Chapter 13
“Then let me explain. If you master the art of making chopsticks and produce satisfactory results, you’ll be able to acquire astronomers who can access the Id and Wed regions from the Eastern Nation. Her Highness the Princess personally asked Her Majesty the Empress to request the best craftsman from the Duke of Grass family to make it happen.”
Jin and Luke exchanged skeptical glances, doubtful that their chopstick-making skills could be valuable enough to earn such rare astronomical knowledge from the Eastern Nation.
But a few days later, Taylor herself met with Luke and Jin, inspected the chopsticks they had made, and again firmly explained the purpose behind the project.
She emphasized how important this was—so important that she, Princess Taylor, was personally overseeing the entire process. After hearing all this, Jin and Luke asked again, still unsure:
“Is this really true?”
“Doubt only brings anxiety. Just trust me. Otherwise, do you think even the best craftsmen of this empire would be able to meet a princess face-to-face like this?”
Taylor’s explanation—especially coming from someone who had already traveled to the Eastern Nation with astronomers—carried weight. Instinctively, Jin and Luke felt they had to believe her.
In the end, thinking of their families, they poured themselves into perfecting the chopsticks day and night. And today, at last, they had finally crafted chopsticks that satisfied everyone.
“Then we’ll head back now to prepare for departure.”
Jin and Luke bowed and quickly left the room. There were many things to prepare for the journey across the desert to the Eastern Nation.
Creak.
After the door closed, Taylor turned her serious gaze to Monica and Liam.
“Duke Orsé. Still no news about the plague?”
“No. We haven’t uncovered anything yet.”
“I’ve had the Riat trading company deploy people across the regions, but no reports of an outbreak so far. If anything comes up while I’m in the Eastern Nation, I’ll order them to report it to you directly before I leave.”
“Aren’t we accompanying you this time?” Monica tilted her head in curiosity.
“This time, His Majesty has granted permission for the First Imperial Knights to accompany us. If any of the artisans or astronomers were injured during the journey, it would be a huge loss. Thankfully, His Majesty understands that, so I’ve decided to go with his plan.”
“If the First Imperial Knights are going, then the Second and Third Divisions will be in charge of guarding the Emperor and the palace?”
“Exactly.”
Liam fell into a brief silence.
The First Division’s commander was both loyal and competent, but the commander of the Second Division was inherently greedy, and the Third Division’s leader enjoyed laziness and irresponsibility.
Furthermore, the divisions that frequently enforced the cruel Decimatio military law were precisely the Second and Third. If they were left in charge of the Emperor and palace, it was clear which knights would be sacrificed under that law.
Taylor’s eyes shifted to Liam.
“Duke Orsé.”
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what, Your Highness?”
“About the Decimatio law.”
“Why are you apologizing, Your Highness? This is something I must handle. Please don’t worry about it.”
“I know I can’t help right now. Repealing the law requires the Emperor’s absolute authority. But if the Decimatio law is still in place by the time I ascend the throne, I promise I will carefully consider and abolish it.”
“Thank you.”
A heavy silence fell. Then Monica spoke.
“Then we’ll stay here and continue investigating the plague. By the way, are you traveling with Crown Prince Theodoro this time?”
“No. His Majesty entrusted the astronomy project entirely to me. Why do you ask about Theodoro?”
“It just feels strange that he’s staying in the Crown Prince’s palace.”
“You’re right. That’s why, Monica, Liam—please keep an eye on him. He’s not someone who backs down easily. Even if he’s stepped back for now, once the succession battle begins in earnest, there’s no telling what he’ll do. In fact, who knows—maybe he’s already preparing for that moment.”
“We’re preparing too.”
“I know. I heard the Orsé ladies’ tea parties have become quite the thing?”
“Yes. I didn’t realize so many noblewomen were interested in business. Marchioness Rose even asked for advice because she wants to start a cookie business using jam. She even mentioned direct trade.”
“Lady Rose has failed in the dessert business multiple times. But with proper guidance, she could succeed. I’m already excited to see how much the empire changes after I return from the Eastern Nation.”
A wave of hope stirred in the hearts of Monica, Taylor, and Liam.
Ten days passed since Princess Taylor departed with her delegation to the Eastern Nation. On the day they left, citizens of all ages had poured into the streets to cheer them on with excitement.
