Violet laughed happily at Hayel's taunt.
Winter really wanted to grab Hayel by the collar, but he couldn't because he would immediately tell Violet. Then Violet looked at him and held out her hand with the back of her hand facing up.
As Winter felt his anger toward Hayel fading away, he took her hand and escorted her into the carriage, and he also got on the carriage.
As soon as the coachman came and closed the door, Winter took his wife's hand and put it around his waist. Then he dragged Violet's legs onto his lap, took off her shoes, and set them down.
Violet's eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
"I don't want to sit apart."
"I heard the maids treat me like a toy. If I'm going to fire them based on that, I'll have to fire you first."
"That's harsh."
Winter brushed it off with one ear and wrapped his arms around Violet. Violet was shocked and pushed his arm away.
"Are you planning on sticking around all day? I told you I liked you, but why are you like this?"
"I originally wanted to do this. I didn't do It because I thought you hated me."
She saw his condition now. The sight of her leaning against the wall with her legs crossed over her husband's knees was unfamiliar.
Violet sighed and looked at Winter.
"Why on earth are you putting me in such an uncomfortable position?"
"Ordinary people think this is a comfortable position."
"Even when I was very young. I have never sat in this position."
"You got the wrong husband, pitiful."
As Winter spoke teasingly, Violet sighed deeply. Winter had his legs resting on the chart across from him, and as he said, that seemed to be his most comfortable position. Violet looked resigned.
"It would be a huge blow to you if we closed down the southern business."
"It was a joke earlier. If I liquidate real estate, I will have more cash. That's it."
"It's not a problem that ends like that. The backlash will be very severe."
"I thought about that much. From the beginning. I had planned to move my business base from the south to the capital. If this was a loss-making business, all the Kanik employees would come to my house and stop me."
"But I wonder if you will have to live in the South if you become the Duke of Blooming."
"why?"
"The Blooming Dukes are a southern family with a fiefdom in the south."
Winter frowned as if he didn't understand what she said, but then picked up the newspaper that Hayel had prepared for him with a nonchalant expression.
"I'll take care of that, so just do the crossword puzzle first."
"Thank you."
"I don't understand. How can crossword puzzles be my hobby?"
"I heard your hobby is ironing clothes."
"I get something out of that."
"There is something to be gained from doing crossword puzzles."
The couple thought there were still a lot of things they didn't understand about each other. Violet said, looking at her skirt.
"It's crumpled. I really liked what you ironed."
"Yes?"
"A lot."
"I'll iron it again when you arrive, so you can crumple it to your heart's content."
The corners of Winter's eyes curled smugly. Violet opened the newspaper, thinking that her husband was somehow cute like that.
Before she did the crossword puzzle, she read the preceding articles carefully and his eyes widened. And then she hurriedly handed the newspaper to Winter.
"Look at this, Winter."
"What? Ah, this is crazy."
Winter crumpled the newspaper and narrowed his eyes.
It was an article published by Congress.
Ash Lawrence, the first successor to His Majesty the late King, announced that he plans to abolish the tenant management system in an attempt to resolve the failed national policy.
Winter clicked his tongue, handed the newspaper back to Violet, and leaned back. Violet opened her mouth.
"It is exactly as Madame Enna said. I heard this was said at a dinner party."
“Tsk."
"As you were trying to recover your business in the South. There the Warhosons must have rushed to publish an article."
Then Winter clicked her tongue and said.
"It was as if I hit first. I have to say it went well."
***
The late King's national policy had a very large scale. It was a wave too big for the people of RockRound to accept, and it was a change of such magnitude that the country could not help but be shaken.
Among those national policies, two things caused the biggest problems.
The first was the migration of local residents. Previously, for local residents to move they had to notify the family that owned the land three months in advance of the move. It allowed them to move at any time they wanted.
The second was the rent fee. Previously, the owner of the land was allowed to set the rent for the land as he pleased. Now, a rent manager was appointed in each plain to taxes on the land and monitor the rent to prevent it from being set arbitrarily. The tenants were still paying a considerable amount of money to the landowner, but the money they earned was not enough and they no longer had to be deprived of their livelihood or threatened with an unexpected rent increase.
Those who suffered the most from this were the Warhosons, who owned the fertile plains of the south. They were still able to live a wealthy life with the land they owned, but t his law made them very upset.
The Warhosons talked about how dangerous this law was for the peasants. The argument was that over time, they would all go bankrupt and the tenant farmers would no longer have land to farm.
In fact, to promote this change, the Rockround royal family had been running a large deficit for several years, and the economy was in a recession due to the collapse of several noble families. Taking advantage of the crisis, businessmen like Winter Blooming were increasing their power at lightning speed, but for other peasants, it was just a recession that struck in real-time.
Feeling danger, the peasants rushed to the royal castle and demanded responsibility from the King who had failed.
