Eden looked at Enon, who had suddenly arrived late at night, with a somewhat dissatisfied expression.
It was time to get ready. And Eden was planning to visit Cecilia with some plausible excuse. So a late visitor was bound to be unwelcome.
“Did you really have to report at this hour?”
“I thought it was something you should know now.”
Eden let out a low sigh. But he knew that Enon wasn't the kind of secretary who would talk nonsense, so he couldn't bring himself to scold him.
“What’s going on?”
“It is said that the fishermen of Laner Island have been detained by the Benia navy.”
The hand that had been rubbing his eyes stopped for a moment. Enpn straightened her back as Eden slowly returned his gaze.
“Who, why?”
Eden opened the desk drawer and rummaged through it as if searching for something. What he soon found by his fingertips was a cigar. It had been hidden in a small storage compartment inside the drawer.
“One of them is said to be the father of a child named Alice, one of the maids in the townhouse.”
Eden sighed softly as he cut the end of his cigar. It was a name that was difficult to ignore.
“They say he was caught casting a net in a restricted area late at night. They say he’s already been warned once.”
The end of the cigar in Eden's mouth lit up. He had a face that looked just like a beauty, but when he put the cigar in his mouth, he had a strangely decadent atmosphere.
“It is impossible to develop the island within a year using this method.”
But Eden, after only a few puffs, let the cigar cool down for a while. Then he opened the window, completely blowing away the smell that had not even been there. It was certainly a waste, but that was why he did not smell.
“They can’t completely give up fishing. They’re the people who make a living from it.”
“...Yes.”
Enon, who had been focusing on Eden's elegant movements, answered belatedly.
“The best thing is to clearly show the potential of the tourism industry and make people realize that fishing is not possible.”
As Eden was muttering like that, a knock was suddenly heard from outside the study.
“Your Highness, Her Highness the Grand Duchess...”
The guest who came to his bedroom was Cecilia. As soon as Eden heard the servant's voice entering the room, he jumped up from his seat and opened the door himself. Fortunately, Cecilia was wearing a comfortable house dress instead of pajamas and was right in front of him.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
At Eden's question, Cecilia gave Enon a brief glance.
“I heard that Mr. Carlton came to see you in the middle of the night. I was worried that something might have happened to Your Highness...”
Unless they were arch-rivals, no man would feel suspicious or offended that his wife was worried about him.
“Nothing happened to me, so don’t worry.”
“Then?”
Cecilia stepped into the space naturally, asking Eden a question. The door closed behind her.
“I don’t want to worry you, but it’s good for you to know.”
Eden looked down at Cecilia and let out a small sigh. Cecilia blinked her large eyes as if she knew nothing.
“It is said that the fishermen from Laner Island were detained in Benia.”
“...”
“One of them appears to be the father of your chambermaid, Miss Alice.”
“Oh my god.”
Cecilia frowned and sighed briefly. Her attitude was so natural that she didn't seem like she had done anything wrong.
“What Alice said back then was true. I guess it’s more serious than I thought.”
Enon nodded.
“I promised Alice that I would take care of her family... Your Highness, can you take care of it?”
Cecilia muttered with a deep expression. It was a face that Eden, half-mad and desperate to look good in front of his wife, could not ignore.
“Don’t worry, Cecilia. This is international relations, and even in Benia they can’t just harm him.”
“But what if this happens again?”
Cecilia grabbed Eden's arm and asked.
“Your Highness, we can save him now, but what if this keeps happening?”
If someone else is detained, and it's not Gideon, then why not save them? Of course not. It was the duty of the Imperial Family to protect the people of the Empire.
“A fundamental solution is needed.”
Eden spoke softly, pushing Cecilia's hair behind her ear.
“I was thinking about that method anyway. This is a matter of international relations.”
“Are you talking about something like a peace treaty?”
Eden nodded.
“Are you willing to make a pact with Benia by royal authority?”
“Yes, I would like to request an audience with His Majesty the Emperor to act as his agent.”
As if Cecilia's guess was right, Eden smiled brightly. He was the second Prince, Grand Duke Burnett, whom the Emperor loved. It was not difficult to obtain the Emperor's authority to act as his agent.
