“I can hardly believe it’s really you, Lady Iris,” Van interjected from Yuri’s side.

Yuri smiled. “See, I told you I never forget a face. Plus, she was with Berne, so it had to be her.”

“She’s just changed so completely—I hardly recognized her.”

I was so shocked to hear them exchange such overt opinions about me right in front of my face that I couldn’t speak. It was the height of rudeness.

“You’re so smart, Yuri.”

“Eh he he… Thank you, Prince Edward.”

Yes, yes. It seemed everything was still sunshine and rainbows with these two. But really, how incredibly inconsiderate of Edward to have this conversation under his ex-fiancée’s nose. Honestly, I expected as much of Yuri, but had Edward always been so witless? I had to wonder. Then I remembered the last thing he’d said to me at the academy and all those doubts flew away.

“By the way, what ever are you doing here today, Lady Iris?” Another unexpected jab from Yuri made my smile crack for a split second.

“What am I doing here?”

Yuri’s gaze flitted away awkwardly. “Well, because you…”

“There’s no reason to ask when you know the answer. Because there is none. You have lost your right to attend high society functions, Iris.” Edward spoke over Yuri as he glared at me.

He really had no justification for all that hostility.

“Lost my right? I—”

“Yuri’s a kind soul. So she was trying to give you a warning,” he continued, interrupting my attempt to defend myself.

Will you listen to me already? I frowned. “A warning?”

Meanwhile, Yuri seemed baffled by Edward’s assertion and blinked at him curiously.

“I’ve come here tonight by invitation of the queen dowager,” I said. “My attendance has nothing to do with my particular right. I merely followed orders as a subject of the kingdom.”

“What? Grandmother invited you?!” Edward seemed stunned. Had he not just seen me speaking with her? “No, there’s no way she would extend an invitation to someone so wicked. If you’re going to lie, at least try to come up with something more believable next time.”

I was just about to retort that this was no way to talk to someone with whom he had once been engaged, but Yuri spoke before I could.

“U-um, I—that wasn’t what I meant.”

“Excuse me?” I was so baffled by Yuri’s statement that I momentarily forgot my anger. What did she mean, then? She was the one who’d started this!

“What I meant to ask was, are you perhaps here tonight to promote that dress?”

“Promote?”

“Y-yes! I mean, you’re from Armelia, aren’t you? And that’s where the Azuta Corporation is based. So I was thinking maybe someone at the company had asked you to come advertise the dress here or something.”

No one from the Azuta Corporation had to ask me to do anything, because I owned the company. They must have no idea that I’m the president, I thought. I remembered then how Sei told me that Edward had made quite the fuss when Yuri applied for membership.

This made me even more certain that they had, in fact, failed to see me speak with the queen dowager.

“I’m not here to promote anything,” I told Yuri. “But I did want to show off our new product, which is the material this dress is made from.”

“Ah, I knew it! It’s beautiful. I want a dress made out of that same fabric. How can I buy it?”

From there, Yuri and I continued our conversation, leaving Edward entirely out of the equation.

“We don’t have enough of the material to sell any fabrics yet, but we’ll begin manufacturing apparel once we do.”

“Oh, I see. Well, it’s so gorgeous I thought I’d just die to have one of my own. Isn’t there anything you can do to make that happen?”

“I’m very happy to hear you like it so much, but I’m afraid we need more time before we can begin selling. Please understand.”

Not to mention, the country I’m importing the silk from is charging me an arm and a leg. I might have been tempted to make an exception for a valued member, but such a project really would put me in the red when I thought about the import costs. It was going to take a while before we could launch the wide-scale sale of silk dresses. We didn’t even have the stores to sell the fabric itself at a profit. We’d used up everything we had to fashion the dress I was at that moment wearing.

“But…” Yuri frowned.

“Th-that’s right,” Edward said hastily. “Yuri’s going to be part of the royal family, and she’s making a request. It’s your duty to accommodate her!”

“I’m afraid it’s impossible.” Despite my best efforts, I let out a deep sigh. They were being so stubborn with these unreasonable demands. Speaking with them was exhausting.

“Wh-why, you insolent…!” Edward’s face reddened.

