What did I just hear?
I looked at Cedric, doubting my ears. I thought he'd be a little embarrassed when he saw my shocked face, but Cedric just looked down at me with his usual relaxed expression.
"What's wrong?"
He even had the nerve to ask that.
Why are you going all-in on the show-window couple act? No one here even recognizes us.
As I looked at Cedric, who was completely immersed in method acting, I couldn't help but laugh internally.
I felt this way earlier in front of Adrian too, but this is going way too far...!
The merchant, unaware of the situation, burst into cheerful laughter.
"Haha! Well, of course! In a husband's eyes, his wife is the most beautiful woman in the world!"
"No, uncle, we're not at that level."
Embarrassed by the situation, I hurriedly waved my hands. However, the merchant glanced at me playfully, with a knowing look in his eyes.
"I know, I know everything!"
"What do you know?"
"What can I say—you two are a very good couple!"
The merchant looked between Cedric and me with a happy expression and shouted loudly again.
"Hey! Your husband is very smooth, miss! Does anyone know there was never a time like that?"
I couldn't believe my ears and looked up at Cedric.
Did you hear? He's calling you a smooth talker!
However, Cedric just shrugged his shoulders with a shameless expression, as if asking what the problem was. Why on earth are you so committed to this?
Add to that the unique confidence of someone who'd lived his entire life without worrying about what other people thought, and I just couldn't handle it. The embarrassment was mine again this time.
Should I praise Cedric for faithfully acting as a show-window couple, or should I tell him to tone it down?
My worries only deepened as we continued walking. The distance from where the carriage stopped to the futures exchange wasn't far.
As I walked a little further while looking at the market, a small hill appeared, and then the huge site of the futures exchange came into view.
"The building is pretty big, isn't it?"
"I know! I didn't know it was such a well-built structure!"
The central building with a tall clock tower was the operating office. There were two futures trading halls on either side of it—a total of four futures trading halls. Each trading floor was open at set times every day, and different commodities were traded in each hall.
When I arrived, trading was in full swing. We headed to Athens Hall, behind the building on the right. The moment I entered the huge hall, the fervent energy of the futures exchange hit me immediately. The host on stage energized the atmosphere by encouraging competition, and each investor held up a participation sign with an exasperated expression and shouted loudly.
"Here! Look here! 410 ruts!"
"Yes! 410 ruts from the gentleman there!"
"450 ruts!"
"470 ruts over here!"
Perhaps because of the heat inside the trading floor, people roughly undid the top buttons of their shirts with frustrated expressions. As expected, futures trading in this era took the form of a quote auction.
"How is it seeing it in person? I'm worried the market might be too rough for you to invest in."
Cedric asked me as I continued to look around curiously.
"Not at all! I think it's more exciting to see how enthusiastic everyone is!"
When I answered with genuine excitement, Cedric let out a faint smile.
"It's rewarding to have put so much effort into creating the futures exchange."
"...You created the futures exchange?"
"Yes. I proposed to the Emperor the introduction of a futures trading system for demon world materials within the Empire, and I was the one who established the buildings and operating systems in each province."
"...That was good business. You could create jobs in the operations office for mixed-blood demons."
"There are still not many places that provide jobs for mixed-blood demons who've come to the human world."
When I gave him a thumbs up, Cedric raised the corner of his mouth slightly, as if pleased.
"So, Cedric, as your friend and prospective investor in this market, may I make a suggestion?"
"A suggestion?"
I pointed to the investors who had servants running beverage errands.
"Look over there. Everyone sends their servants to fetch drinks."
"Right."
"The heat in the trading room is intense, so of course they're thirsty. They're always looking for something to drink."
"......"
"I think it would be nice to have a stand selling drinks in the trading area."
"A beverage stand..."
Cedric's eyebrows slowly rose.
"It would meet the needs of investors while also increasing the income of the operations department and creating jobs for mixed-blood demons."
"...That's a pretty good idea."
"Really?"
Cedric slowly nodded, looking puzzled. He remained silent for a moment, then showed a look of pleasant surprise and touched the back of his neck.
"I never thought I could even talk about business with you... I couldn't have imagined it."
I raised the corner of my lips with a grin.
"I haven't seen this side of you, but you seem to be quite slow at adapting, Your Highness. Is there still a long way to go before you get used to being surprised by me?"
"Haha, perhaps..."
Cedric's gaze—smiling faintly but pleasantly—turned gently toward me.
"I don't know when I'll stop being surprised by the new you."
By the time the carriage entered the Twins gates again, it was already late afternoon. Even when the front door of the Mansion of Darkness opened, Cedric continued to stand by my side.
"You're not going?"
When I asked, pointing to the Mansion of Light with the tip of my chin, Cedric glanced inside the front door.