“Your Highness, then...”
Cecilia opened her mouth with a hesitant look on her face.
“When making the agreement, can you also clearly state the ownership of the island?”
At the unexpected question, Eden tilted his head to the side with a somewhat puzzled expression. It was obvious that he was listening intently.
“As you know, I have read many books about the island of Laner. History, mythology, geography.”
“I know.”
“I read there that Benia was the first owner of the island.”
At Cecilia's words, Eden's eyes widened. Enon, who had been standing in a corner, unable to join the lively couple while they were talking about politics, was the same.
“I look down on it now and think it’s nothing special, but I’m worried that I might say something strange later.”
“..."
“I hope that Alice wishes and that the family and the people living on the island can be at peace.”
Eden looked down at his wife's clean face. It was a clean face that showed no trace of selfishness.
“Will it be difficult?”
Eden shook his head quietly at Cecilia's question. Wyatt had been consistently ambiguous and had neglected the island, so it couldn't be said that they weren't responsible.
Moreover, the attitude shown in Benia was clear. They regarded Laner Island as a parasite on their resources. They would welcome the Wyatt royal family's clear ownership of the island.
“Enon.”
“I will submit a request for an audience right away.”
Even before the order was given, the answer came back immediately. Eden looked at Enon with a satisfied expression and smiled briefly.
“Don’t worry, you’ll go back first.”
"Your Highness."
“I’ll go talk to Enon for a bit more before I go.”
Eden gave Cecilia a short kiss on the forehead. Cecilia glanced at Enon with a somewhat surprised expression, then blushed in embarrassment and ran away.
Only after Cecilia had completely disappeared from beyond the door did he turn to Enon.
“And call Roy Dillon to meet him then. It would be nice to meet him together when you meet His Majesty the Emperor.”
Enon gave a short answer. The first and last exhibition of the recently retired court painter Roy Dillon was a hot topic in the institution.
“Wasn’t Roy Dillon supposed to paint Her Royal Highness’s portrait? Why was he there...?”
Enon asked Eden, trailing off. It was difficult for him to guess Eden's mind.
“For tourism to grow, there must be conditions in place to attract many people to the island from the beginning.”
Eden answered strangely.
“The last work of the palace painter whose skills are beyond doubt.”
“...”
“What if he paints a beautiful island landscape and says it is an island where love comes true?”
Eden smiled softly.
“I bet many nobles would like to visit.”
“At that time, I plan to block the way into the island by borrowing the royal authority.”
Why? Enon's eyes widened. Laner Island was originally part of the royal family, but it did not prevent visitors. It was the same even now.
“Because curiosity will increase. I saw it in a picture, and there are rumors about it, so why can’t I go?”
Eden rested his chin on his hand and spat out each word with a languid expression.
“Then I’ll be anxious about not being able to enter the island.”
“I guess the people living on the island will find themselves inundated with visitors.”
The peace treaty with Benia. It was a means of protecting the islanders, but also restricting them. Of course, they would find other ways, but those who had increased restrictions on fishing activities would surely find other ways. Then, there would be hope for the tourism industry.
“He will be the starting point for the growth of the tourism industry linked to the island of Laner.”
Enon nodded after finishing organizing his thoughts. Of course, such an assumption was possible because Eden was a Prince who was favored by the Emperor. He knew that the Emperor would not stop him from doing anything.
“So, I must ask for His Majesty the Emperor’s understanding.”
That doesn't mean that this wasn't a big deal. It wasn't uncommon within Wyatt to hear of a Prince who couldn't even use his authority properly.
“Let’s lay the groundwork in advance for some useful artists and socialites.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
How fortunate I am not to have such a man as my master! Enon answered with a proud face and puffed out his chest.
“Make sure that Cecilia gets ready for whatever she wants. If you’ve said everything you want to say, then go back.”
After saying that, Eden turned around as if he was going to leave at any moment.
“Is what Her Highness the Grand Duchess wants important to Your Highness?”
Instead of nodding as was his habit, Enon tilted his head as if something was strange. Until just a short while ago, Cecilia had not been a standard for Eden’s decisions.
Eden, who was holding the doorknob, looked back at Enon. It was a face that looked like it was seeing something dull.
