Minor troubles at the border also affected Count Casper, as the Driton mines were located in an area bordering Benia.
The soldiers of Benia stopped and questioned anyone who came near the border, and if they looked even a little suspicious, they would pick a fight. Of course, it wasn't the soldiers' personal will, but thanks to this, Count Casper had nothing to do. He didn't have to go around bragging or meddling.
“The weather is nice.”
Count Casper lay half-lying on the sofa leisurely, and thought back to the conversation he had had with his son a few days ago.
'There's still no news that work has resumed?'
'Yes, not yet...'
Owen nodded, watching Count Casper's expression. At first, Count Casper was not so impatient.
It had been several days since the news came that many people were unable to mine due to the ominous atmosphere on the part of Benia. Considering the surrounding circumstances, even Count Casper could endure it to that extent.
'How long will this last...!'
However, after a couple of months of hearing the news, Count Casper could not help but become anxious. This was because it was not as he had expected that he would be able to recover his investment.
With more than 80% of the investment not recovered, news of a gold vein on the island of Laner was heard. With the mines at Driton almost shutting down, Count Casper was indescribably distraught.
'I guess this can't go on. You should go to the mine, Owen.'
'To the mine?'
Owen looked at his father with a puzzled face.
'Go and meet the mine owner yourself to see how things are going. Tell him that I hope work can resume as soon as possible.'
'All right.'
Owen answered obediently and left for Driton. In fact, Owen was not usually a heavy-assed guy, but it was a quick move for his personality. Even though he pretended not to, it was clear that he was dissatisfied with the recent reduction in the amount of money allocated to him for living expenses.
“I wonder if something like that will happen...”
Count Casper muttered, staring at the fist-sized gold nugget on the table. He was somewhat uneasy. But he did not think he had been swindled.
Since he had already seen the gold nuggets with his own eyes, he was only worried that the value of the gold from the Driton mines might decrease because of Laner Island.
“I need money as soon as possible.”
It had been a long time since he had been bragging about the little money he had received and was spreading it around. Meanwhile, the interest repayment date for the loan he had received from a big shot at the casino to secure investment funds was approaching. He was in a situation where he did not have enough money to pay the interest right away.
When will this guy come? Count Casper thought, smacking his lips.
"Father!"
It was then that Count Casper, who had been lying down listlessly, jumped from his seat at the sound of the door suddenly opening.
“Owen! How old are you to be so rude...!”
Just as Count Casper was about to scold his son in anger, Owen Casper came running in, half-sobbing.
“I told you to go and check if things are going well, but why is your face like that?”
His heart beat a little anxiously. Count Casper asked, forgetting to scold his son for his rudeness. As soon as he heard that gold had been discovered on Laner Island, he had sent Owen to inspect the Driton mine.
“The mine, the Driton mine...”
“Why the mine? Did you hit the jackpot or something?”
When the topic he had been waiting for came up, Count Casper responded immediately.
“There was nothing.”
But the answer he got from Owen was not what he had expected. Count Casper's eyes widened as if asking what that meant.
“There’s nothing?”
“There was nothing, really nothing.”
Owen Casper continued stammering.
“Except for a single ‘Work in Progress’ sign posted in front of the Driton Mine, not a single ant was around!”
“...How could that be?”
How could that be? Count Casper shook his head in disbelief. He had read the report himself, estimated the mining volume, and measured profitability.
“It could be that they are taking a break from work for a while. They could have been working continuously and then taking a break for a few days.”
Count Casper, absentmindedly, managed to come up with a plausible reason. His son now had a tearful face.
“I asked everyone who lives nearby. They said they never started mining. It’s been like this since the accident!”
...Is that possible?
Count Casper's gaze slowly turned to the gold nugget that was shining so brightly that it passed by on the table.
“...”
By the way, has he ever tested whether that gold is real gold?
He couldn't remember.
The soldiers of Benia stopped and questioned anyone who came near the border, and if they looked even a little suspicious, they would pick a fight. Of course, it wasn't the soldiers' personal will, but thanks to this, Count Casper had nothing to do. He didn't have to go around bragging or meddling.
“The weather is nice.”
Count Casper lay half-lying on the sofa leisurely, and thought back to the conversation he had had with his son a few days ago.
'There's still no news that work has resumed?'
'Yes, not yet...'
Owen nodded, watching Count Casper's expression. At first, Count Casper was not so impatient.
It had been several days since the news came that many people were unable to mine due to the ominous atmosphere on the part of Benia. Considering the surrounding circumstances, even Count Casper could endure it to that extent.
'How long will this last...!'
However, after a couple of months of hearing the news, Count Casper could not help but become anxious. This was because it was not as he had expected that he would be able to recover his investment.
With more than 80% of the investment not recovered, news of a gold vein on the island of Laner was heard. With the mines at Driton almost shutting down, Count Casper was indescribably distraught.
'I guess this can't go on. You should go to the mine, Owen.'
'To the mine?'
Owen looked at his father with a puzzled face.
'Go and meet the mine owner yourself to see how things are going. Tell him that I hope work can resume as soon as possible.'
