The lodging in the imperial capital showed a different charm from the North. 

 Warm sunlight seeped through the windows, and the shadows of trees swaying in the wind stretched softly. 

 Time passed well just by blankly staring at the tree shapes extending down to the floor. 

 Cedric wouldn’t come out of his room, saying he was creating a ledger for the magic stone trade. I spent time lying on the bed looking out the window. 

 Humming a tune with a different feeling than when looking at the pure white snow. 

 Tap tap tap tap tap. 

 “Huh?” 

 I heard something like wood being knocked. I tilted my head and looked around. 

 “There’s no one here. Am I the only one hearing it? Rien, do you hear knocking sounds?” 

 Tap tap tap tap tap tap. 

 “I hear it! Oh my, what could that sound be?” 

 Rien also turned her head around with a surprised face, being on guard. 

 “Could it be an assassin?!” 

 Rien hurriedly grabbed whatever she could find and nimbly went toward the door. 

 ‘How cute, where did she learn to do that.’ 

 I rested my chin on my hands while lying down and watched Rien’s actions. Lowering her posture and pressing against the door, Rien carefully grabbed the doorknob. 

 “Rien, are you going to open the door?” 

 I asked Rien while holding back laughter. She nodded with a grave expression and opened the door. 

 “Is something wrong?” 

 Alita, who was guarding outside, turned her gaze to Rien. She blinked and stepped back at the sight of Rien looking like a cat with its fur standing on end. 

 “We heard knocking sounds, and Rien is being very cautious.” 

 I got up from the bed laughing. 

 Tap tap tap tap. 

 At the sound that came again, I immediately went to the window. When I flung it open wide, something flew up with a flutter. 

 “Peek, peek peek peek, peek pee pee!” (I knocked but you just now opened!) 

 A woodpecker that came up above my head pecked as if angry. 

 “Ouch! That hurts!” 

 “Pee pee pee pee pee peek, peek peek!” (Why on earth didn’t you open the door sooner?) 

 “Did you come looking for me knowing who I am?” 

 “Your Highness, I’ll drive it away!” 

 Alita hurriedly approached me and reached out her hand. 

 “Peek peek!” (Don’t touch me!) 

 The woodpecker seemed angry and pecked Alita’s hand. I grabbed the woodpecker in surprise and pulled it down. 

 “You’re being too rude as an uninvited guest. I’m sorry for not recognizing you.” 

 “Peek!” (Hmph!) 

 Though it was startling, it seemed to have calmed down for now. So I carefully placed the woodpecker down on the table. 

 “Rien, could you look after Alita’s hand since it needs treatment? I think I need to talk with our guest.” 

 “Y-yes!” 

 Alita left the room with Rien. I looked at the woodpecker that had come barging in and asked. 

 “Why did you come? This is my first time seeing you.” 

 “Peek peek!” (I’ve been waiting for you to come.) 

 “……You were waiting for me to come?” 

 The woodpecker nodded. Perhaps it waited because it heard about me from the sparrow and hawk? 

 “I can prepare food if you need it.” 

 “Peek peek!” (I can get my own food!) 

 The woodpecker hopped around on the table refusing. Then why did it come looking for me? 

 “Peek, peek peek!” (I have a message. There’s someone who wants to meet you.) 

 “……Me?” 

 “Peek peek!” (Yes, you!) 

 I turned my head curiously. The woodpecker flew to perch on the window frame. Then it thoughtlessly tossed out words before flying away. 

 “Peek, pee peek!” (Go to the imperial palace!) 

 I don’t know how much my heart raced at those words. 

 Go to the imperial palace — could Father have sent it? If he noticed that I can communicate with animals? 

 Goosebumps rose and cold sweat poured down. Anxiety washed over me and I stared for a long time at where the woodpecker had flown off to. 

 “……Someone who wants to meet me?” 

 I sat down on the floor as my legs gave out and foolishly mulled over the thoughts. 

 ‘Get it together, Claire.’ 

 It probably wasn’t Father. He wasn’t the type to call someone so politely. 

 Saying I could see them if I went to the imperial palace. Maybe the divine beast was waiting for me. 

 That seemed more convincing. 

 Since we departed together, it should have safely arrived at the imperial palace. Word that the restraining device was in my hands would have also reached Father’s ears. 

 “I should move first before Father does.” 

 I stood up putting strength in both hands. I firmly patted my bottom and let out a big breath. 

 ‘Let’s go see the Grand Duke first.’ 

 It was better to talk with Cedric than thinking alone. 