Fortunately, most of the surrounding crowd was too absorbed in enjoying the music or their own conversations to pay us any heed. But the ones closest to us did stare, wondering what in the world was going on.

Honestly, how troublesome.

“My, my. What’s the commotion over here?” My mother suddenly appeared from behind me.

Yuri brightened. “Ah, Duchess! It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

My mother ignored Yuri as she would the breeze and came straight over to me. “Are you all right, dear?”

“Yes, I’m fine, Mother. I’m so sorry for the fuss.”

“Duchess Armelia!” Edward addressed my mother with the same tone he’d used on me.

She frowned ever so slightly at the sight of him. “Oh, Your Highness. Why ever are you raising your voice in the middle of a party? What could be the matter?”

“The matter is that you just ignored Yuri. Under certain circumstances, that could be considered akin to treason, you know!”

“Please, Sir. Enough with the jokes. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the rules of the court?” My mother swept her fan upward, hiding her mouth—as well as a deep sigh just like the one I had let out, perhaps? She spoke clearly, staring down at both Edward and Yuri. “It would be uncouth for a member of the lower class to preemptively address someone of higher status. And if Ms. Yuri here is to be your wife—in fact, because she is to be your wife—it is critical that we abide by those rules.”

“But Yuri’s my fiancée.”

“Indeed, so she is. But a fiancée is not a wife. In other words, she is not yet part of the royal family. Her social status remains the same as it ever was. What’s more…you never know what might happen before a wedding.” She cast a meaningful glance in my direction.

Ah, right. This jerk had a track record of breaking off engagements. Case in point: me.

“Yes, quite,” Van said, too smugly for my taste. “Yuri isn’t yet married to Prince Edward. However, he chose her to be his fiancée. And the queen dowager herself has given them her blessing. This engagement has the full support of the royal family. Unlike his previous situation.”

My engagement with Edward had been arranged by my family, not the royal house. Van’s implication was obviously that since Edward had personally chosen Yuri, he wouldn’t cast her off like he had me.

I clenched my hand around my fan. Nothing Van said was incorrect. But how dare he say it to me in public?

“Yuri’s a kind girl,” Dorssen added. “Kindness is a necessary quality for anyone who will stand above others. I’m certain she’ll be a lovely queen.”

As opposed to someone like me, widely blamed for bullying Yuri? Whether that was his intended implication or not, I was so irritated by this point that everything felt like an insult.

“Excuse me, Merellis—Your Grace…” Yuri spoke. “But I’m not sure social status has anything to do with greeting someone. If someone greets you, isn’t it merely common courtesy to return their greeting?”

My mother and I—and every single person around us—turned to stare at Yuri in shock. Well, except for Edward and Yuri’s cronies. They didn’t look shocked at all.

Common courtesy, eh? The world of aristocracy was chock-full of formalities to observe and rules to follow. Doing so wasn’t easy. But in this world, the king sat at the top of a pyramid with every other noble underneath him; etiquette was a vital part of ensuring the stability of that pyramid. Certainly in Japan, it would have been considered terribly rude to ignore anyone who greeted you. But just as there were proper ways to greet someone and return said greeting in Japan, this world had its own rules.

“Ms. Yuri, should you become a member of the royal family, you will be expected to behave in accordance with the court,” my mother said, hiding another sigh behind her fan.

“Those courtly rules you speak of represent an antiquated way of thought,” Edward declared. “And if you assume that way of thinking will always prevail, you’re wrong. Once Yuri becomes queen, she’ll break down those old ideals and bring a breath of fresh air to this kingdom.” He slid an arm around Yuri’s shoulders and squeezed.

Under normal circumstances, I could have ignored such a sentimental display. But not paired with those words. If they had been directed at me? I likely could have brushed it off. But had he just called my mother, the Flower of High Society, old and antiquated?!

“A breath of fresh air… How very lovely,” I said with a smile on my face. “When Ms. Yuri eventually becomes queen, I understand that will be her way of thinking. However, Ms. Yuri is not yet the queen. And in order to change long-held traditions, why, she would need the acceptance and approval of everyone to whom those traditions are precious. You know, those same nobles who, here and now, you say cleave to such antiquated ideals. Suffice to say, I think it profoundly unwise to disrespect them.”

