Before she could finish her sentence, the atmosphere in the room froze. The Master, who was always smiling, now had a hardened expression on his face.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Ah… it’s a joke. Just a joke… Because he keeps making me eat this weird soup…”

She hadn’t expected such a serious reaction, and was taken aback.

“Soup?”

“It was a joke about being forced to eat healthy food.”

Her relationship with the Master was nothing more or less than business partners. She thought he wouldn’t care much if she were to die right away, but his reaction was unexpected. How could she tell him that she might really be dying?

In fact, one of the reasons she had come to see the Master today was to ask him to take care of things after her death.

“He wouldn’t tell me what’s in it. It was just a joke.”

“……”

“Really.”

She earnestly defended her point in front of the Master, who still looked at her with suspicion.

“Shall I get it tested to see what’s in it?”

“Can you do that?”

“If you wish, anything is possible.”

He really is a jack-of-all-trades. No different from an errand center. Even better, actually. She considered it for a moment, but ultimately felt it wasn’t necessary. Amelia shook her head to say it was fine. Even if he really had put something harmful in it… Judging by Raphael’s reaction, it seemed that her condition was already beyond cure.

And she wanted to believe in that desperation. Even if it was an act, Raphael’s demeanor seemed too desperate. Anyone listening might call her a fool for thinking so.

“No, it’s not necessary.”

She accepted her death more quickly than she thought. Was it because she already knew Amelia was going to die? Or because she had already died once before? She wanted to avoid it if possible…

“Your Highness, you’re…. not asking much of me.”

“I think I’m asking for a lot.”

Without the Master, she wouldn’t have made it this far. Just obtaining the emperor’s brooch was a significant achievement. Without it, Aaron would not become the crown prince. No one would extend a hand to the powerless third prince born of a secondary consort.

“You can rely on me a bit more.”

Amelia avoided the Master’s gaze at the statement that seemed prone to misunderstanding. She couldn’t understand why he would say such a thing. It was too much for something said to a client.

“What about the old downtown?”

“Here are the transfer documents for the old downtown.”

Continuing this atmosphere wasn’t good. She deliberately changed the subject, even if it was obvious.

“That’s more than I expected.”

The emperor had sweated over the development of the old downtown because of the man who ruled it. Even in the seemingly chaotic old downtown, people there have their own system and hierarchy. The man who reigned like a king over there.

“The man currently holding tight control over the old downtown is named Kayden.”

“So, no deal can be made without going through him.”

“Yes.”

Kayden. Yes, that seemed to be his name. Aaron, who knew the emperor was having a headache over the old downtown, had bought up most of its real estate. He also contributed to persuading Kayden to participate in the redevelopment. In many ways, he had given the emperor what he most desired. Both the brooch of the founding emperor and his achievements as an emperor.

“He wouldn’t have wanted to sell it.”

“It took some time to persuade him.”

Contrary to what the Master said about it taking time, it had taken less time than she had expected. It was something even the emperor hadn’t been able to properly obtain in ten years.

“I’ve brought all the places that seem to have good locations.”

“Can I afford them with my funds?”

“You’ll have some left over.”

It certainly looked like more than what Aaron had bought in terms of land and buildings.

“As I mentioned last time, these are not places that will generate a profit in the short term.”

She knew that too. When Kayden sold these, he must not have said anything to the Master. The emperor had sent people into the old downtown area ten years ago already. There must have been contact with Kayden for sure.

“Didn’t Kayden say anything? He must have been reluctant to let it go.”

“What?”

“Contact the emperor. Tell him that you have the buildings and land in the old downtown.”

How the Master had obtained these documents from Kayden was a mystery to her. She could guess that it hadn’t been done in a gentlemanly manner. The influence of Chester within the empire was so significant that there were times when it was harder to refuse them than the imperial command itself.

“We have a wealthy client waiting, don’t we?”

More precisely, a sucker. Probably the emperor would jump at the chance again this time. He might think it’s because of the power of the brooch.

