News that Rosana would be preparing the banquet for the Ales Kingdom envoy spread like wildfire.

“Is there a suitable venue?”

“Yes, there’s a hall for balls inside the imperial palace. It would be good to host the banquet there.”

“That’s a relief. I should make time to go see it. What needs to be prepared will vary depending on the hall’s condition. But it’s rather noisy today.”

“It’s because of the noble council day.”

Despite the shifting perceptions, many were still perplexed by the sudden responsibility entrusted to Rosana.

Naturally, the matter of the envoy, which had been assigned to her, became a topic of discussion at the noble council that day. It was, after all, the first council meeting since Rosana’s arrival in Diovaha.

“Everyone seems to have many questions. Come to think of it, I’ve never met or conversed with the central nobles directly.”

Being able to attend imperial councils meant having that much authority and power. ‘What kind of person am I to the Diovahan nobles?’

“Is it alright to go out far?”

“There’s nowhere Lady Rosana cannot go.”

“Sir Baron, would you accompany me?”

“Of course.”

Having received consent, Rosana headed to none other than where the noble council was taking place. Celine nodded silently, saying she’d expected as much.

Baron stopped two knights passing nearby. The knights summoned by Baron quickly approached.

“Sir Baron?”

“Since there could be unforeseen dangers, let’s take a few more knights.”

The knights he’d stopped were Louis and Cart.

“What’s the matter?”

“You’ll escort Lady Rosana with me.”

They expressed puzzlement at the suddenly assigned task. However, upon hearing the destination, they nodded, finding it reasonable.

“No. There’s no need to trouble them. Sir Baron is sufficient…”

“No! Lady Rosana just hasn’t seen the nobles yet—they’re so fierce!”

“Just trust us.”

Somehow she ended up accompanying the two, and Rosana’s party arrived at Jade’s palace. 

The meeting room existed inside the emperor’s palace. Nobles were gathered in clusters in front of the palace, seemingly having finished the meeting already. However, their number was small.

“We’re a step late.”

“Greetings can wait until next time.”

When the carriage of unknown identity stopped in front of the palace, the nobles’ gazes focused. Rosana descended from the carriage with Baron’s escort.

“…Isn’t that Lady Rosana Arcadi?”

When one noble accurately recognized Rosana, all the nobles’ gazes concentrated at once. 

Those remaining were people who felt anxious about Jade’s orders. They looked with suspicious eyes. 

‘What about her has clouded His Majesty’s eyes?’

As soon as she descended, a fierce voice immediately directed at her.

“What business do you have here?”

Looking at the noble who wouldn’t allow approach like a hedgehog with its spines raised, Rosana spoke without being flustered.

“I simply came to offer greetings.”

Questions flew without even giving Rosana time to smile at the nobles, showing how urgent they were.

“I heard His Majesty assigned you a task. Are you confident you can accomplish it? If you fail, it could sever diplomatic relations between nations.”

“Of course. I’ll do my best.”

“…”

However, Rosana responded calmly. Another noble who slightly frowned spoke.

“His Majesty tells us to trust Lady Arcadi, but everyone is full of doubt. Who would believe someone who hasn’t proven anything?”

The tone was ambiguous to definitively call criticism. Rather, it was factual. Rosana spoke with a faint smile.

“Yes, I’m aware. So I’ll prove it. I’ll take responsibility for all problems that result.”

The nobles’ eyes widened, seemingly surprised by Rosana’s calm attitude. There was one person whose face soured more than anyone at her attitude. Rosana lightly bowed her head and tried to pass them.

“I heard there was an unseemly incident at the palace. Isn’t it problematic that maids were expelled twice in a short period, not just once?”

Rosana’s steps stopped abruptly.

“I heard the first expelled maid was your personal maid. She dared make unforgivable remarks to His Majesty.”

He said expelling that maid was naturally deserved. However, unlike the previous incident, his attitude showed he couldn’t accept what happened this time.

“Yet not long after, several other maids were expelled. I’m worried Lady Arcadi might chase away the Ales envoy too. Don’t you fail to handle even small incidents occurring inside the palace wisely?”

He poured out sharp words like poison in his mouth, his eyes blazing. Like someone who’d been directly harmed by Rosana…

Lightning suddenly flashed through her mind. The maids expelled this time were all nobles. It wouldn’t be strange if their fathers were here where central nobles gathered.

“Marquis Liberi.”

Celine gently informed Rosana in a whisper. ‘So he’s her father.’

“What’s your complaint?”

“My daughter was expelled.”

Rosana blinked slowly. Marquis Liberi’s anger boiled even more at Rosana’s attitude showing no particular reaction.

She’d been expelled from her maid position for causing trouble. However, nothing was known precisely. Veronica just said it was a matter arising from misunderstanding. 

According to what he heard, Veronica had treated Rosana kindly and got along well with the maids. There was absolutely no reason for expulsion.

He’d planned to speak to His Majesty after this meeting ended. But Jade trusted Rosana. Why on earth? For what reason? 

He couldn’t understand. The grievance and anger he’d suppressed exploded upon facing Rosana. His tightly clenched jaw wrinkled deeply.

“Why is Marquis Liberi acting like that?”

“Isn’t it because of the incident where Lady Liberi was expelled from the imperial palace?”

Among those gathered at the meeting, several mentioned that story and shook their heads. 

‘She picked the wrong fight.’ 

There were so many expelled maids that people said Lady Rosana Arcadi’s hobby was expelling maids.

“I demand the precise reason! And valid grounds for it!”

