Chapter 4 – 【 By a Stroke of Chance 】 (Part 4)

Since the bastard’s wealth legally belonged to the family, he could have worked him like a mule for life. Unfortunately, he didn’t know Cedric had a knack for making money back then. He just wanted the bastard, whom he couldn’t stand to look at, to die as soon as possible.

“If it were me, I’d have jumped into a pond the moment they told me to marry a bastard. How can she like him while bearing the disgrace of being the first royal in history to marry a bastard?”

Cedric slipped through Henry’s fingers like an eel by marrying the princess. If that insignificant princess hadn’t thrown herself at Cedric like a pr*stitute sold for money, half of Henry’s current worries would have disappeared.

Henry refilled his glass. The bottle was empty. The butler picked up the bottle.

“I’ll bring more wine.”

“No need for more wine. I’m craving cherries.”

“If the Madam finds out…”

“The Madam should know too, right? It’d be better if she joined in.”

Henry chuckled as he sipped the remaining drink. Shortly after, the old butler left, and a maid with bright red hair entered the room, flirting and swaying.

The bedroom door was left half-open.

* * *

“Mm, Cedric…”

“Sleep more, Princess.”

Yuria forced her drowsy eyes open. Cedric was already getting out of bed. He briefly kissed Yuria’s forehead as she lay there, blinking.

“Looks like you won’t be wearing a pearl necklace today either.”

He traced the marks from her neck to her chest with his fingers.

“Charlotte is starting to doubt the existence of the pearl necklace.”

She had only been wearing dresses that covered her neck, so she couldn’t show off the pearl necklace to Charlotte.

“Because of you, I’m becoming a liar. Why do you keep biting my neck?”

“It feels good when I bite it.”

“There are plenty of other places that feel good. Places that aren’t visible.”

Yuria pouted as she pushed Cedric away from nibbling on her neck again.

“Where else? You need to give me a clear example.”

“L-lower.”

“Lower? Here? Or…”

His hand, which had been on her chest, moved down her ribs and started to caress her lower abdomen. Before his hand could go any lower, Yuria sat up.

“Oh, come on, stop it and go to work.”

“Then why do you tempt a man who’s trying to leave?”

“It’s always my fault.”

“It’s because you’re too seductive, Princess.”

Cedric kissed her pouting lips and then covered her eyes with his large hand.

“Sleep more. I’ll come to pick you up in the afternoon.”

“No need. I’ll come to your office.”

Yuria moved his hand and looked into his eyes.

“It’s more convenient that way. If you come early, I get anxious while getting ready.”

“I’ve never rushed you.”

“Still.”

“Then today, I’ll wait for you.”

Today was the June Festival. It was the biggest festival held among Ritano’s annual events. Yuria hadn’t enjoyed the festival before. She wasn’t in the mood to enjoy it either. But this time was different. Cedric had asked to go to the June Festival first, and she had promised to do so as well.

Everything was perfect, except for the small complaint of having to wear a dress that covered her neck despite the warm weather. Lesia occasionally crossed her mind, but it wasn’t enough to significantly bother her.

Although they had seemed quite familiar that day, Cedric hadn’t shown any signs of longing for Lesia since then. His attitude towards her remained unchanged, if not a bit more affectionate.

Their daily intimate moments continued as usual, accompanied by Cedric’s playful threats, laced with dirty jokes, reminding Yuria to stay alert lest she get bored and have an affair. But if he were swayed by Lesia, he wouldn’t feel like punishing her physically.

Moreover, ten years was a long time, and Lesia was from another kingdom. Since she had her roots there, they wouldn’t meet often. After returning to Ritano, Yuria gradually forgot about Lesia.

After Cedric went to work, Yuria took a long nap, had a light meal, and then set off for Cedric’s office. Following the maids’ recommendations, she wore a comfortable dress and a wide-brimmed hat.

The carriage slowly approached Cedric’s office through the bustling festival crowd. There was already a carriage parked in front of the office building, indicating a visitor. The carriage was uniquely adorned with red tassels on all four corners. While she had heard of kingdoms using carriage decorations to signify noble families, she had never seen one before.

Seeing Howard personally seeing off the guest, it seemed to be an important visitor. As Yuria’s carriage stopped at the entrance, Howard opened the door and extended his hand to her.

