Felix was eager to return home, but before leaving the capital, he still had to formally bid farewell to the king. The king didn't press him to stay, though Dolores did notice that her brother didn't seem particularly happy upon his return.
Still, she didn't dare ask him why. Although the two siblings had grown closer over the past year, Dolores never dared to pry into her brother's affairs.
It wasn't until they were on the ship heading home that Felix suddenly turned to her and asked,
"Lola, is there someone you like?"
Caught off guard, Dolores had a vague feeling that something had happened behind her back. The sensitive young girl nervously shook her head,
"No… I don't like anyone."
Felix frowned, clearly not convinced.
"Really? Didn't a lot of people invite you to dance at the banquets? You didn't like any of them?"
That was not a good question in Dolores's mind.
She responded softly but firmly,
"No, I don't like any of them."
As the new rising star of noble society, Felix was naturally receiving plenty of attention—and so was his sister. Even last year, when Dolores had just arrived in the capital and wasn't technically of age for the social season, many people had already begun trying to matchmake her. Courteous suitors weren't lacking, but back then, she had been even more timid and introverted, thoroughly disliking excessive attention. Naturally, all those attempts had failed.
In this era, noble girls didn't have debutante balls to mark their coming of age. Instead, just appearing in public at a banquet as someone's dance partner was enough to signify adulthood. After all, birthday balls were a luxury only allowed to the king.
So when Dolores attended events as Felix's partner, many took it as a sign that she was ready for marriage, and the flood of suitors grew. Almost everyone who chatted with Felix made sure to mention some eligible male relative, with intentions that couldn't be more obvious.
If Dolores hadn't remembered Wei Wei's advice—to stay close to Felix at all times—she would've spent the entire evening fending off dance invitations.
She might be shy, but she wasn't stupid. Felix suddenly asking her such a question could only mean something was going on. So she quickly added,
"Wei Wei said… I can wait a few more years before getting married."
Someone she truly liked. Someone she chose herself—just like Felix had chosen Wei Wei out of love, not politics or status.
"I know," Felix said, not pushing her further. He was just… troubled.
When he'd gone to the palace to say goodbye, the king had brought up Dolores. Though he hadn't said it outright, his tone had hinted at the possibility of proposing a match between her and the second prince.
But Felix had never once considered marrying his sister to royalty—especially not Prince Andrew. Having once been the swordsmanship tutor to both princes, Felix knew very well that Andrew was… well, painfully average. To Felix, he just wasn't worthy of Dolores—not because of rank, but because of his mediocrity.
If Dolores had already liked someone and that person was decent, Felix could've used that as an excuse. But now, with no alternative suitor, it would be hard to reject the king without offending him.
Fortunately, the king hadn't made a formal proposal—he was still undecided. Felix could easily guess what the hesitation was: the king coveted the wealth of House Williams, but for a prince—especially one with weak political backing—marrying into a more powerful noble family would be a better move, one that could help him compete with the ambitious Duke Romanov.
And House Williams, though wealthy, didn't currently have that kind of influence.
That's likely why the king hesitated. He wanted the wealth, but couldn't ignore the political realities. Felix suspected the mention of Dolores may have been a momentary impulse more than a serious plan.
That thought brought him some relief. So long as the king hadn't spoken explicitly, there was still room to maneuver.
Felix made up his mind—for the next couple of years, he would slow down his expansion in the capital and focus on developing his territories. Hopefully, the king would let the idea go on his own.
And really, he wouldn't need to wait long. The second prince would almost certainly be engaged soon—the king was getting anxious. With the right timing, this whole issue might resolve itself.
He didn't tell Dolores any of this. Best not to burden a young girl with royal matchmaking politics.
A few days later, their ship docked at the port of Prinzia. It was the busiest season of the year—normally, merchants would be hauling grain in bulk from here to other regions. But this year, the port was busier than ever, not just with grain but with a flood of new goods and traders.
Foreign merchants had even come from afar to buy perfumes, essential oils, and cosmetics—all signature products of Sardinson. Of course, there was also pasta, meat sauce, canned fish, and, this year, an assortment of canned fruit, which was a godsend for seafarers needing vitamins on long voyages. Canned goods, unlike fresh fruit, could be stored for months.
Some of these goods were purchased directly from Sardinson, while others were now being stocked in Prinzia. Felix had always been generous with his friend Allen, offering him lower wholesale prices than other merchants. Given the products were already hot sellers, Allen made a handsome profit just by acting as the middleman.
Because these goods were readily available in Prinzia, many foreign merchants were now choosing to stop and do business there, boosting the local economy and greatly increasing tax revenue.
The port was even undergoing expansion. As Felix's ship docked, he could see workers extending the docks toward Slote.
