“Shall we go back now?”
“...If you want to see more, you can.”
Cecilia, who had gotten a good idea, turned around lightly and approached Eden. Eden suppressed the urge to snatch his wife's body and answered in a gentlemanly manner.
“I’ve already seen enough, so it’s okay. Should ee go back now?”
Cecilia said that and started walking. A cool breeze blew in the path Cecilia had walked. Eden’s gaze once again fell on Cecilia, who was passing by him coolly.
The back of a woman who talks about love, but who neither demands nor begs for love, except for one time.
“...If you want to see more, you can.”
Cecilia, who had gotten a good idea, turned around lightly and approached Eden. Eden suppressed the urge to snatch his wife's body and answered in a gentlemanly manner.
“I’ve already seen enough, so it’s okay. Should ee go back now?”
Cecilia said that and started walking. A cool breeze blew in the path Cecilia had walked. Eden’s gaze once again fell on Cecilia, who was passing by him coolly.
The back of a woman who talks about love, but who neither demands nor begs for love, except for one time.
***
Madam Monte quietly opened Ilya's bedroom door and slipped inside.
“I wonder where it is.”
Madame Monte was indeed illiterate, but she could read simple words and sentences. And then, clearly, she saw words like slave and tax in the letter that came to Ilya.
'When you all go to Laner Island this time, make sure to make a copy of it and give it to Her Highness.'
When we talked about it, Abby said that she absolutely had to find it and show it to Cecilia.
'Until then, I'll stick close to her and keep an eye on her so she doesn't dispose of it secretly. I'm sure His Highness the Grand Duke will personally apologize to her, so she won't be rushing to dispose of it.'
Since Eden had personally apologized for Madam Monte actions, it was likely that she believed that she was trying to protect herself. Therefore, she would become even more arrogant and relaxed.
'Who?'
'Diego.'
'I told you not to mess with that punk.'
'Even though he acts like a gangster, he doesn't say anything wrong.'
Until now, she couldn't sneak in because neither Sally nor Ilya had guarded their rooms so tightly. But this time, with only Madame Monte left in the mansion, a plausible opportunity arose.
"Hmm..."
Madame Monte searched every nook and cranny of the room for a long time. She knew that it was not right to search other people's rooms secretly, but Madame Monte would do anything for Cecilia.
But there was nothing to see. Madame Monte clicked her tongue and straightened her bent back. She was about to turn around, thinking that it was a waste of time.
“...”
Near the bathroom, in one corner of the room, an old bag caught her eye. It was clearly something that Sally, the maid, would use. However, isn't it more suspicious that the things Sally used were in Ilya's room, which looked down on her maids?
Madame Monte carefully opened her bag. Two letters in it had traces of having been sealed with the coat of arms of the Count of Nova. Madame Monte opened the letters with a quick hand.
<If that's what you say, then let's pretend that the marriage with Duke Lane never happened. I think it would be a good idea to bribe the Grand Duke's attendant. But don't forget to please the Grand Duchess.>
<The number of slaves and the tax paid last year do not match. I think the accounts need to be revised.>
The letter was full of things that Madame Monte couldn't understand. But she couldn't steal the letter, so she had no choice but to copy it.
Madam Monte placed a blank sheet of paper and traced the letters on it as if drawing a picture.
“It’s done.”
Madam Monte, who had barely copied the two simple letters, put the letters back in the envelope with a satisfied face and locked the bag.
“...”
Madam Monte, who had poked her head out of Ilya's bedroom, looked around the hallway, made sure no one was there, and pulled herself out. Then she walked down the hallway naturally.
She ran into a servant at the end of the hallway, but he just gave her a quick greeting as if he hadn't noticed anything. The perfect crime was a success.
“I wonder where it is.”
Madame Monte was indeed illiterate, but she could read simple words and sentences. And then, clearly, she saw words like slave and tax in the letter that came to Ilya.
'When you all go to Laner Island this time, make sure to make a copy of it and give it to Her Highness.'
When we talked about it, Abby said that she absolutely had to find it and show it to Cecilia.
'Until then, I'll stick close to her and keep an eye on her so she doesn't dispose of it secretly. I'm sure His Highness the Grand Duke will personally apologize to her, so she won't be rushing to dispose of it.'
Since Eden had personally apologized for Madam Monte actions, it was likely that she believed that she was trying to protect herself. Therefore, she would become even more arrogant and relaxed.
'Who?'
'Diego.'
'I told you not to mess with that punk.'
'Even though he acts like a gangster, he doesn't say anything wrong.'
Until now, she couldn't sneak in because neither Sally nor Ilya had guarded their rooms so tightly. But this time, with only Madame Monte left in the mansion, a plausible opportunity arose.
"Hmm..."
Madame Monte searched every nook and cranny of the room for a long time. She knew that it was not right to search other people's rooms secretly, but Madame Monte would do anything for Cecilia.
