“No, it’s like there’s an ‘I love Adelia!’ sign stuck on your face!”

“R-Really?”

“Yes. You’ll need to control your expression well if you don’t want Sister to notice.”

“Right, I understand.”

Lucian touched his mouth while trying to hold back his rising smile.

It was difficult to suppress the happiness he felt just thinking about Adelia. By the time he barely managed to compose his expression, the familiar presence had already reached the door.

Knock knock—

“The Crown Princess has arrived.”

“Tell her to come in quickly!”

Ariana said while stomping her feet. Lightly getting down from her chair, Ariana ran out to greet Adelia before the door even opened.

When the door opened and Adelia appeared, Ariana snuggled right into her arms.

“Sister!”

“I’m happy to receive such a warm welcome from the Princess. Your Highness was here too.”

“Yes, welcome, wife.”

Lucian bowed his head slightly while beautifully curving his eyes.

Adelia responded to his greeting with a beautiful smile.

Lucian slightly frowned at Adelia’s too-composed attitude.

What happened last night felt like his own dream. The light dream seemed ready to float away to the sky at any moment. Lucian tightly clenched his fist hidden under the table while hiding his anxious face.

But those were all needless worries.

“Yes…”

When Lucian looked into Adelia’s eyes, she subtly shifted her gaze. It seemed like she was intentionally avoiding his gaze, like she didn’t want to receive it.

Though she might have acted that way because she disliked his gaze, Lucian’s intuition told him that wasn’t it.

His intuition tended to be quite accurate.

Adelia’s nape visible through her hair was already burning red.

‘Still embarrassing….’

Adelia let out a small sigh.

What happened last night had been intense for her too.

Last night’s events were still so vivid she could feel the firmness of his arm muscles at her fingertips and the solid feel of his broad shoulder muscles. She perfectly remembered even pouncing on him in an improper position.

‘I should avoid making such mistakes from now on. I should reduce meetings with His Highness after just borrowing the holy sword.’

After making this resolution that would sadden Lucian if he heard it, Adelia regained her poker face and sat between Lucian and Ariana.

“But why are there so many snacks?”

Adelia asked while picking up a cup to pour tea after sitting down.

She tilted her head seeing the desserts filling the table like a buffet. Lucian wasn’t someone who would give Ariana this many snacks.

At those words, Lucian and Ariana who were startled quickly blinked at each other.

Ariana, who was better with words, quickly opened her mouth.

“Well! I made a bet with Brother!”

“A bet?”

“Yes! Brother said he’d give me lots of snacks if I got 100 points on my test, and I got 100 points today!”

“Oh my, really?”

Adelia opened her round eyes while covering her mouth.

As she seemed to believe it, Ariana kicked Lucian’s leg under the table.

It was a signal to play along quickly.

“That’s right. I made a bet with Ariana.”

Lucian quickly agreed with Ariana’s words. As the two spoke without even wetting their lips, Adelia was completely fooled.

“But this is still too much. His Majesty the Emperor would have scolded you if he saw this.”

“Ah! It’s a secret from Dad.”

“Hmm…… I wonder……”

Adelia crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. Intending to tease Ariana, she lifted the corners of her mouth and pretended to think while shaking her head.

Though she had no intention of doing something as vile as running to the Emperor over something like this, she was full of thoughts about teasing Ariana.

“Please become an accomplice by eating this.”

Lucian said while placing the pre-prepared dessert in front of Adelia.

At the glossy fruits and savory butter smell, Adelia slowly uncrossed her arms.

“Hmph, do you think I’ll fall for something like this?”

Adelia snorted and spoke primly. But contrary to her words, her hands were already holding the fork and knife, neatly cutting the dessert.

Adelia’s shoulders bounced as she put the neatly cut dessert in her mouth.

“Mmm! That’s right. I’ve fallen for it. I’ll keep it secret from His Majesty, so I’ll eat this.”

“Please eat plenty.”

“Eat lots, Sister!”

As Adelia smiled and ate the dessert, Ariana and Lucian showed relieved smiles.

While pretending to push snacks toward Ariana, Lucian subtly arranged things Adelia would like in front of her.

“But Sister, what brings you here at this time?”

“Ah, I might be busy at the usual time today. Today is when the Eileen Merchant Guild brings goods to the palace.”

“Is that so?”

