Chapter 20

“What kind of young lady do you think Lepina is?”

“Well, she’s cute.”

Evan answered firmly, as if asking how his father could not know that.

“……”

Teorus laughed in disbelief. People say love changes a person, but he never imagined it would happen to his son.

“I mean her personality. Do you think Lady Lepina is the type to run away easily?”

“She’s not someone who runs away.”

Even earlier, she had encouraged him. Evan rubbed the spot on his lips where Lepina’s had touched. Her sudden action had startled him, but it had also filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction.

“But it would’ve been better to give her the merchant guild after the engagement documents were sent. That way, there would’ve been grounds for giving it.”

If he told her he would give her the guild when they were engaged—rather than when they were nothing to each other—he could have convinced her. If he suddenly brought up the guild now, she might sense something strange, or feel pressured and distance herself.

Evan didn’t oppose giving her the guild. If she held both an emotional debt and a material one, she wouldn’t try to leave. But he didn’t like the idea of Lepina’s attention shifting away from him.

“My son, think carefully. Lady Lepina said she would ‘take responsibility for you,’ but she never directly brought up an engagement.”

“……”

Evan was at a loss for words.

At first, he thought she was talking about an engagement. But since no proposal had come, he realized he had misunderstood—and that had irritated him. Now Teorus dug into that irritation without mercy. Evan’s eyebrow twitched in displeasure.

“What she said is practically the same as bringing up an engagement first.”

“I know. That’s why you give her the guild first. Once she has it, it’ll be hard to refuse—though not for Lady Lepina, but for Count Clies.”

Evan’s eyes sharpened.

“That’s… true.”

Like father, like son—their thoughts aligned. Evan stroked his chin.

“And the engagement documents will be sent tomorrow.”

Teorus said it nonchalantly.

Evan had been thinking only of Lepina’s feelings, but an engagement was a matter between families.

“…I didn’t consider the Count.”

Evan admitted his oversight.

Lepina was a child loved dearly by her family. Piote’s actions alone showed how she was treated at home. If the family suddenly heard of an engagement, they wouldn’t easily accept it.

Even though Evan had saved Lepina, and she might feel guilty about his condition, she could still refuse the engagement.

But if she told her family she had already received a merchant guild…

Refusal would turn into acceptance. She already felt responsible for Evan, and having accepted the guild, she couldn’t retract her words overnight. And with engagement papers arriving right after—panic was guaranteed.

‘Lep will be flustered and rush to the Weiss estate.’

With his calculations complete, Evan smiled.

“I couldn’t fully grasp your strategy, Father. Impressive as always.”

Teorus clicked his tongue at Evan, who was all smiles after having sharply criticized him moments before. After Evan left looking satisfied, Teorus gazed at the spot where he had stood.

“That boy, honestly…”

He shook his head, half exasperated. He himself had married solely for profit, so he couldn’t understand such behavior, but he didn’t think it was bad.

Seeing Evan like that made him feel reassured about the heir. Evan would protect what was his to the death.

The bigger problem was…

“The Empress…”

Now that the identity of Alosi’s poison had surfaced, the Empress would certainly investigate. The existence of Lepina Clies would soon be etched into her awareness.

***

I returned home and told them I had received a merchant guild. It was obvious the entire household would be turned upside down.

“How on earth did you end up receiving that?”

“Who gave it to you?!”

“Weren’t you going to see Evan?”

Seeing my family’s panicked expressions, I told them to calm down and explained the circumstances step by step.

But my parents still looked skeptical. They said the reasoning behind being given a merchant guild felt odd.

I had contributed to receiving it, and it was true that managing it would help me create an antidote faster.

But my family didn’t accept that. They pointed out that Evan collapsing on a sickbed had been part of that process, and that the Duke must have plenty of capable subordinates. He could have given the guild to any of them.

And most importantly…

My family assumed my habit of reading herbology books came from a childish desire to be helpful.

‘Well… that’s not entirely wrong.’

Since I’d been spending most of my time at the ducal estate lately, I hadn’t had a proper, serious conversation with them.

‘I was only thinking about Evan’s condition.’

Feeling bittersweet, I told them my ambition. That made the household erupt a second time.

“Is… is that really what you want?”

“Yes. Even if I attend the academy, I’m going to study herbology and medicine.”

“Lep… You don’t have to do it yourself. There are many excellent physicians in the world. So—”

“But none of them can heal Evan right now.”

“Lepina, why are you trying to take such a difficult path?”

Mother tried to dissuade me, but I was firm. She shot Father a helpless glance, silently begging him to do something.

‘If I weren’t a Count’s daughter, would this have been easier…?’

I sighed.

Some minor nobles—like Baron Perio—often served as long-standing family physicians.

But for a Count’s daughter to become a healer? That was unheard of. Especially in a house of our standing.

Marriages were usually political, after all.

But my family would never force me into a political marriage. Their dream was for me to marry someone I loved and live happily.

…Well, that was mostly Mother.

Father and Piote always cut that idea down immediately.

Still, I believed they’d support me.

“You all know I’ve been reading herbology and medical texts lately, right?”

Mother still looked worried. Father listened quietly. Surprisingly, Piote—who usually made the biggest fuss—was silent.

I continued calmly.

“At first, it was because of Evan. But as I read more, I truly gained interest. I want to save people like him.”

Maybe my sincerity reached them.

Father, who had been listening with his eyes closed, finally spoke.

“Lepina Clies.”

“Yes.”

He looked down at me with a serious expression.

“This will not be an easy path.”

“I know.”

It was true—women did run businesses and pursue their dreams, but they were still few. And many faced pressure and opposition.

But that was the same in my previous life, too.

Let it come.

After watching me quietly, Father closed his eyes briefly, then placed a firm hand on my shoulder.

“If this is what you want, then do it.”

“Dear!”

“I won’t block the path you want to walk. Give it your all. Face everything head-on. We will always support you.”

“But… Lep is physically weak!”

Mother clearly saw that Father wouldn’t budge, so she got even more worried.

Piote had once insisted on becoming a knight, and Father had supported him—so this reaction wasn’t unusual.

Mother, however, was concerned about my health.

“I’m not that weak. And if I’m going to be an apothecary, I should at least be able to take care of my own health, right?”

“But still—”

“Darling, she finally found something she wants. Let’s support her. She used to always look empty and disinterested, and now she’s saying she wants to become something.”

“…Darling…”

I nodded enthusiastically at Father’s words—only to freeze at the next part.

‘When did I ever look like that…?’

I grumbled inwardly but couldn’t deny it completely.

After remembering everything from my past life, the world had felt a bit hollow.

Since I didn’t worry about money, I’d simply let myself drift with the flow.

“But Mother, there really is nothing to worry about!”

With my shining eyes and Father’s encouragement, Mother relented and stroked my hair. She still looked worried, but she clearly intended to support me.

“If your determination is firm… Then your health comes first. Understand?”

“Yes! I understand!”

I proudly earned their approval. Then I glanced at Piote, who was strangely quiet.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“No. If you want to do it, then do it. What else?”

Piote shrugged as if it were nothing important.

He looked cool—just like someone who once declared he wouldn’t inherit the title and would become a knight instead.

My family asked me what I planned to do with the merchant guild.

So I shared my grand plans with them.