Evergreen, 12th of Budrise, year 179 BN

Upon entering the quaint, rustic tavern, Richard quickly noted the sparse crowd, his gaze sweeping over the few patrons seated at the wooden tables. Richard imagined that if Roxanne expanded and transformed the tavern into an inn, it would attract travelers who sought comfort and a good meal. Unfortunately, space was limited, with a house to the left and a tool shop to the right.

Richard took his usual spot at the front counter. As he settled onto the sturdy stool, Roxanne emerged from the kitchen, her face lighting up at the unexpected sight of him. Her smile was bright and genuine, a testament to the warmth she felt whenever she saw him. Their time together had been scarce lately, as Richard was busy with his business.

At this point, no one knew that Richard was courting Roxanne. Gregor likely had his suspicions, and Issac was the only person Richard had explicitly told. They planned to announce their relationship formally to the community, but with everything going on, they hadn't yet found the right moment to discuss it.

In truth, Richard cared little about what others thought or whether they would support their relationship. However, societal customs dictated that they needed community support for the marriage.

Roxanne placed a wooden bowl of food in front of him. "Hey, you're here early," she greeted warmly, the bowl containing a hearty stew. The dish's appearance was unremarkable, but Richard knew the flavor would be excellent, as was typical of Roxanne's cooking.

"I am," Richard replied with a sigh. "A lot's been on my mind lately, so I came here for a break. Plus, I wanted to see you."

Roxanne's grin widened at his words, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Oh, really?"

Richard glanced over his shoulder, noting the empty seats around him. He leaned closer to Roxanne, his voice lowering. "I need to talk about something private. Is your helper around?"

Roxanne shook her head. "He's out fetching some items I needed. Do you want to go to the kitchen?"

Richard shrugged casually. "We can stay here. There's no one around, and I think we'll be fine. I saw Issac yesterday to discuss my business proposal. He seems interested and even offered to introduce me to some influential people."

"That's great!" Roxanne's expression brightened with genuine happiness for him.

Richard shifted uneasily, his eyes scanning Roxanne's face. "It is, but he also wants me to marry his daughter," he began hesitantly. "I told him about us, but he wasn't bothered. As long as Celeste, his daughter, is named the first wife, he doesn't seem to care."

Roxanne's eyes widened momentarily as she looked into his eyes. This was unexpected, though not entirely surprising. She knew how special Richard was, and it was only a matter of time before others recognized his potential. The prospect of being introduced to influential people was a perk anyone would covet.

Deep down, Roxanne had always known Richard was destined for greater things, likely beyond her reach. She didn't want to hold him back. In their society, she was already widowed and considered impure. How others viewed their relationship mattered; while Richard might not care now, she feared he eventually would. Being together could stain his reputation, and in elite circles, reputation was everything.

Though they shared a brief, cherished moment together, Roxanne felt it was time to move on. Just as things had begun to look up for her, fate dealt her a cruel hand. She wondered if it was her fault. She had often looked down on those beneath her, and now it seemed someone was doing the same to her. She forced a smile, the best she could muster.

"You should do it," Roxanne said, her voice measured. "If you don't find anything wrong with her and can gain some benefits, what's the problem?"

Richard's brow furrowed. "It doesn't feel right, marrying someone I don't know, especially when the marriage feels forced on me. Besides, there's you. Doesn't it bother you?"

"People marry all the time and get to know each other afterward," Roxanne countered, her voice soft but firm. "Take me, for example. You don't know everything about me, and I don't know everything about you."

"That's different," Richard objected. "We've spoken many times. Even if briefly, it's been a while since our first encounter. At that time, neither of us were thinking about marriage. It's just something that happened. Besides, I know enough."

"Still, you should do it," Roxanne urged. "You're only thinking about the relationships. Have you considered the benefits of marrying Issac's daughter?"

"I haven't," Richard admitted, his voice thoughtful.

Marrying Celeste would tie him to Issac through familial bonds, elevating his status instantly. He would gain connections to influential people and have the added benefit of influence. Not only that, but Issac had knowledge he didn't, and that the people he hung around with had no clue about. The only one that did seemed to be Benjamin, but Benjamin was not much of a talker. While learning about the history of this world was not something Richard wanted to do, he had to gain insight from somewhere.

