Unlucky slave.

In his childhood, the knights called Ludwig by that name. A prince driven out by the Second Empress’s forces. Sent to the battlefield at the age of ten, Ludwig truly lived desperately.

K*ll or be killed.

He cut people down to survive and filled his stomach with mud from the ground. Despite being a prince, he was made to run errands and do menial tasks, and was even beaten for being of royal blood. After all, he was an abandoned child. No one cared.

Because of this, until he became a Sword Master, Ludwig’s life was worth less than a flying fly.

Having barely survived all that…

“I heard Lady Brioden visited last night.”

“…”

At Benjamin’s words, the hand holding the pen momentarily stiffened. From the previous night, a woman with pure white platinum blonde hair flickered in his mind.

More precisely, the words she had spoken.

“Haah.”

Displeasure seeped into his sigh. In other circumstances, he would have dismissed such nonsense.

—Please marry me.

—I’ll help Your Highness ascend to the throne. By your side, with full support.

‘She’s insane.’

Well, she wasn’t an ordinary person from the start, entering a royal’s room so carelessly. Ludwig, raising the corner of his mouth, continued turning the documents.

—How could I trust and join hands with the duke’s daughter? Even if you want to break with Brioden, this could still be the Duke’s plot.

—…

—I admit your proposal is tempting. At least you’re the first person to say you’d kill Friedrich to my face.

That was as far as it went. Mentioning Friedrich and the Second Empress was a good strategy, but there was nothing to back it up. When he pointed this out, Sezlin couldn’t immediately provide an answer.

But just as Ludwig was about to get up.

—There’s an abandoned mine in the eastern lands.

Sezlin stopped him.

—…What?

Ludwig, who was about to call the guards, turned back. Sezlin, raising her chin, met his eyes.

—It’s a mine with nothing yet, but soon it will pour out tremendous gold. And I’ve heard they’re currently discussing allowing nobles, not just the imperial family, to own mines.

Until now, all mines were managed by the imperial family. But if this law passed, nobles could also buy mines separately. The imperial family’s mines.

—Then a monopoly war will break out. Who will buy the most expensive mine? The more expensive the mine, the higher its value, and the imperial family will benefit too.

There was only one reason the imperial family loosened their monopoly on mines.

The national treasury was empty.

The citizens’ taxes couldn’t sustain their luxury. So they put on a facade about selling mines to families for development. However, not many mines were actually valuable.

Only those with gems or gold were profitable. Others just required expensive payments with no substance.

—My father is eyeing this opportunity. There’s a mine he’s interested in.

—…

—Buy not the most expensive mine, but the cheapest one. I think its name is… the Hestin Mine.

—So you want me to purchase it?

—No. Just investigate it. When minerals are confirmed, you can buy it then.

Sezlin, supporting herself on the chair, stood up.

—If what I mentioned doesn’t come out of that mine, you can take my head. The crimes of trespassing into a royal’s room and insulting royalty should be enough.

—You have a talent for making reckless statements so casually.

—Because I’m that desperate.

‘Desperate, she says.’

Ludwig, having signed the last page of the document, put down his pen. From their first meeting, Sezlin Brioden was unusual.

The way she honestly expressed her desires and more. He wondered what gave her the confidence to act so recklessly. It seemed more than just desperation; there was almost a sense of urgency.

‘Strange.’

She remained an incomprehensible woman.

They were certainly meeting for the first time. She shouldn’t have had any particular interest in politics or palace situations.

—What can I gain from the mine?

—Since you’ve returned to the palace, you should start increasing your personal wealth.

Sezlin knew his situation too well.

‘Gold, huh.’

Her intuition was uncomfortably sharp.

“Benjamin.”

To the point where it couldn’t be ignored.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“We need to send someone to the Hestin Mine.”

Benjamin tilted his head at Ludwig’s words. Suddenly?

“Isn’t that a place that was abandoned a hundred years ago?”

“Yes. But there’s something to investigate, so select suitable personnel and send them. As quickly as possible.”

“Ah, understood.”

He followed orders because his superior said so, but Benjamin’s face showed clear confusion about the sudden order to investigate a mine abandoned for a century.

Of course he would be confused. Ludwig also knew what kind of place Hestin was, and even he didn’t understand why he was doing this.

Had he ever acted so impulsively before?

“Move discreetly, without drawing attention.”

“Understood, Your Highness.”

Benjamin suppressed his curiosity by firmly closing his lips. Meanwhile, Ludwig, having finished his work, rose from his seat. The fully signed documents went into Benjamin’s hands.

“Ah, and one more thing.”

Before heading to the training ground, Ludwig stopped at the door. Slowly gripping the handle, he opened the door.

