WTTAO CH 08

“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 items I ordered, but I heard the blacksmith shop was closed, so I came to see what happened.”

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

Knowing exactly what was going on with Mark, Roselia smiled at him.

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

“How did you know?”

“The elderly woman who lives next to the blacksmith shop happened to tell me.”

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

“What happened to her?”

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

“Then, have you managed to get the medicinal herb?”

“Well… I searched everywhere around here and even in the neighboring villages, but the price was far too high. I suppose I’ll have to go somewhere farther away to find it, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to open the blacksmith shop for a while.”

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

“Here. Take this.”

“What is this?”

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

“What?”

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

Behind him, Cardian’s eyes widened.

“I asked someone I know about it separately. 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 asked cautiously, his eyes reddening with emotion.

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

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

“Yes. All right. I’ll be going now.”

After saying goodbye to Mark, Roselia turned toward where the carriage was waiting. 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, hibiscus, the medicinal herb used to treat the fever, 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 in the blink of an eye.

“The head chef has prepared the nutritious soup and meat pies you requested.”

“Thank you, Mary. Let’s go now.”

After loading a basket containing soup and meat pies into the carriage, they headed toward Mark’s Blacksmith Shop.

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

Lost in thought, Roselia soon arrived at her destination. She examined the blacksmith shop’s door, but the sign with the misspelled words was nowhere to be seen.

When she opened the door and entered, Mark greeted her warmly.

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

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

He’s still uncomfortable around me.

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

“Has your daughter recovered from her illness?”

“Yes. Thanks to the medicinal herb you gave us, we boiled it and had her drink it morning and evening. Her fever went down after just three days. She’s resting at home now to regain her strength.”

“That’s a relief.”

She carefully inspected the gardening shears Mark handed her.

“I like all of them, just as much as the last ones. Oh, and I brought something with me.”

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

“What is this?”

“Your daughter only recently recovered from the fever, didn’t she? So I brought some nutritious soup and meat pies. I hope they’ll help her regain her strength.”

“Th-thank you. You always take such good care of us.”

“Not at all. Well, I should be going now.”

After paying Mark for the gardening shears, she left the blacksmith shop 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.

Roselia and Mary were crossing the vacant lot and had just entered an alley when—

“Wait!”

Someone called out to her from behind.

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

Perhaps because he had run after her as fast as he could, his black hair was disheveled and he was breathing heavily.

“Why did you call me?”

“…”

Despite Roselia’s question, Cardian stared directly 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’ll repay you for saving my sister and for the cost of the herbs.”

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

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

“I’m grateful that my sister was completely cured with the herbs you gave us, but I absolutely hate… owing a debt to a noble.”

After 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—one that would allow you to repay me for saving your sister and the herbs? The choice is yours.”

“What kind of… offer?”

Roselia gestured for Cardian to come a little closer.

He bent down, bringing his upper body closer to her. Lowering her voice, she whispered near his ear.

“I’m planning to get rid of a certain bastard in the count’s family someday and accomplish something big, you know?”

It certainly was something big, considering she had to prevent Sven from becoming the head of the count’s family.

“But I don’t have anyone trustworthy 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 user, and even the heir to the Naizer ducal family.

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

“What does it matter if you’re a commoner or if you haven’t had 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 impartial smile she could manage.

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

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

“…I’ll accept your offer.”

Roselia was delighted that he had accepted far more quickly than she had expected.

She desperately suppressed the corners of her mouth, which were trying to curl upward.

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

“The contract?”

She had finally managed to get this opportunity. Before Cardian could change his mind, she needed to seal the deal completely.

“Of course. Surely you didn’t think I was going to let you stay by my side for free?”

“Wasn’t that the idea? I also need to repay you for the herbs as quickly as possible.”

“Repaying the cost of the herbs is important, but you should be compensated for the work you do as well. Don’t you agree? That’s why we’re going to write a contract.”

After firmly promising to meet Cardian the next day, Roselia went straight to the Golden Whale Guild.

There, she received Gray’s help in drawing up the contract.

Of course, Gray once again went on about her supposed first love and other nonsense, but she simply ignored him and left.

The next day.

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

“I’m embarrassed to admit that I haven’t had much education, but I can’t read these difficult words.”

Blushing, he handed the contract back to her.

“That’s all right. You can learn to read later. I’ll read this to 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, shall provide him with a full scholarship and a fixed salary, while simultaneously appointing him as her temporary aide.
2. After completing his studies, Cardian shall be employed as Roselia’s official aide and shall receive 100 gold coins, ten times the temporary aide’s salary of 10 gold coins.
3. If any work-related information or secrets are disclosed to outsiders, or if either party fails to abide by the terms of this contract, that party 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 shall remain in effect for five years, including the period of education.

Both parties hereby agree to the above terms and enter into this employment contract.」

After Roselia finished reading the entire contract, Cardian, who had been listening carefully, had a strange look in his eyes.

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

“…No. It’s just…”

“Just what?”

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

Hmm… Of course this contract is favorable to you. The whole point is to lure you in and keep you by my side.

Roselia gave a small cough, trying to hide her inner turmoil.