Chapter 44

The Duke had quietly dealt with the unnamed men he had locked away in a box during his childhood, just as he had promised.  

“But Your Grace, I’m so sleepy. Can I sleep a little longer?”  

“Sure. Is there anything you want to eat?”  

“Hmm… Not really. By the way, what happened to Young Master Humohr?”  

Humohr, who had been charged with imperial treason, using forbidden magic, and fraud, narrowly escaped excommunication due to his family’s significant contributions to the empire. Instead, he was sentenced to clean underground prisons for the rest of his life.  

“That’s not good for prenatal education.” 

Kaiden said, cupping Hazel’s cheeks and rubbing his forehead against hers, adding that there was no need to worry about such a vile man.  

“Alright, I won’t ask anymore.”  

Hazel, noticing Kaiden’s clear dislike of even mentioning Humohr’s name, carefully patted her belly. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she soon fell asleep.  

When she opened her eyes again, the Duke was sitting beside the bed, reviewing documents.  

“Did you sleep well?”  

Hazel stayed quiet, enjoying the low, gentle voice that greeted her. She wanted to hear it again.  

“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”  

“No. I just like that your face is the first thing I see when I wake up, Your Grace.”  

Kaiden laughed aloud, seemingly pleased by her words. He pulled his chair closer and kissed her cheek. His lips began to trail downward, brushing against her collarbone and leaving a path to her rounded shoulder.  

“Ah, Your Grace!”  

Hazel giggled, squirming as the sensation tickled her. But just as Kaiden’s lips descended further, a knock sounded, and Philip appeared.  

Philip entered with a proud look, as if expecting praise.  

“Your Grace! Everything is ready. Ah…? Oh! I’ll just… leave now…”  

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Philip scratched the back of his head and quickly exited. Hazel, mortified, buried her face under the blanket.  

Why was Kaiden always kissing, hugging, and undressing her at the most random moments, causing such embarrassing situations? This was the third time Philip had caught them, and Hazel thought it might be time to exercise some restraint.  

“I’ll get ready and come out. Wait outside, Philip.”  

“Yes, yes! I could wait all night, so please, don’t worry about me.”  

“Philip, aren’t you leaving?”  

At Kaiden’s low voice, the sound of the door closing followed immediately. Hazel peeked out from under the blanket.  

“Am I going, too?”  

“Yes.”  

“Where are we going?”  

“To the wedding venue.”  

Hazel tilted her head in confusion, asking for more details, but Kaiden only brushed her messy hair and told her she’d find out soon enough.  

***

“Wow~ It’s so beautiful.”  

As Hazel clasped her hands together in awe, her wide eyes darting around, the people behind her whispered in hushed tones of relief and admiration.  

“Isn’t that Hazel?”  

“Yes, yes. It must be her. She looks just like the photo His Grace showed us.”  

“Eek! I knew this would happen eventually!”  

Philip gestured for silence, pressing a finger to his lips.  

“What do you think, Your Grace?”  

Kaiden turned to Hazel and asked, 

“Hazel, do you like it?”  

“Yes, yes! Absolutely!”  

Hazel nodded so vigorously that her neatly styled hair swayed.  

The place Kaiden had brought her, calling it the wedding venue, was his private ship.  

The massive white ship, capable of carrying nearly 200 people, was as large as a small estate. Decorated for a wedding, it was both grand and dazzling.  

Philip led the way, and Kaiden explained the ship’s features. It had everything from a kitchen and bedrooms to individual quarters for the staff. There was a storage area, a banquet hall large enough to host a ball, and even a small general store and pharmacy.  

It was truly a floating estate.  

“Did you prepare all of this?”  

“Philip and our staff worked hard on it.”  

Hearing this, Hazel turned around and flashed a bright smile to express her gratitude.  

“Thank you. I should’ve introduced myself earlier. I’m Hazel Erban. Please feel free to call me Hazel.”  

“She’s the one I’ll soon marry, so take good care of her.”  

The staff, who had been standing like a cloud, eagerly nodded and began introducing themselves one by one.  

“Hazel! Miss Hazel is here? Step aside, everyone. I have something for her!”  

Through the crowd emerged a burly man in a white chef’s uniform, wearing a towering chef’s hat that was nearly the size of an arm. He held a chocolate cake in his hands.  

“Hello, Miss. I’m Dillizard, the sole chef on this ship.”  

“Hello, Dillizard. Please, call me Hazel.”  

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve created many desserts and dishes just for you. By the way, will you be staying on the ship with His Grace after the wedding? For now, would you like to try this chocolate cake?”  

Hazel glanced at Kaiden, who shrugged, indicating she could do as she pleased.  

Taking a fork, Hazel cut into the chocolate cake and took a bite. The sweet chocolate cream and soft layers melted in her mouth. It was even better than the famous cakes from the Obir Dessert Boutique in the city.  

