Blue energy rippled on his sword. He swung mercilessly. The horse’s speed combined with the charging Kelpie’s momentum. The Kelpie tried to counter with its horn, but Jade was one step faster.

Striking with the accelerated sword’s flat side, he snapped its neck bone in one blow. 

Life vanished from the Kelpie’s eyes as it raised its hooves. Beheading would be easier, but that would dirty the fur with blood.

So he planned to kill in one strike without spilling blood to avoid damaging the fur.

Since he couldn’t recommend the other knights fight with their sword flats, he had to finish quickly before they arrived.

“Can’t let them damage the precious gift by helping unnecessarily.”

Then an exceptionally lush and large fur caught his eye. Seeing the pure white fur, he pictured Rosana wearing a coat and her delighted face receiving the warm fur.

The Kelpie stamped its hooves viciously, enraged at losing its companion.

“Come. I’ll face you.”

* * *

“What on earth is this situation!”

One envoy fumed and seethed. His anger was so fierce his jowls trembled. 

However, the other envoys said nothing. Intimidated by Rosana’s threats and Duke Helpe’s logical words, they’d mumbled through the agreement without a peep.

Because Diovaha had swallowed many small kingdoms through war, anxiety that the Ales Kingdom might be placed on the same level gripped them.

“To not distinguish! Aren’t they saying they want to make enemies of our kingdom?!”

He shouted at the quiet others. Then another clicked his tongue, saying he was the one who couldn’t distinguish reason.

“It’s not wrong, is it? Shouldn’t we acknowledge it was different from our expectations? Diovaha’s Emperor isn’t just some upstart good at fighting.”

“Besides, the alliance between Astrot and Diovaha seemed tighter than expected.”

An envoy who sighed heavily spoke calmly, telling him to settle down.

“When our heads are about to roll, how can we not accept? Don’t we exist because the kingdom exists?”

He whirled around, glaring and growling, while the other envoys wavered but seemed to agree it couldn’t be helped.

“I can’t accept it. To such people…!”

He finally stormed out, kicking the door. Those remaining shook their heads.

“Tsk. Please understand the Margrave’s heart. To kneel to Diovaha’s army and have the same thing repeat… It’s natural his insides are boiling.”

“His words aren’t exactly wrong either…”

The envoys remaining in the room groaned, putting their heads together over what to do. They felt like they’d been left alone on a dark, dead-end road with no breakthrough in sight.

Meanwhile, the Margrave came out, abandoning the envoys who only schemed about returning to the Ales Kingdom.

“How is it not a problem!”

He recalled how Duke Helpe had come on strong, asking like driving a nail, “Do you plan to turn to enemy nations?” 

He’d tried to snatch the paper and tear it to shreds, saying it didn’t matter. However, the other envoys stopped him.

If they returned home saying they not only failed to make tolls free but actually received a declaration of war, the king would collapse clutching his neck. 

Even when they suggested maintaining good relations, they only heard they were already receiving more convenience than other kingdoms.

The envoy kicked an innocent pillar. Then he heard people’s voices. At voices mentioning Jade and Rosana, he unconsciously hid behind the corner.

“What on earth is His Majesty thinking… No matter what, to allow Lady Arcadi to act as proxy.”

“That’s what I’m saying. They say he even opened the imperial treasure vault and she swept it clean?”

The grumbling sounds of displeasure were blatant. Various servants had been mobilized for the banquet and receiving envoys, and naturally some people were pessimistic about the current situation.

“But you know… Is it real? That His Majesty has feelings for my lady. According to servants in my lady’s palace, he finds her terribly distasteful.”

“How could that be? What’s pretty about Lady Arcadi that he’d like her? She came empty-handed from Astrot too.”

“But his attitude changed dramatically.”

“That’s why there’s an ulterior motive. Isn’t he inducing complacency? Because noble Lady Arcadi spent the privy purse lavishly, His Majesty was so furious he even expelled her personal maid, right?”

Then the maid looked around quickly and spoke quietly.

“He even entrusted her with the seal…!”

“Really?!”

“Shh! Quiet! I only heard by chance.”

The envoy perked up at the juicy story he’d unintentionally overheard. He’d thought Diovaha’s Emperor was thoroughly enchanted since Rosana had been entrusted with the proxy position and wore imperial treasures draped all over her, but that wasn’t it.

The envoy’s eyes flashed. It was the struggle of one who hadn’t yet let go of futile dreams.

* * *

Rosana looked at Duke Helpe with a surprised expression, saying she’d heard an unexpected fact. Those she’d thought completely knelt were still stubbornly refusing to leave.

“Wasn’t the negotiation already complete?”

