“It’s completely different from when I came here last time.”
Cecilia looked up at the hotel building as if in a trance. It was where the stalls had once been. But now, a building so large and splendid that it was hard to believe it had been built in such a short time filled her view.
“It’s really cool.”
As Cecilia spoke with sparkling eyes, Eden smiled softly.
“Let’s go in.”
Eden naturally escorted Cecilia. Cecilia entered the hotel, holding Eden's arm.
The lobby had a high ceiling and a gorgeous chandelier on the ceiling, reflecting light in all directions, and the walls were decorated with works of art here and there. Even a rough estimate would suggest that a considerable amount of money had gone into it.
“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Duke. And Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
They were greeted by a rather stylishly dressed staff member who must have even trained them in a short time.
“I wish my father had come too.”
“Don’t worry, he said he’d arrive in time for the completion ceremony.”
Eden followed the staff and spoke leisurely. As Eden had said, the official completion date of the hotel was tomorrow. The ships that had been restricted by the Emperor’s order were also being restored, and people who had been curious about the island were expected to pour in.
In such a situation, arriving a day early and enjoying the quiet island and the best room in the hotel was definitely a privilege.
“You can see the sea at a glance.”
The staff opened the door for her. As soon as she entered the room, Cecilia was amazed by the view of the ocean through the large window.
“I’ll get this room for the most expensive price.”
Eden chuckled softly at Cecilia's muttered words as she looked down at the sea.
“Business is more suited to you than your father.”
Then he came closer and gently kissed Cecilia's temple.
“Can I go out and take a look? I’m curious to see what’s around here.”
Eden nodded obediently. In the first place, there was a limit to what he could do while stuck in a hotel room.
It seemed that the short road had been paved and the surrounding area had been cleaned up to some extent. The overall atmosphere of the island was not lost, but the neatly organized road was clean. Since there were restaurants and cafes along the road, the fishy smell that used to sting the nose was gone.
“The sea is pretty even during the day.”
As she walked along the road observing her surroundings, Cecilia stopped at the beach where they had been together the last time. The sunset was not as bright as before, but the beach exposed under the clear sky was refreshing enough to make her feel refreshed.
“You can come closer and take a look.”
After receiving permission from Eden, she was about to step onto the sandy beach. Eden, who had been walking with her shoes on out of habit, found Cecilia tilting her head with her feet sinking in, and hurriedly grabbed her by the waist.
"For a moment."
And then he made her put her hand on his shoulder, and then he got down on one knee again like he always did.
“Put your feet up.”
Cecilia looked up at the hotel building as if in a trance. It was where the stalls had once been. But now, a building so large and splendid that it was hard to believe it had been built in such a short time filled her view.
“It’s really cool.”
As Cecilia spoke with sparkling eyes, Eden smiled softly.
“Let’s go in.”
Eden naturally escorted Cecilia. Cecilia entered the hotel, holding Eden's arm.
The lobby had a high ceiling and a gorgeous chandelier on the ceiling, reflecting light in all directions, and the walls were decorated with works of art here and there. Even a rough estimate would suggest that a considerable amount of money had gone into it.
“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Duke. And Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”
They were greeted by a rather stylishly dressed staff member who must have even trained them in a short time.
“I wish my father had come too.”
“Don’t worry, he said he’d arrive in time for the completion ceremony.”
Eden followed the staff and spoke leisurely. As Eden had said, the official completion date of the hotel was tomorrow. The ships that had been restricted by the Emperor’s order were also being restored, and people who had been curious about the island were expected to pour in.
In such a situation, arriving a day early and enjoying the quiet island and the best room in the hotel was definitely a privilege.
“You can see the sea at a glance.”
The staff opened the door for her. As soon as she entered the room, Cecilia was amazed by the view of the ocean through the large window.
“I’ll get this room for the most expensive price.”
Eden chuckled softly at Cecilia's muttered words as she looked down at the sea.
“Business is more suited to you than your father.”
Then he came closer and gently kissed Cecilia's temple.
“Can I go out and take a look? I’m curious to see what’s around here.”