My words made Edward’s face turn a purplish shade of red, exposing his anger. “The impudence! Someone such as you does not even belong here! Leave this place at once!”

“Your Highness,” my mother chided. “You cannot simply ignore the wishes of the person who invited Iris here in the first place with your demands.”

“Merellis is right,” said the queen dowager herself as she joined the conversation.

“Grandmother?!”

“Goodness, are you sure you shouldn’t be in your seat, Your Majesty?” my mother asked nonchalantly, in direct contrast to Edward’s shocked reaction.

“Never fear. I’ve seen to most of my pleasantries. More importantly, Iris—come with me. I wish to hear tell of all your recent exploits! Will you be staying here, Merellis?”

“No, I think not.”

“Wonderful. Duke Armelia and Marquis Anderson are over there waiting for you. Go tend to them, would you?”

“Of course.”

“Berne, I hate to leave you alone. Why don’t you go give your father some company, too?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Now that all that was settled, Edward repeated himself. “Grandmother…”

“What is it, Edward?” the queen dowager responded coldly. “My, you’re noisome today. Numerous delegates from other countries are attending the celebration tonight, so I expect you to conduct yourself accordingly. But perhaps you need to cool your head. You’ll shame our kingdom if you continue with this kind of behavior.”

With that, she began walking, with me and my family following her. As we left Edward and his companions, I cast a glance in his direction. He sent me the most intense glare I’d ever received.

I was certain he would blame me for all of this.

At any rate, the queen dowager once again took her seat.

The celebration was filled with many prominent faces, all of whom were smiling, yet they nevertheless made for an intimidating crowd. Among the foreign guests in attendance were many people of high social standing who held prestigious posts. Then there were the top military officers of the kingdom, including my grandfather, along with the ladies and gentlemen who held important positions in the court. The fact that they all flocked around the queen dowager proved that she still held incredible influence.

I worried again over whether it had been wise to come, but I still obediently listened to the queen dowager.

“Iris, I’m so sorry for that dreadful situation you were just subjected to.”

“Not at all! Your Majesty has no need to apologize for anything.”

“No, it was I who invited you, so I am responsible for any poor treatment you endure.”

“Poor treatment… I was prepared for him to say such things to me. In fact, I remain surprised anyone has anything kind to say to me at all. Which brings me to ask, Madam, why did you invite me here in the first place?”

“Why, because I’m cheering for you. Seeing a woman working as hard as you do is just so wonderful. So, I was very much looking forward to speaking with you tonight.”

“Thank you.”

“Relatedly, the chocolate treats your company concocts are simply delicious. I’ve been treating myself to some every day lately!”

“Oh! I had no idea you were a fan of our chocolate. I’m incredibly honored.”

“Quite. Honestly, I’d love to go to the shop and pick some out myself, but I’m afraid my position doesn’t allow me that sort of freedom…”

“Of course…”

Was there something else going on here? The queen dowager just seemed to be showering me with compliments. But I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by.

“If it would please you, Madam…perhaps I could regularly send you a sampler of our company’s catalog?”

“Oh, my! Would you do that?”

“Yes, of course. I will have to return to the duchy soon, though. But with your permission, I can send someone from the company to bring you an array of products to select from.”

“That would be wonderful! Yes, please do that. Oh, look at the two of us, having all the fun! I’m so sorry. Would you like to try some, too?”

The queen dowager noticed some foreign guests looking at us curiously and motioned to a servant, who brought over a box. The box itself was so ornately decorated it almost looked like a treasure chest. But when the servant opened it, I was surprised to see it filled with Azuta Corporation chocolates.

The queen dowager picked one up and happily took a bite. “Please, go ahead!”

The servant passed chocolates out to the nearby guests, and they all sampled one.

“Delicious!”

“Hmm… I’ve never tasted anything like this.”

“Neither have I… This is so delicious, I can’t imagine a soul who wouldn’t love it.”

I was certain some of them had never tasted chocolate before. They all had quite a favorable reaction. Although I’m sure a hefty part of that was because the queen dowager herself had recommended them. However, since she had generously given me the opportunity to promote my products, I wasn’t going to let that slip past.