The enthusiasm was no longer hindered by the fact that Taylor was a woman. The public had already undergone a mental revolution from her unpredictable achievements.
Meanwhile, the social gatherings hosted by the Orsé ladies had solidified their place as the center of high society. Modern and open-minded, the gatherings drew nobles from all classes—those interested in business, those wanting to use business to enter politics, or those seeking popular favor through novel ventures.
Half of the profits from their jam business were invested in training and hiring new talent.
Just as Taylor had hoped, a new power group was taking shape.
Yet despite all these changes, Monica no longer felt the pain in her heart.
She used to feel pain whenever something went against the “principle,” to varying degrees. Now, even as society transformed rapidly, there was no pain.
Monica placed her hand over her chest, lost in thought.
‘It’s gone. Does that mean the principle has completely collapsed?’
No. I can’t let my guard down.
Thinking of Habub, Monica forced herself to stay alert. She maintained correspondence with Gamil, exchanging letters about the weather.
He was in the Sade region, observing the stars to predict the coming year’s weather.
After hearing that the princess was returning to the Eastern Nation, Gamil had traveled to the capital to deliver a letter to the sultan.
Along with the blue bird Modin, Gamil had spent a few days at the palace observing the stars and wrote a letter to the sultan.
Monica also kept her promise by writing down everything she’d learned about the plague and sent it.
‘Angela and Baron Moden… Where did they go?’
The only person fitting the profile Kaha had given was Angela. Since returning to the empire, many people had been mobilized to find her.
Yet no trace of Angela or Baron Moden had been found.
‘Is someone protecting them? Who could it be?’
Or maybe Kaha’s astrology was wrong.
Monica came to a different conclusion—maybe it was still too early for the plague to appear.
And this wasn’t yet the point in the original story where Angela would reappear with Benjamin, claiming he was Liam’s son.
While pondering, Monica picked up her pen and wrote in her notebook:
<“Liam, are you done with your palace work? When are you coming back?”>
She had sent Liam to the palace early that morning to request an audience with the Emperor regarding the Decimatio law.
If Angela couldn’t be found, perhaps she could try locating Sophia, the original heroine and Saint. Though she hadn’t been born yet…
Monica was lost in these thoughts when suddenly—she heard someone running loudly down the hallway.
“Duchess Orsé! My lady! Forgive me, I must open the door!”
The door burst open with Count Pencil’s urgent voice. Monica jumped up, startled.
“W-what’s going on?”
Count Pencil, drenched in sweat, looked at her with frightened eyes.
“Please don’t be alarmed. The Duke… has been imprisoned.”
“What? In prison? Why? What’s the charge?”
“M-murder.”
His legs gave out, and he collapsed in shock. Monica rushed over and shook his shoulders.
“Count Pencil, please explain clearly! Who did Liam kill? You know better than anyone he’s not capable of that! Please pull yourself together!”
“His Majesty isn’t dead yet, but… he collapsed like a dead man. The palace healers and White Elves are checking on him, but it’s no use.”
“You mean… Liam tried to kill the Emperor?”
“Yes. Since the Duke often clashed with His Majesty over the Decimatio law, suspicions naturally fell on him.”
“If His Majesty has collapsed… then who has taken over the throne? Don’t tell me—it’s Crown Prince Theodoro?!”
Monica swayed, dizzy.
This was it. Theodoro was never one to sit still. They had all fallen into his trap.
“Crown Prince Theodoro has assumed temporary authority. And the moment he did, he accused Duke Orsé of poisoning His Majesty and had him imprisoned.”
“Call Lowe from the Riat trading company! We must inform Princess Taylor immediately! Before Theodoro closes off the empire’s borders!”
Monica’s vision darkened as her thoughts came to a halt. If they couldn’t inform Taylor, it was all over.
There was no doubt Theodoro had orchestrated the Emperor’s collapse. With power in hand, he would never allow the Emperor to awaken again.
Count Pencil nodded, understanding Monica’s urgency, and sprinted down the corridor.
(Continued in next message…)
Monica’s short reply sent a chill down Count Pencil’s spine. He nodded heavily, waiting for her to continue.
“Baron Moden and Angela are in the capital. And apparently, Baron Moden is going to use the letter he previously sent as evidence to testify that Liam killed the Emperor. So, I found that letter before they could and burned it.”
