“Your Highness, where have you been in the middle of the night?”
Abby, who had gone to get some warm water and found the bedroom empty, looked back at Cecilia with a puzzled expression.
“I went to see His Highness the Grand Duke for a moment.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke?”
Abby asked back, looking puzzled.
“Because we had guests late at night. I was wondering if something might have happened.”
Abby nodded with a face of agreement at Cecilia's answer. In the first place, it was not the place to ask where the master had been.
“Are you going to sleep now?”
“That’s right. Just go out and try.”
Cecilia sent Abby away with kind words. Abby turned off the lamp and politely stepped aside. Cecilia covered herself with the blanket and lay down on the bed, closing her eyes.
Of course, she didn't fall asleep right away. Her mind was busy thinking back on what had happened up until just now.
“...”
It was then that a small noise was heard. Cecilia opened her closed eyes and stared in the direction of the quietly hiding guest.
"...Who?"
The room was dark, so it was hard to tell who was hiding in the room. Cecilia asked for the night guest's identity just in case.
“It’s me, Cecilia.”
"Your Highn?"
It was Eden. It seemed that he was sincere when he said he would come and talk to Enon.
“You don’t fall asleep right away.”
Cecilia sat up. Eden smiled as he walked towards the bed, pretending to be concerned.
“I hope you won’t be upset when you hear about it later.”
It was a gentle voice.
“What?”
Eden's figure was vaguely visible as he approached the sagging moonlight. Cecilia grabbed the corner of the blanket and tried to pull it back and get up from her seat.
But Eden stopped Cecilia's actions with a gentle touch. Then he sat on the edge of the bed and got eye level with Cecilia.
“I plan to meet His Majesty tomorrow and, if possible, set off for the island immediately. If that happens, I will have to leave without even having time to speak.”
Eden said it as if it were a given. The Emperor might meet him tomorrow, or give him power of attorney. The funny thing was that Cecilia agreed to it.
“I won’t be able to see you for a while.”
It was a contradictory story from the perspective of someone who didn't trust him the most, but it was a confidence that came from faith in Eden. There was no worry that Eden wouldn't be able to do it properly.
In her previous life, it was Eden who had finalized the peace treaty with Benia after Aster's death. Unless his head had suddenly blown off, there was no way things could have gone wrong.
“It will take at least a week.”
So Cecilia believed that she had swayed Eden in the direction she wanted, although it was somewhat disappointing that she had not done everything herself.
“It’s taking a long time.”
When Cecilia pretended to be disappointed, Eden laughed quietly.
“Do you think it will be a shame?”
“You are saying the obvious.”
Although there was not a single grain of sincerity mixed in, Cecilia's answer was so natural that there was no sense of awkwardness.
“Then shall we stay here tonight?”
Eden asked. Cecilia stared blankly at the man's beautiful face, dimly revealed under the slanting moonlight.
“If Your Highness is sorry that you cannot see me for a long time.”
The decision was given to him. Instead of answering, Eden took the seat next to his wife, who had a fresh face and laid down. Then, naturally, he held out his arm.
“...”
Their eyes met in the darkness. Those warm blue eyes were simply affectionate.
“...Will you be able to return before the banquet?”
There were moments when his kindness and goodwill felt ambiguous. If she said she didn't think about it every time, she would be lying.
“I should be back by then. I can’t let you enter without a partner.”
However, Eden was still able to maintain his own composure and dignity. So Cecilia tried not to make hasty guesses about Eden's feelings.
“Actually, I wanted to show you the dress first once it was finished, but that’s a little disappointing.”
But when such an ambiguous moment comes, strangely enough, she feels like throwing out some bait to gauge his mind.
Knowing that his mind is the most powerful weapon she can wield and that it will be the shield that protects her.
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Abby, who had gone to get some warm water and found the bedroom empty, looked back at Cecilia with a puzzled expression.
“I went to see His Highness the Grand Duke for a moment.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke?”
Abby asked back, looking puzzled.
“Because we had guests late at night. I was wondering if something might have happened.”
Abby nodded with a face of agreement at Cecilia's answer. In the first place, it was not the place to ask where the master had been.
“Are you going to sleep now?”
“That’s right. Just go out and try.”
Cecilia sent Abby away with kind words. Abby turned off the lamp and politely stepped aside. Cecilia covered herself with the blanket and lay down on the bed, closing her eyes.
