Chapter 27: Stealing Yeuju's First Love
4. The Value of the Invisible
As soon as I received the doctor's opinion that I was fully recovered, I started moving busily.
Due to my father's stubborn opposition, I hadn't been able to do anything, and the masquerade ball was now just around the corner.
Mother offered to help, but I declined, remembering the terrible masquerade balls she had organized in the past.
I stood up from my seat, where I had been looking at fabric samples to decorate the Lisianthus Hall for the ball.
To save time, I had already changed my clothes and prepared for the work.
The carriage we rode in headed for the commercial district, where merchants gathered.
Lily muttered under her breath.
But she soon quieted down, knowing why Nivea and Rella were hidden in such a place.
Tatiana would find it hard to act in a crowded area.
We finally arrived at a small, ordinary workshop.
When Lily knocked on the door, a pair of dark eyes appeared through a hole in it.
She opened the door after confirming it was us. I comforted her, who looked a bit tired, and went inside where Nivea was.
Nivea, who had been struggling among various spices, stood up when she saw me.
"Nivea, how have you been?"
"Thanks to you, Lady, I've been well."
She seemed to have recovered from the shock of losing her sense of smell, and her condition had improved significantly.
In contrast, Rella, who was undergoing harsh training, seemed to be in worse shape.
"I came because the samples are ready."
"Yes, please sit this way."
She hurriedly tidied up the surroundings and made a seat.
Lily, who seemed displeased with the messy interior, was tidying up here and there.
"Rella, come here and start your presentation."
I was very pleased that Nivea was letting Rella take the lead instead of presenting it herself.
There was no better title for Rella to use than that of a young genius perfumer.
"This perfume is made for the strong women of this era. It has a spicy top note that leaves a strong impression, and... ."
Rella led the presentation more naturally than I had expected. It was a scent that took a slightly different direction from the usual elegant and soft floral fragrances.
When I tested it, the intense fragrance was a bit awkward at first, but it gradually became subtle and luxurious.
"The perfume itself is better than I thought. Lily? Come here and give it a try."
Lily approached with a suspicious look and smelled the fragrance. She had a keen sense of smell and was excellent in this field.
Also, because she had been with me for a long time, she was sensitive to the latest trends among the nobles.
"It's good. Actually, it's much better than I thought. It would go very well with the dress I'm planning to wear this time."
Lily's praise made Rella sit down on the floor, relieved.
I smiled at them and asked.
"You haven't named the perfume yet. Do you have any special name in mind?"
"If so, I'll find a strong woman as you described. Asking her to be the muse of this perfume would certainly make it more popular."
"It's not just about strength and power. You know when to wait and when to act decisively, and you have the courage to help the weak."
I had never heard such direct praise before, which made me feel a bit strange.
I had just done my best with the situation given to me.
"This perfume is inspired by you, fighting with fire to protect me that day. Please, if it's not too much trouble, allow us to use your name."
From the straightforward look in her eyes, I could tell that Nivea really thought of me that way.
I hesitated for a moment but accepted her proposal.
If I, the host, were to demonstrate it myself, the promotional effect would be quite good.
"Alright. If that's what you truly want, then let's do it."
I took a small sample and returned to the duchy after giving the date of the masquerade ball.
Lily kept praising the fragrance, saying it would go well with the dress I planned to wear.
"At first, I was a bit skeptical, but it seems both of them have real talent."
I was glad they hadn't been completely crushed by Tatiana.
I was happy to help Rella and Nivea rebuild their future with my own hands.
Actually, I had initially planned the revenge with a light heart.
Whether it succeeded or not didn't matter much to me because I thought I didn't suit beautiful and luxurious things. So, I consciously avoided and stayed away from such things.
'Just a defeatist attitude.'
But I didn't hate beautiful things.
I had just become accustomed to them belonging to Tatiana, not to me.
I thought it didn't bother me, but I realized the wound was deeper and more painful than I had imagined.
I thought to myself as I stared blankly out the window.
One week before the masquerade ball.
I was busy sending out invitations and decorating the Lisianthus Hall.
In the middle of this, one of the knights I had assigned to guard Nivea returned to the duchy.
"Miss, you should go to the workshop."
"Now? What's the matter?"
The knight hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Sir Raymond is kneeling in front of the workshop, begging. Nivea and Rella are too scared to even go outside."
I couldn't help but be suspicious that such a proud man would kneel.
I stood up, quickly prepared to go out, and got into the carriage.
We soon arrived at the alley where the workshop was located.
I got out of the carriage and rushed inside.
In the middle of the street, a pink-haired head covered in dust caught my eye.
Despite the curious glances of passersby, he didn't flinch.
I ignored Raymond and knocked on the workshop door.
"Nivea! It's me. Open the door, please."
She was almost in a state of panic, her face pale. First, I needed to calm her down.
"Please, just get that person out of my sight. Please."
"It's okay. He's not here to harm you."
How terrifying it must have been to see the man who had tried to take everything from her right in front of her.
"Don't worry. I'm here, and so is Mother."
I repeated my promise several times to reassure her.
Finally, Nivea, who seemed to have calmed down, was brought inside.
After confirming that she had fallen asleep on the bed, I came out to find it was already dark.
Rella was glaring at Raymond through a small window, bathed in the pale moonlight.
"Is that the person who did this to our mother and the shop?"
"It hasn't been confirmed yet, but he did try to steal Nivea's recipe book."
Rella looked at me with eyes full of hatred.
"I understand your feelings, but you can't kill him."
Tears streamed down her black eyes.
Blood trickled from her tightly clenched, trembling fists.
I reached out and held Rella's hand.
"Even if you can't kill him, you can make him suffer so much that he wishes he were dead."
Humans are creatures of experience.
The experience of almost losing her mother, whom she idolized, and the family business, the shop, completely changed the girl.
She no longer rejected the ordinary and wanted a higher position and more wealth.
All for the sake of revenge.
Who said revenge was foolish?
Revenge is one of the strongest motivations a human can have.
"This is the beginning of your revenge."
I held Rella's hand and opened the door to go outside.
Raymond, who had been closing his eyes, opened them slightly.
"Finally, you've come to accept my apology?"
His smile still held a hint of charm.
Spring's magic had a function to enchant.
This meant his apology wasn't genuine.
"Would forgiveness come so easily?"
Seeing the disappointed look on Raymond's face, I spoke.
"But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It means you should just stay still no matter what happens from now on."
I smiled and looked at Rella.
"Do whatever you want, Rella."
Rella paused for a moment at my words, then turned her gaze to Raymond.
As if she were about to kill him right away.