The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 226: A Cotton Research Project

Chapter 226: A Cotton Research Project

"Cotton? This is the first time I’ve seen it fresh from the plant! I thought it only grew in Dracor due to the warmer climate there," Anna remarked, surprised by its presence in the kingdom.

"Yes, indeed. But this is a different kind of cotton, originating from seeds that His Highness brought back after his travels a few years ago," Tony explained. "He purchased it from a peddler who claimed it came from a distant land. I was given a few bags of seeds and sowed them."

"It must be challenging to grow," Meredith commented.

"It was. I failed to grow this cotton numerous times, so His Highness stopped asking me about it. However, I eventually found the right way to cultivate it, and it thrived. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to tell His Highness about my success since he moved out," the gardener said.

"What’s the difference between this type and the common one?" asked Sylvia.

"Unlike the typical cotton plants found in Dracor, this variety takes an extra month to mature. However, it has proven to be resilient in Cassian’s weather. While normal cotton wouldn’t grow here, this strain does. Despite the longer growth period, the fibre quality it produces is superior."

Excited by the revelation, Anna couldn’t resist asking, "May I touch it?"

Tony nodded with a warm smile.

"Sure, now is the right time to harvest it. If we wait too long, the fibre will become hardened due to the exposure to cold weather. Let me get some for you. The dried bolls can be quite sharp and might prick your finger," the gardener warned, heading towards the cotton plant.

Anna nodded in agreement, understanding the cautionary note. Tony carefully plucked some cotton from one of the bolls and passed it to Anna for observation.

She accepted appreciatively from Tony’s outstretched hand and observed it closely, noting its unique texture and appearance. The cotton felt soft and delicate in her fingers, yet it had a notable resilience.

Then, the gardener did the same for Meredith and Sylvia, allowing them to feel the unique texture of the cotton as well. Both noble ladies eagerly received their share of the sample, marvelling at its distinct qualities. They ran their fingers over it, feeling its smoothness and examining its delicate texture.

"It is softer than the cotton from Dracor!" Anna exclaimed to her companions, comparing it to her previous experience.

Meredith expressed her curiosity, saying, "How would you know? I’ve never seen real cotton before. The one I’ve encountered was already in the form of yarn or textiles."

Anna smiled, explaining, "Rafe gave me some from Dracor when I needed it. I’ve been using it for personal needs, and it was comfortable to use during my journey to Gantz. However, this cotton’s texture is even better. Not only is it soft, but it also feels stronger when stretched. See?" Anna demonstrated by gently pulling on the fibre in front of her companions.

"My lady indeed has a keen observation," Tony commended with a note of satisfaction. "I’ve been telling others the same, but few have noticed."

The princess’ eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she shared an ambitious idea. "If we cultivate more of this cotton, perhaps we can produce a variety even better than Dracor in the future. It could boost Cassian’s economy and create healthy competition."

Meredith chimed in, acknowledging the idea. "That’s a great goal, but Mr Lambert mentioned that there are specific ways to grow it. Dracor has been in the industry for many years, and they have the resources and capacity to produce it. It would take a long time for us to produce the plantation."

Anna responded with determination, her voice filled with optimism. "Everything starts with a small effort, Mer. We may eventually yield results if we persist and continue doing the work. We won’t know unless we try."

"I like that spirit! It won’t harm us to give a shot," Sylvia agreed. "Even if we fail, it’ll be a good experience."

Anna turned to Tony, her curiosity piqued. "Is it difficult to produce the cotton seeds, Mr Lambert?" she inquired, hoping to gather more information about their potential challenges.

"Not at all! Each boll can produce an impressive number of seeds, ranging from thirty to forty. As you already know, this particular cotton takes longer to grow, but a single plant can have around ten to fifteen bolls, compared to the typical cotton plants, which have up to six. That’s already a doubled yield compared to the norm. From just one boll, we can obtain approximately thirty to forty seeds. When sowing, I usually plant up to three seeds per plant, and if multiple sprouts emerge, I separate them accordingly afterwards," Tony explained earnestly, sharing his knowledge with enthusiasm.

"But that was in the past. Since there was no interest shown, I have stopped growing it. This remaining plant is the last one I grew from the previous harvest, purely for the purpose of trial," he added, a hint of wistfulness in his voice.

