123. Caitlyn’s Slip of the Tongue (2)

Father had told only Simon about the cotton cultivation method, saying it was a secret passed down only to the head of the family. All Caitlyn knew was that cotton wouldn’t grow anywhere outside the South. At least she knew that much.

Saying they would have no choice but to buy cotton. If Anette hadn’t tried growing cotton herself, she would have thought Caitlyn’s words were just bluster.

But the cotton seeds she had brought when she married couldn’t even sprout no matter what conditions of temperature, humidity, and nutrition she provided throughout the year. It was like planting dead seeds in the ground.

As she recalled all those failures, Caitlyn’s claim that cotton wouldn’t grow outside the South was surprisingly easy to accept.

“You need cotton. If you help me, I’ll sell all the cotton we grow next year to the North.”

“You’ll sell all of it? How? If cotton only grows in the South as you say, the exclusive right to it alone would be worth money. Would your father really allow that?”

In reality, this was a matter for the Marquis and Simon to decide, but Caitlyn blurted out whatever came to mind.

‘I’m in a hurry to become the crown prince’s bride. If I do well, it’s good for our family too, right?’

If Caitlyn became the crown prince’s bride, Father would understand and approve of this decision!

“I’ll take care of that, so hurry up and go to the capital to register your marriage. That’s all I want!”

* * *

“I’ve changed my mind, Darius. Let’s go to the capital to register our marriage. As Caitlyn wishes.”

After meeting with Caitlyn, I brought up something different from what I had said earlier.

Darius raised his thick eyebrows at my amused expression.

“Did your sister-in-law suddenly become pretty after meeting her a few times?”

“As if.”

〈Caitlyn, you know better than anyone that the right to monopolize cotton isn’t something you can decide.

So let’s make it easier. As you guessed, our cotton cultivation in the North hasn’t been successful. So wouldn’t it be better for both of us if you came to look at my cotton field and gave me some advice?〉

My ultimate goal wasn’t southern cotton but to secure a cultivation method that would allow us to grow cotton independently in the North.

Therefore, this proposal was a better condition for Caitlyn, but strangely, she avoided answering.

‘It seems Caitlyn doesn’t know anything more. She probably just happened to hear that cotton only grows in the South.’

“Even if we put the Pochet family on the Golden Plate, do you think my stupid legal younger sister could actually become the crown prince’s bride?”

‘Absolutely not.’

But I was planning to not only register our marriage but also go to the capital and declare that the North supports Caitlyn.

Darius also seemed to think that Caitlyn becoming the crown prince’s bride was absurd, as he snickered.

“Of course not.”

“Right. That’s why I’m thinking of making a deal with the Marquis in exchange for helping Caitlyn. For example, the cotton cultivation method.”

Sitting on Darius’s lap, I told him what I had learned while talking with Caitlyn.

“I was planning to visit the capital once within this year anyway.”

Caitlyn was lucky. I had already been planning to go to the capital to check on the diamond business entrusted to De Beers Trading Company and conduct market research.

“But you were planning to go half a year later.”

“If I can get a bigger reward by moving up the schedule, it’s actually a gain.”

Once my mind turned toward going to the capital, I kept thinking of things to do there.

There might be more information about the demon king in the capital too.

‘Before, I didn’t pay much attention because I thought it was Evangeline’s role… but now it’s my business.’

“By the way, Darius, could you call for a priest? It doesn’t have to be Father Michael.”

I was still embarrassed to face Father Michael after what I had said last time.

He believed I was deeply religious, so I felt somewhat apologetic.

* * *

The next day, I went to meet Caitlyn with a young priest I hadn’t seen before. I placed a document on the table and said to Caitlyn.

“Would you sign this?”

“What is this?”

“It’s a contract saying you’ll do as we wish.”

The document stated that not only would Darius and I register our marriage at the Great Temple, but we would also attend the imperial ball and prove to the nobles that we were a married couple.

Of course, it also stated that in return, we would take all the purchasing rights for southern cotton next year.

Caitlyn hurriedly read the contract and was about to sign it in her haste when she seemed to notice the contents and screamed.

“Wait, if I break this, I have to give up all my rights as a marquis’s daughter? What nonsense is this!”

“My, compared to what you’re getting, it’s not even a heavy penalty.”

“No, who are you to take away my rights? This is outrageous!”

“Just don’t break it.”

I countered with an unwavering eyebrow.

“You confidently said that if we just support you, all the cotton grown next year would belong to us in the North. If you can keep that promise, what does it matter what’s written in there?”

