“You must have been very hurt.”

Edric’s voice reached her heart.

It should have been a moment that made her heart race, but for some reason, today she felt more calm than expected.

Perhaps it was due to the great sorrow of realizing her situation.

“I could show him what the price is for daring to deceive you and our family. Just say the word.”

Edric said.

“No, don’t do that.”

“…”

“I don’t want to be involved anymore.”

‘And truthfully, I didn’t want to marry him because I liked him, so I’ll think of it as reaping what I sowed.’

She kept those words to herself.

The sound of Edric’s heartbeat flowed into her ears.

Thump, thump, thump-.

How could it be so regular despite their bodies being pressed together?

Melly felt even more bitter at the calm heartbeat that clearly showed how little she could affect him.

“Alright.”

Edric said, patting Melly’s back.

“If that’s what you want, I won’t do anything. But in return, try to forget the bad things quickly.”

Melly nodded while still in his embrace.

“And…”

Edric continued, gently resting his cheek on the crown of Melly’s head.

“Keep living here from now on. Understand?”

The corners of his mouth curved up smoothly, as if certain of the answer that hadn’t even been given yet.

It was as he had thought.

True to his nature as a merchant who would stop at nothing for profit, Blair quickly took the bait.

Edric had discreetly leaked to the Herington Count’s family through an associate that Blair was very dissatisfied with the recent flower supply contract concluded between his family and Blair’s company.

He also let slip that although he had reluctantly accepted the terms of the deal for Melly’s sake, honestly, her beauty wasn’t so extraordinary as to justify such unfavorable conditions.

For Count Herington, who was on the brink of defaulting on his promissory notes due to the sinking of one of his family’s merchant ships just a few weeks ago, this information was irresistible.

He was also in the flower business and had a daughter prettier than Melly Enwood.

Although the fact that the other party was of the merchant class was a concern… he had another daughter. He felt he could afford to sacrifice his eldest daughter. If it could prevent bankruptcy, that is.

Count Herington immediately wrote a letter.

He offered to sell the new tulip variety for ten gold per stem, with a commission of no less than 7 percent. Compared to the deal with the Pelton Duke’s family at thirty gold per stem with a 5 percent commission, this was truly an unprecedented offer.

On top of that, he offered his beautiful eldest daughter as well, so how could Blair not be tempted?

The letter arrived at the very moment he brought Melly to his home.

When Edric learned that Blair, known for his impatient nature, had sent Melly back without even pressing for an answer to his proposal, he knew his plan had succeeded.

He was attracted to Melly’s frugal and obedient nature, but his innate business acumen was too strong to choose her for just those qualities.

If he were to take Melly as his wife, all he would gain would be the satisfaction of making the woman he liked his own. But if he took Claire Herington as his wife, he would gain money and the honor of being the son-in-law of a prestigious count’s family.

He was too much of a materialist to give up tangible benefits for the sake of intangible satisfaction.

Finally, upon hearing the news that the man had decided to become engaged to the Herington Count’s daughter, Edric couldn’t hide his sneer.

‘What a foolish man.’

If he had just a bit more insight, he could have included in his calculations the ever-growing extravagance of the Herington Count’s daughter and the enormous financial losses it would bring in the future.

To think he couldn’t see such things.

In any case, it was fortunate.

That he could separate Melly from such a person. That he could prevent his beloved friend’s life from becoming unhappy.

It was regrettable that it hurt Melly… but it must have been a good life lesson.

She tended to think that everyone was as kind as her, treating others with pure intentions and no ulterior motives.

She needs to know now.

How cunning humans can be. How they can cling to one side as if they’d die without it today, but cleanly discard it tomorrow as if it never happened and attach themselves to another side.

And so, Melly should now know that in the end, the only one she can trust and rely on is this Edric Pelton.

“Keep living here. Understand?”

“…”

“I’ll introduce you to someone much better than that guy.”

Edric separated himself from Melly and looked into her eyes gently.

His face, fully reflected in Melly’s clear and transparent brown eyes, was certain of her affirmation. Of course, why wouldn’t it be? Melly had no other choice but him.

“No.”

“…”

“I’m thinking of going down to the southern estate with the Dowager Duchess as soon as your wedding is over.”