"I was thinking of escorting you inside. You were always upset about that."
I burst out laughing at those words.
"That was back then."
"......"
"I told you. I've changed now."
The slightly sunken blue gaze rested on me—eyes as if trying to say something. But nothing else was said.
"Anyway, thank you for today. Take care, Cedric."
Cedric, who was lost in thought for a moment, slowly nodded.
"...Yes, you too."
I returned his smile and entered the mansion alone. While climbing the central stairs, I was filled with anticipation as I remembered the futures exchange I'd seen today.
The trading floor was more fun than I'd thought. Investment enthusiasm was strong. Even in my past life, when a new investment opportunity emerged, numerous investors would flock to it like bees. It seemed to be the same wherever people lived.
A strong wind of economic change was blowing here as well, with the creation of a new investment destination called "Demon World Materials."
All I have to do is use the original story's knowledge and catch this wind.
The trading price of the thing I had my eye on was still bottoming out. But I knew that the value of that item would skyrocket in the future.
With that money, even if Duke Bold takes all my alimony, it won't hurt me one bit, right?
I could purchase the beachfront mansion I wanted with the money I earned on my own. Plus, I knew a long list of products that would become big hits in the future. I would definitely live a luxurious life.
Of course, that would only be the case if I stayed alive.
I think it would be better to use the money I earn in the future to eliminate death flags first.
I was climbing the last stairs, lost in thought, when in the distance I saw Bianca standing at the entrance to the Grand Duke's office.
My Bianca is coming to see me!
I felt moved and raised my hand.
"Oh? Bian...!"
But my movements soon stopped. It was right after I saw Bianca pacing anxiously with several maids, her face full of worry.
Why is everyone acting like that?
The closer I got, the more I could see the maids' faces filled with fear.
"Wh-what should we do... Didn't Miss Dmitry say she wouldn't be back for a few days?"
"Exactly! Why did she come when Her Highness was away..."
"You fool! What difference would it make if she were here?"
"Well, the situation might have gotten worse... Anyway, I feel bad for Mina. What should we do?"
Bianca's face became even more frightened after hearing the maids' whispers. Then the child's eyes found me and slowly widened.
"Your Highness...!"
Bianca came running in front of me with an expression as if she'd found her savior. Without even knowing why, I picked up Bianca and looked at the maids.
As soon as our eyes met, the maids' faces instantly turned pale.
"Y-Your Highness! We're sorry, we were here just to..."
"I'll go back to my place right away! I am truly sorry, Your Highness!"
While taking a step back, the maids kept glancing toward the Grand Duke's office. Something must have happened.
I stiffened my face and parted my lips.
"Stay there. I need to know what's going on."
At the firm command, the shoulders of the maids trembled. But I didn't have time to care about them—because of Bianca, who was constantly shaking in my arms.
"Bianca. What's wrong? What the hell is going on?"
"Y-Your Highness, I tried to help, but I was too scared... I guess I'm such a coward..."
I hugged Bianca even tighter as she spoke incoherently and patted her small back.
"Our Bianca is definitely not a coward."
"Your Highness..."
"I don't know what's going on, but now that I'm here, everything will be okay. I promise."
Bianca, who'd been on the verge of tears, quickly nodded and clung to my arm. I hugged the little child and gestured to the maid.
"You. Tell me what happened."
"Well, that..."
"Right now."
The maids exchanged glances with each other before finally opening their mouths.
"Camilla came back a little while ago..."
Villainess Camilla is already back?
I'd thought she would return in a few days.
My brows slowly furrowed at her earlier-than-expected appearance.
"But her coming back is one thing—what happened?"
At my question, the maids' faces gradually grew troubled.
"Well, Camilla is... dealing with Mina right now..."
Camilla Dmitry.
A star of northern society and the mistress of Count Dmitry's family. Camilla's background was enough to capture the heart of Rebecca, who'd had to leave her southern home and re-debut in the northern social scene.
But the reason Rebecca had kept Camilla by her side for so long wasn't simply because of her background. They enjoyed secret hobbies together.
Situations like right now.
"Put your hand on the table again."
Camilla stood straight, her back rigid, and commanded gracefully toward Mina. Her curly black hair was glossy, and her golden dress—the same color as her eyes—shone brilliantly.
Camilla looked down with a bored expression at the back of her pretty hand, which wore a ruby ring.
"P-please, ma'am. Please stop..."
Mina knelt in front of the table, crying.
"I said put your hands on the table again."
Camilla smiled elegantly and lightly shook the teapot in one hand. A teapot still leaking hot steam. The tip of Mina's chin trembled as she was overcome with fear.
When Camilla saw that, the corners of her mouth curled up even more.
"The tea I'm going to give you... there's still this much left, isn't there?"