“I’m so pleased to hear you like them!” I said to the people who seemed most surprised. “I heard that in your country, you enjoy refreshing fruits instead of sweets, so I was curious to see if you would like the chocolate.”

“Oh? You know where we’re from, even though we haven’t introduced ourselves yet?”

“Of course! You’re such important guests to Tasmeria. It’s only natural that I be aware of visitors to our wonderful kingdom.” This kind of response was what I had been coached to perform during the short time when I was preparing to marry into the royal family. I had been educated on all our neighboring countries and our relationships with them.

“Hm… Yes, it’s just as you say; in our kingdom, we prefer fresh, subtle flavors.”

“Indeed. Well, those chocolates are just one of the many products we offer. I would love for you to try the other flavors we have to see which one you like the most.”

The foreign guests chuckled at the idea of me using such an occasion to pitch my products, but at the same time, their eyes shone with curiosity.

“Interesting. I’ll have to do that sometime.”

“Yes, quite. I’d love to bring some nice items back home to share.”

Great, they’re loving the idea. I was starting to think that it had been a good idea to come to the celebration after all, at least from a financial standpoint.

After that, I spent some time chatting with the queen dowager and answering questions from and asking questions of the foreign guests. For the most part, I inquired about their culture and tastes, so they answered me readily.

Yes, this had been most advantageous indeed. I could take the information I gathered here back to my company with the goal of eventually exporting our products to these other countries. And now I had intermediaries lined up to begin the process.

After some time, the music changed.

“Are you sure you don’t want to dance, Iris? Pardon me for keeping such a young woman all to myself!” the queen dowager whispered apologetically into my ear.

“Thank you so much for your kind concern, Madam, but I’m so enjoying chatting with you and the other guests. Not to mention, there’s no one in particular I’d like to dance with…” I lowered my voice with that last sentence so that only she could hear me.

Although I’d been able to more or less repair my image, thanks to the queen dowager’s attention, it was hard to ignore the fact that the second prince’s faction was still glaring daggers at me. In other words, it benefitted me much more to remain at her side than to go find a dancing partner.

“Iris, I’m certain that the moment you step out onto the dance floor, you’ll be inundated with requests! And there are plenty of men here who’d love to dance with you, too.” The queen dowager cast a glance to my side where Berne stood. “Isn’t that right, Berne?”

“That’s right. I’d love to dance with my sister—with your permission, Your Majesty.”

“Did you hear that, Iris? What do you say?”

“Well, then. I’ll take you up on the kind offer.”

That was that. Berne escorted me toward the dance floor.

“Forgive me for taking you away from the queen dowager, Sister.”

“It’s fine. But I’m certain you don’t actually want to dance with me.”

“You won’t be able to speak with the other nobles if you stay cooped up over there the whole night. Of course, it’s important to remain in the royal family’s good graces, but your connections with the rest of the nobility are important as well. In fact, Father told me to fetch you because he suspected the queen dowager was probably suggesting you go dance—he thinks she’s worried about that exact thing.”

“Ah, so Father sent you? Then there’s no reason for you to apologize. Perhaps I should be the one to tell you I’m sorry, for taking up your time.”

“Not at all. Still, Sister… Your heart must be made of steel,” Berne said with a sigh.

“That’s a bit rude to say to someone, even if they are your sister.”

“I’d think it about anyone who carries themselves with as much composure as you did in front of all those foreign dignitaries.”

“Oh…” Now that I thought about it, I had certainly been out of my league with that group. They were all incredibly prominent individuals, and much older than me as well. They probably wouldn’t have given a young woman like me a second glance if not for the backing of the queen dowager.

At last, Berne and I arrived at the dance floor.

“It’s been a long time since you and I danced together like this, hasn’t it?”

“It has, Sister.”

And so we began to dance.

 

***

 

“My, how beautiful…” Marquis Gazell Daz Anderson, the general of the kingdom who was hailed as a hero, sighed as he watched his granddaughter Iris dance. “I may be a rugged sort without the least interest in dance, but even I can see how beautifully she moves, Louis.”

