Chapter 7

Freyer immediately returned to the Imperial Palace and headed straight for his study. He ran a hand through his hair, his mind clouded with overwhelming emotion. Closing his eyes tightly, he recalled his encounter with the honey-haired girl. She was only similar in appearance to his mother, yet he hadn’t expected to feel such despair.

 

‘Would it have been alright if she were there?’

 

He wondered if the anguish would simply vanish if the woman from that night were by his side.

 

A deep shadow settled over Freyer’s shoulders, making his frame look smaller. He carefully placed the black ribbon he had been holding into a small, gold-wrought, three-legged jewel box on the table.

 

“What should I do now…”

 

Freyer pressed his fingertips firmly against his eyelids. In the darkness behind his eyes, the image of her from that night vividly surfaced.

 

Her bright, golden hair, as if stained with lemon light. Her violet eyes that gazed into his. Her moist red lips that had parted to speak to him.

 

“Freyer! I hope you’ll be happy.”

 

The clarity of that memory stung his heart. Ever since he gained the Imperial name, he felt he had lost everything, and happiness was like sand he could not hold. He was foolish to have judged so easily that he could find the one existence he wanted to keep by his side.

 

“Why didn’t I ask her name?”

 

He regretted his actions that day. The more he regretted it, the more the air of remorse seemed to suffocate him. Freyer unbuttoned the top of his attire, which felt tight around his neck.

 

Although he held out hope that she might come looking for him, it might be a vain expectation. Freyer sealed the jewel box cover carefully, committing the ribbon to memory as if it were a precious gem. Then, looking out the window at the dark sky—the same color as his bleak heart—he whispered softly,

 

“It might be greedy… but I wish she would come find me.”

 

***

 

 

Returning quickly to the manor and stepping out of the carriage, I was confused by the sight of numerous packed bags. Seeing a scene that resembled an evacuation, I quickly scanned my surroundings.

 

‘What’s going on…?’

 

The Baron and Norman, both looking uneasy, were talking. I cautiously approached them. The Baron, who had been sighing heavily, looked at me with a complicated expression.

 

“Lilithia, you’re back. I called for you because I need to leave for the other country immediately.”

 

“Excuse me? Right now? You clearly said you had a few more days…”

 

It felt like a bolt from the blue had struck me directly. I tried to open my mouth to protest, but seeing the Baron’s somber complexion, I could only mouth silent words.

 

“I’ve been told that a horde of monsters is descending on the trade route to the other country, and the path will soon be blocked. Since we have too much cargo, we can’t use the gate. I had no choice but to move up the schedule…”

 

As the Baron gnawed on his lip, Norman approached and spoke.

 

“My Lord, all the luggage has been loaded onto the carriage.”

 

“Very well.”

 

I looked around and noticed that the piles of luggage that had been on the ground were now gone, loaded onto the carriage. The Baron’s eyes were shadowed, but he forced a bright smile and grasped both of my hands.

 

“I entrust the Trade Guild to you until I return. I didn’t want to place such a burden on you…”

 

I looked down at the hands the Baron held. I could feel his trembling touch. The weight of being the Guild Master and the head of a family must be overwhelming.

 

I couldn’t take my eyes off his hands, which conveyed so many emotions. No words I could say seemed likely to comfort him. I tried my best to look cheerful and offered him a bright smile to reassure him.

 

“It’s fine. Just trust me, Father.”

 

“I’ll keep in touch via the communication device.”

 

“Yes!”

 

The Baron’s thick, wrinkled hands, which had been holding mine, let go.

 

“I’ll be back soon, Lilithia.”

 

The Baron’s heavy-looking figure headed for the carriage. The carriage immediately set off and disappeared beyond the manor gates.

 

The manor, which had been noisy while loading the luggage, quickly settled into silence. Only the dust that had swirled up when the carriage departed gently floated in the air. As I gazed indefinitely at where the carriage had gone, Norman spoke.

 

“Miss, let’s go inside now. It’s cold.”

 

“Yes…”

 

As I walked toward the manor, I turned around again and looked into the distance where the carriage had disappeared.

 

The image of the Baron, laden with a heavy burden, was still clear in my mind. His worried gaze toward me and his look toward the employees were unforgettable.

 

The employees, seeing me suddenly stop, looked puzzled.

 

“Miss?”

 

I looked at the employees around me. Transmigrating into the character Lilithia was a stroke of luck for me. I had experienced a warmth I hadn’t felt in my previous life, and I now had a family who cared for me. Furthermore, I had been given the best environment to live a comfortable life as a Baron’s daughter.

 

I had regarded being put in charge of the Trade Guild as merely a temporary hurdle to cross in this new life.

 

‘I was taking this too lightly.’

 

Since the Baron had even mentioned contacting me via the communication device, I thought I just needed to hold the position. I felt a little ashamed of myself for having tried to avoid the responsibilities of my newly given life. I looked at each of the employees, clenched my fists, and made a resolution.

