A rattling sound echoed. Since the carriage traveled on a road not often used, it felt slightly rough.

‘This is bothersome.’

I should push forward a road maintenance project so the territory’s residents can travel comfortably. These thoughts came instinctively, probably because I was the territory’s heir.

“The road is rough.”

“Right?”

“Did you think the same thing as me?”

Father, sitting across from me, asked with a quiet laugh. Despite his plain-looking appearance with brown hair and eyes, he was an incredibly sharp person. He was affectionate because I was his daughter, but he was cold to others.

“I think we need to maintain the roads.”

“Indeed. That way carriages can move around well, and connections between villages will become smoother too.”

“It’s also good for merchant groups to travel around.”

Father seemed to agree with my last comment and smiled faintly. When the carriage jolted roughly once more, I tightened my grip on the documents I was holding. Father noticed how carefully I handled the documents and grinned.

“Didn’t you already finish reading those documents?”

“I did.”

“Yet you’re still holding them.”

At Father’s words, a blush rose to my face. The truth was, Fazel’s portrait was drawn on the front page of the documents, so I couldn’t put them down and kept clutching them to my chest.

I’m thirteen years old. A year has passed since I possessed this body in the novel Flower of the Empire. How agonizing it was to wait for the moment that would become my opportunity.

When I possessed this body, Louelle’s memories remained intact. So adapting to this world wasn’t difficult. Rather, waiting for Fazel was harder.

“I was just curious about what criteria Father used to select the territory’s residents, so I was looking through them.”

This wasn’t a lie either. I was clutching all the documents of the newly selected territory residents. Of course, the document with Fazel’s portrait was at the front.

“Well, there are various criteria.”

Father said that while rubbing his chin with his hand.

“Think about what criteria they might be.”

Throwing out something to think about was typical of him, but his eyes sparkled with curiosity. That look was unfamiliar and I wasn’t used to it.

“I’ll think about it.”

Count Asnel’s territory had fertile land and mild weather. On top of that, Father was also a capable lord, so rumors spread throughout the empire that it was a pleasant territory to live in.

The problem was that once people entered the territory, few left. So every year we accepted new applications from residents wanting to relocate and selected from them. This was to prevent the existing order from collapsing when people swarmed in all at once.

Those who became territory residents received tax exemptions for a certain period, and when farming season came, they could buy fertilizer at low prices through merchant groups. 

This was possible because the Asnel family had several merchant groups of its own. Besides this, there were many things done for the territory’s residents throughout generations, like road maintenance and more. Father had accomplished quite a bit too.

People who became territory residents took pride in living in this region.

“I think I know why you selected Suran Onyuran and Fazel Onyuran, mother and son, this time.”

Father’s eyes sparkled.

“What do you think?”

I couldn’t say they were destined to be selected according to the original story’s flow. Since I possessed this body, fate wouldn’t flow according to the original.

“Suran Onyuran has experience working as a private tutor. The territory lacks people in the education industry. Suran Onyuran is talented enough to have received an honorary baron title while working in the capital. Moreover, honorary titles are only given to capable people. There’s no way Father would refuse when such talent comes here.”

The Karna Empire where I lived granted honorary titles to those who distinguished themselves while working for the country. They had no territory and couldn’t pass it down, but those who received titles were treated as nobles.

The highest title one could receive was baron. In other words, Baroness Suran Onyuran meant she was a woman whose abilities were recognized.

The reason she came down to Asnel territory after establishing a foundation in the capital was one thing only—her son Fazel’s mental illness had worsened.

‘Will he be okay?’

Worried about him, I shifted my gaze outside the window and looked at the sky. My heart floated at the thought of meeting him.

“She’s a special person.”

“That’s why I prepared flowers.”

I gently grasped the bouquet I had placed beside me. Seeing the houses drawing near, it seemed the carriage would stop soon.

“There was a boy your age among the new territory residents. I think you liked him when you saw him?”

Father finally asked what he’d been curious about. I pretended not to know and answered.

“That has nothing to do with it.”

Father laughed quietly.

“Let’s speak properly. When you lie, the corners of your mouth turn up.”

“They didn’t turn up.”

