The gardeners and workers near the Crown Princess’s residence quietly continued their work after cutting down a few trees.

Standing by her bedroom window, Amelia spent her day watching flowers being planted in the previously bare lawn and checking for areas in the residence that needed repair.

She had worried in advance about the noise of workmen banging around the house with their tools, but there weren’t too many major repairs needed.

More often, the commotion came from seeking Helen’s advice on choosing curtain colors or replacing kitchenware.

Thus, the only one who truly bothered Amelia was Josef.

“Where did you go yesterday?”

Josef asked as he looked over invoices at his desk.

Amelia, standing across from him, looked up.

Just moments earlier, she’d been thinking about the numbers on the paper in front of her, wondering if they were accurate—because she never knew what Josef might find fault with.

But then, he suddenly asked about where she’d gone the previous day. Caught off guard, she answered honestly.

“I visited the Chiaveri Barony.”

That seemed to irk Josef.

“….”

Amelia didn’t miss the moment Josef’s eyebrow raised. So, he knew that the knight he’d kicked was named Bartholomew. How could he treat someone she knew like that? Was it because he knew they couldn’t complain to him?

“Why?”

“I was invited by Lady Rose.”

“So you’ll go anywhere as long as you’re invited?”

Josef said with irritation.

“Someone like Bartholomew isn’t your type.”

At his sneering comment, Amelia retorted defensively.

“I didn’t know she had a brother.”

“Make sure you know next time.”

He opened a drawer with a loud clatter, then threw a folded sheet of paper on his desk.

“Take it.”

Though he told her to take it, it was closer to him than to her. After a brief hesitation, Amelia walked over to his side and unfolded the paper.

It was a thick, slightly rough sheet with names of counts, barons, and family members listed. Marika’s name was on it as well.

Beside each name was a description of their appearance and brief details, like how Bartholomew was the Chiaveri family’s eldest son with dark red hair and brown eyes, a member of the knight order, and involved in a few rumored scandals with various women.

“You should at least know the nobles coming in and out of the palace.”

In other words, this was information on the noble families of the Olstein capital.

It would undoubtedly be useful to tailor shops eager to know which families were extravagant spenders, as well as royal officials interested in knowing whom to ally with for career advancement.

“Is it okay for me to have something this important?”

“I’ve memorized it all, so I don’t need it.”

Contrary to Amelia’s concern, Josef responded with a relaxed smile.

‘I was curious who would benefit the most if I died.’

—

When Marika heard that Amelia was staying at the Crown Princess’s residence, she couldn’t let it slide.

To Marika, that residence was a sacred space, meant to be preserved until the imperial bride arrived. But now Amelia was staying there? Marika felt she wouldn’t be satisfied until she knew why Josef hadn’t mentioned it.

Josef had readily agreed to her request for an audience, even sending a carriage. Though holding the meeting in his office felt cold, it was also typical of Josef.

“It’s been a while,” Josef said as Marika entered, the chamberlain opening the door for her.

Marika curtsied to Josef and glanced around the office. It was as spotless as the last time she’d visited with her father. Usually, nobles who invited Marika filled their rooms with flowers, knowing that someone who grew up in a massive greenhouse filled with every plant on the continent wasn’t easily impressed.

But Josef had summoned Marika to this neat room with not a single vase in sight. Though the chamberlain had brought tea, Josef didn’t even touch it. Josef was the only man in Olstein who didn’t feel the need to cater to Marika’s mood.

And that bothered her.

“Your Highness, is it true that Miss Amelia is living in the Crown Princess’s residence?”

“It’s true.”

Josef’s curt response left Marika bewildered.

“Why? Isn’t that a place that no one can enter freely?”

“Amelia is overseeing repairs there. There’s quite a bit to be done.”

He explained casually.

“She’s in charge of repairing it?”

“Yes. I’m pouring money into it every day, thanks to her.”

Josef replied with a slightly exasperated expression, which made Marika feel a little better. After all, there was no way the daughter of the Duke of Mieschko would handle such bothersome tasks herself.

“What is it that bothers you?” Josef asked this time.

“Pardon?”

“You looked like you came to confront me.”

