The newly appointed Williams Ducal family had become the most popular family in the entire royal capital.
Ever since Wei Wei moved out of the royal palace and Felix returned triumphantly with his promotion, invitation cards once again flooded in like a tidal wave. Everyone was eager to have them attend their banquets and took pride in securing their presence—after all, it was widely known that the couple disliked attending social gatherings. To have them attend your event was an undeniable symbol of status and face.
Although neither of them enjoyed such occasions, they couldn't afford to appear too antisocial either. After moving out of the palace, Wei Wei and Felix carefully selected a few noble banquets to attend. And now that Wei Wei held the title of Duchess, all others could do was flatter and fawn over her. Noble ladies, always quick to gather gossip, eagerly showered her with the latest rumors whenever she showed the slightest interest.
Naturally, the hottest topic in the capital remained Crown Prince Edward. As someone who often visited the palace to attend to the Crown Prince's health, Wei Wei was privy to more insider information than most. Occasionally, people would inquire about the relationship between the Crown Prince and Miss Cindy Campbell.
Although everyone knew this young couple was deeply affectionate, with frequent rumors of them traveling together, there were still plenty of ambitious ladies unwilling to give up their hopes of becoming Crown Princess. They continued to pray for a breakup, hoping the Crown Prince would eventually find a new lover.
Wei Wei, of course, never offered direct opinions. She would share what she could and skillfully deflect what she couldn't, all the while keeping to herself the fact that the Crown Prince was already preparing to propose.
In this era, once a man and woman of suitable marriageable age took a liking to each other, things quickly progressed to proposals and marriage. Long courtships were rare unless impeded by age or other obstacles.
Edward had been fortunate. Though Cindy Campbell came from a modest background, she was beautiful and intelligent—exactly the type the King admired. After having her stay near the palace for some time, the King observed her closely and deemed her a promising future Crown Princess. Pleased with his son's choice, the King subtly encouraged Edward to move forward, prompting the Crown Prince to joyfully begin planning his proposal.
Incidentally, Wei Wei and Miss Campbell had grown quite close.
They often invited Alina to join them for leisurely afternoon tea sessions, where they would chat freely and enjoy their time together before being picked up by their respective partners.
Their friendship blossomed so quickly not only because of mutual goodwill but also due to the King's involvement.
Besides his son's health, the King was deeply concerned about the prospect of having healthy royal grandchildren. Naturally, he wanted to ensure that his future daughter-in-law was in good physical condition.
Thus, Wei Wei was asked to examine Miss Campbell privately. It was during this first private consultation that they truly bonded.
Once Wei Wei confirmed that Cindy was in excellent health—healthier even than most noble ladies—the King's last worries were laid to rest, and he encouraged Edward to proceed with the relationship. He also instructed Wei Wei to help maintain Cindy's health. So, Wei Wei took charge of arranging Cindy's daily routines, including a nutritious diet and exercise regimen.
Considering that many physical activities were deemed inappropriate for noblewomen, Wei Wei recruited Alina, whose own health was somewhat lacking, and set up a private space in the palace for them to practice yoga together. With the room cleared of furniture and the palace staff kept at bay, the two future princesses found the novel exercises refreshing. As they trained, their bodies grew stronger, and their friendship deepened into a sisterly bond.
The more Wei Wei got to know Cindy, the more she approved of her. Cindy was remarkably clever—gentle on the surface yet steely within. She possessed kindness and optimism without excessive ambition.
Wei Wei once overheard Cindy talking to her only maid, revealing that her original intention in attending that fateful banquet wasn't to meet the Crown Prince. Fully aware of her low status, she had merely hoped to find a suitable man willing to marry her—even a noble's second or third son would have sufficed, so long as he could help her escape her circumstances.
But luck had smiled on her. The Crown Prince himself had taken notice, turning her life from black-and-white to brilliant color.
"So, His Highness the Crown Prince is preparing to propose?"
The always gossip-hungry Countess of Nelson couldn't help but ask. After months of smoothing things over, her husband had managed to get back into the King's good graces, and the Countess herself had returned to the palace as one of Alina's attendants.
Of course, "attendants" in the Pradi palace referred not to maids but to noblewoman companions who accompanied their lady on strolls, chatted, and participated in social functions. With the Queen still "gravely ill" and absent from the palace, Alina was the only hostess, and thus, these noble companions served her alone.
However, Alina disliked constantly being surrounded by these women, finding their motives too obvious—either fishing for information or attempting to manipulate her into sabotaging the Crown Prince's romance. To avoid this, she frequently pulled Cindy into her company as a buffer. Whenever Wei Wei visited the palace, the trio would gather together, shutting out the other noblewomen.
