The Duke's Flower is Precarious - Chapter 27

The port city of Maris, located at the eastern end of the Grand Duchy of Ellios. This place was always vibrant with ships coming and going without a break.

The port of Maris was usually bustling with people due to active logistics movements, but today an especially large crowd had gathered.

The residents of Maris, who had flocked like clouds, were standing divided into two lines with a path in the middle.

At the very end of the path was docked the Naupolion, a large cruise ship engraved with the coat of arms of the Grand Ducal family.

As if waiting for something, everyone had expressions full of anticipation. Their bright, sparkling eyes overflowed with vitality.

“They’re finally here!”

As someone shouted in an excited voice, people’s heads turned in unison in one direction.

Where their gazes fell were the Grand Duke and Duchess of Ellios, who had just arrived at the port leading their entourage.

“It’s His Grace the Grand Duke!”

“The new Grand Duchess is here too!”

Aidel, who had just arrived at the port of Maris, unconsciously held her breath as soon as she got out of the carriage. She was slightly dazed by the sight of so many residents standing as if in formation.

The residents were cheering for the Grand Duke and Duchess, waving small flags bearing the coat of arms of the House of Ellios.

As he escorted Aidel out of the carriage, Caeron grasped her hand. He whispered briefly in her ear as she hesitated in surprise.

“Don’t be nervous, just walk naturally.”

At Caeron’s words, Aidel composed her expression and straightened her back. He held her hand and walked slowly through the crowd, matching her pace.

“Long live the Grand Duke!”

“Long live the Grand Duchess!”

Moved by the dazzling appearance of the Grand Duke and Duchess right before their eyes, the residents smiled broadly and cheered “Long live!” here and there.

Faced with such a welcome for the first time in her life, Aidel was at a loss inside. She tried her best to maintain a natural expression, repeating his words in her mind.

“Mother Superior! Is that person perhaps an angel?”

Among the welcoming crowd that had come to greet the Grand Duke and Duchess were children from the Maris Cathedral orphanage. A little girl asked the Mother Superior, pointing at the Grand Duchess.

She had always been curious about the appearance of angels in Bible storybooks, and now she felt she finally understood. The child could not take her eyes off the beautiful, living angel before her.

“Yes, she is indeed like an angel. Now, let’s give her the gift we prepared.”

The Mother Superior nodded with a kind smile. As they drew closer to the Grand Duchess, she stepped forward and addressed her.

“Your Grace. If I may… we have something for you.”

Aidel stopped when the middle-aged woman in nun’s habit called out to her. Beside the woman, a group of children were looking at her with sparkling eyes.

“We are from the Maris Cathedral orphanage. Thanks to the Grand Ducal family providing the budget we lacked… our children will be able to receive education safely.”

At the nun’s words, Aidel immediately recalled the content related to the childcare budget among the budget documents that had come up from the Grand Duchy recently.

The Maris Cathedral orphanage was a place that took in and cared for children abandoned by unwed mothers. Due to the unfavorable social view towards unwed mothers, they received much less funding compared to other charitable organizations.

The children who were born knowing nothing were innocent. The fact that they received cold stares from birth due to the circumstances of their birth… it reminded her of herself and particularly concerned her.

Aidel had allocated additional funds to the Maris Cathedral orphanage budget by adding a portion from the dignity maintenance expenses granted to her as the Grand Duchess, while maintaining fairness with other charitable organizations.

Thanks to this, the children of Maris Cathedral orphanage, who had lacked tuition fees, were able to attend school without worry. Not only that, but books for the children arrived at the orphanage, creating a small library.

The Grand Ducal attendant conveyed that all this was thanks to the Grand Duchess, who had taken charge of the administration of the Grand Duchy.

Especially regarding the books, it was said that the Grand Duchess was supporting them with her private funds and would continue to send necessary books for the children periodically.

Knowing this fact, the Maris Cathedral orphanage decided to find a way to express their gratitude to the Grand Duchess.

At first, they were going to send a thank-you letter to the Grand Duchess in the capital. However, upon hearing the news that the Grand Duke and Duchess were coming to Maris for their honeymoon, they decided to prepare a gift and bring it in person.

“This is a gift our children made with grateful hearts. We hope you will accept it.”

The children held out the gift with their small hands. It was a bouquet and a flower crown made of beautiful wildflowers blooming in the spring sunshine.

Aidel’s gaze turned to the children’s hands stained with grass. Her eyes welled up. It was a gift that couldn’t be measured in value.

After thinking for a moment, she turned to look at Caeron. Meeting his eyes, she nodded slightly and gently let go of the hand she was holding.

She immediately approached the children and slowly bent her knees.

“You-Your Grace!”

The attendants gasped in surprise as they saw Aidel kneeling before the children. The watching residents were the same.

It was an unprecedented sight for a noble to kneel before commoners. Especially not just any noble, but the noble Grand Duchess at the pinnacle of aristocracy.

Only Caeron watched her actions with a gentle gaze. He stopped an attendant who tried to approach and quietly shook his head.

