Episode 14

No, rather, it would be like adding fuel to the fire by taking Eileen’s side.

The nobles groaned, unable to hide their discomfort, at the strange sense of betrayal.

“No, what made you, who had been so oblivious to the South’s current state of affairs, suddenly accept such a passionate person as your Grand Duchess?”

“Even I haven’t seen Your Highness the Grand Duke’s face since the days of the previous lord. They say even mountains and rivers change in ten years, but in ten years, you’ve truly become a completely different person.”

“I had no idea you were so handsome, having lived with your face hidden behind a mask for so many years.”

“That’s not the point right now. It’s strange for someone who’s been hiding their face behind a mask for ten years to show it, but the new Southern Grand Duchess doesn’t even notice anything strange and I don’t understand why she’s so excited.”

The few remaining relatively young nobles in the south were openly complaining.

But Floran seemed completely oblivious to such reactions, and nodded affectionately to Eileen with a bright smile on his face.

It seemed to mean to continue talking.

“I thought the South would be open, but it has that rural, insular quality to it. That’s probably why development has been so slow.”

Eileen, who had thought so, continued speaking with her characteristically solemn expression.

“As you all know, I’m planning to build a ‘cafe’ on this wasteland. Despite its excellent location, it felt like a shame to let it sit there, unused and just a piece of land.”

The soft yet firm voice captivated the crowd in front.

“I understand your concerns and have arranged this meeting today to communicate with you, rather than wielding my power as the Grand Duchess of the South. If you have any questions about the project, please raise your hand and ask.”

The nobles who had been sitting blankly under the scorching sun began to notice things.

After a few minutes of this, one of the nobles slowly raised his hand and asked a question.

“What the heck is that cafe?”

Then Eileen closed her eyes and opened them with a flash, recalling the memories of that day.

“It was a few days ago, when I first set out on a southern inspection tour with His Highness the Grand Duke. We were inspecting the port in the city of Planus.”

The southern nobles seemed quite taken aback by the answer, which seemed to have been waiting for them to ask.

‘Yeah… I was wondering when you’d ask! I knew you’d ask, so I prepared everything!’

It wasn’t enough to just sneak it into the newsletter.

That day, when Eileen went to Planus Port, Dalton was explaining the tea and handicrafts that were mainly exported from the South.

Sniff sniff sniff sniff. A person as old as the Grand Duchess of the South began sniffing like a dog, trying to find the source of the scent she smelled.

Dalton, who was explaining, turned pale, and Floran watched Eileen, smiling as if he found it amusing.

As even passersby began to glance at the Archduchess’s antics, Eileen was able to find the source of the source.

She asked with half-assurance, pointing to the sacks of goods being carried by some merchants.

Eileen nodded with satisfaction, recalling the feelings of that time.

“I felt the joy of encountering something so deeply cherished, so essential, and so deeply missed, in a place I could never have imagined. The moment I encountered ‘it,’ I knew without a doubt: This is it! This is it!”

I’ll make your body unable to survive without caffeine.

I discovered coffee, which my past life’s wife had transfused every day like a Ringer.

And those are top-quality beans!

“Why on earth do you think you’ll keep this delicious food to yourself?”

“It’s delicious…? It looks bitter and tasteless.”

“If I drink that, I won’t be able to sleep, my heart will race, and I’ll probably die anyway.”

“It’s caffeine, so that’s understandable. Looking at it another way, it’s like a kind of drinkable stimulant. Wouldn’t it be great for a long discussion?”

Then the nobles shrugged their shoulders and shook their heads, thinking, ‘Is that so?’

Eileen, slightly annoyed by his complacent attitude, continued speaking.

“It’s not just the coffee. The wine here is the best I’ve ever had. But no one! They don’t market it, so people dismiss the South as some worthless, rural place.”

The gathered nobles seemed to be strangely confused and began to feel slightly depressed.

A look that said, “I don’t know if it’s worth getting scolded like this.”

Eileen pounded her chest as if she was frustrated, and let out a sigh that was almost like a whimper.

“The ingredients for reviving the South have been here for a long time. You’re just letting these finest ingredients rot.”

The nobles coughed awkwardly for no reason and then asked.

“Does Your Majesty really think that the South can be revived with such trivial things?”

“You might be worried that I’m being too flashy right now, but trust me. I’m a master of image-making, marketing, and sponsorship.”

“What can’t you do?”

“Yes, that’s right. What can’t we do? I know full well that showing is worth a thousand words. So, if this cafe business fails, I won’t be running around trying to revive the South.”

Eileen’s sincere determination resonated.

After a brief silence, she spoke again and stated her ambitions again.

“However, if we succeed, you will also have to cooperate with the revival of the South in the future.”

“Why are you so passionate about the Southern revival? It’s not even your hometown.”

“Well, I―!”

Eileen’s gaze, which was about to speak, met Floan’s in midair.

I can’t bring myself to say, “In two years, this will all be mine, so even if I start diligently reviving it now, it won’t be enough!”

“Well, I am—the Grand Duchess of the South, right? It’s my duty as the Grand Duchess.”

It wasn’t entirely wrong, so the nobles seemed to accept it, even if they didn’t quite understand it.

“Within the next two years, I will make this southern region a hot spot like no other city in the empire.”

Perhaps he was moved by the Southern Grand Duchess’ bold ambition.

As a brief silence flowed, applause erupted from somewhere.

Everyone looked around, wondering who the hell was clapping so thoughtlessly.

The one who applauded without thinking was none other than the Southern Grand Duke, Floran.

Everyone looked confused, not knowing what a ‘hot place’ was, but once Ploan clapped, they followed suit one by one.

“Why are you clapping?”

“I don’t know. His Highness the Grand Duke is clapping, so I’m just clapping along.”

Eileen was also taken aback by the sudden applause, but a professional doesn’t show it.

She seemed accustomed to this kind of applause, slightly bending her knees and accepting it leisurely.

And then I met Floan’s eyes.

He approached Eileen with a small smile as if praising her and gave her a big hug.

Oh my.

Exclamations erupted here and there as if the audience was all surprised.

Eileen was also surprised by his antics, but as I said before, professionals don’t show it.

“Wow, you two are really close.”

“You don’t have to worry about a successor.”

The nobles couldn’t help but laugh at someone’s words.

After digging up the place like that, I headed back to the castle.

Floran is looking at Eileen, who is staring out the window without saying a word.

“ma’am?”

“…….”

“Eileen?”

“…….”

Eileen looks as if she is deep in thought.

I was about to say something when I thought maybe he didn’t like hugging me in front of people earlier.

“Floan.”

“yes.”

“That. That thing earlier. It was really good.”

“……huh?”

“I think it’s really good to show how much you care and love each other in front of others.”

This woman speaks with a satisfied look on her face and sparkling eyes.

“Even if I don’t necessarily write a detailed novel, I should show you this kind of image more often. Please continue to do so.”

“Are you talking about hugging?”

“What else would you say about a loving and affectionate couple?”

“…….”

“Oh, I don’t think there’s a need to suddenly kiss or anything.”

Seeing her speaking with such a relaxed expression, Floran was left speechless.

“Why? Did you want to do it? You have a bit of a cheeky side.”

At the sight of Floran staring at her, Eileen crossed her arms over her chest with a mischievous smile.

“Did I say that?”

“No, it’s just that your eyes are like a love interest. Don’t fall for me. It’ll be a headache.”

I was amazed by her confident, almost shameless attitude.