I looked up at Cedric while trying to calm my heart, my hands pressed against my cheeks. 

 If I didn’t keep my hands on my cheeks, I felt like I would touch my nape at any moment. 

 “Your Highness?” 

 When I called out to him in confusion, the corners of Cedric’s mouth turned upward. 

 “Don’t stand there, come sit here.” 

 “After running away earlier, now it’s fine to sit face to face?” 

 My lips pressed tightly at his nonchalant words. 

 Cedric walked to the sofa and sat across from me, crossing his legs. Meeting his blue eyes, I could imagine how he must have looked at me with those burning eyes from behind earlier. 

 ‘No. Stop imagining.’ 

 I had moved away from Cedric to calm down, but this wasn’t helping. 

 Even without doing anything, just his steady gaze made my nape burn hot. 

 “Are you thinking of running away again?” 

 I shook my head vigorously. The moment I ran, I might get devoured by him with those flashing blue eyes. 

 “I won’t do anything. Now speak comfortably.” 

 “Before we talk about the bracelet, tell me about Zeno and Isabelle first.” 

 When ‘Zeno’ was mentioned, Cedric’s expression twisted in displeasure as he loosely stroked his chin. 

 “……They arrived safely.” 

 He answered what I wanted to know, albeit after a slight pause. 

 “That’s a relief. The bracelet is a beast restraining device. Without it, they won’t be able to return with the beast, which is why their attitude changed.” 

 “I expected as much. Since I let them go, the Emperor will come to the North.” 

 He seems to be as perceptive as I am. Father will likely head straight to the North, just as Cedric said. 

 After all, the more desperate person tends to make the first move. 

 “Father must be anxious now. He only got his hands on one tree of holy power, but nothing else he needed.” 

 It wouldn’t be strange if the Emperor came charging here right away. Though even if he came, there would be nothing for him to find. 

 “That’s why we’re going to make the first move.” 

 When I finished speaking, a smile spread across his face as he listened quietly. 

 “Do you have something good in mind?” 

 “I’m thinking of going to the Imperial Palace. The Harvest Festival will be held soon, and you’ll send an invitation, won’t you? Aren’t you curious to see Father’s expression when he sees the bracelet on my hand?” 

 “How could I stop you? I also have a gift for you.” 

 I tilted my head to the side. He got up from the sofa and walked toward the desk. He retrieved some documents from the drawer and brought them to me. 

 “Kvarando has declared to the Emperor that they won’t send any more magic stones. It seems he’s given orders to purchase them through illegal channels if necessary, for the sailing ships.” 

 Why would he show me the letter from Kvarando? I pretended not to know about the North exporting magic stones to Kvarando in front of him. 

 ‘Has he noticed that I knew?’ 

 If I worried about how to react, it would look more suspicious. 

 “That’s great! But why would Kvarando inform Your Highness about this?” 

 I asked with wide eyes, feigning ignorance. 

 “The North has been exporting magic stones to Kvarando.” 

 “Oh my, really? Father will be quite upset when he finds out.” 

 He nodded as he watched me smile gleefully while playing dumb about something I already knew. 

 He quietly observed my act of pretending not to know while already being aware. 

 “They won’t be able to get any through illegal channels anyway. Though I am curious how much money they’ll offer.” 

 I clapped my hands and made my eyes sparkle. He rested his chin on his hand as if he had expected me to be pleased. 

 “I’m glad you’re happy. In hopes of pleasing you more, I’ve arranged some people.” 

 “Your Highness has?” 

 “I plan to send letters to the Emperor using a fictional person.” 

 “Pretending to be an illegal dealer. I suppose we have no choice but to go to the capital.” 

 But we couldn’t leave the North empty. We needed to officially maintain the appearance of being in the North while going to the capital. 

 That way, the Emperor wouldn’t set foot here either. 

 “We’ll need more people. We’ll need stand-ins who can imitate you and me.” 

 “Don’t worry about that. I have just the right people.” 

 I nodded at Cedric’s words. Somehow, he seemed even more pleased than before. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 It wasn’t long before I understood why Cedric had been so pleased. 

 I should have known when Alita couldn’t contain her laughter and kept fidgeting beside me since morning. 

 Even Cedric covered his mouth as he looked at Kaven standing before him. 

