If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Side Story 14

With Sarah’s family and even Angus, who had just returned from work, joining in, the dining room was completely full for the first time in a while.

It was the first day they had hosted outside guests since Freya’s birth.

Among the lively crowd, only Sarah’s second son, Lucas, wore a disgruntled expression.

“You want to take Freya with you?”

When Anthony, seated next to him, asked, Lucas nodded vigorously.

Seeing his son’s answer as a cue, Anthony made a lewd smirk and turned to Sarah. “If he wants her that badly, maybe it’s time we had a daughter.”

Sarah shook her head immediately at Anthony’s words. “What if it’s another boy? No way.”

As soon as she spoke, Kayden and Lucas looked downcast, and Sarah hurriedly waved her hands in a fluster.

“I didn’t mean I don’t want you two. I mean that just the two of you are more than enough for me.”

Having barely avoided a crisis, Sarah was met with a whiny tone from Anthony.

“Still, it’s fifty-fifty. Why not give it a try?”

“It’s never fifty-fifty. Look around—whenever someone has two boys, the third is a boy too. Instead of getting greedy, I think raising Kayden and Lucas and then looking forward to a granddaughter would be faster.”

At Sarah’s firm response, this time Anthony was the one looking sullen. At that moment, Lucas said something unexpected.

“I don’t need a little sister either.”

“Really? I thought you wanted one.”

“I don’t want a little sister—I want Freya.”

The child’s answer was firm. He emphasized once again that it wasn’t just any sister, but specifically Freya he wanted.

“What? You want our Freya? Says who?”

Angus raised his voice, startled by Lucas’s words.

Then, realizing he had just shouted at a four-year-old, he felt embarrassed—but Lucas’s next words made him rub the back of his neck.

“I’ll definitely take her someday.”

“No way. Freya’s going to stay in this house for a long, long time,” Locke answered seriously as he set down his glass of water.

“That’s right. Freya will never leave this place.” Angus nodded in agreement with Locke’s words.

Watching the men talking so seriously about the baby, Georgiana let out a deep sigh.

Sarah chimed in with a bright voice, saying that if the two children ended up getting married, she and Georgiana could become in-laws.

After the meal, everyone moved together to the parlor.

It was to listen to five-year-old Kayden play the piano.

Sarah had once mentioned that there were famous musicians in Anthony’s family, and it seemed Kayden had inherited that talent—despite his young age, he played piano pieces at an adult level.

After two songs, the room burst into applause.

The atmosphere was as warm and peaceful as Christmas or Thanksgiving.

That’s when the butler suddenly entered the parlor in a hurry, bringing Angus’s aide with him.

The aide whispered something quietly into Angus’s ear, just loud enough for him to hear.

Whatever was said, Angus blinked in shock, then, after a moment of thought, opened his mouth.

“Leona, I think we need to go to the Empire with Theo.”

What followed left Locke and the Anthony couple with mouths agape.

“There’s been news that the Emperor was thrown from his horse and is gravely injured. He has no children or siblings, and for some reason, he never appointed an heir. Because of that, I—his cousin—am now first in the line of succession, and after me come Leona, Theo, and Freya in that order.”

“Is that true?” Locke asked with a serious expression.

“Yes. But I’m the President of the New World, so I can’t accept the throne. Naturally, the position will fall to Leona or Theo, but there will likely be strong opposition from the nobles.”

“I’ve never once wanted that position. And neither does Theo. I can’t place such a burden on a child.” Georgiana firmly declared that she wouldn’t go.

“I absolutely won’t send either of them.” Locke agreed with her without hesitation.

“Even so… we may have to go to calm the turmoil. It’s time the Empire abandoned monarchy anyway.”

Angus let out a long sigh.

“Do we really have to go? Just to settle the succession issue?” Georgiana asked.

Angus nodded with a heavy expression. “Yes. If the imperial throne remains vacant too long, there’s a risk of interference not only internally but from outside forces as well. Without an emperor, the nobles will begin to fight for power, and it could affect even us here in the New World.”

At those words, Locke shook his head and said, “Even so, we can’t place that responsibility on Leona and Theo. Especially Theo—he’s still too young. And Freya isn’t in any condition to travel either.”

Anthony, who had been quietly listening, looked up. “With the Emperor gravely ill, and considering your high position in the line of succession, whether or not you accept the role, it seems right that you go. Introducing a republic won’t be easy with the nobles’ resistance. Before that, the entire Empire will fall into chaos.”

“Even so, I can’t send Leona and the children into danger. Isn’t there another option?”

Standing beside them, Sarah looked at Georgiana with a face full of concern.

Georgiana was silent for a moment, then gently took Locke’s hand and spoke softly, “I don’t want to go, but I think there’s enough reason that I should. I’ll go. But I absolutely have no intention of accepting the position.”

Angus watched his granddaughter’s resolve with a look of regret. “Leona, Locke will go with you, so don’t worry too much.”

At Angus’s words, Locke nodded.

And so, with a new resolution, Georgiana decided to head for the Empire.

***

“This way, please.”

The Mayfield, which she boarded for the first time in years, had become much more luxurious than before.

Of course, it helped that they had been assigned a better room than back then, but even the structure and interior felt cleaner and more refined.

She had heard that due to it being the site of Edmund’s assassination attempt, the ship had faced a lot of interference from authorities, but after independence, it received overwhelming support from the people of the New World. Now it was considered the most successful passenger line.

There were even rumors that, since Georgiana and Locke—as well as the famous businessman couple Anthony and Sarah Tobias—had all met aboard the Mayfield, it had become explosively popular among unmarried people.

Perhaps because of that, the crew treated the couple with such deference it bordered on worship.

Georgiana and Locke were guided to the largest suite on the Mayfield, which had three bedrooms.

It was quickly decided that the master bedroom would be for them, while the other two would be for Theo and Freya.

Theo, thrilled by the novelty of the large ship, had been excited even before boarding and was now running around exploring every corner.

Freya didn’t seem to like the unfamiliar setting, but she was holding back her tears for now.

“Can I go outside?”

Having already explored the entire room, Theo asked with sparkling eyes full of curiosity.

Seeing him, Locke smiled and lifted the boy up in his arms, then said to Georgiana, “I’ll take him out for a while, so get some rest.”

He knew she hadn’t been sleeping well over the past few days, packing and preparing everything the children needed.

He himself had rushed to finish his work before this long trip, but not a trace of fatigue showed on Locke’s face.

Georgiana answered with a nod and turned to help the maid unpack.

By the time they had finished, Freya had fallen asleep.

Just in time for afternoon tea, Georgiana stepped out onto the balcony attached to their room.

Though it was summer, the breeze kept the tea table on the balcony pleasantly cool.

Sipping jasmine tea imported from the East, she was reminded of the first time she had boarded this ship.

Back then, she had been fleeing Willow, boarding the ship in a hurry while wounded. She remembered being half out of her mind.

When she woke up, several days had already passed—she’d been so shocked.

Compared to those uncertain and fearful days, her current situation felt like a miracle.

Back then, just thinking about family had been a nightmare, but now, Georgiana was surrounded by people who cherished and loved her.

She knew better than anyone that her current happiness hadn’t come by chance.

It was the result of her will to seek a better life, and the effort she never gave up on. Of course, there had been the good fortune of meeting the right people along the way.

As she gazed out at the glittering surface of the sea, Georgiana smiled more brightly than ever before.