 It would have been easier if Zeno was here too, but I couldn’t call him yet. I had to be careful now that Father’s attention was on me. 

 After finishing my thoughts, I immediately headed to where he would be. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 “Your Highness. May I come in?” 

 Footsteps were heard from inside the room before the door opened. 

 “Please come in. I was just about to go see you, wife.” 

 I carefully entered the office. Though it was simple since it was just a temporary stay, it still maintained quite an appearance. 

 The cherry-colored wooden table and bookshelf against the wall caught my eye. There seemed to be a slight dusty smell in the air. 

 “Did you finish the ledger?” 

 Cedric nodded and seated me in a chair. He brought over well-organized papers and gently placed them on the table. 

 I immediately read through the documents he handed over. The number of magic stones needed to build the sailing ships along with the price stood out. 

 ……20 gold each. 5,000 magic stones needed to build a sailing ship. 

 It would take 100,000 gold to purchase them all. That was enough money for me to spend lavishly for over 2 years and still have leftovers. 

 ‘The price is steeper than I thought?’ 

 Would Father accept this? He might accept since he’d be more desperate to build the sailing ships. 

 “Will this be alright?” 

 “He will accept.” 

 “The Emperor has more money than you’d think. Just considering the reparations received from wars so far would be enough.” 

 “That may be true but……” 

 Cedric sat across from me and flipped through the documents. Looking at where he tapped with his finger, my name was written. 

 Claire Anne Monteroz. 

 “Magic stone seller……?” 

 “This way would be less likely to provoke the Emperor’s anger. Don’t worry. The Emperor will know you as ‘Levenia Bowell’, not your real name.” 

 “Levenia Bowell?” 

 “A fictional person. A commoner doing trade business in Kvarando.” 

 “Trade business…… hmm, I like it.” 

 I tapped the documents with a grin. 

 “Father would grab the back of his neck if he knew. Wonder how angry he’ll be when he finds out I’m behind this. I’m looking forward to it.” 

 “I too am looking forward to meeting the Emperor.” 

 “Well then, shall we start sending an invitation to Father? The divine beast seems to have arrived in the capital anyway.” 

 “He must be getting anxious now that he knows you have the restraining device.” 

 Cedric immediately brought paper and wrote content about trading magic stones to the Emperor. Then he enclosed one magic stone along with it. 

 Now we just have to wait for him to take the bait. 

 “Oh right, a strange friend I’ve never seen before visited today and said something odd.” 

 “If it’s your friend, it must be an animal friend.” 

 I nodded. When I told him what happened before coming to see him, his expression darkened somewhat. 

 “……It certainly is concerning. Should I send people to investigate?” 

 “Hmm, we’d get caught if we did that.” 

 While I needed to be careful too, sending friends to check the situation was the surest way. 

 “Birds would be too noticeable if we sent them.” 

 “That’s why I was thinking of sending a different friend. There’s an animal that Father absolutely despises.” 

 “……You seem quite pleased somehow.” 

 “Am I too excited?” 

 “I like that side of you as well.” 

 Cedric smiled as if there was no problem at all. 

 “If you’re not busy today, how about looking around the city together?” 

 “Would that be alright? If our faces become known……” 

 “That’s why we prepared disguises, right? Since we sent the letter about trading magic stones, we should stir up some curiosity.” 

 Now that we sent the letter proposing a trade, we needed to let our names slip a bit while hanging around. That way he’d take the bait quickly. 

 “But first I need to send my friend, though don’t worry about that.” 

 I approached the wall and spoke into a small hole. 

 “I have a favor to ask. I’ll give you cheese.” 

 “……” 

 I crouched down and waited quietly. Then a mouse poked its head out of the hole. 

 “Squeak squeak.” (Cheese?) 

 “Yes, cheese!” 

 “Squeak squeak!” (Good. What’s the favor?) 

 “Could you ask my friends at Lendsa Castle in Belodna who’s looking for Claire?” 

 The mouse’s whiskers twitched. 

 “Squeak squeak!” (Give me the cheese first! I don’t trust humans.) 

 Animal friends really have no trust in humans. 

 I nodded with a bitter face. I immediately pulled the bell rope to call a maid and asked for cheese. 

 Soon after receiving a piece of cheese from the maid, I broke off half and gave it to the mouse. 

 “Here you go. I’ll give you the other half when you come back with information.” 

 “Squeak squeak!” (I’ll be back quickly!) 

 I nodded and waved to the mouse as it disappeared into the hole.