Leah needed Terrun’s help again, or more accurately, his permission. She proposed to go on the date they had missed before. He readily agreed, and the two headed to a park they often visited with Pollin.

“Terrun, it’s autumn.”

“Indeed.”

The park’s scenery had changed. Reed grass sprouted around the lake, and the leaves and grass had changed color. It was a different charm from the clear summer.

Terrun wanted to walk hand in hand with Grace through the park, but she didn’t offer her hand today either.

“You have something to say to me?”

Terrun was quick to notice.

“Yes. Actually, I need to ask your permission for something.”

Leah explained her sales strategy. She would have her photo taken wrapped in Chainer’s lace and advertise in the newspaper.

“Are you planning to sell by mail order?”

“Yes. If someone wants to buy the lace, we charge shipping and deliver it by mail.”

“And the rural areas?”

“In big cities, we’ll deliver as usual, but in the countryside, the goods will be sent to the post office, and the buyer can pick them up. If they don’t like the product, they can return it on the spot for a small fee.”

Terrun nodded, listening to her plan.

“It’s a convenient method. Just look at a newspaper and buy goods with a letter.”

“I’m going to open Hamilton General Store’s first branch in Rebon, managed by Grandpa Rapa. He’ll receive the customers’ letters there. His men will handle the delivery.”

Terrun stopped and silently gazed at Grace. With time, she continually surprised people with her ideas.

Most people prefer to see goods in person before buying. But she proposed the opposite: to stimulate purchase desire by just seeing an advertisement.

“Is that possible? People are suspicious.”

“On the contrary, they’re also curious. The first step is hard, but if the product is good, the rest isn’t difficult.”

Terrun listened but had reservations. Leah being in the advertisement meant her face would be known throughout Lubeck.

“It’s not a good method.”

He firmly opposed, and Leah was shocked by his unexpected negative reaction.

“You mean my face will be known nationally.”

“You can’t earn money without taking risks.”

She believed it was her duty as the actual owner of this business. Being a model for the newspaper ad might attract criticism, but it could also set a trend and spread beauty.

‘Initially, it might be gossip. If there’s no reaction, it’s a failure. I have to overcome this for business.’

Most customers would be nobility and upper-class, so taking photos seemed reasonable.

“Do we have to earn money by selling our faces?”

“Selling my face?”

Leah was appalled. She was trying to conduct a legitimate business, not a cheap tactic of selling her image.

Leah tried to convince him. Even for mail orders, customers should see what the product looks like.

However, her efforts had little effect.

Terrun remained adamant, even seeming angrier.
“It’s not fair, is it? While Grace pursues everything she wants, she neglects me.”

Terrun realized, belatedly, that since Grace started her business, he hadn’t received much of her attention. Was this the loneliness Grace had felt toward him before? Was this her way of punishing him? He had such doubts.

His desire for her only grew, yet Grace wouldn’t even let him hold her hand, let alone expect a kiss. It was as if she only allowed him to watch from a distance, testing the limits of his patience.

“I haven’t neglected you, Terrun.”

“This childish conversation is disgusting, let’s stop.”

‘Disgusting?’

Leah felt her anger boiling. Even Terrun, like other men, was dogmatic and arrogant. Just because they were engaged, he thought he could control her life. Her idea to seek his support in the first place was wrong.

It was her plan, her venture. She should’ve navigated the challenges herself.

“It’s my business. From now on, I’ll handle it myself.”

“Do you mean you don’t need my help?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

Their supposedly pleasant date turned sour. Afterward, Leah no longer discussed her business with Terrun.

Leah sought out the best photographer in Lubeck. Photography wasn’t yet familiar to most people, but it was efficient as one shot could produce multiple prints.

To promote Chainer’s lace to those who hadn’t seen it in person, nothing was better than a photograph. But when the photographer arrived at the Duke’s mansion, Terrun seemed quite surprised, apparently assuming Leah would abandon her plans after his objection.

“The living room sofa seems like a good spot for the shoot.”

Pollin guided the photographer to the living room as Leah had instructed. The photographer spent quite some time setting up his equipment, which was quite extensive.

In the meantime, Leah prepared her makeup and hair, and dressed in a simple dress adorned with Chainer’s lace shawl.

“Wow! Our sister looks so pretty!”

“Really? Shall we go take a picture then?”

“Yep, I like it!”

Leah and Chainer headed downstairs to the living room.

Upon her entry, the photographer, utterly transfixed, didn’t move a muscle.