ILTDAMH |CHAPTER 76

Chapter 76 

A New Encounter

At Charles’ words, Marican’s face betrayed a flicker of unease.

But neither Charles nor Clea noticed. Charles only bent to pick up the fan she had dropped, returning it to Marican while muttering under her breath.

“Really, master is so childish sometimes. I only called the dog’s name, but he insisted I was calling him instead—and then he went so far as to joke that Clea and I must be named after chickens and ducks! As if that’s funny. And our head maid has a duck allergy—she loathes them.”

Ah. So that’s why she said she hated ducks.

“Hahaha, it does sound rather childish. Ruan really is something.”

Marican smiled faintly, pretending not to notice. She thought it best never to tell them that what they believed to be Ruan’s silly lies… were actually true.

…

After over an hour of travel, their carriage reached the busy streets on the edge of the capital, where shops clustered thick as leaves.

“Is that everything, then?” Marican asked as they stepped out of the spice shop.

“Yes, my lady. All is purchased,” Clea replied, then hesitated. “Though you needn’t have bought anything for us.”

“Nonsense. This winter will be bitter. I wanted to give everyone a small gift.”

“That’s far too generous,” Charles said, glancing at the servants’ arms weighed down with thick quilts.

Marican only smiled. “If you’re grateful, then stay warm beneath them.”

“Truly, thank you, my lady.”

“Now that our errands are finished, why don’t we buy a few sweets before heading back?”

“Oh, my lady, I heard the new dessert shop down the way sells wonderful cookies,” charles piped up eagerly. “Clea and I will drop these spices in the carriage and return. Please wait for us there.”

“Very well. I’ll go on ahead and find a seat.”

“Yes, my lady. We’ll be quick!”

While Clea and Charles returned to the carriage with the servants, Marican strolled leisurely toward the shop.

…

“No, this price is far too low!”

“Then take them back. I can buy cookies elsewhere.”

Marican paused at the threshold. Inside, a man—clearly the shopkeeper—argued with a girl around her own age, a basket of cookies between them.

“I know you buy them from me at two pein and sell them for ten,” the girl cried. “The cost of ingredients has risen so much that I barely break even. Couldn’t you pay just a little more?”

“I already told you—if you don’t like it, then leave!”

With a sneer, the man shoved the basket, sending it tumbling to the floor. Cookies scattered across the ground.

“Sir!” the girl gasped.

“Impudent wretch. You should be grateful anyone bothers to buy from a gutter-born orphan at all!”

Marican scowled and started forward—

But another woman, who had been watching nearby, strode past her. She knelt, calmly gathering the fallen cookies back into the basket.

“My, my. I held my tongue, but this is too much. Are all Imperials this cruel?”

The shopkeeper stiffened. “Excuse me, madam, but your words are too harsh.”

“Too harsh? I simply said what is plain—that your character is rotten. I came because I’d heard this shop’s cookies were worth the coin. Imagine my disgust, seeing you cheat a child to fill your purse.”

“Cheat? What nonsense!” He eyed her suspiciously. “You don’t even look like one of our people. If you’re a foreigner, then keep quiet and mind your own affairs.”

The woman ignored him, plucked a cookie from the basket, dusted it against her dress, and popped it into her mouth.

“Wait—that’s dirty!” the girl exclaimed.

The stranger only smiled, chewing thoughtfully as if judging fine cuisine. Then her eyes widened, and she grasped the girl’s hand.

“Delicious! Absolutely delicious! I’ve eaten many cookies in my time, but never anything like this. Young lady, I’ll take them all. I counted at least thirty just now—how about three hundred pein?”

“M-me? But these all fell on the floor. I can bring you fresh ones tomorrow if you’d prefer. Please, give me back the basket.”

The girl reached for it, but the woman waved her off. “It’s fine. A little dust won’t kill me. I’ll buy them all now.”

The shopkeeper’s face darkened. “You dare? Who are you to purchase them? You’re interfering with my business! Drop the basket and leave—this shop will never sell to you.”

“Interfering?” the woman scoffed, plucking another cookie. “I thought you baked them yourself, but it turns out you’ve been exploiting this child all along. Yes, trade is free in the Empire. You may set your own prices. But even so, a merchant should have at least a shred of conscience.”

She closed her eyes in bliss, savoring the bite.

“To force her into an unfair contract, to forbid her from selling anywhere else, to pay her a pittance while you gorge on profit—aren’t you ashamed, as a grown man?”

Unfair contract? Conscience?

The shopkeeper bristled at words he barely understood. Rage boiled within him.

By chance, he had discovered the girl’s cookies months ago. At first he had intended to drive her out, but after tasting one, he knew they were finer than anything sold in the capital. He bound her with a year-long contract: exclusive supply, two pein apiece. He sold them first for eight, then ten—and every tray vanished within the hour. Along with drinks, his profits soared.

And now this meddling foreign woman dared ruin everything.

“You insolent wench!” he snarled. “Guards! Guards!”

A clerk rushed out. The girl whispered urgently, “Please, just go. Don’t get in trouble because of me. I’m sorry.”

“You’ve nothing to apologize for,” the woman said softly. “The villain here is him.”

The girl bowed her head and tried to leave, but the man barred her path.

“Running away, Elena? After you’ve angered me? You’ll never sell another cookie in this city again.”

Elena…?

The name struck Marican. She knew she had heard it somewhere before.

The woman straightened, eyeing the man. “And who are you, that you dare act so brazen?”

He smirked. “My uncle is none other than Marquis Dominic Repaid—the Queen Mother’s kin. That makes the Crown Prince’s house my patron. Do you understand now?”

“Ah. So that’s it. Your backing is the Crown Prince’s family,” the woman murmured coolly.

“Afraid now?” he leered, raking his gaze over her. “If you beg sincerely, perhaps I’ll forgive you.”

He reached toward her waist—

And in the next instant, his body flew, crashing to the floor.

“Filth! How dare you lay such a hand on me!”

“You bitch!” he roared, pointing as he struggled up. “You’ll pay for this!”

Just then, the guards burst through the door with the clerk.

“What’s going on here?”

Instantly, the shopkeeper clutched his back, wincing dramatically. “Ah, thank goodness! These women attacked me. First that orphan tried to swindle me, then this stranger threatened to ruin my business. Please, you must uphold justice!”

What utter lies.

Marican’s lips parted in outrage—

But Elena spoke first. “That’s not true! I only asked him to raise the price a little, but he threw down my basket and threatened me. This lady was only defending me.”

“Lies! My back is broken!” The man writhed, groaning pitifully.

The guards exchanged uneasy looks. Finally, their captain spoke. “You three caused a disturbance here. You’ll come with us.”

What? They’ll just take his word?

Marican drew breath. “Why are you only listening to him? I saw everything. That man is lying. The girl asked only for a fair price. He threw her basket, threatened her, and this lady merely spoke up for her.”

The captain frowned. “Is this true?”

The man’s eyes brimmed with crocodile tears. “Captain Max, you know me. Have I ever flaunted my family’s name? Please—don’t believe these strangers over me.”

At the mention of Marquis Repaid’s house, the captain’s expression hardened. “Enough. All of you will come to the guardhouse.”

Marican hesitated, weighing whether to summon her escort knights waiting outside.

“This is absurd!” the woman snapped. “You’ll haul us off based on his lies?”

The man sneered. “You chose the wrong day to cross me. You don’t even know who I am.”

“Enough talk. Come quietly,” the captain ordered, and his men advanced.

At that moment, the door slammed open.

Ruan strode in, his gaze like ice.

“I’m curious,” he said softly, “what kind of fool dares to lay a hand on the Duchess of Canoluf.”