“Our baby has a big distribution.”

Crunch, Zegman mumbled as he bit into an apple.

“I didn’t expect us to come all the way to the south for a picnic.”

He was lying on the bed pretending to be sulky and trying to play a trick on his son.

Daphne suddenly came running and tilted her head cutely, saying, ‘Would you like to go on a picnic now, yes?’

With that said…

“Of course I have to go.”

Zegman nodded heavily.

It was the same with the others who suddenly followed them to the southern town.

“Of course, I will go if Milady wants to go.”

In fact, Zegman of course would. Everyone in the Shadow Castle also liked Daphne.

It was natural.

Since Daphne came, the atmosphere of the castle has changed drastically.

“It’s always been a gloomy and sagging atmosphere.”

In addition to the weather, the dark castle made people’s bodies and mood heavy.

However, as soon as the former grand duchess passed away, even Zegman’s incurable disease worsened.

Frankly, Zegman didn’t stand a chance even in the eyes of those ignorant of the disease.

Meanwhile, there was an atmosphere in which the vassals, led by Viscount Acmel, took a step away from the grand dukedom.

“His Grace’s curse has become worse.”

Kael’s duration of a thirsty rampage became increasingly shorter and stronger.

Everyone thought there was no hope.

They thought the Bertrand Grand Duchy would end here.

But a miracle happened.

“Everything has gotten better since Milady came.”

The biggest concern, Zegman, was fully recovered and Viscount Acmel promised to return to the castle.

Then the castle began to liven up little by little.

There was also an exhilarating revenge play.

“I’m relieved that Madeline got scolded!”

“What about Count Hins?”

Madeline and Count Hins.

Both were two notorious people in the Shadow Castle.

Madeline was a human being who used to bully the servants even though he was kicked out of his family.

It turns out that he was a very bad guy who tried to betray his wife and children.

If the lady hadn’t noticed the betrayal and prepared quickly, they would have suffered greatly.

Every time Count Hins came to the castle for a deal, he flirted with both women and men and openly looked down on the Grand Duke of Bertrand.

“I still remember how Count Hins cried, augh, yuck!”

After the deal with Daphne, to be exact, after being ripped off, Count Hins ran out of the drawing room crying.

Didn’t everyone in the castle see that ugliness?

Count Hins’s nose, which didn’t know how high the sky was, collapsed.

“And you know. Weren’t the other guests funny too? At first, everyone looked down on the lady.”

“Right, but everyone changed their tune when they left!”

A commoner who has a lot to be taught and would have a hard time becoming the lady of the house.

Pretending to be worried, they looked down on the lady.

Then, when they left the castle, everyone praised Daphne and paid attention to her.

“But since they’re n-nobles, it was—too—funny! They lost.”

A knight shuddered and tried to stop people, but it was counterproductive.

“Puha!!”

Laughter broke out. To be honest, they felt relieved.

All the condescending bastards yip! lowered their tails.

It was a refreshing sight for knights and servants who had always been subjected to it.

‘This is all thanks to Milady!’

While all the knights and servants shouted for Daphne like that.

“It’s the sea…”

She had no idea.

‘It’s the sea.’

Looking at the blue sea, Daphne furrowed her brows.

‘When was the last time I saw the sea?’

According to the original story, she saw it very briefly when she went out for Flora, and then what?

She couldn’t remember properly.

One thing is for sure, she went to Busan during her middle school trip when she was living in Korea.

‘How many years ago was that?’

Daphne was going to do the math and then quit. It was gloomy to dwell on the past.

‘Still, I liked the sea back then.”’

Up until middle school, her home wasn’t bad. At least it was enough to go on school trips.

And her dad would always say.

“The money will come in tomorrow. Then our troubles are over, daughter. Trust Dad!”

But that tomorrow never came.

Tomorrow became the day after tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow became the next week.

Hope continued to be delayed over and over again.

And the end was news of her father’s death and a pile of debt.

‘Ew.’

Daphne furrowed her brows.

Daphne pressed between her brows at the dark memories that kept coming to mind, tailing her.

It was a few years ago, but it was still so bleak.

That’s why it’s better not to think about the past.

“Are you okay?”

When she opened her eyes with a grimace, there was a water canteen in front of her.

“If you get seasick, try drinking water. It will help.”

“Thank you.”

She didn’t frown because of seasickness, but she was thirsty, so she took the water canteen.

“Here’s the water…”

Daphne’s eyes grew as she tried to return the canteen.

‘Wow.’

Currently, Kael was wearing a vest and a coat over a long tunic worn most by Bertrand commoners.

If the grand duke openly visits other territories, things will get complicated.

In the meantime, the swindler couldn’t be missed, so this was chosen.

It was even hotter, and he was sweating with his coat and vest off.

‘He’s not the male lead’s rival for nothing.’

Daphne blinked.

She would normally be a little reluctant in this situation, but she wasn’t.

As his appearance was outstanding, the sweat became a sparkle effect and made him shine even more.

Kael accepted the canteen while wiping his slightly wet hair.

“Why are you sweating so much?”

“That’s.”

When Daphne handed over her handkerchief, Kael took it and let out a low sigh.

