Unable to sleep, Aidel tossed and turned alone in the bedroom after Caeron left. The conversation they had kept circling in her mind.

– ……I respect your wishes.

Breaking the long silence, he opened his mouth. His voice, lower than usual, reached her ears.

– Rest today.

– Your Highness… rest well too.

– The addendum you mentioned will be revised and delivered soon.

– ……Yes, I understand.

Though she had gotten the answer she wanted from Caeron, Aidel’s eyes wavered uneasily. As if trying to shake off some complex feelings she couldn’t understand, she closed her eyes tightly before opening them again.

As Caeron rose from his seat, Aidel stood up as well. He slowly turned his back to her.

Watching his retreating figure, Aidel unconsciously pressed her hand to her chest. It felt like her heart was sinking.

It was strange. This contradictory feeling towards him moving away, even though she had pushed him away herself.

Caeron walked to the door leading to the Grand Duke’s room and grasped the handle. As he was about to open the door and enter,

– ……Aidel.

– Yes……?

Stopping in front of the door, he called her name in a low voice. Surprised by his sudden call, Aidel’s eyes widened.

– There’s one thing…… I want you to keep in mind.

Still with his back turned, Caeron tilted his head slightly to the side as he continued speaking.

– Even without adding a clause to the contract…… I have no intention of forcing myself on you.

– ……!

– Express it clearly if you don’t want it, like now. However…….

Caeron turned his head back. He looked directly into Aidel’s eyes. Though his voice was calm, betraying no emotion, the gaze he met her with was different.

– In the opposite case, express that clearly as well.

That you want me.

The man’s intensely wavering eyes seemed to imply those words. Overwhelmed by his gaze filled with desperate desire, she trembled slightly.

“Ha……”

As that intense gaze that had enveloped her whole body came to mind again, Aidel exhaled a faintly trembling breath. Feeling her heart pounding heavily, she burrowed into the blanket and curled up into a ball.

Her wheat-colored hair peeking out from the blanket was thoroughly disheveled. Like her mind, filled with turbulent thoughts.

Unable to sleep until dawn broke, Aidel headed to the Grand Duchess’s office early in the morning. It seemed better to focus on work, if only to empty her unsettled mind.

Sitting at the desk in the office, she picked up the morning newspaper placed on top.

⌜The nightmare of the storm returns unfailingly this year as well⌟

An article about the storm that had recently disrupted the Grand Duchy’s trade business occupied the front page. It reported on the damage caused in various places after the storm passed and urged for quick recovery.

Aidel’s eyes deepened thoughtfully as she read the newspaper article. As she tapped her finger on the page while pondering, she took out a map placed on one side of the desk and was examining it when,

“Good morning, Your Grace. You were here early.”

The door to the Grand Duchess’s office opened and Gregory entered. As he greeted her, Aidel raised her head from where she had buried it on the desk.

“Welcome, Sir Gregory.”

“But your complexion doesn’t look good. Did something happen?”

Looking at the Grand Duchess’s face, paler than usual and filled with faint worries, Gregory asked with concern.

Though the biggest reason troubling her mind was something else, Aidel held out the newspaper instead of that reason.

“I read the newspaper, and it seems the storm damage in the western outskirts of the capital was particularly severe.”

“That’s right. It seems the damage was greater there than in other places, probably because it’s close to the seaside.”

At Gregory’s words, the concern in Aidel’s eyes deepened.

“Isn’t the western outskirts where many poor people live? It must be difficult for them to restore their livelihoods… Their hardships must have increased even more.”

“The Imperial Family will probably conduct emergency relief and damage recovery this time as well.”

The western outskirts of the capital, which often suffered from floods and storm damage, had low housing costs and thus many poor people lived there. However, without proper infrastructure in place, even when the Imperial Family stepped in to restore the damage, it was only a temporary measure.

“I heard that the embankment built during the last storm damage recovery collapsed this time too. At this rate, the same result will repeat with the next storm.”

As it was an area where poor people lived, taxes were not well collected. As a result, proper embankments could not be built, and the same damage continued every time.

“Is it possible for the Grand Duchy to consider a water control project?”

“A water control project?”

“Building an embankment in the western outskirts of the capital. If we hire local residents for the construction project and pay them wages, we could solve both the flood damage and their livelihood difficulties.”

After pondering Aidel’s suggestion for a moment, Gregory hesitantly opened his mouth.

“Of course, it’s a good idea, but…… Building an embankment requires quite a large investment. Especially if we include service wages.”

The Grand Duchy’s budget was not lacking. However, the use of the budget was limited to the Grand Duchy’s territory, so there were restrictions on utilizing the budget in the capital area under Imperial jurisdiction.

Seeing Gregory scratching the back of his head as if perplexed, Aidel nodded as if it was the reaction she had expected.

