fell into thought for a moment.

And when he met her eyes again, his red eyes were shining.

“…I accept your offer.”

Roselia was delighted that he had accepted much sooner than she had expected.

She desperately suppressed the corners of her mouth from curling upward.

“Good. Then let’s draw up the contract first thing tomorrow.”

“A contract?”

She had finally gotten this opportunity. She needed to make sure they put their seals on paper before Cardian had a chance to change his mind.

“That’s right. Surely you didn’t think I was going to keep you by my side for free, did you?”

“Wasn’t that what this was about? I also need to repay you for the herbs as soon as possible.”

“Repaying the cost of the herbs is important, but you should also be properly compensated for your work. Don’t you think? That’s why we’re writing a contract.”

After firmly arranging to meet Cardian the following day, Roselia went straight to the Golden Whale Guild.

There, she asked Gray for help drawing up the contract.

Of course, Gray once again spouted some nonsense about her first love and whatnot, but she simply ignored him and left.

The next day.

Roselia returned to the smithy and handed Cardian the contract that had been prepared with Gray’s help.

“I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t had much education, so I can’t read these complicated words.”

Blushing, he handed the contract back to her.

“That’s all right. You can learn to read. I’ll read it for you.”

She slowly began reading the contract aloud.

「The terms of the contract between Roselia and Cardian are as follows.

1. Roselia, recognizing Cardian’s potential and abilities, will provide him with a full scholarship and a fixed salary, while appointing him as her temporary aide.
2. After completing his studies, Cardian will be employed as Roselia’s official aide and will receive 100 gold coins, ten times the temporary aide’s salary of 10 gold coins.
3. Anyone who reveals work-related information or secrets to an outside party, or fails to abide by the terms of this contract, shall pay the other party a penalty of 1,000 gold coins in a lump sum, and the entire contract shall be terminated.
4. The contract period shall be five years, including the period of education.

By mutual agreement, both parties hereby enter into this employment contract.」

After Roselia finished reading all the terms of the contract, Cardian’s expression became somewhat strange.

“What do you think? Is there anything strange about the contract, or anything you want to change?”

“…No. It’s just that…”

“Just that?”

“I can’t help thinking that this contract is far too favorable to me. Besides, even though you’re a noble lady, is it really possible for you to pay this much money?”

Well… of course this contract is going to be favorable to you. The whole point is to lure you into staying by my side.

Roselia lightly cleared her throat to hide her inner turmoil.