Chapter 116

Chapter 116

Hearing her cautious words, Zachary nodded with a serious face as he opened his mouth calmly.

“If oyster farming is really possible, it would be of great help.”

“Really? Do you really think so?”

As Iellie asked with twinkling eyes, he glanced away before his low voice resounded again.

“By the way…”

“Huh?”

“How do you know that?”

His voice carried a hint of restraint. Iellie gazed at Zachary, feeling puzzled by his demeanor as he gently bit his lip, a sign of inner turmoil. A faint unease had been nagging at him, causing a faint sense of discomfort tickling the nape of his neck.

“Most people don’t think of ideas that well.”

“Zachary?”

“Sometimes you look like someone from another world.”

For a brief moment, Iellie found herself at a loss for words.

He silently met her gaze, his eyes filled with an unspoken message. Suddenly, a memory from their visit to Florente Island resurfaced in his mind—the image of her slender figure, gazing up at the night sky. It felt as though it could vanish at any given moment.

“That’s right… because you think of things that no one else can think of without hesitation.”

As he clenched the fist of his left hand that was resting on his lap, his breathing became slightly unstable as he persisted.

“Len, it’s okay if you don’t say anything you don’t want to say. But…”

Zachary calmly put the fork down.

Click.

The sound of the fork and bowl colliding is exceptionally clear.

“…Every time I come across something I don’t know about you, it feels like I’m moving away from you.”

“….”

“I’m kind of afraid of that.”

Iellie remained silent, her thoughts swirling within her while Zachary’s gaze bore into her, filled with anticipation.

She took a breath.

There were certain things she had kept hidden from him, such as the fact that she was reincarnated in this world.

However…

“Zachary, I can promise you this one thing.”

“What?”

“I will never leave you.”

When Iellie uttered in a firm voice, Zachary looked taken aback before he chuckled.

“I want this duchy to prosper, and I want us to live happily together.”

“Len.”

“I am your wife, mistress of the North and Duchess Hessenweiz.”

With a composed demeanor, she placed her hand neatly on her lap, her voice resolute and unwavering.

“Now that I am the Mistress of the North, I just wanted to do everything to the best of my ability.”

He held his breath. She always said what he wanted to hear.

His blue eyes trembled slightly.

“I don’t know what exactly you’re worried about.”

As she spoke, a faint pang of guilt tugged at Iellie’s heart. Observing her behavior, Zachary must have sensed something amiss. It felt as though she was intentionally disregarding his discomfort, and that realization weighed heavily on her conscience.

“I will always be by your side.”

“…Thank you.”

Only then did Zachary put on a slightly relieved face. Iellie looked at him and smiled awkwardly.

‘And after a while… then.’

She has a secret.

It was a memory from a previous life that now felt like an old dream. It was a story no one would believe, but nonetheless… wouldn’t the day come when she could tell him that story, too?

‘Really, I too.’

Iellie looked bitter.

How to explain the longing for a past life that felt far away, and how to convince Zachary. At the thought that she just had to live with the given present, she swallowed her breath.

‘It’s frustrating’.

An old secret that couldn’t be revealed even to the person she loved the most.

Iellie bit her lip.

If she realized something while working on this project, the concept of aquaculture farming was actually not a very common concept in the Empire. The fishing industry itself was prosperous, but in reality, they did not even think of raising fish or shellfish.

Deciding to meet and talk to the fishermen in person, Iellie narrowed her eyes.

‘Actually, that’s understandable.’

Growing something was limited to animals and plants. It must be because the method was more difficult than agriculture or livestock farming. Compared to other thriving industries, this was why the fishing industry was relatively underdeveloped.

“Does the Duchess need to meet the fishermen in person?”

Even other people were like that. But Iellie pushed through her own idea that she should listen to the opinions of people in the field the most. The Duke also agreed with his wife’s opinion.

“It’s the first time I see you all. I am Iellie Hessenweitz.”

So, Iellie went directly to the fishermen.

The fishermen were surprised at first that the Ducal couple who ruled the vast north came to meet them, and the second time they were surprised at the Ducal couple’s easy-going attitude.

“Perhaps you heard about the reason we came today through other administrators.”

She was a person with a very pragmatic view that if they had talent, they should be actively utilized. Therefore, the practical administrative problems were explained in advance by dispatching administrative officers. Iellie said.

“Today, I came because I wanted to hear the general opinion of fishermen on the aquaculture business.”

Even though it was quite surprising that the Duchess showed respect to the mere fishermen, she didn’t mind. These were not the people she directed, but the citizens who supported the North.

‘The nobles themselves cannot exist without citizens.’

She basically had the idea that people in the North should be respected as much as possible. She doesn’t have to think hard. Didn’t the noble have responsibility and authority after delegating rights to the citizens?

‘Besides, it’s not a direct employment relationship or a vassal relationship.’

However, it was true that her behavior was somewhat unusual, considering the behavior of other nobles as a whole, and it was inevitable that the fishermen were nervous because of it.

Iellie laughed out loud.

“I think everyone is a little nervous, you don’t have to.”

“No, that is…”

“I want you guys to feel free to tell me anything.”

She uttered warmly. The Duchess did not hesitate to communicate with the fishermen from the planning stage, and the Duke took a step back as if he did not want to interfere with the Duchess’ affairs.

“Zachary, do you have something to say?”

“Nothing. You can do whatever you want.”

The Duke was simply demonstrating infinite trust in his wife, and that kind of trust by the duke naturally became a factor in making others trust the duchess as well.

Iellie nodded her head.

“If you tell me anything without hesitation, I will listen carefully.”

Even as she spoke in her sweet voice, the fishermen’s eyes were serious as they looked at her. Is it okay to talk to such a precious person? One of the fishermen carefully opened her mouth.

“Excuse me, Duchess.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Thank you very much for supporting the aquaculture business. I owe you a great favor.”

The fairly young fisherman hesitantly opened his mouth. Zachary furrowed his eyebrows subtly. Knowing that he didn’t like the idea of another man talking to Iellie, she glanced at her husband.

‘Zachary, don’t interfere and stay still.’

Seeing her piercing eyes, he closed his mouth with a sullen face. The fisherman said cautiously.

“The business has been planned in advance by the Duchess, so it is proceeding safely.”

“Is that so? Thank God.”

Iellie sighed in relief.

In fact, the idea she provided was simple. Threading scallops or oyster shells on wire and sending them down to the sea. In this way, oyster larvae are collected, and farming begins. Competent administrators in the north cooperated with the fishermen and proceeded with the project step by step.

“By the way, may I ask you a favor…”

“A favor? Yes, tell me anything.”

Her demeanor was still kind. The fishermen seemed to hesitate for a moment, and then he said as if he had made up his mind.

“We can carry out the aquaculture business on our own, but it is difficult to break through the sales outlets.”

“Hmm, speaking of sales…”

“Isn’t it of no use just by having a product?”

It was a rather challenging statement. With those words, not only Iellie but also all the people gathered at the table became agitated.

“We have to sell it because the North is famous for things like fur, but the fishing industry is small.”

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