It had been a month since the construction of the Bialytskal hot spring started. The crisis faced due to material supply had turned into an opportunity.
The project to transform the salt mine itself into a hot spring was progressing smoothly without any major issues.
“We’re soon going to finish the construction. Thanks to utilizing the existing mine, the time has been shortened by more than five times. Consequently, costs have been significantly reduced.”
“So when will the construction be completed?”
“If we finish the detailed interior work, we should be able to proceed with the completion ceremony by next month at the latest.”
Listening to Saturn’s words, Akiya nodded approvingly, seemingly satisfied.
“Don’t let your guard down until the end. We never know what schemes Parshia’s upper echelons might be hatching.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Akiya, rising from his seat, looked out of the window at the salt mine.
The hot springs in Bialytskal, enjoyed in harmony with nature, were becoming more special than any other hot spring on the continent.
‘It’s just the beginning.’
After successfully completing this task, he planned to proceed with the long-awaited work he had prepared for a very long time, climbing up to the capital.
It was when a chilly light flickered in Akiya’s eyes that Lea entered the office with a clattering sound.
“My Lord! Do you know what day it is today? There are so many people outside.”
Lea approached with excitement evident on her face. In an instant, the air around Akiya seemed to loosen.
“Today is a festival day. It’s said that such a grand festival has never been held since the prosperity of the salt mine.”
“A festival, really!”
Seeing Lea’s sparkling eyes, Akiya, who lifted the corners of his mouth slightly, asked.
“Do you want to go see the festival?”
“Really? But you’ve been so busy.”
Lea, who secretly wanted to enjoy the festival with the Duke, hesitated.
“I’ll be less busy today.”
With that, an excited Lea went outside with Akiya. Saturn, left alone in the room, had a dark expression.
The statement that it was the first festival in a long time did not seem to be false. The faces of the villagers preparing for the festival were brighter than ever.
“I heard there are no rooms left in the accommodations in Bialytskal. People even gathered from nearby territories to enjoy the festival, they say.”
“Many people must have missed the glory days of Bialytskal.”
Once the hot spring is completed soon, it will shine even more brightly than the past. He planned to turn Bialytskal into the Empire’s finest tourist destination.
While the two enjoyed their leisure after a long time, walking side by side, Lea pointed with her finger at the pink cotton candy carried by a child.
“Oh? Where can we buy cotton candy?”
Akiya alternately looked at the cotton candy and Lea, then let out a faint laugh.
“Do you want to eat that?”
“Yes! Will you buy it for me?”
What’s so desirable about cotton candy for children? Akiya couldn’t take his eyes off Lea’s sparkling jade-colored eyes.
He involuntarily nodded at the thought that innocent Lea was adorable.
“Sure. Wait here quietly. It’s better not to move around unnecessarily; it’ll be hard to find each other if we get separated on these crowded streets.”
“Yes! Then I’ll be browsing the herbs at the apothecary! They say new herbs have arrived at the apothecary recently.”
It was one of the facilities that had naturally increased as people flocked to the once barren land. The apothecary was one of them.
“I’ll be back soon.”
It was just a passing remark. He didn’t expect the Duke to personally buy cotton candy for children or to know how much children love to eat it.
Lea couldn’t erase the smile spreading across her face at his kind gesture.
“I’ll be waiting!”
“This is the thistle I’ve only heard about.”
Just as heard, the thistle’s petals emitted a subtle fragrance.
‘It’s said to have the effect of clearing the blood vessels.’
If prepared in advance, it seemed like it would come in handy someday. The moment Lea reached for the thistle, a strange hand extended simultaneously, meeting hers in midair.
‘Huh?’
Lea raised her gaze to confirm the owner of the hand.
Her eyes widened upon discovering the person in front of her. It was someone so familiar.
“Oh? Dr. Frankenstein!”
“You are…”
Frankenstein also showed a surprised expression upon noticing Lea.
‘Meeting Dr. Frankenstein here…!’
They had met before, thanks to Dimitri connecting Lea with Dr. Frankenstein.
Memories of talking endlessly about medicine resurfaced, and a smile formed involuntarily. She asked him with a pleased voice.
“What brings you here? Did you come to see the festival in the village?”
“Dimitri seems not to have told you. I’m currently residing in Bialytskal.”
“What? Here?”
It was unheard of. The last time they met, he was said to be living in a village near the Belarusian Duchy.
Lea looked at Frankenstein with a puzzled expression. Reading her thoughts, Frankenstein answered.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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