“Purple clamshells.

That was an extraordinary item with meaning.

In the original, Violet made a well-selling pack using violet pearls, which made her sit on a money cushion.

This item originated from the southern territory with shallow seas, where clams with transparent shells found there turned purple after consuming purple coral. Afterward, farms were established for cultivation.

“But this shouldn’t be available now.”

However, the discovery was a distant story.

Moreover, this place is not too far from the northern and neighboring regions.

If it’s an item from the southern territory, it means the circulation period has already passed.

“Do you want it?”

Hertian approached and asked while looking at the stacked purple clamshells. Then, the merchant, who was dealing with other customers, came and wiped his hands.

“You have a discerning eye! This is an item we sell exclusively in our store, even in Navelle.”

It was undoubtedly a shop with a huge scale compared to other stores.

However.

Wearing a roughly pressed bread hat and a neat merchant outfit, the voice of the man was familiar.

“But this product is limited, so please come in quickly. It’s not just painted on the surface.”

He spoke without pausing, picked up a bowl, and showed the purple powder inside.

“When ground, it becomes this vivid powder. If you dissolve it in water, it becomes a high-quality dye.”

I reached out to the bowl at the man’s words.

“I want to see it up close.”

The man, who had seen the luxurious dress visible inside the robe, came down under the deck in a month.

“Take a closer look. Then you’ll probably buy it right away. When the sunlight hits, it sparkles. The noble ladies here even use it for facials by mixing it with makeup water.”

When he advertised loudly enough for only me to hear, I pretended to make a mistake and knocked off his hat.

“Oh, it’s okay.”

The man picked up the hat, telling me to look at the powder, and I waited until he lifted his head to check his face.

A beard with disheveled whiskers and sagging under-eye bags.

“Master Melson.”

Viscount Melson Borman.

He was here.

The mastermind who spread strange rumors about Hertian, preventing the contractual marriage, and a swindler.

“Long time no see.”

“Who are you?”

It seemed he didn’t recognize my voice. Did he not expect me to be here?

Well, then I should show my face. I pulled up the robe to show my face clearly.

“Oh, Miss Annette?”

“My father was looking for you for a long time. You’re here.”

At my faint laughter, Melson’s face turned pale.

“Darn!”

Melson spat out a curse and pushed me aside, leaving the shop.

“Madam. Who on earth is he?”

Hertian, who was about to follow him, was firmly told.

“We have to catch him right away. That person… um. Catch him for now!”

I mumbled, unable to say the words in the medical record outright. Hertian understood and chased after him.

I followed Hertian.

Melson nimbly roamed the market with his small body, swiftly navigating through narrow alleyways. Hertian chased after him at a fast pace.

Melson glanced back, stuck out his tongue, and knocked over a basket at a vegetable store as soon as he got out of the alley. However, Hertian easily jumped over it and continued chasing Melson.

“Gasping, gasping.”

I can’t catch up.

The stomach is bloated. The body is heavy.

Instead, I shouted one word to Hertian, meaning to catch him.

“Our marriage almost became a farce because of that person!”

It was the moment I was thinking that I should tell him what kind of rumors Melson had spread.

Thud!

The sound of something hitting the ground echoed, and surprised voices were heard in the market.

“He caught him right away, didn’t he?”

The prediction was correct.

Among the people standing, Hertian’s hand had Melson by the collar.

“Hey! Let go of this!”
Even though he wasn’t short, being caught by Hertian made Melson look like a little kid.

“I’m not Melson! Ugh. Let me go. This person is trying to kill me. Hey, mister, please help me.”

The merchants who were watching from the side not only didn’t offer help but also sneered, saying he probably deserved it.

“Pretending to be impressive, and then doing shady things behind. No wonder the items in that store seemed strange. It must have been smuggled.”

“The merchants who work with him, just for the sake of money, treat people worse than dogs. That guy.”

They readily urged Hertian to take him away, giving directions to the street. Indeed, people seem to live better if they are good.

Hertian silently brought Melson. His gaze somehow seemed like he might kill Melson.

With the energetic Hertian calming down well, they headed towards where the knights and the carriage were.

After having a meal and returning, he handed Melson over to a few knights.

“Those who haven’t had lunch, eat this.”

The knights grabbed Melson, and he stuck out his tongue.

“What kind of creatures are we?”

At that moment, Osen, who approached after seeing that, recognized Melson.

“You came to catch a swindler after having a meal?”

“Osen, do you know Mr. Melson too?”