His cheeks were flushed red.

“It’s definitely too hot in the south…”

‘Oh my.’

Of course, Bertrand’s clothes were thick.

Wearing such clothes, they came all the way to the warm south even in winter.

It was natural for Kael to sweat like that.

‘What about the others?’

Daphne turned around.

Not only the servants but also the knights were staggering from the heat.

But even so, they were laughing.

‘What do I do?’

Daphne looked anxiously at the group and covered her mouth.

‘Everyone must be out of their minds because of the heat.’

The only thing that was fine was Zegman, who was crunching on an apple.

No can do.

To change the bleak mood.

“Let’s go shopping first!”

Let’s buy cool clothes first!

***

“Welcome.”

Daphne’s eyes widened as she entered the store that Kael and Zegman chose when Daphne suggested to go buy clothes.

‘This is Meldy!’

Famous for being rich and exotic, it was the largest and most glamorous clothing store in the city.

It was also a famous store in the south that even Daphne, who had never set foot in, knew about it.

The reason was simple.

Because it was expensive.

Because it was very, very expensive!

It was a price that even most nobles could afford to stick out their tongues at.

A ribbon that ties hair easily exceeds the living expenses of half a month for commoners.

Since it was such a place, there was nothing to say about clothes, hats, gloves, or bags.

Of course, it wasn’t comparable to clothes made by the monster processing business later on.

‘It’s too expensive here.’

Daphne gulped as she examined the interior where a few clothes were hung.

That palm-sized bag over there must be half a year’s living expenses for commoners, right?

“Baby, isn’t this cute? How about this?”

Zegman was holding it up casually.

“No, no, no, no.”

Daphne shook her head.

“Huh? Then what about this?”

It was a bag that looked more expensive.

Daphne shook her head more fiercely this time.

‘How much furniture or items can you buy with just that one!’

She was automatically calculating in her head what she could buy with that bag.

The biggest luxury for Daphne was buying expensive blankets when she lived in Korea.

She didn’t have much luxury in her previous life.

Because Alan took care of her position as the ‘adopted princess.’

So this situation was unfamiliar to Daphne.

Someone who’s spent money before will use it.

Daphne’s felt like heart was about to jump out now.

“Come on, Mister Zegman.”

She quietly approached Zegman, who still looked serious, saying he would pick out something for her.

“It’s too expensive here. My work in the south is a few days at most, so why do I have to live here?”

As she came here, she saw some suitable stores.

When she was a princess, there was also a store that she often used. It seemed to be a southern branch.

“I’d rather go over there and pick out some clothes.”

Zegman laughed as he stared down at Daphne’s shaking pupils.

“What is it, our baby? You always have a big wall, but the wall is small in a peculiar place!”

He randomly messed up her hair as if she was cute.

“I’m not asking you to buy something like this every day. But I think you should get used to how to spend money.”

“I’m already using it enough. And I don’t have to learn anything like that.”

Daphne immediately refuted.

Nevertheless, she had spent money on behalf of Alan in her previous life.

Compared to the money that came and went at that time, this was a pittance.

“Is that money used for yourself?”

She was at a loss for words. It wasn’t. Ultimately, it was the money she was managing for Alan, not herself.

“Well, I don’t always buy these things.”

“You should get used to using it for yourself.”

Kael, who naturally picked clothes that would suit Daphne, said.

“Isn’t Miss Daphne a member of our Bertrand family now?”

“Yes.”

Daphne fiddled with her hands and shook her head soon after.

“But it’s too expensive here.”

Zegman rubbed his chin while looking at Daphne.

“Maybe our baby needs a prescription for extreme medicine.”

It doesn’t feel good. Daphne raised her head. Zegman was smiling.

“Baby, if you don’t pick out the clothes you want within 10 minutes, let’s buy all the clothes chosen by the kids now.”

“Pardon?!”

Daphne screamed in surprise.

Now, not only the servants but also the knights were holding clothes and accessories one by one, saying that they thought it would suit Daphne.

Leon even held more than five sets of clothes, saying he couldn’t choose just one.

You want to buy them all?

N-no!

If they do that, her heart might bang! explode and die.

“This one, I’ll take this one!”

Daphne hurriedly pointed to a dress. In fact, it was an outfit that had caught her eye from the moment she entered.

It was made of a layer of dark blue chiffon on the inside and a layer of chiffon that gradually faded to sky blue as it went out, with diamonds embedded in the middle.

It was a dress that beautifully changed color whenever she moved, a dress that reminded her of both the sea during the day and the sea at night.

It looked cool with the shoulders exposed and fixed with a string.

“Our baby, you have an excellent eye.”

Seemingly satisfied at last, Zegman grinned.

Others, however, drooped their shoulders. They seemed sad that their choice was not chosen.

And so was Kael.

‘Wait a minute.’

Daphne froze.

Kael didn’t choose clothes.

He was talking to the owner and was about to sign something.

And if Daphne’s eyes aren’t wrong, that is.

That thing in Kael’s hand right now.

‘It’s a Meldy’s store certificate!’

Kael failed to buy Daphne the whole store.