But there was nothing to see. Madame Monte clicked her tongue and straightened her bent back. She was about to turn around, thinking that it was a waste of time.
“...”
Near the bathroom, in one corner of the room, an old bag caught her eye. It was clearly something that Sally, the maid, would use. However, isn't it more suspicious that the things Sally used were in Ilya's room, which looked down on her maids?
Madame Monte carefully opened her bag. Two letters in it had traces of having been sealed with the coat of arms of the Count of Nova. Madame Monte opened the letters with a quick hand.
<If that's what you say, then let's pretend that the marriage with Duke Lane never happened. I think it would be a good idea to bribe the Grand Duke's attendant. But don't forget to please the Grand Duchess.>
<The number of slaves and the tax paid last year do not match. I think the accounts need to be revised.>
The letter was full of things that Madame Monte couldn't understand. But she couldn't steal the letter, so she had no choice but to copy it.
Madam Monte placed a blank sheet of paper and traced the letters on it as if drawing a picture.
“It’s done.”
Madam Monte, who had barely copied the two simple letters, put the letters back in the envelope with a satisfied face and locked the bag.
“...”
Madam Monte, who had poked her head out of Ilya's bedroom, looked around the hallway, made sure no one was there, and pulled herself out. Then she walked down the hallway naturally.
She ran into a servant at the end of the hallway, but he just gave her a quick greeting as if he hadn't noticed anything. The perfect crime was a success.
***
After returning to the villa, Cecilia took a bath and began writing down her thoughts.
“Are you done organizing?”
Just as Cecilia was putting down her pen, Eden spoke to her. He thought she was reading a book, but it seemed like she lost focus at some point.
“I think the outline has been decided to some extent.”
There was no denying that visiting the island in person was more helpful than reading all the books.
“Actually, I didn’t know you would work this hard.”
Cecilia's gaze turned to Eden, who was leaning against the sofa.
“You could have just asked me for help.”
"Why?"
“Because I am your husband.”
Something that can be relied on and relied on even without a plausible reason or purpose.
The blue eyes that met her gaze were sincere. She didn't feel any falsehood. However, from her perspective, which was full of distrust toward him, it was an unbelievable story.
“My husband is not my father. I can’t just rely on him.”
Cecilia answered with a face that said she had heard something funny. A smile crossed Eden’s face for a moment. It wasn’t a smile that was simply happy.
“Let’s eat first.”
Eden naturally changed the subject and gave advice.
“You must be tired, so I told you to bring your meals to your room.”
Cecilia nodded, pretending to be defeated. She had been traveling by carriage and boat all day, so it would be a lie to say she wasn't tired.
Eden rang the bell and had the maid bring a light meal to the room. Then he left to take a bath, which he had not had time to do.
However, after finishing his bath, when Eden returned to her room, there was only a plate of cold soup and bread, and no one seemed to have touched it. The person who should have finished eating was lying down on the desk.
“Cecilia.”
Eden called Cecilia's name in a soft voice. When she heard her name, Cecilia twitched the muscles around her eyes out of habit, but that was all.
“You fell into a deep sleep.”
Finally, Eden left the room silently and ordered Alice, who was passing by in the hallway, to clean up the dinner. Then he picked up Cecilia, who was lying asleep on the desk.
“Good night, Your Highness.”
Alice came into the bedroom, picked up the plate, and hurried out of the room.
The door closed and the room became quiet. Eden approached the bed, leaning on the light of the lamp. He had always thought that she was thin, but the body he was holding felt lighter than he had expected, making him cautious about his actions.
Eden carefully laid Cecilia on the bed and sat on the edge. Cecilia tossed and turned in her bed and then fell into a deep sleep again. The dim light revealed the curves of her body beneath her thin nightgown.
“...”
Eden let out a small sigh and got up from the bed. A glass of alcohol was placed on the table as he had requested. Eden sat down on the sofa in front of the table and picked up the glass.
As he brought the glass to his lips, his gaze was fixed on Cecilia. Her perfectly rounded forehead, her green eyes that were like jewels, though they were hidden because they were closed, and her cute nose. And her soft, slick red lips that he had bumped into a few times.
It was clearly the same as usual, but it was completely different. The face of the woman who had been his fiancé for ten years and was now his wife looked different in a new way.
'The island where love comes true.'
Yes, from that moment on.
The face that was dreamily muttering about love while dipping her feet in the rushing seawater. From the moment he saw the pink sunset that covered that face like a blush. From the moment he realized that he had been missing that natural blush and excitement.
‘...Have you ever wanted to leave?’
'What are you going to do then?'
Suddenly, he remembered the blunt answer she had given when he asked her if she had wanted to leave. He had said that he would have let her go, but there were many words left out in that answer.
“There’s no way I could have just sent you away.”
