She was not only a talented person too precious to let go when their contract ended, but even excluding the contract, Adelia herself was precious.

The Emperor, who had not actively considered political marriages for Lucian, thought Adelia would be fine.

No, if someone were to be Lucian’s match, it had to be Adelia.

He didn’t intend to push for it right now. That was just his own thought, and the opinions of other family members were important too.

The most important opinions were Lucian and Adelia’s, but observing them, they didn’t seem to be on bad terms. In fact, they looked more like a close, newlywed couple. It seemed entirely possible, as long as the right opportunity was given.

“You’re coming to the festival too. Better defense is preferable to guards.”

“But the artifacts……”

“No matter how excellent the artifacts are, they can’t beat a white mage. Come along without argument. Ariana will like it better too.”

“If you insist so much…… Very well.”

Adelia reluctantly nodded.

She didn’t want to interfere with family time, but when the Emperor spoke like that, she had no way to refuse.

Only after finally getting Adelia’s agreement did the Emperor raise the corners of his mouth and stand up.

“I’ll be going now. I want to make up with Ariana as soon as possible.”

“Don’t worry. The Princess will surely forgive you.”

“I’m not worried. Since it’s your method, it will certainly work.”

The Emperor said this and left the room. His departing footsteps were very hurried.

Only when the footsteps could no longer be heard did Adelia collapse onto the sofa.

After the storm had passed, extreme fatigue enveloped her entire body.

“This is tiring……”

Adelia slowly turned her head. Through the wide-open window, the pitch-black sky where Lucian had risen was fully visible.

Adelia blinked slowly. The moonlight pouring over her face accumulated on her eyes. Her heavy eyelids gradually slowed down until she soon fell asleep.

Her body also wanted rest from the psychological fatigue. Adelia fell into a deep sleep for the first time in a very long while.

All she remembered was a faint scent of western wood.

* * *

“Hmm……”

The next day, Adelia woke up early as usual.

Adelia rubbed her eyes and stretched. She wiggled her body while pressing against the soft bed.

“Bed?”

Only then did Adelia realize that where she had fallen asleep had changed.

She had definitely fallen asleep on the sofa attached to the office, but now she was on the soft bed in the bedroom.

She hurriedly looked down at her body. Her clothes were the same as last night.

“What’s this, who brought me here?”

Adelia tilted her head as she got out of bed. If she had slept straight through on the sofa, her body would have been stiff, but waking up in the soft bed made her whole body feel refreshed.

Moreover, because she fell asleep earlier than usual, she felt less tired.

Adelia pulled the bell cord.

“I should change clothes and wash up. Push back breakfast until after that.”

It was only natural that she needed to do more work since she had fallen asleep early.

When she came out after washing, simple food was prepared on the table. It was a sandwich with soft eggs and fresh vegetables, and milk tea made with fragrant black tea.

Adelia sat at the table and called Gina while eating breakfast.

“How did what I asked you to find out go?”

“I just came from the Princess’s palace, and they said the two made up last night!”

“Really?”

“Yes! They talked intimately until late at night and fell asleep!”

“That’s a relief.”

Adelia let out a sigh of relief.

The sandwich went down well with the news that their relationship had improved.

Adelia quickly finished breakfast and moved straight to the office. She sent out all the palace servants and locked the door firmly.

“Now it’s time for me to do my work.”

Adelia took out a long scroll from subspace. The scroll, which had a large seal at the top, had a label marked ‘confidential’.

When she infused magic into it, the label wrapping the scroll disappeared instantly.

Adelia spread the scroll out long on the office desk.

“Those who cause trouble without knowing their place need to be put down to keep quiet.”

The scroll was filled with dense magical formulas. It was a copy of the defense magic at the top.

Adelia decided to modify the magic circle. She planned not to completely overturn it, but to twist it just slightly to give the King of Silentium who had attacked the guild a taste of his own medicine.

“Should I remove his legs so he can’t cross into the Empire? Or should I remove his arms so he can’t do anything? Taking away his eyes to make him see only darkness like his future would be good too.”

