Chapter 96
Leira narrowed her eyes and stared intently at Arzeo.
He avoided her gaze with a dissatisfied look on his face, but the corners of his lips twitched.
“Looks like it can’t be helped.”
At her softly sighed words, Arzeo startled and sharply turned his head.
“Huh? You’re not going to do it?”
Peck.
The moment he turned toward her, Leira, as if she had been waiting for it, briefly pressed her lips to his.
“That’s enough now, right?”
“It’s not enough.”
“Still, no. We have to go to the island now.”
“You said earlier that even if you didn’t have time for me, you’d make time.”
“I am making time.”
Leira shrugged and then rose from the sofa. She held out her hand to Arzeo.
“Come on, let’s go. Should we take the flower seeds to the island on the way today?”
Arzeo chuckled and took her hand.
“Let’s do that.”
The two didn’t need any complicated preparations for their wedding.
The overflowing flower seeds were taken to Citadel Island. They had planned to make flowers bloom everywhere and hold the wedding there.
After receiving Arzeo’s letter, the first to rush to the ducal territory was Phil—as if he had been waiting for it.
Arzeo said he probably had been waiting.
After completing the formal entry procedures and entering the ducal territory, Phil met the two once and then disappeared.
He said he would return by the wedding day, and Arzeo claimed he was simply enjoying a tour of Valois.
With the wedding drawing close, today they planned to visit the island together to create a flower-lined path.
Knock, knock.
“Geo, it’s me.”
At her voice, Arzeo flung the door open.
“Good morning.”
“Are you all ready? I was thinking we should head to the island.”
“Already?”
“Yes.”
Leira smiled and nodded at Arzeo’s slightly puzzled question.
“We need to move quickly. The ceremony isn’t far off now.”
“That’s true.”
Arzeo nodded and smiled brightly.
Mornings were usually when Leira handled paperwork, so he tried not to disturb her.
But today, since they were going to the island early to prepare for the wedding, they could spend the whole day together.
At least, that was Arzeo’s thought.
After a simple breakfast, the two left the mansion together. When they reached the shore where the boat to the island was docked, there were already passengers waiting.
“It’s been a while, Lady.”
“You’re here early.”
As Leira exchanged greetings cheerfully, Arzeo gaped.
“Long time no see, little brother. Have you been well?”
“What is going on here…?”
Arzeo’s shaken gaze soon turned to Leira. She simply smiled and shrugged.
“I completed the formal entry process and came to inspect the island.”
In the end, it was Eugene—standing beside Louis—who explained the situation to Arzeo.
“Didn’t you say you’d arrive later?”
“You told me to.”
Eugene pointed at Louis with a slightly sulky but respectful expression.
“You knew about this?”
Arzeo snapped his head toward Leira, who smiled awkwardly.
“I didn’t know Eugene was coming.”
“But you knew my brother was.”
“I invited him.”
“…I said I didn’t like that.”
When he muttered under his breath, narrowing his eyes, Leira drooped her eyebrows.
“But if the consumer wants to see the environment where the medicinal herbs grow, I think it’s right to show them.”
“Wait—what? You didn’t like it? You didn’t want me to come? Why?”
Louis, shocked, gaped as he asked, but Arzeo didn’t even spare him a glance.
As if the other two didn’t exist, Arzeo pulled Leira into his arms with a displeased expression.
“I thought we’d be alone all day today.”
Leira glanced at Louis and Eugene’s stunned faces and whispered into Arzeo’s ear.
“We’ll be alone at night, okay?”
“…Alright.”
After rolling his eyes in thought, Arzeo nodded and let her go.
“You really don’t care who’s watching.”
“Why should I? This isn’t Rihden.”
At Arzeo’s shrugging reply, Eugene let out a shallow sigh.
Louis burst into hearty laughter and nodded in agreement.
“Well then, shall we get going instead of standing around?”
Urged along by Leira, they obediently boarded the small boat.
Citadel Island—surrounded by cliffs, with only one entrance—was like a fortress.
Louis was deeply moved, never having dreamed he’d see such a mysterious land in person.
As they followed the sole path into the island, enormous trees surrounded them.
Tilting his head back to look up, Louis cautiously approached and touched one.
“Aren’t these trees unusually large, Lady? How fascinating.”
“Citadel has a special energy. The medicinal herbs I grow here have exceptional effects because of it. These trees grew so large thanks to that same power.”