“Sezlin Brioden.”

There was no detailed explanation.

“Where she goes, what she does. Even who she meets.”

If it were a lie, he might just kill her. But if gold really came from the mine.

He would have to keep Sezlin Brioden by his side.

“Monitor her without missing anything.”

So he could dispose of her at any time.

* * *

“M-miss.”

As if nervous, the voice that came was unsightly.

Sezlin, not bothering to answer the call, continued folding her fingers.

So, one day.

Two days. Three days. A week. Ten days.

…Finally two weeks.

Sezlin, leaning askew in her chair, looked at her folded hands. She had folded exactly 14 times, meaning it had been exactly two weeks since she visited the imperial palace.

‘Time flies.’

During that time, Sezlin’s life had flowed without major changes.

‘Ah, there is one.’

Miss Sezlin has changed.

This was one of the common sayings circulating within the mansion these days.

Thanks to living as she pleased for several days, at least the employees now began to be wary of Sezlin. There were still cases where they looked down on her, but certainly fewer than before.

Of course, the Duke hadn’t remained idle during this process. Especially when she returned from the palace. The Duke had beaten her. Only after enduring verbal and physical ab*se for nearly a whole day was she released. But there was no pain. Physical suffering no longer affected her.

Even afterward, he disciplined her for being ill-mannered, but the more he did, the more brazenly Sezlin acted.

Since she wasn’t afraid of the Duke’s beatings anymore, there was no need to be cautious.

Did she bully April as before? No, rather, April tried to protect Sezlin. It seemed the humiliation she had suffered before weighed on her mind.

‘She’s so kind.’

Thanks to this, Sezlin’s life itself had improved compared to before. She had quite disliked being hated by April…

“Miss!”

…or not.

Eyes like lakes naturally rolled. Sezlin, looking up at the maid, opened her mouth.

“What a loud voice you have.”

“B-but no matter how many times I called…!”

Emily, who habitually raised her voice, flinched her shoulders. Calm eyes suppressed her.

A signal to stop on her own.

“…His Grace has requested to have dinner together.”

“Decline for me.”

What now. A proposal not worth hearing. What was he thinking, wanting to dine with her? They would both choke on their food because of each other.

“But His Grace said this time he must…”

“Tell him to dine with April. I’m not feeling well today.”

What do you mean not feeling well? Her condition was excellent.

At Sezlin’s words, the maid said she understood and withdrew. She would probably go somewhere and badmouth her again, but as long as it didn’t reach Sezlin’s ears directly, it didn’t matter.

Having dismissed everyone around her, Sezlin blinked at the rare tranquility.

‘He definitely sent people to the mine.’

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left her alone for a week.

Soon, either a letter would come again.

‘Or knights would come to capture me.’

It would be one of the two.

‘He seemed interested though.’

Ludwig had returned after a long war. Even if the Emperor gave him a reward, it would be insufficient to build power for the future. He needed something bigger, more certain. Something that could instantly attract people.

That’s why she thought of the mine.

What Ludwig needed most at present.

‘They say it’s enormously deposited.’

Hestin had been abandoned for over 100 years. Because when they tried to mine gems, only useless things came out. Because of this, at some point, the Hestin Mine was forgotten in people’s memories.

But Duke Brioden was different.

‘He knew from the beginning.’

In the past, after the marriage with the First Prince fell through, Sezlin was dragged to the Duke’s office. But during her scolding, an aide came in, and the Duke’s face gradually brightened at the urgent report.

A few days later, tremendous gold poured out from the abandoned mine.

‘This time I need to direct it to the First Prince.’

Sezlin intended to use that mine very diligently. Down to the last drop.

‘Once you have the mine, you can extract as much money as you want.’

Sezlin quietly caught her breath. In fact, all these thoughts came under the assumption that Ludwig would accept her proposal.

Without Ludwig’s acceptance, all this planning would be in vain.

‘Once he finds the mine, he’ll want to keep me close.’

She understood. She would have done the same. When a lady you’ve just met suddenly talks about contracts and mines, it’s normal to be suspicious.

‘He might even be monitoring me now.’

With this in mind, Sezlin deliberately didn’t leave the mansion. The same applied inside.

Unnecessary suspicion should be avoided.

“Miss!”

At this moment, the hand tapping the table stopped. Sezlin turned her head. Emily, who had withdrawn earlier, was running back breathlessly.

Arriving in front of her in one breath, Emily panted.

“Y-you need to come to the reception room urgently.”

Sezlin’s lips gradually parted. Instinctively, the corners of her mouth twitched. Sezlin, grasping the hem of her dress, covered her mouth with her other hand.

Ah.

“His Highness the First Prince has arrived!”

She shouldn’t smile already.