In her past life, Cecilia had been deeply interested in cosmetics.

She had tried every product that gained a good reputation.

Her curiosity about beneficial ingredients had given her a rough understanding of how cosmetics were made.

Developing the product would require trial and error, but the real challenge lay in securing the ingredients.

Cecilia called for Helen and asked her about the paste.

She worried it might be a secret, but Helen readily explained.

 

⌜ It’s made from green gardenia berries. After drying the berries, they’re ground into powder and mixed with grain flour to create the paste. The berries are classified as medicinal ingredients. Since medicinal supplies are under the doctor’s authority, you’ll need to summon Brendan to confirm. ⌟

 

Brendan, when summoned, said,

 

⌜ For non-medicinal use, I think we need to ask the lord’s permission. ⌟

 

Cecilia planned to propose a transaction, offering sufficient compensation to persuade Russell.

She could arrange for funds by contacting the grand duke’s castle.

In her past life, Grand Duke Jericho never gave Cecilia cash directly.

Instead, he always generously paid for anything she purchased from the merchant guilds.

Since the Ewen Merchant Guild had close ties with Lagos Castle, drafting dual contracts would suffice.

“Green gardenia trees bear fruit in autumn, ripen in winter, and are harvested in spring. So there won’t be much left at this time of year. You can use all but the emergency reserve. Next spring, we’ll harvest more.”

Cecilia couldn’t bring herself to mention money.

It felt like a rude way to repay his goodwill.

Cecilia didn’t trust favors given without compensation.

‘Even after everything I’ve been through, am I still this naive?’

Yet, she wanted to believe that the man before her would at least return her kindness in kind.

“I plan to make cosmetics.”

He didn’t seem like the type to dismiss it with, ‘That’s something merchants do.’

“Green gardenia berries are highly effective for reducing swelling.”

Cecilia explained the cosmetics she wanted to create.

‘I don’t get it.’

Russell didn’t understand at all.

‘Why would someone’s face swell without being injured or hit?’

He felt a bit sorry for her.

If it were sold as medicine, perhaps it would make sense, but he doubted anyone would pay for paste as a cosmetic.

Still, he didn’t say so.

She looked genuinely happy while discussing her plans.

‘If she has something to focus on, winter will pass more easily.’

Two months in an isolated castle could feel long.

Even Russell, who was born and raised here, sometimes found it unbearable.

For someone from the continent, it would be an extremely challenging first winter.

“I might need other ingredients besides the berries, like oil…”

“If you ask the butler, he’ll tell you what’s stored where.”

Cecilia looked at him briefly before nodding.

“Are green gardenia berries only found in Lagos?”

“I’m not quite sure. I don’t keep track of every crop distributed across the continent.”

‘It must be a specialty of Lagos.’

In her mid-to-late twenties, Cecilia had lived in Iria, a free trade city.

Iria was the most vibrant and prosperous city on the continent, bustling with people and goods.

If something couldn’t be found in Iria, it wouldn’t be available anywhere on the continent, or so she heard.

Yet she had never heard of green gardenia berries or any products made from them.

‘Sunset Wine, mutant black bears, giant wolves, golden wool… This place feels different from what I imagined. They call it a cursed land, but it seems more like a treasure trove.’

If Hoffman knew her thoughts, he would have been horrified.

As Cecilia stood, Russell stood as well.

She paused by the door.

Russell opened it for her and said,

“Everyone will gather in the communal dining hall this evening.”

Cecilia felt a twinge of disappointment.

She had hoped for a quiet dinner alone with him.

“We always prepare a bigger feast on the evening of the first snowfall.”

Cecilia’s eyes lit up.

“A banquet?”

“A banquet? Hmm… Something like that.”

She wouldn’t miss a banquet.

She longed for that lively atmosphere.

“But it won’t be the kind of formal banquet you’re used to. It’s loud and chaotic. If you’re not in the mood, you don’t have to come.”

“Will there be musicians?”

“There will be music.”

“Dancing?”

“There’s dancing, but…”

That was enough for her.

Cecilia had never thought of noble banquets as truly formal.

They only pretended to be.

She loved banquets for the music and dancing, not for the revelry.

“I’ll go.”

“Then I’ll come to fetch you later.”

“All right.”

Returning to her room, Cecilia reopened the wool box.

Sitting beside it, she savored the soft texture of the wool with both hands.

‘Ah!’

Suddenly, she realized something.

‘I’ve heard of this wool before.’