“I’m losing my mind. Surrendering one’s body is not permitted under Imperial law…!”
‘No. That’s not it.’
Liselotte, who had almost instinctively tried to argue back again, bit her lip hard.
In any case, for now she needed to focus on the fact that she had gained a new aide.
After dividing the contracts so that each held a copy, she rose from her seat.
“Fine. If you’re fine with it, Hedmilton, then so am I. I look forward to working with you.”
When she held out her hand, he stared blankly for a moment before accepting the handshake with both hands.
“Just tell me what to do!”
There was a great deal of meaning packed into her greeting.
From this moment on, Hedmilton was her official aide.
‘Temporary, but still!’
Was it not a perfect situation to openly display at the banquet that an Eastern aide had transferred to the North?
At official gatherings, Duke Gloria seemed to be quite conscious of outward appearances.
‘There are times when people like that only respond when you apply pressure openly…’
He should have restrained his greed.
The one who had kicked away multiple chances to resolve things amicably was House Gloria.
‘Seeing how they were brazen even after Hedmilton openly mentioned the letter, it means they intend to get the money no matter what.’
Was this some declaration that dying was better than apologizing?
They said that a noble stripped of pride and honor was no better than a corpse, but Duke Gloria had gone too far.
‘Well then, shall I add some fuel to the rumors about the East collapsing?’
Contrary to those chilling thoughts, she smiled brightly, hooked her hand around Eren’s offered arm, and left the waiting room.
***
As expected, when they returned to the Great Hall, she could see Duke Gloria from afar, swallowing his shock.
Diana, whose health was poor, seemed to have left early, as she was nowhere to be seen.
The onlookers’ eyes openly flicked back and forth between Liselotte and Duke Gloria.
Yet not a single person spoke to her.
She had been planning to proudly bring up Hedmilton the moment someone nudged her with a question, but since no one asked, the opportunity never came.
‘Are we really that intimidating?’
Thinking back, it made sense.
Liselotte, infamous in the Capital for her outrageous conduct.
Eren, who possessed the Word of Command.
They were exactly the kind of people others wanted to avoid, no matter which way they looked at it.
‘Come to think of it, when we entered earlier, no one spoke to us either, except Valen and Jeyord!’
At this rate, she would not even be able to spread the rumor that Hedmilton had transferred to the North.
As Liselotte busily darted her eyes around, searching for someone to talk to.
Jeyord sauntered over.
“So you hired him in the end?”
He casually voiced the question that most of the onlookers had not dared to ask, only watching for cues instead.
“From today onward, Hedmilton Rovans, who will be serving as my aide.”
She pronounced Hedmilton’s name firmly, syllable by syllable, leaving no room for escape.
The faces of the Eastern nobles who had been deliberately ignoring the rumors turned deathly pale.
Among them were even Hedmilton’s relatives.
House Gloria had been responsible for overseeing the subjugations in the East.
For an ordinary House, it was not easy to possess the wealth and experience necessary to field a subjugation force capable of responding to the entire Eastern region.
There was a reason the representative Houses of each region wielded power and earned respect.
In the current Perida Empire, noblesse oblige meant subjugation.
Some, sensing something ominous instinctively from the fleeting look of confusion that crossed Duke Gloria’s face, grew uneasy.
The Eastern nobles, who had been holding back all evening, now openly sought out Duke Gloria to voice their concerns.
“Your Grace said it was only a temporary vacancy because the Commander of the Knight Order retired. You said you would appoint a replacement soon.”
“Did something happen during the recent joint subjugation with the North?”
“Did you not say the explosion at the magic stone mine would be resolved shortly?”
“Your Grace, please say something.”
Amid the crowd that suddenly surged in, Duke Gloria was visibly flustered.
Under normal circumstances, Hedmilton would have been supporting him from behind, but now there was no one left to help.
Though he put on a calm front, to Liselotte it seemed as if she could hear Duke Gloria’s thoughts racing.
Duke Gloria raised one hand, cutting off the barrage of questions from the Eastern nobles in one stroke.
“Why are you all behaving like this? There are times when subjugation forces undergo changes. Do they not grow old as well?”
For now, he had to suppress this commotion.
Whether the hastily spoken words of reassurance were effective or not, the Eastern nobles at least adopted an attitude of listening, fixing their eyes on his mouth.
From afar, his eyes met Liselotte’s as she watched the situation unfold.
She let out a scoff of a laugh, as if it were ridiculous, then turned her back without hesitation and left together with Eren.
It looked as though she exchanged greetings with Jeyord, and then she promptly departed the Great Hall.
As if her business there was finished.
‘So they lured Hedmilton away!’
He had objected to his words at times, but he had generally done as he was told.
The fact that he had even followed them to the banquet and then submitted his resignation as easily as flipping his palm was strange, unlike his usual self.
What other reason could there be?
It was obvious that the North had seduced Hedmilton through sowing discord.
‘Even in the Capital, she would approach those connected to Diana at the drop of a hat. Marriage has not changed her at all.’
This time, it seemed Hedmilton was the target.
‘They are trying to cover up House Keilos’ wrongdoing in this way. It was my mistake to believe the Princess would coordinate things properly from the start.’
It even felt intentional that they had openly spread rumors favorable to the North.
They had caused the mine to explode and were now acting as if they were the victims. His insides churned with indignation.
Even so, he could not vent that anger in front of the cold gazes of the Eastern nobles.
He had to correct the rumors somehow.
Duke Gloria, his expression darkening sharply, replied in a harsh, accusatory tone.
“Hedmilton has betrayed the East.”
“…Was he really that kind of person?”
One of the Eastern nobles, still unable to put away their suspicious gaze, voiced a doubt.
Since it had now been publicly declared, it seemed he should air his grievance for all to hear.
“I went through all that trouble taking in that useless fellow and teaching him. But rather than an old man, it seems he prefers someone who fawns over him.”
He had not named anyone directly, but everyone knew that the target was Liselotte.
It could not help but be naturally linked to the rumors she had been stirring up all this time.
“Despite the lies every time, and even after he completely botched the joint subjugation with the North this time, I still extended him favors. I scolded him a bit just now, and he immediately handed in his resignation.”
It was a truth without a single lie. At least, Duke Gloria believed it to be so.
“It is my fault for indulging him just because he handled a single contract with the Magic Tower well. Please remember this one thing: I have never personally driven anyone out.”
They all left of their own accord.
Hedmilton, the Commander of the Knight Order, and even the subjugation commander and his troops.
***
The morning after the banquet.
Waking up in House Keilos’ residence in the Capital, Liselotte muttered blankly at the splendor so different from the North.
“For a mansion that is not properly used even once a year, this is excessive.”
Perhaps because it was morning.
For some reason, when she woke up, Liselotte felt as though the room had become even more ornate.
Since the Capital’s climate was far milder than the North’s, the sunlight pouring in from the morning onward was particularly bright.
“Was that vanity always there?”
No matter how she looked at it, its gleaming appearance was brand new.
Just as her suspicion was growing, Marsha entered with a knock.
As she set the morning tea down on the small table, she asked,
“You’re awake, Your Highness?”
“Marsha. Is it my imagination, or does the room seem a bit different?”
As Liselotte wobbled as she sat up, Marsha replied brightly.
“Ah, while you were attending the banquet, the furniture was moved over from the North using teleportation magic stones.”
“We are only staying a few days. They could have just prepared it roughly.”
“His Highness the Grand Duke said that the Grand Duchess’ room should be prepared to rival the Imperial Palace.”
‘What a waste.’
Was it not enough as long as it served its purpose?
It was to the point that she felt hesitant to even touch anything, afraid she might scratch it through use.
