Considering the timing, he should be regretting because of Violet, yet he still lingers over me.

‘How much does he plan to regret?’

Would Violet forgive a man who even messes with a married woman?

Of course, I didn’t fall for such silly tactics.

There wasn’t much Serdis could do to a married couple anyway.

Perhaps he could only sow discord between us or spread strange rumors.

“I thought it would quiet down after the marriage. It’s tougher than I thought. Don’t worry too much.”

“Serdis has had strange habits since he was young.”

Hertian spoke with an unhappy face.

“I used to have a toy given by my mother. It was my only toy. One day, Serdis coveted it. I might have let him play with it, but I was living cautiously in the corner of the palace and became stubborn. Even when my mother told me to share, I refused.”

His voice trailed off.

“The next day, the toy was damaged beyond recognition. So ruined that it could never be used again. I never found out who did it, but I had a hunch.”

I, who had read the original work, knew.

It was a deed of Serdis, who had been greedy since childhood. As the only offspring of the empress, he had nothing to fear. That’s why he’s still selfish.

“Since then, I’ve lived pretending not to be greedy. So Serdis wouldn’t covet. But now he even covets my wife, which is hard to overlook.”

“Hertian.”

“I fear you might be ruined because of me.”

I felt I understood a bit why Hertian had been helping me.

I gently held his hand. Captured his trembling eyes with my steady gaze.

“That won’t happen.”

(Time separator)

As soon as Anette fell back asleep, Hertian went to find Serdis.

He was tilting a glass full of wine as if he owned the place.

“When do you plan to leave?”

Serdis handed a glass to Hertian.

“The wine in the north has a unique taste. Have a drink.”

“I don’t have the luxury to enjoy a drink.”

“So uptight.”
Serdis sipped his wine, his face still relaxed, a smirk on his lips. Unexpectedly, he stood up from his chair and looked out the window, his legs perfectly fine. Though they were still bandaged, he stood without issue.

Hertian spoke to him with indifferent eyes, as if he had anticipated this.

“When will you stop clinging pathetically to Anette? Do you think the position of the Emperor can afford to be distracted?”

“Why? Does it bother you?”

“More like it irritates me.”

He looked at Serdis as if he were looking at trash.

“You stalk a married woman, not just that, but I suspect you’re using dirty tricks as well. Your act as a cripple is unbearable. Do better next time.”

Serdis’ smooth face hardened gradually. Then, he snorted in disbelief.

“What tricks? I simply came to get along. I feigned leg pain because you and Anette seemed eager to send me away. But it seems like there’s still something left between me and you. I’ll leave early tomorrow, so lighten up.”

Even knowing that Hertian had caught on, Serdis pretended not to know till the end.

He had a card up his sleeve that he hadn’t revealed yet.

That Anette didn’t know Casian’s identity.

That Hertian didn’t reveal his identity.

Judging by their letters, they had more than just a close relationship. Among the people Serdis knew around Anette, there was no one like Casian.

They could’ve married without a contractual marriage, so not telling must mean there’s a reason.

Serdis pretended to sip his wine and smiled secretly.

There’s still a chance.

(This is a time marker.)

Even though morning broke, the Grand Duke’s castle was unusually quiet.

“His Highness Serdis left?”

“Yes, ma’am. He left early in the morning. He asked not to wake you.”

An uninvited guest had left the castle without even saying goodbye.

I looked at the place where they had left with bewildered eyes.

“He left even though he said his leg was injured.”

It was clear that he had fled due to his failed stalking.

After all, Serdis left silently, leaving Violet alone in the castle.

When it came to latching onto Violet to come here, he was quick. But now, he left her behind.

He truly was a garbage male lead.

“Ma’am, please come outside!”

Bonisa was excited from earlier. She gently grabbed my arm, implying that something more important was happening.

“I just remembered, today’s the last day to go to the village.”

Today was the last day I had promised with Kantard. Now, only 45 billion was left to earn, having already earned 30 billion.

“No, ma’am, you don’t need to go to the village today!”

My eyes opened reflexively.

For a moment, I thought my 30 billion had flown away.

But the situation unfolded completely opposite to what I had expected.

“Ma’am, 30 billion gold has arrived for you.”

Kantard had given me the gold a day early. I had fainted in front of Kantard yesterday. Hertian said that the villagers brought me back, but I distinctly remember fainting in front of Kantard.

And that strict person wouldn’t just let me miss a day.

“Ma’am, aren’t you happy?”

“No, I am.”

As I smiled again, Bonisa followed.

Well, I’m just grateful he gave it early.

“You are finally being rewarded for your hard work, ma’am.”

“You’ve also worked hard following me. Here, Bonisa, this is a gift for you.”

I handed over a necklace with a pumpkin gemstone that suits Bonisa well. I knew how much she had struggled, making herbs and going up and down the mountain with me.

“No, it was my duty…”

“I’m giving it because I want to give it.”

Her initially refusing hand accepted the necklace and gripped it tightly. Gilrota and Jackson, who had come down after hearing the news, couldn’t close their mouths in astonishment.

“Ma’am… you are really amazing.”
“I also heard from Gilo. Madam, did you really sell 50 million gold herbs for 3 billion?”

I squinted my eyes.

“I said I would.”

Others were also curious about where this money came from, but I couldn’t disclose it to everyone.

Just like Lily, the people of the fief also had a strong antipathy toward the Cursians.

For people living in remote villages, it was a giveandtake relationship, but for ordinary villagers, they were nothing but an enemy country.

Therefore, the details of this transaction remained confidential.

“Please use all of it to aid the people in the fiefs in Cursia.”

“All the money?”

“Yes. The price will rise the longer we delay.”

Aware that we were dealing in large amounts, the Cursians were slowly raising the prices. It was urgent to bring them over as soon as possible.

Of course, I was also reluctant to immediately spend the 3 billion I had worked hard to earn. Well, what can you do?

“Madam. Are you considering restocking…?”

“No.”

Jackson looked more disappointed than I did. I spoke to Jackson, who was tightly holding onto the money chest, with a smile.

“Go ahead.”