'All right.'
Owen answered obediently and left for Driton. In fact, Owen was not usually a heavy-assed guy, but it was a quick move for his personality. Even though he pretended not to, it was clear that he was dissatisfied with the recent reduction in the amount of money allocated to him for living expenses.
“I wonder if something like that will happen...”
Count Casper muttered, staring at the fist-sized gold nugget on the table. He was somewhat uneasy. But he did not think he had been swindled.
Since he had already seen the gold nuggets with his own eyes, he was only worried that the value of the gold from the Driton mines might decrease because of Laner Island.
“I need money as soon as possible.”
It had been a long time since he had been bragging about the little money he had received and was spreading it around. Meanwhile, the interest repayment date for the loan he had received from a big shot at the casino to secure investment funds was approaching. He was in a situation where he did not have enough money to pay the interest right away.
When will this guy come? Count Casper thought, smacking his lips.
"Father!"
It was then that Count Casper, who had been lying down listlessly, jumped from his seat at the sound of the door suddenly opening.
“Owen! How old are you to be so rude...!”
Just as Count Casper was about to scold his son in anger, Owen Casper came running in, half-sobbing.
“I told you to go and check if things are going well, but why is your face like that?”
His heart beat a little anxiously. Count Casper asked, forgetting to scold his son for his rudeness. As soon as he heard that gold had been discovered on Laner Island, he had sent Owen to inspect the Driton mine.
“The mine, the Driton mine...”
“Why the mine? Did you hit the jackpot or something?”
When the topic he had been waiting for came up, Count Casper responded immediately.
“There was nothing.”
But the answer he got from Owen was not what he had expected. Count Casper's eyes widened as if asking what that meant.
“There’s nothing?”
“There was nothing, really nothing.”
Owen Casper continued stammering.
“Except for a single ‘Work in Progress’ sign posted in front of the Driton Mine, not a single ant was around!”
“...How could that be?”
How could that be? Count Casper shook his head in disbelief. He had read the report himself, estimated the mining volume, and measured profitability.
“It could be that they are taking a break from work for a while. They could have been working continuously and then taking a break for a few days.”
Count Casper, absentmindedly, managed to come up with a plausible reason. His son now had a tearful face.
“I asked everyone who lives nearby. They said they never started mining. It’s been like this since the accident!”
...Is that possible?
Count Casper's gaze slowly turned to the gold nugget that was shining so brightly that it passed by on the table.
“...”
By the way, has he ever tested whether that gold is real gold?
He couldn't remember.
***
By now you must have realized you were scammed.
Cecilia thought as she watched the maid dress herself through the mirror. After news of the discovery of gold veins on Laner Island spread, diplomatic relations with Benia were put on hold, and mining at the Driton mines came to a complete halt.
“I don’t think they ever did it properly in the first place...”
It seemed like they had endured the situation for a couple of months, but given Count Casper's personality, it would have been difficult to wait any longer. At this point, they would have sent someone to the mine and checked the situation.
"Yes?"
The maid, who was exploring where to put the pin in her hair, asked with wide eyes.
“No. Go ahead.”
Cecilia spoke kindly with a smiling face. The maid focused her gaze on his head again.
Cecilia try hard, but she still doesn't feel satisfied. She is still not satisfied when the familiar touch of Madame Monte and Abby disappears. But she can't take advantage of the bride and her mother who are getting married today.
“Your Highness, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke has arrived.”
It was around the time when she was feeling sorry for the lack of familiar hands.
“Please come inside.”
Cecilia answered as she glanced at the maid. As if she was done, the maid fixed her hair with a pearl pin and then took her hand off.
“Oh, Your Highness...!”
But the moment Cecilia stood up, the maid was startled.
“I guess it’s because of the string.”
Eden, who had come closer without realizing it, spoke while looking down at Cecilia's white nape.
“Is it a string?”
“I think I forgot to tie it.”
“Your Highness, I am now...”
“I’ll do it, so you can go out.”
The maid tried to sneak a hand out while looking around but failed. Eden stopped her with a soft but firm voice and stood behind Cecilia.
“Can you do it?”
Instead of answering, Eden playfully raised an eyebrow. Then, he placed Cecilia in front of a full-length mirror and took off his gloves.
“Because the string seems slippery.”
Eden must have felt the gazes of those who didn't know why he was taking off his gloves, so he smiled brightly and put the gloves in his mouth. Then he placed them on the back of his neck and began tying the laces.
“...”
Every time the soft silk string brushed against the back of her neck, a rustling sound rang in her ears. Perhaps because it was so quiet, she could even hear her heart beating.
Cecilia ignored the noise and stared blankly at the man's face, who was concentrating on tying his strings, beyond the mirror. Sensing her gaze, Eden raised his gaze. And when their eyes met, he smiled with his eyes wide open.
As for the face, it's...
“It's all done.”
It was when Cecilia unconsciously thought about it that Eden spat out the gloves from his mouth and held them in his hands.
“It’s pretty.”
In the mirror, a man smiled with a beautiful face. It seemed as if he was determined to somehow captivate the woman in front of him.