It wasn’t a sudden decision.

It had been an option she had been considering ever since hearing the news of Edric’s marriage.

But before she could express her decision, Mr. Blair appeared, and the Duchess also seemed to want her to marry that man. And Melly herself had decided to marry to erase her lingering feelings for Edric.

The result was… disastrous.

‘Using someone else to forget another person. I deserve to be punished.’

Melly reflected deeply. And she no longer wanted to use marriage as a means to depend on for her life.

In a world where it’s difficult for a woman to be independent, there was only one thing she could do now.

Just as her mother had volunteered to be a lady-in-waiting to the Dowager Duchess, she would choose to serve and live with her.

The Duchess also liked her, liked the tea she brewed, and enjoyed talking and walking with her, so she thought living together wouldn’t be a burden.

And while living together like that, she wanted to do something she hadn’t been able to do before.

Namely, calling her “mother.”

Eida Pelton had long ago told Melly to call her mother, but Melly had refused to become her daughter because of her own greed.

She may not be able to become a real daughter, but she will take care of her like a daughter by her side.

That’s how she planned to slowly repay the kindness of taking her in when she had nowhere else to go.

Just as she found a momentary peace of mind in this new direction for her life, it happened.

“Melly.”

Edric’s low voice drew Melly’s gaze upward.

“I didn’t want to say this, but…”

“…?”

“My mother doesn’t want to live with you.”

Melly’s face became bewildered.

She couldn’t understand what this was all about.

“What do you mean?”

“Haah…”

He looked at Melly with pitying eyes, as if looking at a child ignorant of the ways of the world.

“Why do you think my mother keeps trying to get you married? It’s to get rid of you.”

Melly let out a small laugh at the shocking words.

“Th-that can’t be. Why would the Duchess… she cares for me like her own daughter…”

“That’s all an act.”

“…”

“Think about it. If Mother really thought of you as her own daughter, why has she never taken you to any public gatherings? Why is this the first time you’ve gone to the opera house? Did she really intend to go on a date with you like a real mother and daughter?”

“…”

“If that were the case, she should have just greeted Blair and spent time alone with you. She should have introduced you to all the great nobles she met in the theater as a precious child no different from her own daughter.”

Melly’s eyes, which had grown round, slowly returned to their original size.

She began to understand bit by bit.

‘I plan to get you married before I go down to the duchy, Melly.’

‘What does age matter? In fact, the more the age difference, the more you’ll be cherished.’

‘You’re on the road to success now.’

‘Instead of this, let’s set a date quickly.’

Perhaps she had noticed all along.

That wasn’t kindness. Rather, it was closer to an expression of anxiety, unable to get rid of an unwanted object. All of Eida Pelton’s actions, overly enthusiastic about her marriage, were proof of that.

Melly suddenly became curious.

Since when had it been? Surely not from the beginning?

‘So you’re Melly. I’m Aunt Eida. Jasmine and I are the closest of friends. Let’s get along well. Think of this as your home and make yourself comfortable.’

Was the comfort she offered after her mother passed away sincere?

‘From now on, call me mother. I’ll be your mother in Jasmine’s place.’

Surely that wasn’t a lie too. Surely not that too…

Melly looked up at Edric and asked with an earnest gaze.

“It’s not true, right? It wasn’t all a lie, was it?”

“…”

Edric didn’t say it wasn’t true. He just looked at her with pitying eyes, as if leaving the rest to her judgment.

Melly’s vision gradually blurred. Transparent tears began to well up under her eyes.

‘I didn’t want to go this far.’

Edric’s heart ached at the tears shown by her who rarely cried.

But she needs to know. She needs to face reality. She needs to know that in this world full of pretense, I’m the only one she can rely on.

Edric’s hand gently gripped Melly’s shoulder. The fragile shoulder that seemed it would break if he applied just a little more force was trembling finely in his hand.

“You understand, Melly.”

“…”

“I’ll take care of you until you get married. So let’s live together with me and Rosalyn. Rosalyn wants that too.”

Edric said, looking directly into Melly’s eyes with a pleading tone.

Melly looked at him with misty eyes and slowly lowered her head.

Tears fell straight to the floor, creating water droplet patterns on the stone pavement.

For her, today had been far too cruel.