Eden nodded obediently. In the first place, there was a limit to what he could do while stuck in a hotel room.
It seemed that the short road had been paved and the surrounding area had been cleaned up to some extent. The overall atmosphere of the island was not lost, but the neatly organized road was clean. Since there were restaurants and cafes along the road, the fishy smell that used to sting the nose was gone.
“The sea is pretty even during the day.”
As she walked along the road observing her surroundings, Cecilia stopped at the beach where they had been together the last time. The sunset was not as bright as before, but the beach exposed under the clear sky was refreshing enough to make her feel refreshed.
“You can come closer and take a look.”
After receiving permission from Eden, she was about to step onto the sandy beach. Eden, who had been walking with her shoes on out of habit, found Cecilia tilting her head with her feet sinking in, and hurriedly grabbed her by the waist.
"For a moment."
And then he made her put her hand on his shoulder, and then he got down on one knee again like he always did.
“Put your feet up.”
At his request, Cecilia carefully stepped forward, and Eden took off Cecilia's shoes.
“The sand is very soft and warm.”
Finally, Cecilia's bare feet, having taken off all her shoes, stepped onto the sandy beach. The soft sand, warmed by the sun, felt good against her soles. Eden looked at Cecilia's wiggling feet as if he found them cute, then sat up.
“It sparkles like gold dust.”
Cecilia laughed and kicked the sand with her foot. It was a joke, but it wasn't a complete joke since she knew there was gold on this island. The sand gently scattered into the air and settled back down on the beach.
“I found this while reading a book a while ago. In mythology, the island of Laner is a land blessed by the gods.”
“God’s blessing?”
Eden turned his gaze to Cecilia and asked back.
“The land where God first set foot.”
Cecilia answered Eden, recalling a passage she had read in a book.
“The land that was suddenly pressed up rose up and became a steep cliff in the west and a gentle terrain in the east. The story goes that the island that was pressed by the foot of the god cried out in pain, and the god, as an apology, shared his power with the land.”
Eden chuckled. It seemed like he thought it was a cute story.
“So what power did God give to this poor island?”
“A life without lies.”
Eden frowned slightly. His face looked like he didn't understand.
“I guess it means that the weather is so sunny that it’s impossible to avoid other people’s gaze.”
Cecilia also had difficulty understanding the power that the gods had gifted to the island in that myth.
“Anyway, since there are such myths, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to build a church. The people of the empire are faithful.”
Eden nodded at Cecilia's words. The island where love comes true, and the land where God first set foot. Aside from the difficulty of understanding the kind of power that God had given, it was a good story.
“I guess that’s not entirely wrong.”
Cecilia looked up at Eden with a puzzled expression.
“What do you mean?”
A woman standing with her back to the sea that was turning pink. The image lingered in his mind, and he wondered why, but at that moment as if he had been stabbed in the stomach, he realized his inexplicable feelings.
The moment he discovered the truth of his heart that he didn't even know he had, was on this land. It was also at that time that he thought that the saying that there is an island where love comes true might not be completely false. However, if something given by God has the power to find such things, then it might not be completely false.
“It’s nothing. I should ask Enon to research the myth further and write an article about it.”
At Eden's answer, Cecilia turned around with a steamy face. There was no hesitation in her steps as she walked toward the sea. The hem of her skirt rippled like waves as she walked away.
Like something she had missed.
Eden, who was trying to follow Cecilia, stopped in his tracks.
"Your Highness?"
Cecilia looked back at Eden with a puzzled expression. The waves that had surged right in front of where Cecilia had stopped passed by, gently caressing the wet sand.
“I had a strange feeling for a moment.”
Unless it was a ghost or something. Eden closed his eyes for a moment, shook his head to shake off his thoughts, and then took his foot off the ground.
The sand beneath his feet sparkled in the light.
***
"Oh!"
When he opened the box that the Driton mine owner had brought, a fist-sized gold nugget was revealed. The glittering color was so extraordinary that Count Casper couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
“As expected, as expected!”