Of course, he would have sent her. Surrounded by his people. After receiving a clear promise of when she would return.
Perhaps he could have followed her personally. He was not in charge of the important work of running the country, so it would not have been difficult for him to leave for a few years.
'You are generous.'
Cecilia laughed at his generosity, not knowing the speed. It was a funny thing to say.
'The word love is difficult to explain to you right now.'
It was when he was young. When he was growing up in the palace, receiving much love from his father, Eden dared to sit on the Emperor's lap and be spanked. It was a place that even Damon, who was younger than him, could not sit on.
'You'll know when you grow up.'
'How big is it?'
'When you become a man.'
After saying that, the Emperor took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.
'You will naturally come to know the curiosity about the other person, the moment when your heart beats as if it will burst, the excitement of wanting to share good things, and the greed that you never want to let go of.'
To him, that was what a memory of love was. It was longing, but at the same time, obsession and foolishness.
'She's going to change your whole world.'
So then, this feeling right now is...
Eden bent the wrist holding the glass. The strong alcohol went down his esophagus and the inside of his throat burned. Eden placed the empty glass back on the table and approached the bed, dragging his slippers on. The large bed was spacious enough for two people to lie down in with some space left.
Eden, who was lying on the bed, lay face down on Cecilia's back. He watched quietly, but no matter how long he waited, Cecilia did not seem to turn her back in his direction.
“Cecilia.”
He thought she would stir for a moment if he called her name. However, Cecilia did not move at all and just let out a ragged breath. Eden quietly reached out and touched Cecilia’s shoulder. It was to turn her body around.
But Cecilia just squirmed uncomfortably and moved further away from his hand.
“...”
The reflexive rejection wasn't sad or bewildering. Eden knew another way. If Cecilia didn't come when he dragged her, he could just go over and hug her.
Eden, who was standing close behind Cecilia, hugged her slender body. Cecilia, who was held in his strong arms, squirmed for a moment as if she was uncomfortable in someone else's arms, but did not wake up.
“Cecilia, my wife.”
Eden kissed Cecilia's small head and muttered quietly.
He was engaged to Cecilia because his father, the Emperor, wanted him to. He refused the breakup that the Emperor and the Duke of Lane suggested, saying that Cecilia might die soon, out of loyalty. He never wanted to repay Cecilia's feelings.
He married Cecilia because his fiancé of many years had come of age and her health had recovered. It was just a ceremony that had to be performed.
During that long time, there was never a time when he was stuck with Cecilia every day, never a time when his heart fluttered, never a time when he longed for skin to touch her, never a day when he cried because he didn't want to lose her.
After all, she was his woman. With that one fact clear, everything else was natural.
“My dear young lady...”
It was the same. Nothing would change. Even if he vaguely realized that this feeling was not just a precious and affectionate feeling toward family, but love.
Now Cecilia Burnett was Eden Lovana Burnett's wife, and there was no way he would ever lose his wife.
He just thought about it. He was glad he didn't accept when the Emperor and Curtis proposed to break off the engagement. He was glad he didn't lose Cecilia then.
Thanks to that, he doesn't act like a crazy person and everything can be so peaceful.
“Are you done organizing?”
Just as Cecilia was putting down her pen, Eden spoke to her. He thought she was reading a book, but it seemed like she lost focus at some point.
“I think the outline has been decided to some extent.”
There was no denying that visiting the island in person was more helpful than reading all the books.
“Actually, I didn’t know you would work this hard.”
Cecilia's gaze turned to Eden, who was leaning against the sofa.
“You could have just asked me for help.”
"Why?"
“Because I am your husband.”
Something that can be relied on and relied on even without a plausible reason or purpose.
The blue eyes that met her gaze were sincere. She didn't feel any falsehood. However, from her perspective, which was full of distrust toward him, it was an unbelievable story.
“My husband is not my father. I can’t just rely on him.”
Cecilia answered with a face that said she had heard something funny. A smile crossed Eden’s face for a moment. It wasn’t a smile that was simply happy.
“Let’s eat first.”
Eden naturally changed the subject and gave advice.
“You must be tired, so I told you to bring your meals to your room.”
Cecilia nodded, pretending to be defeated. She had been traveling by carriage and boat all day, so it would be a lie to say she wasn't tired.
Eden rang the bell and had the maid bring a light meal to the room. Then he left to take a bath, which he had not had time to do.
However, after finishing his bath, when Eden returned to her room, there was only a plate of cold soup and bread, and no one seemed to have touched it. The person who should have finished eating was lying down on the desk.
“Cecilia.”
Eden called Cecilia's name in a soft voice. When she heard her name, Cecilia twitched the muscles around her eyes out of habit, but that was all.
“You fell into a deep sleep.”
Finally, Eden left the room silently and ordered Alice, who was passing by in the hallway, to clean up the dinner. Then he picked up Cecilia, who was lying asleep on the desk.
