IELNDMH - Chapter 20 < Secret Hobby >
I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband
'What did I hear now?'
I looked at Cedric, doubting my ears. I thought he would be a little embarrassed when he saw my shocked face. Cedric just looked down at me with a relaxed expression, as always.
"What's wrong?"
On the contrary, even asking that question.
'Why are you even here pretending to be a show window couple? No one here. They don't recognize us.'
As I looked at Cedric, who was completely immersed in method acting, I burst into laughter.
'I also felt this way earlier in front of Adrian, but something was going too far...!'
The merchant, unaware of the situation, burst into cheerful laughter.
"Haha! Well then! In the husband's eyes, his wife is the most beautiful woman in the world!"
"No? Uncle, we're not at that level."
Embarrassed by the situation, I hurriedly threw up my hands. However, the merchant glanced at me playfully, with a knowing look in his eyes.
"I know, I know everything!"
"What do you know?"
"Ugh! What can I say, you are a very good couple!"
The merchant looked at Cedric and me back and forth with a happy expression and shouted loudly again
"Hey! You husband is very resourceful, Wow! Does anyone know that there never was a time like that?"
I couldn't believe my ears and looked up at Cedric.
'Did you hear? He say you're a loser!'
However, Cedric just shrugged his shoulders with a shameless expression as If asking what was the problem. Why on earth are you so passionate?
Add to that the unique confidence of someone who has lived his entire life without worrying about what other people think, and I just couldn't handle it. The embarrassment is mine again this time.
Should I praise Cedric for faithfully acting as a show window couple, or should I refrain from doing so?
It was a moment when my worries only deepened. The distance from where the carriage stopped to the futures exchange was not that far.
As I walked a little further while looking at the market, a small hill appeared, and then the huge site of the futures exchange appeared.
"The building is pretty big, right?"
"I know, right. I didn't know it was such a well-built building!"
The central building with a tall clock tower was the operating office. There were two futures trading halls on either side of it. So, there are a total of four futures trading halls. The trading floor was open at set times every day, and different items were traded in each hall at that time.
When I arrived, the transaction was in full swing. We headed to Athens Hall, behind the building on the right. And the moment I entered the huge hall. The hot investment of the futures exchange hit me right away. The host on stage energized the atmosphere by inviting competition, and each investor held up a participation sign with an exasperated expression and shouted loudly.
"Here! Look here! 410 ruts!"
"Yes! 410 ruts! Who is the gentleman there?"
"450 ruts!"
"This is 470 ruts!"
Perhaps because of the heat inside the trading floor, people roughly undid the top buttons of their shirts with frustrated expressions. As expected, futures trading in this era was in the form of a quote auction.
"How about seeing it in person? I'm worried that the market might be too rough for you to invest in."
Cedric asked me as I continued to look around curiously.
"Not at all? I think it will be more fun to see how enthusiastic everyone is!"
When I answered with great excitement, Cedric let out a faint smile.
"It's rewarding to have put so much effort into creating a futures exchange."
"....You created the futures exchange?"
"Yes. I proposed to the Emperor the introduction of a futures trading system for demonic materials within the Empire, and I was the one who established the buildings and operating systems in each province."
".. It was a good business. We could have created jobs in the operations office for mixed-race demons."
"Oh?"
"There are still not many places that provide jobs for mixed-blood demons who have come to the human world."
When I gave him a thumbs up, Cedric slightly raised the corner of his mouth as if he was not in a bad mood.
"So Cedric, as your friend and prospective investor in this market, may I make a suggestion?"
Proposal?
I pointed to the investors who had servants running beverage errands.
"Look over there. Everyone sends errands to bring drinks for their servants."
"Right."
"The heat in the trading room is enormous, so of course you will be thirsty. You will always be looking for a drink."
"......."
"I think it would be nice to have a stand selling drinks in the trading area."
"It's a beverage stand...."
Cedric's eyebrows slowly rose.
"While meeting the needs of investors, we could also increase the income of the office operation department and jobs for mixed-blood demons."
".....That's a pretty good idea."
"Yes?"
Cedric slowly nodded his head with a puzzled expression. He remained silent for a moment, then showed a look of embarrassment and touched the back of his neck.
"I never thought I could even talk about business with you... I couldn't even imagine it."
I raised the corner of my lips with a grin.
"I haven't seen it that way, but you seem to be quite slow at adapting Your Highness. Is there still a long way to go before you get used to being surprised by me?"
"Haha, so...."
Cedric's gaze, which was smiling faintly but pleasantly, turned gently towards me.
"I don't know when I will stop being surprised by the new you."
***
By the time the carriage entered the Twins gates again, it was already late afternoon. Even until the front door of the dark mansion opened, Cedric continued to stand by my side.
"You're not going?"
When I asked, pointing to the Mansion of Light with the tip of my chin, Cedric glanced inside the front door and continued.
