chapter 3
“There’s no way that man came all the way here just to offer congratulations.”
Considering how much he had gossiped behind their backs about Derek marrying a commoner like Anna, there was no way he sincerely wanted to celebrate Annie’s birth.
“Wait, I’m eight years old right now, so this year should be…”
Imperial Year 537. Annie’s birthday was February 24th, so…
“It must be around March of 537.”
The Frost family had not gone bankrupt overnight. Their finances had been deteriorating for quite some time, and in an attempt to cover the losses, they had pushed ahead with reckless business ventures until everything finally collapsed.
And if she remembered correctly, the first major crack in the family’s foundation had appeared in the year 537.
If the Harbor family had already begun laying the groundwork behind the scenes…!
She had to stop any deal from happening between those two.
As Histia anxiously wondered how she could eavesdrop on their conversation, a brilliant idea suddenly came to mind.
“Mother!”
“Yes? We’re preparing cookies and—Tia, are you feeling alright?”
Anna turned around from the kitchen, where she had been preparing refreshments with one of the maids.
“I’ll take the refreshments to them.”
“You?”
“Yes! I want to help Father, even if it’s only a little!”
If she did that, she would naturally be able to enter the study.
“My lady, isn’t that dangerous? What if the young miss drops everything halfway there…?”
“I absolutely won’t! I’ll be very careful, so please let me do it!”
The maid tried to object, but Histia clasped her hands together and pleaded earnestly until Anna finally nodded.
“Alright. This is the first time our Tia has willingly approached him, after all. How could her mother not help? But I’ll escort you as far as the study.”
Internally cheering in triumph, Histia followed after Anna. Once they reached the study, Anna handed her the tray of refreshments.
“Hold it carefully.”
Knock knock.
Anna knocked and opened the door for her. Judging by the way she mouthed You can do it, she seemed to think Histia was simply trying to act cute toward Derek.
‘If that’s what she thinks, even better.’
That meant the two men inside would probably think the same thing.
“I’ve brought refreshments.”
Holding the large tray politely, Histia spoke in a quiet voice. A warm smile spread across Derek’s face.
“Hoho, our daughter is working hard for her father.”
“My, my… You must be happy to have such an adorable daughter.”
“I thought she was afraid of me before. Perhaps I was mistaken.”
At the warm hand patting her head, Histia gave a faint smile and carefully served them tea.
‘I spent ten years working as a maid.’
Brewing tea like this was child’s play.
Besides, during her years as a maid, the masters had always said the tea she brewed tasted the best.
“Oh? Did you really make this yourself?”
“...Impressive. It has quite a deep flavor.”
Even Victor couldn’t hide his surprise at how good it tasted.
But the tea wasn’t the important part.
“Ahem. Now then, where were we?”
Setting down his teacup, Derek resumed the interrupted discussion.
“We were talking about distribution. I’m making this offer exclusively to Frost. In the capital, people are practically fighting to buy this.”
‘That is…’
What Victor brought out was a small case. Inside was a white cosmetic powder used by women.
Histia carefully examined the item. She sniffed it and reached out to touch it—
“That’s not something a child should handle!”
Only then noticing Histia, Victor barked sharply and snatched the cosmetic away from her.
“The adults are discussing important matters. Run along now.”
His eyes were filled with blatant contempt, as if she were nothing more than an annoyance. Histia immediately clung to Derek.
“Father, I’ll stay quiet, so can’t I stay here? I want cookies.”
“...Tia.”
‘As expected, it won’t work?’
To adults, it probably just looked like a child throwing a stubborn tantrum. If that was the case, she’d have to try another method—
“You called me Daddy this morning. Why are you calling me Father now?”
“...Huh?”
‘Father’ sounds too distant. You should call me Daddy.”
She had expected him to kick her out, but instead the situation went in a completely different direction. Victor also looked utterly dumbfounded.
Sensing an opportunity, Histia hurriedly spoke.
“D-Daddy…!”
“That’s right, my daughter. If you want cookies, eat as many as you like. But the adults have things to discuss, so you have to stay quiet, alright?”
“Yes!”
“Baron Frost, having a child present during such an important business discussion is—!”
“Please understand just this once. I’m simply happy that Tia is finally warming up to me. Besides, she’s only a child. She promised to stay quiet, so she won’t interfere anymore.”
‘That’s it! Good job!’
Secretly cheering Derek on in her heart, Histia munched on a cookie. Victor frowned in displeasure at first, but eventually let out a sigh.
Soon, the two men resumed their conversation.
“I’ve certainly heard that people have become more interested in beauty products lately. Even my wife seems interested.”
“In the capital, this has already become a major trend. It’s only a matter of time before it spreads to other regions too. So, how about joining hands with me?”
It was definitely an enticing proposal.
But the truth was that the trend wouldn’t even last a year.
‘Because the cosmetics are poisonous.’
By the time the products became popular in the capital and gradually spread to the provinces, people who had used them first began showing signs of poisoning one after another.
At first, no one understood the cause, but before long it was discovered that the cosmetics themselves were toxic, and production was completely halted.
“If the Frost family purchases them in advance, our family can handle transportation. Naturally, we’ll give Frost favorable terms.”
And the Frost family, which had stockpiled huge quantities of cosmetics ahead of time, ended up suffering devastating financial losses.
