Cassian Artiz is the one who always pays attention to my feeding, so I was secretly looking forward to this evening.
The place I headed to with Cassian was a place I knew.
Ilium, a resort for the imperial nobility, was about an hour's carriage ride from Duke Lopez's family villa.
A stream running from the forest near the villa forms a large river and runs through the center of Ilium.
When I got out of the carriage, the narrow river widened and a dock appeared where a medium-sized boat could cross.
“I guess it hasn't been long since Rose arrived in D.C.”
"Yes?"
Naturally, Cassian got out of the carriage first, escorted me out, and opened his mouth.
“There was a time when Rose spoke to me very politely and did not miss a single word.”
“Oh, yes.”
Now that I've been working for a year and a half, I gave an honest answer, which was very different from then.
It was annoying, but Cassian burst out laughing.
I wondered what was so fun about it.
“We went to end illegal drug trafficking on a cruise ship.”
“Oh, that's right.”
The impression was so strong that I still remember it clearly.
At that time, it must have been about two months since I started working in the Winter Palace, I was starting to get used to work, and I was so busy with so much work that I completely forgot my fear of the Empress.
My boss suddenly asked me to prepare for a business trip.
After heading east from the capital for two full days, we arrived at a large inland lake that was rumored to look like the sea at first glance.
Nobles and businessmen who had money and time used to enjoy the pleasure of sailing on very large cruise ships on the lake.
'Even the witches were captured one by one, so there was quite a harvest.'
In exchange for some relief from fines and imprisonment, the wizards are disciplined by performing official Cassian duties.
“You're thinking about something again.”
“…Isn’t the ship empty today?”
“You clearly said this is our special time.”
Cassian held my hand tightly and looked at me.
“I remember well the way Rose's eyes lit up on the cruise ship I snuck onto.”
At that time, I had just escaped a life of poverty and isolation.
'I forgot that you were not only interested in yourf, but in me as well.'
Cassian sighed visibly and led me inside the cruise ship parked at the dock.
A waiter wearing a simple, dark uniform guided us, as if he was waiting for us.
“Then I thought, let's take Rose on a nice cruise ship.”
Those gentle eyes left me speechless for a moment.
Instead of pressing for an answer, Cassian let me see the cruise ship, which although not very large, was well-equipped, and gave a dazzling view of the tranquil landscape outside.
“The tall tower there is the Lopez family villa.”
"Yes… ".
Although it was obscured by a dense forest of trees, the tower's large shadow was distinct and recognizable.
Cassian skillfully guided my body and explained the places visible from the cruise ship.
I watched the cruise ship walk on the calm waters for a while, and when I felt hungry, he led me to the on-board restaurant.
Then I realized one thing.
“…Did you rent the cruise ship?”
“Yes, because I didn't want to interrupt my precious time with Rose.”
“…Isn’t there important work you shouldn’t tell others?”
Given all the previous events, this makes more sense.
However, Cassian was not the type to waste his personal wealth easily.
Moreover, wasn't he the one who reduced the number of escorts to a minimum, saying that he didn't want to disturb others?
Even at times like these, Cassian didn't like to show off in an uncomfortable way, so much so that everyone who followed him was only a few knights and invisibly...
'It was like that in the original novel...'
Even as the romance progressed, the original Cassian did not hire anyone for Roslita.
Actually, to be precise, I wasn't able to go to famous places where a lot of people come and go..
'Because I never knew when and where the killer or kidnapper would appear.'
Even the temple was insanely vandalized.
“My fiancée loves her job very much, is it okay if I feel a little lonely?”
Naturally, Cassian ordered the waiter to bring the appetizers and made eye contact with me, resting his chin on his hand to one side.
“That's not true, it's just hard to prepare something like this in one day.”
“Why do you think I wouldn't be able to do this for my beautiful fiancée?”
“…There is no way Your Highness would bother coming here because of me?”
Did you just say a few days ago that you could give me time off because you could work on your own?
“Why do you think I can't?”
"Yes?"
“I could have complained to His Majesty the King, saying, ‘I will go on strike because I miss my fiancée so much.’”
You?
The original Cassian, he didn't do that either, right?
Even though I had doubts, I suddenly felt cold, because I thought that this demon-like Cassian could do it...
“Is it possible that His Majesty the Emperor intended to pay more attention to the Duchy of Jamotei regarding the recent exhibition?”
So I was so angry that I might rebel against the Emperor, something my boss would have done.
“How seriously does Rose look at me?”
“A very strong, shrewd and generous president.”
“Aren't you just a devil who works hard, pays well, and is generous with money?”
Isn't that a compliment too?
When she looked at him with a puzzled face, Cassian let out a small laugh.
“Either way, I'm glad I don't look bad to Rose.”
Kassian indicated that we start eating the scallops with caviar dish after the appetizers.
I carefully savored the caviar and popped it into my mouth along with the grilled scallops for more flavour.
The moment it touched my tongue, the flavor hit the roof of my mouth and I was instantly happy.
“Delicious?”
"a lot!"
I like meat a little more, but what does genre have to do with delicious food?
When Cassian saw my sincere face, he also slowly raised his fork and ate the scallop, then slowly opened his mouth..
“It was a coincidence that I came here.”
“…I guess that’s true, I didn’t expect me to come here either.”
“Yes, I guess it's a coincidence.
Actually, when I suddenly came here, I at least wanted to spill some tea for my brother.”
“Prince Charlie?”
Cassian nodded with a bitter face.
“I heard that his first assistant, Prince Ashwood, was away.”
Did he go on a long-distance business trip even though he works 3 hours a week?
The next duke's sense of responsibility is amazing!
Unlike this person who had a good work-life balance, I couldn't help but feel jealous because I was always in conflict..
Cassian tapped on the table.
“Anyway, people gather in places that are popular as resorts, and when people gather, it is easy to plan uess things.”
"naturally."
“It's been about a year, and it seems like they're really starting to miss the drugs.”
Ah, looks like these crazy people are manufacturing and releasing illegal drugs again..
“They are very cunning, so it would have been difficult for His Highness Prince Charlie to solve the problem without Prince Ashwood’s help.”
“Yes, that's why the Empress mentioned it during dinner last night.”
Cassian's lips drew a slanted line.
[Since this is something that needs to be done in secret, I thought it would be appropriate for your fiancée to visit the Duchy Lopez's villa.]
tic-
I was so surprised by Cassian's words that I dropped the fork I was holding.
The employee, who stepped back so as not to hear our conversation, quickly replaced the fork and widened the distance between us again.
“It's as if I came because of Rose.”
It's the crazy empress who threw a big event on my vacation!
Until…
I got goosebumps.
'Vilma has been taken advantage of.'
In the original work, Wilhelmina was exploited starting from the smallest detail, and this exploitation gradually snowballed.
“…Your Highness, is this really similar to the recent cruise ship accident?”
"for now?"
Cassian looked at my tense face and added words to reassure me.
Maybe you misunderstood..
"I told you, take your time and enjoy your vacation.
It's something I can handle on my own."
Because I really enjoy being able to spend this time with Rose.
The kind words that Cassian added out of habit, escaped from one ear...
I knew he was worried for no reason.
'This time, she was just trying to avoid making Prince Charlie do the hard work.'
Although I know that the Empress has neither the strength nor the intention to attack Cassian or me due to the events of the past war.
“Your Highness, please promise me.”
“Huh?”
“If you feel you need me to be there, please feel free to contact me.”
I couldn't ignore this anxiety that made my whole body tremble.