Beryl, Winter's newly hired doctor, was clutching the medicine and money given to him by Duke James Blooming with both hands.
James Blooming was already giving him money for the third time and entrusting him with medicine whose purpose was unknown.
He heard that it is a medicine that promotes pregnancy. Since his son and his wife did not want to get pregnant, he told him to keep it a secret from Violet and gave him money to do so.
However, contrary to what he heard last time, he found out that Violet wanted children. But why is James Blooming secretly taking this medicine? Isn't this a medicine that promotes pregnancy?
As those doubts began to arise, Beryl thought it would be better to confess now. However, it seemed difficult to avoid punishment for having already received money twice and given Violet this drug.
Beryl was scared, but with a calm expression, he handed the bag of medicine he had prepared to Jen, the maid.
"Same for today. Let the Little Lady take her medicine before going to bed."
"Yes! Oh, I'm worried because I heard that if she doesn't take the medicine, she'll get a headache right away. Is there no way to completely heal?"
"I'll have to look for it."
Beryl said awkwardly and left as if running away. He almost fell several times because his legs gave out.
***
Maureen, the owner of the silk shop, where the book club was held, was one of the merchants who came the day Winter called the downtown area his mansion.
The problem was that she was talking about the book club at Winter Blooming's mansion, so the Princess heard about it and joined it.
After Winter Blooming's note appeared, it was difficult to bear the stares from other members.
Violet spoke with concern as the atmosphere suddenly became chaotic.
"If the paper is unusable..."
"I can't use it! You can use it anywhere! It could even be used on other continents!"
But why was there such hesitation?
Violet was concerned and looked at the expressions of the book club members.
Everyone looked uncomfortable.
Violet felt that the aftereffects of being bullied were worse than they appeared on the outside, and she quickly became convinced that their uncomfortable expressions indicated that they disliked her. So she smiled and said as if nothing had happened.
"Anyway, I'll have to go back and eat, and If it's okay, you can come to the mansion and get together at least once. Just a day when you feel like it..."
When Violet spoke with regret and prepared to feel resentful. Maureen grabbed her hand.
"If you invite me, of course I will go. That's it, can't you just eat and leave?"
"That's right, eat and go! There is a place that sells all kinds of grilled meat, and it is very delicious. Just... Don't say that I fed you bad food to your husband."
Violet hesitated, wondering if she was saying this out of courtesy, but other members pushed her back. Fortunately, over dinner, they realized that it was Winter Bloom that was making them uncomfortable, not her. Even so, Violet got up early. Everyone was sincerely sad that she was leaving, so she got excited and wondered if they really liked her.
Violet's steps on her way back to the carriage stopped for a moment in front of a jewelry store. Then Flip, who was with her, asked.
"Little madam, would you like to take a look?"
"It's okay for a moment?"
"Sure."
Flip nodded loudly and Violet entered the jewelry store.
Violet liked the platinum wristwatch seen through the shop window. It was a price that would have made her hesitate for a while, and conversely, it was something that she thought would be too cheap for Winter.
For the first two years of our marriage, she planned small parties for his birthdays and anniversaries, but Winter never came home. She tried cooking for the first time in his life, but it all went cold, and when she ate it later, she found that it was a good thing her husband didn't get home on time.
After hesitating for a while, Violet took off the brooch she brought before they got married and held it in her hand. She only bought things but never sold things.
"Welcome, Ma'am."
The good news was that if you sold Winter's name on this downtown street, you wouldn't be scammed.
As the merchant approached, Violetz who hesitated for a while, first revealed her identity.
"I would like to give a gift to my husband, Lord Winter Blooming."
Then the merchant stopped and said
"Well, just take it! What do you need!"
"How can I do that? I happen to have a brooch that I don't use, and I'd like you to dispose of it as well."
"Show me where!"
The merchant tensed and examined the brooch.
Although it has long since gone out of style, it is a fairly valuable item, so luckily it still has value. Violet used the money to buy handkerchiefs for her trip to Cantus Monastery and snacks for the number of people working at the mansion and returned home.
***
Violet tried to say hello to Winter, but he had already entered the bedroom. It wasn't that late and he was tired, she thought, taking a bath too, and changing into her pajamas.
Just as she was about to go to bed, Jen came into her bedroom with some medicine.
Violet asked.
"Have you eaten?"
"Of course, I ate a lot. And the snacks that Little Madam brought me from downtown are already gone. It was very delicious."
As Jen spoke, she put the pill the doctor gave her on a spoon, sprinkled a lot of honey on it, and held it out to Violet. Violet swallowed it in one gulp and drank the water.
"Thank you, Jen."
"Yes, good night then!"
Jen said cheerfully and left the bedroom.
After hesitating for a moment, Violet glanced at the door, put on her gown, and left the room with the box containing a watch.
She went to Winter's bedroom to check and found that the light had not yet gone out and light was leaking out.