“The redevelopment of the old downtown. That’s what the emperor wants most. It’s included in the urban development project, so look it up.”

“……”

The Master, who she thought would answer immediately, just looked at her quietly.

“Master?”

“Is it that from the same supporter this time too?”

Amelia nodded slightly to his question. Even she knew that he wasn’t saying it in a good way.

“The supporter who helps Your Highness seems very capable.”

“That’s……”

“As if they know everything in advance.”

It was true. Since she knew her future, she indeed knew everything. Could it be that he’s upset? Because it seems like she knows more than the Master?

“And you have quite a grudge against the imperial family.”

She couldn’t argue with that either. How could she like the imperial family that had driven Leonel to death? In the end, both Aaron and the emperor were complicit.

“I will approach the emperor. It’s clear as day that he will jump at it.”

“……Sell everything at a high price except for the locations that look best to you, Master.”

The emperor is a greedy man; merely cooperating with the redevelopment wouldn’t be enough for him. After all, the most important thing is the land in the business district.

“What will be built there?”

“The business district.”

“Then I think I know which locations you’re talking about.”

Why does the Master seem so sharp? Surely he must know about her supporter… Amelia bit her lip nervously at his particularly cold tone.

“Lips.”

“Huh?”

“You might bleed if you keep doing that.”

Whether she understood his previous warning or not, she came to her senses when she saw the finger pointing at her own lips without getting any closer.

“And… put that business district land in my son’s name, not mine.”

That place was like a gold mine, where the price would only increase over time. It was very suitable as a gift for Leonel.

“The Grand Duke’s son?”

“Yes.”

And… she had promised Leonel, but today she also planned to change the owner of the sword. Now that May had quit, she hoped that the future might not unfold as it did in the original story.

“Change the ownership of the cursed sword I bought last time too.”

“Yes, I understand.”

She expected him to ask something, but the Master returned to his smiling expression. Based on her experience thus far, that seemed to be his business smile.

“And with the money left over after buying the old downtown…”

“I’ve selected some nice shops and lands in the heart of the capital for you.”

He was smiling, but was it her imagination that he seemed a bit more rigid? He was still promptly fulfilling her wishes…

“Please put those in Leonel’s name as well.”

But this time, there was no reply. Amelia tilted her head at the sight of the Master looking down. Why was he suddenly acting like this?

“Master…?”

“……”

“Are you sick?”

It might be that he was feeling unwell that’s why he’s reacting sensitively. If that was the case, since the important matters were finished, it was okay for her to leave.

“If you’re sick…”

“……Why.”

Just as she was about to say she would leave, a low voice came through. Much lower than the Master’s usual voice.

“Weren’t these your retirement funds?”

“Huh?”

Her purple eyes blinked incessantly, not understanding why that topic had come up now.

“Your reason for saving money. You said it was for retirement.”

“Ah…”

“But why are you giving it all to your son?”

Back then, she obviously didn’t know she was sick. She still didn’t know what was wrong with her, but… Raphael’s attitude was telling. That nonsensical soup wasn’t a complete cure.

“Master.”

He lifted his head at her call. The reason he didn’t show his face was that the smile had completely disappeared from his lips.

“Are you by any chance married?”

“What?”

His furrowed brow smoothed out, and his face showed clear signs of confusion. He must have misunderstood her question.

“No, do you have children?”

“……Yes, I do.”

He was surprised by her question about marriage, so she thought he wasn’t married, but he had children as well? She felt an inexplicable sense of loss. Well, he did say he had an heir.

“Then you understand. A parent wanting to leave something for their child, it’s the same for everyone, isn’t it?”

Master was strange today. The smile that never left his face was gone, and he seemed somewhat absent-minded. His poor condition seemed genuine.

“I might die.”

Amelia rose from her seat and smoothed out her crumpled dress. It seemed she needed to hurry back to the castle after consuming that damn soup.