Elena fidgeted with the blanket, feeling the aura emanating from his back.

‘He’s angry.’

She should have started by telling him about her dream, but she only mentioned the conclusion.

‘If I let him go now, things will get worse.’

Before her thought finished, Elena got out of bed and ran toward Rudfelix. Her body screamed in protest at the sudden movement, but catching him was more important right now.

Elena ducked her head under his arm as he grabbed the doorknob, squeezing her body into the narrow space. The half-open door closed again.

With her back against the door, Elena faced Rudfelix and looked up. His eyes had sunk coldly, and his lips stood out unusually prominently.

‘He’s angry. He’s angry.’

Since his expression alone created a chilly breeze, Elena offered an apology first.

“I did wrong.”

Stronger than ‘I’m sorry.’

“After dreaming and waking up, I just wanted to see Father more. That’s why I said that, but I didn’t think about how you would feel hurt.”

“The wedding?”

Rudfelix crossed his arms and asked first for the answer he needed to obtain.

“We should have it. I want to.”

“When?”

“I want to have it at an appropriate time.”

“That’s vague.”

As Rudfelix’s words continued to be cut short, Elena’s eyes also moved busily.

“When flowers…… fall?”

Thinking spring with its abundant flowers might be too soon, she slightly delayed it, causing Rudfelix’s eyebrows to twitch.

“So, two seasons later.”

Elena held up two fingers and smiled brightly.

‘Please soften up here.’

While inwardly feeling anxious.

“Since I saw you kissing……”

Rudfelix lowered his head and said something suggestive. Though he didn’t smile, Elena was satisfied with just that and pressed her lips against his, keeping them tightly closed.

***

An urgent message flew in from the imperial palace.

It was a top-priority Class 1 dispatch, and by law, it had to be opened immediately upon receipt.

Rudfelix cut the wax seal bearing the imperial insignia with a small knife and opened the paper.

⟨The coronation ceremony will be held at the end of this month, so ensure there are no errors.⟩

The Emperor would step down, and Crown Prince Suharto would receive the throne. This was, in effect, an ultimatum to prepare to relinquish the Raion territory to the imperial family.

***

Suharto no longer plotted any schemes.

He prepared to become Emperor.

Once he became Emperor and reclaimed the Grand Duchy, there would be no need to keep Rudfelix in check anymore. For this reason, Suharto wanted to ascend to the throne as soon as possible.

Among his subordinates, Viscount Tozille was the busiest preparing for the succession ceremony.

“I’ve compiled a list of trading companies.”

The trading companies selected here would serve as living money pouches, providing gold whenever the future Emperor needed it.

Suharto slowly turned his head from looking out the window. Since declaring his intention to succeed the throne, he often spent time alone in his room staring outside. His smiles had noticeably decreased, and he no longer smiled even falsely.

Whenever he fell into contemplation without allowing anyone in, Viscount Tozille felt anxiety creeping in. That’s why he often couldn’t take his eyes off him.

“Tell me.”

As Suharto lightly waved his hand, Viscount Tozille opened the file himself.

“First, there’s Kais Trading Company, the Empire’s finest. Next, Mishan Trading Company, Electro Trading Company……”

While listing the names of prominent trading companies in the Empire one by one, Suharto raised his hand.

“Is Jellisto Trading Company not there?”

“Well…… I excluded it.”

Viscount Tozille answered while skimming through the names he hadn’t yet mentioned. Since he had compiled the list himself, no new names would suddenly appear.

“Why?”

“Because Jellisto Trading Company has deep ties with the grand ducal family.”

“So?”

At Suharto’s low echo, Viscount Tozille closed his mouth.

He had clearly mentioned the connection to the grand ducal family, yet the Crown Prince responded with “So?” Sensing Suharto’s discomfort, Viscount Tozille lowered the documents he was holding.

“I will add Jellisto Trading Company.”

He bowed his head, saying he would submit a revised report. As he turned to leave, he heard Suharto’s very quiet voice.

“Go with that one.”

“Your Highness?”

Viscount Tozille looked up with disbelieving eyes. Crown Prince Suharto, whose demeanor had changed since returning from the Grand Duchy, stared at him without further comment. Faced with that expressionless face, Viscount Tozille bowed deeply and retreated.

After Viscount Tozille left, silence descended. Suharto looked out the window again.