“I know. That’s why I’m thinking of attracting investment for the water control project from businessmen in the capital.”

“Attracting investment?”

“The western outskirts is an area that directly connects to the sea route. What if we create an inland canal that connects to the industrial area in the eastern capital?”

Aidel pointed to the western area of the capital on the map spread out on the desk.

“Building an embankment is essential for canal construction. We attract investment under the pretext of a canal and build the embankment as well.”

A spark appeared in Gregory’s eyes as he examined the map. Indeed, as the Grand Duchess said, the western outskirts were advantageous for canal construction.

If a canal was created, goods coming from the port could be moved in a short time. There was no reason for businessmen operating factories in the capital not to welcome the reduction in time and money spent on logistics transportation.

“Moreover, if a canal is created, commercial facilities around it will naturally develop. The western outskirts could become the center of commerce. If we develop the area around the canal well, we could also attract tourism.”

If that happened, the lives of those living in the western outskirts could become more prosperous.

Aidel’s final goal for the water control project was to go beyond simple relief work for disaster victims and create new jobs, allowing them to generate continuous income for their lives by utilizing the established infrastructure.

“Really… Working with you has been a series of admirations, but I don’t know how much more I should be surprised.”

Gregory looked at Aidel with a face full of admiration, his mouth slightly open. He knew she was highly educated, but the Grand Duchess was even more intelligent and wise than he had thought.

How many women in the empire would be able to think like this?

‘We’re really fortunate to have such a person in our Grand Duchy.’

Gregory smiled broadly, once again deeply impressed by the kind and benevolent Grand Duchess’s disposition.

Smiling back at such a Gregory, Aidel’s expression suddenly clouded. There was one thing that worried her.

“Will His Highness the Grand Duke… agree to proceed with the water control project?”

Aidel continued in a voice tinged with concern.

“In fact, strictly speaking, this matter might be unrelated to the Grand Duchy’s affairs. After all, the administration of the capital falls under the Imperial Family’s jurisdiction. But I hope we don’t turn a blind eye to those suffering as fellow citizens of the empire.”

“Of course. His Highness the Grand Duke will surely agree with your opinion as well.”

Gregory asserted in a strong tone, as if telling her not to worry.

Given that the Grand Duke usually didn’t spare support for the Grand Duchess, he wouldn’t oppose. Moreover, there was even less reason for the Grand Duke to oppose such an excellent business plan.

At Gregory’s words, Aidel’s worries were somewhat relieved, but there was still more to be done in gaining the Grand Duke’s consent and support.

“It would be more effective if His Highness the Grand Duke stepped forward externally for attracting business investment. The investors would trust it much more.”

Aidel trailed off, adding as if unsure,

“But whether His Highness will step forward……”

Looking at such an Aidel, Gregory smiled brightly and suggested,

“Why don’t you speak to His Highness directly? I’m sure the Grand Duke will be glad to hear it.”

“Do you really think so……?”

Gregory nodded with certainty, but Aidel’s eyes were hesitant, unlike when she had proposed the water control project.

After declaring to Caeron last night that she wouldn’t engage in unwanted intimacy, she didn’t have the confidence to face him. Although distancing herself from him had been her intention… her heart had been uneasy ever since she sent him away when he visited the Grand Duchess’s room.

Moreover, apart from feeling awkward about facing him, this water control project was a matter of the capital, not the Grand Duchy’s territory. It was beyond the scope of the Grand Duchess’s duties.

Gregory said there would be no problem, but… Aidel’s expression darkened as she recalled Caeron’s words that what he wanted from her was enough with just the role of Grand Duchess.

“Alright. I’ll speak to His Highness directly when he returns. What is His Highness’s schedule for today?”

“His Highness is scheduled to finish his morning work and go fly fishing with Sir Shade.”

“Fly fishing?”

Fly fishing, which uses artificial bait made of fur hooks to catch fish, was one of the favorite recreations of male nobles.

“I was surprised too when I received contact from the attendants. It seems he left suddenly without prior plans.”

“Does His Highness usually enjoy fly fishing?”

Aidel asked with curious eyes, intrigued by the Grand Duke’s hobbies. At her question, Gregory shook his head slightly.

“No. It must have been a long time since he last went fly fishing.”

“Is that so?”

“Hmm, come to think of it, it’s a bit strange. The recent trade business matter was resolved well too.”

“Strange?”

“Yes. Actually, His Highness usually went fly fishing when something wasn’t going well, or when he had something frustrating.”

At Gregory’s words as he tilted his head, Aidel’s shoulders flinched.

‘When something isn’t going well, or when there’s something frustrating….’

The events of last night came to mind again.

Aidel, who had spent the night tossing and turning with complex thoughts that seemed blocked and unresolvable, felt she might know what that something was.