Gold Coin and Freesia

“Why did they look at me like that?”

It was after returning from an outing that left an odd, bitter taste in her mouth. Cordelia came back to the mansion, changed into more comfortable clothes, and sat down in a chair in her bedroom. That was when she mumbled a question to Edwin.

“They looked at me like I was some kind of monster…………”

“To commoners, royalty might as well live in another world. That’s all there is to it,” Edwin soothed Cordelia in a calm voice. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted their uncomfortable thoughts.

“It’s Lena, Your Highness. They said dinner is ready.”

“I’ll be right out.”

At Cordelia’s gentle response, Edwin stood up as though he understood.

“You’re late, Edwin.”

“I didn’t realize everyone was already here.”

He thought they had moved quickly, yet by the time they entered the dining room, everyone else, including Barton, was already seated. Madam Rian pointedly scolded Edwin for his tardiness, though she conveniently made no mention of Cordelia’s delay.

With Aaron—head power of House Trid—clearly favoring Cordelia, no one would dare blame a royal in front of him. Especially when Cordelia’s royal status alone made Madam Rian tread lightly.

“Sometimes things just happen. Don’t say pointless things,” Aaron said dismissively. Then, turning to Cordelia, he added, “Please don’t feel awkward, Your Highness. I heard you went to the capital with Edwin today for a date?”

“Yes. Edwin kindly showed me around.”

Cordelia answered Aaron’s question brightly. Though an unexpected incident had left the day feeling somewhat sour at the end, the day had otherwise gone just as she wished, so there was no reason for her to show any unpleasantness.

“We also dropped by a coffee house.”

“And you took a lady of such high status to that kind of place…?”

The moment Cordelia mentioned the coffee house, Aaron’s gaze flashed with something unsettling. Sensing that, Cordelia immediately shifted her eyes from Edwin to herself, trying to draw attention away.

“I asked him to take me. I’d never tasted coffee before, so I was curious,” Cordelia explained.

Hearing her reasoning, Aaron’s expression instantly changed as he praised her for being thoughtful enough to be interested in the common people’s world. During this back-and-forth, Edwin merely listened with a half-hearted demeanor to Aaron and Cordelia’s conversation.

“Have you tried the famous bakery near the market?”

The others showed a similar lack of enthusiasm, so Cordelia was a bit startled when Hailey, seated diagonally across, suddenly spoke to her in a warm tone.

“Ah, a bakery.”

“Yes. It’s quite famous, but my brother-in-law can be a bit inattentive about that sort of thing…”

Hailey carefully added, as though she was worried Edwin might have dragged Cordelia around however he pleased.

“If you ever want to try it, we can simply send someone to buy them for you. You’re the most noble lady in Rochester after the queen, so there’s no reason for you to stand around in the blazing sun.”

Just as Cordelia was about to mention the earlier events at the market, Edwin met her gaze and smiled.

“……?”

Cordelia, puzzled, looked at him with a blank expression. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Edwin slipped off her glove and softly rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, looking quite mischievous.

“If Your Highness were to damage this soft skin under the sun, I’d be terribly upset.”

Goodness.

Cordelia couldn’t even close her slightly parted lips, and she found herself trembling, mouth agape with unspoken exclamations.

“Ahem.”

Watching their display, Aaron cleared his throat softly. He seemed flustered to witness his son flirting so openly at the dinner table, yet also appeared rather amused.

“You both seem to be getting along well, which is a relief.”

“That’s not something you need to concern yourself with, Father.”

Edwin cut his father’s remark short like a blade. Though Aaron threw his son a disapproving glare, he turned back to Cordelia with the most gentle smile. He looked so much like Edwin, recalling how Aaron too had once caused quite a stir in the capital with his handsome face. Relying on his good looks and cheeky personality definitely ran in the family.

“I’m feeling a bit hopeful we’ll hear some good news soon.”

As Cordelia chuckled along with Aaron, an expression of curiosity arose on her face.

“Good news? What sort of…?”

Cordelia was the only one at the table who didn’t catch Aaron’s meaning. Having recently wed and not yet accustomed to Aaron’s ways, it wasn’t surprising she was slow to realize.

“You needn’t know—”

“Naturally, he’s referring to you and Edwin having a child, Your Highness.”