Marquis Liberi approached with angry strides. Then Louis and Cart blocked his way. He shouted furiously.

“Move aside! How dare mere knights block someone’s path?!”

However, no matter how much he pushed with force, they were an iron fortress. Rosana stood without moving. Baron asked from the side what measures she wanted. However, she shook her head. Since she’d expelled Veronica, the consequences were also her responsibility.

“Do you know why Veronica was expelled?”

“Of course! When I heard from my daughter, it was truly absurd! She said it was a small misunderstanding! She said she only spoke about what she really saw! How can you expel someone just for discovering a problem?!”

She looked at the marquis’s face, flushed red and blue with anger. ‘She couldn’t tell her family that she’d schemed to expel one maid but got caught instead.’

Veronica was expelled for muddying internal waters. It was a matter of discipline. Hearing only that story, one could feel it was unjust. The maid who actually stole accessories from the jewelry box was indeed a different maid. Except that maid followed Veronica’s words.

“Are you evading?!”

When Rosana gave no answer, he shouted. Louis, who’d been listening silently, spoke.

“My, Marquis, you’re noisy. Didn’t His Majesty mention showing courtesy to Lady Rosana?”

Louis tilted his head, saying he didn’t understand. Then Marquis Liberi flinched.

“R-rudeness? I’m having a conversation…!”

“We don’t call browbeating and pushing only your own views a conversation. If you continue threatening behavior, we have no choice but to handle it according to His Majesty’s orders.”

When Baron gently placed his hand on his sword, Marquis Liberi said in surprise:

“…You would execute me?”

“If you don’t step back.”

Marquis Liberi’s mouth opened wide.

“Well said. Everyone is performing their duties splendidly.”

Marquis Liberi gulped. When he turned his head, he met coldly shining eyes. Jade was walking slowly with his handsome eyebrows deeply furrowed. He grabbed Rosana’s shoulder and pulled her toward himself. Rosana leaned deeply into Jade’s embrace.

“If you were coming, it would have been good to give advance notice… Then your ears wouldn’t have been dirtied by such trivial talk.”

Jade gently stroked Rosana’s cheek with his finger.

“Weren’t you scared when he shouted loudly?”

“The knights protected me well.”

“Then that’s fortunate.”

Marquis Liberi’s body trembled. Rosana didn’t notice, but tremendous killing intent was being directed at him. His back became soaked with cold sweat.

“Y-Your Majesty also knows, don’t you! About what happened at the lady’s palace.”

“Of course I know well. I also know you’re in no position to raise your voice here. What did your daughter say? That she was unjustly expelled? When she dared scheme with my belongings?”

“Wh-what…”

He felt something had gone terribly wrong. Jade said he trusted Rosana. That’s why even when he sent letters, he consistently ignored them. But if he heard his words, heard his daughter’s words, he’d come to his senses. 

‘He’s just bewitched for a moment.’

But it was different. Both Rosana’s attitude and Jade’s words. 

‘Did my daughter lay hands on His Majesty’s belongings?’ 

Jade quietly looked at him. The marquis’s eyes trembled mercilessly, seemingly sensing the ominous energy. His complexion turned deathly pale as he regained his senses and quickly lowered his tail.

“Your Majesty! I lost my mind. I was mistaken. I apologize for disturbing Your Majesty’s mood.”

“My mood? You’re finding the wrong place to bow your head to the very end. The marquis has devoted loyalty to Diovaha for quite a long time. Continuously since the previous generation.”

“Y-Your Majesty…”

“I thought you were quick-witted, but that wasn’t it either. You should have picked sides well like back then. How unfortunate. Your family will disappear from Diovaha, which has become an empire.”

Marquis Liberi’s face hardened. It was essentially words of expulsion. The brief moment Jade breathed felt like an eternity to him. What saved Marquis Liberi, standing at life’s crossroads, was none other than Rosana.

“Please don’t.”

“What?”

“It was just a small argument. Besides, isn’t he here because he’s useful to the nation? There’s no need to make enemies because of me.”

“I was thinking of making an example.”

“Your Majesty. There’s no need to make an example while taking losses. The marquis’s remarks were simply because he didn’t know the full story of the incident. Isn’t that right, Marquis?”

At Rosana’s call, Marquis Liberi’s head snapped up. He nodded fervently. ‘See that?’

“Weren’t you being attacked?”

“Mm, no. I was thinking of words the marquis could accept. It became meaningless because Jade appeared though. Marquis, please don’t think only the facts you know are the truth.”

“I-I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you for forgiving my rudeness…”

Marquis Liberi sneakily raised his head to look at Rosana. She wore a gentle smile, seemingly satisfied with just that. However, it was only momentary, and her face wasn’t clearly visible as she began pushing his back while soothing the angry Jade.

Jade and Rosana went inside, leaving only the remaining nobles wandering. 

The nobles who’d planned to plead for reconsideration of the envoy matter changed their minds after seeing Rosana’s attitude.

Duke Helpe, who’d become a forgotten presence, burst into hearty laughter. He had a story to tell his daughter waiting for news at the estate.

“Since His Majesty seems busy, everyone should return now.”

Few witnessed it, but the aftermath was tremendous.

* * *

Rosana was satisfied to have tea time with Jade after a long while. She smiled softly watching his still-sulking expression.

“Jade, please brighten your expression now. Were you that displeased?”

“Of course. Was that something to end with just an apology?”

“All the nobles who remained were people dissatisfied with me. Won’t I be perceived more favorably instead? Though I did stop you because I thought it was excessive treatment.”