Early in the morning. Cecilia woke up in the arms of a man who was familiar, but not unfamiliar either.
“...Or is it?”
It seemed like she had taken a nap at the desk, but she was moved to the bed and was in Eden's arms, so it seemed like he had moved her.
Cecilia twisted her body carefully in the arms of the man who seemed to be sleeping, somehow holding her in his arms. It was okay when she was asleep and didn't know, but it was true that even after waking up, she didn't want to be stuck to him.
“Cecilia?”
But as if awakened by the movement, Eden called out to Cecilia in a low voice.
“I didn’t mean to wake you up. Just sleep more.”
The moment they were talking while touching each other, his arm wrapped around Cecilia's waist again.
“Sleep some more.”
It was even stranger that he kept struggling. Cecilia relaxed her body and lay down on the bed again. His body, embracing Cecilia, was firm and warm, just like in her memory.
'Is Your Majesty very busy?'
They were also things that he had hoped to reach again someday. The servants she had sent to him repeatedly returned with empty answers. Cecilia always slept alone in her wide bed.
At that time, she had missed him so much. She waited desperately for him to come back, thinking that if he hugged her, it would prove that his love was still there.
“Cecilia.”
There was a day when just thinking about it made her sad.
"Yes?"
Cecilia, who had been lost in thought, shuddered in surprise at the sudden call.
“Is there anything you want to do when you return to the mansion?”
Instead of answering immediately, Cecilia thought carefully.
“First, I need to prepare a banquet to celebrate Your Highness’s birthday, and it would be good to spend some time with Countess Casper as well.”
Eden took a deep breath at Cecilia's answer. Cecilia flinched slightly as she felt the tickle on the back of her neck where he had buried his face.
“Other than that, do whatever you want.”
There is nothing in this life she can look forward to except dirty revenge. Cecilia swallowed the words she could not bring herself to say and made up a suitable answer.
“Well, I heard that you are performing an opera with a new theme recently.”
It wasn't a lie, she wasn't completely uninterested in opera before.
“What do you want?”
“Why do you ask that?”
However, as Eden kept asking questions about this and that, she couldn't help but ask what Eden meant by his questions. Cecilia turned her head and looked at the direction Eden was lying and asked.
In her previous life, Eden didn't ask Cecilia about such things in detail. He just gave her gifts through Enon first, and Cecilia happily accepted gifts that suited her tastes.
“I thought it would be nice if we spent some time together. Sienna said that would be nice too.”
So it was strange that he was trying to find out Cecilia's tastes like this.
“When you get back, let’s go see the opera together.”
“...”
“While you’re out, buy what you want too.”
Eden whispered softly and took Cecilia's small hand in his own. There was a sense of affection in the gesture of his fingers. Eden was truly a strange man now.
“...If Your Highness has time.”
He was also someone she never wanted to get used to.
“Shall we go and find out where Miss Nova is?”
“No. It seems like it’ll be time to move to the annex soon anyway.”
Curtis shook his head and stopped Abby. It was customary to arrive about ten minutes early for the appointment. Curtis arrived earlier than that, but some time had passed while he had a brief conversation with Cecilia.
“You come with His Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Yes, then. Go ahead and sit down.”
Cecilia was about to send Curtis first and send a servant to the study to call Eden when the head maid, Lauren, hurriedly ran to Cecilia.
“Did something happen at the banquet hall?”
Lauren was not usually one to make a fuss, so her behavior was unsettling. Lauren opened her mouth, breathing heavily, in response to Cecilia's question.
“The Marquis Clinton and the Duke of Somerset have not arrived.”
“No way. Are you sure you understood it correctly?”
“Only two families’ tables are empty, and no carriages are waiting to enter.”
Cecilia turned her gaze to the door with a face of disbelief. Ilya, who had been standing far away, trembled with a pale face as if she had figured out what had happened.
“...Or is it?”
It seemed like she had taken a nap at the desk, but she was moved to the bed and was in Eden's arms, so it seemed like he had moved her.
Cecilia twisted her body carefully in the arms of the man who seemed to be sleeping, somehow holding her in his arms. It was okay when she was asleep and didn't know, but it was true that even after waking up, she didn't want to be stuck to him.
“Cecilia?”
But as if awakened by the movement, Eden called out to Cecilia in a low voice.
“I didn’t mean to wake you up. Just sleep more.”
The moment they were talking while touching each other, his arm wrapped around Cecilia's waist again.
“Sleep some more.”
It was even stranger that he kept struggling. Cecilia relaxed her body and lay down on the bed again. His body, embracing Cecilia, was firm and warm, just like in her memory.
'Is Your Majesty very busy?'
They were also things that he had hoped to reach again someday. The servants she had sent to him repeatedly returned with empty answers. Cecilia always slept alone in her wide bed.
