Malek walked briskly with quick steps. He pulled out the pocket watch from his coat and checked the time. Setting aside his startled heart from Rosana’s sudden visit, he was on his way to greet a precious guest.

“There were many visitors today.”

Malek muttered quietly to himself. When he spotted an anxious-looking middle-aged man, he immediately showed his respects. The person before him was the master of Diovaha’s only ducal house, Duke Helpe.

“Your Grace. Welcome.”

“Forgive me, but I’ll get straight to the point. Did Lily come here?”

Duke Helpe asked without giving him a chance. Malek let out a hollow laugh. Only one person could cast shadows on the Duke’s normally cold, rational face. Everyone knew of his love for his daughter.

“She’s enjoying tea time with Lady Rosana.”

“Ha… I knew it.”

The Duke slowly rubbed his face. He shouldn’t have told Lily about what happened at the central council meeting. Her eyes had sparkled too brightly…

Duke Helpe had rushed straight to the imperial palace after reading the note Lily left behind. 

The note contained a message from his precious daughter saying she would visit the imperial palace.

“I wonder who she takes after to be so headstrong. Since I’m already here, I should greet His Majesty before leaving.”

“Yes.”

Duke Helpe arrived at the office with Malek.

“Your Majesty, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“What do you mean ‘a while’? Didn’t we see each other just a few days ago? You came because you’re worried about Lily, right?”

Jade chuckled, seeing right through Duke Helpe’s expression. 

The Duke’s eyebrows rose at an angle. He realized he’d shown behavior befitting a doting father. He cleared his throat awkwardly.

“I have no excuse for Lily’s actions.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind if she spends time with Rosana. Even if she pretends otherwise, she’s someone who gets lonely easily. Oh, Lily is currently enjoying tea time with Rosana.”

“I heard from Malek.”

After much deliberation, Duke Helpe asked him. 

He had tried to think more leisurely about it, but since he was already here, he thought it would be good to confirm Rosana’s character with his own eyes. 

He had been sufficiently impressed by what she showed on the day of the council meeting.

“Your Majesty, would it be alright if I had a conversation with Lady Arcadi on this occasion?”

Jade smiled with raised corners of his mouth, saying he knew this would happen.

Lady Rosana Arcadi. Duke Helpe had thought he knew her fairly well. However, thanks to Jade’s reaction at the last central council meeting and that ‘statement,’ he decided to reserve judgment on the person named Rosana.

“Of course.”

There was a reason Jade chose Duke Helpe as Rosana’s supporter. He trusted that the Duke had an accurate eye for judging people’s character. The Duke was also someone who had opposed accepting Rosana as Empress.

Jade believed Duke Helpe wouldn’t cause harm for personal reasons. Entrusting this to anyone else felt somewhat uneasy. 

Furthermore, if the ducal house recognized by the nobles acknowledged her, it would help Rosana when she debuted in high society. Connections were important to nobles.

Watching Jade act smug like he’d already won, Duke Helpe spoke firmly.

“Your Majesty, I’m not easy to please.”

“Do you think I don’t know that?”

He had known the Duke well since childhood. He could grow to this point thanks to him. That’s why he was entrusting this to him. However, Jade clearly wore an expression confident that she would win Duke Helpe’s favor.

“At first, she seems quiet and lacking motivation in life, but she’s someone who burns with more passion than anyone. She’s just a small candle, so people don’t notice. She seems like she’ll disappear at any moment, but she maintains her flame. I was the first to discover that.”

He looked proud, like someone who had found a treasure chest hidden deep in the ocean. The Duke felt deflated. Jade was already showing signs of being a doting husband.

“Nothing is more foolish than judging a person at first glance. You know this well without me saying it. If you watch her slowly, you’ll understand. She’s the most courageous person I know.”

Rosana was weak. But she was strong. She was someone these contradictory words suited simultaneously. She collapsed because she was weak and gave up. But she acknowledged it and stood up.

Few people acknowledge their own weakness. Rather, many live pretending they’re not weak. 

Or they acknowledge their weakness and say they can’t stand up because they’re endlessly weak. But Rosana acknowledged and accepted it. Then she questioned again and tried to improve.

“Should I go to Lady Arcadi?”

“Yes, Malek will guide you.”

Duke Helpe turned smoothly. For His Majesty to speak of someone like that… He sharpened his gaze keenly, then quietly concealed it.

* * *

The Duke traveled by carriage and arrived at Rosana’s palace. Jane greeted him.

Duke Helpe was surprised by the pleasant laughter coming through the slightly open drawing room door. One of the voice’s owners was unmistakably his daughter—no need to confirm. Lily sounded unusually excited, her tone higher than usual.

“So do you know what happened? In the end, they both got soaking wet and wandered around looking like drowned rats, then caught colds the next day and got scolded by Father.”

“Lily. This kind of story…”

“Nah, it’s fine. These kinds of stories need to be thoroughly dissected.”