“Though Conrad will handle it well enough, since I’m in the palace I should go check.”

Once a month, the Eileen Merchant Guild regularly brought goods to the palace. Though they would send items whenever ordered, given how vast and huge the palace was, consumables and materials that were frequently used were brought in regularly.

“Would the Princess like to come too? The clothes you ordered last time have arrived.”

“Mmm no, Sister must be busy so I’ll try them on later.”

“Then I’ll have them sent to the palace.”

Though Ariana’s eyes sparkled briefly at the mention of clothes, she soon shook her head and declined her offer.

“I’ll bring them to you, Ariana.”

“Oh? Your Highness is coming too?”

“My adjutant who was supposed to do the inspection took leave today. As I happened to be free after doing only what my wife assigned me, I decided to go today.”

“Is that so? Then we can go together.”

“Yes, we shall.”

Lucian smoothly told lies without even wetting his lips.

He tried not to show any suspicious light in his dark eyes beneath his black hair.

Adelia nodded without any particular suspicion.

This turned out to be fortunate only for Lucian’s adjutant who ended up taking sudden leave.

* * *

After finishing their brief tea time with Ariana, the two headed to the main palace. Dozens of carriages had already arrived at the main palace entrance.

The head servants were in the middle of inspecting the goods and quantities loaded on the carriages as usual.

“Don’t touch this carriage. These are items directly ordered by the imperial family, so the aide will check them.”

“Ah! Yes, Deputy Guild Master!”

Conrad gave instructions to the guild people in front of the carriage filled with items ordered by the imperial family. Even all the goods here combined couldn’t compare to what was in this carriage.

Though the carriage looked the same as others on the outside, Adelia had even placed special protection magic on it.

‘Losing just one item would cost me a week’s salary.’

Some items among them were worth a month’s salary.

Though the difficulty of palace deliveries had decreased now that there was less risk of being caught by the Emperor and Crown Prince, the nerve-wracking amounts remained the same.

Since they were incredibly valuable items, goods ordered by the imperial family only passed through the hands of people sent by Conrad and Lucian.

‘It’s also tiring to worry every month about someone stealing them. I wish the aide would come quickly and take the items.’

Once he handed over the carriage key to the aide, the responsibility for theft would transfer along with jurisdiction. The aide’s face would turn deathly pale while Conrad’s face would brighten immensely.

Conrad looked around while hurriedly waiting for the aide to arrive.

“Presenting His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

At that voice, the servants checking the carriage loads opened their eyes wide and trembled. Those who came to their senses bowed deeply with shaking voices.

The people from the merchant guild were no different. For them who were mostly commoners, seeing the Crown Prince couple was as difficult as reaching for stars in the sky. Since the Crown Prince’s reputation outside the palace was fierce, they suppressed their curiosity and lowered their heads.

Adelia came out of the main palace escorted by Lucian. After descending the long stairs, she smiled at them.

“Everyone, please raise your heads. We are here on business with the Deputy Guild Master, so please continue with your work.”

Adelia soothed them gently, speaking in the kindest and most gentle tone possible.

Unlike Lucian’s vicious reputation, Adelia had an image as noble and pure as a saintess.

Though Lucian and Adelia didn’t know it, the palace people sometimes described Adelia as the owner holding the beast’s leash.

Since the bloodshed in the palace had notably decreased after Adelia arrived, it wasn’t an incorrect description.

The servants and merchant guild people bowed to Adelia once more with faces full of gratitude, like they’re facing a benefactor.

‘Everyone spread good rumors. That I’m very kind and delicate.’

Adelia consciously maintained a gentle smile while walking gracefully.

The Eileen Merchant Guild paid well even for ordinary workers. Thanks to that, even commoner workers were well off enough to stop by taverns after work to relieve the day’s fatigue.

Commoner taverns were places where all sorts of rumors were created. If the workers here talked about seeing the Crown Prince couple, rumors would spread to the surroundings in an instant.

It was to build a simple foundation for the next operation.

“Pr…Presenting our beloved His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

For a moment, Conrad who was delighted to see Adelia raised both hands about to call her Master. But due to Adelia’s stern expression right in front of him, he ended up delivering an awkward greeting.

Though Conrad marveled at his own quick wit in that moment, Adelia covered her eyes and dropped her head.

‘I can’t believe this incompetent guy was the original guild master in the novel.’