~Chapter 91~
The day we would leave for Lakexia was getting closer.
The large luggage that needed to be loaded onto the ship had already been moved. Only the final checks remained.
Ella, who would be traveling with us, ran around the mansion every day in a hurry.
She kept saying that even though everything had been packed, it still felt like something was missing. Today again, I escaped Ella’s fussing and went to work.
But honestly, I was just as anxious.
I was worried about Heres, who would remain behind.
“If any problem happens, you can ask Mr. Janus for advice. I’ll inform him in advance.”
“Yes, President!”
“If there are problems with work, ask the other employees for help. Many of them have long experience.”
“Yes, President.”
“If you ever need help with connections, visit Aunt Freya. I already spoke to her.”
“Yes, President.”
Heres smiled at me.
But the smile looked a little tired. I pressed my lips together.
My endless list of ‘what ifs’ was clearly exhausting him. In truth, Heres already knew all of this.
Even if I didn’t say anything, he would handle everything well on his own.
After all, during the time he worked with me, he never wasted a single moment.
“…I’m worrying too much.”
“It’s natural for you to worry. I will take good care of everything, President.”
I was lucky that Heres had such a good personality.
“You can even send letters to Lakexia. Constantine is there too.”
“No matter what happens, I will protect Graham Bank. While you’re away, Graham Bank will never collapse.”
His joking words finally made me laugh.
In truth, I had never really taken a break from work before.
The more miserable and lonely I felt, the more I threw myself into work. Sometimes my only joy was seeing the bank achieve record profits and gain more customers.
The first time I stepped away from work was during my honeymoon.
But that had only been one week.
This journey could last up to three months.
It felt strange.
Is it really okay for me to rest?
Is that the right thing to do?
“You need to learn how to rest, President. And you also need to learn how to trust your employees.”
Heres’s words made me laugh without realizing it.
He wasn’t wrong.
“I’ll… try. I’ll bring you gifts too.”
“I heard Lakexia has many beautiful ruins. The ancient architecture is amazing. Please enjoy it with your own eyes, President. I will become the guardian knight of the bank.”
“…Thank you, Heres.”
Heres smiled brightly.
“You may not know this, but when you sometimes leave your position like this, it actually raises the employees’ morale.”
“Alright.”
I nodded.
“If the bank’s performance improves while I’m away, I’ll reward everyone with a bonus at the end of the year. Is that fair?”
Heres winked and suddenly shouted my words to the employees on the first floor.
“Wooo!”
“The president is the best!”
“I’ll serve you forever!”
“A beautiful person with a kind heart! Please trust me!”
The sudden praise made me embarrassed. I covered my face slightly and quickly closed the door.
Still, it was a very warm farewell.
And before I left the bank, another piece of good news arrived.
The Emperor’s secretary personally visited Graham Bank.
He brought wonderful news.
The newborn imperial prince’s first bank account would be opened at Graham Bank.
The imperial family had placed the first mark on our bank’s success.
At that moment, I thought of Baldwin.
And also of the Marquis of Horace.
What was the chance Baldwin had nothing to do with this?
Almost zero.
Baldwin and I were slowly becoming like interlocking gears.
We were helping each other.
Supporting each other.
Becoming necessary to one another.
Because Baldwin silently supported me from behind, I felt secure for the first time in a long while.
It felt like standing on ground that would never collapse.
He had given me wings so I could fly exactly the way I wanted.
Departure
The anchor of the ship heading for Lakexia was lifted.
The deep sound of the ship’s horn echoed in my chest as the land slowly grew distant.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
I pressed down the wide hat that shook in the sea wind.
The mainland was slowly disappearing.
“Ah.”
It was my first time leaving Estus.
The land where I was born and raised.
Baldwin was speaking with the captain while Ella and I explored the ship.
“This ship is really fast.”
“Constantine Corporation builds the fastest ships in the world. So of course it is.”
Even to my own ears, my words sounded full of pride.
Without realizing it, Baldwin had become a part of my pride.
Embarrassed, I slightly shrank my shoulders.
But Ella was even worse than me.
“Of course! His Highness takes revenge properly and treasures the Grand Duchess so, so, so much. A man who loves his wife that much would naturally build amazing ships! A peaceful home makes successful work!”
Maybe it was a mistake to tell Ella about the Marquis of Horace.
After hearing how Baldwin had secretly taken revenge on the Horace family, Ella had completely switched sides.
She had become Baldwin’s loyal supporter.
“Shh! It’s embarrassing, Ella.”
“Who’s going to hear us?”
Everyone on the ship looked busy with their own tasks.
Ella proudly raised both arms.
“Long live the Grand Duke! I hope he knows how much I admire him!”
“Ella, please!”
But Ella ignored me completely.
She looked too happy to stop.
Maybe the free atmosphere of the sea made her feel even more excited.
“I want to share this happiness with the whole world, but I can’t. These days I feel like I could smile every single day!”
“You already do, Ella.”
“Hahaha! Your Highness Bee, you’re happy too, right?”
Happy.
That word made me think deeply.
God had always seemed like someone who disliked seeing me happy.
When I first married Egbert, I also believed I was happy.
Until my grandfather died and the truth slowly appeared like layers of onion skin.
After that, I began to fear happiness.
Because misfortune always followed it.
I smiled awkwardly.
“…Yes. I think I am.”
And I hoped it would stay that way.
“Let’s go over there, Ella. It’s your first time on such a big ship, right?”
“I’ve never been on a ship before. But Your Highness has ridden small boats before… though it probably wasn’t a good memory.”
“Let’s forget about that. That wasn’t even a honeymoon. Who would have thought there would be three people?”
“That’s true. Oh! Your Highness, look over there!”
Ella suddenly pointed toward the sea.
I followed her finger.
“Wow!”
“Your Highness! They’re dolphins!”
A group of dolphins jumped out of the water beside the ship, their smooth bodies shining.
Ella leaned over the railing and laughed loudly.
Seeing her like that made her look like a young girl instead of the mature maid she always was.
I also leaned against the railing beside her.
“According to one tribal legend, dolphins are symbols of good luck. They’re very rare to see. They must be wishing happiness for Your Highness!”
Ella laughed brightly.
I laughed too.
White waves crashing against the ship.
Dolphins jumping through the water.
Our laughter scattered into the fresh sea air.
Maybe Ella was right.
Maybe we were standing on the edge of happiness.
At least for that moment.
Until the shadow no one expected appeared.
“Your Highness Bee, I have something to report.”
A sailor approached me with a troubled expression.
“What is it?”
I asked casually, still filled with joy.
We were in the middle of the ocean—what could possibly happen?
“There is someone who boarded the ship without permission… We captured the person, but they insist on meeting Your Highness.”
An illegal passenger?
Who could it be?
For a moment, Gwendolyn’s face crossed my mind.
But that was impossible.
She had already left for her husband’s country on her wedding day.
Then who?
I tilted my head.
“Th-the person claims to be the Dowager Lady of Constantine, Your Highness. What should we do?”
My body froze.
The darkness that had chased me suddenly appeared again.
“…It’s been a while, Bee. Even though we lived in the same mansion, we rarely met.”
With a calm smile.
Of course.
God truly had a talent for striking people from behind.
The ship was already sailing toward a path that could not be turned back.
The voyage had only just begun.
