Elliope watched Leanne quietly. After a brief moment, Leanne spoke, emphasising each word.

“I have accepted my share of unhappiness. I’m not completely happy, but it’s for the good of the whole realm.”

That was indeed how Leanne felt.

All the men she had agreed to marry had been young and capable, but in Leanne’s eyes, Theodor of Ilmos was no different.

To her, it was a good match for an illegitimate princess, once a maid, to accept. Even considering that Theodor of Ilmos was something of an irredeemable fool, this was still her perspective.

Moreover, in Leanne’s view, Theodor’s behaviour was something a wife could change, as long as she stopped him drinking or supported him all the time. That’s a wife’s role.

However, Elliope did not do that. It was her fault.

“It was you who ruined your value as a commodity by losing your purity without marrying the Grand Duke.”

“…….”

“And now you try to vent your anger in this way? This is a very wrong action, Elliope.”

Leanne spoke with a firm gaze, as if she knew exactly what would affect Elliope.

Leanne spoke with a determined look in her eyes, as if she knew exactly what to say to affect Elliope. In truth, she knew exactly what words had worked best with Elliope during her time at the Imperial Court. That was why she had been sent here.

“Your father will be very disappointed in you.”

Elliope listened to the words with indifference. It was a rebuke she was very familiar with.

“How is it that the Imperial Princess doesn’t even know such basics?”

“The Emperor will also be very disappointed in you.”

“Do you still not understand why His Grace the Grand Duke keeps the Grand Duchess at arm’s length?”

The words that had weighed on her until her breath had stopped. They were words that could no longer hurt her.

Leanne thought Elliope’s silence meant she was convinced, so she exhaled in relief and spoke.

“You can still fix this, Elliope. Take the Grand Duke to a safe place… and when he has calmed down, marry him.”

“You mean divorce the viscount?”

“Yes. Being the Grand Duchess is better than being the Viscount’s wife.”

“…….”

“Divorcing won’t strip Viscount Elsen of his title, so it’s beneficial for both of you.”

Leanne spoke as calmly as she could.

In addition to her desire for Kallian as a knight, she genuinely believed that this was the right course of action. At the very least, Elliope would gain the prestigious title of Grand Duchess, and Kallian would have the chance to marry another woman. 

“I have heard that the Grand Duke is still with women who resemble you. That means he has feelings for you.” 

It wasn’t just something she’d heard. Leanne had also heard rumours of the Grand Duke’s unbridled s*xual habits as she walked down the corridor, causing her to blush with embarrassment. She had gone to meet the Grand Duke for a strategic meeting.

“There are people who really think you’re going to meet the Grand Duke.”

It was a rather insulting thing to say to a woman who had become someone’s wife, but Leanne continued.

It was her duty as Princess to resolve this situation here and now.

“Let’s settle this now, Elliope.”

“…….”

“I’m advising you as a commodity.”

Elliope smiled softly at these words.

“Yes, we are commodity.”

At her remark, Kallian patted her side gently, like a dog comforting its master.

“I was the less valuable commodity.”

“I’m glad we can communicate like this.”

“There is truth in Lady Leanne’s words.”

The words that they were imperial commodities, and that Elliope wasn’t the only one unhappy, were true just by looking at the sentence.

“But if we really want to be precise…”

But one thing had been overlooked.

“My commodity value isn’t just low, it’s practically non-existent.”

Elliope replied almost instinctively in a cynical tone.

“By Lady Leanne’s standards, I would be considered a defective product.”

“What?”

“In noble marriages, a product that cannot produce heirs is considered defective. Didn’t you know that?”

Leanne’s lips turned pale. Elliope rubbed her stomach calmly.

“You knew, but you didn’t say anything.”

“…….”

“Even when the Emperor emphasised that I should marry the Grand Duke and bear his child, you were there, listening to what he said.”

That was true. The Emperor summoned Elliope to join the other princes, Leanne and the Empress for family time and deliberately urged her to have a child with the Grand Duke.

During this time, Elliope often heard advice on how to live in harmony with the Grand Duke and on the duties of a wife in the service of her husband. 

The Empress always looked at the Emperor and Elliope with contempt. 

*It must have been miserable. 

She couldn’t have a family, and the grand duke wouldn’t accept her as his grand duchess. And on the sidelines of it all was Leanne. She looked down at the princes with a blank expression on her face, as if none of this had anything to do with her. 