“What? Baron Moden did that? No, surely not. He’s not that kind of person…”
Unable to believe what he was hearing, Count Pencil jumped to his feet. He looked like he was ready to run out of the office and confront Baron Moden immediately.
“If you don’t believe me, you can check at the palace tomorrow. Liam said he would definitely testify.”
“Ha…”
Count Pencil let out a heavy sigh, his expression conflicted and overwhelmed.
“If that’s true, then Baron Moden cannot be forgiven. That’s betrayal. Betrayal!”
“Count Pencil, let’s put Moden’s matter aside for now. There’s something else I need to discuss first.”
“…What is it?”
“Angela is in the capital too. Please find her.”
“Angela?”
Unaware that Liam had previously sent people to find Angela and Baron Moden, Count Pencil asked again in surprise.
“Yes. I believe she’s deeply involved in what’s happening. Liam said everything is the Crown Prince’s scheme. So Angela and Baron Moden are probably following his orders. If Baron Moden is testifying at the palace, Angela must be acting now.”
“What do you plan to do once you find her?”
“I need to know what the Crown Prince is planning. Otherwise, we won’t be able to respond. Right now, Angela is the only one we can reach.”
Monica chose not to mention the plague as she explained things to Count Pencil. Since they weren’t yet certain if the Emperor had collapsed due to the plague or knew its exact path, she didn’t want to cause panic.
“Understood.”
“And one more thing—please tell the other retainers not to act rashly. If they hear that Baron Moden betrayed the Orsay family, they might try to meet with him.”
Count Pencil ran a hand over his face, frustration evident. It wasn’t just the retainers—he himself was filled with fury toward Baron Moden. It wasn’t easy to calm down.
When he looked back at Monica, she didn’t look well either. Her fists were clenched tightly as if she were barely holding herself together.
“Please. I know it’s tempting to confront him directly, but we can’t recklessly approach someone like Baron Moden when he’s moving with the Crown Prince.”
“…Yes.”
“Thank you. Also, I need to meet with Liu from the Liat Merchant Guild. We have to send mercenaries to the city near the desert border.”
“Why?”
“Assassins are lying in wait there to kill Princess Taylor. Of course, we’ll have to spare their leader—so we can expose that the Crown Prince is behind this.”
“…So the Crown Prince has made his move.”
“Yes. It seems he’s carefully planned every step this time. And finally…”
After a brief pause, Monica spoke with resolve.
“I’m going to ask Alex to set things in motion again behind the scenes.”
“You’re going to see the Duke again?”
“This time, I want you, Count Pencil, to go to the underground prison and help Liam escape.”
“What? Escape?”
Count Pencil looked horrified, his eyes widening. He had already pledged loyalty, so helping Liam escape wasn’t difficult. What shocked him was that such words came from Monica herself.
“Liam isn’t doing well. I think he was tortured… His body’s in a bad state. If we leave him like that…”
She trailed off. If they left him, he would surely die. She had to break him out before that happened.
Monica looked at Count Pencil with determined eyes—as if failing in anything else might be forgivable, but failing in this would not be.
“Is he badly hurt?”
Count Pencil, who had once fought monsters and battles alongside Liam, knew he was a strong man. And Liam wasn’t the kind of person to attempt an escape because of torture.
He had both the physical and mental strength to endure. But this wasn’t about enduring anymore.
The Liam Count Pencil knew would always face problems head-on, not run away.
So why would he plan an escape?
If Liam escaped, the entire Orsay household and its retainers could be in danger. That much was clear even without seeing the situation firsthand.
So why was he escaping?
As Count Pencil struggled with confusion, Monica answered.
“Yes, he’s badly hurt. He needs treatment immediately.”
“…I understand. But if the Duke escapes, the Duchess and all the retainers might be arrested.”
“We’ll hide before then.”
“But can hiding solve the problem? Can an entire household vanish just like that?”
“Well… maybe not. But Liam is in danger!”
Suddenly, Monica’s emotions flared. She truly believed Liam might die if he didn’t get out soon.
“I’ll talk to Alex Baron right away and get the process moving.”
“If money is needed, use the profits from the jam business in my name. I don’t need that money. Please, start as soon as possible—”
“Duchess, I can’t go to him tomorrow. I need time to prepare, and Alex needs a few days for the groundwork. In the meantime, why don’t we call a meeting with trustworthy retainers and plan accordingly?”
Monica hesitated before answering. She wanted to say, Please go to Liam now, but she couldn’t.