“It is, but… Thinking there’s still a chance, they say they’ll see His Majesty’s countenance before leaving. Using the excuse that leaving without greeting would be impolite from an envoy’s standpoint.”

“It’s correct, but still… That’s a trick with obvious intentions.”

The Duke nodded silently. Rosana shook her head while holding her forehead.

“Is it alright for you not to return to your estate, Duke? Isn’t Lily alone?”

Rosana looked at Duke Helpe apologetically. She felt sorry for keeping him detained at the imperial palace. Since there was no one else capable of dealing with the envoy, he was on constant standby.

“You needn’t worry. I’ve sent Lily a separate letter.”

“I’m only sorry for my inadequacy.”

“Not at all. I’ll take my leave now.”

After the Duke bowed and left, Rosana let out a long sigh. Even while talking with the Duke, she couldn’t put down the documents in her hands. Rosana grabbed her throbbing temples.

The Emperor’s work was plentiful. Rosana looked at the seal in her hand.

“What did Jade trust in me to entrust this…”

A hollow laugh escaped naturally. The box Malek had suddenly presented contained the Emperor’s seal. The seal only the Emperor possessed. At first, she was too shocked to speak.

Rosana had stared endlessly into that box. She couldn’t bring herself to reach for it. However, at Malek’s urging, she picked up the seal while holding her breath.

The seal, boasting a brilliant color said to be made purely of gold, was large and heavy. A lion statue representing valor was carved on top.

Rosana rolled her stiff shoulders. Though it could be called mechanical movement, continuing it strained her shoulders. Just when she thought she’d finished, her complexion worsened at another bundle of incoming documents. The administrator came with documents filling his arms.

“Put them there.”

The administrator left the documents with an arrogant attitude. Originally he’d only nod slightly as a greeting, but Malek’s scolding made him bow properly. 

However, he couldn’t hide his displeased expression.

Rosana understood their hardship too. They wouldn’t like suddenly assisting Rosana. The administrators were those directly harmed by Rosana’s initial actions. Since she’d spent the privy purse lavishly.

However, Malek entering must have seen that appearance. Seeing the administrator’s attitude, he frowned deeply. When the administrator made eye contact with Malek, he glanced around nervously and scurried out.

“I’m truly sorry. I’ll give them a stern warning.”

“I don’t want courtesy by coercion either.”

“…The people of the main palace will surely come to regard Lady Rosana. Like me.”

Rosana smiled brightly.

“I brought tea. If you’re tired, how about resting your eyes briefly before continuing?”

Malek offered her a cup of tea that relieved fatigue. Rosana nodded in thanks and took a sip.

“What’s there to be tired about?”

It was true. The documents came up after thorough review. The administrators, not wanting to be caught by Rosana, worked with eyes blazing to fix anything wrong. Even glancing over, Rosana found no incorrect content or details.

“Well, no. The seal being quite heavy is tiring.”

Rosana spoke jokingly. At her joke, Malek also withdrew, seemingly relieved. With no more incoming documents, she stretched fully. Looking toward the window, the sunset was setting.

“Has time already passed like this?”

While concentrating, time had flown by too fast to catch. It was a moment that made her realize how precious the time Jade spent coming to see her was.

“…If he was busy, he could have said so and not come.”

Rosana placed her hand on the pile of processed documents. The imperial palace just starting to roll still lacked hands. People with ability and people who could be trusted. Those meeting both conditions were extremely rare.

Then suddenly Rosana looked down out the window.

“It really is…”

She remembered what Jade had said before. The garden was most visible from the office. It was true. The garden’s entire landscape entered view at a glance.

“Did he also watch the garden when he wanted to see me?”

Though only days had passed since they parted, she was looking for Jade. 

Though she knew full well he wasn’t there, she couldn’t stop searching. Rosana sprawled on the desk. The place full of his warmth and scent made her feel comfortable.

“Jade, I have something I want to tell you.”

There was a time she couldn’t answer his question. Now she could convey those words.

However, a headache-inducing matter arose before he even came. Rosana sighed softly.

“Lady Rosana, what will you do?”

Duke Helpe also looked quite unwell, seemingly having been harassed continuously. His darkened complexion showed he hadn’t slept.

“They say they have no intention of withdrawing?”

“Yes. They say they absolutely want to meet and talk with Lady Rosana.”

“Was the threat insufficient?”

Had they become even more arrogant because she’d treated them well without driving them out when they insisted on staying? 

One envoy demanded a meeting, saying he absolutely had something to tell Rosana.

“It’s obvious they’ll talk nonsense. There’s no reason to go.”

“However, complaints are arising among the surrounding servants.”