93. Everything Is Going Well

Larael shook her head.

“Of course I… love… Edward, but I don’t think this love will last forever. Still, I don’t want to have regrets later.”

It was the first time she had confessed her love for Edward. Though the listener was Dean, not Edward, it was the first time she had revealed her feelings to someone. As Larael spoke with a shy expression, Dean’s heart pounded heavily as if he were hearing a love confession meant for him.

‘If only I were the one…’

With that thought, an unexpected melancholy began to consume his heart. He did his best to collect himself and shake off these thoughts. But the moment his eyes met Larael’s, his composure instantly crumbled.

“May I hear the rest of the story another time? I just remembered I have an urgent matter to attend to.”

Larael nodded. After all, she was the one who had hastily arranged the appointment the day before, or rather, unilaterally announced the meeting.

Dean barely suppressed his uncontrolled desire, bid farewell to Larael, and left the room.

‘Was it right to reveal the truth to Dean?’

She worried that sharing her secret with Dean might be burdening him with her guilt. But on the other hand, she couldn’t deny that simply unburdening her secret to someone had made her heart feel considerably lighter.

After parting with Dean, Larael headed straight to her office.

Joy, who had been comfortably leaning back in his chair with his feet on the desk, quickly lowered his feet and stood up when he saw Larael enter, then walked quickly toward her, wagging like a puppy.

“I give up, I give up.”

Sasha, standing behind Larael, said through gritted teeth as she watched Joy welcome her like an excited dog.

“Where’s Kali?”

“She stepped out for a moment. She didn’t say where she was going.”

Larael sat down at the table in the center of the office.

“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

Larael asked, recalling the task Joy had performed.

“I told you. I’m better at many things than you might think…”

Joy spoke with a playful expression while looking at Larael, then stopped mid-sentence.

“By the way, Your Highness, have you been crying? Your eyes are red.”

Joy approached closer, reaching toward Larael’s eyes. Sasha and Joanna blocked him.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Joanna glared at him fiercely. At Joanna’s sharp words, Joy lowered his hand and retreated hesitantly. Usually, he would have chattered back at Sasha and Joanna, but since realizing Larael had been crying, his mood had become unusually subdued.

‘So this is why my chest felt so tight.’

Just then, Kali entered the building with an unfamiliar woman, engaged in conversation. Upon seeing Larael, Kali quickly bowed in greeting. The woman who followed her also bowed. As Kali entered, Handelson, who had accompanied them today, visibly brightened. He had been constantly glancing toward the door since Kali had been absent from the office.

“Your Highness, this is the maid I mentioned before, brought from the baronial household.”

Larael stared at the maid for a while before nodding. It seemed they had been shopping together. At Kali’s nod, the maid picked up a basket she had briefly set on the floor and headed to the kitchen.

“I came out of the palace for an appointment and stopped by briefly.”

“I’ve prepared a room for Your Highness. Would you like to go up to the second floor together?”

Larael stood up at those words. Then she went upstairs with Kali. She had wanted to create a space where Larael could rest when she came outside the palace. There was a small bed, a comfortable-looking sofa, and to the right, a small desk, table, and chair. The overall atmosphere was warm. Larael expressed her satisfaction with a nod.

“You’ve done well. I like it.”

Larael sat on the sofa in the room. As she sat down, Kali followed and sat beside her.

“Your Highness, it appears that Grand Duke Vellaus has given up searching for Hobbs. He seems to think Hobbs has disappeared without a trace. And now we’ve finished procuring all the materials Hobbs requested. Once we bring Hobbs from the summer palace, we can begin production in earnest.”

“Since Hobbs has agreed to oversee the production process, we should proceed. Is the place for Hobbs to stay ready? Please pay special attention to Hobbs’s safety by hiring mercenaries.”

“Yes. And we plan to place Joy by Hobbs’s side as well.”

Larael nodded. She felt proud of Joy for doing quite well with the task Kali had previously assigned him, and she had developed a bit of trust in him.

“A letter arrived from Assefena asking about Your Highness. She seems very satisfied with her academy life. I’ll give it to you when we go downstairs.”

“I see.”

Larael’s heart fluttered. They were finally about to begin the full-scale preparations to prevent the epidemic. Everything seemed to be progressing well.

“After this medicine production is complete and the matter is resolved…”

Larael paused mid-sentence and looked at Kali.

“By the way… aren’t you curious about why I’m so obsessed with Krauf disease?”

Kali smiled faintly at those words.

“I believe Your Highness has your reasons. I trust you completely.”

Larael stared at Kali for a moment before speaking again.

“…After this medicine production is complete and everything is resolved well, would you like to establish your own trading company?”

Though she couldn’t help Kali take over the Layton Merchant Guild she could help her establish her own. Surprised by these words, Kali nervously shifted her gaze around and bit her lip firmly.

***

A few days ago, after completing the engagement ceremony, Herwen had gone to the north to handle some matters.

To Ariella, it felt as if Herwen was running away from her. The relationship between them was so cold that it was hard to believe they had just completed their engagement ceremony.

Ariella couldn’t forget the look in Herwen’s eyes when he gazed at Larael. That was why she was angry with Herwen now. But Ariella deliberately chose not to confront Herwen about it. Simply bringing it up would wound her pride.

Ariella had begun actively engaging in outside activities since the engagement ceremony.

Today, on her way to the palace to meet the empress dowager, she happened to spot Larael just getting into a carriage.

“Stop the carriage for a moment.”

Ariella shouted sharply. As soon as the carriage stopped, she hurriedly got out.

“Your Highness!!!”

Ariella called out to Larael in a sweet, nightingale-like voice.

Larael turned her head toward the sound of someone calling her. The voice was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place who it was. Larael turned with a formal smile in response to the friendly voice directed at her. When she confirmed that the voice belonged to Ariella, her expression immediately hardened. Larael stopped as she was about to board the carriage, came down, and turned to face Ariella.

Ariella brightened and walked briskly toward where Larael was standing.

“I greet the Empress Consort.”

Ariella spoke while looking directly into Larael’s eyes. The formal courtesy she had previously maintained was nowhere to be seen, and arrogance overflowed from her face. Larael genuinely wondered how she had managed to hide it all this time.

‘Yes. This is the real Ariella.’

Seeing her expression, Larael felt an odd sense of welcome familiarity.

“What brings Lady Nox out, when you rarely leave home?”

“I was so disappointed when you suddenly disappeared from the engagement ceremony that day.”

“I wasn’t feeling well, so I returned to the palace early. But, my lady, I don’t believe we’re on such friendly terms to be having this cozy conversation, are we?”

At those words, one corner of Ariella’s mouth turned up. It was clearly a smirk. She didn’t even seem to try to hide the contempt showing on her face.

“Your Highness, while I will respect your decision to cut ties with me based on your delusions…”

“Delusions?”

Larael felt anger rising within her. She couldn’t tolerate such brazenness.

“Yes. Isn’t that what they are? Aren’t you indulging in delusions about my relationship with the Grand Duke? If you’re going to make such assumptions, may I also think that Your Highness seduced Grand Duke Vellaus and then His Majesty the Emperor in succession, blinded by ambition?”