The fear of losing him, the anxiety—it made her eyebrows tremble.
Understanding her emotional state, Count Pencil reassured her gently.
“I’m not refusing your request. I just need time to prepare.”
Eventually, Monica nodded heavily, biting her lip.
[The translation continues into the next scene with Simon’s arrival. If you’d like the rest of the chapter translated (from Simon’s entrance onward), let me know and I’ll continue from there.]
“We’ve confirmed that Tuir is living with Angela in an old building.”
A heavy silence lingered in the drawing room. Knowing that Liam’s life depended on her decision, Monica felt the need to be extra cautious.
“Duchess, what do you plan to do now?”
“If it were up to me, I’d capture Angela and Tuir immediately. But if we make a move, the Crown Prince’s side will catch on.”
“Even if they suspect something, they can’t openly accuse us, can they?”
Count Pencil swallowed hard. Monica responded as if she had been waiting for that.
“Of course, Theodor won’t openly suspect the Orsay Ducal House without reason. But if Liam escapes prison, the first suspect will be the Orsay family.”
“Then what should we do?”
“We need to move simultaneously.”
“Simultaneously?” Liu, who had been quietly listening, asked in surprise.
“Yes. While Count Pencil helps Liam escape, we will go capture Angela and Tuir. Then we’ll regroup somewhere outside the ducal estate. That’s the best way.”
Monica emphasized the word “escape.” Just the thought of Liam slowly dying day by day caused her unbearable pain. If he were to truly die…
She didn’t even want to imagine such an ending.
“It’s a plan we can implement immediately. Baron Alex said he’s finished the behind-the-scenes arrangements and can meet the Duke at any time.”
“Have the children and elderly among the retainers’ families already been evacuated?”
“Yes, they’ve been sent to other regions. But…”
Count Pencil hesitated, thinking deeply, then continued.
“What’s your plan afterward?”
“What do you mean?”
“After the Duke escapes and we capture Tuir and Angela. Staying in the capital could be dangerous.”
“Angela and Tuir will be held in a secure location. We’ll head to the desert. I also believe staying in the capital is too risky. It’ll be safest to meet up with Princess Taylor and act together.”
“…Will Princess Taylor be all right?”
Liu asked cautiously.
Monica’s gaze turned to Liu’s bloodshot eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept, likely from worrying about Taylor and his brother, Rowe.
Suddenly, Monica felt overwhelmed by everything happening around her.
Knowing that the lives of so many people depended on her made her heart tighten to the point she could barely breathe.
‘Ah.’
Her body, which had been tense with effort, swayed slightly.
“Are you all right?”
Count Pencil asked loudly, startled.
“…I’m fine.”
No one can be given up. Her heart and eyes hardened with determination.
She had nowhere left to retreat.
With firm resolve, Monica spoke.
“Then let’s meet with the retainers currently here and discuss the next steps. They don’t know about Angela yet, right?”
“No. They’ll be furious once they hear the full story.”
“Then let’s go.”
Liu and Count Pencil led the way, shielding Monica as they moved. As they opened the door and stepped out, they found the retainers lined up in the hallway, waiting for her.
“W-why are you waiting here? Since when?”
Their eyes shone with the same fiery resolve as Monica’s.
“We wanted to join you,” said Countess Pencil meaningfully.
“Yes! We want to help too!” exclaimed Viscountess Book, clenching her fists.
A few days ago, the retainers had heard about Baron Moden’s betrayal from Count Pencil. They had suppressed their urge to rush out and beat the man to a pulp.
‘The Duchess has a plan. Wait for the right moment.’
Count Pencil’s words had power.
They had bottled up their rage and waited for Monica to act.
Having worked with Monica in the jam business, they knew she wasn’t one to act recklessly.
They assumed she must be making careful plans with Count Pencil behind the scenes—and waited.
When they heard Count Pencil had returned and was meeting with Monica in the drawing room, they instinctively knew: the time had come.
It was the hunter’s instinct.
Sharpened by years of monster hunting and surviving war.
“Let’s not stand in the hallway. Let’s go to the conference room. I’ll explain everything there.”
Count Pencil, having spent years hunting monsters and marching through battlefields with them, took the situation in stride.
“Yes, and I’ll share our future plans too,” Monica added.
The retainers nodded in agreement and followed them into the conference room.
