chapter 25 :Plans
The city of Aurendale had found peace after the disappearance of the bandits, and things had started to go somewhat smoothly. However, what Ethan wanted to do was to make Aurendale one of the greatest cities in the Asina Kingdom, and he had some ideas to achieve that.
Firstly, having a port made Aurendale stand out. This port was mostly controlled by fishing boats, as fishing was the main livelihood of Aurendale. Ethan wanted to both expand the fishing business and utilize the port in different ways.
What was lacking in the Asina Kingdom was the navy that neighboring kingdoms possessed. The Asina Kingdom had a few dozen ships, mostly small sailboats. Solving this problem would not only benefit him in dealing with pirate problems but also when he became king in the future.
Ethan planned to make Aurendale a major city in the Asina Kingdom by developing its port and fishing industry. To achieve this, he needed to make the port more efficient and expand the fishing business. Additionally, he thought of turning Aurendale into a shipyard center by taking advantage of the kingdom's lack of a navy.
The idea of establishing a shipyard would not only strengthen his kingdom's defense but also boost trade. Allocating a part of the port for a shipyard would provide the infrastructure needed for shipbuilding and repair. This would provide employment to the people of Aurendale and increase the kingdom's maritime power.
Ethan was determined to take steps such as strengthening the port's infrastructure, organizing training programs for maritime professions, and attracting shipbuilding experts to Aurendale to implement this plan. This way, Aurendale would not only strengthen economically but also rise to a strategically important position.
A few days later, a type of advisor chosen by Richard would come from the kingdom. These advisors were tasked with assisting princes and conveying their actions to the king. Mary was also an advisor, but unfortunately, she worked with Ethan's younger sister Emily.
After planning what he was going to do, Ethan eagerly opened the letter in front of him. The letter was from Catherine, but Ethan still didn't know her identity. They continued to write to each other after sending the first letter. Through these letters, they began to open up to each other. Of course, Ethan had been distant because he didn't know the identity of the sender, but if he said he wasn't interested in this person, he would be lying.
In their last letters, Ethan had asked Catherine for information about her life, and now he had the response in front of him. When Ethan opened the letter, a deep red rose fell out.
In the letter, Catherine poured out her heart about her deceased, or rather murdered, parents. Catherine had started these letters to learn about Ethan's character and whether he was a useful person, but now she saw Ethan as more than just a useful tool. At least, that's how it seemed from the outside.
Catherine's letter contained poignant details about her painful past and difficult life. As Ethan carefully read the letter, he began to better understand Catherine's pains and inner struggles. Sharing these deep feelings with him made him feel their bond grow stronger.
Ethan wanted to respond to Catherine's heartfelt letter. He wanted to deepen their connection by honestly expressing his feelings and thoughts. By opening up his emotions to Catherine, he hoped to strengthen their communication even further.
After writing and erasing several times, Ethan finally managed to write a letter. In the letter, he expressed his sincere feelings to Catherine and also stated that he wanted to help her. Ethan included a hairpin in the letter and mentioned that when she wore this hairpin and came to Aurendale, the guards would recognize her and bring her to him.
He also included a red rose that wasn't black. This rose was used to express both his sincere feelings towards her and the hope that the future would be filled with love and optimism. He folded the letter and put it in an envelope. The only thing Ethan knew about the person who sent him the letter was that they lived in the capital of the Tiamat Empire. So after indicating the address where the letter would go, he went to his room.
A beautiful woman with short hair, well dressed, came to the city of Aurendale and she was a counselor.. In Aurendale, he had heard from neighboring villages that Ethan had bravely defeated the bandits, and he had already begun writing a letter to the king. This advisor's name was Evelyn Richte, and she was a baroness. Although she was originally from the common people, she had taken on palace duties and married a baron due to her achievements. But her husband had died in the Thunderbolt War. Since her son was still very young, she had taken on the duties of the barony, and now she had been given the positions of baroness and advisor in Aurendale.
Evelyn, who would advise the prince, was the most successful among the other princes. But she had heard rumors that Ethan was a ruthless person. She wondered if it was a twist of fate that she became the advisor of the one responsible for her husband's death in the war. Although she had some problems with her husband, she did not want him to die. But now she had to start a new life here and take care of her son. So she entered the city leaving her past behind.
Ethan was currently informing advisor Evelyn about what he had done since she arrived. "... So this is how I defeated the bandits."
"Yes, thanks to what I did, the city is now safer and more peaceful than before," said Ethan. The woman in front of him knew that her husband had died in the war he caused. So he wanted to know if she hated him or not. In times like these, he asked directly with the unshakeable power conferred by his prince position.
"Miss Evelyn Richte... As far as I know, your husband died in the Thunderbolt War. So, I want to know what you think about me so we can work together."
Evelyn was surprised by the boy's open and arrogant talk about her husband. Evelyn said, "Yes, my husband died in the war, that's right. And yes, some people see you as the one responsible for the war. But personally, I believe that it is important not to dwell on the past. We can't change the past. What matters is focusing on the future and working for a better tomorrow by learning from mistakes. The reason I'm working with you here is that the respected king and dear friend Mary asked me to do so. Now let's leave the past behind and focus on the future together, Prince Ethan."
Ethan was surprised by Evelyn's sincere and positive approach. Instead of getting the reaction he expected, he was met with understanding and tolerance. This was a promising sign for him. He believed that past events shouldn't prevent him from achieving future successes.
"Your answer satisfies me. Let's focus on the future as you said. My plan for the city of Aurendale is to expand the port and establish a shipyard to build warships. Thus, while the city develops commercially, the kingdom can also strengthen. What do you think?" he asked.
Evelyn listened thoughtfully to what Ethan said and responded seriously. "Ethan, your plan looks quite ambitious and reasonable. Developing the port to revive trade and establishing a shipyard to increase the kingdom's naval power can bring great benefits to both Aurendale city and the Asina Kingdom. However, implementing such a plan won't be easy. Firstly, we'll need to strengthen the port's infrastructure and construct the necessary facilities for the shipyard. Additionally, attracting maritime experts and labor to Aurendale will be crucial. We also need to consider the challenges and risks we might face during this process."
Taking Evelyn's valuable insights into account, Ethan aimed to further refine his plan and strategize together. By leveraging Evelyn's experience and knowledge, he intended to solidify his plan on a stronger foundation. Both of them understood the importance of working together for the welfare of the city and the kingdom.
As they continued their conversation, Ethan felt hopeful about the future. Collaborating with Evelyn, he believed they could overcome any obstacles and turn his vision for Aurendale into a reality. With determination and cooperation, they embarked on the journey to elevate Aurendale to new heights and contribute to the prosperity of the Asina Kingdom.