When Cedric turned his head, his eyes met Arne’s, who was looking at him.

Her almost white bangs partially covered her face, but the eyes that peeked through them shone straight.

Her gaze was firm and unwavering, yet her pupils quietly rippled.

Looking into those eyes, one would feel involuntarily drawn in, making it hard to look away.

“……”

Cedric brushed back his hair. The heat reached up to his forehead, making his hand feel refreshingly cool.

Slowly, his reason returned.

The answer to the question Arne had asked was already determined. It was a futile worry, yet for some reason, it was hard to speak.

“It seems difficult, my lady.”

‘Why not? You said you’d listen to anything!’

Arne’s rounded eyes seemed almost audible, making Cedric let out a chuckle.

“That’s something I can’t help with. Because I’m supposed to get engaged.”

‘What do you mean you’re supposed to get engaged? Either you are or you aren’t.’

Arne frowned at the enigmatic answer.

“My grandfather plans to arrange an engagement with the daughter of Marquis Leverun.”

“So you’re not engaged yet?”

“That’s right.”

Cedric raised an eyebrow as he looked at Arne. Meeting her gaze, he found himself spilling the family affairs he wouldn’t normally speak of.

“But as always, it will go as my grandfather, the Grand Duke of Renigrad, wishes. He’s very interested in the land rights owned by the Leverun family.”

Cedric slowly tilted his teacup again. The tea tasted bitter.

“Grandfather believes that financial power is crucial for growing the Renigrad family. He wants to expand the business through the emerging bourgeois families, like Leverun.”

“What about you, Cedric?”

At Arne’s question, Cedric tilted his head, asking what she meant.

“Do you also want to get engaged? Do you love Lady Leverun?”

“……”

Cedric felt strange. No one in the Grand Duchy of Renigrad had ever asked him such a thing.

The Grand Duke decides, and that was how it would be. No one could argue or question it.

In the North, the Grand Duke of Renigrad was that kind of person.

“Well. I’ve never thought about it. I’ve never even met her.”

Arne’s face twisted strangely, a mix of relief and astonishment.

“So you thought about getting engaged even though you don’t like her?”

“That’s how noble marriages are, isn’t it?”

“Ah.”

Arne’s eyes rolled. Arranged marriages were common among nobles.

That’s why Bianca also went out to find the best groom in social circles, pestering the Duke of Ronia to arrange meetings.

The first candidate among them was undoubtedly Cedric Schopendha de Renigrad.

He was the lord of the only Grand Ducal family in the empire and was unnaturally handsome.

‘His mother being an elf explains his beauty.’

Bianca had thrown herself at Cedric several times because she was smitten by that face.

After being rejected, she emphasized that Cedric was famously impregnable in social circles, not just to her.

‘And then she took her anger out on me.’

Putting aside Bianca’s mischief, Arne’s eyes rolled again as she reminisced about that time.

“Is the need for land rights because you plan to present northern specialty liquor to the Second Prince and sell it in the capital?”

Arne’s sharp question sparked interest in Cedric’s eyes.

“It’s amazing that you could deduce the Grand Duke of Renigrad’s plan just from hearing about the land rights.”

“Renigrad’s Liquor is famous for its excellent taste. It’s strong, but you won’t have a hangover the next day, and it has a luxurious taste. It was even praised by the Second Prince.”

It was well-known. In her previous life, this incident was very famous.

Because the Second Prince, intoxicated by the enchanting and potent taste of the liquor, drank too much and caused a major accident.

Second Prince Liam was only recognized as a prince after his mother Abigail became the empress from being a concubine, harbored deep resentment.

His drunken tirade against the late former empress and criticism of the emperor caused an uproar.

Thanks to Empress Abigail’s intervention, the Second Prince wasn’t expelled, but the angry emperor issued a prohibition throughout the empire.

As a result, this joint venture between Renigrad and Leverun was utterly ruined, leaving significant losses.

‘Renigrad’s liquor culture was replaced by the tea culture of the South.’

The First Princess seized this opportunity, comforting the emperor at his tea time every day.

This led to a craze for the rare tea from the South that the Princess introduced to the emperor.

Many praised the Princess’s thoughtful filial piety.

“I see I need your grandfather’s proposal to be engaged to you, Cedric. Then, get engaged with me.”

Arne’s eyes sparkled. Cedric chuckled at the young lady’s bold words.

“It’s not easy to gain the Grand Duke of Renigrad’s approval. Even if you are Lady Ronia, you can’t have land rights to pass through Leverun’s territory, right?”

