At that time, Serdis also experienced a nearly fatal attack, but Violet saved him, and this episode brought the two people closer.

“I’ll come again tomorrow.”

For the sake of the budding romance between Violet and Serdis, I couldn’t miss this great opportunity.

Unless ruthlessly exploited to make a fortune.

When I just arrived home, I ran into Liri. Seeing her face was awkward, but avoiding her wouldn’t solve the problem.

“It’s cold, let’s talk inside.”

I quickly moved inside. I noticed her glancing at me as I passed by.

Liri seemed to have a deep grudge against me.

I entered the living room and handed her a cup of warm tea.

She sat down with her arms crossed, looking out the window with a sullen face.

“Are you still upset?”

I gently asked.

The reason I tried to correct Liri’s habits was because I wanted to get along with Liri during my time here. I was worried about what I might do if I treated Liri badly, who is also a family with Hertian.

“Who’s upset?”

She yelled, turning her head abruptly.

“Are you angry because I didn’t take your side?”

“No? What do you think of people?”

She subtly spoke informally and scratched my nerves. But I’m a good sister. I could tolerate this much.

“As I heard, that woman from then was a territorial citizen specially returned from Cursia by the Duke. People of Blandis shouldn’t do that.”

The moment she held her teacup, she put it down roughly to the point of breaking.

“Same territorial citizens? A woman who sets up a household and even gives birth to a child knowing she’s from an enemy country. She’s a traitor.”

“It’s no different than being dragged into slavery in another country. If there’s a place that claims to rescue you in a situation where you can’t even eat or sleep properly, wouldn’t it be natural to do so?”

“I’d rather die than cling to those guys.”

Liri spat out her words coldly and stood up from her seat. It seemed she no longer wanted to have a conversation.

“And, sis. You can ignore me too. After all, you and Hertian aren’t real spouses, are you?”

“Why do you still think that?”

We safely passed the small hours, but her eyes were filled with the certainty that we were fake.

“Hertian has another mate……”

That’s when it happened.

The butler entered the living room with a knock on the door.

“Madam. The merchants have all arrived.”

Liri muttered something under her breath and left the living room without even saying goodbye.

Liri seemed to have said something, but I couldn’t hear it.

I lamented to the butler with a bewildered face.

“Ah, dealing with a teenage girl is hard.”

My troubled mind was completely cleared thanks to the pile of medicinal herbs stacked on the carriage.

“Madam!”

The heads of the merchants turned in unison at Bonisa’s voice.

“Miss Anette?”

“It’s been a long time. Sir. As you can see now, I’m no longer a lady.”

“I’ve been busy with my business and didn’t know the news. …Greetings, Your Grace!”

The merchants greeted me politely with their hands together. The merchants I gathered were people from three families. They had been trading frequently since childhood due to the ailing siblings.

“Thank you for purchasing so many hardtotreat herbs.”
“I am grateful that you sell the herbs at such a low price.”

I bought most of the herbs they had. But it didn’t mean that all the herbs in the water supply were used up. There are many herb farms in Requies.

“I heard that you also grow herbs in the north, is there a specific reason you need them?”

“The herbs in the north are for the territory’s people, and these herbs have other uses.”

“What are the other uses?”

“It’s a secret.”

There was nothing good about letting the people of Kursia know that I was planning to sell herbs to them.

Even if it was business, they would view interaction with the enemy negatively.

“By the way, you have dried the herbs well. They are in good condition.”

I touched the dried herbs stacked in three carriages and smiled proudly.

‘Now, these herbs will turn into gold.’

At that time, Hertian came down to the lobby as if he had heard the news.

“Lady, what is all this?”

His eyes widened at the sight of the pile of herbs accumulated over several years.

“They are, in order, Angelica, Phyllo, and Sage.”

The most common but widely used herbs.

Herbs that reduce inflammation, treat wounds, and alleviate pain.

They were very common herbs in Requies.

I whispered so that only he could hear.

“I plan to do business with these.”

Hertian’s head tilted. Initially, herbs were not a business that made money. Unless you cheat someone like Baron Melson and rip them off significantly, herbs are items that anyone in the empire can easily get.

“What is the reason you suddenly want to start a business?”

Hertian brought me into the office. Unlike before, the office was warmly heated. I enthusiastically explained to Hertian with an excited face.

“When I looked at the budget, I found that a significant amount of money was being drained to Kursia every year. To save all the people in the territory, at least 7 billion is needed, but it is risky to continuously take out such a large amount from the territory’s budget. And it’s also pitiful for the territory’s people who have been waiting for a long time to return home from a foreign country.”

“So, you’re saying that you want to earn that money by doing business with herbs?”

“Yes!”

I answered cheerfully.

Hertian must think I’m amazing, right?

“That problem is not something for you to worry about.”

“Huh?”

But contrary to my expectations, Hertian’s face was dark.

“You don’t have to bear that burden. This issue is purely the problem of the Duke, which is me, and our territory.”

“But I’m also the Duchess, aren’t I?”

“We are just in a contract relationship. You must not overexert yourself and collapse. I will prepare dessert, so please rest in your room.”

He was definitely worried about me. But the words ‘just a contract relationship’ hurt a bit.

I tried hard to persuade him with a smile.

“It’s not a big deal to call it a business. There’s no particular need for physical labor. If there are documents to approve, all I have to do is stamp them.”

“I appreciate your concern for the territory. But from now on, I will take care of this. I don’t want to bother you with the problems of the territory.”

“I want to do it.”

“You don’t need to worry about such things, please just rest comfortably.”

For the first time, Hertian and I had a conflict of opinions.

I understood his worry as I had collapsed once in the castle.

And for Hertian, he needed a Duchess who was just a figurehead, not someone who would manage the household.

It may have looked strange for me to step forward and solve the problem of the territory.

I couldn’t tell him that the Duke’s castle was so cold because it was riddled with holes due to the war.

‘I have to handle it myself.’