Anna, intrigued by the gardener’s successful experiments with various plants, suddenly posed a question, "Since you managed to grow blue roses through your trials, do you think it would be difficult to conduct another experiment to hasten the growth of this cotton, making it comparable to or even faster than the growth time of the normal one?"

The query sparked a renewed interest in the gardener’s eyes, and a smile spread across his face. "I have never attempted such an experiment before, but it is indeed a fascinating idea! What a brilliant suggestion, my lady!"

He paused for a moment, his mind already racing with possibilities. "If I were to embark on this experiment, I would delve into studying the growth patterns and traits of both the normal cotton and this unique strain. By gaining a deeper understanding of their distinctions, I could potentially make adjustments to the cultivation process, aiming to expedite the growth of this cotton and bring it closer to the timespan of the normal one."

Anna nodded.

"I’ve been thinking, if we can produce cotton that grows at the same or faster rate, it would be an improved version with better quality and resilience than the Dracor’s," she shared excitedly. "If it’s not too much trouble, would you be willing to conduct the research? If you need financial support, I can discuss it with my husband."

Tony’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

"I don’t need any money, my lady. I have all the necessary tools and materials. I simply didn’t pursue it because nobody showed interest or paid attention. But since you have the intuition and drive, I am more than willing to initiate the research."

"Really? You would? It doesn’t bother you?" Anna asked, her excitement growing.

"Absolutely! I would be delighted to do it. It doesn’t bother me at all! I have a greenhouse here, so I always have warm soil to begin with. I haven’t been this excited in a long time. It’s the first time anyone has shown genuine interest in my work!" Tony exclaimed.

"I’m glad to hear that. Please proceed with it, and I will inform His Highness about our plans," Anna replied, grateful for the gardener’s willingness to undertake the task.

"Thank you, my lady! You’ve truly made this old man happy!" Tony expressed his gratitude.

Suddenly, a resounding bell sound reverberated through the air, catching the group’s attention.

"What’s that?" Meredith asked, her curiosity piqued.

"That’s the sound of our army returning from duty. It seems a dispatched troop has returned," Sylvia explained, recognising the sound from her experience with the Marquess of Sylvere’s march.

"We should return to the arena. Something seems to be happening," suggested Meredith.

"Ladies, please wait a moment," Tony said, his steps gentle as he approached the blooming rose buds.

He carefully plucked several blue roses with his skilled hands, deftly dethorning them to perfection with a unique tool from his pocket.

Turning back to Anna, Sylvia, and Meredith, who were waiting for him, Tony presented them with the exquisite flowers, a genuine smile gracing his face.

"These are for you," he said, his voice filled with warmth and appreciation.

Anna’s eyes widened in awe as she accepted the stunning blue roses. The vibrant hue of the petals captivated her, and she couldn’t help but be enchanted by their beauty.

"Please accept these as a thank-you gift for you and your companions, my lady. It brings me great joy to share these roses with you. They are a small token of my gratitude for your interest in my work and the opportunity to embark on this research together."

Tony’s eyes shimmered with satisfaction, pleased to see their delight.

"Also, please convey my regards to His Highness. I know he has been preoccupied with his duty, and this place hasn’t been the same without him. Although I can no longer serve him as before, I’ve always missed his thoughtful demeanour. He was a remarkable Crown Prince, and I hope one day, another Crown Prince will be as great as him."

"Thank you, Mr Lambert, for this generous gift. They are truly magnificent! I will make sure to pass on your message to my husband. Perhaps Mary or Scarlett can help relay the updates on your research later on?" Anna suggested, turning to the two maids.

Both of them nodded eagerly, ready to assist.

"Of course, we will gladly help with that," said Mary.

"Do visit the palace often, my lady. If not, we can always send letters to either the mansion or the duchy to keep you updated," Scarlett added.

"All right. Thank you again, Mr Lambert, and thank you also, Mary and Scarlett, for showing us this beautiful place. I also hope that one day it will flourish again with the birth of a new Crown Prince," Anna said, expressing her gratitude and sharing her hope as she took one last look around.

Saying their goodbyes to the gardener and the maids, Anna, Sylvia, and Meredith made their way back to the arena, curious about the army’s return.

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