That was something he and Allen had planned together. Since their territories were adjacent and both had ports, it made sense to connect them, forming a larger, integrated harbor.
Of course, with two regions involved, managing a shared port could be complicated. So, the middle ground between them would be used to build a jointly funded shipyard—they planned to open their own shipbuilding company.
Sardinson, after all, needed its ships. During his visit to the capital, Felix had already ordered two vessels from the royal dockyards. Soon, they would be delivered—complete with experienced captains and crews. Once they arrived, those crews would also train a batch of oarsmen, so they'd never need to rent ships again.
Upon disembarking, Felix, after nearly a month away, could barely wait to see Wei Wei again. He entrusted Dolores to the main caravan and galloped ahead with just a few close retainers, rushing home.
As the lord of Sardinson, Felix's appearance was widely recognized by the people. Even if some didn't recognize him by face, his noble attire was unmistakable. When their horses sped down the roads, all carts and wagons made way, no one daring to block their path.
Normally, the trip from Prinzia to Slote took a full day. But with his urgency, Felix pushed through in just half a day. He paused only briefly in Slote to rest, water the horses, and check on the salt fields and harbor construction.
The salt flats in Slote had been completed months ago and had already produced a significant amount of raw salt—coarse and mineral-rich. Not ideal for eating, but in this era, no one cared. Before modern refining, even China had survived on coarse salt for centuries.
The salt sold well among merchants and was also used to preserve fish caught at sea. These were sent to Melk for further processing. The profits were split, with a portion turned over to the lord, and the rest kept by the serfs. With nearly a thousand of them now living here, their lives had improved dramatically.
The once-shabby fishing village had been renovated. Homes were improved, supplies were plentiful, and roadside inns and taverns had sprung up for passing travelers.
Felix, as their lord, was warmly welcomed. The villagers came out to greet him, not with fear, but with admiration and joy, offering him everything they had.
Even after dinner, some tried to give him dried seafood as gifts. But Felix declined—he was in a hurry and didn't want to carry extra weight. He left a few kind words and rode off, leaving the serfs singing his praises:
"Our lord is truly unlike the others—so generous and kind!"
He raced day and night, pushing what would normally be a four- or five-day journey into just three. His horses were leaner by the end, but he barely noticed.
He wasn't the only one eager to return—even his horse seemed impatient. As they arrived at Sardinson Castle, he dismounted and tossed the reins to a waiting soldier. Before the reins could even be tied, the black stallion had already trotted itself back to the stables.
"Welcome back, Master Felix!"
Butler Barton had rushed to the gates. Though he had received Felix's letter, he hadn't expected him so early, and the castle hadn't prepared a formal welcome.
"Where is my wife?" Felix asked, handing off his belt and striding into the main hall.
"She should be in the study around this time," Barton replied, quickly dispatching a servant to inform Wei Wei.
Before Felix could reach the stairs, he heard footsteps rushing down—heels tapping against stone. And there she was, descending the grand staircase, holding her skirts, smiling brighter than any welcome could offer.
Felix broke into a grin. In a few swift strides, he reached her, throwing his arms around her.
"Darling, I'm home!"
He'd missed her so much, his embrace was almost crushing—like he never wanted to let her go again.
Wei Wei had missed him too. Despite the dust and sweat of his journey, she didn't mind. She rose on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and nestled into his shoulder.
"Welcome home, darling."
A year of living among open, passionate Europeans had softened her formality—terms of endearment now rolled off her tongue with ease.
Felix kissed her—a deep, fiery French kiss—until they were both breathless.
Butler Barton had discreetly vanished halfway up the stairs, signaling the maids to clear the room. Thankfully, no one witnessed that steamy reunion or the maids would have been blushing for days.
Even Qin, who hadn't been considering marriage, sometimes dreamed of finding a love like that.
After confirming their affection for each other in a passionate embrace, Felix wrapped his arm around Wei Wei's shoulders and led her down the stairs. At the bottom, Butler Barton was standing near the stairwell, pretending to study the tapestry on the wall with great interest.
"Have the bathwater prepared," Felix instructed as he passed.
Honestly, he would've been happy to just head straight to the backyard well for a cold rinse, but seeing how sweaty he was, Wei Wei stopped him. With a wife so clean and fastidious, Felix had no choice but to follow suit.
"It's already being drawn," Barton replied, ever the attentive steward. "The kitchen has also begun preparing a meal. Would you like to eat something first?"
There was always food ready at the castle. Though elaborate dishes took time, there were plenty of quick and delicious options on hand. Whatever the master desired, it could be served almost instantly.
Especially now, as it was around two or three in the afternoon—just in time for Wei Wei's afternoon tea. Lately, her appetite had grown, and she had developed a habit of snacking between breakfast and lunch as well. She was essentially eating five meals a day—well beyond the old medieval two-meal schedule.
