The port of Lusenford, which would be fortunate just to avoid foreign invasions, was finally bustling with activity since Ostein merchant ships had docked. The market was moving, and the sound of pickaxes never ceased in the mines.
Since merchants avoided this treacherous place out of fear, it had been difficult to sell goods even when they were available. The people of Lusenford, who had managed to clear out several years’ worth of inventory, now simply smiled whenever they saw people from Ostein.
Considering their usual attitude toward outsiders, this was truly remarkable.
“There haven’t been any problems. We strengthened security out of concern, but…”
Regen reported with amazement, having worried about potential fights breaking out.
He gazed at Kaela with reverence in his sparkling eyes. She was about to just nod and move on, but felt compelled to speak. The young butler’s excessive admiration for the Grand Duchess couldn’t be ignored.
“I think Lusenford’s aggressive nature matches well with Ostein’s tough sailors. Lusenford tends to respect strong people, don’t they?”
The people must have wondered if all Ostein people were like the Grand Duchess – slim, fragile-looking, young, and someone who nearly died from eating tour berry that children casually snack on.
However, the sailors disembarking from the merchant ships were all broad-shouldered, with olive-tanned skin, and had booming voices like Lusenford people. Above all, they could hold their liquor.
“I thought it would be a good experience for the people of Lusenford to trade as equals with such people.”
“It’s definitely a necessary experience. We tend to be defensive first, fearing disrespect.”
“This place is indeed looked down upon.”
It was an environment where people couldn’t help but become hardened, being discriminated against, isolated, and living in harsh conditions. The Crania Empire had pushed all northern defense duties onto Lusenford and then turned their backs, pretending not to notice.
People tend to become more generous and relaxed when warehouses are full and granaries are stocked. Though it wasn’t her intention, the Grand Duchess had filled Lusenford’s empty pockets by establishing regular trade with Ostein merchant ships.
People were already asking when the next merchant ship would arrive and preparing goods for the next shipment.
“That’s why I thought more exchange was needed.”
With hundreds of years of discrimination, it was understandable that Lusenford would resist, trying to endure alone, sticking together, and rejecting outsiders.
It was only after Peon received the title of Grand Duke that outsiders started regularly visiting, which showed just how closed off they had been.
At the same time, it was a place that drastically contrasted with Kaela, who came from the open-minded Ostein where people could travel anywhere by ship.
“It’s fortunate there were no incidents.”
“I heard they drank quite a lot.”
“Well… that’s common around here.”
The men who had drunk entire barrels of alcohol at the banquet woke up the next day reeking of alcohol, nursed their hangovers together, and went arm in arm to work at the port.
Many became friends over drinks. This was common in both Lusenford and Ostein. Kaela recalled her memories from before the regression, when she would self-loathe, lamenting why she couldn’t be like that, why she couldn’t even handle alcohol well.
“That’s common in Ostein too.”
She quickly folded away the memory before being consumed by its emotions as usual.
“It’s all thanks to Your Highness’s attention. Thank you.”
She’d been hearing such words quite often lately. Kaela always felt awkward in these situations, unsure how to respond in a way that wouldn’t seem ‘strange’.
“It’s only natural.”
“So much has changed since Your Highness arrived. Honestly, there were many things that were difficult for His Highness to handle alone.”
“Any woman trained in territory management could do these things.”
In fact, Kaela honestly thought there were many people who could do much better than her.
“Not everyone could bring in Ostein merchant ships. Your Highness, I’ve never seen the outer port and market this lively since you arrived. I’m glad that Your Highness became our Grand Duchess.”
Regen smiled, expressing his joy that it was none other than Kaela who became their Grand Duchess. Was it flattery? Kaela had experienced people who would flatter her hoping to gain something, only to leave with contempt after realizing the Grand Duchess had no real power.
She had heard so often that even Beatrice would be better that she had come to accept it.
Anyone would do better than the stupid Kaela.