At that time, she had missed him so much. She waited desperately for him to come back, thinking that if he hugged her, it would prove that his love was still there.
“Cecilia.”
There was a day when just thinking about it made her sad.
"Yes?"
Cecilia, who had been lost in thought, shuddered in surprise at the sudden call.
“Is there anything you want to do when you return to the mansion?”
Instead of answering immediately, Cecilia thought carefully.
“First, I need to prepare a banquet to celebrate Your Highness’s birthday, and it would be good to spend some time with Countess Casper as well.”
Eden took a deep breath at Cecilia's answer. Cecilia flinched slightly as she felt the tickle on the back of her neck where he had buried his face.
“Other than that, do whatever you want.”
There is nothing in this life she can look forward to except dirty revenge. Cecilia swallowed the words she could not bring herself to say and made up a suitable answer.
“Well, I heard that you are performing an opera with a new theme recently.”
It wasn't a lie, she wasn't completely uninterested in opera before.
“What do you want?”
“Why do you ask that?”
However, as Eden kept asking questions about this and that, she couldn't help but ask what Eden meant by his questions. Cecilia turned her head and looked at the direction Eden was lying and asked.
In her previous life, Eden didn't ask Cecilia about such things in detail. He just gave her gifts through Enon first, and Cecilia happily accepted gifts that suited her tastes.
“I thought it would be nice if we spent some time together. Sienna said that would be nice too.”
So it was strange that he was trying to find out Cecilia's tastes like this.
“When you get back, let’s go see the opera together.”
“...”
“While you’re out, buy what you want too.”
Eden whispered softly and took Cecilia's small hand in his own. There was a sense of affection in the gesture of his fingers. Eden was truly a strange man now.
“...If Your Highness has time.”
He was also someone she never wanted to get used to.
***
The short three-day trip, with nothing special to do but explore the island and walk along the beach with Eden, ended. Cecilia and Eden quickly returned to their daily lives.
The time when Ilya was the center of everyone's disapproval passed, and Eden's birthday finally arrived.
“Are there fresh flowers on each table?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I have prepared it for each of the thirty families you invited.”
Cecilia's question was immediately answered by the head maid, Lauren.
“As expected, you are trustworthy, Lauren.”
“You are too kind.”
It was understandable since she had become a maid, but Lauren smiled brightly as if she was happy to be praised. Cecilia patted her arm a couple of times and moved on. As a newly-filled hostess, there were more than a few things to check.
Cecilia walked around the mansion, checking the landscaping of the gardens, the decoration of the halls, and the preparation of food.
The time was approaching when the families who had previously been invited to the list would begin to show up at the mansion one by one, accepting their invitations. Leading the family's events was also a matter related to Cecilia's abilities.
“Ilya, did you send invitations to each family?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Without missing a single one?”
“I sent out invitations according to the list I made earlier.”
Ilya nodded repeatedly as if she was confident in that answer and answered confidently.
“Thanks to you, the workload has been greatly reduced. Thank you.”
Cecilia said so and turned away from Ilya.
“Your Highness, it is almost time.”
“Everyone, get ready to welcome the guests.”
At Cecilia's command, all the servants lined up at the entrance. With quite some time left until the banquet began, the first one to pass through the open gate was the carriage of the Duke of Lane.
"Father!"
Cecilia, who was about to enter the mansion, stopped when she saw Curtis' carriage. Curtis, who was getting out of the carriage and being guided by the footman, smiled when he saw Cecilia.
“Cecilia.”
Cecilia approached Curtis and hugged him. Curtis seemed pleased with his daughter’s hospitality.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Isn’t that a given?”
Curtis patted his daughter on the back as if to say that there was no need for unnecessary words.
“Hello, Duke Lane. I am Ilya Nova, the eldest daughter of the Count Nova family.”
“It’s been a while, Miss Nova. I heard you became Cecilia’s maid, but it’s nice to see you here.”
Curtis accepted Ilya's greeting with a smile. She was the daughter of a loyal vassal. The dress Ilya was wearing was somewhat unusual, but other than that, there was no reason to dislike her.
“Please take good care of Cecilia in the future.”
“It’s my job.”
Ilya answered with a fresh smile like the most elegant lady in the world.
“Ilya, could you please bring me some tea?”
Ilya readily agreed to Cecilia's request and walked into the mansion first.
Soon Cecilia and Curtis also moved into the reception room. Of course, as a guest, he should have gone straight to the annex. However, no one could point out that the hostess was bringing her father into the main house.
“There was something I wanted to discuss with my father anyway.”
“I heard your servant stopped by the mansion a while ago.”
Curtis asked if that was the purpose. Cecilia shook her head with a smile.