In his entire time being here, he had not seen one book. At least not at any of the places he visited. Surely there would be some sort of book here that contained information about previous lords, and the situation of Evergreen. There was just too much he was lacking, but then again he couldn't be too hard on himself as he's only spent a little less than a year here as of now.

Information was a powerful tool that could be used, and he should have spent more of his time learning about Evergreen, the region, and the continent. Going forward, he wanted to change that.

That wasn't everything he could obtain from marrying into Issac's family either. Truth be told, he didn't see a downside, except for how Issac was forcing his hand. If that weren't the case, and he wasn't entangled with Roxanne then... then the proposal was one of the best things that could have happened to him.

Roxanne's hand settled gently on Richard's. "I appreciate that you care for me, but don't let me hold you back," she said, her voice soft and sincere. "I can't live as the gossip of the town. And what if we have children? Do you think they would be accepted? Their mother would be a widow with a lower status than her husband, unable to offer them anything."

Richard gently placed his other hand on top of hers, caressing it softly. "I've told you before, I don't care about what others think," he said, his voice earnest. "If you live your life seeking others' approval, then who are you living for? Live for yourself, not for what anyone else thinks. As for our children, they'll learn to deal with those who mock them. And as for your status, you can overcome it. What about your dreams? Would you forget about them just because you're married?" Richard's eyes searching hers for a response.

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Roxanne shook her head. She had a glimpse at what could be, all she had to do was apply the knowledge she gained from Richard. Eventually, she would have people of all classes come to her establishment, spend their money, and have a good time. Then she'd buy more and expand.

It would not happen overnight, but given time she could see it happening. It would be hard, difficult even, but possible.

"Then do what you want to do.If this proposal feels too sudden, don't go through with it. You'll find a way to make your idea happen, just like you did with the carriage and the trade route. Issac is just one person; you don't have to follow his lead. But I still think marrying his daughter is a good idea. As for me..." Roxanne smiled, though her eyes held a hint of sadness. "I can never be your first wife. Your status would be too great, and people would look down on you. The best we could do is for me to be your mistress. My status would never be as high, and any children I have wouldn't inherit anything of yours, but at least we could still be together."

At times like this, Richard wished he had someone to talk to, someone from the same background as him. The natives of this world were accustomed to such a culture, but he wasn't. It seemed simple on the surface, but was it really?

There was that famous saying, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' Here he was living in Evergreen, but still couldn't adapt as well as he wanted.

He sighed. "You're right. There are too many benefits to pass up."

Taking his time to gather the funds needed to start his business would take years. He could make a few Damascus steel swords and sell them to the wealthy, but there wasn't enough iron ore in Evergreen to sustain such production. Lord Kirk likely didn't need another weapon, and the funds he did have were probably allocated for the war. Issac seemed more interested in business and influence than weaponry.

Richard contemplated the prospect of creating weapons and selling them to potential customers to fund his steel facilities. It was a challenging path, but he felt it was a realistic one.

Roxanne, pulling her hand away from his grasp, spoke with a hint of relief in her voice. "It's good that you've made a decision. While we won't be formally wed, there's still much we can do." She stretched her arms as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "This would give me a bit more freedom without worrying about you being dragged down because of me. Unless..." She trailed off, searching Richard's eyes for a response.

"Unless what?" Richard asked, curiosity piqued.

"Unless you change your mind," Roxanne replied, her voice betraying a hint of insecurity.

She knew how fickle men could be, wanting one thing and then quickly moving on to something else. Although Richard had not shown such behavior in their interactions, the possibility lingered in her mind. Becoming his wife was more appealing to her than any status she might gain, while being a mistress offered no guarantees. Richard could stay with her one moment and leave the next.

The same could be said for her, but she couldn't imagine leaving him without reason.

Becoming his mistress seemed like the best option if she wanted to maintain a relationship with him. There was nothing wrong with it as long as it was public knowledge. In their society, women often gossiped about men who secretly entertained mistresses. These relationships, when secret brought trouble and heartbreak, especially if a child was born out of wedlock. The situation could be different if the relationship was acknowledged or if the man claimed the child.

Roxanne didn't want such an uncertain future for herself or any children she might have. She considered waiting for another man to charm her, but who knew how long that would take or if that man would have a good heart? Although she had been hurt by her late husband, leading her to distrust men, Richard's actions so far suggested he might be different.