The self-professed rugged man had, however, shaved his usually scruffy beard and slicked back his wild hair in honor of Foundation Day. Under normal circumstances, when he stood next to his daughter Merellis, his peers often teased him and said they looked like Beauty and the Beast. But he had cleaned himself up such that it was apparent where Merellis’s good looks had come from. In fact, many young women had been stealing glances at him all night.

“You should tell her that yourself later. I’m sure she’d love to hear it,” said Louis.

“Ha ha ha. Not from an old man like me.”

“You really should think more highly of yourself, Gazell.”

“That goes for Iris as well. Take a look around. Prince Edward is dancing with Ms. Yuri, and Van and Dorssen are terribly popular with the young people—yet all eyes are on our Iris.”

General Gazell was right; until Iris and Berne had arrived on the dance floor, the young guests had been uniformly focused on Prince Edward and his group, just as their parents, the older generation, had been keenly interested in the queen dowager’s conversation with Iris.

Now, however, everyone was watching Iris, regardless of age or gender. She sparkled.

“Why did you want to open a café?” Mimosa asked me. I noticed her plate was already clean.

“I didn’t really have any particular reason. We just happen to have excellent ingredients in Armelia, that’s all.”

“It’s still an accomplishment to turn it into such a success, though.”

“Well, in my case, I’m blessed to be surrounded by talented people.” I had a privileged upbringing and had enjoyed the help of Tanya and the others since childhood. I really was fortunate. “Well, should we get going?”

I’d finished my food while we were talking, so we paid the bill and took our leave.

“Next, let’s stop by the beauty shop. I’d like to take our time getting there, though. Just to get a look around the capital.”

The café and the beauty shop were a bit far from each other, which meant a good deal of walking. I also wanted to investigate any shops that caught my eye on the way and take note of the local price points.

“Hm?” I paused for a moment.

“What is it, Alice?”

“I thought I saw Yuri…” For a second, I could have sworn I saw her, but then I lost her in the crowd. Normally, she was surrounded by such a crowd of people that it was easy to spot her anywhere, but this time, it had been only her and two others.

“Are you sure you didn’t mistake someone else for her? There’s no way she would go out in town by herself.”

“That’s true…”

Maybe it was because Tanya and I had been talking about Yuri before Mimosa showed up. I just couldn’t get that girl out of my brain. I pushed the thought aside as we continued making our way to our next stop.

When we arrived at the beauty shop, we encountered another line to get in, just like at the café. Once we made it to the front, we went inside and perused the wares. Mimosa kept saying how she wanted this or that, but I persuaded her to wait, since we were going to the members-only boutique next. As only nobles were allowed in that shop, we would have no choice but to reveal both of our identities once we reached it.

Even though each customer had a private room at the boutique, there was still a chance we would run into someone we knew inside the building. Each customer was allowed to bring two attendants to accompany them, so I brought Tanya and Lyle, and Mimosa brought her two bodyguards.

I’d had to place a limit on guests because some nobles had wanted to bring their whole entourage of handmaids and bodyguards, which would have led to a crowded and unpleasant shopping experience. For that reason, I had installed a waiting room near the entrance for the excess members of an entourage. However, Dida didn’t want to wait there and said that instead he would stand guard at the entrance and survey the perimeter.

The members-only boutique was located in an area of the capital where nobles liked to own second residences. I had purchased an entire mansion complete with a garden for the establishment, so from the moment we entered the property, it took some time to actually get inside. First, we showed proof of our memberships and then admired the lush greenery of the garden as we walked up to the mansion. At the door, we were greeted by a butler, who once again requested we prove our membership. From there, we were led to separate private rooms to be waited on.

“Welcome, Lady Iris.” The butler maintained perfect professional composure when he saw me. His name was Barret, and he had been previously employed as a butler for a merchant family before he began working for me.

“Oh? Aren’t you surprised to see me?”

“I knew you were coming to the capital, so I assumed you would visit at some point, my lady.”

“Hm, so you must have prepared in advance for my arrival. Now I won’t get to see the true state of things!” I said jokingly, to which Barret smirked. He seemed like such a good-natured old man that this smile was especially intimidating.

“I’m afraid not, Lady Iris. The nobility visit this establishment every day, so all things must be perfect at all times. We cannot afford even the slightest slip-up.”

