CH 23

Translated by Lara

She couldn’t find fault with Peyton at all.

He didn’t have the burden of carrying an empire like Clyde, and he didn’t get too much attention like Adrian.

“It’s a little early, but may I ask you to call me informally? I’d rather be called Peyton than Prince Grayves.”

From one to ten, he’s her cup of tea. The romance was her taste, but her ideal type was right here. The original author prefers the main-top Clyde, and her preference is the sub-top Peyton.

“Of course. Please me Edith too. Please talk to me casually.”

His smiling face with his teeth exposed was so wonderful that she wanted to see him for the rest of her life.

This man, shall she make him as her husband?

There was nothing she couldn’t do. They could get closer slowly.

It was a moment when her resolution that she never wanted to marry a man she didn’t know was shaken.

She heard that physical condition was especially important between husband and wife. Unable to take her eyes off Peyton’s face and body, she had a proper and reasonable imagination of having to use her dirty brain at night.

“Edith…”

“Peyton.”

She could roughly guess the height while standing face to face. Clyde, the main character in the original story, was also very tall, but Peyton was taller than him.

The difference with her height was a little excessive, the man’s shoulders went up a long way above Edith’s head. Between 190 and 200? People often prefer a height of 180s, but she liked a taller person. Even her height taste was shot down properly.

She hid the tearing corners of her mouth with a fan she bought for today.

Peyton greeted her and served her fragrant tea. They talked about how they have been doing without rushing. Edith chattered about the tough Crown Prince’s palace life, and Peyton confessed his grievances about business in the New Continent.

Her mood was so relaxed that she was half-stunned by the time she had appreciated the violin performance prepared for her welcome.

The intention to show a strong hatred has already disappeared. It was unfamiliar to her to see herself sipping her tea with extra care than usual.

“Edith, if you don’t mind, I’d like to see you more often. I’m losing track of time with someone I can communicate with.”

The reason she wondered if he was being honest or not was proof that she was falling for Peyton.

“I’d love to, but I’m busy with work.”

She put on an apologetic look to not sound like a refusal. There was also a series of explanations that she could not withdraw herself because she was the Crown Prince’s direct servant.

“It’s too early to tell you this, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about Edith before. I’ve seen you at the academy’s graduation ceremony. However, it was difficult to approach the Ketzmorris because of a difficult problem.”

“My father is a little.… That’s right.”

She smiled faintly.

“Now that those barriers are gone, there is nothing to be afraid of. When I heard the news of your succession, I decided not to hesitate to send Edith a letter of a marriage proposal.”

“You seem to appreciate me too highly.”

“I’m reciting the same story that came out of my acquaintances’ mouths. That’s why I’m telling you….”

It seemed that the main point was finally coming out. Edith didn’t notice her pricked ears, and she stared at him calmly.

“Edith is the Ketzmorris’ lord regardless of marriage. You have your own right.”

“….”

“So, if you accept my proposal, I’d like to skip the usual dowry.”

To proceed with the wedding without the bride’s dowry. This was a pretty unconventional proposal.

In the original worldview, the nobles usually take dowry, but Peyton was coolly saying to skip it. Due to Edith’s family circumstances, the amount would not be large anyway, so it didn’t mean much to him.

It has been great so far, but there were more surprising stories to come.

“Also, with your permission, I would like to borrow from the wedding customs of neighboring countries. As soon as we get married, we want to fund the Ketzmorris family.”

“What do you mean… fund?”

“We can’t leave the Green Horn territory like this. It’s an area with great potential. If you can solve the debt problem and then leave it to my company, I’m confident that we will develop it to Edith’s satisfaction.”

In other cultures, there were other prices as opposed to a dowry. Peyton’s story probably meant that.

“May I ask you specifically what kind of form you mean by entrusting the territory to you? It’s a little vague.”

“I won’t touch the ownership. Of course, the land belongs to Edith.”

“Then…?”

“My farm in the New Continent produces sugar cane and cotton on a large scale. We need a base to process and sell it.”

“Are you saying you’re going to start a processing business?”

“Yes, we are planning to build an industrial complex. My estate is too far from the capital, but the Green Horn land is only a day away. There’s even a port, isn’t there? In a location like this, there are many businesses worth doing besides sugar and textiles.”

“But most of the land there are wheat fields. The production is not bad either.”

“It’s a shame, but the field has to be pushed away. I hope you’ll take it as a sacrifice for development.”

It was evident that he had prepared the conditions for the marriage.

Edith’s eyes lit up and she tapped the calculation on her head.