Because the Countess of Nelson was on good terms with Wei Wei and had no designs on undermining the Crown Prince's relationship, she was occasionally invited to join their tea gatherings, restoring her social standing and making her once again a favored fixture in noble circles.
Hearing her bring up the Crown Prince, Wei Wei glanced around to see all the surrounding noble ladies perk up their ears in eager anticipation. She sighed inwardly.
Though she liked the Countess, the woman's unfiltered bluntness often made her want to keep some distance.
Still, since the question was already asked, Wei Wei couldn't very well ignore it. She answered vaguely, "Perhaps. I'm not entirely sure myself."
Then, before anyone could press further, she skillfully changed the topic to Sardinson's new city development.
Wei Wei's frequent attendance at recent banquets wasn't only for social networking—it was primarily to find potential buyers for the new city in Sardinson.
The first phase of construction was nearly complete, and it was time to start selling residential properties. She wasn't worried about selling the commoner district: with such well-built houses and comprehensive public facilities, the increasingly affluent people of Sardinson would surely scramble to purchase these spacious and beautiful homes. The noble district, however, required a bit more effort.
After all, nobles with the means would naturally prefer living in the capital. Sardinson, still a partially completed frontier city, couldn't compare to their hereditary lands, let alone the capital's charm.
But Wei Wei and Felix didn't expect them to relocate permanently right away. Their initial goal was to persuade a few prominent nobles to buy houses as holiday villas. Once these high-profile families set the trend, smaller nobles, and wealthy merchants would inevitably be drawn in, eager to become neighbors. The rest would follow naturally.
One of Wei Wei's prime targets was the Countess of Nelson. She came from an influential old noble family with wide social connections and significant status—so prestigious that even the rural gentry would recognize their name. Though her family had previously fallen into difficulty, they had since regained their footing, in no small part thanks to Felix's assistance. Convincing her to purchase a property shouldn't be too difficult.
Indeed, upon hearing Wei Wei's suggestion, the Countess immediately agreed—without even bothering to look at the promotional drawings, she signed the contract on the spot. She saw it as a way to repay the Williams family for their help.
Moreover, the Countess enthusiastically promoted the new city on their behalf. Even though she had only heard about it and seen some hand-drawn illustrations, she described Sardinson as if it were paradise, raving about its wonders to the other noblewomen. Her vivid praise piqued the curiosity of many ladies, who soon approached Wei Wei seeking to purchase homes.
—With her persuasive skills, she could've easily made a fortune as a real estate agent.
Despite the Countess's glowing endorsements, actual sales were limited. The homes weren't cheap. Though less expensive than properties in the capital, the materials and designs used were top-tier, resulting in steep prices. Many nobles, having recently paid hefty fines due to prior scandals, found it difficult to spare the funds to invest in a house they might rarely visit.
Thus, many noblewomen who were initially excited changed their minds upon hearing the price, deeming it wasteful. Only a few nobles who had remained uninvolved in the poisoning incident—and who wished to build good relations with the ducal couple—ultimately signed purchase contracts.
Although only six properties were sold, Wei Wei was quite satisfied. The fact that homes were being bought before construction was even fully complete was already a great start. She believed that once people saw the new city's charm, demand would naturally rise on its own. And by then, the prices would certainly be higher.
While Wei Wei was busy selling houses, Felix was using a different tactic—he gifted a house to Duke Devonshire, Allen's father.
The Duke of Devonshire was one of the King's most trusted nobles. When the King was gravely ill, it was this duke who had stood firmly by his side, blocking many of Duke Romanov's schemes and preventing him from seizing power during the King's vulnerability. The King's gratitude only grew after his recovery, and one of the new earls sent to manage Romanov's former lands was Devonshire's protégé.
At present, Felix and the Duke of Devonshire were regarded as the two most powerful nobles in the Pradi Empire. Though Felix's influence still lagged due to his youth, everyone saw his potential, placing him nearly on equal footing.
After all, the aging Duke of Devonshire couldn't compare to the energetic Felix. It was clear to all who had a brighter future.
Thus, Felix's gift of a house was not merely a gesture of goodwill—it was a carefully planned marketing move, something he had discussed with Wei Wei. As she put it: celebrity endorsement.
The Duke happily accepted the gift, fully aware of Felix's intentions. Curious about Sardinson himself—and with part of his son's Princia territory nearby—he thought it wouldn't hurt to occasionally visit with his wife, see his son, and enjoy a vacation.
After living in the capital for so long, it was time for a change of scenery.
