TMOHI 07

Chapter : 07

No—rather than smuggling Eani Nessel off to another country…

What if I hid her here forever?

In the past, he hadn’t been able to overcome his instincts and had only kept Eani right by his side.

And in the end, it had led to ruin.

So this time, instead of recklessly taking her to the capital, he would make use of this island.

After sending Eani Nessel here, I did regain some of my reason.

If he kept her here and maintained a certain distance, perhaps he could gradually suppress his instincts.

Besides, that woman seemed to like this island as well.

Another country was too far, the capital too close—this degree of distance was just right in many ways.

Above all, no one can approach Eani Nessel behind my back here.

There was no prison safer or more suitable than this place to confine her…

Harten’s gaze as he looked at Eani deepened.

Sensing it, Eani, too, lifted the corner of her lips in satisfaction.

I could see perfectly clearly what this man in front of me was thinking.

He’s probably thinking something like, “Should I just lock her up here forever?”

Honestly, I welcomed it.

That was exactly what I wanted.

And if I can get the ownership of this island and the initial investment money from Harten, that completes my first objective.

Right on cue, Harten spoke.

“You’ll need money to develop the island. I’ll support you as much as you want, so speak freely.”

“Really? Thank you so much, Harten!”

When I showed genuine delight, Harten’s lips twitched upward as well.

He belatedly tried to cover his mouth with his hand, but it was already too late.

As expected, Harten Seind is a charming man~.

For the record, my number-one criterion for attractiveness in the opposite sex has always been money.

In that regard, Harten Seind suited my tastes perfectly.

Of course, I don’t plan to blindly take every penny he gives me.

Naturally, money is good.

But what I ultimately pursue is the act of making money.

I’m the kind of person who finds great fulfillment in that process, and the greater the achievement, the greater the satisfaction.

So once I receive a certain amount as initial investment, that’ll be enough.

Since it’s an investment, I’ll obviously give Harten something of equal value in return~.

Thinking that, I lowered the corner of my lips slightly.

“You’re such a kind person, yet I wonder why I forgot all of our precious memories.”

Perhaps flustered by my words, Harten cleared his throat.

“Ahem, that is…”

“Still, you should regain your memories soon—”

“No! There’s no need for that!”

Harten vehemently objected.

When I widened my eyes, he hurriedly continued.

“I-It’s more important what we’ll do together in the future than the past. We can make memories from now on…!”

“But…”

“Don’t push yourself trying to recover your memories. I’m satisfied with how things are now.”

I smiled, looking deeply moved.

“To think someone like you is my lover. I’m so happy.”

In truth, Harten had never given a clear answer when I asked whether we were lovers.

But what did that matter?

Every time I call myself his lover, he looks that happy.

He probably thought he wasn’t showing it, but I could see everything.

If that man had a tail, it’d be wagging like crazy right now.

I brought out my final move to stir his heart.

“Um, Harten… I’m so overwhelmed right now that I want to hug you…”

“What…?”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, you can refuse. I just wanted you to know how I feel right now…”

I won’t reach out first until you’re ready!

At my declaration, Harten’s face flushed instantly.

His gray eyes darted back and forth, and his Adam’s apple bobbed heavily.

He took several deep breaths, thumping his chest as if to steady himself, then slowly—very slowly—opened his arms toward me.

As if he were finally ready.

“Harten!”

I beamed and slipped right into his embrace.

I’d felt it from our first meeting, but Harten and I fit together perfectly.

This comfort, unlike anything I’d ever felt before, suited me just fine.

“I feel like we’ve gotten a little closer.”

When I whispered that, he stiffened for a moment.

Then he hugged me tightly, yet gently.

Naturally, I leaned my head against his solid chest and grinned.

Even without an answer, his heart told me everything.

Thump, thump, thump!

It’s beating really fast.

A good sign.

As expected, when it comes to Eani, Harten Seind is the ultimate sucker—no, investor.

So I’d better captivate him completely~.

