Chapter 83

"If there's any controversy with my medical business, it could affect you too."

This was what Nefter had been worried about.

"Rine, if it fails, the queen will move."

Aristine recalled Nefter's serious, grave expression as he looked at her.

It was a warning, a test of her resolve, and above all—

'It was because he was worried about me.'

A warm feeling slowly spread in her chest.

"I'll give you a chance."

Nefter had said he would trust and rely on Aristine.

She didn't exactly think of Nefter as a father.

Wishing for a father was something from when she was very young.

But at the very least, she wanted to repay his trust.

'And to Tarkan as well.'

Since he was a good partner, Aristine wanted to be a good partner to him too.

She absolutely didn't want to cause him any trouble.

"That's why I want to resolve it myself, so I don't cause you any trouble."

Looking into Tarkan's straight, violet eyes, Tarkan gritted his teeth.

"You don't want to cause trouble?"

"Uh-huh."

"Do you really think this is trouble?"

At his words, Aristine's eyes widened.

Tarkan laughed, "Haha."

He could tell from her expression even without her saying anything.

You can cause me as much trouble as you want.

You can be a nuisance to me as much as you want.

Why don't you understand?

Why do those words stick in your throat and not come out?

Aristine, sensing Tarkan's mood, apologized.

"Sorry."

Why are you apologizing?

That's what he hated the most.

"I caused this problem, and I understand that it's difficult for you."

It wasn't difficult at all.

"But I'll handle it well. Just wait a little longer."

Aristine's eyes were filled with determination as she looked at Tarkan.

"Let's celebrate together."

Seeing Aristine's smile, Tarkan's face contorted.

"You're really an annoying woman."

With that, Tarkan passed by Aristine.

Aristine's hand, which had touched Tarkan's wrist, fell away.

Tarkan clenched his jaw, feeling the lingering warmth.

He left the room without looking back.

Aristine's smile slowly faded.

'Did I... do that?'

I was an annoying person to Tarkan.

"Ha..."

Aristine sighed and held her forehead.

I understand that this issue has made Tarkan's nerves sharp.

That's why his reactions have been strange.

But I thought he would understand if I apologized.

I thought he would soften his attitude.

Because—

'I thought we were good partners.'

But to be an annoying woman to him?

'Well, he probably wanted to marry Diona, not me.'

Aristine didn't choose to marry Tarkan.

But from his perspective, it must have been different.

'And I even told him that marrying you was a good thing.'

"Ugh."

I was too insensitive.

How much did those words bother him?

And then, starting a business and causing problems.

"I'm like that to Tarkan, huh?"

Aristine forced a dry laugh.

He's going to be my ex-husband anyway.

So it doesn't matter how Tarkan thinks of me.

'But why now?'

Aristine lowered her hand from her forehead.

'Why this much?'

Her gaze fell.

Aristine remained still for a moment.

Her deep, violet eyes flickered with light.

After a while, Aristine's lips parted.

"Of course, the problem with the medical production is my fault. The queen is so annoying!"

She was really annoyed.

'But I can handle this!'

Aristine lifted her head.

'I'll overcome it!'

I can do it.

The gloom on Aristine's face completely disappeared.

She returned to her usual self and went back to the table.

'First, I'll finish organizing the related matters and look for a solution!'

I'll take it step by step.

Worrying and feeling depressed won't solve the problem.

At that moment,

The palace attendants cautiously entered the room.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Lady."

"It's fine. What is it?"

"Lady, a guest has come to see you."

"A guest?"

Who would come? Aristine tilted her head.

The attendant, reading her confusion, answered quietly.

"From Catalaman."

"Please forgive the rudeness of coming without prior notice, Lady."

Bolton, the master of the Catalaman forge, bowed to Aristine.

Aristine smiled and waved him off.

"Lord Bolton, you are always welcome."

Although she said that, she was very curious about why he had come to see her.

'Could he be here to take Liretren away?'

Liretren, who developed stainless steel, had become the most sought-after blacksmith.

Once ridiculed as a disgrace to the forge, now everyone wanted him.

'No, that can't be it.'

Although she had only met him once, the Bolton she knew wasn't that shameless.

"I didn't come to take up your valuable time, so I'll get straight to the point."

Bolton sat down and immediately spoke.

"Do you remember when I offered to make a personal gift for you?"

Surprised by the unexpected matter, Aristine soon smiled and nodded.

"Of course. Who wouldn't be excited waiting for a gift from Lord Bolton?"

"Unfortunately, the gift for you isn't ready yet."

Aristine tilted her head.

Did he come just to say that?

Since it was out of his goodwill and there was no set deadline, it didn't matter if it was late.

'There must be something else he wants to say.'

Thinking this, Aristine politely replied.

"It's fine. The anticipation will just last longer."

"Even if it's fine for you, it's not fine for me!"

Bolton's response was not what she expected.

Surprised by his passionate attitude, Aristine looked at him.

"As the master of Catalaman, I feel very dishonored for not keeping my promise."

His face was solemn and serious.

"No... it's fine if you give it to me later..."

"No! This dishonor can't be washed away with words alone!"

Bolton gestured to another blacksmith who had come with him.