“I see. Well, I can’t wait to see the inside. I’d also love to talk with you for a bit, so please go ahead and show Mimosa to her room.”

“Of course. This way, please, Lady Mimosa.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll be waiting over there, Barret. Come find me when you’re done.”

I said farewell to Mimosa and went to a room near the entrance. This particular room was currently empty; the mansion was so large that it had many rooms just like it. The private customer suites were all on the second floor. There, a staff member waited on the client and brought them the products they requested or suggested new ones to try.

The first floor was mainly composed of storage rooms and rest areas for the staff members. If business picked up a bit more, some of those would likely be converted into more customer suites to ensure it never got too crowded.

“Welcome!” said a voice near the entrance. Another customer had arrived.

“I have a guest with me today.”

I opened my door slightly to peek out and saw Barret greeting the guest. Wasn’t that Count Monroe? The man had a stout frame and blond curls that fell over his forehead. I’d have recognized him anywhere, especially as everyone had been talking about him as of late. I glanced to his side to see his guest. I had thought it might be his wife, or one of his children, but I didn’t recognize the person with him. If it had been a woman, I would’ve assumed it was his mistress, but it was a completely ordinary-looking man. But he’d said guest, so the fellow couldn’t be a servant or a bodyguard. Who in the world had the count brought?

But before I could find out, the two vanished upstairs.

“Terribly sorry to keep you waiting, Lady Iris.” A knock at the door tore me away from my curiosity as Barret entered the room.

“Not to worry. More importantly, Barret, does Lord Monroe come here often?”

“Yes, he does. At least once or twice a week.”

“I see.”

That was often. I couldn’t deny it was good for our business, of course.

“What kinds of things does he purchase?”

“Mostly sweets. Lately he’s been fond of the eau de cologne. He usually brings his wife or son.”

Sounded pretty normal to me. However, the price points at this members-only boutique were steep, though I supposed it would depend on how much he was purchasing.

“What interests his wife and son?”

“His wife prefers the beauty products, of course. She always asks for recommendations. His son buys chocolate, just as the count does. They’re devoted customers, so every time they visit, it takes quite a while to pack up their carriage.”

That really was devoted. Although how were they using up so much product between just the three of them? I wondered until I remembered the ladies telling me Count Monroe often threw parties. That would explain it. More importantly, where was he getting the money to buy all these luxury goods?

“Lady Iris?” Barret gave me a curious look. I’d fallen silent in thought.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t have anything terribly important to talk to you about. I just wanted to check in to see if you were having any difficulties that I could help solve. I’ve been reading the reports you send to me regularly, of course.” As I was here on business, I’d thought I might as well check in with the staff, after all. Plus, since they were dealing with the nobility, I figured they must have run into some unreasonable requests or something of that nature.

“Is that right? Well, I can’t think of any problems at present. The only thing that really comes to mind is that it would be helpful if we had more staff members.”

“More staff members, I see. Where would you need them?”

“We are especially in need of more cooks. Increasingly often, customers are ordering food to eat on the premises.”

“I see. The only problem there is how long it takes to properly train our cooks, so if we take on new hires, it will be some time to get them up to speed. I’ll see to it immediately, though.”

“Thank you. Also…it would help greatly if we could have more trained employees.”

“Trained how, exactly?”

“Well, people who have experience serving noble families. As you know, our customer base is made up exclusively of the aristocracy. They expect the staff to conduct themselves in a certain manner. Moreover, the reason we are able to keep memberships exclusive is partially because we offer exemplary customer service.”

“I see.”

I’d started the members-only boutique specifically to make it feel like a premier service. But now everyone seemed to be waiting for a membership. Some customers had asked us to hire more staff so we could add more members sooner, but Barret had been firmly opposed to that idea. This request came from a different place.

Hm, so he wanted to hire people who had experience serving nobles… It was rare for those people to leave a family’s service once they started, and even if we did find someone, it would be difficult to hire them right away. We couldn’t have a family with a grudge against House Armelia sending one of their servants into our employ as a spy, so we would have to conduct thorough background checks on any such applicant.

