“My will.”

Edwin took the envelope and began to examine its contents.

As his gaze moved downward, his blue eyes sparkled with joy. Zonderburgh VIII was easy to read. That’s why the nobles liked him too.

‘It’s easier to deal with someone who openly demands money than with a previous emperor who was suspicious.’

With the conquest war ending in victory, the Adrian Empire was more peaceful and wealthy than ever before.

The nobles of Carlisle were now focused on how to divide the spoils of war.

This was especially true as the black jewel, the Eye of Horius, would flow like a cornucopia from the mines in Gerpion.

“Are you giving this to me now?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I also intend to transfer the mining rights in Gerpion, obtained from this conquest war, to the Zonderburgh Imperial Family.”

At Roen’s answer, the corner of Edwin’s mouth lifted slightly.

But as if conscious of Roen’s gaze, he quickly composed himself, even clearing his throat with a “Ahem! Ahem!”

“I’m curious what favor you want to ask of me that would make you transfer even the mining rights. I hope it’s not something difficult to grant, Duchess.”

Unlike before, his voice was higher, revealing his excited emotions.

Roen deliberately pretended not to notice and focused only on her acting.

“It won’t cause Your Majesty any harm.”

“Then tell me. I’ll grant it all.”

As soon as Edwin finished speaking, Roen slowly clasped her hands together.

Then she spoke in the most fragile voice possible. As if she were a woman in love expressing her desperate wish.

“I would like you to make my public proposal an established fact.”

For a brief moment, silence fell.

Edwin seemed lost in thought with furrowed brows.

This was understandable, as it concerned the marriage of the Reushden ducal family, who were second in line to the imperial succession.

If by any chance this marriage were to take place, it would be a union of the Adrian Empire’s most prestigious families.

Objectively speaking, it was just a monster duchess’s one-sided love and a marriage that could never happen, but the remote possibility made him cautious.

“Duchess of Roxburgh, I would like to grant your request, but…”

“You only need to publicly announce that you ‘approve’ in front of the nobles. The Duke of Reushden will make the final decision anyway.”

Edwin frowned for a moment.

“You’re not doing this knowing he’ll refuse, are you?”

Roen unclasped her hands and put them inside her veil. Then she pretended to nervously bite her nails.

Through the slightly lifted veil, Roen’s scars became visible.

Seeing this, Edwin’s brow furrowed slightly, and he sighed.

“Duchess, you should reconsider. They say everyone becomes blind when they fall in love, but you are the Duchess of Roxburgh. Your family’s reputation and honor…”

It was then that Roen’s shoulders, wrapped in the black veil, began to tremble slightly.

As if she were holding back tears.

“Your Majesty, I know too. I know how reckless and foolish this choice is.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to find another way, Duchess?”

Roen shook her head at Edwin’s suggestion.

“This is the only way. And to be honest, I’m already regretting it. When I made the public proposal, it was out of desperation, thinking I might die, but when I came to my senses, I found myself in a situation I couldn’t possibly salvage on my own…”

Roen paused briefly, as if trying to compose her overwhelming emotions.

One, two, three!

After counting to three in her mind, she continued.

“If Your Majesty would just announce that you approve the marriage between the two families, it might restore some of my dignity and my family’s honor. And with luck, the Duke might obey Your Majesty’s command.”

Edwin, who had been nodding in understanding at her words about regret and wanting to salvage the situation, flashed his eyes at Roen’s last statement.

‘Duke Jean Saint Louis Reushden obeying my command.’

The word “obedience” stimulated his interest.

‘A terrible inferiority complex that I hate to admit.’

Even before becoming Emperor, he had envied Jean who excelled in every aspect. No, it was jealousy. And a deeply rooted inferiority complex as well.

He was the one destined to be Emperor, but whenever he looked at Jean, unpleasant emotions kept consuming him.

That’s why five years ago, when Jean said he wanted to go to the battlefield, he immediately granted permission.

In his heart, he had hoped Jean would die honorably in battle.

But not only did he return alive, he also brought the continent of Taran to the Adrian Empire.

The imperial citizens cheered for him. Perhaps they loved Jean more than himself, the Emperor.

‘But if he marries the monster duchess…’

Even without marriage, just being publicly discussed among nobles would become an ugly scandal for Jean.

Already in society, mocking phrases like “Beauty and the Beast” were circulating.

If he were to approve the marriage between the two, given Jean’s personality, he might kill the pitiful and miserable Duchess of Roxburgh.

‘If that happens, the scandal of k*lling an unfortunate woman would follow Jean for the rest of his life. Well, whatever the situation, I have nothing to lose.’

Edwin looked down at the list of Roxburgh’s assets in his hand.

Thinking about the money that would fill the imperial treasury and the humiliation Jean would suffer, an undisguisable smile appeared on his face.

