The siblings, with their brilliant orange-blonde hair that looked like it had captured the sunset and light green eyes like tender new leaves, drew everyone’s attention.

“Hurry up and go. I need to go inside.”

As she kept pushing him away as if to drive him off, Eli pouted, looking hurt. “We haven’t seen each other in a week. Can’t we talk a bit more?”

Geneve pulled her hood down tighter over her head. “People are staring too much. I ran away from home, and at this rate, everyone will find out where I am.”

Eli glanced around and replied, “Just because they’re looking at us, how would they know who we are? Don’t worry.”

She couldn’t help but sigh.

Did he truly not realize how striking their appearances were to be saying something so carefree?

Geneve gave her brother another push as if to urge him along.

“Didn’t you say you’re going to the party today? You need to get ready.”

“It’s House Adellio’s party, so it’s fine. Going all dressed up while my sister’s sick would be weird. I’ll just go like this.”

The Marquis of Tanesia was rumored to be shut-in due to the gossip headline calling him ‘Deranged.’

But in truth, he had collapsed from the shock of his daughter running away.

Not wanting the truth to spread, he was quietly sending people to search for her while bedridden from the emotional distress.

“You’re going through a lot, big brother.”

Currently, the affairs of House Tanesia were one of the hottest topics in Lavatore.

So much so that a newspaper published a week ago had gone through two emergency reprints and continued to hold the top sales spot.

If he attended the party today, he was bound to be bombarded.

They would pry and bite, trying to find out why the marriage with House Harion was off.

“Just smile.”

“Smile at what?”

“They’re going to ask awkward questions. No matter what you say, you’ll be criticized, so just smile and say nothing.”

“Worry about yourself. I’m going.”

Eli gently stroked his sister’s head and turned around.

As he boarded a passing commercial carriage, he called back, “If anything happens, contact me right away. And don’t get any strange ideas about bringing home a contract fiancé!”

“Got it.”

Geneve watched until her brother’s carriage disappeared into the distance, then climbed the three steps she had descended earlier.

“Where did you go again? You spend more time out than working. And what’s with that bag? Why do you have more stuff now?”

Geneve did her best to smile innocently and replied with resolve, “An acquaintance came by, and I just stepped out to say hello. I promise I won’t slack off today and will work hard.”

The young lady sent by her cousin Betty with a special request.

It was obvious at a glance that she came from a wealthy family.

Coming all the way here to work as a maid… something serious must have happened.

Betty had insisted she be looked after, and after a week, affection had grown.

Truly concerned for the girl’s safety, Eva felt she needed to rein her in.

Steeling herself, Eva gave a stern warning. “Can you promise to behave?”

“Of course.”

“No going out on your own either.”

“I’ll always ask permission first.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Even after hearing the answer she wanted, Eva’s expression didn’t ease easily, so her husband Patrick stepped in.

“She said she would, so let’s leave it at that. Isn’t it almost lunchtime? Tell her to unpack and come eat.”

Mila, the head chef who had stepped out at some point, also sided with her.

“Yes, Eva. Among us, the only one who can argue with Mr. Burt, the grocer, is Geneve. And it’s hard to find another merchant willing to sell at those prices.”

Patrick gently nudged Geneve’s back, signaling her to head upstairs.

“She even got the backlogged living expenses from the steward. She managed that in just a week of working.”

“Managed what, hmph.”

As Eva turned her head with a scoff, Geneve quickly spoke up.

“Didn’t you say yesterday that eating fresh vegetables after a year made your skin glow? And that your stomach didn’t hurt anymore? I’ll make sure it stays that way. Oh, did you say the delivery was a mess again? I’ll go exchange it right away.”

“I said no going out!”

“It’s the middle of the day. It only takes 20 minutes to walk to the shop. I’ll dash there and back and make sure they never mess up again.”

Eva clicked her tongue disapprovingly and said, “I’m only letting it go this time because Betty asked. If you say you’re quitting again, I won’t be so lenient.”

“Yes! I’ll head to Mr. Burt’s right away.”

To put an end to Eva’s nagging, Patrick quickly chimed in. “I’ll take your things to your room. While you’re out, grab something tasty and come back slowly.”

“Slowly? What do you mean slowly? You haven’t finished cleaning the stairs you said you’d do this morning. Eat when you’re back and get to that first.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll be back.”

Geneve quickly threw her cloak back on and escaped outside to flee from Eva’s nagging.

***

“Just when I thought the goods were decent, they’re a mess again. Are you really going to do this?”

With both hands on her hips, she protested, and Mr. Burt, the vegetable shop owner, mirrored her posture and shot back.

“Aren’t you being too much? I delivered quality goods all week. You should accept a bad batch once in a while. Do you know how hard it is to get fresh produce in early winter like this?”

“It’s not just now. You’ve been delivering rotting vegetables for years. And now you talk big. Where’s your conscience?”

“Conscience? Are you saying I’m a fraud?”

“You ignored us. Thought we wouldn’t notice you were giving low-quality produce because the house has no owner?”

“I never did that.”

Burt, caught off guard, averted his eyes with an awkward cough, then suddenly shouted, “If you keep accusing me like that, I won’t sell to you anymore. Go shop somewhere else!”

Geneve pointed at Burt’s protruding belly in outrage. “Are you threatening me now?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You stuck out your belly like you were picking a fight.”

“Enough. What good is it to argue with a young lady? Don’t you feel sorry for her? We all know the situation with that house.”

At the fish shop owner’s words, other merchants began to chime in.

“Right. You said it yourself when drinking. That it was fine to deliver leftover goods to House Javier because it has no owner.”

“Yeah. I heard it too.”

“Not anymore. I’ve been sending only top-quality goods all week.”

“Top-quality, my foot. It was just barely edible. Nothing more.”

At Geneve’s retort, Burt ground his teeth.

“Either way, I can’t exchange them. Do you know how much I’ve lost because of House Javier? I’m giving you a discount because we know each other.”

Even with a crowd gathered, Burt didn’t seem like he’d back down easily.

After a moment’s thought, Geneve checked the cleanliness of the ground and lay down.

“Discount or not, you’re still taking money. Then you should give edible goods. Why are you giving me rotten stuff? Exchange them.”

Seeing her writhing on the ground like a child, Burt gave a look of pure exasperation.

“Fine, fine. I’ll exchange them. Get up already. What kind of nonsense is this?”

As soon as she heard what she wanted, Geneve jumped to her feet.

“Just this once. If it happens again, I’ll go get a medical certificate from the doctor.”

“A what?”

“Something like that. Remember it.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean? Never mind. I’m not giving you a single coin more, so take your vegetables and go. What kind of grown woman lies down like a child?”

Geneve dusted off her skirt and declared proudly, “I won’t ask for medical fees. But throw in that apple over there with the vegetables.”

“You little thief.”

“Oh, my leg. Oh. Please help me…”

“Just one apple. Got it?”

After locking in the deal, she turned triumphantly, only to see a carriage parked right in front of her.

It was a top-class carriage with a distinguished crest, rare to see in an alley like this.

Clearly someone of high status. Curious, she leaned in for a closer look, but the open window shut with a snap.

As if to say, “What are you staring at?” the sharp slam made Geneve pout.

“Come on. It’s not like looking will wear it out. That’s too harsh.”

Clicking her tongue at the stingy behavior, she turned and pointed at something that had caught her eye earlier.

“As a peace offering, just give me that one apple.”