Ah, that reminded me of the idea I’d had about the trade school while I read Dean’s letter. Instead of using the duchy’s money to fund it, I could use profits from the Azuta Corporation to establish a private school to serve a similar purpose. It would benefit the company and would be a good way to expand our employee base.

“Thanks. This information is all very helpful. I won’t be able to solve these problems immediately, but I’ll brainstorm and start working on a plan. Would you show me to my room? I’d like to experience the boutique from a customer’s perspective.”

“Of course. Right this way.”

After that, I enjoyed everything the boutique had to offer and didn’t have any particular complaints. The visit went smoothly, and I got ready to leave. However, Mimosa took an awfully long time, so I found myself waiting for her. She had a tremendously satisfied look on her face when she at last emerged, so I suspected she had made some excellent purchases, although I didn’t ask her about the specifics.

That was the end of my tour of my ventures in the capital. I was a bit sad to think my stay here was about to come to an end, but at the same time, I was eager to return home.

“Thank you so much for today, Alice.”

“Of course. Thank you for accompanying me, Misha.”

I returned to the mansion with a mixture of different emotions swirling inside of me.

 

***

 

I was to leave the capital soon, but before that came my visit to Baron Messi’s mansion. According to my Mother, the baron was always one of the first nobles to return to his domain toward the end of the social season, and he would often go even before the final soirees. And so he was holding one last dance before his departure. A goodbye party, if you will.

As the members of the first prince’s faction tended to be more diligent about managing their domains, they rarely had the opportunity to gather together all at once. Consequently, attendance was high at parties held in the middle of the season like this one.

I had to admit, I wondered if I would be out of place. I did some morning yoga to try to center myself. Mother, who was now an avid yoga fan, wore matching clothes and joined in with me.

“My, Iris. Your face looks so tight. You’ll exhaust yourself before you even leave for the day.”

“Do I look that tense?”

“You do. You stretch out and relax your body, so you should try to relax your face as well. Yes, that’s right.”

After our yoga session, I took a shower and changed clothes. The party wasn’t until later that evening, so I put on a comfortable outfit for now. Since I had time, I looked over the reports Sei and Sebastian had sent me, then quickly sent off instructions for them. This experience had taught me how important it was to be present in the duchy. It took time for their letters to arrive, so the situations they reported might well have changed by the time they reached me. It all made me realize I shouldn’t let my sentimentality get in the way. I needed to go home.

I was looking over more paperwork when there was a knock on the door and Tanya entered. “It’s time to prepare for the party, my lady.”

Already? Time flew by when I focused on work. But I didn’t want to be late, so I put away my papers and started getting ready.

Since the party was at night, I would be wearing a more formal dress for the occasion. I still didn’t like wearing those heavy skirts though, so I chose another lighter, streamlined design. I put on my jewelry while Tanya did up my hair. My dress today was a lapis lazuli blue to complement my eyes. Since my hair was platinum white, diamonds didn’t stand out much against it, so I decided on some deep blue sapphires. That made the silver embroidery on my dress really pop.

It took me quite some time to finish. They always say it takes a woman forever to put herself together, but it was always longer when one of these dresses was involved. First of all, it was impossible to put one on without someone’s help.

At last, I got in the carriage, and we set off for the baron’s house. Oof, I’m so nervous…

Since I was already in the district where most of the nobles lived, it didn’t take very long at all to reach Baron Messi’s mansion. Unfortunately, I was so nervous that the trip felt far longer than, it really was. I was shaking with nerves by the time we arrived.

Baron Messi himself greeted me at the door and invited me inside.

“Thank you so much for inviting me tonight.”

“Of course! I’m so pleased you could come.”

Baron Messi had a strong, sturdy frame, just as you’d expect of someone who had served in the military. Yet his every gesture was so elegant, I couldn’t detect a trace of coarseness. He struck me as a perfectly lovely silver-haired old gentleman.

“Grandfather was so disappointed he couldn’t make it tonight.” He’d wanted to come, but he had a prior engagement. He said he couldn’t tell me details, but he was extremely disappointed. That didn’t surprise me, since he had such an intimate connection with Baron Messi.

“I’m sorry to see he couldn’t make it as well. Please do tell him I hope he can come another time.”

“Of course.”

Now that I had exchanged pleasantries with the host, I looked around the room.

