“The bed is so comfortable, maybe that’s why.”

Adelia skillfully made an excuse as she stepped out from under the covers.

At the Count’s estate, she would often wake up well past lunchtime. In reality, she pretended to wake up late because she was secretly working in the morning.

As she got out of bed, her head spun, and her vision blurred.

Jagged patterns obscured her sight, making it impossible to see anything.

“Ah…”

As if it wasn’t her first time, Adelia familiarly grabbed onto the bedpost, standing still for a while with a grimace.

Her furrowed brow twitched as she waited for her vision to return.

‘What am I doing every morning.’

After a moment, Adelia stood up and let go of the post.

Holding her still dizzy head with one hand, she walked over to the dressing table Gina had tidied up.

“Please sit here.”

Gina familiarly guided Adelia to the front of the dressing table.

Gina brought some water for washing and tidied up the space so Adelia could wash up easily.

While Gina was busily moving around, Adelia still held her head.

‘Ah… Maybe I really need to exercise more.’

Her body, not fully healed even with white magic, was quite bothersome.

She tried eating well and exercising regularly to get healthier, but there was no significant change.

Somewhat regaining her senses, Adelia took her hands off her head.

After washing her face with the prepared water and completing a simple grooming routine, Adelia moved to the tea table where some light snacks were prepared.

Drinking the coffee prepared for her, she received a newspaper handed by Gina.

“I’ll be outside. Call me if you need anything.”

Gina bowed deeply so as not to disturb her and left the room.

Adelia took out glasses in this space.

Putting on the gold glasses changed her expression.

She began reading the newspaper spread out before her.

Silence fell in Adelia’s bedroom.

“Ah… Nice.”

The warm sunlight streaming in through the opened curtains, coffee warming her body, and snacks pleasing her palate made for a peaceful morning.

If only the content of the newspaper she was holding wasn’t so grim.

“Tsk, tsk. I knew it would come to this.”

Reading everything from economic, current affairs, political, to diplomatic journals to gossip magazines containing rumors was the first thing she did upon waking up.

Thanks to this routine, she had become known among the servants as someone striving to be a good Crown Princess.

Except for changing her reading place from the trade office to the imperial palace, it had been a repetitive routine for three years.

Adelia read through the newspapers quickly.

She quickly skimmed through unnecessary content and took time to thoroughly understand important articles.

After spending two hours in an undisturbed posture reading all the newspapers, Adelia took off her glasses and pulled on the bell cord.

“I’ll take a brief walk and come back. Could you prepare breakfast in the meantime?”

Adelia changed into simple clothes and took a walk in front of the Crown Prince’s palace garden with only one maid and a guard.

A simple meal awaited her upon returning to her room after a short walk.

It usually consisted of light foods like sandwiches, scrambled eggs, sausages, and salads.

“The cooking is excellent today as well. Could you tell the chef I said thank you?”

“Yes, I will.”

Adelia always expressed her gratitude to the chef.

Having spent more time in this world than in her previous life, Adelia was more generous with greetings and compliments than most nobles.

Since no one dislikes greetings and compliments, she saw no reason to change this habit.

People in the Crown Prince’s palace, who had never received a greeting from their stern master, were very pleased with Adelia’s greetings and compliments.

After breakfast, Adelia dismissed her attendants and contacted Conrad to handle trade matters.

“Who was that guy who submitted the report last time?”

“It’s my newly hired assistant.”

“Why would you make such a person your assistant? Either retrain him or replace him.”

“It took me a month to find this new assistant! Please reduce my workload!”

“Or take less pay.”

“It was about reducing my workload and giving it to me!”

Ignoring Conrad’s familiar nonsense while working meant lunchtime arrived soon after.

Lunch was also simply taken care of in her room. As she sat in front of documents, a delightful time with a lovely little guest approached.

“Sister!”

“Princess!”

Adelia turned around with a bright smile towards Ariana.

The princess also smiled brightly as she approached her.

Watching them with fond expressions, the maids quietly set up snacks and left the room.

Then they spent a warm time together. Ariana mostly talked while Adelia quietly listened.

Why do happy times fly so fast? After chatting for a while, it was time for Ariana’s study time.