“This is delicious! How can it be so soft?”  

“Hahaha! It’s all thanks to His Grace, who procured the finest chocolate and butter from the Kingdom of Belgir. I can also make famous desserts from various countries whenever you’d like!”

Dillizard laughed heartily, pounding his chest with his fist as he looked at the empty plate. His confident demeanor sparked a request in Hazel’s mind.  

“Then, could I ask you to prepare a chocolate cake for the wedding banquet?”  

“It would be an honor, Miss Hazel! I will prepare the most extravagant, largest, and most delicious chocolate cake in the world!”  

As Dillizard bowed his head in gratitude, the staff standing behind him began raising their hands one by one.  

“Miss Hazel, I’m good with my hands. May I decorate your dress?”  

“I’m the only shoemaker on this ship. I’ll make you comfortable shoes that you’ll never trip in.”  

“Miss Hazel, I’ll prepare the bedroom in the spot where you can see the stars best. If you need anything, please call me, Claire, the head maid.”  

Overwhelmed by their devoted hospitality, Hazel beamed brightly and expressed her gratitude.  

The staff seemed to know exactly what Hazel needed and liked, just like the long-time employees at the Erban Marquisate. They treated her with such familiarity, as if they had known her for years, making her feel at ease.  

“Your Grace, is everyone treating me so well because I’m the person you’re marrying? They all seem like such wonderful people.”  

She swung their clasped hands enthusiastically as she spoke.  

“No, it’s because you’re you, Hazel.”  

“It feels like everyone already knows me. How do they know what I like so well? Look, I even received this as a gift.”  

Hazel showed him a hair accessory with a star-shaped decoration. Philip, who was following behind, craned his neck and commented,  

“You don’t know how curious the staff were about you.”  

“About me?”  

“Yes, His Grace couldn’t stop talking about you whenever he opened his mouth, Miss Hazel…”  

“Philip, don’t you have work to do?”  

Kaiden cut Philip off, signaling with his eyes for him to disappear.  

“Ahem, ahem. Everything is perfectly prepared! As you instructed, we’ve obtained permission from the temple for the shipboard wedding, and the High Priest has agreed to officiate the vows. By the way, Your Grace, you know you must go to the Cliang Kingdom next month, right? We can’t delay it any longer.”  

At Philip’s firm words, Kaiden pretended not to hear, but Hazel stopped in her tracks.  

“Departure? Aren’t you staying here?”  

“Well, I don’t plan on going. Where would I go without you, Hazel?”  

Philip rubbed his forehead at the unexpected response from his superior, while Hazel tugged on Kaiden’s sleeve, asking why.  

“Isn’t it important? If you have to go, can’t you take me along? This place is so lovely. Everything is fascinating, and everyone is kind. I’m curious about the Cliang Kingdom too!”  

“That’s a great idea! Miss Hazel wants it as well, so why not take her along?”  

“But Hazel is pregnant. She’ll be more comfortable at the mansion she’s familiar with.”  

Kaiden firmly rejected the idea, concerned solely for Hazel, despite Philip’s encouragement. Philip, glancing back and forth between the dejected Hazel and Kaiden, added,  

“Head Maid Claire and Maid Marie both gave birth onboard the ship. Our ship’s pharmacy is larger than those in most remote territories, and we have a resident physician who is of imperial origin. Besides, the ship is top-notch and spacious, so there’s no risk of seasickness. Could there be a safer place? And this way, Your Grace, you and Miss Hazel won’t have to be separated.”  

At these words, Kaiden’s eyes wavered.  

He had married Hazel because he couldn’t bear to be apart from her, but now, with major contracts requiring his attention, he couldn’t simply leave her behind while he boarded the merchant ship. Even if he tried to wrap up the business as quickly as possible, there would inevitably be similar situations in the future.  

“Your Grace, can’t I go? I’ll let you know immediately if I feel unwell.”  

Hazel tilted her chin upward, pleading earnestly. Kaiden let out a deep sigh.  

“Let’s get you examined by the doctor first, and then decide.”  

“Alright.”  

When Hazel nodded weakly, Kaiden pulled her into a comforting embrace, patting her shoulder gently.  

If she weren’t pregnant, he would have taken her aboard the ship and shown her every place she wanted to visit. He wanted to tell her that the house being built on Starshade Island was designed with her in mind.  

“Your Grace, then I’ll inform Dillizard that the wedding will be held three days from now, on Monday.”  

“Alright.”  

Hazel, surprised by the sudden timeline, asked in astonishment,  

“Monday?”  

“You said you wanted it next week. So, I rushed things.”  

Kaiden, nonchalant as if nothing was wrong, even seemed regretful that the ceremony couldn’t be held sooner due to the priests’ busy schedules.  

“Well, technically, it is next week.”