He knew of Lily’s sociability, but few conversed with her so freely.

“Lady Rosana, Duke Helpe has arrived.”

“Father?”

“It’s my first time meeting you. I’m deeply sorry if my daughter was rude.”

Startled, Lily turned her head. Duke Helpe greeted Rosana and bowed. He maintained a posture low enough to seem excessive. Then he lifted his head slightly and observed Rosana carefully.

Rosana neither felt wary of nor uncomfortable around the Duke. She simply observed him in silence and gave a gentle nod. Her demeanor wasn’t arrogant or prideful—it was merely a calm acceptance of things as they were.

‘So this is Lily’s father and the person Jade trusts.’

“How can you leave the house so carelessly? You should speak to someone before leaving, not just leave a note.”

He could see Lily cautiously gauging the situation. The Duke calmed his heart that had dropped when she disappeared.

“My daughter has caused you trouble.”

Lily was lively yet strangely drew lines. She got along well with everyone but never allowed anyone into her heart. Yet somehow, Rosana had completely won Lily’s heart. Rosana spoke in a level tone.

“Not at all. Rather, I’m not good with words, but Lily made me happy.”

Duke Helpe smiled peacefully, hiding his complicated feelings. Though he hadn’t experienced it yet, she was someone both Jade and Lily had opened their hearts to without exception. His curiosity grew.

“I heard from His Majesty. I’ll do my best to advise you in organizing the envoy’s banquet.”

“Right now?”

Rosana glanced at Lily. Lily knew it was time to step back. She smiled brightly and said they should have tea time again next time.

“Oh, Lily. Didn’t you say you met Sir Baron after a long time? Sir Baron, please go spend some intimate time together.”

“But…”

“Are you alright with this, Lady Rosana?”

“I’m fine. There are many other knights. No one will penetrate this tight security. I’ll explain to him.”

Baron, who had been torn between the Majesty’s orders he had to follow and his fiancée, finally nodded at Rosana’s continued persuasion and the Duke’s supporting statement.

When one noisy person left, the drawing room filled with silence. Rosana wasn’t talkative, and the Duke also didn’t believe in unnecessary words.

“I can see my daughter likes you very much. Did something happen?”

“I’m grateful she likes me, but… I didn’t do anything special. We just had a conversation.”

“I see.”

“More importantly, don’t we have other business?”

The Duke murmured an apology at Rosana’s proactive attitude. Rosana asked Celine to bring the materials she had organized.

Rosana came forward actively. Even the Duke, who had intended to watch how she would react, was somewhat flustered.

Though it had been pushed to the back burner by today’s consecutive incidents, Rosana’s biggest recent concern was how to successfully conclude the envoy’s banquet. The Duke was impressed seeing the systematically organized information.

“Your Grace? Are you listening?”

“Of course.”

Rosana pulled the Duke out of his momentary thoughts. Rosana understood even the flow between the empire and kingdoms that would have been difficult to grasp. The Duke didn’t need to explain. In other words, she knew everything worth knowing.

“Excellent. You’ve gathered a lot of information. Much of it must have been difficult to obtain…”

“Others helped me greatly.”

He couldn’t help but express admiration. Rosana then shyly averted her gaze slightly. 

The maids around her, along with the knights, had come forward with one heart and mind for Rosana. 

With maids composed of nobles and knights who had directly participated in war right beside her, gathering information wasn’t difficult.

“The Ales Kingdom has active trade with Astrot, doesn’t it? Having lived in Astrot, I know it well. There was controversy too. The problem was that the imperial family took no particular measures. From the imperial family’s perspective, there was nothing problematic.”

“High-priced jewels come from the Ales Kingdom.”

Rosana nodded. Ales was a small but wealthy country that continuously produced luxury jewels. 

That was what Astrot coveted. However, Astrot didn’t bother trying to subjugate them. Saying it lacked dignity. In the first place, the Ales Kingdom had bowed and scraped first to curry favor.

“Letting go of what you hold in your hands overnight is difficult. Especially if it’s a kingdom with arrogance reaching the sky. The Ales Kingdom enjoyed the top position among kingdoms thanks to Astrot, and that structure remained unchanged for a very long time.”

What a foolish story. Perceptions and thoughts deeply embedded in the mind seemed difficult to change anywhere. Rosana sneered. At her cold smile, Duke Helpe narrowed his eyes.

“Is it the same for you, my lady?”

Duke Helpe asked casually while keeping his gaze fixed on the materials. What he meant was everything Rosana had enjoyed at the ducal house. 

Rosana let out a small laugh that scattered into the air. Duke Helpe’s eyes creased. After a brief silence, Rosana asked honestly.

“Do I seem regretful?”

Duke Helpe’s brows drew together. He fell into quiet thought.

“If you want a definite answer, I can firmly say ‘no.’ There’s no reason to covet what’s no longer mine. I’ve obtained something even more valuable since coming here.”