It was time to get ready. And Eden was planning to visit Cecilia with some plausible excuse. So a late visitor was bound to be unwelcome.
“Did you really have to report at this hour?”
“I thought it was something you should know now.”
Eden let out a low sigh. But he knew that Enon wasn't the kind of secretary who would talk nonsense, so he couldn't bring himself to scold him.
“What’s going on?”
“It is said that the fishermen of Laner Island have been detained by the Benia navy.”
The hand that had been rubbing his eyes stopped for a moment. Enpn straightened her back as Eden slowly returned his gaze.
“Who, why?”
Eden opened the desk drawer and rummaged through it as if searching for something. What he soon found by his fingertips was a cigar. It had been hidden in a small storage compartment inside the drawer.
“One of them is said to be the father of a child named Alice, one of the maids in the townhouse.”
Eden sighed softly as he cut the end of his cigar. It was a name that was difficult to ignore.
“They say he was caught casting a net in a restricted area late at night. They say he’s already been warned once.”
The end of the cigar in Eden's mouth lit up. He had a face that looked just like a beauty, but when he put the cigar in his mouth, he had a strangely decadent atmosphere.
“It is impossible to develop the island within a year using this method.”
But Eden, after only a few puffs, let the cigar cool down for a while. Then he opened the window, completely blowing away the smell that had not even been there. It was certainly a waste, but that was why he did not smell.
“They can’t completely give up fishing. They’re the people who make a living from it.”
“...Yes.”
Enon, who had been focusing on Eden's elegant movements, answered belatedly.
“The best thing is to clearly show the potential of the tourism industry and make people realize that fishing is not possible.”
As Eden was muttering like that, a knock was suddenly heard from outside the study.
“Your Highness, Her Highness the Grand Duchess...”
The guest who came to his bedroom was Cecilia. As soon as Eden heard the servant's voice entering the room, he jumped up from his seat and opened the door himself. Fortunately, Cecilia was wearing a comfortable house dress instead of pajamas and was right in front of him.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
At Eden's question, Cecilia gave Enon a brief glance.
“I heard that Mr. Carlton came to see you in the middle of the night. I was worried that something might have happened to Your Highness...”
Unless they were arch-rivals, no man would feel suspicious or offended that his wife was worried about him.
“Nothing happened to me, so don’t worry.”
“Then?”
Cecilia stepped into the space naturally, asking Eden a question. The door closed behind her.
“I don’t want to worry you, but it’s good for you to know.”
Eden looked down at Cecilia and let out a small sigh. Cecilia blinked her large eyes as if she knew nothing.
“It is said that the fishermen from Laner Island were detained in Benia.”
“...”
“One of them appears to be the father of your chambermaid, Miss Alice.”
“Oh my god.”
Cecilia frowned and sighed briefly. Her attitude was so natural that she didn't seem like she had done anything wrong.
“What Alice said back then was true. I guess it’s more serious than I thought.”
Enon nodded.
“I promised Alice that I would take care of her family... Your Highness, can you take care of it?”
Cecilia muttered with a deep expression. It was a face that Eden, half-mad and desperate to look good in front of his wife, could not ignore.
“Don’t worry, Cecilia. This is international relations, and even in Benia they can’t just harm him.”
“But what if this happens again?”
Cecilia grabbed Eden's arm and asked.
“Your Highness, we can save him now, but what if this keeps happening?”
If someone else is detained, and it's not Gideon, then why not save them? Of course not. It was the duty of the Imperial Family to protect the people of the Empire.
“A fundamental solution is needed.”
Eden spoke softly, pushing Cecilia's hair behind her ear.
“I was thinking about that method anyway. This is a matter of international relations.”
“Are you talking about something like a peace treaty?”
Eden nodded.
“Are you willing to make a pact with Benia by royal authority?”
“Yes, I would like to request an audience with His Majesty the Emperor to act as his agent.”
As if Cecilia's guess was right, Eden smiled brightly. He was the second Prince, Grand Duke Burnett, whom the Emperor loved. It was not difficult to obtain the Emperor's authority to act as his agent.
“Your Highness, then...”