“Then, I’ll take my leave now.”
Regen, a young former secretary who became a butler by chance, bowed his head awkwardly and left the Grand Duchess’s office.
Kaela reached for the work he had left but stopped. She never expected to hear such words from Regen Nerkel, someone whom Peon had appointed purely for his outstanding intelligence.
Before the regression, all of the Grand Duke’s closest advisors despised her. The knights showed their contempt openly, while Regen condemned her with his eyes.
Being intelligent, he was the only one who acknowledged that Kaela’s plans were necessary for Lusenford, while also being the only one to point out how disconnected they were from reality.
Kaela had tried harder, happy to receive any input, but when it was announced that she was the Emperor’s spy, no one would speak to her.
Was she happy that Regen now spoke to her like this?
She was a bit happy. It felt good. But the fact that she felt even slightly good about it made her miserable.
The fact that she couldn’t take a mere butler’s gratitude as natural, when it should be natural for a Princess of Ostein, made her truly pathetic.
Now, she couldn’t remember how a free and noble princess should act. She had completely forgotten. She was still a filthy, lowly prisoner, moved to tears by mere words of praise.
‘But what kind of Grand Duchess…’
Kaela stared blankly at her desk as she heard a knock at the door.
“Why are you…?”
Marie, who had been reading in a corner of the office, jumped up startled when the Grand Duke entered and immediately tensed upon seeing the Grand Duchess. His voice and demeanor were unusual. He quickly approached the Grand Duchess.
“What nonsense did Regen say?”
Peon looked at Marie while asking, but Marie just opened her eyes wide, not understanding what was happening and frightened by His Highness’s serious demeanor.
“Nothing.”
Kaela answered calmly as she stood up. Peon, looking particularly gaunt and irritable today, narrowed his brows and gestured to Marie. Marie clutched her book and quickly closed the door behind her as she left.
“Then why are you crying?”
His large hand approached carefully but couldn’t quite reach her.
“I’m not crying.”
Kaela answered, bewildered.
“You cry without shedding tears.”
It was strange how Peon insisted she was crying when she hadn’t shed a single tear.
“What do you mean…”
“Even with me, you just hold back tears and swallow them. What’s wrong? Did I upset you? I’m sorry.”
He spoke urgently, asked about the most pressing reason first, made deductions about possibilities, and even apologized. His face had turned pale, and his purple eyes were shaking uncontrollably with concern.
“No. Nothing’s wrong.”
Kaela answered professionally.
“Then did Regen…”
“The butler only said nice things. He thanked me, he didn’t say anything uncomfortable.”
Her attitude was completely impenetrable, like an iron wall no one could breach. Standing perfectly composed without a hint of wavering, Kaela wouldn’t allow anyone to look into her heart.
“…Are you really okay? Nothing happened?”
Peon checked several times, his eyes full of worry and doubt.
“Yes. Nothing happened. I don’t understand why you’re acting this way.”
She pushed him away with a soft, gentle voice and gazed at him with dry eyes. After watching her quietly, he dropped his head.
“…Alright, I understand. I must have been mistaken. I’m sorry.”
But his expression showed he wasn’t convinced. He was just accepting it because Kaela said so.
“It’s fine.”
Though her voice was calm, it trembled slightly at the end. Her regressed husband had noticed what no one else had ever known.
He had noticed her habit of never shedding troublesome, bothersome tears, and how she was hating and condemning herself.
Don’t like it.
The imprisoned Kaela said.
It’s not something to be happy about just because he understands. It’s a weakness.
I know. But when had she ever hidden her weaknesses so perfectly? Since Kaela couldn’t do anything properly, this too was just another failure.
****
The Ostein merchant ship that had been docked at Lusenford port for several days unfurled its sails. The sailors pulled up the heavy anchor. As the helmsman took the wheel and slowly moved the ship, children kept waving their hands.
“Goodbye!”
“Farewell!”
