ITAYA 93💥

~Chapter 93~

Baldwin looked like he would throw Rosmalyn into the sea if there were no people watching.

His anger was so overwhelming that even my own anger had no place to enter.

Rosmalyn was dragged away by Baldwin, who had grabbed her arm firmly. Lutheric followed behind them, carrying her luggage.

All we could do was watch them leave in silence.

“…Will it be alright?”

“You’re going to have a hard time, Ella.”

I let out a deep sigh.

“Well, we’re all on the same ship anyway. I’m more worried about you, Your Highness Bee. Because we’re on the same ship.”

Ella clicked her tongue.

Serving two noble ladies on the same ship wasn’t difficult for her.

But the fact that I couldn’t avoid Rosmalyn at all worried her.

Ella sighed deeply again.

“Are you alright, Your Highness Bee?”

The journey would take about three weeks.

Spending that long on the same ship with Rosmalyn—possibly clashing with her—was naturally burdensome for me.

It was something I had never expected.

Maybe the dolphins hadn’t brought luck after all.

Maybe they had brought an unwelcome guest.

“Ha… I don’t think I’m alright.”

It was obvious that Dowager Lady Rosmalyn hated me.

I didn’t know the exact reason, but the hostility she directed at me was so clear it felt like it was burning my skin.

“What if I just get off the ship? I could take a lifeboat back to Estus. What do you think? Want to come with me?”

“Wherever you go, Your Highness Bee, I will go with you.”

“That gives me strength.”

But even then, a heavy sigh escaped my lips.

“I should rest.”

Suddenly, I felt very tired.

“Yes, please sleep. I’ll watch over things.”

I nodded and changed my clothes.

When Ella and I had been watching the sea earlier, imagining a shining future together, I hadn’t felt this way.

After taking a warm bath in the small bathroom attached to the cabin, my body felt completely relaxed.

Fatigue swallowed me like a rising tide.

I collapsed onto the bed.

And surrendered myself to sleep.

At least for now, I decided not to think about anything.

Later

“Anna.”

It was a voice I had grown used to.

A deep, rough voice that felt heavy the moment it touched me.

I turned slightly and buried myself into the arms of the voice’s owner.

Baldwin wrapped his arms around me.

The scent of the sea wind clung to him.

When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw that the room had become dark.

The cabin was filled with quiet darkness.

Still holding Baldwin, I closed my eyes again.

Inside the silent cabin, the only sounds were the waves and our breathing.

I listened to them quietly.

The events of the day slowly faded as exhaustion pulled me deeper into comfort.

Baldwin gently stroked my back.

His voice felt like magic meant only for me.

His low tone was like the earth itself, giving me a strange sense of stability.

Even after the ridiculous events of today, that feeling remained the same.

Baldwin, who must have been just as shocked as I was, was comforting me.

The way his hand moved softly over my back said everything.

It felt like he was whispering:

Nothing will happen.

Baldwin kissed each of my fingers one by one.

“I will make sure nothing happens.”

“…Baldwin.”

“My mother will stay outside the Imperial Palace once we reach Lakexia. I’ll make sure you don’t have to see her often.”

He buried his face against my shoulder.

Being around someone who hates you and tries to hurt you is never easy.

Especially when that person has followed you here with such obvious intentions.

“…Yes. It will be alright.”

I hugged Baldwin tightly.

Rosmalyn would never miss even the smallest chance to attack me.

She was desperate to separate me from Baldwin.

But winning the heart of a beautiful man often meant facing hardship.

Rosmalyn didn’t frighten me.

She only made me tired.

Yes.

Just tired.

When had I ever been the kind of person who was loved by everyone?

I sighed while holding Baldwin tightly.

Baldwin kissed my cheek.

I had a vague feeling that this journey would be very long.

The Next Days

Rosmalyn behaved like a predator watching its prey.

While Baldwin had people guarding me, she stayed at a distance and observed me quietly.

“She feels like a sinister person, Your Highness Grand Duchess. You must be very careful.”

Ella whispered into my ear.

Since she was forced to serve Rosmalyn as well, Ella’s dislike for her had grown rapidly.

“If she could, she’d release a venomous snake into your bed.”

Ella stomped her foot angrily.

“Please tell His Highness the Grand Duke, alright?”

“Do you know something?”

“What?”

“I’m not afraid of the Dowager Lady at all.”

“Your Highness Bee…”

Ella’s voice trailed off.

She looked at me with pity.

I shrugged and placed my book down on the deck table.

Rosmalyn was sitting at another table about ten meters away, glaring at me.

The sunlight was dazzling today.

And compared to that sunlight, Rosmalyn’s glare felt weak.

I could also feel Baldwin’s guards watching both of us.

If Rosmalyn even stepped one step closer to me, they would immediately call Baldwin.

So what was there to fear?

“Even if she wants to bother me, she has to be able to approach me first. How can she do anything in this situation, Ella?”

“…That’s true. Nothing will happen, right? Sigh… There are still two weeks before we get off the ship.”

“You were the one who was most excited about taking a ship to Lakexia.”

“Not anymore. My only wish now is to get off this ship and be separated from the Dowager Lady.”

Ella seemed even more anxious than I was.

“Who was the one who boldly led the servants to throw garbage at Graham Bank?”

“…That was different! Here I don’t have a single person I can bribe. If we were still in Estus, I would have done something already.”

Her eyes sparkled mischievously.

Sometimes her boldness surprised even me.

“Please don’t do anything.”

Ella pouted but didn’t argue.

I picked up my book again.

Beyond the small pages, the ship’s horn echoed slowly across the sea.

Under Rosmalyn’s sharp gaze, I quietly turned another page.

A week of peace made me careless.

I became convinced that Dowager Lady Rosmalyn could do nothing to me.

Meanwhile — Estus

At the same time, in Estus.

Egbert looked over the people he had gathered and smiled with satisfaction.

He had gathered nearly every wealthy and influential man in Estus.

Some of them had once been members of the Graham Bank committee.

“The reason I invited you all today is to announce the founding of a new bank. Thank you for attending.”

Egbert bowed politely.

When he raised his head again, his eyes shone strangely.

It looked as if all the light in the world was blessing him.

I should have done this from the beginning.

Anais trusts her own intelligence too much.

Egbert licked his lips.

To capture Anais, he needed to attack her directly.

Egbert knew her quite well.

More than anyone, she had respected Sezares.

The traces of that man must still remain deeply within her soul.

And Egbert knew exactly how to provoke her.

He smiled slightly.

“The name of the new bank will honor my grandfather’s will. It will be called Sezares Bank.”

Egbert smiled crookedly.

“Oh! That is truly meaningful, Marquis! I’ve always disliked how arrogant Graham Bank has become. This will be refreshing.”

“That’s right! A young girl acting so boldly—she needs to be taught a lesson!”

“Leave the foundation of the bank to us! We’ve already done it once before. Doing it again won’t be difficult!”

Egbert laughed loudly.

“With all of you supporting me, I feel very confident. I look forward to the day when Sezares Bank grows large enough to swallow Graham Bank whole.”

But for that to happen, he would continue to need their help.

Egbert laughed heartily.

No matter what, he would make Anais cry and beg.

Anais loved Graham Bank just as much as she had loved Grandfather Sezares.

Egbert intended to use that love against her.

This was his final move.

To build a new bank in the shadow of Sezares.

“One more thing,” someone added.

“It seems Graham Bank is planning to invest in young entrepreneurs. That assistant of hers has been sniffing around everywhere.”

Egbert smiled triumphantly.

The trap was finally beginning to take shape.