Chapter 4

Chapter 4

After the wedding, Gavin remained as busy as ever.

I wanted to start a business in Jasron. Since I could no longer work as a peddler, I thought of opening a shop. It would be better than idling away in the backyard all day. I wanted to show the people in Jasron that even without the title of the esteemed wife of a General, I could still run a business and support myself.

Gavin disagreed. He believed that in our society, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants were ranked, with merchants being least respected. He argued that it would be a laughingstock for the esteemed wife of a General to be seen doing business in public.

But back when I was a peddler, he had praised me for being both beautiful and wise, calling me a woman of great strength.

One day, while he was attending court, I brewed some coffee and took it to the docks to sell. The coffee was cheap and refreshing, and almost every laborer at the docks wanted a cup. The entire barrel of coffee sold out quickly.

My heart was filled with joy. Although I didn't make much money, I regained the happiness I once felt as a peddler in the countryside.

With the hard-earned money in my pocket, I went to a pastry shop in Jasron and bought Gavin his favorite cookies.

When he ate them happily, he asked, "Why did you think of buying me cookies, Pattie?"

He had never cared about my daily life these past days, so when he asked, I naturally thought we could chat as we used to. I told him that I had sold coffee at the docks today and made some money. The customers praised me for being capable and said whoever married me was lucky.

Before I could finish, Gavin stopped eating the half-eaten cookie and began to scold me.

"Didn't I tell you to stay at home?!"

His face grew darker, as if he wanted to devour me.

He said there were many ways to pass the time in Jasron. I could take the servants to watch performances, drink tea, or visit jewelry shops. The money bestowed by the Emperor was enough for me to live a carefree life, but I insisted on doing business.

I shook my head with a wry smile. It seemed Gavin never understood what I truly wanted.

I stood in the living room for a long time, staring at the half-eaten cookie on the table, and cried all night.

Being the esteemed wife of a General was harder than being a peddler.

After that, I followed his words and never thought about doing business again. Except for meals, I spent every day waiting for him to return from court.

One day, Gavin had just left for court when the Princess arrived at our mansion with a group of noble ladies.

With Gavin absent, I had to hurriedly attend to the Princess.

I ordered the servants to prepare tea, making sure not to neglect the Princess.

The Princess, still as haughty and high-handed as ever, scolded me as soon as she entered, "You see me and don't kneel? Such lack of manners. Then kneel as punishment."

I was indignant but feared the Princess would report to the Emperor and have Gavin dismissed.

So, I obediently knelt in the front yard, waiting for three hours.

The afternoon sun was scorching, and there was no shade in the front yard. My exposed skin peeled from the sunburn, and I nearly fainted.

The Princess and the noble ladies sat in the living room, drinking tea and chatting, ordering my servants to fan them and make them comfortable, as if she were the mistress of the General's mansion.

She said with great pride, "My brother said he will soon order Gavin to be my husband."

A noble lady beside her, fawning, said, "I truly envy the Princess. The Emperor really dotes on you."

The Princess raised her head high, "Of course, he is my full-blooded brother."

She glanced at me kneeling in the yard, growing impatient, and turned away to admire the scenery. "Gavin is excellent, but this mansion is poorly decorated. Once we are married, I will plant plum trees in the yard and lotuses in the pond. In spring and summer, you all can come and enjoy."

She laughed, and the noble ladies echoed her, saying they would definitely attend her wedding.

Listening to their conversation, my head throbbed with pain.

So, Gavin would soon no longer be mine alone, yet he had never mentioned it to me.

If he had told me earlier that the Princess was fond of him, I would never have followed him to Jasron.

One of the ladies suddenly pointed at me, "What about her?"

The Princess, indifferent, propped her face on her hand, "Send her back to where she came from."

They watched me kneel all afternoon, mocking me as they left.

"You really knelt all afternoon like a dog."

Afterward, I was bedridden for two days, and Gavin said nothing.

I felt deeply troubled. Where had the peddler who once looked up to me gone?