Arne smiled leisurely.

“I’ll change my wish. Invest in me. Please support the business guild I will soon establish. I promise you more than triple the profits you expected from the Leverun family.”

Cedric stroked his chin with interest at Arne’s confident demeanor. And a business guild that hasn’t even been established yet, truly fearless or reckless.

Seeing Cedric’s expression, Arne opened her mouth again with a face that seemed to have contemplated a lot.

“I’ll give you half of the profits. No more. I can’t give up the other half, either.”

Cedric burst into laughter. He wasn’t interested in profits in the first place. The price of Serena’s life wasn’t so cheap.

“You can have all the profits, my lady. Do you think the Grand Duchy is worried about finances?”

“It will be necessary. That way, you can report my achievements to the Grand Duke of Renigrad.”

“……”

It was a bold spirit, daring to discuss achievements in front of the Grand Duke of Renigrad. And her following words were filled with confidence.

“Or does your grandfather need honor? As for status, I am a ducal daughter too. Besides…”

The sound of knocking interrupted her as she was about to reveal her identity as Ronia’s secret knight who had made significant contributions in battles against monsters.

Bang. Bang.

This incessant banging noise. Arne sighed softly.

“Cedric! The Grand Duke of Renigrad urgently needs to convey…”

“Warren, you shouldn’t enter! Besides, why are you up and about?”

“How can I rest when it’s the Grand Duke’s command? Plus, I’ve heard news from the capital’s social circles, and all you have to do is avoid the snow rabbit…”

The voice of the Knight Commander and several knights filled the air until the door finally opened wide. A faint smell of pain-relieving herbs wafted through.

The Knight Commander awkwardly released his arm from over Warren’s shoulder.

It was not only because it was the Grand Duke’s command but also because he was genuinely curious about the lady’s identity.

Cedric had shielded Arne’s face, so no one had seen her, and he had restricted access and issued a gag order except for Grandma Theresa, causing rumors to spread among the knights.

Who exactly was the woman the Cedric of Renigrad was holding?

Then Warren slowly pointed at Arne.

“Isn’t that Lady Ronia?”

“Lady Ronia?”

“The Snow Rabbit! Known as an orphan and infamous for her viciousness in the Briseis Empire as the Mad Villainess!”

Warren’s hostile words made Arne’s expression turn cold.

Plus, her conversation with Cedric was interrupted, leaving her displeased.

Arne decided to focus on quickly concluding their conversation.

“Please invest in my business guild. You won’t regret it.”

“A business guild? What are you talking about?”

“Warren.”

Even at Cedric’s heavy voice calling him, he was already excited and shouting.

Normally aggressive and hot-tempered, he was a brave knight in war, but his temperament caused disputes in places other than the battlefield.

Moreover, he was out of his mind, having taken a lot of painkillers.

“It must be a scam. They say all that comes out of her mouth are lies. Claiming to have defeated a monster in a single breath? I doubt you even know how to ride a horse.”

“Sir Warren, as you said, I was an orphan. But now, I am Lady Ronia.”

Her calm yet strong gaze made Warren’s eyebrows twitch, as if a duchess was looking down on him.

‘A fake ducal lady with much less of a background. How dare an orphan whose origins are unknown look down on me? And to seduce the noble Lord Cedric?’

Besides, Arne’s words were an elegant warning to act appropriately, as befits a ducal daughter.

‘Pretending to be nobility. I know your true colors!’

There were countless ladies aiming for Cedric, the sole heir to the empire’s grand ducal family.

Among them, many despicable ladies pretended to be neat and elegant to win him over.

Fire seemed to ignite in Warren’s eyes. She must be one of them.

“Lord Cedric, do you know how wicked this lady is? At a party she was invited to, she poured wine on the dress of the hosting lady.”

“That lady poured wine on my dress first.”

“How dare you make such a pathetic excuse. Everyone at that party saw. The hosting lady’s dress was fine and they saw you pouring wine on it!”

“As you can see, my dress is only black, so it doesn’t show stains. Even now, Sir Warren, you are not unaware that my dress is stained red.”

“You should make excuses considering the situation. Did the lady who drinks nothing but tea spilled non-existent wine on your dress?”

Arne’s eyes floated emptily. Yes, what was she expecting? Isn’t this already familiar?

They have no intention of listening to whatever she says.

If Warren had looked around a bit, he would have found bloodstains remaining here and there on the blanket.

It was a trace of her coughing up blood all night due to a mana surge.

‘In the end, they only see what they want to see.’