The port of Lucenford, which would be fortunate if foreign tribes didn’t invade, was bustling with activity for the first time in a while since an Ostian merchant ship had docked. The market was moving, and the sound of pickaxes never ceased in the mines.

As merchants avoided this treacherous place out of fear, it was difficult to sell goods even when they were available. The people of Lucenford, who had cleared out years of accumulated inventory, just smiled brightly whenever they saw Ostian people.

Considering their usual attitude towards outsiders, this was truly surprising.

“There were no problems at all. I was worried and strengthened security even more.”

Regen reported with amazement, having been concerned about potential fights breaking out.

He looked at Kaella with reverence in his sparkling eyes. She just nodded and was about to move on, but inevitably opened her mouth. The young butler seemed to admire the Grand Duchess too much to simply ignore.

“I think Lucenford’s aggressive tendencies matched well with Ostia’s tough sailors. Doesn’t Lucenford tend to respect strong people?”

The Grand Duchess was thin, frail, and looked like she’d fall over if pushed, and almost died from eating turberi that children run around chewing – the Ostian people must have thought all Ostians were like that.

But the sailors disembarking from the merchant ships were all burly, with olive-tanned skin, voices as loud and husky as Lucenford people, and above all, they could drink heavily.

“I thought it would be a good experience for the people of Lucenford to trade equally with such people.”

“It’s definitely a necessary experience. We have a habit of being prickly first for fear of being looked down upon.”

“This place is actually despised.”

It was an environment that was despised, isolated, and barren, where people couldn’t help but become harsh. The Crania Empire had pushed all the duties of northern defense onto Lucenford and then turned its back, pretending not to know.

It’s when warehouses are full and granaries are packed that people develop leisure and become generous. The Grand Duchess hadn’t intended it, but by having Ostian merchant ships come and go regularly, she had ultimately filled Lucenford’s empty pockets.

Already, people were asking when the next merchant ship would come and started preparing goods to load on the next ship.

“So I thought more exchange was needed.”

Given their hundreds of years of history of being despised, it was understandable in a way that Lucenford would resist, stubbornly endure alone, and band together to reject outsiders.

It was only after Peon received the Grand Duke title that outsiders started coming and going regularly, so one could tell how closed off it had been.

At the same time, it was a place terribly incompatible with Kaella, who was from the open Ostia where one could go anywhere by ship.

“It’s fortunate there were no incidents.”

“I heard they drank a lot.”

“Well… that’s common here.”

The men who had guzzled entire barrels of alcohol at the banquet woke up the next day reeking of alcohol, nursed their hangovers together, and then went arm in arm to the harbor to start work.

Many had become friends over a drink. It was common in both Lucenford and Ostia. Kaella recalled memories from before her regression of lamenting and saddening herself, wondering why she couldn’t be like that, why she couldn’t even drink well.

“It’s common in Ostia too.”

She hurriedly folded away the memory before being habitually consumed by the emotions it held.

“It’s thanks to Your Highness’s care. Thank you.”

She’s been hearing words like that a lot lately. Kaella always felt awkward at times like this, not knowing how to react in a way that wasn’t “strange.”

“It’s only natural.”

“Hasn’t a lot changed since Your Highness came? Honestly, there were many things that were difficult for the Grand Duke to do alone.”

“Any woman trained in estate management could do what I’ve done.”

No, honestly, Kaella thought there were plenty of people who could do much better than her.

“Not everyone could bring in Ostian merchant ships. Your Highness, I’ve never seen the outer harbor and market this noisy since you arrived. I’m glad that you became our Grand Duchess.”

Regen smiled, saying he was truly glad that Kaella, and no one else, was the Grand Duchess. Flattery? Kaella had experienced people who flattered her hoping to gain something, then scorned and left her when they realized the Grand Duchess had no power.

She had heard so often that even Beatrice would be better that she had come to agree, thinking, “I suppose so.”

Anyone would do better than stupid Kaella.

“Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

The young former secretary who had become butler by chance bowed his head awkwardly and left the Grand Duchess’s office.

Kaella was about to reach for the work Regen had brought, but stopped. She hadn’t expected to hear such words from Regen Nerkel, whom Peon had appointed purely for his brilliant mind.

Before her regression, all of the Grand Duke’s closest aides had despised her. The knights openly scorned her, and Regen condemned her with his eyes.

As an intelligent person, he alone had pointed out that while Kaella’s plans were necessary for Lucenford, they were also disconnected from reality.

Happy that someone was giving her input, Kaella had tried harder, but when it was announced that she was the Emperor’s spy, no one spoke to her.

And now, was she happy that Regen said such things?

She was a little happy. It felt good. At the same time, the fact that she felt a little good was also miserable.

The fact that a mere butler of secretary origin expressing gratitude wasn’t taken for granted by an Ostian princess made her truly miserable.

Now, she didn’t know how a free and noble princess should act. She had completely forgotten. She was still a filthy, lowly prisoner, grateful for even such praise.

‘But what about the Grand Duchess.’

Kaella stared blankly at the desk as she heard a knock at the door.

“Why are you…?”

As soon as the Grand Duke who opened the door and entered saw the Grand Duchess, his face hardened, and Mari, who had been reading a book in one corner of the office, jumped up in surprise. The Grand Duke’s voice and demeanor were unusual. He quickly approached the Grand Duchess.

“Did Regen say something nonsensical?”

Peon asked while looking at Mari, but Mari had no idea what was going on and was too scared of the stern-faced Grand Duke to do anything but stare with wide eyes.

“No.”

Kaella answered calmly as she stood up. Peon, looking particularly thin and haggard today, narrowed his brow and gestured to Mari. Mari hugged her book, then scurried out, firmly closing the door.

“Then why are you crying?”

A large hand approached carefully, but couldn’t quite touch her.

“I’m not crying.”

Kaella answered, dumbfounded.

“You cry without shedding tears.”

It was strange how Peon insisted someone who hadn’t shed a single tear had been crying.

“What do you mean…”

“Even with me, you just hold back your tears and swallow them. What’s making you like this? Did I upset you? I’m sorry.”

He spoke urgently, asked about the most pressing reason first, inferred possibilities, then apologized. The face before her had turned pale white, and the purple eyes were shaking uncontrollably, not knowing what to do.

“No. It’s nothing like that.”

Kaella answered businesslike.

“Then Regen…”

“The butler only said nice things. He thanked me, he didn’t say anything uncomfortable.”

Her attitude was perfectly impenetrable, allowing no one to intrude. Kaella stood neatly without a hint of wavering, not allowing any glimpse into her heart.

“…Are you really okay? Nothing happened?”

Peon asked several times with concern filling his unconvinced eyes.

“Yes. Nothing happened. I don’t know why you’re acting like this.”

She pushed him away with a soft, gentle voice and gazed at him with dry eyes devoid of moisture. He stared at her silently for a moment, then dropped his head.

“…I see. I must have been mistaken. I’m sorry.”

But his expression wasn’t one of acceptance. Since Kaella said it wasn’t so, he was just going along with it.

“It’s okay.”

Though she answered in a calm voice, the end of that voice trembled slightly. Her regressed husband had noticed what no one else had ever known.

He had noticed her habit of never shedding bothersome, troublesome tears, and that she was hating and condemning herself.

Don’t like it.

The imprisoned Kaella said.

It’s not something to like just because he understands. It’s a weakness.

I know. But when was she ever able to hide her weaknesses so perfectly? Kaella didn’t do anything properly, so this time too, she had only failed.

*

The Ostian merchant ship that had been docked at Lucenford harbor 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 waved their hands incessantly.

“Goodbye!”

“Farewell!”

The children who had lingered around getting snacks from the sailors while the merchant ship was docked were the most reluctant to see it leave.

Kaella waved back to Jerney and the other knights who had come all the way to the stern and were waving enthusiastically.