Of course, she didn't fall asleep right away. Her mind was busy thinking back on what had happened up until just now.
“...”
It was then that a small noise was heard. Cecilia opened her closed eyes and stared in the direction of the quietly hiding guest.
"...Who?"
The room was dark, so it was hard to tell who was hiding in the room. Cecilia asked for the night guest's identity just in case.
“It’s me, Cecilia.”
"Your Highn?"
It was Eden. It seemed that he was sincere when he said he would come and talk to Enon.
“You don’t fall asleep right away.”
Cecilia sat up. Eden smiled as he walked towards the bed, pretending to be concerned.
“I hope you won’t be upset when you hear about it later.”
It was a gentle voice.
“What?”
Eden's figure was vaguely visible as he approached the sagging moonlight. Cecilia grabbed the corner of the blanket and tried to pull it back and get up from her seat.
But Eden stopped Cecilia's actions with a gentle touch. Then he sat on the edge of the bed and got eye level with Cecilia.
“I plan to meet His Majesty tomorrow and, if possible, set off for the island immediately. If that happens, I will have to leave without even having time to speak.”
Eden said it as if it were a given. The Emperor might meet him tomorrow, or give him power of attorney. The funny thing was that Cecilia agreed to it.
“I won’t be able to see you for a while.”
It was a contradictory story from the perspective of someone who didn't trust him the most, but it was a confidence that came from faith in Eden. There was no worry that Eden wouldn't be able to do it properly.
In her previous life, it was Eden who had finalized the peace treaty with Benia after Aster's death. Unless his head had suddenly blown off, there was no way things could have gone wrong.
“It will take at least a week.”
So Cecilia believed that she had swayed Eden in the direction she wanted, although it was somewhat disappointing that she had not done everything herself.
“It’s taking a long time.”
When Cecilia pretended to be disappointed, Eden laughed quietly.
“Do you think it will be a shame?”
“You are saying the obvious.”
Although there was not a single grain of sincerity mixed in, Cecilia's answer was so natural that there was no sense of awkwardness.
“Then shall we stay here tonight?”
Eden asked. Cecilia stared blankly at the man's beautiful face, dimly revealed under the slanting moonlight.
“If Your Highness is sorry that you cannot see me for a long time.”
The decision was given to him. Instead of answering, Eden took the seat next to his wife, who had a fresh face and laid down. Then, naturally, he held out his arm.
“...”
Their eyes met in the darkness. Those warm blue eyes were simply affectionate.
“...Will you be able to return before the banquet?”
There were moments when his kindness and goodwill felt ambiguous. If she said she didn't think about it every time, she would be lying.
“I should be back by then. I can’t let you enter without a partner.”
However, Eden was still able to maintain his own composure and dignity. So Cecilia tried not to make hasty guesses about Eden's feelings.
“Actually, I wanted to show you the dress first once it was finished, but that’s a little disappointing.”
But when such an ambiguous moment comes, strangely enough, she feels like throwing out some bait to gauge his mind.
Knowing that his mind is the most powerful weapon she can wield and that it will be the shield that protects her.
***
As expected, Eden left for the island right after talking to the Emperor. Three days after his departure, Cecilia invited a guest to her home.
“Your Highness, Countess Casper has arrived.”
“Bring them inside.”
Cecilia gave orders to her servant. And only after checking her appearance in the mirror once more, did she head to the reception room.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
As the door to the reception room opened, Countess Casper, who had been seated after being guided by a servant, stood up and greeted her warmly.
“It’s so nice to see you again.”
“Nice to meet you, Countess Casper. Sorry for the late invitation.”
“No, you don’t have to think that way.”
Countess Casper hastily denied it. When Cecilia's position was clear, she was the one who knew what to do.
“Thank you for saying that.”
Cecilia expressed her gratitude with a smiling face. At the same time, the maid brought out tea and simple tea food.
“Listen. Since you were His Highness’s nanny, I was thinking I should pay you a visit.”
“This is an excessive treatment.”
The one who gave birth to Eden was the former Empress Janet, but the one who actually raised him was Countess Casper. To Eden, Countess Casper was like a mother. That was why Cecilia in her previous life trusted her and stayed by her side.
“I am just happy that His Royal Highness the Grand Duke and Your Royal Highness the Grand Duchess are living happily.”
Countess Casper simply replied with a look of gratitude. Perhaps because Cecilia knew that she was not the type of person to expect that much, she found it amusing.