 

‘I will live diligently as Lilithia, so I have no regrets!’

 

Of course, I didn’t want the kind of work that would lead to death by overwork, but once this situation passed, a comfortable life would surely unfold.

 

I smiled brightly at the employees.

 

“Shall we go in?”

 

 

***

 

 

Several days passed since the Baron left the manor. Sitting in the Guild Master’s office and checking the inventory documents, I sighed heavily.

 

“What should I do with all this inventory…?”

 

My first goal for a life without regret was the success of the family’s Trade Guild. The Baimery Barony was one of the Empire’s minor noble houses. The Baron seemed to run the guild quite passionately, but there was no substance to it.

 

A few days ago, I visited the Trade Guild and carefully checked the items displayed on the first floor. Most of the items were black or other types of tea, unidentified plants, and powders.

 

When I followed Carrie, a guild employee, into the underground warehouse, I was astonished and blinked rapidly. It was because of the countless boxes that filled the warehouse. With a glimmer of hope, I asked Carrie,

 

“So, Carrie, is all of this inventory…?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Seeing Carrie’s bright answer, I wondered if I had worried for nothing.

 

‘Maybe they’re selling well, which is why they stocked so much?’

 

I assumed it was the same reason stores stock up heavily on popular core products.

 

With anticipation, I sat at the counter on the first floor.

 

‘When a customer visits, I’ll go up to the second floor!’

 

A few hours later, I understood perfectly what it felt like to have my vision go dark.

 

“Not even a single fly came…”

 

From broad daylight until the evening sunset, not a single customer entered the Trade Guild. I couldn’t believe the situation and gripped my head.

 

Carrie approached me with a worried face.

 

“Miss, what’s wrong…?”

 

“Carrie, I have a question. Is it usually this empty of customers, like today?”

 

“Hmm… Usually, yes?”

 

Unable to say anything to Carrie’s confused response, I returned to the manor.

 

“Why is there such a problem that customers don’t come at all…?”

 

I felt the store was right in the middle of the busy district, easily accessible to anyone passing by.

 

“It doesn’t seem like a location problem.”

 

In this dreadful situation, I buried my face in my hands. Just as I was sinking into despair in that position, I heard cheers outside the window and looked up.

 

Approaching the window at the sudden noise, I saw a large crowd gathered. Following their gaze, my eyes widened.

 

“The Crown Prince?”

 

His glossy, rich black hair. Soft, wave-like blue eyes. Glowing, tanned skin. A large build in silver-white armor. His dignified shoulders.

 

Because of these distinctive features, the man looked noble and majestic.

 

Crown Prince Ivailo Lundberg, the male lead of the original novel <The Duke’s Daughter Has Returned>, had successfully completed the Northern subjugation and returned. Following him were knights in silver armor.

 

“Your Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince! Welcome back from your safe return!”

 

The people on the street erupted in enthusiastic cheers and applause as they watched them. Ivailo responded with a confident smile and a hand salute. Then, he leisurely proceeded toward the Imperial Palace.

 

“I completely forgot…”

 

Because of the overwhelming Trade Guild business, I had temporarily forgotten my second goal: ensuring Freyer did not suffer a tragic fate like in the original novel.

 

I had been deeply contemplating this before.

 

“How can I change the destiny given to Freyer?”

 

The original female lead, Nazlee.

 

The original male lead, Crown Prince Ivailo.

 

The sub-male lead, Freyer.

 

I tapped the desk with my fingernails, looking at the names of the characters I had written down on paper.

 

“The most direct approach is to get Freyer and Nazlee together.”

 

I clutched my head and stared intensely at the paper. Their major meeting begins at the banquet held after the Crown Prince’s return from the Northern subjugation.

 

At the return banquet, Freyer sees Nazlee and is instantly captivated by her. However, Freyer’s unrequited love is never realized.

 

This is because, at the banquet, Nazlee’s safety is threatened, and she falls in love with the Crown Prince, who saves her. Freyer arrives at the scene after hearing her scream but is one step too late.

 

“If Freyer saved Nazlee, they would naturally fall in love, wouldn’t they?”

 

Since Nazlee was attracted to the Crown Prince, who saved her in the original story.

 

“The Crown Prince is the problem…”

 

Even if I leave them alone, I have to prevent the Crown Prince from being at that spot. I circled the Crown Prince’s name largely with a pen.

 

“I’ll have to spill wine on the Crown Prince’s clothes or something to keep him from saving Nazlee! There’s no other way.”

 

Finishing my recollection, I glanced at the communication device on the desk.

 

“My father, who promised to contact me through the device, hasn’t sent any news…”

 

I felt lost about what to do with the Trade Guild without communication from my father. Leaning against the window and watching the Crown Prince enter the Imperial Palace, I resolved, “First, it would be best to execute the plan for Freyer.”

 

And coincidentally, I might find a way to solve the difficult Trade Guild problem at the return banquet.

 

Thus began the prelude to the project to change Freyer’s fate.