Actually, Duke Picart himself wasn’t overflowing with faith. However, his cousin was a cardinal, his brother-in-law was a strong candidate for the future archbishopric of Fadesa, and his close friend was the commander of the Holy Kingdom’s Sacred Knight Order. Religion was a major axis of his power.

Religion had dominated the continent for over a thousand years, and every territory had temple parishes, whether it was precious land near the imperial capital or tiny land in mountain valleys with only squirrels.

And almost every parish’s hobby was to interfere eagerly in territorial management.

Lords found parish interference troublesome. Priests embezzled the money given each time and begged for more donations like baby birds asking for food. They often spent entire years fighting, but somehow managed to live together reluctantly. Like a somewhat twisted relationship between crocodiles and oxpeckers.

So, territorial parish temples were like ill-tempered front yard squatter mutts that you wanted to throw away somewhere but were afraid to touch lest they bite, so you chose coexistence with clouded eyes.

Anyway, if our territory’s innovation succeeded, other territories that had been only watching would all follow suit. Then the temple’s influence diminishing would be a matter of time. No wonder he came out impatiently.

“I misspoke.”

Duke Picart retreated gracefully.

“I heard Madame’s wise opinion well. Additional matters should probably be discussed in the privy council.”

Mother’s eyes instantly darkened.

If this agenda was brought to the privy council, Mother could no longer exert influence. The proud oak doors of the privy council had never once allowed a woman’s entry since being installed in Prudence Palace.

Mother had served as the empress’s head lady-in-waiting and taught etiquette to the crown prince and princess. As the empress’s close associate, she had coordinated countless interests in court and was recognized for her excellent ability as Levizet’s mistress. She had performed the substantial duties of family head in place of her deceased husband. However, she couldn’t enter the privy council assembly.

Mother didn’t give up and moved close acquaintances, lobbied powerful people, or persuaded rival nobles to conduct behind-the-scenes work. She was a woman who had overturned privy council decisions several times this way, but it would still be different from directly entering and swaying public opinion.

“I understand. As a human who remains infinitely weak despite the passage of time and aging, judgment can sometimes become clouded. Like a mere human no different from weeds in God’s eyes believing they can control everything.”

As if she had never been serious, Mother gracefully smiled after delivering a final punch to Duke Picart.

“Well, if your business is finished, let’s withdraw now. In the new year, may the Lord’s grace that gives wisdom be with Your Grace.”

At the elegant mockery, Duke Picart spat out.

“I too pray that Madame’s new year becomes a year filled with the Holy Spirit.”

“It was my first time actually having a conversation with Duke Picart.”

Mélisande murmured languidly. A maid rubbed Mélisande’s shoulders with hands covered in aromatic oil. I heard learning massage was trending among court maids lately, and somehow the maids assigned to my room had learned it too. Servants who could please their masters received many falling crumbs. Feeling the maid’s careful touch massaging each finger joint, I answered.

“What’s your impression?”

“Hmm.”

Mélisande thought deeply for a moment.

“His pride seems…… quite overflowing.”

I understood roughly but deliberately asked.

“In what aspect?”

“Well…… More in conditions he possessed from the beginning than fruits obtained through effort?”

Mélisande pursed her lips.

“At the very least, he seemed quite proud of the fact that something hangs between his legs.”

Pfft, I burst out laughing without realizing it and choked. I took out a few silver coins and handed them to the maids who brought water, then gestured for them to leave. She saw it accurately.

“That’s right. Duke Picart doesn’t even think that women can stand on equal footing with him and oppose him.”

“Even so, we’re not children—did he think we’d obediently withdraw if he offered us sweets and pretty things to look at?”

“The women he’s seen all his life probably did that. Or at least, they pretended to in front of him.”

Especially his wife and daughter-in-law. When I shrugged my shoulders, Mélisande pursed her lips.

“For all that, his attitude toward Mother was quite different.”

“Ah, the reason for that is……”

I rolled my eyes around.

“Rather than respecting her, isn’t it closer to not putting Mother in the category of ‘women’?”

Mélisande leaned her upper body toward me and her eyes lit up.

“What does that mean?”

