Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 219

“Archduke.”

“At times like this, it’s important for the lords who own ports to form an agreement to significantly increase the insurance funds to guarantee the lives of sailors. Do you think I’m doing this out of sympathy?”

Archduke Victoria shook her head.

“Nowadays, fewer people want to work on ships. It’s a dangerous job, and many times, even the bodies of the dead are lost at sea.”

“…”

“There needs to be some form of guarantee to keep operations running. You may not care about ports, but that’s the reality.”

“Your Highness, it sounds like you’re accusing me. I’ve never said I wouldn’t pay the money.”

The Marquis spoke firmly. Archduke Victoria calmly responded.

“Then it seems the current situation isn’t favorable. I’ll cover the insurance fees for the shipowners for now.”

“Your Highness!”

“The agreement isn’t finalized yet, but you’ve already signed, so there shouldn’t be any problems. The empty space in the vault will be filled later, I trust.”

Archduke Victoria said as she stood up. Marquis Ludendorff’s lips trembled.

.*. *. *. *. *.

The news of the accident spread quickly, as ports are all connected.

The ships that couldn’t dock in Ludendorff most likely headed for Bismarck port. It was a week later when William Shore, a member of the Bismarck shipowner’s alliance, arrived in Ludendorff to visit an old friend.

“I would like to see Duchess Klausener.”

The butler, taken aback by the muscular, sun-kissed man standing before him, was still cautious, but William’s attire and demeanor were impeccable, so he asked,

“Whom should I announce?”

“If you tell her it’s ‘Sleepy Will’ from Viscounty Prescott, she’ll know. We studied mathematics together under Professor Miller at the Academy.”

“Ah, I see.”

The butler smiled softly and nodded.

However, Claire was out at that moment. Instead, Joanna came into the reception room.

“I’ve sent word, so Lady Claire will be here shortly.”

“I was planning to wait since I came without an appointment.”

William spoke in a casual tone. Joanna paused while pouring tea and gave him a curious look.

His tone meant that he had no doubt she wouldn’t make him wait, especially not in front of the Duchess.

She couldn’t help but wonder. Honestly, just the gap between William’s appearance and his behavior was intriguing enough, but the fact that he had this close relationship with Claire made it even more interesting.

“You studied mathematics under the same professor as Lady Claire?”

“Yes, Professor Miller, who wasn’t a particularly popular economist.”

“Lady Claire is truly remarkable. Most female students only take general education classes and don’t have personal professors.”

“I heard she was brought in.”

“Brought in?”

“By the time Claire was studying, she had already inherited her title. She left her assignments unfinished to handle matters of her estate, and Professor Miller saw that and brought her in for tea and treats, saying she couldn’t get away without sitting down first.”

Joanna chuckled lightly.

“Seems like he had a good eye for talent.”

“Claire may seem like she’s doing nothing on the outside, but her mind is quite different from others. Come to think of it, the first time she met the Duke, it was something to see.”

“Oh.”

Joanna instinctively exclaimed, then her face turned red.

“Please don’t think it’s strange that I find it so interesting.”

“It’s not strange at all. I understand.”

William said with a laugh.

“Professor Miller’s assistant introduced ‘Young Duke Klausener’ to the new students, and the Duke immediately said, ‘Strictly speaking, there’s no title of Young Duke.'”

“He’s a strict one, isn’t he?”

“Then Claire just called him ‘Sir Erich’ right then and there. The Duke’s face was truly something to see.”

William added that the title he had in mind was probably something like Count Saltzgitter.

At the time, it had caught him off guard, but thinking about it now, it seemed like a sign.

Claire usually tried to avoid standing out, but when she was excited, she would sometimes act a little too boldly.

Considering that, it was likely that she was in a rather emotional state at that moment.

“I can imagine the kind of atmosphere it must have been.”

“Is she still like that these days?”

“She’s much closer to him now than back then, but they still have moments where they argue back and forth.”

Joanna said with a smile.

Just then, the door to the sitting room swung open.

“Will Prescott!”

Claire called out in a bright voice as she saw her old friend. It seemed like she had rushed over since she hadn’t even taken off her coat.

The smell of winter wind still clung to her coat.

“How long has it been? No news for five years…”

But as she stood there, staring at the man in the reception room, her mouth fell open.

“Who are you?”

It was William Prescott’s face, but something was off. It felt like the features had been removed and placed on a different man.

Claire looked at William’s broad shoulders and size, still in disbelief.

“I guess I have changed a bit?”

“What? I heard you left home but did you join the ocean fishing boat or something?”

Claire asked with a confused look, and William laughed.

“Yep.”

“What?”

“I’m the owner of a twelve whaling ship fleet.”

“No way. That lazy good-for-nothing?”

Claire was genuinely shocked. William was the fifth son of Viscounty Prescott.

Viscounty Prescott wasn’t particularly wealthy, and there wasn’t much that would have come to William.

So, everything he had now, he must have earned through his own efforts.

He was certainly capable, but if he’d made his money through banking or investments, that would have been one thing. But whaling ships?

“It wasn’t easy. I worked my way up from the bottom as a sailor, and here I am now. It really is something you can’t do without strength.”

“Do you actually go out on the ships yourself?”

“Not all the time, but I’ve taken on some new ventures recently. This is my first time back after eight months. I was so surprised when I heard about your wedding.”

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