“See you at dinner, sister!”

“Yes.”

Even after waving goodbye, there was still a lingering sense of regret.

Ariana’s absence was filled in by a magic book full of complex magic formulas.

She reconnected the communication stone with Conrad, who was looking at other tasks.

Orders for the white magic stones and artifacts revealed at the banquet were coming in like a flood.

Adelia engraves the formula on the artifacts after filtering people according to premade criteria and setting priorities.

“Are you only making one today?”

“If there are too many, they lose their rarity. Artifacts are, after all, luxury items.”

She makes about two artifacts daily. Moreover, they had to be recharged with magic after a few uses.

Only a very few people could own an artifact.

Instead, a large quantity of white magic stones was released to the market.

Magic stones made with surplus magic over three years were piled up in the warehouse underground of the trading company.

“How are the sales of the white magic stones going?”

“The first batch released to our direct stores across the empire is almost sold out.”

“We’ll need to supply the second batch. Are the stores in the slums sold out too?”

“Yes, we’re almost giving away the lowest grade, so there’s hardly any stock left depending on the main customer base of the store.”

“Supplying differently by branch was indeed a good choice. Do the same for the second supply. Send me the report as soon as possible.”

“The report is already prepared. I’ll send it right away.”

Making artifacts and managing the sale of white magic stones inevitably extended her working hours.

An important time approaches as she deals with magic books and trading company tasks.

“Miss. It’s 4 o’clock!”

“Is it already that time? Let’s hurry.”

Adelia left the room, holding a thick file among her documents.

It was the third most important and necessary time added to her recent routine.

The most important time was obviously tea time with Ariana, and the second was dinner with Ariana present.

Adelia headed to none other than the Emperor’s office with maid Gina.

In front of it, an aide paced anxiously with a deathly pale face. Seeing him clutching a resignation letter in both hands, with dark circles down to his chin, it was clear he was the Emperor’s aide.

When Adelia approached, he put away the resignation letter he was holding with a bright face.

“Your Highness!”

“Have you been well?”

Adelia greeted him familiarly.

Before she knew it, her title in the palace turned to ‘Your Highness.’

Since the Emperor had already announced the national marriage, everyone called her Your Highness without hesitation.

“His Majesty is inside, right? I came because I have something to deliver.”

“Yes! His Majesty is! Just wait a little, and I will convey your message.”

He clenched his fists with a determined expression.

After taking a couple of deep breaths, he grabbed the doorknob and entered the office.

Soon after, sounds of chaos and screams were heard.

“It seems it’s not just one or two today.”

Adelia looked at the office with her eyes slightly narrowed, accustomed to this situation.

4 o’clock was when ministers finished reporting to the Emperor and Crown Prince.

It was also the time most dreaded by ministers of economy, society, politics, and diplomacy.

A proper report meant no trouble, but a mistake meant someone’s head would roll on the office floor.

A job where one stakes their life couldn’t be more dreadful.

“Hmm… Today too.”

The aide, who said to wait a little, showed no signs of coming out.

Adelia approached the door with her lips pursed.

The knights standing on either side blocked her way with worried looks.

“Miss Adelia. It might be better if you come next time…”

Adelia looked at the faces of the knights blocking her.

They were knights she did not recognize.

Seeing them block her way, it seemed like their first time being guards here.

“Don’t worry.”

Adelia smiled warmly at them.

As if enchanted, the knights withdrew their hands that were blocking her.

Her benevolent appearance and smile made it impossible to resist.

Knock-knock—

“I’ll enter.”

Adelia lightly knocked on the door and placed her hand on the doorknob.

The door opened with a creaking sound.

The chaos inside the open office came into view.

“What a mess.”

Adelia murmured in a chilling voice while slightly narrowing her eyes.

The inside of the office was in such a state that it was hard to open one’s eyes.

Paper and glass shards were scattered all over the floor. Ink had stained the white walls black, and unknown bloodstains decorated the floor colorfully.

The Emperor stood in front of the desk with a sword, and Lucian, sitting cross-legged beside him, looked at her.

“I don’t remember inviting you in.”

The Emperor said while tapping a man in front of him with his sword.