“Look. The ‘women’ that Duke Picart thinks of would be simple, foolish, and weak beings……”

Despite being from the opposing faction, the strange tolerance toward ladies like me and Mélisande was similar to not seriously being wary of dogs or cats. They might be bothersome, but he considered us beings who could never inflict fatal harm on him.

The almost only woman he truly guarded against like a political enemy was….

“Mother is the only woman in this court who succeeded in landing a blow on Duke Picart. Though it was from her youth.”

“Oh my, won’t you tell me what story that is?”

It’s not a very long story.

During the previous emperor’s time, the empire was rushing toward the peak of prosperity due to new trade route development. Mansions throughout the imperial capital Fadesa held banquets and balls full of pleasure, and the lights in the court banquet halls never went out every night. The nobles believed they were the wealthiest since the founding of the nation.

It was truly a golden age. There wasn’t a night without alcohol, food, and dancing. Not missing this opportunity, the previous emperor decided to raise luxury taxes to fill the national treasury, and what caught his eye was wine that was consumed without fail at every party.

Just one silver coin tax per bottle of wine traded would be enormous. Especially in a situation where wine was used like water.

If that happened, Levizet, which mainly produced wine and wool, would face a major blow. It was not long after Levizet had barely been saved from the crisis of riots and caught its breath.

Duke Picart, who had persuaded the emperor to impose central taxes on wine, was off guard. However, when the final decision was made, it was Levizet who smiled and Picart who raged.

Mother had made meticulous behind-the-scenes efforts to tax wine bottles rather than wine itself.

“The territory ruled by Duke Picart is famous for its glass industry.”

And all the somewhat upscale, precisely crafted wine glass bottles were from Picart. When he realized he had fallen into his own trap, Duke Picart reportedly went absolutely wild. The money Duke Picart earned was, to exaggerate a bit, cut in half for a while due to that blow. From then on, he began to be wary of Mother.

Mélisande laughed merrily. It was a clear sound like a silver bell ringing.

“So, he probably thought this temple funding issue would all be over if he just persuaded Mother. When he already has a history of being backstabbed by a woman, why would he think he wouldn’t be hit by another woman?”

I just shrugged my shoulders without saying anything. Mélisande added.

“Duke Picart has a wide forehead but narrow insight.”

“Pfft, huff!”

I almost spat out water. Mélisande hurriedly patted my back as I coughed. I wiped away the tears that had formed slightly from the physiological reaction. Ah, really.

“Duke Picart isn’t the only one with narrow insight.”

I said to Mélisande.

“As you live in court from now on, Mélisande, you’ll meet countless Duke Picarts. Actually, Mother’s case is unusual—women’s domains usually remain within family household management or social activities. If you only stay there, they’ll treat you as generous and polite gentlemen.”

Mélisande tilted her head slightly.

“Then, what if I want to work for the family and territory like Mother?”

How moving. This is the prepared attitude of a future grand duchess.

People of the North, I’m proud that you’ve raised such a prepared future mistress. If you ever need to take revenge on Levizet, please remember this deed. Mélisande continued.

“What i f I want to step into more in-depth and meaningful areas rather than ending with household management or social activities? Alix, if you were me, how do you think I should deal with people ‘like Duke Picart’?”

Hmm. A political question.

“It’s easy. Whether economically, politically, or religiously. You just need to thoroughly trample them in fields they consider ‘their domain.'”

I smiled wickedly.

“It’s a truth politicians must keep in mind. Set fire to the entire mansion of the bastard who ignores your hut. And while that bastard is in despair, search through the mansion that became ashes and bring everything useful to your house.”

Talking up to this point, I suddenly hesitated. Ah wait, wasn’t Mélisande’s character in the original work someone who maintained boundaries even when taking revenge? Is this okay? When I glanced at Mélisande, she was already nodding with sparkling eyes.

I felt slightly uneasy, but anyway, even if unexpected obstacles appeared one by one, the big picture—like the outbreak of war or the love triangle between Caleb-Antoine-Mélisande—seemed to follow the original’s flow. Could this be the device of the original’s compulsive force that often appears in romance fantasy?

So there shouldn’t be any big problems. I rationalized away the uneasy feeling and brushed it off.

***

The reason most Nicerion grand dukes throughout history were called masters of the North and received awe was not only due to the tremendous military power and strategy passed down through generations, but fundamentally because the scale of the territory they ruled was enormous.