I Will Become the Ex-Wife of the Beast

"Did you buy everything you had to buy, sister?"

"Of course. What do you take me for?"

I showed the paper bag filled with books to Rose.

Even though the aristocratic codes and Northern cadastral charts' map books were quite heavy, my mind was as light as a feather.

That's a pretty good start.

The start was good, except that I had a hard time getting rid of the owner, who kept saying that she would contact me if the latest edition of the novel books came out.

Anyway, I got what I need, so now…

"Rose, what's wrong? What are you looking at?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing."

"I don't think so. For a lady to open her mouth like that... Ah."

As I followed Rose's gaze, my eyes stopped at the dessert shop across the street.

「De Milch」

The big mauve sign was beautifully decorated along with silver letters.

They put up a large delicious-looking special cake drawing.

Oh my God. It was then I remembered that Rose had followed me around without a single complaint.

"Rose, do you want to eat that? You should have told me."

"N-No. I don't want to eat that."

"Let's go there. I want to take a look at this book anyway."

As we crossed the road, Rose held my hand and almost went into tears.

I was filled with a sense of remorse for forgetting about her earlier. It was heartbreaking for me as her older sister, but I covered it and tried to look as cheerful as possible.

"Is the name of the cake Lyden's flower? It must have been made of strawberries. I am sure it looks just as pretty as my Rose."

"Sister.."

"Look at that. The bottom layer must be made of soft castella. You haven't tried that before, right?"

"N-No, I know how it tastes."

"Really? When did you eat that?"

It was a rather surprising answer, so I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows.

I was the only one who took care of Rose, and I haven't even seen it except when I still lived in the Capital.

Rose, who was born after her family collapsed and moved to the countryside, when did she ever eat something like that?

"Uh... The other day. At Arianne's house."

"Ah, the Baron's daughter? Did Arianne give you the castella?"

"That's not it, she gave me the crust on the peel underneath it, and I ate it. That's why I know the taste."

"..."

"S-So that's why it's fine. I was just looking at it because the store is pretty."

Ah, that rotten little being.

For a moment, my breath became heavy. I didn't know something like that happened to Rose. My heart clenched at the thought of her licking filthy leftover cake paper base in front of her friend.

This all happened because we didn't have money.

Seriously, it was the same everywhere. If you didn't have money, you would be treated like that.

My determination to earn a lot of money anew burned inside me like a fire. No, a lot wouldn't be enough. It had to be enough to make the whole Empire cry.

I led Rose into the dessert shop while holding the books that would serve as my plan's foundation.

"Let's go. I have a lot of money now."

"R-Really? How much?"

Rose was surprised by the unexpected news. I shrugged and looked at her with confidence.

"Enough for us to eat all of what they are selling in there."

"Huh?"

"Sister Bella, did you chose?"

"Huh?"

An awkward smile flowed from my lips as I was flipping through the menu.

Yes. I admitted that I was underestimating Lyden's dessert shop.

"Uh…"

It was undoubtedly a top-notch dessert shop.

The outfits of the guests inside and the interior were more than what I expected from the outside.

They didn't even put the price on the menu, so it made the people who looked at it very uneasy.

Uh, I really hate this.

The shop manager approached me, who was sitting in the corner seat of the shop as I couldn't even bring myself to look at the menu anymore.

Of course, since it was a high-end shop, even the manager's attire looked much better than mine.

"Would you like to order now?"

"Yes, that Lyden's flower cake over there. And… a glass of water, please."

"Would that be all?"

"Yes. I am full because I ate a lot of breakfast. I am not feeling well either."

Well, that was awkward and unasked for.

On top of that, the manager's expression changed when I tapped my stomach.

Yes, I know you have never seen that before. Now, go away.

As I put my hand on my stomach and looked at him with a big smile, his face contorted.

What? I know you don't like this kind of guest, but I am paying as much too.

From the moment we first walked in, they quickly glanced at us, and I knew for sure that they would put us in the most corner of the shop. However, I held back because I was thinking about Rose.

Huh, I didn't think he's going to make it long in here either.

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the back of the manager, who was clumsy as he walked.

"Sister, you didn't eat much during breakfast. Why did you say you have eaten a lot?"

"Huh?"

"... Is it because you don't have enough money?"

"No. I have a lot. You know sister Elijah and sister Melanie gave me a lot of money, right?"