What surprised Felix even more was that not long after gifting the Duke his house, the King himself summoned him—to purchase two homes from him.
The King explained that these houses were intended as gifts for his two younger sons.
He even added with a smile: "When you return, bring Edward with you. He'll trouble your household for the winter."
The King had been considering this arrangement for some time.
Now that the Crown Prince's poisoning had been cured and his health steadily improved, Wei Wei had finally submitted her resignation. Her reasoning was perfectly sound: Edward no longer required constant care. His recovery was stable, his treatment plan was fully handed over to the royal physicians, and she had even prepared preventive medicine for his asthma—an herbal remedy developed in collaboration with the royal doctors. Though a proper inhaler couldn't be made due to material limitations, the medicine was effective enough to stop attacks quickly, even without a doctor present.
The medicine's success rapidly spread among doctors and patients, greatly enhancing Wei Wei's reputation. Doctors now saw firsthand the extent of her medical skill, and many wrote to her—some with thank-you notes, others seeking academic discussions. Compared to the flowery but shallow letters from nobles, these letters were far more enjoyable to read. If a topic interested her, she would reply and exchange insights, gradually expanding her circle of pen pals. Of course, she was careful to choose only highly skilled physicians as correspondents, most of whom were older men—so Felix never got jealous, though he always peeked at her letters out of habit.
Felix's suspicion was understandable. Recently at banquets, many men had been showing interest in Wei Wei, much to his annoyance. On one occasion, while Wei Wei waited on the balcony for Felix to bring her food, an overly bold admirer tried to flirt with her. Felix nearly challenged the man to a duel on the spot. Had Wei Wei not intervened, that poor soul might not have lived to see another day.
After several such incidents, both Felix and Wei Wei grew increasingly disinterested in the social scene. Once Edward's condition stabilized, she became eager to leave the capital and escape these tedious gatherings.
Her reasons were sound, and the King couldn't force her to stay. Reluctantly, he approved her departure.
However, while he couldn't make her stay, he could ensure the Crown Prince accompanied them.
In truth, the King remained uneasy. He feared Edward's health might relapse without Wei Wei's constant care. So, as a compromise, he entrusted Edward to their care.
Winter was always harsh for Edward, and warm coastal regions were better suited for his recovery. Parts of Felix's territory, such as Slot, remained relatively mild during winter, making it an ideal place for Edward to rest—especially with Wei Wei present to oversee his health.
Thus, in the golden harvest season of October, Wei Wei and Felix finally departed the capital and returned to Sardinson after a long absence.
Traveling with them were the Crown Prince, his now-official fiancée Miss Campbell, and the royal physician who had overseen Edward's treatment.
The physician's presence was necessary, as Wei Wei, once back on her estate, would be too busy to personally monitor Edward daily. The doctor was eager for the trip as well—he looked forward to studying the many Eastern herbs available in Sardinson and exchanging knowledge with Wei Wei's students there.
The sea voyage from the capital to Slot took about seven or eight days. Fortunately, no one became seasick. Wei Wei's mood was far better than it had been during their initial trip to the capital. She even borrowed fishing gear from the sailors, turning the journey into a mini-vacation filled with fishing and cooking their fresh catches.
When the ship finally neared Slot's harbor, Wei Wei spotted a familiar figure waving enthusiastically from the pier.
"It's Lola!" she recognized Dolores at once and waved back excitedly.
Having spent several months managing Sardinson Castle alone, Dolores had rushed eagerly to the port upon hearing of her brother and sister-in-law's return.
As soon as Wei Wei disembarked, Dolores lifted her skirt and dashed over, giving her a tight hug.
"My God, you're finally back! I've missed you so much!"
Dolores was unusually emotional, hugging and bouncing around in excitement.
"If you didn't come back soon, I was about to go hunt you down in the capital!" she complained.
Only after taking over the castle's management had she truly realized just how exhausting their work was. The castle alone had been overwhelming, yet her brother and sister-in-law managed the castle, their vast estate, and all their businesses—and still found time for tea, reading, and their sweet married life. She was in awe.
"How do you even manage all of it?!"
"We're back now, aren't we?" Wei Wei laughed. Releasing Dolores from the hug, she eyed her critically and said, "Lola, you seem to have grown taller again?"
"I have!" Dolores beamed. In fact, not only had she grown taller, but she was also starting to develop physically—a fact she wisely chose not to announce publicly.
Still, Wei Wei couldn't help but silently sigh: Adonis is going to be a lucky man in the future.
Afterward, Prince Edward and the others disembarked as well, and Wei Wei led Dolores over to greet him.