“By the way, His Highness the Grand Duke...?”
“Oh, he has something to do...”
Countess Casper tilted her head with a puzzled expression. Cecilia pretended to think for a moment, consciously frowning, then opened her eyes.
“I wonder if it’s okay to say this, but His Highness trusts Countess Casper very much, so I’m sure it won’t be okay?”
“Yes. I, Maria Casper, swear to keep my trust in you two.”
Countess Casper secretly urged Cecilia to answer, perhaps because she thought something interesting might come up.
“He went to the island of Laner. His Highness has a project he is promoting.”
“When you say business...”
Countess Casper asked, leaning slightly in the direction where Cecilia was sitting.
“He was planning to develop Laner Island with the Duke of Lane.”
Cecilia, in order not to disappoint Countess Casper's expectations, confessed the truth.
“But I’m not sure what’s going to happen, because there’s still trouble with the Benia navy. He went there recently to sort that out.”
Of course, with a little bit of a lie mixed in. Countess Casper sighed in regret at Cecilia's words.
“I wonder what he was trying to do in such a dangerous area, but I feel complicated that he decided to leave.”
“So that’s why you called me.”
“It’s embarrassing, but I think you’ll understand if you’re Madam.”
Countess Casper smiled, looking at Cecilia as if she was looking at something cute.
“I feel uneasy when your husband goes to a dangerous place. It’s natural. But His Highness will return safely, so you don’t have to worry.”
And she consoled Cecilia, who pretended to be anxious, saying that she understood her deeply.
“I wish he had been interested in other investment ventures. I keep thinking that way.”
Countess Casper simply nodded. Laner Island was an island that had been treated as if it didn't exist, so she had nothing to say about a place she didn't know much about.
Besides, it was a good thing that the business story had already passed. There was no way the beans would fall.
“That was a long and boring story. Is there anything special going on at home?”
Countess Casper nodded to Cecilia's question.
“Well then, that’s good.”
But now she was a little dry. It seemed like she hadn't completely gotten over her feelings because she had been disappointed after having briefly expected something business-related.
“I’m worried because there are people on the side who have recently become addicted to card games and other pastimes.”
The very next moment, Countess Casper flinched at Cecilia's words and straightened her back. Cecilia watched the woman, who seemed to have been stabbed, with a smile on her face.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
At this time, a craze for card games swept through the city. People of all ages, nobles, and commoners, gathered in cramped buildings and played games with the vigor of their wrists.
It may have been a game at first, but the boards that included nobles gradually grew larger. As money came and went on the boards, it was said that some of the lower-ranking nobles squandered their family fortunes.
“...Did His Highness hear that too?”
Count Casper's family was a perfect example. Right now, they are trying to hide it, so it has not gone beyond Count Casper's wall, but it will be revealed as time goes by.
“Yes. His Highness said it was a problem. His Majesty the Emperor said he was also taking this matter seriously.”
Cecilia answered, sipping tea. The fragrant smell should have made her relax, but Countess Casper's body was frozen as if in despair, smiling awkwardly.
“What, His Majesty really wouldn’t take away the title?”
Cecilia spoke briskly. It seemed as if it was not a problem for Countess Casper, as it did not apply to her.
“So, you said His Majesty was going to take away the title?”
“It seems that it is difficult for His Majesty to forgive those who have lost their noble dignity, such as those who have become addicted to gambling and sold their lands.”
Countess Casper's face was now gloomy. Count Casper, her husband was thinking of slowly selling off the estate, saying that he could turn the situation around by taking on more debt.
“It may be possible to get out of gambling now, but it would be difficult to look kindly on those who sold their land and honor.”
Cecilia spoke with a faint smile on her face. Countess Casper picked at the burrs next to her fingernails with an anxious look on her face.
“Your Highness, Countess Casper has arrived.”
“Bring them inside.”
Cecilia gave orders to her servant. And only after checking her appearance in the mirror once more, did she head to the reception room.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
As the door to the reception room opened, Countess Casper, who had been seated after being guided by a servant, stood up and greeted her warmly.
“It’s so nice to see you again.”
“Nice to meet you, Countess Casper. Sorry for the late invitation.”
“No, you don’t have to think that way.”
Countess Casper hastily denied it. When Cecilia's position was clear, she was the one who knew what to do.
“Thank you for saying that.”
