Chapter 25
With a hazy mind, Eden scanned the unfamiliar room. Just as the question Where am I? passed through him, memories of the previous night came flooding back.
“I want to fall asleep in your arms, Your Grace.”
Cecilia, tipsy from sipping wine all throughout dinner, had been in his arms when he brought her to her chambers. She’d clung to him, unwilling to let go, so he thought he’d lie beside her for a moment—only to fall asleep himself.
Eden blinked slowly, his blurred vision slowly focusing. Cecilia, who had been using his arm as a pillow, was now curled up against his chest.
“…”
Eden quietly gazed at her sleeping face. Gone was the seductive woman who had initiated their kiss while drunk—only an innocent, peaceful face remained.
“Lady Nova asked if she could join us for dinner.”
Illina’s coy advances toward him had been obvious to anyone, even a child. There was no way Cecilia hadn’t noticed. And yet, she didn’t seem the least bit bothered.
Even in a marriage of political convenience, no one would remain unbothered if another woman flirted with their spouse right in front of them.
“Illina looked lovely, didn’t she, Your Grace?”
Cecilia had even praised Illina at the dinner table. Eden hadn’t even needed to share his thoughts to provoke her—being kind to Illina in front of others, even the servants, was enough.
Just when he was about to lose his temper, Cecilia had kissed him. It had been brief, nothing more than a brush of lips, and afterward, she’d whined at him for being too kind to Illina. That tiny complaint, oddly enough, had satisfied him.
“You weren’t unaffected after all…”
That single pout had eased his heart, dissolving all his simmering frustration like foam. He felt at peace.
And so, even if he didn’t know the name of this feeling, Eden realized one thing with certainty—he was becoming obsessed with Cecilia. And it didn’t feel bad at all.
“Her Grace is still resting. Don’t wake her unless it’s urgent.”
The maids standing outside Cecilia’s chambers flinched at the sight of Eden stepping out. He told them not to disturb her and headed for his own rooms.
Technically, his chambers were just past a small sitting room connected to hers. But he went out of his way—so the maids wouldn’t open the door of their own accord.
“Your Grace, did you sleep well?”
Had he known he’d run into Illina, he wouldn’t have chosen this route.
“Lady Nova.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Eden regarded her flushed cheeks without expression. There was a sultry glint in her golden eyes, but he felt nothing. It was the same now as it had always been.
“Could you move aside?”
Instead of a greeting, she received a request to step aside. Illina, slightly embarrassed, did as asked.
“Cecilia is still sleeping. It’s best not to disturb her.”
At Eden’s added remark, Illina’s eyes widened. Only then did she seem to notice his rumpled shirt.
There was only one conclusion to draw from a man returning late morning, shirt wrinkled, after spending the night in his wife’s room. Illina’s eyes shimmered faintly with sorrow.
“I—I understand.”
A pathetic sort of sorrow. Illina stammered, but Eden didn’t spare her another glance.
He had already gotten everything he wanted. And now that Cecilia had openly shown jealousy, he had no intention of tolerating Illina’s presumptuous ambitions any further.
“I didn’t expect we’d depart so suddenly.”
Cecilia murmured as she climbed into the carriage, holding Eden’s hand. Of all the truths she had shared with him, this was the most genuine. Eden gave a brief smile, as if he understood.
“Nor did I.”
Their departure for the island had come sooner than expected. Enon had misunderstood a superior’s instruction to “review the schedule” as “clear your schedule immediately” and canceled everything.
“But it seemed like perfect timing for a change of pace, so I agreed.”
Cecilia nodded. They hadn’t even taken a proper honeymoon, so it wasn’t a bad excuse for a sudden trip, especially in the eyes of others.
“Staying cooped up in the townhouse must’ve been dull, right, Illina?”
At Cecilia’s question, Illina, seated in the same carriage, quickly shook her head.
“Not at all. How could I dare feel such things, when both Your Graces are always so kind to me?”
She spoke softly, as if afraid of being misunderstood—but the message was quite the opposite.
“His Grace is kind to you?”
Cecilia’s question made Illina lift the corners of her mouth slightly—not arrogant, but just enough to be irksome.
“His Grace is very considerate.”
He’s kind to me, too. That was the real message, delivered with a transparent face and shameless tone.
It was a classic, yet effective method—subtle manipulation, sowing seeds of discord.