“Good night, Your Highness.”
Alice came into the bedroom, picked up the plate, and hurried out of the room.
The door closed and the room became quiet. Eden approached the bed, leaning on the light of the lamp. He had always thought that she was thin, but the body he was holding felt lighter than he had expected, making him cautious about his actions.
Eden carefully laid Cecilia on the bed and sat on the edge. Cecilia tossed and turned in her bed and then fell into a deep sleep again. The dim light revealed the curves of her body beneath her thin nightgown.
“...”
Eden let out a small sigh and got up from the bed. A glass of alcohol was placed on the table as he had requested. Eden sat down on the sofa in front of the table and picked up the glass.
As he brought the glass to his lips, his gaze was fixed on Cecilia. Her perfectly rounded forehead, her green eyes that were like jewels, though they were hidden because they were closed, and her cute nose. And her soft, slick red lips that he had bumped into a few times.
It was clearly the same as usual, but it was completely different. The face of the woman who had been his fiancé for ten years and was now his wife looked different in a new way.
'The island where love comes true.'
Yes, from that moment on.
The face that was dreamily muttering about love while dipping her feet in the rushing seawater. From the moment he saw the pink sunset that covered that face like a blush. From the moment he realized that he had been missing that natural blush and excitement.
‘...Have you ever wanted to leave?’
'What are you going to do then?'
Suddenly, he remembered the blunt answer she had given when he asked her if she had wanted to leave. He had said that he would have let her go, but there were many words left out in that answer.
“There’s no way I could have just sent you away.”
Of course, he would have sent her. Surrounded by his people. After receiving a clear promise of when she would return.
Perhaps he could have followed her personally. He was not in charge of the important work of running the country, so it would not have been difficult for him to leave for a few years.
'You are generous.'
Cecilia laughed at his generosity, not knowing the speed. It was a funny thing to say.
'The word love is difficult to explain to you right now.'
It was when he was young. When he was growing up in the palace, receiving much love from his father, Eden dared to sit on the Emperor's lap and be spanked. It was a place that even Damon, who was younger than him, could not sit on.
'You'll know when you grow up.'
'How big is it?'
'When you become a man.'
After saying that, the Emperor took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.
'You will naturally come to know the curiosity about the other person, the moment when your heart beats as if it will burst, the excitement of wanting to share good things, and the greed that you never want to let go of.'
To him, that was what a memory of love was. It was longing, but at the same time, obsession and foolishness.
'She's going to change your whole world.'
So then, this feeling right now is...
Eden bent the wrist holding the glass. The strong alcohol went down his esophagus and the inside of his throat burned. Eden placed the empty glass back on the table and approached the bed, dragging his slippers on. The large bed was spacious enough for two people to lie down in with some space left.
Eden, who was lying on the bed, lay face down on Cecilia's back. He watched quietly, but no matter how long he waited, Cecilia did not seem to turn her back in his direction.
“Cecilia.”
He thought she would stir for a moment if he called her name. However, Cecilia did not move at all and just let out a ragged breath. Eden quietly reached out and touched Cecilia’s shoulder. It was to turn her body around.
But Cecilia just squirmed uncomfortably and moved further away from his hand.
“...”
The reflexive rejection wasn't sad or bewildering. Eden knew another way. If Cecilia didn't come when he dragged her, he could just go over and hug her.
Eden, who was standing close behind Cecilia, hugged her slender body. Cecilia, who was held in his strong arms, squirmed for a moment as if she was uncomfortable in someone else's arms, but did not wake up.
“Cecilia, my wife.”
Eden kissed Cecilia's small head and muttered quietly.
He was engaged to Cecilia because his father, the Emperor, wanted him to. He refused the breakup that the Emperor and the Duke of Lane suggested, saying that Cecilia might die soon, out of loyalty. He never wanted to repay Cecilia's feelings.
He married Cecilia because his fiancé of many years had come of age and her health had recovered. It was just a ceremony that had to be performed.
During that long time, there was never a time when he was stuck with Cecilia every day, never a time when his heart fluttered, never a time when he longed for skin to touch her, never a day when he cried because he didn't want to lose her.
After all, she was his woman. With that one fact clear, everything else was natural.
“My dear young lady...”
It was the same. Nothing would change. Even if he vaguely realized that this feeling was not just a precious and affectionate feeling toward family, but love.
Now Cecilia Burnett was Eden Lovana Burnett's wife, and there was no way he would ever lose his wife.
He just thought about it. He was glad he didn't accept when the Emperor and Curtis proposed to break off the engagement. He was glad he didn't lose Cecilia then.
Thanks to that, he doesn't act like a crazy person and everything can be so peaceful.
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Thanks a lot for the wonderful translation!🥰
ReplyDeleteWhat a disgusting Duke
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