Those who carried themselves with dignity waved their arms off, forgetting all about face, for their precious young lady. They didn’t forget to shout loudly either.

“We’ll visit often, young lady!”

“Take care, Princess!”

The harbor where the ship was departing had already turned green. The snow piled on the distant snow-capped mountains was still pure white, but the mountains touching the city were changing from light green to dark green, and the river leading to the sea was swelling blue.

Before the mountains turn completely green, the Ostian merchant ship will return to Lucenford. Cutting through the waterways faster than land routes, it will bring compensation commensurate with Lucenford’s gold, leather, and weapons, and things Lucenford desperately needs.

Lucenford, where gold was pouring in, was bustling with activity. Kaella stood there waving until the ship disappeared. She had thought she would die as soon as she arrived here, but somehow she had endured until summer.

“Your Highness, the harbor…”

“I’ve included harbor expansion in the construction plans. We’ll make it wider.”

And her husband seemed to have entered and exited her mind, understanding everything she meant even when she spoke briefly.

How did he know? No, more than that, what on earth was she about to say just now? Kaella couldn’t believe herself for daring to say the harbor should be expanded. Was she in her right mind?

“It’s too narrow for merchant ships to enter.”

It really bothered her to see the merchant ships docking carefully in a line. If they expanded and cleaned it up more, it would be much easier to unload goods. Peon quietly nodded and grasped Kaella’s trembling hand.

“You know much more about harbors than I do, so it’s a valid point.”

As if to say don’t be afraid that you’ve dared to cross a line, that death might come again, he squeezed her hand slightly.

“Of course, you’ll have a lot to oversee during construction. We’re still repairing the outer walls, so it’ll be a while before we can start on the harbor.”

Squeak, squeak, a bird that had flown in from the sea cried out and landed on the pier. Kaella, who had never had reason to come to the harbor, thought the bird looked similar to the seagulls common in Ostia.

“Check on the construction progress before going to Kline.”

“You should do that, Your Highness.”

“How can I do it alone? I can barely manage with your help.”

Peon was continually drawing Kaella into the expansion plans with absurd claims and whining that didn’t suit him.

Work was piling up purely due to outside forces. Do this one thing today, that one thing tomorrow, and then spend a hectic day in Kline.

When work in Kline is done, come back and proceed with the rest of the expansion construction. Working like that, eating delicious food, spending day after day, before she knows it, she will end up living much longer than expected.

“Your Highness.”

At the call, Kaella stopped and turned to look at Sir Renard. Today, more people had come out to the harbor to watch the Ostian merchant ship depart.

People of all ages and genders 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 into two plaits and was clutching tightly to a bouquet decorated with white daisies and green grass.

As soon as her eyes met Kaella’s, her fidgeting demeanor made it clear that she really wanted to give that bouquet to Kaella.

But Kaella was puzzled.

‘Why give it to me?’

She had never received flowers here. Memories of encountering pure goodwill were so rare that she had to rack her brain to recall them.

‘Is it okay to accept?’

Everything felt cautious, and she felt like she needed to get permission from Peon to be safe. She kept forgetting her initial attitude of getting angry and trying to be indifferent, thinking it would be fine if she died.

While Kaella was thinking for a moment, Sir Renard took the bouquet and handed it to Kaella. It was a bouquet that the child had clearly woven with her mother’s help. Receiving the flowers that smelled strongly of grass, she smiled without realizing it.

“Is this for me?”

At his wife’s gentle question confirming if the flowers were for her, when she was the only noblewoman there to receive them, Peon tried hard not to harden his expression. Nothing was obvious to Kaella, and that was all his fault. He should have tried harder.

The child, fidgeting and twisting their body with hands behind their back, nodded shyly.

“Thank you. It’s very pretty.”

“Me too…!”

But the words from the girl, who had been clinging to her mother’s skirt and not knowing what to do, were unexpected.

“I, I’m grateful too…”

Though it was a very small voice, the clearly heard words were an unfamiliar expression of gratitude.