Chapter 33
“How are you feeling?”
At Curtis’s question, Cecilia, who had just set down her teacup, raised her right eyebrow slightly. Her expression seemed to ask, Why such a strange question?
“I’m fine. The weather is lovely today.”
And she meant it. Cecilia wasn’t upset about what had happened the previous night. In fact, after finally dealing with Illina—someone she had grown tired of even watching—she felt better than ever.
“I see. That’s a relief.”
Curtis cleared his throat and nodded. This was his first visit to the Grand Duke’s estate since Cecilia’s marriage, and he had accepted the offer to stay the night—only to witness quite a spectacle. Who could have imagined a young lady, the same age as his daughter, sneaking into his bed at dawn?
“I’m glad you’re all right, but…”
“…….”
“Has the Grand Duke… ever been entangled with other women? You seem awfully calm.”
After all, the girl’s target had been his daughter’s husband, and the thought alone had unsettled him. Yet Cecilia looked completely at ease, which left him wondering if her marriage was truly happy.
“I know better than anyone that His Grace has never given any woman—Illina included—even the slightest opening.”
Cecilia smiled softly, as if such concerns were unnecessary. Seeing her so genuinely untroubled, Curtis realized his worries were unfounded.
“Yes, considering how the Grand Duke always cared for you, it would be absurd to think otherwise.”
Their engagement alone had lasted ten years. Not long ago, Cecilia had fallen gravely ill. Even with royal physicians sent from the palace, her condition didn’t improve, and many believed she wouldn’t survive.
“He couldn’t have done all that if he didn’t love you.”
Curtis himself had tried, with a heavy heart, to broach the subject of breaking off the engagement. The emperor seemed ready to agree—but it was Eden who stopped them.
‘It’s been nine years since we were betrothed. If I break it off now, who else would marry Cecilia?’
Eden had insisted it was morally unacceptable. Besides, he said, if Cecilia were to die, the engagement would dissolve naturally, and discussing it while she was bedridden would be in poor taste. Those fathers who had brought it up had only embarrassed themselves.
Fortunately, Cecilia recovered. If Eden hadn’t protected her then, she would have had to settle for a far lesser match.
“Love…”
Cecilia murmured the word under her breath, idly running her fingers along the handle of her teacup.
This was why the Cecilia of the past had assumed Eden’s feelings were love. Everyone around her had said the same—Curtis, Lady Monte, her maid, and all those she loved and trusted believed that Eden’s behavior toward her could only mean love.
“He is… very kind.”
And so she had believed it was love. Even though he had never once voiced such a thing. Looking back now, it seemed almost laughable. If Eden could have read her thoughts, he might have found them absurd as well.
“But Cecilia.”
“Yes, Father?”
Just as she was lost in reflection, Curtis spoke again, his tone hesitant.
“You say you’re fine, which is why I bring this up…”
He paused, his expression uncertain.
“If the audit concludes without issue, I hope you won’t deal too harshly with the Nova family.”
Cecilia’s gaze rested on his face—one wavering yet determined to speak. She waited silently for him to continue.
“To be honest… I find it hard to believe Count Nova is truly guilty. There may have been some misunderstanding.”
“…….”
“Of course, it’s up to you. But would that be too difficult?”
Curtis asked cautiously. It was not a question that invited an easy yes.
“Let’s wait for the audit first. If it proves he’s innocent, then we can decide.”
“Yes… you’re right.”
“Are you feeling well otherwise?”
Instead of refusing outright, Cecilia smoothly changed the subject.
“I’m perfectly healthy. I think I’ll live at least until my grandchildren come of age.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
Cecilia laughed. Maybe it was because she was always forcing a smile in front of Eden, but now, she felt truly at ease.
“Seems you’re enjoying yourselves.”
A familiar voice interrupted them. Before either father or daughter could greet him, Eden had already taken the seat beside Cecilia, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“I apologize for what happened early this morning.”
“I know it wasn’t your fault, Your Grace.”
Curtis answered with a pleasant smile. Truthfully, he would rather have been the one entangled in that situation than Eden. Just imagining Eden caught beneath Illina or, worse, having taken her, was far more distressing.
