“My, my, what’s the big hurry?” Byletta asked.
“My people just returned from an outsourcing trip yesterday. They were able to get hold of some quality gems from out east, just like you said. Here, take a look!”
“Wow, you certainly brought in a lot of the gems I ordered. I’m very grateful.”
Byletta spoke loudly before the store owner could say anything more. Why did I bring Arnald to a store I am so familiar with? she thought regretfully, but it was too late now. She really should have remembered that she’d spoken with the store owner about management before. It was partly thanks to her advice that the shop was doing as well as it was.
She really should have opted for somewhere she didn’t frequent. But there was nothing that could be done about it now.
Arnald, who had been listening attentively, looked puzzled.
“She gives you purchasing advice?”
“Now why would I—”
“Of course! All the things she recommends turn out to be incredibly popular. And her advice about going east was spot-on. We had no idea we’d find so much gold, silver, and other gemstones in the mountains out there. Especially heliodor—and of such quality! The only problem was that, if we don’t have the correct processing technology out there, we have to leave it as scrap rock. But anyway, I’d love to ask your advice on some designs. I’ve got a lot of drawings and a few prototypes made for orders I’ve already received, and I would love to hear your opinion.”
“You want…her advice?”
Byletta wanted to groan.
“Byletta’s jewelry designs are simply gorgeous. Delicate, yet original. Bold, yet elegant. They take my breath away just looking at them and— Who might you be, by the way? Byletta rarely drops by alongside a male acquaintance.”
“Do I not?”
“Well, I suppose that’s only natural, as you’ve been waiting so dutifully for your husband to return from battle…”
He’s saying too much!
He’d made it sound like Byletta had been spending the past eight years saving herself for Arnald. She wished she could say he had it wrong, but the store owner never stopped talking. This was why she was worried about the management of this shop. For someone in the jewelry business, it was important to be able to read a customer’s expression and subtly tailor your response.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for always showing such kindness to my wife. I’m her husband, Arnald.”
“Wife… Husband… Husband?! Then you’re Arnald! So you’re not here on business, Byletta? You’re shopping with your spouse? I’m so very sorry for imposing myself on you, then. Oh, but I’m so pleased that you’ve returned from the front safely! Byletta here is such a beauty that she was forced to let down a number of suitors when she told them she was awaiting the return of her beloved husband. I hope you make her very happy!”
The store owner grinned, but Byletta was at a loss for words. It didn’t seem like the right time to tell him that she was thinking of divorcing the man. She hadn’t been saving herself for Arnald at all—she’d merely wished to dedicate herself to her work and was therefore uninterested in getting tangled up in a messy love affair. She was far more suited to business than romance.
“Thank you. I intend to treasure her,” Arnald said.
The words were spoken so affectionately that Byletta found herself taken aback.
What had happened to the infamously coldhearted lieutenant colonel? If she knew where to find that man again, she wouldn’t hesitate to go out and get him back.
Why did I have to go and choose this jewelry store…?
Internally, Byletta crouched down in a corner, holding her head in despair.
Excusing herself from the boutique with the claim that she needed some fresh air, she stepped outside and immediately crumpled into herself. Arnald remained inside, apparently having something he wanted to buy. Unlike her father-in-law, he seemed to feel no sort of aversion to these kinds of shops at all and had been happy to engage the owner in conversation.
Byletta’s strategy had failed. And it was all because she didn’t understand her husband enough. Even worse, her little scheme had done more damage to her in the long run than she had expected. She already felt mentally exhausted by it all.
As she let out a deep sigh, the sound of a scream pierced her ears from down the street.
“Please, stop!”
Looking around to find the source of the disturbance, Byletta’s eyes fell upon a sweet-looking young girl flanked by two men. Given their uniforms, the pair were unmistakably from the military, but it seemed like they were intimidating the girl rather than protecting her.
The situation reminded Byletta of when she’d first met her father-in-law.
With over a month having passed since the armistice was agreed upon, more and more ex-soldiers like him had begun to appear around the capital city.
“Why don’t you spend a little time with us, huh?”
“I don’t want to. Please, let me go!”
“You might want to rethink that answer while I’m still in the mood to play nice.”
“What a shame to see such behavior from imperial soldiers,” said Byletta.
“Huh?”
One of the soldiers looked back, then fell silent. The other simply smiled and tapped his friend on the shoulder.
“You take that one. I’ll have this one.”
“Wow, you’re a mighty fine woman. Why don’t you spend some time with me instead of all on your lonesome?”
“No thanks. I’m waiting on my companion.”
While she had the men’s attention, Byletta shot the girl they’d been hassling a look indicating she should run away as fast as she could. But the young woman was pale and frightened, glancing from one person to the next to see how things would develop. And even if she had tried to escape, one of the soldiers was keeping her in his sights. He didn’t seem to plan on letting her get away so easily.
What can I do to get that man to let her go?