Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 137
“I wasn’t planning to start this early. The honeymoon is precious to me too.”
After sending the letter and going on this trip, she thought they would take their time to think things over, organize whatever needed to be organized, consider the political aspects, and so on, and then take the train to come over.
Who would have thought someone would actually take the same train as them on their honeymoon, and arrive even before she reached her destination?
“It doesn’t seem like you’re in a position to complain.”
“Let me complain. If a husband won’t even listen to his wife’s work complaints, then why get married?”
Claire grumbled as she slipped her fingers under Erich’s vest and pulled him closer by the waistband. She then plopped down next to him, using his sturdy thigh as a pillow.
“That’s absurd.”
“What do you mean? You were the one who gave me the signet ring and told me to work myself to death.”
“I never said work yourself to death.”
“You did, knowing full well there was enough work to actually kill me.”
Erich just chuckled softly.
“You did take a good rest, just as you wanted.”
“Oh, really now.”
Claire complained.
Erich’s hand covered her eyes, and with the sun setting through the window, Claire quickly felt more at ease.
“What about Elliott?”
“He fell asleep in Martha’s arms.”
“I could hear him shouting all the way here.”
Having such opportunities is good sometimes. Claire often felt a pang of sadness knowing what a good child Elliott was.
This time, Claire pulled Erich’s hand down to use it as a pillow.
“So, what’s the plan with Ludendorf?”
“There’s a new fishing port being built there, but there’s already a port, isn’t there?”
“That’s right.”
“Most of the materials for the port construction will be brought in by sea.”
“The bulk of it will be significant. Although most of the materials might be sent from Klausener, the food and other essentials would be cheaper to import from the south.”
The railway is also under construction but remains incomplete.
“There would be shipping alliances and insurance. Even if Ludendorf hasn’t well-established them yet, the sending side will have.”
“That makes sense.”
“And from my experience, people without economic sense don’t consider emergency funds as something for crisis management. They see it as petty cash. Show such a person an opportunity for a quick fortune, and they’ll empty their pockets in no time.”
Erich’s fingers lightly pressed Claire’s temple before trailing down her cheek.
“Are you planning to suggest the insurance business to the Marquis, expecting embezzlement? Forcing mandatory enrollment for shipowners entering the Marquis’s port would indeed be a sight.”
“Moreover, he’s a nobleman. Preparing for commoners’ disasters isn’t something he’d bother about, right? If nothing happens, it’s just big money sleeping in his vault.”
“And if a real accident occurs, are you planning to compensate the sailors out of your own fortune?”
“It would be problematic being too overt, so I’m thinking of creating reinsurance. I considered inviting Grand Duke Victoria, but correspondence would take too long…”
Claire spoke with her eyes closed, and Erich’s hand playfully pinched her lips.
“I’m curious about the situation in the capital. If Countess Schneider had died, the Empress’s stance might have changed.”
“We’ll know more once we reach Klausener. They have telegraphs.”
“Oh, that’s right, Klausener has a telegraph.”
Claire sat up suddenly, her voice full of envy.
“Ah, I’m so jealous. Seriously jealous. Despite lobbying like mad, they wouldn’t do it for me.”
“It was installed focusing on strategic resources.”
“Ah, but isn’t food the most important strategic resource? Why ignore the wheat farms?”
“You were the one who pushed Delford’s wheat farms out.”
“Still, it’s at the very south end, and they won’t give us a telegraph.”
The north also had telegraphs only in Ernst and Klausener, but the disparity was real, so Erich just shook his head.
Claire grumbled.
“The first highway will be mine. Oh, but paving the road with asphalt benefits Klausener again.”
No matter what she did, she couldn’t beat the oil tycoon. Claire sprawled out dramatically.
“Can you finally admit that Klausener is yours?”
“What do I know? If it’s not in my name, it’s not my property.”
“Then I suggest you lobby again.”
Claire brushed away Erich’s hand from her face and looked at him with sparkling eyes.
“Will you help me?”
“Do you still not understand who the appropriate lobbying target is?”
Erich said with a faint smile.
Claire stood up abruptly. She then folded her arms and glaring at him.
“It hurts my pride.”
“Is asking me more damaging to your pride than lobbying the members of the House of Representatives with money?”
“Umm.”
That was indeed a strange situation.
Claire stood up in front of Erich. She then tilted his chin up with her index finger. Erich’s hand lightly grasped her waist.
“Rather than asking, you want to make me beg?”
“Who will end up begging who is something we’ll have to wait and see.”
Erich reached out to draw the curtain over the carriage door.
The train car rocked. A tense silence lingered for a moment.
Claire leaned in and lightly kissed his lips. Before touching, Erich’s lips were already open.
Before being grabbed, Claire slipped her fingers inside his collar. She loosened his cravat, tracing above his Adam’s apple.
The car jolted again, causing them to sway, and she braced herself by placing her knees between Erich’s legs.
“Claire.”
With only her knees touching him, her name echoed between the barely touching lips, creating a resonance. Erich slightly furrowed his brow, a hint of impatience in his eyes.
Claire slipped her fingers through his hair, ruffling it as she pulled him closer. Then, she pressed her lips softly against the bridge of his handsome nose.
“Are you still thinking about it?”
Want to read more? Up to [24] advanced chapters are available on Patreon:
For update pings, novel discussions and/or to send mistake reports, join our discord server~!