“I feel a bit relieved hearing that.”
“Let’s stop dwelling on unpleasant matters. It’s not exactly a cheerful topic for any of us.”
Cecilia interjected smoothly, guiding the conversation away from the uncomfortable incident.
“Actually, before Your Grace arrived, Father and I were discussing Lanner Island.”
Curtis nodded, as if he had already forgotten the earlier conversation. He was more than willing to let any topic go if Cecilia wasn’t comfortable continuing it.
“Yesterday, I had a discussion with Cecilia—no, with Her Grace the Grand Duchess—regarding Lanner Island. It didn’t seem like a matter affecting just one person, so I was considering a few ventures that might help the island as a whole.”
Curtis, watching Eden’s reaction closely, spoke in a calm tone.
“Since it was Her Grace’s idea, I believe it’s best you hear it from her directly.”
Eden turned to Cecilia. After a brief hesitation, she decided to speak frankly. If she wanted to draw him into the venture, her explanation needed to be persuasive.
“As you know, the people living on the island rely entirely on fishing to survive. If that’s restricted, they have no means of livelihood.”
However, asking Venia to grant fishing rights would be tantamount to admitting that Lanner Island belonged to Venia—an unacceptable position.
“So the only alternative I could consider… was tourism.”
Cecilia recited to Eden the information she had gathered from Alice—about the island’s climate, its natural environment, and the character of its people—all to highlight the potential for success.
But Eden showed no discernible reaction. Just as Cecilia, growing anxious, gently reached for his sleeve, Eden looked her directly in the eyes.
“You saw it that day, didn’t you, Your Grace?”
She spoke softly, as if trying to persuade him. In Eden’s gaze, a flicker of emotion surfaced—something faint, resembling tenderness.
“Where will the funding come from?”
Eden quickly collected himself, concealing his thoughts with practiced ease. He turned to Curtis, asking calmly about the source of funds.
“While House Rain could cover the costs entirely, the territory’s current financial state isn’t ideal…”
Curtis trailed off, clearly weighing the numbers. He was trying to support Cecilia’s proposal.
“Submit a report to the investment bank. I’ll join as both investor and business partner.”
Success. Cecilia smiled in relief, her expression softening as she looked at Eden. Eden, in turn, watched her beautiful smile with a faintly complex expression.
“Then I suppose I should return at once to begin preparations.”
Curtis chuckled as he spoke, effectively accepting Eden’s offer.
“Won’t you stay a bit longer?”
“It’s been a long and tiring day. I’d prefer to rest now.”
With that, Curtis stood from his seat. Cecilia rose as well.
“Oh, Father—your jacket is in His Grace’s room, isn’t it? I’ll fetch it for you and pick up some documents I left there as well.”
Curtis almost stopped her, but she moved too quickly for him to object.
“Then I suppose I’ll take this opportunity to speak more with His Grace.”
Eden smoothly redirected Curtis’s attention, while Cecilia made her way to Eden’s chamber at a leisurely pace.
“Ah, here it is.”
Curtis’s jacket was draped over the back of a chair. Just as Cecilia reached for it, something slipped out with a rustle and fell to the floor.
‘What business would I have privately contacting that woman?’
It fell from the same place Curtis had nervously fumbled with while discussing the House of Oberon. Cecilia blinked, briefly lost in thought, then bent down and picked up the paper.
“……”
She started to tuck the paper back into Curtis’s jacket—but froze. A faint scent touched her nose. The perfume was delicate, unmistakably floral—something used only by noblewomen.
“A woman?”
Since the death of her mother, Curtis had remained alone. Even if he now had a companion, Cecilia had no grounds—or right—to blame him.
Yet the discomfort that crept over her came from familiarity. The scent wasn’t foreign to her. Reflexively, she thought of someone who adored the rich fragrance of roses.
“What a ridiculous thought…”
Cecilia shook her head, amused by her own imagination.
She had, after all, made up her mind to turn away from Eden, thanks to the second chance she’d been given. But Curtis wasn’t like her. He had aligned himself fully with Eden and the Crown Prince.
There was no reason he would be exchanging private messages with the Empress.
Surely not…