Of course, there were no breach conditions written for our side. But well, once we stamp it, we’ll depart right away.

“Are you going to break it?”

“This is something you should have done in the first place, yet you’re acting like you’re doing me a favor…!”

“No. All we have to do is register our marriage at the Great Temple. Since there’s no mention of the timing, isn’t it entirely up to us when we register it?”

When I started to gather up the contract, saying, “You seemed so desperate that I made this big offer, but if you don’t want it…” Caitlyn, who had been jumping up and down, grabbed my arm. She had a conflicted expression.

‘Well, in the unlikely event it happens, I can just deny knowing about such a document. What can she do with it? It’s just meant to scare her.’

With an expression that made it obvious she was thinking this, she wrote “Caitlyn Pochet” on the contract.

“Stamp your fingerprint too.”

“I’ve done everything! You stamp yours!”

Having completed my signature and fingerprint as “Anette Inkheart,” I smiled at Caitlyn.

“Caitlyn, are you planning to deny this document later?”

“This is ridiculous. I signed everything you asked for and even stamped my fingerprint. What more do you want me to do!”

“No, you don’t have to do anything else.”

I handed the contract to the priest I had brought along.

“The priest here will notarize it with holy power.”

Caitlyn’s face turned pale as she hadn’t expected the contract to be notarized with holy power by the priest.

“Anette!”

“Don’t worry. Just keep your promise, okay? Surely you weren’t planning to back out after making a promise?”

I smiled brightly as I took the contract back from the priest. Caitlyn’s trembling gaze followed the fluttering contract as I waved it like a fan.

‘It seems she can’t bring herself to ask to cancel it.’

Always wanting more despite lacking ability.

I’m looking forward to seeing what Marquis Pochet will offer to save his precious second daughter if Caitlyn Pochet fails to provide the cotton purchasing rights next year.

* * *

Returning to the guest room Anette had provided, Caitlyn tried to sleep with a troubled mind.

When she came to the North, she had expected Anette to exclaim, “What? The marriage isn’t registered?” in surprise and rush to register it.

It was already absurd that Anette had responded as if asking “so what?”, but now she had also been entangled into signing away her rights as a marquis’s daughter, which naturally left her troubled.

‘If Father and Simon find out I promised to sell all the southern cotton to the North on my own, they won’t let it slide.’

Though she nervously chewed her nails, Caitlyn comforted herself thinking, surely Father wouldn’t cast her out.

It was still a long time until next year’s cotton harvest anyway. So she could worry about that when the time came…

“But why is this room so cold?”

Shivering, Caitlyn couldn’t bear the chill and lashed out in frustration. The maids of Castle Inkheart were just as mean as Anette. They put poison in her tea and didn’t keep the fire going in the guest room at night.

“Do they not care if a guest freezes to death? What kind of treatment is this?”

Angry, Caitlyn got up from the bed. That’s when it happened.

Thud! Bang! Crash!

“Ahhh!”

As if answering Caitlyn’s complaints, there was suddenly a loud banging noise from the ceiling. How poorly built must the building be for such noises to occur?

‘Surely it’s not mice?’

At the thought that mice might be running around in the ceiling or hallway, any desire to leave the room vanished.

Having received such excellent treatment on her way to the North, the poor treatment at Castle Inkheart felt even more hurtful. Caitlyn covered her ears with a pillow and shouted irritably.

“I’ll confront Anette about this when morning comes!”

* * *

The next morning, Caitlyn complained to Anette with a huff. Her eyes were bloodshot from not sleeping all night.

“Change my room! It was so noisy all night that I couldn’t sleep at all! And is there a draft? Why is it so cold? Is this acceptable for a Grand Duke’s castle?”

Anette’s first thought upon hearing Caitlyn’s complaints was surprisingly, ‘Did someone deliberately make Caitlyn’s stay miserable?’

After all, Apple had put salt in Caitlyn’s tea.

‘I told them not to do that, but who else bothered Caitlyn? Our people really. There’s no need to go that far, even if they’re trying to look out for me.’

“And the room is too small! If you’re going to change it, give me a large and luxurious room. A room that suits me!”

However, as Caitlyn continued her complaints, Anette soon concluded that the problem wasn’t with the room but that Caitlyn was being dramatic as usual, and asked Apple.

“Really? Was the weather that cold last night?”

“Cold? The ice melted ages ago. And the maid who slept in the room next to Miss Caitlyn didn’t mention anything like that.”