“Do you hate alcohol?”
While they were eating face to face, Eden asked a question. It was a question that arose from observing Cecilia always drinking water after chewing a piece of meat for a long time.
“I don’t hate it.”
Cecilia answered the unexpected question by wiping her mouth with a neatly folded handkerchief.
“But I’m not a good drinker... I’m worried that I might make a mistake.”
Eden nodded at Cecilia's answer. Although he spent time with Cecilia often, it was only a courtesy tea time between fiancés.
“I know you don’t drink much, but I don’t think I’ve ever asked why, so I asked.”
Eden knew a lot about Cecilia, but at the same time, he didn't know a lot. The Cecilia of her previous life didn't know that, but Eden knew.
Perhaps in the past, Eden knew the feelings and expectations that Cecilia had for him. However, he may have simply ignored them. Whether she was hurt or not, it didn't matter to him at all.
“...It’s not a big deal.”
When he thought about that fact, a corner of his heart grew cold once again.
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
Cecilia just thought to herself. She was stupid. It might have been natural for her to die in the palace, where anyone who was not aware of the situation would fall down every day.
“No. If it’s about you, I should know by now.”
Eden smiled kindly as he spoke. He was still the same man who spoke plausibly when he wasn't sincere. Now, Cecilia knew that fact.
“I’m glad you said that.”
Nevertheless, Cecilia smiled meekly at Eden as if she was happy about it. However, she actually wanted to swear. She just held back with all her might.
Cecilia knew exactly what she could and could not do now, so she must not provoke the evil man of the future by taking rash actions.
“Your Highness, I will take down the canopy.”
A trembling voice was heard. Alice, who was carefully pulling up the canopy, cautiously keeping an eye on the situation so as not to offend the higher-ups, and Cecilia, who was sitting leisurely leaning back on the cushion, met each other's eyes.
“Oh, good morning.”
“Did you sleep well too?”
Alice nodded quickly twice.
“Your Highness, I have brought you some wash water and a towel.”
Fortunately, Alice's face relaxed as if she was relieved to be alone in the master's bedroom. It had been a long time since she had seen such a transparent face that she could tell what she was thinking. While living in the palace, she had to meet so many people wearing masks that it was tiresome.
Well, there was no need for that here. Cecilia chuckled. Jane soaked a towel in a washcloth and wiped Cecilia’s face, then walked out of the bedroom with a quick step, carrying the basin and towel.
“The weather is nice.”
“Yes. It’s very sunny.”
“Was it like that where you lived too?”
At Cecilia's question, Alice paused for a moment as she tied the canopy to the bedpost.
“Is this Laner Island?”
"Yes."
Alice blinked as if trying to recall a memory, then nodded and moved her hand again.
“The sun is always bright, the wind is cool, and the sea water is clean. This is the pride of Laner Island.”
Alice smiled bashfully as she recalled her hometown.
“How dare the rumors not spread.”
“I guess it was because it was an island separated from the mainland?”
As Cecilia put on her slippers and got out of bed, Alice, who had finished tidying up the curtains, began to make the bed. It was quite cute to see her keep her mouth shut and concentrate on tidying up as if she would not leave a single speck of dust behind.
“But seeing as you’ve come this far, it seems like you weren’t really fit to make a living.”
Of course, sixteen is considered adulthood, and many children work before that, but it wasn't very common for them to come alone from a distant island to the archipelago at that age. Alice, who was just putting the cushions back in place, nodded at Cecilia's question.
“There wasn’t much you could do to make a living on the island. Mostly fishing, but that’s become a bit more difficult these days...”
Alice answered in a sullen voice.
"Why?"
“The Benian navy drives away any islanders who try to sail their ships in the direction of Benia. These are Benian waters, after all. And fishing near the Empire’s ports is not welcome either...”
Cecilia blinked slowly. The problem with Laner Island had been quietly looming beneath the surface even before the gold mine was discovered. Of course, it was news that no one had heard of when they had no interest in Laner Island.
“So the catch decreased and naturally, income also decreased.”
The fact that the Benian navy was interfering with the fishing activities of the Laner Islanders meant that they did not consider them members of Benia.
Also, if they considered the island of Laner to be a land under their influence, there would be no reason to drive it out, claiming it as Benia's waters.
