A Necessary Existence

It had been quite some time since they left the Moncel estate.

The sun, which had barely peeked out when they departed, was now brightly illuminating the world.

Pretending to read, Clayton lowered his gaze and stole a glance at Dalia, who was sitting across from him.

Though one might have expected her to doze off in the carriage, Dalia had been staring out the window for hours.

It seemed the increasingly beautiful scenery as they neared Hudson had captivated her.

Watching her quietly, as if admiring her, Clayton recalled the events of the previous night at the Falling Blossom Festival.

"I'm making a wish."

"I wished to stay by your side forever."

He couldn't forget Dalia's voice as she held his hand and told him she wanted to stay by his side forever.

Her earnest, amethyst-like eyes, which seemed to speak only the truth, remained vivid in his memory.

He began to think that perhaps, just as he needed Dalia so desperately, she too might feel the same way about him.

As he thought, his mind drifted back to the day he first met Dalia.

She had looked shabby, wearing an old, worn-out dress that seemed to have been pulled from storage.

He didn't need to inquire to know what kind of position she held in the Molden barony.

That must have been why she accepted his marriage proposal without a moment's hesitation.

"This kind of relationship isn't bad."

Being necessary and essential to each other—that level of connection was enough to satisfy him.

Just like her wish, as long as they stayed together for life, with Dalia giving him her love and Clayton providing her with whatever she desired, it would suffice.

It felt as though everything had finally settled into place, and he was at ease.

It felt as if all the things that had tormented him for so long had vanished. With his heart now at ease—

A sudden question crossed his mind.

The previous night, at the festival, Dalia had nearly fallen and injured herself.

Fortunately, he had caught her quickly, averting disaster, but the real issue came afterward.

"What was that scent yesterday?"

It was the peculiar scent coming from Dalia.

The scent tickled his nose, sweet yet imbued with the cool fragrance of a forest.

Breathing it in felt as though his entire body was being cleansed—it was a strange and unique experience.

At first, he thought she might have worn perfume, but that wasn't it.

Even after she had returned to her room and washed, the scent lingered—it only grew stronger instead of fading.

And now, as if to prove it, Dalia's subtle fragrance filled the small carriage, tugging at his senses.

He might be used to it now, feigning nonchalance, but the scent he first caught when he embraced Dalia at the festival had left a profound impression on him.

What exactly was this scent? Why had it suddenly started coming from Dalia? These questions consumed his thoughts.

A clear voice calling his name snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Your Grace! I can see the sea!"

At last, the sea came into view.

It meant they had arrived at the villa where they would be staying. Shortly after, the carriage came to a rattling stop.

They arrived in front of a white stone building perched on the edge of a cliff.

Set against the backdrop of the blue sea and sandy beach, the villa exuded a noble and elegant atmosphere.

As soon as she stepped down from the carriage, Dalia eagerly entered the villa, which boasted an interior just as beautiful as its exterior.

Clayton, following her inside, asked casually.

"Do you like it?"

"How could I not? It's such a beautiful place!"

While exploring the villa's interior, Dalia flung open the terrace doors on the first floor.

The salty scent of the sea tickled her nose.

As she admired the scenery and sighed in awe, Dalia, seemingly curious, turned to Clayton and asked.

"Why don't people live in such a beautiful place?"

"That's because this entire area is the property of the Seayer family. Our predecessors recognized Hudson's value early on and bought all the land in the region."

Dalia's eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected answer.

"…All of it?"

"Yes. That makes it all the safer. No one lives here, and it's not a place just anyone can enter."

"I see… but it's such a pity that no one else gets to see such a beautiful place."

Nodding at Clayton's words, Dalia looked out the window once again.

Even from the moving carriage, the passing scenery had been breathtaking enough to inspire admiration.

"Then there's truly no one living here?"

"Aside from those associated with the family."

"I see…"

Hearing that no one lived there, Dalia made a disappointed expression.

"It would've been nice if there were at least a small village nearby…"

Dalia muttered absentmindedly. From her perspective, it was a casual remark without much thought.