It wasn't exactly how I got it, as it was instead extortion. However, as long as I could get my hands on it, I didn't care.

At that, Rose's expression brightened a little, but it wasn't enough.

When you come to an expensive place, you should enjoy it as much as possible.

Before the little Rose got discouraged, I quickly looked for something to divert her attention, but all I had in my paper bag were only books filled with code and maps.

As soon as I took it out and put it down in front of Rose, her adorable eyes widened.

"Huh, what is this?"

"There, Rose. We are going to be rich soon. That's why you have to help me too."

"Me? How do I do that?"

"Well… There should be a marriage declaration in that book. It starts with M, so you could start finding that first. Do you still remember what I taught you during the writing practice?"

"Yes!"

Rose was excited as soon as she was given a task.

I smiled and started rummaging the maps in the paper bag.

These were not just any maps. These were my money stream, gold mine, and blessing from heaven.

I wanted to open it up here, but there were too many eyes looking. They wouldn't notice a law book, but it would definitely stand out if it was a map full of intellectual and detailed charts.

"Sister, is this it? Marriage declaration and the unity between families."

"Yes, yes. You did great, Rose."

Rose laughed when I ruffled her hair as if it were ticklish.

God, what a pretty little child.

As I watched Rose reading about the declaration of marriage without knowing what it meant, my sense of responsibility within me grew even stronger.

"Can I really go to the Archduke's castle with you, sister? W-What if the monster-- N-No, the Archduke chases you away?"

"You can leave all of that to me. As for you, you just have to... Ah, here it is! Lyden's flower!"

"Wow…"

Rose, who could not take her eyes off the book earlier, was instantly mesmerized by the gorgeous cake in front of her.

I knew it. This is how a child should behave.

They shouldn't be afraid to say they felt hungry when they didn't eat.

Feeling content with her reaction, I put away the book and handed her a fork.

"Come on, eat it. Take a big bite."

"No, you first. I will eat if you eat."

"Rose…"

"Hurry. Say aah…"

I opened my mouth as she asked and the sweetest dessert in the world melted as soon as it touched my tongue.

Dear God, who created this heavenly taste. Forgive me for my arrogance.

I knew it. Humans need to eat to be full.

For the first time in months, I felt happiness flowed to the brim as sugar seeped into every nook and cranny of my body.

"Ah, it's your turn now. Come on, open your mouth."

"I am so nervous, sister."

Rose's shoulders trembled as she took the cake with an excited face.

What a lovely little girl.

Rose's instinctive cute gestures are followed by the gaze of people around her.

"Now, it's your turn!"

"No, you should finish it. I am already full."

Wow, I wished I could eat a bowl of noodles here.

Even with just one piece of cake, he could stir people's hearts.

"Huh?"

For a moment, I could feel someone's boring a hole on my face with their intense gaze.

Unlike other gazes, this one seemed to be particularly intense that I wouldn't dare to turn my head and check who it was.

After all, two sisters from the countryside who had no money yet had a big appetite, yet they were here in the Lyden's dessert shop must be strange for some people.

"Ah, Rose. If you're finished eating, we must be going now. We must get back to the carriage before the knights come back."

"Yes, sister."

"Excuse me, we would like to pay…."

I turned my body, who was scraping the last crumble of the cake, to ask for the bill.

Gosh, but why does it have to be that guy again.

I clicked my tongue as the shop manager from earlier approached me.

Wasn't this supposed to be my first day in Lyden? I really wanted to end the day with a smile.

"How much was it?"

I put back the book inside the paper bag, and I pulled out some money from inside of my pocket.

The money I took out would be about ten Gold in our town, but in Lyden, it was probably different.

It was just one cake, so this should be enough…

"One thousand Gold."

I guess not.

My hand, which was holding about fifty Gold bills in my pocket, instantly stopped.

"Excuse me. What did you just say?"

"A piece of Lyden's flower. One thousand Gold."

"One thousand Gold?"

Pfft.

Without realizing it, I snorted out loud.

I never knew in my lifetime that I would snort and cover my mouth with banknotes.

One thousand Gold would be worth one horse, and that would be worth about ten sacks of flours.

Even fools knew that.

For our family, that much was enough for several months of food.

My laugh slowly faded when thinking about how bold this clown was for trying to fool me.