"Winter."
Violet knocked on the door and Winter said from inside, 'Come In.'
She heard a voice say, Violet opened the door and stopped. Hayel was still reporting something. Violet was embarrassed about walking around in her pajamas and was wondering if she should close the door again, but Winter said to Hayel.
"What are you doing? Go away."
"I was already thinking of doing that."
Hayel said and quickly left the bedroom. Violet walked over with a slightly red face and stood in front of Winter, who was walking towards her.
She was embarrassed to give the gift right away so she said something else.
"Oh, you said you had something to talk about?"
"Sit down."
Winter said, pulling out a chair and Violet sat down. Winter sat across from her, leaned back, and spoke.
"There is a mansion in the capital that you might like. Hayel is negotiating now."
"What kind of mansion is it?"
"It's located on a little hill. There is a very sunny garden and a white picket fence."
"Oh my God."
"If we succeed in purchasing, let's stay there next spring. You can cover the garden with flowers or do whatever you want."
Winter spoke as if it was no big deal, but when he glanced at Violet, he saw innocent joy welling up in her silent eyes. Winter laughed at that sight.
"Hey, do you think you like it?"
"Thank you."
Violet took courage from her happiness and continued speaking.
"Hmm. I saw a wristwatch on the street earlier."
"I heard that nobles don't wear wristwatches. For some reason, you buy it for me?"
"No, I already bought it."
"However?"
Winter looked at Violet as if he was wondering what to do when she already bought it.
Violet was scared that he would be rejected again, so she fiddled with the box and eventually, she opened it. Then she pulled Winter's wrist towards her. As he was tall, his limbs were long, so pulling it like that didn't seem very uncomfortable.
"I bought it by guessing and wondered if it would be the right length..."
Violet muttered that and blindly checked out the watch. Fortunately, her guess was correct, and the watch suited Winter very well and was the right length.
Violet slowly removed her hand. Then she looked at Winter and his expression was strange. Just when she was worried that he might get angry again, he opened his mouth.
"Am I the only one around who wears a wristwatch?"
"Yes."
"So did you think of me when you saw that?"
"I thought it would fit."
Winter was silent again for a while. While Violet was wondering if she had made a mistake, Winter muttered.
"I have rules."
"What rules?"
Winter briefly remembered the day he first met Violet.
On the day of the wedding, he was waiting for a carriage while talking to Hayel.
"CEO, do you know how to greet knights? It is said that when noble ladies hold out the back of their hand like this, you can grab it with both hands and pretend to kiss it."
"I know. But why are you telling me that?"
"You already received the title 'Lord' when you got engaged."
"Yes, it's been a month since I received it, and I haven't seen anyone even call me 'Sir', let alone greet me like that. Everyone calls me 'Mr.' But would a Princess like the sky be so quick to acknowledge a guy with gray eyes who had just been knighted?"
"Well, isn't it?"
It was the words that were so sarcastic. Before the carriage stopped, he had only paid for the title and had not thought seriously about it.
Then the carriage door opened and he completely froze. A woman who looked much younger, dazzling, and noble than expected got out of the carriage. She is a woman who can never be touched, like a flower that blooms only in the sky.
Then, as if it was obvious, she held out the back of her hand and looked at Winter.
For the first time, Winter was crushed by the weight of the things he had bought.
He wanted to run away.
"Winter, what are the rules?"
As Violet asked again as if urging, Winter came out of his memory.
He took his eyes off the watch and looked at his wife.
"I am a person who earns money. You don't have to give it back."
"What is that?"
"Why not? That's my rule. And I'm not one to wait, nor am I one to wait."
The most important rule was that no one could be abandoned.
It's been that way since he was five. His mother, who said she would come soon but then ran away, was the last person he had to wait for and the last person who abandoned him.
The family he had formed when he was twelve did not make him wait, nor did they wait for him.
Until now, he had believed that he was a person of value only by increasing what he had and that he was a stranger standing behind a wall that he could never overcome.
However, his wife disrupted his rules from the first day of marriage.
The Princess, who had never worn a wristwatch in her life, bought one. He would look at his watch and the only person he would think of would be her.
Violet said.
"There is no one like that in the world."
"Here. Me."
"It's a ridiculous rule."
She had a stern expression on her face, and Winter grumbled for no reason.
"What kind of Princess are you buying a wristwatch? Like a normal person."
"Do you like it?"
"Listen. I want to wear it for the rest of my life."
Only then did Violet laugh with relief at his joke. Winter looked at her smile, and he also smiled once.
The closer he got to her, the more he felt like he was becoming an ordinary man. It seemed like he should just be an ordinary husband too.
If you wait, it will come back, you will think of the other person even when things have nothing to do with you, and you will not feel burdened or inferior due to the other person's status or lineage.
Just an ordinary guy who doesn't have to prove his existence with money.
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