“It can’t be helped, since Laner doesn’t belong to Benia.”
Of course, Wyatt had never paid much attention to Lanier Island either.
However, the island of Laner belonged to the royal family. If they were being unilaterally beaten by another country like this, they would try to find a solution. Even if they were a family that didn't care much normally, they would get angry if they went somewhere and got beaten by someone else.
“I hope there is a way to resolve this peacefully, at least for the sake of the four families left on the island.”
“...”
“Let me find out.”
Alice, standing next to the bed, began to cry at Cecilia's words. It seemed quite touching that someone with such power and authority would listen to such trivial stories.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess...”
Considering that her intentions were not very good, Cecilia felt a bit guilty. But if it could prevent a future war, it would be a good thing for Alice's family.
“Your Highness, this is Madame Monte.”
“You may come in, Madame Monte.”
As Madame Monte opened the door and came in, Alice bowed briskly and left the room.
“I guess it’s because she's a beginner, but she still doesn’t have any work to do.”
Mrs. Monte watched Alice's back like that and only clicked her tongue after the door was completely closed. It seemed that she was reluctant to scold Alice, who was younger and more inexperienced than her own daughter.
“When you clean the bedroom, you have to open the window.”
Mrs. Monte let out a small grumble and opened the window, which was still tightly shut. Although it was morning, the warm wind, perhaps because summer was approaching, poured into the room.
“Oh, this is really new to me.”
Cecilia's gaze, which had been leisurely lying on the sofa, slowly moved toward Madame Monte, who was standing near the window. Madame Monte was watching Cecilia with a proud face.
“To me, Your Highness and Ebina are still like babies. When did they grow up and become married women...?”
“That’s blasphemous, Madame Monte.”
When Cecilia rolled her eyes, Madame Monte chuckled.
“Take your medicine first.”
“Thank you again today.”
Then she handed Cecilia the medicine bowl on the tray she had brought.
“By the way, I got a letter.”
Letter? Cecilia let out a small sigh as she swallowed the medicine. It was exactly a week since Diego had promised.
She didn't doubt his abilities, knowing that he would gain fame in the future. But apart from that fact, she was curious about how far he had found out.
“There was no separate message?”
“Yes. He said that it was simply something Your Highness had instructed him to do.”
“Give it here.”
Cecilia reached out from where she was sitting. Madame Monte took out the letter she had put in her front pocket and was about to hand it to her, but then stopped.
“Look at my mind. I have to tear it up and give it to you.”
The tightly sealed letter was difficult to open without a letter knife. Madame Monte, who noticed this, went to the table on one side of the bedroom and cut the envelope open with the letter knife.
"Thank you."
Cecilia gave a brief thank you to Madame Monte and received the letter from Diego.
<There is nothing particularly suspicious about Count Nova within the territory. However, the movement rights of the territory residents have been greatly restricted recently, and many valuables are being secretly brought into the mansion through secret auctions.>
It was a short letter, not even a greeting. Diego didn't have much to say and got straight to the point. She could guess his personality. Cecilia finished reading the letter with an indifferent expression.
<In addition, Count Nova's office is off-limits to anyone except authorized personnel, but his daughter, Ilya Nova, is an exception and frequently enters.>
Cecilia's face turned cold as she discovered the unwelcome name. Of course, if she thinks about it lightly, it could be read as Ilya just going to show off her father.
But Ilya was a clever being who blinded the person she served and ended up taking her man. Would a woman like that really go to her father to show off her charms and say she wanted to buy something?
'So, Your Majesty, there is nothing to worry about regarding the inner palace. The Countess is now handling it.'
Naturally, she thought of the accounting ledger of the palace that Countess Casper had handed her while speaking like that. Ilya was unusually well-versed in numbers even among noblewomen. She was able to easily handle the budget within the palace.
Of course, she may have had help from Emperor Eden and her husband Diego, but it didn't seem to be a simple matter.
“...”
Cecilia had a vague feeling that Ilya had something to do with Count Nova's accusations and the evidence he was presenting.
<In addition, Ilya Nova was recommended by Count Nova as a concubine to His Excellency the Duke of Lane.>
No, I could be sure.
