“The King and Crown Prince of Reibritton need to tear up their kingdom much more than they are now. That way, the evaluation of the princess who was captured by the empire while protecting the kingdom’s people will be even more generous.”

At those words, Mel’s shoulders, which had risen with tension, lowered.

The empire intended to completely absorb Reibritton, so the King and Crown Prince of Reibritton would likely die with high probability. Whether it was by public execution or quietly killed unofficially, their fate was sealed.

“They will sharpen the blade that the princess can wield even more.”

Genoa mocked the miserable fate of the King and Crown Prince of Reibritton. And the princess, Mel, would be mocking them in the same way. The only difference between them and Mel was that she had a better use for Genoa.

The threat that Mel could become like that at any time might have been a quite effective card if she had been the real princess. No matter how cowardly her father and brother were for locking the princess in the palace and running away, they were still the princess’s family.

Genoa was a cruel person who could laugh like that while talking about them in front of Mel, who was supposed to be the princess. At this moment, Mel realized what kind of man she had made a deal with.

“There must be a lot to do before debuting in social circles. Study hard, princess.”

With these final words, Genoa dismissed her from the office.

“……”

Mel, who had been abruptly sent out of the office, could face the butler and head maid who were looking at her. Their gazes seemed to say, ‘Who do you think you are to have a private audience with the Duke?’ but Mel had no time to worry about such things.

‘I couldn’t even speak properly.’

While Genoa was telling her what she needed to do, Mel hadn’t done anything. She should have tried to find out more information about the empire and asked more about what she needed to do.

Additionally, she needed to find out about the whereabouts of the King and Crown Prince of Reibritton. Had the princess perhaps met them? If so, rumors would spread quickly, and death would be all that remained for her. She needed to quickly confirm whether the real princess had met them.

With so much to do, Mel ended the conversation without asking Genoa anything.

‘…I lack too much in people.’

Even if she wanted to know something, the only person she could ask was Genoa. But if she carelessly asked Genoa something and aroused suspicion, it would be difficult to handle the consequences. Since she hadn’t yet earned his trust, every word felt like walking on thin ice.

Mel knew better than anyone that Genoa was playing with her in the palm of his hand. Even though Genoa called her princess, provided conveniences, and pretended respect and affection based on her usefulness.

‘I wish there was someone who could comfortably relay at least a small information.’

Mel briefly thought of Bane, whom she had faced the most. When she was young, Bane also showed her various kindnesses out of pity. But back then, Mel was a slave who couldn’t harm Genoa, and now she was a princess of a defeated country. He was not someone who would show favor to Mel.

“Haah.”

She sighed deeply as she moved her steps. It felt like this fake identity Mel was wearing was pressing down on her entire body, suffocating her. She felt intimidated to act like a real princess because she was a prisoner of a defeated country, but simply being cautious like a prisoner wasn’t the princess image Genoa wanted. She had to play within the range he allowed, but she hadn’t yet fully grasped what that was.

‘Still, I can do it. How have I survived until now?’

Mel clenched her fist, recalling her mother’s face smiling benevolently at her. She had to do well somehow.

Although Genoa barely resembled his childhood self, Mel was quick-witted anyway. She would be able to figure out well how far she could go as a princess. All she needed was a little time.

Returning to her room, Mel lay down on the bed exhausted. Not knowing how much time had passed like that, Mel’s eyes snapped open.

Mel rose from the bed. She must have fallen asleep unknowingly due to extreme fatigue, as it was already dark outside with the sun set.

During that time, there wasn’t even a trace of anyone visiting Mel’s room. She had thought something might change today since Genoa had asked the head maid about the maid who should have been attending to her, but it remained the same.

The head maid clearly disliked Mel. Of course, there was no reason to like her, but it seemed a bit much to go this far.

“I should have expected this level of power struggle.”

Her hungry stomach was clamoring for food.

“I’m hungry.”

Mel had skipped lunch due to her complicated feelings after the conversation with Genoa. She didn’t know how long she had been asleep, but since no one woke her up, she seemed to have slept deeply, unaware of the passing time.

Mel roughly pulled out a shawl from the wardrobe, draped it over her shoulders, and left the room.

“There’s no one here.”

It must have been quite late, as there wasn’t a single servant passing through the corridor. Mel carefully made her way to the kitchen. She thought she should have a more substantial meal than stew today.

“…then, how…!”

“That’s too…!”

At that moment, a somewhat noisy sound was heard from the end of the corridor near the kitchen. It was a sharp voice.

“What is it?”

Mel leaned her head forward and listened. It was a voice she had heard somewhere before. Mel’s steps, which were heading towards the kitchen, were now moving towards the corridor where the sound was coming from.

“…if you knew how angry the Duke was, you wouldn’t be able to hold your head up so shamelessly in front of me.”

As she got closer, their voices became clearer. Mel hid her body at the corner and peeked out with just her head.

“You useless thing. There’s no reason to keep you in Ivanstein anymore.”

“It’s not my fault.”

Mel’s eyes widened as she recognized the faces of the two people arguing. It was the head maid she had briefly seen in front of Genoa’s office today and the maid who had attended to Mel in Harttenberun. Originally, that maid should have been attending to Mel in the duke’s mansion, but she hadn’t seen her once since she first guided her to the room.

The two continued their argument, glaring at each other without giving an inch.

“It would be better if you left on your own while you have the chance.”

“Unless the Duke himself tells me to leave, I won’t go!”

“Ha! Do you think the Duke would care about someone like you?”

A breath of disbelief escaped between the head maid’s lips. She frowned deeply and said,

“Your job is to attend to the princess, but you couldn’t even do that one thing properly and made the Duke angry. Do you think he’ll let you off?”

The head maid warned in a chilling voice, but the maid raised her voice, her eyes wide open.

“Since arriving at Ivanstein from Harttenberun, you’ve pushed all sorts of chores onto me. How could I attend to the princess as well!”

A heavy resentment that seemed to have been suppressed could be felt in the maid’s voice. Her eyes were filled with hostility, reddened as if blood vessels might burst at any moment.

“It was you who sent me to Harttenberun in the first place, saying you didn’t want to attend to a prisoner princess!”

“Just because I did that doesn’t mean you should too.”

The head maid mocked the maid with a voice that seemed to find her ridiculous. As she smiled, raising one corner of her mouth, her seemingly gruff impression instantly changed to a vile one.

“You don’t fit in at the Ivanstein mansion in the first place. That’s why the Duke was so angry.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. There are over a hundred maids in the ducal family alone. Are you saying that among all those maids, there wasn’t a single one who could attend to the princess?”

“Why are you blaming others for your lack of ability?”

The head maid approached the maid and pushed her, tapping her shoulder with her finger. The maid didn’t back down and steadfastly glared at the head maid.

“It’s no use blaming me with such words after making it impossible for me to have time to attend to the princess. I’m not leaving.”

Listening to the two women’s argument, Mel could understand why she had to do everything alone.

‘So that’s why I couldn’t see that maid’s face even once while wandering around the mansion.’