“There was something I wanted to ask Charles then.”
Cecilia answered, sitting on the sofa in the living room.
"What?"
“I was wondering if father had separate contact with Her Majesty the Empress.”
Curtis stared at Cecilia as if to ask what she meant.
“I once visited the palace to pay my respects, and the Empress sent me a personal letter. In it she asked about my father’s well-being.”
Cecilia did not remember seeing Curtis interacting specifically with the Counts of Oberon since she had become engaged to Eden.
“Why would I have any separate contact with her?”
Curtis answered with a blank expression, tapping the chest of his jacket while his clenched jaw twitched slightly.
“...That’s right.”
Cecilia answered nonchalantly, glancing briefly at the pocket of Curtis' jacket.
“By the way, what was it that you wanted to discuss?”
Curtis asked a question and naturally changed the subject. Cecilia skillfully looked away.
“Ah. It’s a story about the island of Laner.”
“Laner Island?”
“How about changing the island’s main source of income to tourism? The Lane family should take the lead in this.”
Cecilia nodded and told the story of Alice, the maid from Laner Island, and the Crown Prince's request in order.
“Why did you choose tourism?”
“It’s geographically close to Wyatt, and there are beaches all over the place. The eastern beach in particular has soft sand, so it seemed like a good place to relax.”
Cecilia answered, stroking her wedding ring as if it were her habit.
“How about building a lodging facility on Laner Island and starting a business to attract tourism? If we hire the island’s residents as employees, it would help the economy of Laner Island by attracting outsiders.”
Curtis looked surprised at Cecilia's answer. Of course, his daughter was smart. She could become the head of the household someday, so he didn't neglect her education.
But he didn't know that Cecilia was so business-minded and astute in the political realm. From what he remembered, Cecilia had never shown any interest in such things.
“It seems okay.”
Curtis answered positively without hesitation. Cecilia's face immediately lit up.
“It’s strange that one of your maids was a Laner Islander. There probably weren’t many of them in the islands.”
“It just so happened.”
Cecilia, sitting on the soft sofa, answered falsely. It was only natural. She couldn't say that she was living a second life and that she had found a maid from the Isle of Laner in advance to prevent a tragedy from happening.
“We can develop the tourism industry while ensuring the safety and employment of island residents, and also engage in real estate and hotel businesses.”
“That’s a real win.”
You can get fame and money, Curtis nodded.
“Instead, please make your investment through His Highness the Grand Duke’s investment bank. Think of it as the price paid for the plan.”
“You’re already treating him like your husband.”
Curtis chuckled. It wasn’t so much a criticism of her putting her husband first as it was a compliment to her daughter who was starting a family.
While they were talking like that for a long time, Cecilia realized that Ilya had not returned yet and asked Abby about her whereabouts.
“Abby. Where did Ilya go?”
“She said she was going to get the tea...”
The time when Ilya was the center of everyone's disapproval passed, and Eden's birthday finally arrived.
“Are there fresh flowers on each table?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I have prepared it for each of the thirty families you invited.”
Cecilia's question was immediately answered by the head maid, Lauren.
“As expected, you are trustworthy, Lauren.”
“You are too kind.”
It was understandable since she had become a maid, but Lauren smiled brightly as if she was happy to be praised. Cecilia patted her arm a couple of times and moved on. As a newly-filled hostess, there were more than a few things to check.
Cecilia walked around the mansion, checking the landscaping of the gardens, the decoration of the halls, and the preparation of food.
The time was approaching when the families who had previously been invited to the list would begin to show up at the mansion one by one, accepting their invitations. Leading the family's events was also a matter related to Cecilia's abilities.
“Ilya, did you send invitations to each family?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Without missing a single one?”
“I sent out invitations according to the list I made earlier.”
Ilya nodded repeatedly as if she was confident in that answer and answered confidently.
“Thanks to you, the workload has been greatly reduced. Thank you.”
Cecilia said so and turned away from Ilya.
“Your Highness, it is almost time.”
“Everyone, get ready to welcome the guests.”
At Cecilia's command, all the servants lined up at the entrance. With quite some time left until the banquet began, the first one to pass through the open gate was the carriage of the Duke of Lane.
"Father!"
Cecilia, who was about to enter the mansion, stopped when she saw Curtis' carriage. Curtis, who was getting out of the carriage and being guided by the footman, smiled when he saw Cecilia.
“Cecilia.”
Cecilia approached Curtis and hugged him. Curtis seemed pleased with his daughter’s hospitality.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Isn’t that a given?”
Curtis patted his daughter on the back as if to say that there was no need for unnecessary words.
“Hello, Duke Lane. I am Ilya Nova, the eldest daughter of the Count Nova family.”
“It’s been a while, Miss Nova. I heard you became Cecilia’s maid, but it’s nice to see you here.”