 “……By ‘just the right person,’ you meant Kaven?” 

 “Why does it have to be me! Sir Aiden is prettier than I am!” 

 “Aiden is too tall.” 

 “……I’m not short either.” 

 Aiden was 185cm and Kaven was 175cm. So considering the role, Kaven with his shorter height was more suitable. 

 I had to turn away at the sight of Kaven wearing an identical dress to mine. 

 ‘Don’t laugh. Don’t laugh.’ 

 I desperately held it in. 

 “Though not as pretty as my wife, he looks passable from a distance.” 

 Cedric said this while keeping his hand over his mouth until the end. 

 Kaven, with purple hair identical to mine, awkwardly touched his long hair. 

 “Your Highness, please stop His Highness.” 

 “Sir Ka-Kaven. It suits you well.” 

 “This is too much! Commander, are you really going to do this?” 

 Aiden remained silent. He seemed to have realized that the moment he said Kaven wasn’t suitable, he would have to take on my role. 

 “But why me of all people! Dame Alita is right there!” 

 At Kaven’s gesture, Alita shrugged her shoulders. 

 “Well, I’m Her Highness’s guard knight, so I have to go along.” 

 “I’ll be Her Highness’s guard knight. Wouldn’t it be less likely to be discovered if Dame Alita did it?” 

 “Your Highness, I too am not keen on playing husband and wife with this guy.” 

 Aiden also frowned while looking at Kaven in his dress. At that reaction, he clutched his chest as if wounded and burst out. 

 “Where are you looking!” 

 “……What do you mean where I’m looking? Besides, the more I look at it, it seems to suit you quite well.” 

 “That kind of persuasion won’t work.” 

 Kaven shook his head desperately. Actually, it was better to have these two guarding the North. 

 It was practically ensuring security. 

 “There are hardly any visitors to the residence, so don’t worry. This is just a precaution for any unexpected situations.” 

 At Cedric’s words, Kaven had no choice but to nod. 

 “Then when are you leaving for the capital?” 

 “In two days.” 

 “I’m worried this might be too rushed.” 

 When Aiden spoke up, Kaven repeatedly nodded in agreement. Watching this, I carefully opened my mouth. 

 “Even if we leave in two days, it will still take about a week to reach the capital.” 

 It takes about four days just to travel from the North to the capital if you ride without stopping. 

 We had to plan for about a week of travel. Moreover, since we weren’t traveling alone, we couldn’t ride non-stop. 

 “It will take at least a week, so we need to leave now to arrive in time to pose as someone who can trade the magic stones the Emperor wants.” 

 Cedric added. 

 Kaven’s head dropped. His slumped shoulders were broad, and the flowing dress made me want to laugh every time I looked at it. 

 I desperately bit my lip as I patted Kaven’s shoulder. 

 “Sir Kaven, stay strong.” 

 “Do you know how much the other knights are teasing me?” 

 “I’ll scold them for you!” 

 Kaven, realizing that no words would help, accepted reality. He kept his head down for a while. 

 I carefully patted his shoulder. 

 “Sir Kaven, but really…… you’re pretty. Eek!” 

 Suddenly raising his head, Kaven blinked while tucking his hair behind his ear. 

 “Please call me Lady Kaven, Your Highness.” 

 He went even further by putting on a prim expression. 

 “Al-alright, Lady Kaven.” 

 I awkwardly smiled and played along with Kaven. 

 “Get your act together and go train now.” 

 Unable to watch anymore, Aiden grabbed Kaven’s shoulder and left the office. 

 I turned around slightly to look at Cedric and pouted my lips. After Kaven left, he wiped his face with his hands while staring at the door. The corners of his mouth that had been twitching with suppressed laughter were now fully raised. 

 “It suits him better than expected.” 

 “……Do you really think so?” 

 Cedric didn’t answer and just showed an even deeper smile. 

 “Well then, shall we make preparations for going to the capital?” 

 “Yes. It sounds fun.” 

 I recalled the central social circles I had frequented while in the capital. Though I had wandered the edges by choice then, things needed to be different now. 

 I would be attending as the Grand Duchess, and rumors would have already spread and been distorted as they pleased. 

 “My wife, you seem quite enthusiastic.” 

 “Of course. You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this day.” 

 I clenched my fists as I recalled all the hardships I’d endured.