Chapter 38
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Chapter 38
An intriguing smile bloomed across Jack's face. Hiring a single person was hardly a difficult matter for him.
An Alchemist with such rare abilities would actually prove invaluable to the Trading Company's operations.
Jack understood her true intention.
'She wants to help.'
Though she framed it as a transaction, she was saying from beginning to end that she had come to assist him.
Yet forgoing five million in currency—such an enormous sum—in a financial transaction could not stem from purely altruistic motives.
"Why are you helping our Trading Company?"
"Because the Kelofeldt Trading Company has a future."
"...!"
For a moment, Jack was taken aback.
When The Emperor, then still a boy, had chosen Kelofeldt from countless trading companies and sent his full support.
Those were the exact same words he had spoken.
Jack glanced at Dale, who sat beside him observing the situation. He too seemed to feel the same sensation.
"You'll hire me, then?"
"Of course. This is hardly a loss for us. If anything, wouldn't it be a loss for you, miss?"
"...That's true. The Alchemist is someone I treasure."
I covered my mouth as though reluctant, but in truth I was smiling.
'He eats far too much.'
That Alchemist had cured the illness, yet he seemed to have developed a taste for health foods—devouring herbal remedies three times a day as though they were nutritional supplements.
I had decided to remove him from the Territory.
I glanced at Jack. His face bore the relieved expression of someone whose every worry had been resolved.
"So I'd like to ask one more favor...."
"Please, speak freely."
This was the moment.
"There's a business venture I'm desperate to sell you."
Jack was already hanging on my every word. Then I produced the item I had prepared.
"It's a hoe."
"...What?"
Jack's eyes, which had gleamed with anticipation, shifted to confusion. In that instant, I broke into a broad smile.
"Buy them from me. Lots of them. And have Kelofeldt mass-produce them with your technology."
Jack recorded that day in the annals.
The day he nearly fell victim to a con—the first time in his life.
* * *
"Success!"
I patted Dale's shoulder enthusiastically.
"We did it, Dale! Now I just need to fill in the documents from the Lord, write down the exact sales volume I want, and stamp the contract...."
"...."
"Dale?"
Dale, wrapped in a scarf, glanced at me before turning his head away.
'Did I do something wrong?'
Had I gone for 30 million crowns when he was expecting 20 million?
Or had I lost us money by negotiating down 5 million when I should have kept it at 30 million?
"I didn't know you were such a frugal man."
"...? What do you mean?"
I asked again, confused by what Dale was saying. But he simply pulled his scarf up to the tip of his nose, his expression remaining sullen.
"So the Alchemist was to your taste."
"What? Me? That's not it at all."
It was such an absurd thing to say.
Still, Dale didn't believe me and turned his head away. Only white breath escaped quietly from his lips.
"That's why you wanted to arrange his employment...."
"No, no. He's been consuming too many medicinal herbs, so I just wanted to send him to a better environment."
"...."
Dale looked down at me with the eyes of someone trapped behind an iron wall.
"You think about him quite a lot."
"That's...."
He appeared in the original story, and for now, he was someone I needed to send far away.
Dale glanced at me before speaking in a low voice.
"Still, I am your husband, so there's nothing to be done about it."
Dale walked quietly and helped me into the carriage.
He didn't sit beside me but across from me instead, and today was no different.
His hair was black as pitch, his eyes golden like precious metal. He gazed at me intently.
The weather was cold today, so he wore a fur-lined robe, which made his already imposing frame appear even larger.
Just then, early snow began to fall outside the window.
"So that's why it was cold and overcast today."
I watched the snow falling like grains of rice.
And I looked at Dale, who still hadn't said a word. Surely he could at least respond....
"Ah...."
Dale had fallen asleep at some point.
He slept in an uncomfortable position with his arms crossed. I kept quiet so as not to wake him.
The carriage was dark, and Dale's features weren't clearly visible.
Shadows appeared and faded repeatedly as we crossed bridges.
I gazed quietly at Dale's face.
Seeing him lost in sleep, he somehow looked younger. Though it was just my impression, I imagined Dale must have been dignified even as a child.
Watching him like this, I found myself growing curious about him.
Thump.
As I stared at Dale, my heart suddenly pounded violently.
It was a strange sensation. My heartbeat quickened without warning, and my hands trembled beyond my control. Not just my hands—my feet as well. My entire body shook uncontrollably.
In that inexplicable moment of trembling, warmth touched my hand.
"...Dale?"
Somehow he had awakened and taken my hand. He gazed at me with an expression of deep concern.
"Are you unwell?"
"No, it's not that. It just...happened suddenly."
Before I knew it, cold sweat had begun to bead on my skin.
"Thank you. I suppose my strength failed me from hunger...."
I hadn't even realized my legs had nearly given way beneath me. Once I sat down again, my heartbeat gradually returned to its normal rhythm.
Yet despite the peculiar sensation fading, my hands continued to tremble.
Then Dale moved to sit beside me, wrapping his robe around me like a blanket, enveloping me in its warmth.
His embrace was comforting, and the gentle hand patting my back brought solace.
'...Why did my heart react so strangely the moment I saw Dale?'
But beneath this inexplicable feeling, something within me felt profoundly unsettled.
* * *
[Emma. Is there an illness where one's heart sinks upon seeing someone? Our family doesn't have such a condition, does it? Could you look into it for me?]
I quickly wrote a letter and sent it to Emma.
Then I organized my bag.
"This is the document with the seal stamped on the house deed. This is Dale and I.... Huh?"
Suddenly, the signature section caught my eye.
Dale's personal information written there.
"Dale's birthday is coming up soon."
I hadn't marked it on the calendar, so I didn't know. Dale's birthday was approaching. November 10th.
Dale would never mention something like this first.
'He was probably just going to let it pass.'
But a birthday comes only once a year. It was a precious and special day that happened just once.
Though we were a fake couple, the closeness between Dale and me wasn't fake.
"Alright. I'll prepare something for Dale's birthday."
But what would Dale like?
Dale....
I couldn't think of anything he'd enjoy.
I searched through the entire house from the first floor to the third floor while Dale was away. The house was so neat and plain that it didn't seem to reflect the owner's personal taste. It was the epitome of ordinariness.
"Dale's favorite clothes are white and black."
I sat down and nodded at my notes, then shook my head. It's not like we're choosing go stones.
Dale really doesn't know how to make the most of his appearance, does he?
"So, based on his clothing preferences, Dale likes things clean, white, and black."
...This is difficult.
It wasn't easy to match the tastes of a man whose preferences seemed both distinct and vague at the same time.
"What is Dale good at?"
Cooking, housework, he seemed skilled with the sword, and he's handsome too.
"Argh."
I grabbed my head and groaned. I had no idea what Dale would want to receive!
"Maybe Dale doesn't even know himself?"
At this rate, if I asked him, he'd probably just answer "nothing."
What does Dale like?
What on earth could he possibly enjoy?
Does he even have anything he likes in this world?
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