While they were eating face to face, Eden asked a question. It was a question that arose from observing Cecilia always drinking water after chewing a piece of meat for a long time.
“I don’t hate it.”
Cecilia answered the unexpected question by wiping her mouth with a neatly folded handkerchief.
“But I’m not a good drinker... I’m worried that I might make a mistake.”
Eden nodded at Cecilia's answer. Although he spent time with Cecilia often, it was only a courtesy tea time between fiancés.
“I know you don’t drink much, but I don’t think I’ve ever asked why, so I asked.”
Eden knew a lot about Cecilia, but at the same time, he didn't know a lot. The Cecilia of her previous life didn't know that, but Eden knew.
Perhaps in the past, Eden knew the feelings and expectations that Cecilia had for him. However, he may have simply ignored them. Whether she was hurt or not, it didn't matter to him at all.
“...It’s not a big deal.”
When he thought about that fact, a corner of his heart grew cold once again.
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
Cecilia just thought to herself. She was stupid. It might have been natural for her to die in the palace, where anyone who was not aware of the situation would fall down every day.
“No. If it’s about you, I should know by now.”
Eden smiled kindly as he spoke. He was still the same man who spoke plausibly when he wasn't sincere. Now, Cecilia knew that fact.
“I’m glad you said that.”
Nevertheless, Cecilia smiled meekly at Eden as if she was happy about it. However, she actually wanted to swear. She just held back with all her might.
Cecilia knew exactly what she could and could not do now, so she must not provoke the evil man of the future by taking rash actions.
***
“Your Highness, I will take down the canopy.”
A trembling voice was heard. Alice, who was carefully pulling up the canopy, cautiously keeping an eye on the situation so as not to offend the higher-ups, and Cecilia, who was sitting leisurely leaning back on the cushion, met each other's eyes.
“Oh, good morning.”
“Did you sleep well too?”
Alice nodded quickly twice.
“Your Highness, I have brought you some wash water and a towel.”
Fortunately, Alice's face relaxed as if she was relieved to be alone in the master's bedroom. It had been a long time since she had seen such a transparent face that she could tell what she was thinking. While living in the palace, she had to meet so many people wearing masks that it was tiresome.
Well, there was no need for that here. Cecilia chuckled. Jane soaked a towel in a washcloth and wiped Cecilia’s face, then walked out of the bedroom with a quick step, carrying the basin and towel.
“The weather is nice.”
“Yes. It’s very sunny.”
“Was it like that where you lived too?”
At Cecilia's question, Alice paused for a moment as she tied the canopy to the bedpost.
“Is this Laner Island?”
"Yes."
Alice blinked as if trying to recall a memory, then nodded and moved her hand again.
“The sun is always bright, the wind is cool, and the sea water is clean. This is the pride of Laner Island.”
Alice smiled bashfully as she recalled her hometown.
“How dare the rumors not spread.”
“I guess it was because it was an island separated from the mainland?”
As Cecilia put on her slippers and got out of bed, Alice, who had finished tidying up the curtains, began to make the bed. It was quite cute to see her keep her mouth shut and concentrate on tidying up as if she would not leave a single speck of dust behind.
“But seeing as you’ve come this far, it seems like you weren’t really fit to make a living.”
Of course, sixteen is considered adulthood, and many children work before that, but it wasn't very common for them to come alone from a distant island to the archipelago at that age. Alice, who was just putting the cushions back in place, nodded at Cecilia's question.
“There wasn’t much you could do to make a living on the island. Mostly fishing, but that’s become a bit more difficult these days...”
Alice answered in a sullen voice.
"Why?"
“The Benian navy drives away any islanders who try to sail their ships in the direction of Benia. These are Benian waters, after all. And fishing near the Empire’s ports is not welcome either...”
Cecilia blinked slowly. The problem with Laner Island had been quietly looming beneath the surface even before the gold mine was discovered. Of course, it was news that no one had heard of when they had no interest in Laner Island.
“So the catch decreased and naturally, income also decreased.”
The fact that the Benian navy was interfering with the fishing activities of the Laner Islanders meant that they did not consider them members of Benia.
Also, if they considered the island of Laner to be a land under their influence, there would be no reason to drive it out, claiming it as Benia's waters.
