Amidst the buzzing atmosphere, the gazes were full of malice.

The bride, who became the center of all those gazes, couldn’t even lift her head.

A pale face and staggering steps. Green eyes that seemed about to burst into tears, glimpsed through the veil.

It was a stark contrast to the whispering people and the bride’s family, who were laughing merrily after selling her off.

For some reason, Joshua couldn’t take his eyes off the stumbling bride.

Was it because she looked like a person walking into the pit of hell, pushed from behind?

Or was it because he strangely saw himself reflected in her back?

A life that seemed to have nothing of its own, swayed by the whims of the family.

Although he tried to laugh it off skillfully, that was all there was to it.

A father who always tested his children and a greedy mother.

An older sister and half-brother constantly engaged in power struggles over the throne.

Living a life constantly swept up in all of this sometimes felt like it wasn’t his own.

Yes, just like that woman staggering forward towards the pit of fire.

That wedding was already half a year ago.

Joshua muttered, recalling the woman he had forgotten about for a while.

“I wonder if she’s holding up well.”

Suddenly, he was curious about how the sold-off bride was doing.

What’s the most important thing when welcoming people?

The state of the house? That’s somewhat important, but not the correct answer.

The appearance of the garden, which is like the first impression of the mansion? Not wrong, but not the answer.

The food and desserts, the tidiness of the guest rooms, and so on.

Yes. In fact, what wouldn’t be important? But among all these, the most important thing is.

“Oh, this is a big problem?”

My appearance.

But I had forgotten to prepare for that for a moment.

I looked around the clothes room, which was in a disastrous state, with Siena and Mari on either side of me.

“There really isn’t… a single thing to wear.”

“That’s right. As a maid serving the madam, I should have checked in advance. It’s my fault.”

“What are you talking about? It’s just that I’ve been cooped up in my room, suddenly rushed out, and have been wearing only farmer’s clothes and comfortable dresses.”

After clearly assigning blame, I looked around the clothes room again with wide eyes.

Come to think of it, when I lived at the Count’s mansion, the Countess and Laura often bought clothes.

Saying it was necessary to maintain dignity.

Of course, there was never an occasion to buy clothes for me.

The clothes I wore were only discarded clothes from the maids, or old and worn-out dresses that had shrunk as much as possible and now came up well above the ankles.

In fact, I lived well wearing those, so even after becoming a Duchess, I didn’t feel the need to buy clothes.

To be precise, I didn’t even think about it.

The other servants couldn’t tell me to buy clothes while I was in seclusion, and when I suddenly got up and started digging up the yard, they couldn’t possibly say, “Madam, how about buying a few new dresses and wearing them while digging the ground?”

As a result, naturally, everyone in this household stopped caring about my attire.

Who can I blame now?

It’s my fault, of course.

“We need to have at least five new outfits made. Actually, I’d like to have ten more, but the time is too tight.”

In the end, unable to salvage any decent clothes from the wardrobe, the three of us put our heads together and started a strategy meeting.

“Even five outfits is tight on time. We only have about two weeks left. Oh dear.”

“It’s my fault after all. I should have thought of it earlier…”

“Stop. I don’t like wasting time on useless regrets. What can we do about what’s already happened? We just need to deal with it. And as I’ve said many times, this isn’t anyone’s fault, and if we were to assign blame, it’s largely mine, so let’s just move on.”

“…Madam, you’re really a good person.”

“I know.”

“Hmph.”

So, the conclusion we reached was to buy about five ready-made outfits from a clothing store and have them altered.

Usually, nobles, especially high-ranking ones, call in designers to custom-make dresses for each occasion…

“We don’t have time for that.”

With only two weeks left, there was no time for that now.

Siena and Mari, while regretful, quickly agreed to this unavoidable solution.

However, the part where their opinions differed was this:

“Since you’re not feeling well, Madam, wouldn’t it be better to call the clothing store people here to choose clothes, rather than you going out and moving around?”

“No, I’m telling you I’m very strong and healthy and in great condition. I want to go out and choose.”

“Usually, nobles call people to their homes. It’s rare for them to go out themselves. Besides, it’s quite a distance from the Duke’s mansion to the city where the clothing stores are. You’ll have to ride in a carriage for at least an hour, which will surely be uncomfortable.”

“Conversely, that means the clothing store people would have to pack up all their clothes and lead a train of carriages here. And I’m only going to choose and buy five outfits… It makes me uncomfortable just thinking about it.”

Maybe it’s because the blood of a commoner flows through my heart, but just the thought made me uncomfortable.

For a properly custom-made dress, they could just bring catalogs and sample fabrics, but this case is different, isn’t it?

And I wanted to enjoy shopping for once.

Laura and the Countess often went shopping together.

And every time they returned, they came back with the carriage loaded with something, which I wasn’t particularly envious of, but always curious about.

I wondered what they had bought this time.

But now, haven’t I become someone who can proudly enjoy shopping?

So.

“It’s stifling to stay indoors all the time. I want to go out and shop too. I don’t know when I’ll have this experience again, so I want to do it while I can.”

Yes. After I divorce the male lead later and live alone, I’ll have to live frugally again, so this might be my only chance for leisurely shopping.

At my words, Siena and Mari’s eyes widened, then their lips drooped.

“Why do you speak like that? Shopping and such, you can do it whenever you want, Madam. Anytime, forever.”

“No, you never know what will happen in life…”

“Madam!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll live freely shopping anytime, forever!”

Feeling somewhat guilty, I clenched my fist and shouted energetically.

Only then did the air of resentment and sadness disappear from Mari and Siena’s faces.

No, really, what did I do wrong?

The Northern sentiment is really difficult, truly.

“Anyway, if you insist that much, we can’t help it. I’ll inform the head butler about the outing.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“It’s nothing. Just… just… take care of your health.”

“Okay. You both take care of your health too.”

What mistake did I make this time?

Seeing their expressions droop again, I decided to just give up thinking about it.

Mari and Siena, who had left the room, held back their tears.

Their steps towards Barhan felt heavy.

Of the two walking side by side in silence, Siena was the first to speak.

“How could Madam be like that.”

“Like what?”

“Actually, I’ve been secretly relieved lately because Madam seemed healthier. Her complexion improved, and she didn’t show signs of struggling while doing various tasks. So… so I hoped that maybe her condition was secretly improving…”

Siena, who was continuing to speak, closed her mouth tightly with sadness.

But Mari didn’t urge her to continue. She already knew what Siena was trying to say.

How could she speak so calmly about the end?

Just when they were infinitely excited about the peaceful daily life, their hearts would somersault when Madam occasionally showed such behavior.

Even in the midst of this, the reason they couldn’t resent Madam was because:

She was a person who cared for and looked after those around her, even while pretending not to.

So what was resentful was not Madam, but the world.

The world that makes such a kind person speak calmly about the end.

Mari and Siena moved their steps in silence.