This was around the time when Violet, who had been discussing marriage with Carlson, made a hasty decision to go south to marry Winter.
***
Winter had a troubled expression on his face.
"What? It's absurd, but there's nothing we can do about it. I've been through this kind of mess a few times. We have nothing to lose anyway."
Violet nodded silently at Winter's cold words.
It was a national policy that brought about a recession in Rockound. She thought for a moment that she had no choice if people didn't want her to. Winter continued.
"Ash, that guy is so vicious. Do you mean to secure the support of the nobles by opening up the opportunity to squeeze in rent again? Even if he goes against his father's will?"
"It seems like that."
Violet was silent for a while. Winter laughed heartily at her expression.
"Why don't you want something that you kept until you got married to change?"
"I don't know, just..."
Violet thought for a moment more and then closed her mouth. Then she straightened her body and looked out the window, not even doing the crossword puzzle.
Without saying anything, Winter leaned back against the wall, crossed his arms, and looked at her profile.
It got quite long, and Violet shifted her position for a moment, then felt Winter's gaze and looked at him. Violet asked.
"Was the answer sufficient?"
"Not at all. I'm dying of curiosity. I wish someone would knock me out and wake me up when you feel like answering."
Violet looked somewhat surprised at Winter's words as if he had been waiting.
"I was so curious, why are you just watching? Isn't it like you?"
"You're the kind of person who takes a long time to think. To put it in a good way, it is prudent, but in a bad way, it dries up people's blood."
"I see. I did not know,"
"Think slowly. I'm slowly getting used to it now."
Winter said and slid down to lie down on Violet's knees. Violet felt surprised but pretended not to notice, closed her eyes, and muttered.
"You are a much more picky person than I thought."
"It would be easier to live with a husband who is at least roughly tamed like me.
"It's tamed. It's not an appropriate expression to use for a person."
"Yes, yes. Our Princess's charm is that she is serious."
Winter said, taking Violet's hand and covering her eyes.
She wondered if he had bought a bigger carriage just for this purpose. His upper body was the length of the chair to accommodate, and although his legs looked uncomfortable, he managed to curl them into the floor.
As Violet was lost in thought again, Winter spoke.
"If you can use me, use me."
"Yes?"
"If you need anything, ask for it. Or ask me to buy it for you."
Violet smiled at his words.
"Okay."
Winter seemed satisfied with her answer and yawned and went to sleep. But he never slept, so she never felt the weight on her legs.
***
When they arrived at the northern villa, preparations for the succession ceremony were in full swing. Unlike when she visited before, the lake, which was full of summer vibes, sparkled in the sunlight as if diamond dust had been scattered around
Violet said to Winter, ecstatic about the smell of the forest surrounding the lake.
"I think it would be really nice even if it snows in the winter."
"It's cool."
Winter opened the door to the lake house where the two lived. They settled in the furthest part of the main auditorium building to treat their guests as the owners of this villa.
Violet's mouth fell open when she found a small boat tied up in front of the lake house.
"You're moving by boat..."
The boat that would float on the glassy lake was painted sky blue had Kanik's logo written on one side, and the inside was filled with new flowers every day.
While she was admiring the small boat, Winter took a box of chocolates from the servant that he had prepared before her arrival.
Then, he held one of Violet's hands as if telling her to get on the boat, and she carefully grabbed the hem of her skirt and put one foot in the boat.
The boat didn't shake as much as she expected, so she put her other foot inside and the scent of flowers was in the air.
As she sat down, Winter untied the rope and climbed into the boat. Then he opened the box and said.
"There is a very famous chocolatier near here."
"Oh my, it's pretty."
Various chocolates were divided into compartments in the box. Violet took off her gloves and thought about it before picking up a piece of chocolate with raspberries on it and putting it in her mouth. There was jam inside and it flowed down into her mouth.
Violet smiled.
"It is delicious. You eat too."
"Please choose."
Winter said and opened his mouth to put it in. Violet was embarrassed but took out the sweetest-looking chocolate and put it in his mouth. Winter melted the chocolate and ate it as he rowed to a place far away from the lake house.
The place where they arrived was a white flower tree forest at the end of the lake. Violet raised her head and looked at the flower trees that were stretching down to the lake, some of their long stems even submerged.
"It's an enchanting place."
"Even if I die first, don't sell it out. Please pass it on to your descendants."
Violet narrowed her eyes at his words.
"Again, I have no intention of dating another man.
"Adoption is okay too."
"That's a good idea, that is."
Violet nodded because it was something she had thought about as well. When the topic of children came up, Violet swallowed her saliva without realizing it. And with no way to explain it, she stared at Winter.
Winter always became speechless after talking about the child. And he was still holding Violet's wrist tightly, afraid that his wife would abandon him.
On the other hand, Violet's mind was filled with thoughts about how to avoid being rude when talking about increasing the number of marital relations.
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