“If I cannot have it……”

***

While Rudfelix received the urgent message, Count Jellisto also received a letter bearing the Crown Prince’s seal.

The Count’s expression darkened progressively as he read the letter. When his eyes reached the Crown Prince’s signature at the end, a gloomy groan involuntarily escaped him.

He had anticipated some pressure, assuming the Crown Prince would dislike the good relationship between Jellisto family and Grand Duke Raion with Elena in between. However, this was beyond Count Jellisto’s expectations.

Knock, knock, a knock was heard, and 3 seconds later, the door opened.

“Father.”

It was Elena.

She placed the tray she had brought on one side of the desk.

“Aren’t you feeling peckish?”

“That smells good.”

“They say there’s mascarpone cheese in the egg tart.”

Despite Elena’s clear voice, Count Jellisto couldn’t easily relax his expression.

While a sweet aroma wafted from the egg tart, the Count seemed too serious to notice it. His eyebrows drew together, and his lips pressed into a thin line. The deepening wrinkles on his forehead made him look extremely grave.

Elena, who had intended to just leave the snack, walked around the desk to approach him.

“Father, is something wrong?”

“I think I need to go to the capital.”

Count Jellisto shook his head. He wouldn’t be able to keep his daughter’s request to stay in the Grand Duchy until the wedding, but it couldn’t be helped.

Elena momentarily frowned at the disappointment that struck her.

Since she was still the Grand Duke’s aide until the wedding, she couldn’t accompany her father.

She had asked Wei to handle the trading company’s affairs in the meantime. It would be difficult for him, but Wei had gladly agreed. Just when she thought she had secured time to spend with her father, something came up!

‘Still, I shouldn’t make a fuss.’

Since business was more important, Elena leaned her upper body toward her father.

“Is there a problem with the trading company?”

Elena immediately scanned the desk. She was willing to lend a hand if she could help solve any problem. But Count Jellisto shook his head.

“It’s not an internal company issue.”

“Then is someone trying to shake the company?”

Count Jellisto pondered for a moment before nodding.

“Yes.”

Previously, when Count Jellisto had hidden the matter with Spark Trading Company, Elena had investigated on her own. Fearing she might act independently again if he kept it secret, he decided not to hide it this time.

“I received a letter from His Highness the Crown Prince. He says he wants to use our trading company’s goods for his coronation ceremony.”

This meant pushing aside trading companies that had maintained close relationships with the existing imperial family and establishing new ones. A trading company chosen by the Emperor would come running whenever he called and open their warehouses as he wished.

In return, the Emperor would empower the trading company. He would grant exclusive sales rights and share imperial routes to help the company expand its goods throughout the Empire. Even if it cost a lot of money, it was an opportunity for the trading company to grow. Therefore, this order was essentially Crown Prince Suharto giving Jellisto Trading Company that opportunity.

“I’m confused. Honestly, I expected he wouldn’t leave our company alone.”

Elena had similar thoughts. She just hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to move directly, thinking instead that they might face interference like subtly blocking routes for the company to expand.

“I thought he would pressure us, assuming that if Jellisto Trading Company prospered, it would benefit the grand ducal family. But unexpectedly, he’s showing such favor. I don’t know how to respond.”

If the Crown Prince disliked Jellisto Trading Company, he had planned to hunker down accordingly. If worst came to worst, he had even planned to move their headquarters to the Grand Duchy. But now that the Crown Prince was extending his hand for them to work for him, he felt even more confused.

“There’s a limit to assessing the situation from here. I need to go to the trading company.”

Count Jellisto rang a bell, and a servant entered.

After ordering him to find Wei, who was staying at the Grand Duke’s residence, he put the letter back in its envelope.

As Count Jellisto acted as if he would leave immediately, Elena grew anxious as well.

‘This is a matter that requires prompt action.’

She knew this, but she felt uneasy about letting her father go like this. Since they had been chosen by the Crown Prince, she worried that whatever response they gave would have significant repercussions.

“Should I go too?”

Count Jellisto raised his head toward Elena.

If he could take Elena with him for even a few days after getting the Grand Duke’s permission, it would be helpful.

“Assisting His Highness comes first.”

Count Jellisto rose from his seat.

“So I’d like to tell you not to worry, but just this once, I wish you could come with me.”

“I’ll get permission from His Highness the Grand Duke and come.”

“Good.”

“Father, don’t worry. I’m here for you.”

“Having you makes me feel secure.”