‘Though I don’t know whether Victor is deliberately aiming for that result…’
She couldn’t let history repeat itself.
Fortunately, Derek didn’t seem completely convinced either. He frowned thoughtfully.
“Though we may be distant relatives, we’re still family, aren’t we? As branches of the Winston family, we should help each other.”
The way he spoke of family without batting an eye disgusted her. Unable to endure it any longer, Histia finally spoke up.
“You’re such a kind baron!”
Victor looked at her in confusion.
“When I find something I like, I never tell my younger siblings about it. But you’re telling Daddy about something good, so you must be kind!”
Most people didn’t want to share profitable opportunities with others—especially when money was involved.
And if things went wrong, Frost would bear all the risk for purchasing the products in bulk first, while Harbor, who only handled transportation, could withdraw at any time.
“If I had it my way, I’d keep it all for myself. But I already have many businesses underway. Besides, family should help each other.”
‘What a smooth talker.’
Even if he fell into water, that silver tongue of his would probably keep floating.
“Then what happens if people stop liking it? Since when did it become popular?”
“It’s only been around for half a year. What would a child know? Stop bothering us and eat your cookies.”
Watching him blatantly try to silence her, Histia clenched her fists tightly.
‘This bastard… I think he already knows this stuff causes poisoning…’
Half a year was exactly when people would begin showing symptoms one by one.
It might still be popular now, but by the time Frost bought and resold the products, their value would have completely crashed.
‘But this is enough.’
Derek was smart enough to understand just how dangerous the risk truly was.
“I apologize, Baron Harbor. But I don’t believe a partnership will be possible.”
“What? Why not? An opportunity like this won’t come again!”
“I understand it’s an excellent offer. However, it would be difficult for me to expand into another business at the moment. I’ll gratefully accept only the proposal itself.”
“Come now, think it over one more time. I’ll leave the products here.”
Victor forcefully left the cosmetics behind before exiting the study. As Derek went to escort him out, Histia quickly examined the cosmetics.
“Father mustn’t become interested in these again.”
There had to be some good way to—
As she lowered her head in deep thought, something glittering entered her vision.
“This…!”
It was the necklace she had once tearfully pawned when she lacked money in her previous life.
It had also been the first gift Derek had ever given her.
Even though she had resented having a new father, she had still loved how pretty the necklace was and carried it with her at all times.
“This will work perfectly!”
Histia quickly stuffed the necklace into the cosmetic container. Then she shut the lid and shook it vigorously.
After seeing Victor off, Derek sighed.
“...Our finances really aren’t that stable.”
Honestly, he had been tempted. He knew how popular the cosmetics were; he had heard about them himself.
But they were more expensive than expected, and if something went wrong, the losses would be severe. That made it difficult for him to take the gamble.
“If you want to make big money, you must also have the courage to take bold risks like a man. If you change your mind, contact me anytime.”
Victor’s words lingered in Derek’s ears as the carriage departed. Besides, the Harbor family did have an excellent reputation for business.
“Now that the third child has been born… I suppose I need to think more carefully.”
With more family members depending on him, the burden on his shoulders as head of the household grew heavier.
Returning to his study, Derek abruptly froze at the sight of the room in chaos.
“Histia!”
“D-Daddy…”
The cosmetics Victor had left behind were scattered across the sofa and carpet. It was obvious she had been playing with them.
“You mustn’t play with cosmetics.”
“I just wanted to make the necklace prettier.”
“The necklace?”
“Yes! Makeup makes things prettier, right? I wanted to make my necklace prettier too!”
Seeing Histia smiling brightly with her face smeared white with powder, Derek found himself unable to scold her.
First, he brushed the powder off her clothes and face.
“I appreciate the thought, but don’t play with Daddy’s things next time, alright?”
“Yes! But Daddy, look at this! The necklace became prettier, right?”
Derek let out a helpless laugh at the necklace covered in white powder. But then he realized it was the necklace he himself had given her.
“You’ve… been carrying this with you the whole time?”
“It’s a gift from Daddy!”
Derek pressed his lips together tightly.
Four years ago, when he had first met Histia alongside Anna, the little girl had rejected him and constantly avoided him.
Even after Elvin was born, and even when Annie was born just days ago, she had always acted awkward and distant toward him. Her sudden change felt strange, but…
‘Maybe it was simply difficult for her to approach me.’
He had believed she hated him. Realizing that wasn’t true made his chest tighten with emotion.
“You’re already the prettiest girl in the world, even without doing things like this.”
As he said that, he brushed the powder off the necklace.
Once the white powder disappeared, the necklace’s surface underneath was revealed to be blackened.
Feeling something was wrong, Derek tilted his head.
“...Tia, was it always like this?”
“Huh? It used to be shiny, but now it turned black. Why? Why didn’t it become prettier?”
Silver tarnishing meant there was poison present.
If Histia was telling the truth, then it had originally been an ordinary silver necklace…
Derek’s gaze shifted to Histia herself, now dusted white from the cosmetic powder.
In an instant, his face turned pale, and he hurriedly scooped her up into his arms.
“Dear! Prepare bathwater immediately! Right now!”
Realizing the cosmetics were toxic, Derek rushed to wash Histia clean.
Held in Derek’s frantic embrace, Histia secretly smiled to herself.
‘Perfect. Just as planned.’