If the price is my love, I can pay it as much as needed~.

Just how long had we been cuddling like that?

“Young Duke! We have a serious problem!”

Huffing and puffing, Harten’s aide came running from afar.

“There’s been a terrorist incident on the steam train the Crown Princess Consort was riding! You may need to return to the capital immediately!”

At those words, Harten, who had been melting into me, snapped back to his senses.

“Report properly from the start.”

“Ah, m-my apologies. I panicked.”

Startled by Harten’s cold command, the aide quickly straightened up and fixed his crooked glasses.

Then he spoke more calmly than before.

“It seems there was a small explosion while Her Highness the Crown Princess Consort was traveling by our steam train to her parental home in the western region. Fortunately, the explosion occurred in the cargo car far from the special cabin, so there were no casualties. However, since Her Highness is currently pregnant, she was greatly shaken.”

“Tch. The culprit?”

“It was a maid who had served Her Highness for a long time… It appears she was a spy for a group of rebels who supported the Second Prince. Because of this, His Highness the Crown Prince is extremely enraged and has ordered that anyone even remotely connected to the rebels—including their entire families—be executed on the spot.”

“What a nuisance. Of all places, for it to happen on the train.”

Harten looked so angry that frost seemed ready to form on his face.

The funny thing was that even then, he didn’t loosen the arms holding me.

Thanks to that, I was able to carefully engrave some very interesting information into my mind.

A pregnant Crown Princess Consort. Rebels who supported the Second Prince. The Crown Prince’s fury…

This would be extremely useful later, wouldn’t it?

As I leaned comfortably against Harten’s chest, eyes sparkling, our gazes met.

He looked at me for a moment, then spoke seriously.

“A way to handle this from here—”

“Pardon?”

The aide, clearly startled, asked back.

Then he met Harten’s eyes and quickly snapped to attention.

“It will likely be difficult. His Highness the Crown Prince is extremely sensitive right now. If you don’t go personally, Young Duke, our side may also come under suspicion.”

“How absurd. As if it weren’t their fault for failing to manage their people properly.”

Muttering that, Harten furrowed his brow and hugged me tightly.

Like a child unwilling to give up his favorite toy.

Watching his expression closely, I slowly tilted my head.

The timing’s perfect.

I’d done enough to seduce Harten.

He might deny it himself, but this man was already practically in the palm of my hand.

So for the next phase of my plan, it was about time to send Harten off the island, wasn’t it?

As I was organizing my thoughts, Harten spoke again.

“No matter what, I’ll find a way to resolve this from here—”

Oh no you don’t.

I cut him off naturally.

“Are you leaving now?”

At my question, both Harten—who had looked ready to kill someone—and the aide—who had been trembling as if begging for his life—turned to look at me at the same time.

Lowering my head, I spoke softly.

“I know. I know you’re a very busy person, Harten. And that it’s hard for you to stay by my side all the time.”

“Eani.”

Harten let out a pained sound, as if his heart were tearing.

In response, I buried my face completely in his chest.

“Still…”

After a brief pause—

Whoosh!

I lifted my head quickly and looked up at him with sparkling eyes.

“Still, you’re so amazing! A man devoted to his work…!”

Harten blinked rapidly, clearly not expecting that reaction.

I didn’t stop there and continued without giving him a moment to breathe.

“Someone who doesn’t get swayed by personal feelings and does his very best at what needs to be done! Just hearing it makes me admire you~.”

“!”

“You really are someone with so much to learn from, Harten.”

“!!”

“I’ve decided! Since I don’t want to get in the way of your work, I’ll stay here and wait for you quietly!”

“!!!”

At my rapid three-hit combo, Harten looked dizzy.

The cold composure he’d shown with the aide was nowhere to be found as he fidgeted, his arms flailing awkwardly.

“But then…!”

I knew exactly what he wanted to say.

But I tilted my head, pretending not to know.

“Do you not trust me? I’m really good at waiting! I’ll only send a few letters!”

“Letters?”