“Welcome, Princess. The Count is waiting for you.”

She accepted his escort and stepped out of the carriage.

“Shall I take you to the drawing room, or would you like to go straight to the office?”

“I’ll go to the drawing room. I don’t want to disturb his work.”

“The Count wouldn’t consider it a disturbance.”

Howard’s confident words made Yuria feel somewhat embarrassed. It sounded as if Cedric’s affection for her was obvious to others as well.

“I’ll take you to the drawing room.”

“Oh, alright.”

Yuria didn’t make it to the drawing room. Before she could get there, Cedric, who had come out upon seeing her carriage, met her. He was dressed casually. Since Yuria wasn’t overly dressed up either, they blended naturally like a couple out to enjoy the June Festival.

“Let me know if you get tired.”

“Cedric, we’ve been walking for less than five minutes.”

“We still have a bit more to walk to get to the sea.”

“I know, I can make it. I’m not that weak.”

“Then what about all those times you complained about being tired and having no strength in your legs at night?”

How could he say such things in public!

Yuria instinctively looked around. Some people were looking their way, possibly recognizing Cedric.

“It’s too noisy for them to hear.”

“And if they did?”

“Then they’d think it must have been the princess last night.”

That was the problem. Yuria didn’t want strangers to know such intimate details of her life.

“Everyone does it. Nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“No, it’s just…”

Cedric’s nonchalance left Yuria at a loss for words. She hooked her arm around his again, hoping no one would recognize her, and they could leave quickly—

“Princess?”

The best course… but Yuria couldn’t ignore the young voice calling her.

“Are you the princess?”

She slowly turned towards the voice. A small girl, perhaps around ten years old, holding a large flower basket, was looking at Yuria with sparkling eyes.

“Yes.”

Yuria’s answer brought a glow to the scruffy girl’s face. She seemed fascinated by seeing a princess for the first time. The girl let out a long “Wow” and took a flower from her basket.

“A gift for you, Princess!”

Should I accept it?

The girl seemed to be making a living selling flowers, and Yuria didn’t want to disappoint her.

“Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

Yuria accepted the flower.

“It’s an honor.”

The girl, mimicking a curtsy she must have learned somewhere, lifted one side of her skirt and bent her knees slightly. Her awkward etiquette was endearing.

“All your flowers are lovely.”

In truth, they weren’t. They were wilted. Despite the many people out with money to spend, the girl’s flower basket remained full for a reason.

“Thank you.”

Yuria smiled at the girl’s cheerful response and then looked at Cedric. He stared back at her intently.

“…Ah.”

He finally understood her unspoken request. Cedric took three silver coins from his pocket.

“The princess can’t walk around with just one flower.”

He handed the coins to the girl.

“We’ll take the rest.”

“Really?”

Cedric nodded, and the girl began to take the flowers out of the basket with a delighted expression.

“The basket too.”

Yuria’s voice softly echoed.

“How will I carry all those flowers? I need the basket too.”

Cedric took the basket from the girl and placed another silver coin in her hand.

“This is for the basket.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

“Why thank the princess when I’m the one paying?”

What a thing to say to a child.

Yuria lightly tapped his arm, and Cedric handed her the flower basket.

“It’s too big for you, Princess.”

“Then you carry it.”

Cedric held the flower basket with his free arm, the other still holding Yuria’s hand. He never imagined he’d walk around carrying a flower basket. Carrying the head of an enemy, maybe, but a flower basket?

Yet, it wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“We bought a bunch of wilted flowers and an old basket for four silver coins.”

All of it together wasn’t worth even one silver coin.

“Are you soft-hearted towards children, or just soft-hearted in general?”

Probably both. Cedric recalled the green eyes that had stared at him intently, pleading for him to buy the basket. He chuckled lightly. It was the first time he found someone trying to extort money from him endearing.

“I’m not that soft-hearted.”

Sure.

Cedric was certain she couldn’t even kill a mouse properly.

“I’m indulging in luxury right now.”

“What?”

“You told me to indulge as much as I wanted.”

What could be more luxurious than buying a worn-out basket and wilted flowers for four silver coins?

Yuria shrugged her shoulders triumphantly.