“Oh my. Not at all.”

Marika smiled softly.

“I was just curious why you didn’t tell me in advance.”

She briefly explained how she had found out, and in doing so, naturally mentioned that Amelia had visited the Chiaveri Barony.

“So, apparently Bartholomew had some quite expensive clothes tailored, only to find out that the buttons were fake. Amelia was the one who noticed, which put him in an embarrassing spot,” Marika said, feigning sympathy yet with a hint of amusement. Both reactions were genuine, in the typical manner nobles felt when hearing of another family’s humiliation.

“Is that so?” Josef grinned as if he had just heard delightful news, surprising Marika. She hadn’t realized Josef also enjoyed hearing gossip—or perhaps he just particularly disliked Bartholomew.

“Miss Amelia isn’t one to be underestimated,” Marika added.

“It’s impressive that she could remain so composed among strangers. If it were me, I might have gotten angry. Poor Rose ended up in tears, though.”

As Marika spoke, Josef lit a cigarette, his profile visible through the smoke, as if lost in thought.

Whenever their conversations lingered too long, Josef would close off like this, retreating into his own world, as if he knew it would prompt Marika to leave.

“…”

Growing impatient as she fiddled with her dress’s embellishments, Marika finally spoke up.

“Your Highness, could you please put out the cigarette?”

Josef exhaled a long trail of smoke.

“… What?”

After a while, he looked at her with a puzzled expression.

The cigarette was already burnt out and extinguished.

“…Never mind,” Marika replied, shaking her head with a smile, though inwardly cursing him.

She vowed that once she became Crown Princess, she’d break him of that habit.

* * *

From the Kingdom of Kut, a series of cargo ships loaded with timber set sail for Brienne. Only the queen of Kut and her closest advisors knew that the wood was destined for building the Olstein navy fleet.

“Your Majesty seems to have considerable trust in Brienne,” remarked the head of the knight order, seated in the parlor. He seemed irritated by Admiral Licht’s swift departure back to Brienne and Queen Olga’s easy acceptance of his proposal, showing clear discontent.

“Not really,” she replied.

She sat on a low-backed armchair, resting one hand on the throne’s arm, which glistened with a large ruby unique to the Har Mountains.

“If you don’t trust them, why so readily supply the materials needed to build Olstein’s fleet?” he asked, to which the queen raised an amused eyebrow.

“Oh, Leonid. You need to become a bit more cunning.”

“… What do you mean, Your Majesty?” Leonid inquired, unaffected by the advice from his much younger queen.

“Brienne’s entire territory is probably no bigger than Olstein’s capital city. Could a small, weak nation like that dare to speak of independence from other countries?”

“Hm…”

“Count Leonid laid it all bare in our deal, staking everything. If I detect even a hint of betrayal, I need only inform the Olstein emperor. There’s no risk on our side.”

“Is there any real chance of Brienne gaining independence?”

Olga thought that there was indeed a possibility—and that it could even work to their advantage.

In its empire-building, Olstein had spilled too much blood. The main issue was their crown prince, infamous for developing a cavalry tactic that involved thrusting lances into his enemies’ necks on the battlefield. He even ordered the complete eradication of the leaders’ families after each conquest.

In wars soaked with blood, resistance was inevitable. While the continent remained silent under the threat of Olstein’s sharp sword, there were certainly forces that resented the empire’s dominance. The empire’s nobles must also be weary of the long years of war.

The queen, having finished her regency, had a goal. She wished to see the Olstein Empire stumble at least once before she passed away. It would be even better if another nation overthrew the empire, as had once happened to the Kingdom of Kut.

“It’s difficult to threaten the empire on our own.”

Although the Kingdom of Kut was attached to the continent, the Har Mountains divided its boundary, leaving access to Olstein only by sea. This was both an advantage and a disadvantage. It would be ideal to plant forces within the continent that could shake Olstein, starting with Brienne.

“For the time being, I plan to support Brienne as much as possible.”

“For the time being?”

“Leonid, as I said earlier.”

Queen Olga gave a mischievous smile as she looked at the puzzled Leonid.

“Until the empire notices. We’ll act as bats in the meantime.”