Though Edwin tried to shield her, Aaron cut him off. Cordelia’s cheeks, which had been a lovely peachy color, turned as red as a beet in an instant.

“A—A child?”

Cordelia stammered, trying to find her words, while Edwin pressed a hand to his forehead as though this topic was giving him a headache.

“We’ll handle that on our own.”

“I know it’s a little much from an old man, but… I only have two sons, yet neither has given me a grandchild. Of course I worry.”

Aaron switched to a pitiful face, as if truly distressed about his childless sons. Edwin frowned at the older man’s feigned sorrow.

“If only I could see a grandchild before I die, I’d do anything, even give up my position…”

Aaron let out a theatrical sigh.

With no idea how to respond, Cordelia darted her eyes around. She couldn’t exactly lie that there already was a baby on the way, nor could she outright declare that pregnancy and childbirth had nothing to do with her. Both were impossible responses.

“A granddaughter or a grandson, I truly don’t mind………..”

Right then, Edwin looked ready to cut his father off for good, but Hailey seized the moment first.

“Don’t worry, Father. We’re trying our best, so I’m sure you’ll have a grandchild soon.”

“You are, huh?”

Uh, what?

Aaron looked taken aback. Evidently, it was Edwin and Cordelia he expected to produce an heir, not Barton and Hailey. Hailey’s bold reassurance seemed to put him in an awkward spot.

“Really, Father? If we have a child, you’ll give us anything we want, right?”

Hailey asked sweetly, and Madam Rian’s expression grew uncomfortable, as though she found Hailey’s intentions a bit too obvious—even though they were on the same side. Noticing this, Edwin let out a small scoff and lifted his glass.

Cordelia, assuming Edwin’s reaction was due to discomfort, quickly looked away. He might say having a child was still too soon for them, but this was not the time to show weakness in front of a rival. Besides, they had heard bad news earlier that Barton’s latest venture was sailing along splendidly.

Recalling this, Cordelia clenched her fists, placed them on the table, and spoke up with a determined voice.

“I… I’ll do my best too!”

Cordelia’s resolute declaration echoed across the dining room.

“Guh—!”

At that moment, Edwin hurriedly snatched up a napkin and clapped it over his mouth. He had swallowed a sip of wine at the exact second Cordelia blurted out those words, and the shock caused him to choke. Thankfully, he covered his mouth in time to avoid a disaster, but he ended up sputtering and coughing, his face flushing a deep red.

He had always assumed that a child was something the two of them would create together. But until Cordelia’s bold announcement that she would ‘do her best,’ it never crossed his mind that he was part of that effort—because it almost sounded as if Cordelia intended to make it happen on her own.

“Are you alright?”

Oblivious to Edwin’s thoughts, Cordelia held onto his arm in concern, but he simply pushed her hand away and rinsed his mouth with water. The napkin he had used bore a crimson wine stain that looked alarmingly like blood.

“With Hailey and Her Highness both promising to try, I couldn’t be more delighted,” Aaron chirped while Edwin was still coughing too much to speak. Aaron’s eyes sparkled as Cordelia, without thinking, nodded along. All the while, Edwin glared at Aaron between fits of coughs.

‘What?’ Aaron mouthed silently, looking completely innocent.

“Now that I’m old, I’ve begun thinking it’s time to clearly name an heir. But it’s not easy to judge which of my two sons is more suitable.”

He composed himself with feigned solemnity and went on,

“Edwin’s achievements in the trading business have been outstanding, and he’ll be granted a title soon. But Barton’s successful foray into the arts means he’ll also receive the rank of Viscount Liberty.”

Aaron paused meaningfully before continuing,

“Now that House Trid is focusing on stability more than expansion, I need someone who can build a solid home—someone who can ensure our family thrives in peace.”

He folded his hands and nodded as if deep in thought.

“Of course, this isn’t something that can be forced by human effort alone, so I’ve waited. But since it seems everyone is determined to produce an heir, I might consider it as an important factor in choosing my successor.”

As always, Aaron’s skill at turning nonsense into seemingly logical arguments was admirable—just as he had once taught Edwin that ‘any random story can become a solid rationale if you say it convincingly enough.’