Since her arrival, the entire castle had transitioned to three meals a day, and it wasn't odd for the lady of the house to enjoy morning and afternoon tea on top of that. Most staff encouraged her to eat more. After all, while she ate more frequently, her portions were tiny compared to others.
Some, like Barton, even believed she'd been losing weight lately—especially after taking on the extra workload while Felix was away.
The ever-concerned butler seized this perfect opportunity to report his worries:
"My lord, the lady has gotten thinner lately."
Wei Wei—who hadn't lost a single ounce—was genuinely aggrieved. She had always been the type to eat without gaining weight. Sure, her face had slimmed a bit, but her belly… had grown slightly. Not from eating too much, of course—but for a very different reason.
Felix, upon hearing that, looked her over with concern.
"You've been overworked, haven't you?"
Wei Wei quickly defended herself,
"It wasn't that bad. Most of the work was handled by others. I only had to review the documents."
But Felix knew what that meant. Reviewing documents was something he hated most—even with Wei Wei's help in the past, he'd always found it more exhausting than a full day of sword training. Imagining her handling all the administration alone… pained him.
Gently, he pulled her closer, then turned to the butler.
"Bring us some food. I'll eat with her."
Wei Wei, who had just sat down for her afternoon tea, gave a little internal sigh.
…Fine, I'll eat again.
They took their seats in the dining room. Before the food arrived, the maids brought over a basin of warm water and clean towels so Felix could freshen up.
He washed his face and hands in the steaming water, then touched his chin, now rough with stubble. He realized how disheveled he must look.
And yet—even looking like this, his clean-freak wife had welcomed him back with open arms.
That had to be true love.
His mood lightened further.
Wei Wei watched him finish washing up before casually asking,
"Why are you alone? Where's Dolores?"
"She's with the main group. I wanted to see you as soon as possible, so I came ahead."
Felix had never been stingy with sweet words, and everything he said came from the heart. Even Wei Wei, now used to his charm, couldn't help but feel a little flutter when she heard that.
That warm feeling reminded her of something important—something she'd been meaning to tell him as a surprise.
"I missed you too. There's something I need to tell you. I've been waiting to say it to you first."
Felix's smile deepened. His brilliant blue eyes locked onto her, filled with affection, his entire world narrowing to just this one person.
"What is it?"
Wei Wei looked at him, her expression soft, her voice even softer.
"You're going to be a father soon."
She gently placed her hand over her abdomen.
"I thought this was something you should hear first."
(Pretend Penny, who already knew, didn't count—otherwise, Felix might've gotten jealous.)
—Clatter.
The loud sound of something falling interrupted the moment. Wei Wei turned her head and saw Butler Barton, standing stunned, tray slipping from his hands. The silverware had crashed onto the ground, but he didn't even seem to notice.
That kind of breach in etiquette would normally mortify him. But right now, he couldn't care less. His cloudy, aging eyes gleamed with tears of joy.
"My lady… you're pregnant?"
"Ah, yes," Wei Wei said, pressing a hand to her startled chest. "It's been about a month and a half—I only confirmed it recently."
She hadn't meant to keep it from him. Everyone in the castle knew that no one cared more about the household's future heir than Butler Barton.
But of course, he didn't mind at all. He looked like he wanted to sing hymns to the heavens.
The Williams family was going to have an heir!
He nearly jumped for joy but managed to restrain himself. Barely.
Gathering himself, he bent down to pick up the scattered silverware.
"Forgive me—I'll fetch a new set immediately."
He exited quickly. Wei Wei's keen ears caught what sounded suspiciously like a "Wooohooo!" echoing from the hallway as he left.
Around them, the maids were all grinning, clearly having heard the good news. Though none dared speak up before the count did, their faces were glowing.
Before Wei Wei could even glance back at her husband, she was swept into another embrace—tight and warm and full of emotion.
"My dear Wei Wei, I'm so happy. That might be the most beautiful thing anyone's ever said to me—second only to when you agreed to marry me."
Felix clutched her like she might disappear, voice trembling with joy, though his hands were gentle—as though afraid even a squeeze might hurt her.
Wei Wei wanted to say he didn't need to be that careful—but being so cherished made her lips curl into a smile, her eyes brimming with affection.
Felix couldn't resist kissing her—first on the forehead, then the tip of her nose, and course, those smiling lips.
"I love this news so much. Thank you, my love."
After showering her with kisses, he reluctantly let her go and murmured, almost in awe,
"I'm going to be a father."
Wei Wei nodded, her smile tender.
"Yes. You're going to be a father."
And she, for the first time, was going to be a mother.
In that moment, she felt it deep in her bones—more than ever before—
She had a home.
A husband who loved her. A child on the way. A future she never dared dream of in her past life had now… quietly arrived.