Cecilia opened her mouth with a hesitant look on her face.
“When making the agreement, can you also clearly state the ownership of the island?”
At the unexpected question, Eden tilted his head to the side with a somewhat puzzled expression. It was obvious that he was listening intently.
“As you know, I have read many books about the island of Laner. History, mythology, geography.”
“I know.”
“I read there that Benia was the first owner of the island.”
At Cecilia's words, Eden's eyes widened. Enon, who had been standing in a corner, unable to join the lively couple while they were talking about politics, was the same.
“I look down on it now and think it’s nothing special, but I’m worried that I might say something strange later.”
“..."
“I hope that Alice wishes and that the family and the people living on the island can be at peace.”
Eden looked down at his wife's clean face. It was a clean face that showed no trace of selfishness.
“Will it be difficult?”
Eden shook his head quietly at Cecilia's question. Wyatt had been consistently ambiguous and had neglected the island, so it couldn't be said that they weren't responsible.
Moreover, the attitude shown in Benia was clear. They regarded Laner Island as a parasite on their resources. They would welcome the Wyatt royal family's clear ownership of the island.
“Enon.”
“I will submit a request for an audience right away.”
Even before the order was given, the answer came back immediately. Eden looked at Enon with a satisfied expression and smiled briefly.
“Don’t worry, you’ll go back first.”
"Your Highness."
“I’ll go talk to Enon for a bit more before I go.”
Eden gave Cecilia a short kiss on the forehead. Cecilia glanced at Enon with a somewhat surprised expression, then blushed in embarrassment and ran away.
Only after Cecilia had completely disappeared from beyond the door did he turn to Enon.
“And call Roy Dillon to meet him then. It would be nice to meet him together when you meet His Majesty the Emperor.”
Enon gave a short answer. The first and last exhibition of the recently retired court painter Roy Dillon was a hot topic in the institution.
“Wasn’t Roy Dillon supposed to paint Her Royal Highness’s portrait? Why was he there...?”
Enon asked Eden, trailing off. It was difficult for him to guess Eden's mind.
“For tourism to grow, there must be conditions in place to attract many people to the island from the beginning.”
Eden answered strangely.
“The last work of the palace painter whose skills are beyond doubt.”
“...”
“What if he paints a beautiful island landscape and says it is an island where love comes true?”
Eden smiled softly.
“I bet many nobles would like to visit.”
“At that time, I plan to block the way into the island by borrowing the royal authority.”
Why? Enon's eyes widened. Laner Island was originally part of the royal family, but it did not prevent visitors. It was the same even now.
“Because curiosity will increase. I saw it in a picture, and there are rumors about it, so why can’t I go?”
Eden rested his chin on his hand and spat out each word with a languid expression.
“Then I’ll be anxious about not being able to enter the island.”
“I guess the people living on the island will find themselves inundated with visitors.”
The peace treaty with Benia. It was a means of protecting the islanders, but also restricting them. Of course, they would find other ways, but those who had increased restrictions on fishing activities would surely find other ways. Then, there would be hope for the tourism industry.
“He will be the starting point for the growth of the tourism industry linked to the island of Laner.”
Enon nodded after finishing organizing his thoughts. Of course, such an assumption was possible because Eden was a Prince who was favored by the Emperor. He knew that the Emperor would not stop him from doing anything.
“So, I must ask for His Majesty the Emperor’s understanding.”
That doesn't mean that this wasn't a big deal. It wasn't uncommon within Wyatt to hear of a Prince who couldn't even use his authority properly.
“Let’s lay the groundwork in advance for some useful artists and socialites.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
How fortunate I am not to have such a man as my master! Enon answered with a proud face and puffed out his chest.
“Make sure that Cecilia gets ready for whatever she wants. If you’ve said everything you want to say, then go back.”
After saying that, Eden turned around as if he was going to leave at any moment.
“Is what Her Highness the Grand Duchess wants important to Your Highness?”
Instead of nodding as was his habit, Enon tilted his head as if something was strange. Until just a short while ago, Cecilia had not been a standard for Eden’s decisions.
Eden, who was holding the doorknob, looked back at Enon. It was a face that looked like it was seeing something dull.
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