However, Cecilia knew the cruelty hidden within that beautiful shell. Even though she was instinctively captivated by the gaze, she was not foolish enough to be captivated by the heart. Cecilia believed in herself.
“I just need to attend. Isn’t that annoying?”
Eden tilted his head to the side as he put his fingers back inside the glove and pulled at the tip to shape it.
“Wasn’t that already over?”
Eden said with a gentle face. Of course, it was a story that had already ended a few days ago. Since it was the wedding of Cecilia's favorite maid, he also wanted to attend and congratulate her, and Abby and Diego also said they would be honored.
“I’m worried that you might be worrying about me when you don’t have time.”
Eden shook his head at Cecilia's response.
“I think I’ll feel reassured if I see it with my own eyes.”
Yes? What? Cecilia blinked with a puzzled look. Eden smiled slightly at the sight.
“And I’m more worried about leaving you alone.”
Then he came closer and gave her a short kiss near her temple.
“Let’s go now.”
Before she could even ask what he was worried about, Eden reached out his hand. Cecilia, who happened to grab his hand instead of his arm, followed Eden’s brisk steps.
“...”
Suddenly, her eyes went to the hand that was being held so tightly that she couldn't let go. It was as if they were a couple going on a normal date.
Cecilia thought as she watched the maid dress herself through the mirror. After news of the discovery of gold veins on Laner Island spread, diplomatic relations with Benia were put on hold, and mining at the Driton mines came to a complete halt.
“I don’t think they ever did it properly in the first place...”
It seemed like they had endured the situation for a couple of months, but given Count Casper's personality, it would have been difficult to wait any longer. At this point, they would have sent someone to the mine and checked the situation.
"Yes?"
The maid, who was exploring where to put the pin in her hair, asked with wide eyes.
“No. Go ahead.”
Cecilia spoke kindly with a smiling face. The maid focused her gaze on his head again.
Cecilia try hard, but she still doesn't feel satisfied. She is still not satisfied when the familiar touch of Madame Monte and Abby disappears. But she can't take advantage of the bride and her mother who are getting married today.
“Your Highness, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke has arrived.”
It was around the time when she was feeling sorry for the lack of familiar hands.
“Please come inside.”
Cecilia answered as she glanced at the maid. As if she was done, the maid fixed her hair with a pearl pin and then took her hand off.
“Oh, Your Highness...!”
But the moment Cecilia stood up, the maid was startled.
“I guess it’s because of the string.”
Eden, who had come closer without realizing it, spoke while looking down at Cecilia's white nape.
“Is it a string?”
“I think I forgot to tie it.”
“Your Highness, I am now...”
“I’ll do it, so you can go out.”
The maid tried to sneak a hand out while looking around but failed. Eden stopped her with a soft but firm voice and stood behind Cecilia.
“Can you do it?”
Instead of answering, Eden playfully raised an eyebrow. Then, he placed Cecilia in front of a full-length mirror and took off his gloves.
“Because the string seems slippery.”
Eden must have felt the gazes of those who didn't know why he was taking off his gloves, so he smiled brightly and put the gloves in his mouth. Then he placed them on the back of his neck and began tying the laces.
“...”
Every time the soft silk string brushed against the back of her neck, a rustling sound rang in her ears. Perhaps because it was so quiet, she could even hear her heart beating.
Cecilia ignored the noise and stared blankly at the man's face, who was concentrating on tying his strings, beyond the mirror. Sensing her gaze, Eden raised his gaze. And when their eyes met, he smiled with his eyes wide open.
As for the face, it's...
“It's all done.”
It was when Cecilia unconsciously thought about it that Eden spat out the gloves from his mouth and held them in his hands.
“It’s pretty.”
In the mirror, a man smiled with a beautiful face. It seemed as if he was determined to somehow captivate the woman in front of him.
However, Cecilia knew the cruelty hidden within that beautiful shell. Even though she was instinctively captivated by the gaze, she was not foolish enough to be captivated by the heart. Cecilia believed in herself.
“I just need to attend. Isn’t that annoying?”
Eden tilted his head to the side as he put his fingers back inside the glove and pulled at the tip to shape it.
“Wasn’t that already over?”
Eden said with a gentle face. Of course, it was a story that had already ended a few days ago. Since it was the wedding of Cecilia's favorite maid, he also wanted to attend and congratulate her, and Abby and Diego also said they would be honored.
“I’m worried that you might be worrying about me when you don’t have time.”
Eden shook his head at Cecilia's response.
“I think I’ll feel reassured if I see it with my own eyes.”
Yes? What? Cecilia blinked with a puzzled look. Eden smiled slightly at the sight.
“And I’m more worried about leaving you alone.”
Then he came closer and gave her a short kiss near her temple.
“Let’s go now.”
Before she could even ask what he was worried about, Eden reached out his hand. Cecilia, who happened to grab his hand instead of his arm, followed Eden’s brisk steps.
“...”
Suddenly, her eyes went to the hand that was being held so tightly that she couldn't let go. It was as if they were a couple going on a normal date.
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