The blacksmith signaled someone outside the door.

'What is it?'

Aristine, curious, watched as Bolton spoke.

"Though it's not a substitute, can you accept this as a token?"

At the same time, someone pulled a cart into the room.

'A cart?'

Aristine's eyes widened.

"Could it be...!"

Her gaze turned to Bolton.

Her violet eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Yes, that's right."

The cart stopped in front of Aristine.

The finely polished cart shone silver and was very beautiful.

But Aristine didn't even glance at the cart; she opened the box inside.

With a click, the contents of the box sparkled in the light.

"It's...!"

It was iron ingots.

The cart contained five identical boxes.

Aristine's hands trembled as she touched the ingots.

The cold, solid feel of the iron gave her strength.

She had thought she wouldn't give in, that she would overcome, but she must have been losing energy.

Receiving this unexpected support, courage and determination welled up from within her.

"Lord Bolton..."

Aristine looked at Bolton with gratitude.

"Of course, this amount is far from enough."

That was true.

The production volume was so large that this wouldn't even cover a day's order.

"But that doesn't make Lord Bolton's help any less significant. It's been a great help."

Bolton and the other blacksmiths looked at Aristine with melted expressions.

As blacksmiths from Catalaman, they often interacted with the royal family.

The royals were picky and hard to please.

But now, Aristine was genuinely moved by even a small help.

"Haha, I was going to say that there's more, but I thought you might still find it insufficient..."

"There's more?"

Aristine's face brightened.

"Yes, but... it might still be insufficient."

Bolton's face darkened slightly.

He wanted to help Aristine more, but this was his limit.

"Have all the ingots delivered to the forge."

"Yes, Master."

The blacksmiths bowed deeply to Aristine and then pulled the cart out of the room.

"Really, how can I ever repay Lord Bolton and Catalaman..."

Aristine said, and Bolton shook his head.

"No, I simply brought the iron ingots to uphold my reputation, as I was late with the gift I promised you."

Thinking back, he had said something similar earlier.

Aristine rested her arm on the armrest, lost in thought.

'...There must be a reason he has to say it this way.'

The reason he had to give a pretext.

'The queen, probably.'

The forge needed the most iron.

If relations with Skiera, which had the world's largest iron mine, soured, it would be a significant blow.

Especially since other forges were eyeing Catalaman's top position.

'Yet, he still helped me.'

It was truly touching and grateful. But.

'Why?'

That question couldn't help but arise.

"Are you wondering why I would risk helping you, Lady?"

Bolton smiled and looked into the distance.

"Because I owe you a debt."

"A debt?"

"Yes, I was a poor teacher and couldn't guide my talented student properly."

"Oh..."

It was about Liretren.

"I scolded him a lot for sitting at a desk instead of a forge, thinking he had strayed."

I didn't recognize his growing talent and thought he was wasting his time by taking a different path from me.

Regret showed on Bolton's wrinkled face.

"But as a teacher, the one who strayed was me."

His hard, iron-stained hand hit his thigh.

Bolton wasn't someone who constantly supported and helped Liretren.

But he genuinely cherished Liretren and his talent.

"Thank you for nurturing Liretren's talent and guiding him."

Bolton bowed to Aristine.

"Please stand up, Lord Bolton."

Aristine approached and helped him up.

"It's Liretren who did well. And his talent and determination, as well as your teaching, made him the skilled blacksmith he is today."

"Lady..."

Aristine smiled and patted his hand.

"Now I understand why everyone calls you the goddess of salvation. If you hadn't come to Catalaman that day, I don't know what would have happened."

Bolton shook his head and smiled.

"Liretren would have lost the use of his hands, and many things would be different now."

"I shudder to think what might have happened to me too."

It was fortunate that she could save Liretren.

"...I have something to apologize for to you, Lady."

Bolton's sudden serious expression made Aristine's face turn serious as well.

"Apologize?"

* * *

When Aristine said she wanted to bathe, the attendants filled the tub with warm water and plenty of bath salts to help her relax.

Aristine enjoyed a bath alone, dismissing the attendants.

Thanks to Bolton, the immediate crisis was averted.

'But it only solved the immediate crisis.'

Checking the forge immediately after Bolton left, the amount was far from enough to fulfill the contracted volume.

'Even so, I'm grateful for the extra time.'

She needed to find a way to resolve this situation completely.

There was no guarantee that this wouldn't happen again, so she needed to prepare for that too.

'I can do it.'

She reaffirmed her resolve and looked into the water.

The surface rippled with her will, and soon, scenes from her past life in Korea reflected on the calm surface.

Being able to control when she sees her past life is a huge help.

'Please.'

Aristine prayed, hoping.

Even a glimpse of her past self would be good.

Even if she had only noticed it in passing.

'Can I catch it now?'

Scenes began to flash rapidly in the water mirror.

Aristine, completely absorbed, didn't blink as she stared at the water.

How long had it been?

The bathwater had long turned cold.

The attendants called out worriedly from outside, but Aristine didn't hear them.

Staying in the cold water for so long, the color drained from her lips.

Aristine, unaware of her own condition, looked like she could collapse at any moment.

And at that moment.

"Forget being a wife, I just want to make money."