Of course, the problem was that Clayton didn't see it that way.

* * *

On the first floor of the small three-story mansion, there was an improvised office for Clayton.

Originally a small room used to store books in the reception area, it had now become Clayton's temporary workspace.

A man stood before Clayton, who was seated at his desk reviewing documents. It was Caddison, who had arrived at the villa before both of them.

As Clayton's secretary, he was also the one suffering the most from his capricious master at this moment.

"The details about trade with the Kingdom of Easter are in the report."

"Well done."

Clayton was carefully skimming through the report Caddison had handed over.

As if he had something else to report besides the document he had just handed over, Caddison cautiously began to speak.

"And it seems that Viscount Molden is on the verge of bankruptcy due to a silk business scam."

The hand that had been idly flipping through the papers abruptly stopped.

"Bankruptcy?"

"Yes. Forget about getting back the money we invested; even the house they live in within the capital is about to be seized."

"Didn't I give them more money recently under the guise of a consolation fund? That amount should have been enough to prevent losing the house."

"Well, um…"

Caddison trailed off, looking troubled.

"It seems they recklessly gambled in an attempt to increase their money. As a result, not only did they lose the funds Your Grace provided, but they also put the house up as collateral."

"How ridiculous."

He let out a hollow laugh, as if in disbelief.

The money Clayton had given as a consolation fund was enough for the Molden baron couple to live without working for the rest of their lives, provided they didn't squander it on luxuries.

It was money given with the intention that they give up on business ventures and live a comfortable life at home for the rest of their days.

Not only had they recklessly gambled away that money, but they had also incurred debts. It was utterly exasperating.

"What should we do?"

"..."

Clayton tapped the desk with his fingers, appearing deep in thought.

Clayton was displeased with the behavior of Baron Molden, but he was still Dalia's biological father.

He was well aware that Dalia was already enduring whispers behind her back about her precarious marriage.

To save her dignity, he had unquestioningly provided funds under the guise of investment for their ridiculous business plans.

But there was a limit to pouring water into a bottomless pot.

Moreover, the deceitful mother and daughter not only failed to show gratitude to Dalia but also continually ignored her. Letting them learn their lesson this time wouldn't be a bad idea, but…

"Just make sure they don't lose the house."

In the end, Dalia still weighed on his mind.

"Yes, understood."

Dalia wouldn't want to lose the home she'd lived in since childhood.

So, for now, he planned to pay off their debts and provide them with enough monthly living expenses to get by.

"Oh, and one more thing."

Clayton stopped Caddison, as if there was more he needed to delegate.

"I'd like a small village to be established in Hudson."

"…Pardon? A village?"

"Yes. So, look for people willing to relocate here. Also, consider improvements to the related living facilities."

Caddison's expression was as though he had heard a foreign language.

Realizing what Clayton meant, Caddison asked in a dazed voice.

"…Have you forgotten what kind of place this is?"

"I haven't forgotten."

"Even so… you intend to build a village here? Are you serious? If it's a joke, it's not funny."

"I'm serious, and it's not a joke."

At those words, Caddison's face turned to one of shock.

"But Your Grace… this place is…"

"Just do as I say, Caddison."

Caddison, who had been about to argue further, could only nod quietly at Clayton's lowered tone.

Only then did Clayton, his tone softened slightly, ask about Dalia's whereabouts.

"Where's Dalia?"

"The madam said she was going for a walk and just headed to the beach."

"Alone?"

"Yes. According to the maid, she said she wanted to go alone."

Hudson, where they were, was originally a place of exile for the Hertz family, so it wasn't a location anyone could easily enter.

Moreover, the beach right in front of the villa had top-tier security. There was no need to worry even if Dalia went out for a walk alone.

Clayton turned his head to look out the window. The setting sun had painted the sky in hues of orange.

Even though he knew she was just nearby, he couldn't stop worrying, like a parent fretting over a child near the water.

"Where are you going?"

Caddison stopped Clayton, who abruptly got up in the middle of listening to the report.

"A walk."