The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 48

“We arranged to meet at this time.”

 

Grace showed her work schedule to Frederick. It included the meeting with the Kelton merchant group and the production schedule for the second sales batch. Frederick frowned slightly as he looked it over.

 

“Isn’t the schedule a bit too tight? It looks like you barely have any days off.”

 

“It’s okay. I can handle it. And I’m not particularly sick right now.”

 

Grace responded with enthusiasm. Lately, she hadn’t really felt sleepy or tired.

 

She was only focused on successfully completing the second round of sales.

 

“Do you really have to push yourself this hard?”

 

“Yes. Because it helps the estate.”

 

“And why is helping the estate so important to you?”

 

“…What?”

 

Grace blinked in confusion. Her reason for wanting to help the Winstaine estate was simple—she wanted to prove she wasn’t just a dependent, but someone useful. She was trying to live a life different from her past, where she was nothing but a discarded, worthless person.

 

“Sigh…”

 

Frederick let out a quiet sigh. He had a feeling he understood why Grace was so desperate to prove her worth. It was likely because she had been seen as useless in the past—ignored and mistreated.

 

But she didn’t need to try so hard to live in this estate. She didn’t have to worry about what others thought. Not even him, her husband.

 

“I won’t stop you from doing what you want. But I am against you pushing your body too hard for it.”

 

There was a hint of frustration in Frederick’s tone. When she was excited about painting in the beginning, he hadn’t said anything even when she stayed up late working. But after she had been attacked and collapsed recently, seeing her push herself without rest made him uneasy.

 

“No one’s asking you to earn money. The Winstaine estate can more than support you. Just being the Duchess is enough.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Grace looked dazed. Wasn’t this the right thing to do?

 

Until now, Frederick had praised everything she did, always telling her she was doing well. Fueled by those compliments, she had worked even harder.

 

As time passed, her desire to be acknowledged as the lady of the estate had grown. She thought that if she became someone useful to Frederick and to Winstaine, she could stay here longer.

 

When her prints sold well and she began preparing for the second sales phase, she was even more motivated by the expectation of success.

 

“You don’t need to do something to qualify as the Duchess. Being the lady of the house means you have the freedom to do what you want. It doesn’t mean you have to earn that recognition.”

 

“……”

 

“It’s okay to do nothing at all.”

 

But Frederick’s words were unexpected.

 

It’s okay to do nothing at all.

 

She had never imagined hearing those words from anyone.

 

After a moment of hesitation, Grace slowly opened her lips.

 

“I… I didn’t want to be kicked out. Just for being useless.”

 

“No one’s going to kick you out. Even if you couldn’t do anything, that wouldn’t happen. It’s really okay, Grace.”

 

“I… I…”

 

“Whatever you do, it’s all okay.”

 

As if her voice had forgotten how to work, she couldn’t speak easily. Tears welled up in Grace’s eyes.

 

“Why… are you crying?”

 

Frederick became flustered as she started to cry. All he’d said was that she shouldn’t overwork herself—was that really such a sad thing?

 

“B… because I’m thankful.”

 

“You’re thankful? Why?”

 

Didn’t people usually smile when they said thank you? Why was she crying while saying it? Frederick looked confused.

 

“It’s just… something like that.”

 

Grace smiled through her tears. This man, who didn’t understand why being thanked would make someone cry, was clearly not good at expressing emotions. He wasn’t the type to say warm or sweet things easily.

 

But he was always thinking about her. And that was why she had never disliked Frederick.

 

He made her think of him as a kind person.

 

“Frederick, do you… like me?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You said it’s okay even if I can’t do anything, or even if I don’t do anything.”

 

Frederick looked a bit taken aback by the sudden question. It was an expression she hadn’t seen before. Somehow, it made Grace think he was cute.

 

“Well, I was just wondering. You always take interest in what I do, give me nice things, do things with me when I ask, and you’re always thoughtful…”

 

“……”

 

“And you stayed by my side when I was sick, too.”

 

“I…”

 

Frederick’s lips trembled slightly.

 

“I’m curious. Do you like me, Frederick?”

 

“……”

 

“Because I like you.”

 

Frederick stared blankly at his wife, who was boldly confessing her feelings. Her sparkling red eyes. The blush on her white cheeks. The smile gently curved on her lips.

 

“You know, all the times I told you thank you.”

 

When had it started? The once quiet, shy woman now looked at him with clear eyes and a steady voice.

 

“All the good food, clothes, comfort since I came here. Learning to read and write, being able to paint, learning from the secretaries… riding lessons…”

 

“……”

 

“Even aside from all that, I like you, Frederick.”

 

That was all she had to say. And having said it, she felt lighter. Grace quietly waited for Frederick’s reply.

 

“I…”

 

After a brief pause, Frederick opened his mouth again.

 

“I find myself always thinking about you.”

 

“……”

 

“I want you to be comfortable. I want you to be happy. I want things to go well for you. More than anything, I don’t want you to struggle. I don’t know exactly when it started…”

 

At first, he thought he was just fulfilling the bare minimum as a husband.

 

Then, he just wanted to look after her. He didn’t dislike seeing her smile. And every time she said thank you, he found himself wanting to hear it again.

 

At some point, he started worrying about her. Wondering if she was forcing herself through pain or hardship. Those feelings slowly grew into what he felt now.

 

“If that’s what it means to like someone… then I suppose I do.”

 

Frederick couldn’t deny it. She had become someone special to him.

 

What he felt for her had long since surpassed mere affection.

 

“Really? Then… that means we like each other?”

 

“…Yeah.”

 

“I’m happy, Frederick.”

 

Grace smiled brightly, like a blooming flower.

 

How did the mood shift to this? They had been arguing about her work schedule a moment ago… Frederick was puzzled, but he didn’t dislike how things had turned out.

 

“Oh, I’ll try adjusting my schedule a bit. If it looks like it’s too much…”

 

“Promise me you’ll put your health first.”

 

“Of course. I will.”

 

Grace nodded.

 

“But still… it’s not like I’m doing all this just to prove I’m useful.”

 

“……”

 

“I really do love painting. And I like that this work helps other people. It makes me happy to know I can do something with my own hands.”

 

When he said it was okay for her to do nothing, that sentiment alone was enough for her.

 

Frederick could see the sincerity in Grace’s eyes. Her love for him, and her confidence in herself. So, he couldn’t say anything more to stop her.

 

 

Victor Meisten, the head of the Kelton merchant group, was a man in his fifties with a large build, curly brown hair, and a kindly appearance.

 

“Good day, Duchess Winstaine. I’m Victor Meisten.”

 

As soon as he arrived, he removed his hat and greeted her.

 

“Please, have a seat.”

 

“Thank you very much.”

 

Grace, already seated on the parlor sofa, gestured to the seat across from her. Isaac and Hailey were seated beside her.

 

“I heard from Sir Anthony that you had something to discuss with me personally.”

 

“Yes. We’re interested in forming a new deal with your merchant group.”

 

“Can I see the item?”

 

“Of course. Right here.”

 

Grace opened a box on the table. Inside were three printing plates she had recently made, along with three prints produced using them.

 

“We’re planning to mass-produce artwork using these plates. It’s called ‘printmaking,’ and we want to distribute them in the capital and other regions.”

 

“We plan to price them at about one-tenth the cost of a regular painting to make art more accessible.”

 

“Oho, how fascinating.”