“Look in a mirror.”

Ah, what an honestly reactive face. It was extremely inconvenient. My inner thoughts get exposed right away—that’s the problem.

But the portrait was so handsome. He was perfectly my type, so how could I not like him?

I looked at the bouquet beside me. It was a bouquet I made myself for the mastermind. Of course, I don’t know if he, still full of deprivation and suspicion, will readily accept it.

A subtle fragrance drifted from the bouquet made of red roses, the mastermind’s favorite. Sunlight touched the bouquet. It sparkled and shone red, seemingly ready to fill this place.

At warm noon with gentle sunlight, I would soon meet Fazel.

We crossed a wide bridge and arrived where the territory residents lived clustered together. 

Father tried to interrogate my feelings further, but the carriage stopped and the conversation was cut short.

‘Phew, thank goodness.’

Even if he’s my father, it’s too embarrassing to reveal everything. I quickly got off the carriage before Father could dismount.

“Louelle, why are you getting off so fast?”

“I felt stuffy.”

Stop poking at my feelings like this! I grumbled internally and quickly looked around. The midday sun was beating down.

The light was dazzling, so I shaded my eyes with my hand for a moment and looked ahead.

The mansion Fazel’s family purchased was not far from the castle. It was a two-story house with a roof, and I could even see the attic window slightly. I felt someone’s gaze watching us from there. The distance was far so I couldn’t see well, but I thought I saw golden eyes.

He’s definitely there! Now he knows we’ve arrived.

I looked around and nodded for now. The house was reasonably cozy and pretty. Especially the area around the house was well-maintained.

Originally, Fazel was supposed to live in a really shabby house. But I didn’t like that fate for him, so I changed it a bit.

When I proposed that we should provide some support so new territory residents could repair their houses, the officials opposed it strongly and I struggled quite a bit to persuade them. That struggle was paying off like this.

Contrary to my worries about Fazel living somewhere too shabby, the house looked quite decent with just repairs. Satisfied, I clutched the bouquet tightly and walked toward the house. Of course, the knights escorting Father and me moved together.

But then, the tallest man among the knights approached me. A deep smile lingered on the lips of the man with brown hair and deep teal eyes.

“Miss, the bouquet is truly beautiful.”

“Achel, this is a bouquet to commemorate becoming a territory resident.”

I said that, but because I had liked Fazel’s portrait so much, everyone had noticed that I was fond of him.

‘Haah.’

Really, why such a fuss over giving one bouquet? People chuckled.

‘Even I can see it stands out.’

My earlobes heated up. I felt embarrassed, like I’d revealed too much. I seemed to have revealed my feelings for Fazel too easily.

But it’s necessary.

“The person receiving the bouquet will be happy.”

Achel finally threw out one more comment and returned to his place. I glanced at him and approached the door.

“Well then, shall we meet the owner of the bouquet?”

Father chimed in from beside me and knocked on the front door. Since we’d contacted them in advance about our visit, there was no hesitation.

At Father’s knock, the door opened and a woman poked her head out. Her hair, tinged with a light blue, looked like the sky had been transplanted. Her transparent skin and black eyes resembling the night glowed softly. Her eyes beneath her neatly arranged long eyelashes turned toward us.

‘Truly beautiful.’

I admired her and examined her carefully. Her beauty wasn’t hidden even by her shabby clothes.

“Welcome, Count. I’ve been waiting.”

This person was Fazel’s mother, Baroness Suran Onyuran. I approached her and said with a smile.

“Hello, I’m Louelle Asnel.”

This was the first time meeting someone who was close to Fazel in the novel. So to make a good impression, I came wearing neat and pretty clothes.

Perhaps it worked, because Suran smiled.

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

Suran bowed her head to me. Traces of hardship remained on her face.

Suran went through a lot of hardship.

I took out two bouquets I’d prepared in advance and handed one to Suran.

“What is this?”

Suran asked me in a trembling voice.

“It’s a gift. Congratulations on becoming a resident of our Count Asnel’s territory.”

Suran’s eyes trembled. She seemed moved, and also flustered by the unexpected warm welcome.

“Thank you. Would you like to come inside for now?”