“It can’t be helped, since Laner doesn’t belong to Benia.”
Of course, Wyatt had never paid much attention to Lanier Island either.
However, the island of Laner belonged to the royal family. If they were being unilaterally beaten by another country like this, they would try to find a solution. Even if they were a family that didn't care much normally, they would get angry if they went somewhere and got beaten by someone else.
“I hope there is a way to resolve this peacefully, at least for the sake of the four families left on the island.”
“...”
“Let me find out.”
Alice, standing next to the bed, began to cry at Cecilia's words. It seemed quite touching that someone with such power and authority would listen to such trivial stories.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess...”
Considering that her intentions were not very good, Cecilia felt a bit guilty. But if it could prevent a future war, it would be a good thing for Alice's family.
“Your Highness, this is Madame Monte.”
“You may come in, Madame Monte.”
As Madame Monte opened the door and came in, Alice bowed briskly and left the room.
“I guess it’s because she's a beginner, but she still doesn’t have any work to do.”
Mrs. Monte watched Alice's back like that and only clicked her tongue after the door was completely closed. It seemed that she was reluctant to scold Alice, who was younger and more inexperienced than her own daughter.
“When you clean the bedroom, you have to open the window.”
Mrs. Monte let out a small grumble and opened the window, which was still tightly shut. Although it was morning, the warm wind, perhaps because summer was approaching, poured into the room.
“Oh, this is really new to me.”
Cecilia's gaze, which had been leisurely lying on the sofa, slowly moved toward Madame Monte, who was standing near the window. Madame Monte was watching Cecilia with a proud face.
“To me, Your Highness and Ebina are still like babies. When did they grow up and become married women...?”
“That’s blasphemous, Madame Monte.”
When Cecilia rolled her eyes, Madame Monte chuckled.
“Take your medicine first.”
“Thank you again today.”
Then she handed Cecilia the medicine bowl on the tray she had brought.
“By the way, I got a letter.”
Letter? Cecilia let out a small sigh as she swallowed the medicine. It was exactly a week since Diego had promised.
She didn't doubt his abilities, knowing that he would gain fame in the future. But apart from that fact, she was curious about how far he had found out.
“There was no separate message?”
“Yes. He said that it was simply something Your Highness had instructed him to do.”
“Give it here.”
Cecilia reached out from where she was sitting. Madame Monte took out the letter she had put in her front pocket and was about to hand it to her, but then stopped.
“Look at my mind. I have to tear it up and give it to you.”
The tightly sealed letter was difficult to open without a letter knife. Madame Monte, who noticed this, went to the table on one side of the bedroom and cut the envelope open with the letter knife.
"Thank you."
Cecilia gave a brief thank you to Madame Monte and received the letter from Diego.
<There is nothing particularly suspicious about Count Nova within the territory. However, the movement rights of the territory residents have been greatly restricted recently, and many valuables are being secretly brought into the mansion through secret auctions.>
It was a short letter, not even a greeting. Diego didn't have much to say and got straight to the point. She could guess his personality. Cecilia finished reading the letter with an indifferent expression.
<In addition, Count Nova's office is off-limits to anyone except authorized personnel, but his daughter, Ilya Nova, is an exception and frequently enters.>
Cecilia's face turned cold as she discovered the unwelcome name. Of course, if she thinks about it lightly, it could be read as Ilya just going to show off her father.
But Ilya was a clever being who blinded the person she served and ended up taking her man. Would a woman like that really go to her father to show off her charms and say she wanted to buy something?
'So, Your Majesty, there is nothing to worry about regarding the inner palace. The Countess is now handling it.'
Naturally, she thought of the accounting ledger of the palace that Countess Casper had handed her while speaking like that. Ilya was unusually well-versed in numbers even among noblewomen. She was able to easily handle the budget within the palace.
Of course, she may have had help from Emperor Eden and her husband Diego, but it didn't seem to be a simple matter.
“...”
Cecilia had a vague feeling that Ilya had something to do with Count Nova's accusations and the evidence he was presenting.
<In addition, Ilya Nova was recommended by Count Nova as a concubine to His Excellency the Duke of Lane.>
No, I could be sure.
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