Men often pretended to be charming, only to change their behavior suddenly. Women who left such men were labeled as whores and disgraced. Roxanne knew this, and it influenced her thinking about her future with Richard.

"No, no." Richard waved his hands, his face showing a hint of embarrassment. "It's just that I'm not used to this kind of thing. And I'm still figuring things out. Like, is it even possible for me?"

Roxanne smiled warmly, this time a genuine smile. "Most men would accept this without hesitation, yet you're giving it thought. Why do you think it's not possible?" she asked, her tone genuinely curious.

"I'm not like most men. It feels... wrong to me," Richard admitted, his voice uncertain. "Where I'm from, people don't usually have multiple partners, at least not people like me. Maybe those with a lot of status. But me? I'd have a hard time dealing with one woman, let alone two. Plus, I'm a busy person, and I’m not sure if I can split my attention and affection fairly." Richard's honesty was evident in his words.

Roxanne placed her hand on top of his, her touch gentle. "I'm not asking for anything special. Just see me when you can, talk to me like you do now, and don't forget about me. That's all I want. When you marry Celeste, just make sure she knows about our arrangement. I can handle everything else."

Richard always thought he had thick skin, that he could handle criticism without a second thought. He had seen the worst in people and had hardened himself in response. But now, he wasn't so sure that part of him was entirely gone. He couldn't name anyone who would sacrifice so much for him. Roxanne was willing to set aside her feelings for his benefit, which touched him deeply. His heart felt heavy as he contemplated what he needed to do to achieve his goals, and it didn't sit right with him.

Here was someone willing to make sacrifices for him, yet he wasn't willing to do the same in return. Since when had he become someone willing to trample over another's feelings for his own ambitions? That wasn't the person he wanted to be, and he didn't want to lose someone willing to sacrifice for him to succeed. People like that were rare to find.

Issac offered Richard numerous benefits that could help him reach his goals more quickly. If Richard declined, he'd be back where he started, searching for ways to make money. Starting a business without support was challenging, and Richard knew that there was no easy path to success.

Initially, Richard thought he had nothing to lose. But as he considered the situation further, he realized he had a lot at stake. Lord Kirk had promised him substantial plots of land to launch his business, even agreeing to invest manpower to secure the facilities. The Lord wasn't doing this out of sheer goodwill; he stood to gain from economic growth, potential trade opportunities, and high-quality weapons for his army. Richard had already discussed a contract with Lord Kirk, although the details were yet to be finalized. If he failed to deliver, his relationship with Lord Kirk could become strained.

Furthermore, the blacksmiths in the association were willing to assist him. They had signed contracts and been taught how to produce steel from Richard. While under contract, they couldn't produce steel for their own profit while working for him. However, without a steel production business, the blacksmiths could start making and selling steel on their own with the knowledge they had gained, leaving Richard unable to deliver on his promises to them.

Richard's master plan was achievable, but he felt as though it required him to step on someone else to succeed. This wasn't literally the case, but it felt that way to him. If he didn't succeed, if he failed to fulfill his promises, his reputation would be ruined. Even if he managed to gather the funds later, nobody would want to work with someone who couldn't keep his word.

Richard sighed as he looked deeply into Roxanne's eyes. "I don't know if this is the best decision," he admitted, "but I can't have you as my mistress. For everything you've said and are willing to do, that doesn't sit right with me. Forget everything else and everyone else. I want you as my wife. What do you say?"

Roxanne's eyes widened in shock. "What about your business? The marriage with Celeste..." she trailed off, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"I'll deal with it," Richard reassured her. "I'm not naturally inclined toward polygamy, but if it means keeping you by my side, I can try to adapt. I know it's selfish, and there's a lot to lose if I don't accept Issac's offer, but I'm not willing to tarnish our relationship for it. We were planning on getting married, so let's do it."

"Your reputation, future inheritance..." Roxanne's voice was filled with concern.

"Roxanne, don't worry about it," Richard insisted, his voice filled with conviction. "Just tell me what you want."

A tear slid down Roxanne's face as she nodded. "Yes, yes, I want to," she said.

"Then let's do it," Richard said, his face lighting up with a warm smile.