Curtis accepted Ilya's greeting with a smile. She was the daughter of a loyal vassal. The dress Ilya was wearing was somewhat unusual, but other than that, there was no reason to dislike her.
“Please take good care of Cecilia in the future.”
“It’s my job.”
Ilya answered with a fresh smile like the most elegant lady in the world.
“Ilya, could you please bring me some tea?”
Ilya readily agreed to Cecilia's request and walked into the mansion first.
Soon Cecilia and Curtis also moved into the reception room. Of course, as a guest, he should have gone straight to the annex. However, no one could point out that the hostess was bringing her father into the main house.
“There was something I wanted to discuss with my father anyway.”
“I heard your servant stopped by the mansion a while ago.”
Curtis asked if that was the purpose. Cecilia shook her head with a smile.
“There was something I wanted to ask Charles then.”
Cecilia answered, sitting on the sofa in the living room.
"What?"
“I was wondering if father had separate contact with Her Majesty the Empress.”
Curtis stared at Cecilia as if to ask what she meant.
“I once visited the palace to pay my respects, and the Empress sent me a personal letter. In it she asked about my father’s well-being.”
Cecilia did not remember seeing Curtis interacting specifically with the Counts of Oberon since she had become engaged to Eden.
“Why would I have any separate contact with her?”
Curtis answered with a blank expression, tapping the chest of his jacket while his clenched jaw twitched slightly.
“...That’s right.”
Cecilia answered nonchalantly, glancing briefly at the pocket of Curtis' jacket.
“By the way, what was it that you wanted to discuss?”
Curtis asked a question and naturally changed the subject. Cecilia skillfully looked away.
“Ah. It’s a story about the island of Laner.”
“Laner Island?”
“How about changing the island’s main source of income to tourism? The Lane family should take the lead in this.”
Cecilia nodded and told the story of Alice, the maid from Laner Island, and the Crown Prince's request in order.
“Why did you choose tourism?”
“It’s geographically close to Wyatt, and there are beaches all over the place. The eastern beach in particular has soft sand, so it seemed like a good place to relax.”
Cecilia answered, stroking her wedding ring as if it were her habit.
“How about building a lodging facility on Laner Island and starting a business to attract tourism? If we hire the island’s residents as employees, it would help the economy of Laner Island by attracting outsiders.”
Curtis looked surprised at Cecilia's answer. Of course, his daughter was smart. She could become the head of the household someday, so he didn't neglect her education.
But he didn't know that Cecilia was so business-minded and astute in the political realm. From what he remembered, Cecilia had never shown any interest in such things.
“It seems okay.”
Curtis answered positively without hesitation. Cecilia's face immediately lit up.
“It’s strange that one of your maids was a Laner Islander. There probably weren’t many of them in the islands.”
“It just so happened.”
Cecilia, sitting on the soft sofa, answered falsely. It was only natural. She couldn't say that she was living a second life and that she had found a maid from the Isle of Laner in advance to prevent a tragedy from happening.
“We can develop the tourism industry while ensuring the safety and employment of island residents, and also engage in real estate and hotel businesses.”
“That’s a real win.”
You can get fame and money, Curtis nodded.
“Instead, please make your investment through His Highness the Grand Duke’s investment bank. Think of it as the price paid for the plan.”
“You’re already treating him like your husband.”
Curtis chuckled. It wasn’t so much a criticism of her putting her husband first as it was a compliment to her daughter who was starting a family.
While they were talking like that for a long time, Cecilia realized that Ilya had not returned yet and asked Abby about her whereabouts.
“Abby. Where did Ilya go?”
“She said she was going to get the tea...”
Abbie's eyes widened as if she didn't understand what was going on. Since Curtis was an honored guest, Ilya would make the tea.
“No. It seems like it’ll be time to move to the annex soon anyway.”
Curtis shook his head and stopped Abby. It was customary to arrive about ten minutes early for the appointment. Curtis arrived earlier than that, but some time had passed while he had a brief conversation with Cecilia.
“You come with His Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Yes, then. Go ahead and sit down.”
Cecilia was about to send Curtis first and send a servant to the study to call Eden when the head maid, Lauren, hurriedly ran to Cecilia.
“Did something happen at the banquet hall?”
Lauren was not usually one to make a fuss, so her behavior was unsettling. Lauren opened her mouth, breathing heavily, in response to Cecilia's question.
“The Marquis Clinton and the Duke of Somerset have not arrived.”
“No way. Are you sure you understood it correctly?”
“Only two families’ tables are empty, and no carriages are waiting to enter.”
Cecilia turned her gaze to the door with a face of disbelief. Ilya, who had been standing far away, trembled with a pale face as if she had figured out what had happened.
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