"I was thinking of taking you to the anti-aircraft vision. You were always sad about that."
I burst out laughing at those words.
"That was back then."
"......."
"I told you. I've changed now."
The slightly sunken blue gaze rested on me. Eyes as if trying to say something. But nothing else was said.
"Anyway, thank you for today. Take care, Cedric."
Cedric, who was lost in thought for a moment, slowly nodded his head.
"...Yes, you too."
He returned his smile and then entered the mansion alone. While climbing the central stairs, I was filled with anticipation as I remembered the future exchange I had seen today.
The trading floor was more fun than I thought. Investment enthusiasm is also strong. Even in my past life, when a new investment destination emerged, numerous investors would flock to it like bees. It seems to be the same wherever people live.
A strong wind of economic change is blowing here as well, with the creation of a new investment destination called 'Demon World Materials'.
'All I have to do is use the original content and catch this wind.'
The trading price of the 'thing' I had my eye on was still bottoming out. But I knew that the value of that item would skyrocket in the future.
'With that money, even if Duke Bold takes all my alimony, it won't hurt me even a little, right?'
I could have purchased the beachfront mansion I wanted with the money I earned on my own. Plus, I know a long list of products that will become big hits in the future. I will definitely live a luxurious life.
Of course, that would only be the case when I was alive and not dead.
'I think it would be better to use the money I earn in the future to eliminate dead flags first.'
It was a time when I was climbing the last stairs, lost in thought. In the distance, I saw Bianca standing at the entrance to the Grand Duke's Secretariat.
My Bianca is coming to see me!
I felt moved and raised my hand.
"Uh? Bian......!"
But my movements soon stopped. It was right after I saw Bianca pacing with several maids with an anxious face.
'Why is everyone doing that?'
The closer I got, the more I could see the maids' faces filled with fear.
"Uh, what should I do...Didn't Miss Dmitry say she won't be back until a few days later?"
"Therefore! Why did she come when Her Highness was away..."
"You stupid! What difference would it make if she were there?"
"Ha, well, the situation may have gotten worse... Anyway, I feel bad for Mina, so what should I do?"
Bianca's face became even more frightened after hearing the maids' story. Then the child's eyes saw me and slowly opened wide.
"Your Highness...!"
Bianca came running in front of me a month later with an expression on her face as if she had found her savior. Without even knowing why, I picked up Bianca and looked at the maids.
As soon as our eyes met, the maids' faces instantly turned pale.
"Your, Your Highness! Sorry, we were here just to...."
"I'll go back to my place right away! I am truly sorry, Your Highness!"
While taking a step back, the maids kept glancing at the Grand Duke's mansion. Something must have happened.
I stiffened my face and parted my lips.
"Stay there. Because I need to know what's going on."
At the same time as the firm command, the shoulders of the maids who stood tall trembled. But I didn't have time to care about them. It was because of Blanca, who was constantly shaking in my arms.
"Bianca. What's wrong? What the hell is going on?"
"Your, Your Highness, I tried to help, but I was too scared.... I guess I'm such a coward..."
I hugged Bianca even tighter as she spoke gibberish and patted her small back.
"Our Bianca is definitely not a coward."
"Your Highness...."
"I don't know what's going on, but now that I'm here, everything will be okay. I promise."
Bianca, who was crying, quickly nodded her head and held onto my arm. I hugged the little child and gestured to her maid.
"Hey, there. Tell me what happened."
"Well, that..."
"Right now."
The maids exchanged glances with each other before finally opening their mouths.
"Camilla came a little while ago...."
Villainous Camilla is already back?
I thought she would come back in a few days.
My brows slowly furrowed at her appearance earlier than expected.
"However, what came is what came, what happened?"
At my question, the maid's faces gradually began to become thoughtful.
"Well, by the way, Camilla is talking about Mina now..."
***
Camilla Dmitry.
A star of northern society and the mistress of Count Dmitry's family. Camilla's background was enough to capture the heart of Rebecca, who had to leave her southern home and re-debut in the northern social scene.
But the reason Rebecca kept Camilla by her side for so long was not simply because of her background. They enjoyed 'secret hobbies' together.
Situations like right now.
"Again, put her hand on you."
Camilla stood straight with her back straight and commanded gracefully towards Mina. Her curly black hair was shiny, and her golden dress, the same color as her eyes, shone brilliantly.
Camilla looked down with a bored look at the back of her pretty hand, which had her ruby ring on it.
"Uuh, Ma'am. Please stop...."
Mina knelt down in front of her table and cried.
"Even if I put her hands on the table again."
Camilla smiled elegantly and lightly shook the teapot in one hand. A teapot still leaking hot steam. The tip of Mina's chin vibrated as she was overcome with fear.
When Camilla saw that, the corners of her mouth curled up even more.
"The tea I will give you... There's still this much left, right?"
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