“Very well. I approve. But that’s as far as I can go, Duchess.”

When Edwin gave his approval, Roen finally lowered the hand she had been nervously nibbling on.

Then she rose from her seat and bowed to Edwin.

“Thank you for your approval, Your Majesty.”

“Your gratitude seems premature. Let me give you some advice—be careful, Duchess. Even I think Jean is somewhat insane. It’s obvious from the havoc he wreaked on the battlefield. So take care of yourself.”

Looking at Edwin giving such patronizing advice, a cold smile appeared on Roen’s lips.

Perhaps, as Edwin said, Duke Jean Reushden might indeed be insane.

According to ancient texts, a dragon’s heart manifests its power only when the human who swallowed it reaches adulthood.

That point was probably five years ago when Jean went to the battlefield. There, he must have led countless enemies to their deaths in order to control the dragon’s power.

She could tell without seeing it. What kind of h*ll he had gone through for those five years.

The inescapable fate given to Jean had ultimately brought fame not only to Jean himself but also to the Adrian Empire, and placed the continent of Taran beneath their feet.

Did the Emperor truly understand?

What it meant that Jean had brought the continent of Taran to him?

“Whatever the outcome, I won’t blame Your Majesty.”

“Then let’s discuss the specific plan. When should I announce my approval of the marriage between you and the Duke of Reushden?”

“One month from now, on the Empire’s Founding Day. That would be ideal.”

* * *

2. The Emporium, The Great Moment, and the Master of Ranke

“Simonetta’s Emporium,” located in the center of the capital city Carlisle, was a two-story stone building. Unlike the surrounding shops, it had a quaint atmosphere that seemed straight out of a fairy tale, causing passersby to peer through the glass windows before moving on.

Five years ago, when Roen opened the shop under the identity of Simonetta, no one could have predicted that this small store, which initially looked like a dessert shop, would flourish as it had.

When the shop first opened, ladies were the main customers, but as time passed and rumors spread about how the shop could procure rare and unusual items, male nobles also began to visit one by one.

Before long, people were saying, “There’s nothing that can’t be found at Simonetta’s Emporium.”

The reason for these rumors was due to the wealth of Roxburgh and a club called “Ranke,” operated by the information group directly under the ducal family.

Moreover, when it became known that the shop also accepted secret and discreet requests that couldn’t be revealed publicly, even more people began to visit Simonetta’s Emporium.

Among them, ladies, who made up the majority of the clientele, mostly requested the shop to ghostwrite love letters and deliver them to their intended recipients.

When word spread among the ladies that secretly delivered love letters had reached their targets and even led to marriages, requests poured in like oil on fire.

As a result, the shop had become so busy that Roen and Cecil could no longer manage it by themselves.

Ding, ding.

The bell hanging on the door rang twice.

“Ma’am, it seems a client has come to the second floor.”

Cecil, who had been organizing items, turned to Roen with surprise at the sound of the bell.

“Cecil, please prepare some tea.”

“Yes, I’ll follow you up right away.”

Roen nodded to Cecil, then straightened the hem of her dress. She slowly climbed the stairs.

It was time to meet the client who had come to the second floor.

* * *

“Can the owner of this place really obtain that list?”

Viscount Beluga looked at Count Rubin Gerard with a still skeptical expression.

“I think…”

Just as Count Rubin Gerard was about to speak, the closed door opened. Then a voice abruptly entered.

It was Count Humbolt.

“It seems Viscount Beluga hasn’t heard the rumors yet. That the owner of this emporium can do anything except help traitors.”

“If Count Humbolt says so, I must believe it. By the way, why are you so late? When you didn’t show up past our appointment time, I thought you might have found a lady to marry right away.”

In response to Viscount Beluga’s complaint, Count Humbolt entered with an apologetic expression.

“Sorry, sorry. On my way here, I met the master of ‘Ranke.’ And I heard some very important information from him.”

At the mention of ‘Ranke,’ the expressions of Rubin Gerard and Viscount Beluga noticeably brightened.

‘Ranke’ was a men-only social club where all rumors and information from society and the entire continent of Taran gathered.

Meeting Ventus, the owner of that place, meant he had obtained important information.

“What did he say?”

Rubin asked with a composed expression.

“It seems the Duchess of Roxburgh and His Majesty met a few days ago. He said there appeared to be some kind of deal between the two of them that day.”

“Any specific details?”

“That’s difficult to know in detail since the meeting took place in a private space, the tea room. It was under the control of the head butler.”

“His Majesty summoned the Duchess of Roxburgh to the tea room? Was there anything else?”

“That’s all the information I received, Count.”

Rubin walked to the table by the window with a thoughtful expression. The other two followed him.

“Could she have given that list to His Majesty that day?”