Cecilia expressed her gratitude with a smiling face. At the same time, the maid brought out tea and simple tea food.
“Listen. Since you were His Highness’s nanny, I was thinking I should pay you a visit.”
“This is an excessive treatment.”
The one who gave birth to Eden was the former Empress Janet, but the one who actually raised him was Countess Casper. To Eden, Countess Casper was like a mother. That was why Cecilia in her previous life trusted her and stayed by her side.
“I am just happy that His Royal Highness the Grand Duke and Your Royal Highness the Grand Duchess are living happily.”
Countess Casper simply replied with a look of gratitude. Perhaps because Cecilia knew that she was not the type of person to expect that much, she found it amusing.
“By the way, His Highness the Grand Duke...?”
“Oh, he has something to do...”
Countess Casper tilted her head with a puzzled expression. Cecilia pretended to think for a moment, consciously frowning, then opened her eyes.
“I wonder if it’s okay to say this, but His Highness trusts Countess Casper very much, so I’m sure it won’t be okay?”
“Yes. I, Maria Casper, swear to keep my trust in you two.”
Countess Casper secretly urged Cecilia to answer, perhaps because she thought something interesting might come up.
“He went to the island of Laner. His Highness has a project he is promoting.”
“When you say business...”
Countess Casper asked, leaning slightly in the direction where Cecilia was sitting.
“He was planning to develop Laner Island with the Duke of Lane.”
Cecilia, in order not to disappoint Countess Casper's expectations, confessed the truth.
“But I’m not sure what’s going to happen, because there’s still trouble with the Benia navy. He went there recently to sort that out.”
Of course, with a little bit of a lie mixed in. Countess Casper sighed in regret at Cecilia's words.
“I wonder what he was trying to do in such a dangerous area, but I feel complicated that he decided to leave.”
“So that’s why you called me.”
“It’s embarrassing, but I think you’ll understand if you’re Madam.”
Countess Casper smiled, looking at Cecilia as if she was looking at something cute.
“I feel uneasy when your husband goes to a dangerous place. It’s natural. But His Highness will return safely, so you don’t have to worry.”
And she consoled Cecilia, who pretended to be anxious, saying that she understood her deeply.
“I wish he had been interested in other investment ventures. I keep thinking that way.”
Countess Casper simply nodded. Laner Island was an island that had been treated as if it didn't exist, so she had nothing to say about a place she didn't know much about.
Besides, it was a good thing that the business story had already passed. There was no way the beans would fall.
“That was a long and boring story. Is there anything special going on at home?”
Countess Casper nodded to Cecilia's question.
“Well then, that’s good.”
But now she was a little dry. It seemed like she hadn't completely gotten over her feelings because she had been disappointed after having briefly expected something business-related.
“I’m worried because there are people on the side who have recently become addicted to card games and other pastimes.”
The very next moment, Countess Casper flinched at Cecilia's words and straightened her back. Cecilia watched the woman, who seemed to have been stabbed, with a smile on her face.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
At this time, a craze for card games swept through the city. People of all ages, nobles, and commoners, gathered in cramped buildings and played games with the vigor of their wrists.
It may have been a game at first, but the boards that included nobles gradually grew larger. As money came and went on the boards, it was said that some of the lower-ranking nobles squandered their family fortunes.
“...Did His Highness hear that too?”
Count Casper's family was a perfect example. Right now, they are trying to hide it, so it has not gone beyond Count Casper's wall, but it will be revealed as time goes by.
“Yes. His Highness said it was a problem. His Majesty the Emperor said he was also taking this matter seriously.”
Cecilia answered, sipping tea. The fragrant smell should have made her relax, but Countess Casper's body was frozen as if in despair, smiling awkwardly.
“What, His Majesty really wouldn’t take away the title?”
Cecilia spoke briskly. It seemed as if it was not a problem for Countess Casper, as it did not apply to her.
“So, you said His Majesty was going to take away the title?”
“It seems that it is difficult for His Majesty to forgive those who have lost their noble dignity, such as those who have become addicted to gambling and sold their lands.”
Countess Casper's face was now gloomy. Count Casper, her husband was thinking of slowly selling off the estate, saying that he could turn the situation around by taking on more debt.
“It may be possible to get out of gambling now, but it would be difficult to look kindly on those who sold their land and honor.”
Cecilia spoke with a faint smile on her face. Countess Casper picked at the burrs next to her fingernails with an anxious look on her face.
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