“A deal?”

Reynard echoed Greta’s unexpected words.

She nodded without hesitation.

“Yes, a deal.”

“I’m not sure what kind of deal you and I could possibly make.”

“You’ll no doubt find it interesting once you hear it.”

“Well then, let’s hear it.”

When Reynard gave his consent, Greta picked up her teacup and wetted her lips briefly.

Her unhurried demeanor was rather grating to Reynard, though he didn’t let it show.

“Your Majesty, you must already know what my father is after.”

“…”

At Greta’s blunt words, Reynard fell silent for a moment.

“I’ll speak assuming you already do. What my father wants is not to become the Emperor’s father-in-law. It’s certainly not to serve as a counterbalance to imperial power either. To be precise, he’s aiming for something far greater. I’m sure I don’t need to explain what that is.”

There was only one thing that could be greater than that.

The imperial throne.

Reynard wasn’t unaware of this, but hearing it from Greta, Duke Emmett’s daughter, gave the matter a different weight.

Her words suggested a topic deeper and heavier than he had expected, and so Reynard, too, began to approach the conversation more seriously.

“I know. The imperial throne, isn’t it?”

At Reynard’s reply, Greta let out a quiet sigh.

“Yes. The imperial throne. But I know it’s a misguided ambition. That’s why I want to stop my father’s recklessness.”

“Stop his recklessness?”

“Yes.”

“Lady Emmett, do you realize to whom you’re saying all this, and what exactly you’re saying?”

“Of course. That’s precisely why I’ve come to speak directly with Your Majesty. Before long, my father will try to seize Your Majesty’s life using Her Majesty the Empress.”

It was something Reynard had anticipated as well.

That was why he had warned Evelyn today and ordered Martin to increase the number of guards assigned to her.

“But I also know very well that my father’s plan will fail.”

“And why do you think that? Couldn’t Duke Emmett succeed in his treason? If that happens, wouldn’t you become a princess?”

Reynard let out an amused chuckle, as though entertained.

Despite speaking of a matter that concerned his very life, his expression was unbothered.

In contrast, Greta smiled bitterly and shook her head.

“No, that won’t happen.”

“Do you have a reason to be so certain?”

“There’s no way our Emmett family’s private army could defeat Your Majesty’s forces, said to be the strongest on the western continent. Even if he uses trickery and only targets Your Majesty’s life, there’s still a problem. Would those loyal troops really submit to my father?”

Her doubt was valid.

Reynard’s army had unified over half of the western continent in less than five years since his coronation.

Having personally led the troops through the campaigns, it was clear that the soldiers, having shared life and death with him, held a deep bond with him.

Even if Duke Emmett succeeded in killing Reynard, his army would surely retaliate against Emmett with bloodshed, by any means necessary.

“But my father seems to think that once he eliminates Your Majesty, the rest will fall into place.”

Greta’s sigh was heavy.

“So, what exactly is this deal you’re proposing, Lady Emmett? It’s not simply to stop your father’s rampage, is it? Why don’t you go ahead and tell me what it is you truly want?”

Feeling the conversation beginning to stray, Reynard cut to the heart of the matter.

“I’ll give you information about what my father is planning.”

“Are you serious?”

Reynard asked in return, as her words were effectively a declaration of betrayal against her own father.

“Yes, I’m serious.”

Greta met his gaze without the slightest wavering and nodded.

Her words didn’t seem to be a lie.

But even so, it was hard for Reynard to trust her easily, as she was of Emmett’s blood.

It was entirely possible that her coming to him was part of Emmett’s greater scheme.

“So what do you want in return for this information?”

“It’s simple. I want my father’s position.”

“What?”

Naturally, Reynard had assumed she would ask for pardon for her father’s treason.

He thought her mention of Emmett’s recklessness was merely part of setting that up.

But she had brought up something entirely different.

“Shall I say it again?”

Greta asked, now with all traces of a smile wiped from her face.

“Duke Emmett’s seat. I want the very position my father currently holds.”

“Why? You’re his only child anyway. If you just stay put, you’ll inherit the house of Emmett in due time. Do you really need my help for that?”

“Of course. If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t have bothered coming to Your Majesty in the first place.”

Greta shrugged her shoulders lightly as she replied.

Reynard narrowed his eyes to gauge her true intentions.

As if she had expected that look from him, Greta began to explain further.

“My father is an extremely patriarchal man. Even though imperial law allows women to inherit titles, he didn’t name me as his successor simply because I’m his daughter. Instead, he hoped to use me to climb to a higher position.”

Her darkened green eyes turned toward Reynard.

“Your Majesty, do you know what it feels like to live as a puppet?”

“…”

“I’m sick and tired of that kind of life now. If my father refuses to give me the Emmett dukedom, then fine. I’ll take it for myself. The future he dreams of is nothing but an illusion anyway. I’ll correct his misguided path and protect the empire’s future. I don’t think that’s such a bad deal for Your Majesty either.”

She had a point.

If he could learn what kind of scheme Duke Emmett was plotting, it would be easier to devise a countermeasure.

“How far can I trust you?”

“Entirely. I can show Your Majesty everything I have.”

Yet even with Greta’s bold assurance, Reynard still couldn’t bring himself to trust her easily.

Greta seemed to sense his reluctance and furrowed her brows, as if thinking deeply.

“What will it take for Your Majesty to trust me? Do you want me to kneel? Then I will.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Just as Greta looked ready to kneel at any moment, Reynard raised his hand to stop her.

“Then what must I do to earn your trust?”

“For now, I will try trusting you.”

There was still too much he didn’t know to fully trust her, but for now, he decided to take her proposal seriously.

Even so, he did not forget to stay cautious of her.

“When everything is over, just as you’ve said, I will grant you the title of Duke Emmett. Along with everything that comes with the Emmett family.”

Before Reynard had even finished speaking, a faint, satisfied smile spread across Greta’s lips.

Reynard gave a short chuckle and continued.

“But in return, you must bring solid information. That’s the basic condition of our deal.”

“Of course. That goes without saying.”

Satisfied with how the deal had concluded, Greta finished the rest of her tea.

Then she set the empty cup down on its coaster and bowed toward Reynard.

“Then, I shall take my leave now.”

“Be careful on your way. The road may not be easy.”

With a gentle smile, Greta gave a polite nod and rose from her seat.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she turned and began to walk out of the office.

Click. Only after the door closed behind her did Reynard let out a low chuckle.

If Greta truly joined his side, things might unfold more smoothly than he had expected.

Finishing his thoughts, Reynard rang the bell on the table, and Martin, who had been waiting in the hallway, entered the office.

“You called, Your Majesty?”

“Look into Duke Emmett and Lady Emmett. Everything related to the two of them — I want it all investigated, without missing a single detail.”

“Yes, understood.”

At Reynard’s command, Martin bowed deeply and replied.

Sensing that things were turning out to be more interesting than he had thought, Reynard leaned back into the sofa with a languid posture.