The development of the Driton mine has been slow recently, which has been irritating Count Casper's temper. That is why he has summoned the owner of the Driton mine today.
“It is the smallest piece ever mined from a gold vein.”
Oh my. The smallest? Surprise and greed flashed through Count Casper's eyes. He reflexively let out a squeak. Realizing his own incompetence, Count Casper unnaturally cleared his throat.
“I think you may have been anxious because I stayed in Driton for a long time and was unable to report to you.”
The Driton mine owner spoke with a kind smile. He was very good at soothing and appeasing Count Casper's worries.
“No. I trusted you and invested a lot of money in you. I thought you would do well.”
It was a good thing he had told no one about the mine. Count Casper thought so, completely forgetting that his friend at the gambling table had whispered to him about the Driton mine.
“You will probably be able to recover all of your investment within this year. After that, you will receive profits based on the contract.”
I could get that money back within this year. And I could continue to make profits after that!
When he opened the box that the Driton mine owner had brought, a fist-sized gold nugget was revealed. The glittering color was so extraordinary that Count Casper couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
“As expected, as expected!”
The development of the Driton mine has been slow recently, which has been irritating Count Casper's temper. That is why he has summoned the owner of the Driton mine today.
“It is the smallest piece ever mined from a gold vein.”
Oh my. The smallest? Surprise and greed flashed through Count Casper's eyes. He reflexively let out a squeak. Realizing his own incompetence, Count Casper unnaturally cleared his throat.
“I think you may have been anxious because I stayed in Driton for a long time and was unable to report to you.”
The Driton mine owner spoke with a kind smile. He was very good at soothing and appeasing Count Casper's worries.
“No. I trusted you and invested a lot of money in you. I thought you would do well.”
It was a good thing he had told no one about the mine. Count Casper thought so, completely forgetting that his friend at the gambling table had whispered to him about the Driton mine.
“You will probably be able to recover all of your investment within this year. After that, you will receive profits based on the contract.”
I could get that money back within this year. And I could continue to make profits after that!
The future seemed much brighter than the remote country estate where only flies were flying. After he recovered his investment and started making profits, he thought that he could gamble again since he would have money coming in every month.
“Meeting you is the greatest luck of my life!”
Count Casper burst into loud laughter and threw his arm around the miner's shoulder.
“Honey, it’s me.”
It was then that Countess Casper appeared.
“I finished preparing the meal.”
Countess Casper's complexion was also brighter and more radiant than before. In the meantime, she had also purchased expensive new dresses and accessories, so much so that even indoors, Countess Casper looked dazzling.
“Go down. I told you to prepare a meal for me in advance.”
“No. I’m going back to Driton...”
“Oh, you’re going to ignore my sincerity in preparing? Let’s go.”
When Count Casper, who had approached the door first, made a show of threatening gesture, the mine owner reluctantly walked forward. Before leaving Count Casper’s office, a smile that seemed to split his mouth crossed his face as he looked back at the gold nugget.
“I am so glad to have met such wonderful people as you two. I am even happier that I can repay your trust.”
But when he looked back at Count Casper and his wife, his face had become gentle as if nothing had happened.
“Meeting you is the greatest luck of my life!”
Count Casper burst into loud laughter and threw his arm around the miner's shoulder.
“Honey, it’s me.”
It was then that Countess Casper appeared.
“I finished preparing the meal.”
Countess Casper's complexion was also brighter and more radiant than before. In the meantime, she had also purchased expensive new dresses and accessories, so much so that even indoors, Countess Casper looked dazzling.
“Go down. I told you to prepare a meal for me in advance.”
“No. I’m going back to Driton...”
“Oh, you’re going to ignore my sincerity in preparing? Let’s go.”
When Count Casper, who had approached the door first, made a show of threatening gesture, the mine owner reluctantly walked forward. Before leaving Count Casper’s office, a smile that seemed to split his mouth crossed his face as he looked back at the gold nugget.
“I am so glad to have met such wonderful people as you two. I am even happier that I can repay your trust.”
But when he looked back at Count Casper and his wife, his face had become gentle as if nothing had happened.
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