Even though her mother had poisoned Elliope’s biological mother, causing Elliope’s infertility,

“I felt guilty.”

“Did you?”

“Yes. That’s why I didn’t confront you or say anything harsh when you first arrived. I tried to treat you well in my own way.”

“You didn’t confront me?”

“Your father committed adultery and you were born as a result. I am the legitimate child, so I was in a position to question it.”

“But didn’t you already take all you could from that, Your Majesty?”

Leanne flinched slightly at the words, but she still didn’t criticise the Empress for her misdeeds.

“It was unavoidable.”

“……”

“What my mother did, and what my father did… In the end, it was all for the Empire.”

“All of it?”

Leanne tightly closed her eyes, then opened them again and spoke.

“I told you. If you had been a better match, the Grand Duchy wouldn’t have been a bad marriage.”

At those words, Kallian rubbed his cheek against Elliope’s crown in apparent displeasure.

After taking a deep breath, Leanne spoke again.

“So fix it now.”

“…….”

“Then everything will be fine. You’ve done your best as a commodity, as have I, and your father will recognise that…”

“You should speak plainly Lady Leanne, or should I say Your Highness?”

Elliope replied indifferently. Despite the lack of force in her words, Leanne flinched and her face stiffened.

“I have not thrown away my value as a commodity.”

Elliope lifted her head gently and looked at Kallian.

Throughout the conversation, the man remained silent, as if not wanting to interrupt, gently comforting and stroking her. Then, as if waiting for the right moment, he locked eyes with her.

“In the Imperial Family, with the value your mother and father have almost completely diminished, I have made my final investment.”

In reality, it was more of a gamble than an investment. It was a purely impulsive act, driven by the connection from a past life. She had staked everything on a man with whom she had shared her body only once before she died.

The outcome had already been decided.

“It was an investment that couldn’t possibly succeed.”

Hearing this, Kallian pressed his forehead gently against hers, as if to express how happy he was that she had chosen him. Elliope, suppressing the sudden surge of emotion, turned her gaze back to Leanne.

“And speaking of commodity value…”

At those words, Leanne unconsciously tensed her back.

Although it was a logical statement, Leanne knew it could be taken offensively by the other party. However, Elliope had not reacted in any particular way so far. In fact, she had even agreed with Leanne’s words.

It was then, as Leanne tried to keep her composure and listened to Elliope, that Elliope spoke.

“No matter how I look at it, I feel sorry for His Highness.”

“What?”

Unexpected words followed. Leanne had a stunned look on her face for a moment, as if she had been hit on the back of the head.

“His Highness and I… I think we’ve lived too pathetically under the label of being commodities.”

“…….”

“Knowing that Your Highness has experienced the same kind of misfortune as I have makes it even more so.”

Elliope said this, then looked at Leanne with intensified eyes.

“In that regard, perhaps there is something I can do for His Highness.”

It was the moment when her words took Leanne by surprise.

From a distance came the sound of heavy footsteps. There was the sound of several people gathering.

“Grand Duke Ilmos!”

“The Grand Duke is coming out!”

“Your Highness!”

The vassals of Ilmos rushed in, followed by the Imperial Knights, who looked confused. The Imperial Knights shouted frantically.

“Do not touch the Grand Duke or the Princess!”

“If you do, it will be considered treason against the Empire!”

“Knights, stand back! We are here to confront the Grand Duke!”

With these shouts, the audience chamber quickly became chaotic. As she watched, Elliope looked back at Leanne and whispered softly.

“I think I’ve found a way.”

Leanne, reading Elliope’s lips, froze. The next moment Elliope was looking directly at Theodor.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”

Elliope felt the momentary shift in Theodor’s focus as his vision steadied. She continued to stare at him without breaking eye contact.

“Grand Duke?”

Leanne’s voice trembled with fear. She felt an overwhelming sense of fear… a feeling as if she should stop Elliope from speaking at once.

But she couldn’t. Between her and Elliope stood Theodor, armed with a sword. Even if she managed to get past him, Kallian was still there.

Kallian smiled beautifully, his smile clouding Leanne’s judgement for a moment. The sound of a drum echoed wildly in her mind. She didn’t know what was about to happen, but she knew she had to stop it.

While she trembled with anxiety, Elliope calmly spoke.

“Your Grace, I have a question.”