In fact, the establishment of a new sea trade route was something to be welcomed even for the Dalbert family.
However, the matter is completely different if the “main party in opening the road” becomes Dalbert and not the Imperial Palace.
And this is normal.
The mission this time was not just to use existing paths, but rather to open a completely new navigation route themselves.
‘When Gerold Prince promised his full support for maritime trade, I had to examine his intentions more carefully…’
He had expected generous support of various kinds to further Dalbert's trading ventures, but was surprised by the request to open a new trade route.
Shouldn't the Imperial Palace make this move directly?
For many years, Dalbert had suffered from pirates, so concern about the dangers was very great.
Of course, he did not have the authority to refuse the Crown Prince's orders.
So, if Dalbert had to go ahead and take risks…
Cedric was determined to get more for his fiefdom in return.
***
“There is no guarantee that the place we will reach across the sea is the Kingdom of Enrica.”
“Can't we simply find the way using a compass?
We've even calculated the expected distance when using the sea route, right?”
“No, sailing by compass alone without knowing the conditions of the Western Sea at all might end up on a deserted island.
And if there are pirates on that island who have not yet discovered Dalbert, we will be needlessly telling them where we are.”
“The Imperial Palace will not ignore Dalbert.
We will send the army to completely eliminate the pirates, don’t worry.”
“Are you asking us to turn Dalbert into a battlefield again?”
“Don’t large profits usually come after suffering huge losses?
If you looked at the human and material resources that the palace had pumped into Dalbert, wouldn’t you realize the answer?”
When tension began to prevail among the nobles coming from d'Albert, Count Curtis who had been monitoring the situation intervened to try to mediate.
“Mr.
Hauser, how can you speak so harshly?
We are not in diplomatic negotiations with another country, so what is the point of calculating loss and profit like this?”
Then he tried to calm the feelings of Viscount William, who was coming from Dalbert, saying: “The residents of Dalbert Fief are also imperial citizens.
This means that His Highness the Crown Prince will not stand idly by if Dalbert is exposed to danger.”
After the tense atmosphere calmed down a bit, Gerold who had been watching silently directed his words towards Cedric.
“What is the Marquis’s opinion?
Is d’Albert raising all these problems due to your desire to get something big from the palace?
I would like to hear what is the best solution from your point of view.”
Then, Cedric bowed lightly in a polite but non-submissive gesture, then began his speech: “After deeply considering the various possibilities, it seems that in order to open a successful and realistic shipping route, we will need not only greater financial and military support than before, but also close cooperation with His Highness Crown Prince Alisto to lead this operation himself.”
The card that Cedric presented after a long thought was “Alisto.”
By declaring his desire to move under the command of the Crown Prince, he was indirectly indicating his desire to officially enter the Blossom Palace.
“And in order to develop precise strategies with His Highness... wouldn’t continuous communication between the two parties be more important than anything else?”
What Cedric wanted to get in exchange for taking the risks of opening the shipping route -
It is the entry into Blossom Palace and the prosperity of Dalbert's fiefdom.
If he and his followers entered Blossom, Dalbert would no longer be just a remote, helpless fiefdom.
***
Ruby went out for a short while.
With maids under her command, she had time to go out occasionally when Miss Atha left the Almond ward.
For her, having personal time was so great.
Today she was planning to sell the sapphire she got from Mr.
Ferrell at an exhibition.
In fact, when she became a maid in the Almond Pavilion, she had hoped that she would continue to receive a lot of bribes.
But she quickly realized that her hopes were in vain.
Maybe that was normal.
Mr.
Ferrell, the first to attempt to approach the Almond Pavilion, was instantly killed.
It was a silent threat not to approach the Almond Pavilion without permission, and this example succeeded in being an effective deterrent.
Although she felt sorry for the loss of the bribes, on the other hand, she felt relieved.
The thought of someone approaching her and asking her about Miss Atha would have chilled her.
This was not fear of the person himself.
Rather, it was because once the head maid informed Mrs.
Watch, that person would be dead.
Just like Mr.
Ferrell.
'Is this my little heart the reason why I can't surpass the rank of Gray Owl?'
If so, it is unfair.
Although her heart is small and she trembles in fear, she carries out the tasks assigned to her meticulously.
Although she doesn't have the confidence to carry on conversations as if nothing had happened, she does have the confidence not to back down.
“...Oh?
I forgot to bring the ruby.”
***
Ruby had to return home, where she met her second younger sister who was blowing the covers off.
“Oh?
What brings you here, sister?”
Ruby answered briefly as she headed towards her room on the second floor: “I came to get something.”
Then her sister Bess, who was shaking off the cover, began to catch up with her and follow her.
“That's good.
I had something I wanted to ask you...”
A smile appeared on Ruby's lips.
Her sister's question was expected.
She'll definitely ask how much the academy's tuition costs, and she'll say she'll just hire if it's too expensive.
Then you would tell her not to worry about the fees and just focus on studying hard.
This was the moment to enjoy the status of the head of the family who earned the big money.
It was a good decision to take over the [coffin] duties.
Ruby laughed lightly as she turned to her sister who was following her, and raised her chin confidently: “What is it?
Ask about anything.”
But contrary to her expectations, Bess's question was not related to the academy at all.
“You said earlier, Sister, that you were transferred to the Almond Pavilion.
What kind of person are you serving?”
At that moment, Ruby's mind was completely empty of thoughts.
"… What?"
***
On the other hand, Doctor Chino smartly collected the examination tools and left the place.
“……”
Alisto remained staring in amazement at the swollen mass of the saint, who was shrinking under the quilt that covered even her head.
'What is this?'
What is this cute creature?
This woman was suffering to death because her heart was pounding because of his marriage proposal.
Or he was the one who ran her here carrying her for fear that she would really die.
He couldn't help but laugh at the strangeness of the situation.
In the midst of this, he felt very relieved that the saint did not have a serious problem.
Of course, he continued to worry about her malnutrition.
But since the issue can be resolved through care, rest and eating good food, there seems to be no need for serious concern.
'It would be better if I took care of her myself after marriage.'
While Alisto was already imagining his future married life on his own-
The motionless quilt moved once.
Is she uncomfortable but embarrassed to go out?
When he watches her, he finds that she is really very shy.
“How long are you going to stay like this?”
When he spoke to her to let her go out, the saint cautiously took her eyes out from under the quilt.
“You haven't gone yet.”
“Aren't you hungry?”
“…I feel a little hungry.”
When he saw that the Saint had calmed down a little, Alisto felt a sudden urge to caress her.
If he made fun of her now, would she be so embarrassed again and make such a fuss that her heart would jump out of her mouth?
Or will she hide under the quilt again and become like a stone?
Since both possibilities were nice, it didn't matter which one would happen, but eating was the priority now.
***
As she walked beside Alisto, the smile did not leave Atha's face.
Little did she know that the saying that the world seems different when you're in love was true.
The orange color of the sun that is about to set, and the moon that appeared early in the still bright sky.
The slowly flowing clouds, the familiar green foliage, and even the stone floor of the Imperial Palace that her eyes were accustomed to.
There was nothing that didn't look beautiful.
For Atha, Alisto was the ideal model for the hero of romance and fantasy novels.
He was so affectionate towards her that she sometimes forgot that he was a “promising tyrant.”
Anyway-
Whether he's a promising tyrant or something else, what business do I have?
There's a cliché that goes, "He's only warm with his woman."
Once Atha received Alisto's marriage proposal, she made up her mind.
'I will fulfill all the romances that have accumulated in my imagination from reading thousands of novels!'