TMLITTKM | CHAPTER 46

chapter 46

“What I said? What do you mean?”

I pretended not to know for now.

It could have been about something else.

“You looked at my documents.”

“Oh, that… I’m sorry.”

Since it was wrong of me to look without permission, I apologized first.

“I’m not blaming you. I was wondering if you had any advice.”

Before answering, I carefully considered Vincent’s expression.

It didn’t look like he was just testing me, he seemed serious.

So, he’s willing to act even for something like this.

This was very important to him, so he couldn’t afford to ignore a passerby’s advice.

“About the vote, what do you think, Your Highness?”

I decided to ask his opinion first.

The kind of advice I gave depended on what he already understood.

“We’re lacking.”

“Your Highness? The numbers seem about the same.”

Oscar cut in, but Vincent slowly shook his head.

“That’s if everyone attends. If even a few are absent, we’ll lose.”

“Well… that’s true.”

This time Oscar turned to me with a question.

“Are you thinking about His Majesty the Emperor, my lady?”

“That’s right. His Majesty has twenty votes.”

At my words, Oscar let out a small laugh before quickly fixing his expression.

“Of course, His Majesty’s twenty votes would overturn everything in an instant.

But His Majesty has never participated in a vote.

He’s always stayed neutral.”

“Can you really call it neutrality if His Majesty remains neutral on laws that harm the people?”

“L-Lady…”

Oscar was startled by my bold remark and glanced around nervously, while Vincent looked intrigued.

“Amelia, what you say has meaning. The problem is whether it’s possible. Convincing His Majesty. Do you have a plan?”

Here I had to be cautious.

This path wasn’t in the original story.

I had thought about it, but I wasn’t sure if it would work.

When I stayed silent, Oscar gave me a look that said I knew it, while Vincent nodded.

“Still, it’s worth considering once. Thank you for the advice.”

Since he seemed ready to end the discussion, I hurriedly added.

“There’s something else. The Duke of Priem.”

This time, I got a much stronger reaction than when I mentioned the Emperor.

Both Vincent and Oscar looked surprised, as if they hadn’t thought of him at all.

That made sense.

Before Vincent’s regression, the Duke of Priem had never shown up in the vote.

His sudden appearance afterward was probably because the Duke of Wentworth, sensing imminent defeat, had made some kind of desperate deal.

It wasn’t hard to guess what that was.

Winter was approaching.

The northern winters were far harsher than here, requiring more supplies, but the region had few means of generating profit.

So he had later on Priem with money.

Whatever the promised amount, it was something the Duke of Wentworth was confident about.

Of course, that probably wasn’t the only reason.

There must also have been a buildup of resentment toward the Imperial family.

This was something I pieced together after reading in the library about how the northern Priem region had been annexed, and comparing it to the original story.

“Certainly, persuading the Duke of Priem would be easier than persuading His Majesty.”

Oscar, after thinking it over, was the first to respond positively.

But he still assumed Priem wouldn’t attend.

The possibility that Priem might actually side with the opposition hadn’t crossed his mind.

“The Duke of Priem… He holds ten votes. But would he really come to the capital for this?

His Majesty has invited him many times over the years, but he never came.”

“He is known to be reclusive. I’ve never seen him either.”

That level of refusal suggested either he was an extremely introverted man, or he really was expressing his dissatisfaction with the Imperial family in this way.

“For now, we should think about whether there’s a way to persuade him. First we need to identify what we’re lacking.”

“Yes, I’ll look into it.”

Since they decided to take care of it themselves, I figured it was best to leave the Piem that was really. The real problem was the Emperor.

From the way they avoided mentioning him, they must have already given up.

Even Vincent seemed to believe his, father’s indecisive nature couldn’t be changed.

It makes sense.

Still, twenty votes were too important to ignore.

Even if the outcome was uncertain, I had to at least try.

But since I couldn’t guarantee results, I decided not to bring up the Emperor again.

As for the Molton family… should I mention them first?

Would that look strange?

While I hesitated, Vincent thankfully opened his mouth first.

“Amelia, you once mentioned the Molton family to me.”

“Yes, over a meal. My father… well, he suggested a marriage arrangement, then canceled it.

At the time, I didn’t explain why, but it was because of rumors that the Marchioness of Molton was addicted to gambling.”

“Yes, after hearing that from you, I also thought something was off, so I investigated.”

So he intended to explain in detail?

Oscar didn’t seem reassured by Vincent’s explanation.

He cancelled dancing between Vincent and me with a worried expression.

After a moment, Vincent spoke again.

“Amelia, I thought you already had some idea, so I’ll say it plainly.

Your father, the Duke of Wentworth, and I are on opposite political sides.”

Of course they were, but it was unusual for Vincent to state it so openly to me.

It meant his view of “Amelia” had risen.

At the very least, he believed we could talk honestly.

I stayed quiet, waiting for his next words, but maybe he misunderstood my silence, because he added more.

“Of course, we’re not different in every respect. Sometimes we cooperate…”

“I know. That’s why both sides are scrambling for votes on the new tax reform my father proposed.”

“Yes, but when it comes to the Molton family, things could go beyond a vote.

Which means the Duke of Wentworth could take quite a blow.”

The way Vincent said it, he almost seemed sorry.

But to me, the fact that he was willing to tell me this was encouraging.

“I understand.”

Hearing my brief answer, Vincent and Oscar studied my face.

“You really… understand?”

“Of course.”

He didn’t need to be so cautious.

Was it because I had cried earlier?

Not that it was real crying anyway.

So, he’s weak to tears?

Maybe I could use it sparingly… very sparingly.

If I overdid it, it would lose its effect.

Though of course, if someone stopped caring altogether, no amount of tears would matter.

That made me wonder.

Vincent couldn’t possibly have any affection for Amelia.

Is it kindness, or an act? Or… is it because I’ve changed?

Either way, Vincent seemed reassured but still skeptical.

So I decided to give him a reason to trust me more.

“Actually, I’m not that cherished of a daughter in my family.”

Both men fell silent, clearly not expecting that.

I let the words hang for a moment.

Just then, Vivian came in with tea, giving me the perfect pause without making things awkward.

“What do sceptical my lady?

That’s hard to believe.

Everyone knows the Duke of Wentworth adores you.”

That just meant the relationship was well-packaged for the outside world.

When I let my face fall into a gloomy expression, Oscar flusteredly waved his hands.

“No,I didn’t mean you were lying, my lady.”

“My mother is different.”

At that, Oscar shut his mouth, and Vincent looked at me in surprise.