“What’s your name?”

Ignoring the reactions around her, Aidel met the eyes of the girl holding the flower crown and asked kindly.

“J-Joy.”

The child, her face bright red, barely managed to answer. Her heart pounded as the angel she had only imagined appeared right before her eyes.

“That’s a wonderful name that brings joy just hearing it.”

At the angel’s praise, Joy felt that her name, which she had disliked for being so common, was now noble and special.

“Would you put the flower crown you made on me, Joy?”

The child was mesmerized by the transparent jewel-like light green eyes looking at her.

When the angel smiled, closing her eyes softly, the child finally came to her senses and lifted the flower crown with trembling hands.

The angel’s hair looked as smooth as flowing honey. She carefully placed the flower crown on top of it.

When the angel wearing the flower crown smiled brightly at her, the child’s heart swelled and her eyes glistened with tears.

“Thank you. I love this gift.”

Wearing the flower crown, Aidel gently stroked the child’s head and lightly embraced her small body.

After receiving the remaining gift, the bouquet, she sincerely thanked the orphanage children and stood up.

“Mother Superior… she really is an angel! The Grand Duchess!”

The child exclaimed with certainty as she watched the Grand Duchess’s retreating figure.

“Oh my! The Grand Duchess is beautiful both in face and heart.”

Everyone was deeply moved by the kindness of the high-ranking Grand Duchess lowering herself to treat the children so gently.

The residents applauded enthusiastically until the Grand Duke and Duchess boarded and disappeared from sight.

The anchor of the Naupolion was raised.

Aidel, who had boarded the ship amid the welcoming of the residents at the dock, was in the specially prepared cabin.

Wearing the flower crown and smelling the fragrance of the bouquet, her face was full of pleasant warmth. She looked like a child who had received a gift.

“You seem to like the gift.”

“Yes… I didn’t expect such a warm welcome.”

She nodded with bright eyes.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen the residents so happy.”

From the expressions of the orphanage children she met today, as well as the residents, she could clearly feel their hearts towards her.

Rumors had already spread within the Grand Duchy of Ellios that the new Grand Duchess had taken charge of the administration. While Gregory had also performed his duties admirably until now, Aidel was more delicate.

Not only did she see the big picture, but she also didn’t miss the small details that required careful consideration. Thanks to this, the lives of the residents became more abundant.

“That must mean my Grand Duchess is that capable.”

At Caeron’s words, Aidel smiled shyly and lowered her head. Her chest tingled at his praise.

The feeling of being recognized by others was like her heart being completely filled. Aidel’s face softened with the deep sense of fulfillment.

Caeron, resting his chin on his hand, gazed intently at the woman’s face.

When they first arrived at the port, her appearance of secretly tensing up, unfamiliar with the residents’ affectionate gazes, looked pitiful.

The woman who had never been loved by anyone tried to pretend to be calm… but he could clearly feel the trembling of her small hand in his.

However, she changed with the sincere affection given by the orphanage children.

Before letting go of the hand she was holding to approach the children… the emotion in her eyes that he briefly met was firm trust.

The sight of her approaching the orphanage child and sincerely responding to their sincerity was impressive.

That unfamiliar and intense scene, which could not be found in his life, came to him and settled deep inside.

Caeron’s eyes darkened as he looked at her. His eyes, filled with strange attachment and possessiveness, slowly took in the woman before him.

What if that unwavering affection and trust in her eyes were directed at him…

Just imagining it sent a thrill through his entire body. He clenched his fist for a moment before relaxing it.

In contrast to the emotional turmoil that seemed about to explode at any moment, Caeron’s expression looked serene.

Unaware of his complex inner feelings, Aidel smiled shyly and carefully opened her mouth.

“I… I want to do better in the future.”

The flower crown made by the children was not sophisticated. Unlike the crude flower crown, her face shining with firm determination had not a trace of hesitation.

“So that the residents can be happier.”

‘Happiness’…

It was a word that gave him a distant and unfamiliar feeling. It must have been the same for this woman who had lived with shadows.

Yet her willingness to pledge for others’ happiness seemed foolish, but… at the same time, lovely.

“Yes. That’s admirable.”

Caeron gently stroked her head wearing the flower crown, as if praising a good child.

Somehow feeling like he was teasing her again, Aidel emphasized once more with a slightly sulky expression.

“I’m serious. As the Grand Duchess… I want to work harder.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I believe you’ll do well. However… just don’t forget one thing.”

The hand that was stroking her hair slid down, passing her earlobe to touch her cheek. As he gently caressed her soft skin, Aidel’s face slowly turned red.

“The Grand Duchess’s subjects to take care of include not only the residents… but also the Grand Duke.”

Aidel’s eyes trembled finely at his gaze, which met hers firmly and burned secretly.

“I look forward to seeing your efforts tonight as well.”

For a moment, Aidel wanted to believe that the fluttering in her chest was due to the waves hitting the ship’s side.