The sincerity in her eyes as she examined the surrounding trees was unmistakable.
She truly loved and cherished plants.
“What a remarkable island.”
“Would you like to look around more, or shall we see the herb fields?”
As Louis turned to answer, he spotted a large mansion on the island.
“…Wasn’t this island used as a place of exile before it was granted to you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then isn’t the mansion a bit too grand?”
Did the Valois Empire provide criminals with such houses?
“The mansion was completed after Leira was granted the island.”
“Oh—I see.”
As Louis approached the entrance while admiring the mansion, Arzeo stepped in front of him.
“Why don’t we look at the herb fields instead?”
At his growling tone, Louis laughed.
“My brother really never lets his guard down.”
“The herb fields are this way, Your Highnesses. Since the Lady is waiting, perhaps you should hurry.”
Watching one man bristle and the other enjoy it, Eugene’s expression remained sulky.
At Eugene’s urging, the two turned away from the mansion and followed Leira.
Citadel Island had once been called the Island of Death.
Yet it’s this lush.
Now, the name felt utterly inappropriate.
Birdsong rang pleasantly, and a gentle breeze blew through the greenery. Who could call such a place an island of death?
Passing the giant trees and moving deeper past the mansion, they reached the herb fields.
Hoen, who had come out at dawn to work, noticed them and approached.
“You’ve arrived, miss.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Hoen.”
Hoen had entered the island early to tend the herbs until Leira arrived.
There wasn’t much he could do on the island, but he did everything with care.
When Leira visited, she cultivated usable herbs and shipped them with the ducal staff.
Before leaving the island, she poured her power into the land, and the plants remained vibrant even the next day.
At her smile, Hoen scratched his head shyly.
“I didn’t really do much.”
Since she had told him in advance that guests would be visiting today, he had tidied the herb fields beforehand.
“Oh, what a splendid herb garden.”
“Thank you.”
Both Louis and Eugene admired the fields.
“Truly impressive.”
“Thank you, Eugene.”
Eugene stared back and forth between the fields and Leira in amazement.
Phil’s greenhouse had been perfectly equipped for growing herbs, yet this place didn’t seem particularly outfitted—and still the herbs were in excellent condition.
With Leira’s power, no additional facilities were needed.
Realizing anew just how extraordinary her abilities were, Eugene found himself staring blankly at her.
“What do you think? You said you wanted to confirm the growing environment before proceeding with the deal.”
Leira asked confidently—and rightfully so.
“I’d like to proceed with the deal immediately. Honestly, the herb field was just an excuse. I wanted to see Citadel Island for myself.”
“Oh, but if it hadn’t been an excuse about the herb fields, I would’ve refused no matter who asked—even Your Highness.”
Leira smiled brightly as she answered, and Louis’ eyes widened.
“Why is that?”
“Because Geo didn’t like the idea.”
As she said that, she glanced at Arzeo.
Though he’d been sulking since Louis appeared, his expression softened against his will.
…He’s so easy to read, my brother.
Louis shook his head at Arzeo with a flat look.
“But I thought there was merit in wanting to see the environment before trading, so I brought you here.”
“Then I chose a very good excuse.”
“You did.”
“Since you personally showed us the fields, I’ll have the Ploss Trading Company send a formal proposal.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
After viewing the herb fields, Louis said he’d like to see a bit more of the island.
Leira readily agreed, and they went further inland.
“By the way, you’re holding the wedding on this island? With only a few guests?”
“Yes.”
Arzeo nodded at Louis’ question.
“You really are unusual. A prince of the empire, yet such a modest wedding.”
“I don’t enjoy extravagant things to begin with. I don’t care how others see it. As long as Leira is happy, that’s enough.”
“You have an unexpectedly romantic side.”
“You just never had the chance to notice. I’ve always been romantic.”
Saying that with a perfectly straight face made Louis shake his head once more.
After strolling around the island, they stopped at a clearing some distance from the mansion.
“Well then, you’ve seen all of Citadel. Shall we get to work now?”
At Leira’s words, Arzeo quickly chimed in.
“That’s right. We showed you around, so shouldn’t we get paid?”
“Exactly.”
Louis and Eugene blinked in confusion at their exchange.
Leira smiled brightly and explained.
“We came here today to make a flower path.”