“True.”
But when you don’t react, the speaker is the only one left feeling awkward. Smiling, Cecilia turned to Eden and responded calmly. Illina’s lips twitched, her expression faltering.
“I heard you were quite busy back in Vester, Illina.”
“Is that so?”
Eden’s gaze, cold and disinterested, shifted to Illina. Her subtle barbs at Cecilia had clearly annoyed him.
“I wondered if you might find the capital dull in comparison.”
“The rumors were just exaggerated.”
“What kind of work did you do to cause such rumors?”
“Oh, I merely helped my father and older brother a little. Things like counting sums and organizing ledgers…”
Though she tried to sound modest, a flicker of pride lit Illina’s face. Clearly, she enjoyed showcasing her abilities in front of Eden. After all, in her eyes, Cecilia was a simple-minded woman.
“Ahh.”
Cecilia let out a soft exclamation as if it had all just clicked.
“That’s impressive. I still find accounting difficult—it’s something I tend to avoid.”
“It all depends on your mindset, Your Grace.”
While it sounded like gentle advice, it was really a thinly veiled jab. Cecilia didn’t bristle at the remark. Instead, she merely patted the back of Eden’s hand, as if to soothe him—who was clearly displeased, his brow faintly furrowed.
Illina’s gaze locked onto the bothersome sight—Cecilia’s hand on Eden’s. Cecilia smiled faintly.
“In that case, I suppose you know why Vester’s tax revenue has been declining.”
“…”
“I’d wondered, but I didn’t think Illina would know, so I didn’t ask.”
Illina, who had been staring at their overlapping hands, froze. She couldn’t pretend not to know—after all, she’d just boasted of her involvement.
“Well, as you know, trade and commerce have been flourishing in the capital and port cities…”
And she wanted to expose Cecilia’s incompetence in front of Eden.
“Also, the mines are nearly depleted, so production has fallen significantly. Many have fled elsewhere because of these and other reasons.”
“…”
“Moreover, with the recent famine, many families are struggling, and taxes can’t be collected from them.”
In Vester, a lenient policy allowed for exemptions or deferments on certain taxes for those who couldn’t pay due to hardship. An increase in poverty would certainly account for a drop in revenue.
“I see.”
However, there were other possibilities. For example, a rise in the number of slaves who didn’t pay taxes. That often came down to two reasons: either people fell into debt and became slaves—or they were recorded as such only on paper, often tied to embezzlement by officials.
“I understand.”
Cecilia didn’t press Illina further on those possibilities. Whether she truly didn’t know or simply wouldn’t admit it, Cecilia knew better than to ask.
“You’re even more clever than I expected, Illina. I feel bad for having brought you here only as a maid.”
Eden, who had been looking out the window to avoid getting involved in the women’s conversation, briefly glanced at Illina.
“We’ve arrived, Cecilia.”
And just like that, he completely ignored Illina.
“The ship isn’t very large.”
After about an hour’s journey by carriage, the harbor came into view. Cecilia stared silently at the vessel waiting for them.
“There aren’t many of us, and the island isn’t far.”
Eden helped her aboard as he explained. It wasn’t a large cruise ship but a sturdy, modest vessel meant only for them and a handful of servants.
“We still have another hour to go. You should rest inside.”
Eden suggested they go below deck. Cecilia shook her head, choosing instead to stand at the bow, facing the sea breeze. Her fine skirts billowed like flags in the wind.
“No, I like the sea air.”
She glanced briefly at Eden, then turned her eyes back toward the horizon.
“It’s not every day I get to see the ocean.”
In her past life, she had never seen the sea. Normally, nobles would pass their title to their heirs and travel the world by ship. But in her previous life, Cecilia had neither lived that long—nor had any children.
“You didn’t seem too keen at first.”
“Now that I’m aboard, I feel differently.”
Her voice was light, almost cheerful.
“It feels… freeing.”
As the ship gradually drifted from the harbor, she felt an odd sense of exhilaration. As though she were sailing away from all the burdens and emotions she had carried for so long.
“…Have you ever wanted to leave?”
Eden asked. His voice was quiet, nearly lost beneath the rhythmic sound of the waves tapping the hull. And yet, somehow, it reached her with stunning clarity.
There was a wary edge to his tone, something akin to guardedness—and that’s what made it stand out.