Should she get the rent if the land belongs to her and the building belongs to Peyton? Or should they divide the profits by the ratio? She wanted to ask more, and she wanted to examine the numbers carefully here.

But today was the first time she met Peyton. The two were all dressed up and drinking tea. Property details and accounting books were usually appropriate after several more meetings.

She put aside the details and focused on understanding Peyton’s intentions.

“If you had planned it that far, you could have just offered a business offer, not a marriage.”

“It’s a big risk to build my important factory on someone else’s land. If you can’t help it, we can just talk about business….”

Peyton, who had been explaining without hesitation, suddenly blurted out his words. He hesitated for a moment with a look of dismay.

“Perhaps do you dislike me?”

“Oh, no. It’s not like that.”

“Of course, there are advantages of having a reliable business. But Edith is beautiful, you have a status and are recognized for your ability in the palace….”

He listed Edith’s strengths one by one, giving off an atmosphere as if he was proposing to a partner with much better conditions. However, these words and actions apparently showed modesty to continue the marriage conversation. In fact, she was far short in the scale of both households.

Edith took a sip of the finest tea from a gold-rimmed teacup and looked at the luxurious garden. It was a scene where she could clearly feel the gap with her poor house.

Had Peyton been prepared so carefully, he would probably have looked into her debt situation as well.

However, it was necessary to point out whether he was aware of it properly. He might withdraw from the marriage if he heard the actual amount.

“Thank you for thinking well of me when I’m lacking. But do you happen to know how much my debt is?”

“It must be quite large.”

“I wonder if you are still okay with that.…”

He seriously said, putting his hands on the table’s edge as if he had expected such a conversation.

“From what I have heard, the Green Horn land has never been sold. Right?”

Edith nodded calmly.

“To be honest, all the tax revenue coming from the estate is going to the creditor.”

“Is it just tax revenue? Is everything else intact?”

“Yes, it’s just the interest, other remaining unchanged.”

Peyton smiled happily like a guide who knew the right direction. He had clear plans for the future.

“Then, first, I will pay interest on the subsidy I will give you. We will pay back principal step by step after our business is established.”

“That’s possible, but I wondered if Peyton felt burdened.”

“I do not cross over the land that Edith owns. Likewise, it will be difficult to touch the debt. But I will help you get out of trouble as soon as possible.”

With passionate support, he unfolded his clasped hands.

He had a very good laugh. The surrounding was brightened, enough for Edith to smile along with him.

Also, everything he said was just right. There was nothing to find fault with.

What she liked the most was that she could solve problems in one shot, or that he didn’t have unreasonable pressures to pay off her debts instead.

Pass. It’s a perfect score.

It was a mutually beneficial marriage by all accounts. He got a wife who held the title of a duke and has an estate that could be used to his heart’s content, and Edith welcomes a handsome husband in addition to escaping poverty.

What made her uneasy was that she had never met Peyton before.

She was a little worried because she didn’t know enough about one’s personality. In the original story, he was a villain, so what he looked like now might not be real.

But Peyton in front of her was a man full of positive energy. She wondered if it would be possible to fake such an impression. The smile that revealed his teeth was as dazzling as his orange blonde hair color.

“Edith, do you intend to enter politics by any chance? If so, I would like to support it actively.”

“Politics…?”

When Edith responded in bewilderment, he immediately added:

“It doesn’t matter if you want to quit.”

It meant he gave her the option to choose.

This man, he’s totally her type.

He was secretly showing his desire to enter business and politics inside the country and abroad. In addition, it conveyed the meaning of being faithful to her current marriage conditions if she does not want to.

“I never thought about going into politics. Actually, I’ve been working as a servant to help my family.”

“I see.”

“Marriage… I’m sorry, but I haven’t thought about it yet. I’m grateful that Peyton contacted me.”

He waited anxiously for Edith’s following words.

“Thank you for everything. But it’s still too urgent. I’m sorry, but can you give me enough time to think?”

“The marriage’s offer… can it continue?”

“Of course. I’ll think about it sincerely.”

She came with the intention of breaking up the marriage offer, but she was afraid that Peyton’s resolution would change.

The moment she glanced at him, their eyes met. Peyton was also carefully examining her. In the awkward atmosphere, Edith rolled her eyes awkwardly.

Peyton’s manner of responding calmly was perfect as if he had measured it.

“All right, of course, it must be too sudden. That’s possible.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

He stared at Edith for a moment to see what she was thinking.

He crossed his legs, which he had sat in an upright position, showing less formality than before.

“Then why don’t you try and see how good we fit together as husband and wife?”

“What do you mean….”

“Let’s take steps to get to know each other. Didn’t you say that the marriage offer will not end like this?”