Chapter 23

David's mother, Isabel, is twenty-three years old.

She got married at sixteen and soon had David. Despite their poverty, life was going smoothly, but everything changed when her husband was killed in the war.

Her youngest child is only three, but she has to work to put food on the table.

It's tough to leave her two children and work until night, but her current job is precious because she won’t be fired even if her child falls ill and she has to take a day off. She feels like crying when the children, feeling lonely, come to the store, and she ends up getting angry at them for no reason, which makes her hate herself.

One day, she learned about a woman called "Candy Lady" in the neighborhood.

When she first heard about this woman from her children, she thought it was an elderly lady who had finished raising her children. But when she met her, the woman was young and beautiful, and looked like she had been well-raised. According to the neighborhood gossip, she had fled from the empire. Isabel wondered what such a noble-like person could have done to flee.

One day, this woman, Belle, gave her children a letter. Inside the envelope, along with the letter, was something else. When she tilted the envelope, a fashionable earring fell into her hand.

"Dear Isabel,

Thank you for always sharing your delicious food with me.

This is a small token of my appreciation. It's an earring I made. Since you have beautiful chestnut eyes, I made it with beads and stones of a similar color. Please use it if you like.

If you enjoy detailed handiwork, would you like to try making something like this? I will pay you eighty percent of the profit after deducting the cost of materials if it sells in my shop. If you're too busy, just ignore this.

Belle"

Isabel tried on the earring.

It felt light and swayed gently with every movement.

"Hey, Jacob, does it suit me?"

Talking to her late husband made her feel a lump in her throat.

It had been a long time since she had received a letter or worn something fashionable.

When was the last time someone told her she had beautiful eyes?

Her husband, who used to call her "my beauty" and hug her, was no longer there. She had no time to care about her appearance as she worked and raised her children.

The handmade earring brought a small happiness to her life, which was all about work and taking care of the children.

She tried styling her hair in a half-updo, the way she used to when her husband was alive. Her glossy black hair fell softly over her shoulders, and in the mirror, she saw a young woman who looked good with earrings that matched her eye color.

"If you enjoy detailed handiwork..."

She loved detailed handiwork.

Although her daily life now consisted of serving and clearing dishes, she had always enjoyed knitting and embroidery. She had never made accessories before, but she might be able to learn.

"I want to try making them..."

The next day, Isabel visited Belle's house at an early but polite hour, bringing her children along. The children were drinking fruit water given by Belle's servant and were behaving well.

"Would you like to try making accessories?"

"Yes, but what about the tools and materials?"

"I'll provide them. I'll deduct the cost of materials from the sales, but I'll give you eighty percent of the profit if they sell in my shop."

"Wouldn't that leave you with very little profit?"

"For now, yes. But it's fine until you can make more complex and expensive accessories. Once you can earn a good amount, I'll take forty percent, so don't worry."

Belle smiled like a mischievous child. The prospect of making more complex and expensive items excited her.

"Make them when you have free time."

Belle then explained the process, provided the materials, and showed her the tools: fine wire, small pliers, beads, and colored stones, all organized in small dishes.

"Would you like to try making one here?"

"Yes, please!"

Isabel, who loved detailed work, was able to complete the earring smoothly.

"Amazing. Not many people can complete one on their first try. I think you have a talent for making accessories."

"Really? I have a talent...?"

"Hey, why are you crying?"

"I just thought about the last time someone praised me like this. Since receiving your letter, I've become a bit more emotional."

Belle took Isabel's rough, dry right hand in both of hers.

"You're amazing, Isabel. You're strong and have a beautiful heart. I respect and admire your strength and beauty."

"Respect? Admire? Me? That's strange. Me...?"

"Isabel, you are a strong and beautiful woman with a beautiful heart."

"Really? No way."

"Over time, I'll tell you more about how wonderful you are each time we meet. You have memories of your husband and children to protect, which I don't have."

Seeing Belle's wry smile, Isabel wondered why she was still single despite being around the same age.

A few days later, on Isabel's day off.

At Belle's house, Isabel used the excess ingredients to prepare dinner, with Dorothea watching closely, notebook in hand.

"I want to learn as many recipes from this country as possible."

"Teach me later, Dorothea."

"Of course, Miss."

That night, the six of them—Isabel's family of three, Belle, Dorothea, and Diego—enjoyed a lively dinner. Isabel prepared fried pork, a salad of blanched leafy greens with chopped nuts, vinegar, nut oil, salt, and garlic, and a creamy soup with beaten eggs.

The children were lively throughout the meal and eventually ate while yawning.

"Thank you, Isabel. The fried pork was delicious."

"That's my mother's recipe. She learned it from my grandmother. The key is to use plenty of spices."

"Yes, the taste of your mother. I don't have a mother's taste, so I'll remember your mother's taste, Isabel!"

Diego carried the sleepy Camilla as they saw the family off. After they left, Belle spoke to Dorothea.

"Dorothea, do you have a mother's taste?"

"Yes, but it's simple. Noble people don't cook, so it's understandable that they don't have a mother's taste, Miss."

Dorothea thought of the late mistress.

She was a delicate, kind woman.

She loved her eldest son, Herald, and Belle, and adored her husband, but her life was cut short.

"Dorothea, is something wrong?"

"No, nothing. I'll wash the dishes. Miss, please use the hot water Diego boiled before it cools."

"Okay, I'll use it first."

Tomorrow, Dorothea planned to learn dyeing from Meira. She nodded to herself, determined to learn well and be of service to her young mistress.

In the activity report, I've released the character design for "The Rain Princess of the Desert Country" by Mr. Sando, who has been a big fan of mine since before I started writing novels.

Prince Markus is incredibly handsome, Alesia is super cute, and Aura is cool and beautiful. I really want the readers to see them.

Finally, the reality of the book's publication is sinking in.