The children who had hung around the ship getting snacks from the sailors were the most reluctant to see it leave.
Kaela waved back to the knights, including Johnny, who were enthusiastically waving from the stern.
These usually dignified men forgot all about their pride and waved their arms off for their precious lady. They didn’t forget to shout loudly either.
“We’ll visit often, Miss!”
“Take care, Your Highness!”
The port where the ship was departing had already turned green. While the snow on the distant mountains remained pure white, the mountains touching the city were changing from light to dark green, and the river leading to the sea rippled blue.
Before the mountains turn completely green, the Ostein merchant ship would return to Lusenford. They would navigate the waterways, faster than land routes, bringing goods essential to Lusenford in exchange for its gold, leather, and weapons.
Lusenford was bustling with the influx of gold. Kaela stood there waving until the ship disappeared. She had thought she would die as soon as she came here, but somehow she had endured until summer.
“Your Highness, the port…”
“I’ve included port expansion in the construction plans. We’ll make it bigger.”
And her husband seemed to read her mind, understanding everything even when she spoke briefly.
How did he know? No, more importantly, what was she trying to say just now? Kaela couldn’t believe she was about to suggest expanding the port. Was she in her right mind?
“It’s too narrow for merchant ships.”
It was bothersome to watch the merchant ships carefully dock in formation. If they expanded and cleared the area, unloading goods would be much easier. Peon quietly nodded and grabbed Kaela’s trembling hand.
“You know much more about ports than I do, so it’s a valid point.”
His grip tightened slightly, as if to say don’t fear death for daring to cross a line.
“Of course, we’ll need your oversight during construction. We’re still repairing the outer walls, so the port construction is still far off.”
A bird flew in from the sea, crying “screech, squawk” before landing on the dock. Kaela, who had rarely had reason to visit the port, thought it looked similar to the seagulls common in Ostein.
“Check the construction progress before going to Crania.”
“You should do that, Your Highness.”
“How can I do it alone? I can barely manage with your help.”
Peon was constantly drawing Kaela into the expansion plans with unreasonable claims and uncharacteristic whining.
Work was piling up entirely due to external forces. Do this today, do that tomorrow, and then spend another busy day in Crania.
When work in Crania ends, return and continue with the remaining construction. Working like that, eating delicious food, spending day after day, she would unknowingly live longer than expected.
“Your Highness.”
At the call, Kaela stopped and turned to look at Sir Renard. Today, more people had come to the port to watch the Ostein merchant ship depart.
People of all ages lined both sides of the road, and Sir Renard was standing in front of a girl holding a bouquet of wildflowers.
The girl, about ten years old, had her brown hair braided in two pigtails and was tightly gripping a bouquet decorated with white daisies and green grass.
Her nervous reaction upon meeting Kaela’s eyes made it clear she wanted to give the bouquet to Kaela.
But Kaela was puzzled.
‘Why give it to me?’
She had never received flowers here. Memories of pure goodwill were so rare she had to search her brain to find them.
‘Is it okay to accept?’
Everything felt cautious, and she felt like she needed Peon’s permission to feel safe. She kept forgetting her initial attitude–trying to remain indifferent–doing whatever she wanted since death would come anyway.
While Kaela was briefly lost in thought, Sir Renard took the bouquet and handed it to her. The bouquet was clearly woven with help from the child’s mother. Receiving the flowers that smelled strongly of grass, she unconsciously smiled.
“Is this for me?”
Peon tried not to tense up at his wife’s gentle question confirming what was obvious, since she was the only noble lady present to receive flowers. Nothing was obvious to Kaela, and that was entirely his fault. He needed to try harder.
The child, fidgeting and twisting with her hands behind her back, shyly nodded.
“Thank you. It’s very pretty.”
“I also…!”
But the words from the girl clutching her mother’s skirt nervously were unexpected.
“I also… want to thank you…”
Though very quiet, the words of unexpected gratitude were clearly heard.
thanks for the chapter!!