After it became known that the Crown Princess was a holy woman, attacks on the guild became more bold and violent. After confirming that the guild had no backing from the imperial palace, attacks that had been once a day increased to two or three times. Some employees had witnessed people in robes lurking around the guild.

“No. Should I just kill him?”

Would that prevent future troubles?

Adelia raised the corners of her mouth chillingly. An eerie gleam swirled in her coldly sunken blue eyes.

“It wasn’t for nothing that I left them alone until now.”

Adelia had been waiting for the right time. She planned to deal a big blow when they were feeling secure to drain their strength.

A half-hearted counterattack would only provoke more resistance.

It would be difficult to attack if they were holed up in Silentium, but since they came all the way here themselves, there was no reason to avoid it.

“I should at least cripple one place.”

Adelia placed her hand on the scroll, steeling her resolve. As she moved her fingers, the magical formulas in the scroll floated into the air. While it would be fine to write directly with a pen, it was more convenient to use magic to modify long and complex formulas.

“Might as well go for the neck. Or at least take out one eye.”

Adelia muttered savage words while correcting the magical formulas. Adding one function looked easy but wasn’t at all. She had to consider efficiency with existing magic and check that it wouldn’t create errors through conflicts. Even after doing that, the magic could go wrong in unexpected ways, so she had to make revision after revision.

“Should I finish it by the Founding Festival?”

It wasn’t something she could finish today. She needed to attack the King of Silentium on the approaching day of the Founding Festival to make sure they couldn’t come near this area for a while. That way Ariana could enjoy the festival safely.

Adelia poured all her concentration into the magical formulas. Around a little past lunchtime, she turned her head at the sound of knocking from outside.

“Your Highness the Crown Princess. His Majesty the Emperor and Her Highness the Princess have arrived.”

“Tell them to come in right away.”

Adelia’s eyes sparkled at the news that the Princess had come. As soon as she put away her work, the office door opened.

“Sister!”

“Princess!”

Ariana ran over on short legs and hugged Adelia. Seeing the luster flowing over her chubby cheeks, it seemed her emotional struggles were over.

“What brings you here? Visiting at this hour with His Majesty……”

“Of course I came to see my sister!”

Ariana stuck close to Adelia with a bright smile. The corners of Adelia’s mouth rose to the heavens at her cute, affectionate appearance.

Adelia patted Ariana’s back and raised her head.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

“Please sit over here. Princess too. I’ll have refreshments brought in.”

“Sister, I like chocolate……”

At the mention of refreshments, Ariana firmly grabbed Adelia’s skirt. Adelia clutched her heart at the sight of her trailing off while crossing and uncrossing her legs.

She felt like immediately bringing all the chocolate in the Empire.

“Of course. I know well what our Princess likes.”

“Sister is the best indeed!”

Ariana spread both arms wide and shouted for chocolate. The brightly smiling Princess sat down at the table with tiny steps. And instantly the Emperor took the seat beside the Princess.

He quickly pulled the Princess with her short legs dangling in the air onto his lap. Ariana simply laughed brightly while looking at the Emperor.

Adelia sat down in front of the peaceful father and daughter.

“It seems you two have completely made up.”

“Yes.”

“Thanks to you, Sister!”

“I only gave some advice.”

Last night the Emperor went to find Ariana and sincerely apologized. After hearing his apology, the Princess opened the door slightly and accepted it. And after promising about going outside, she ran over shyly and hugged him, spending an intimate evening just father and daughter.

The Princess excitedly told the story of last night. The Emperor’s face seemed to redden slightly beside her, but Adelia pretended not to notice and turned her head away.

“So now I can’t even remember the palace without Sister! The palace has become more fun since Sister came.”

“That’s not wrong.”

The Emperor agreed with the Princess’s words as she bounced her feet while praising Adelia.

Though it was clear praise, Adelia couldn’t easily smile. After all, she was preparing to leave the palace.