Goodness. How impressive. That was my first thought. The party was filled with prominent people—nobles who had either earned their land and titles through some sort of meritorious deed or for possessing an exceptional skill, like gifted artistry. I’d heard of many of these individuals through my father’s work.

“Lady Iris! It’s so wonderful to see you again.” I spied Count Sagitalia, the minister of finance. In plain terms, he was my father’s subordinate, so I had met him before. If I recalled correctly, the queen dowager had selected him for the position back during her reign. He seemed like a mild-mannered old gentleman now, but word had it that back at the palace, he was quite eccentric and difficult to deal with, although he didn’t look it.

“I didn’t know you would be here, Lord Sagitalia!” By which I meant: I was surprised that someone with such an important position would back a prince no one knew anything about.

“I have no business putting my nose in the affairs of the royal family,” the count said. Even though I hadn’t said it plainly, he had gotten the message. He had to be that savvy, as such an influential person. He held the kingdom’s purse strings, after all. His word carried a great deal of weight. “But which one is best for our kingdom? Best for the people? I should think all we ministers are weighing such questions.”

“I see. So you think he’ll be the best one for our kingdom?”

Count Sagitalia’s grin only deepened. “Now then, Lady Iris, your dress is absolutely exquisite.”

“My thanks.”

“Did you also acquire it from a trade with the east?”

“No, I just ordered this one from a clothier in my duchy.”

“Oh, I see! It sounds like Armelia is brimming with gifted people! It has a most enviable position with that sea border. That in and of itself makes your domain prosperous, what with your ability to purify salt and trade with other countries. It seems you’re doing quite well with the latter as well.”

“Y-yes, well. It’s all thanks to our people.”

I was impressed with Count Sagitalia; it was clear he knew all the ins and outs of my domain, even if it wasn’t his own.

“You’re too humble! I’ve heard much of Armelia’s recent success is due to your leadership.”

I merely smiled at his response. Honestly, I was kind of speechless. Although I was flattered, I wasn’t too keen on him pressing me for too many details.

“I’ve heard a great deal about your accomplishments—overhauling the tax system, helping orphans, undertaking measures to strengthen the duchy’s defenses. I have to wonder what your ultimate goal might be.”

In short, he was asking me if I was trading with other countries and doing business with other domains to gain capital in order to build up Armelia’s armed forces. Now that I thought about it, everything I did could very well lead to such a goal. I couldn’t fault him for looking at my projects and growing suspicious.

“My ultimate goal… I suppose I haven’t laid my finger on that just yet,” I answered. Count Sagitalia gave me a puzzled look, so I continued. “I am the acting governor. As such, it’s my responsibility to guarantee the safety and well-being of my citizens. That’s my goal. Or I suppose you could say, that’s the ideal I strive for. The question is, how close can I get to attaining that ideal? Perhaps it’s something I will have to continually work for and never achieve? Therefore, I have no ‘ultimate goal,’ as it were.”

“I see. Well, I’m quite impressed. A government for the people… Even though you’re so young, you’re already committed to your role as a public servant. But I’d caution you to act with care; those with more suspicious hearts might interpret your hard work as an open challenge to the kingdom.”

“I thank you for the warning.”

Despite my personal feelings, House Armelia had sworn fealty to the royal family. Neither my parents nor my grandfather had any intention of defying them. But my greater responsibility was to keep my people safe. Obviously, part of that meant planning for the possibility of having to protect them from the royal family. These were last-resort measures, of course, ones I would never truly want to take. But that choice was always in the back of my head.

Not that I would ever admit as much out loud.

“Prince Alfred speaks highly of you as well,” said the count. “He’s said he would like to take several policies you’ve enacted in Armelia and make them the new standard across the kingdom.”

“Oh, he has?”

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“I heard he’s in the country. Naturally, I assumed he was in contact with the prominent members of his faction.”

The people at this party were a well-known, talented bunch, but there were definitely some unique characters sprinkled in among them. That meant they would need a strong leader to keep them all in line. It was probably quite difficult to be the lead representative of this group.

“In any case, if the people here support him, then I assume they’ve told him all about Armelia’s status.”

Count Sagitalia wasn’t the only minister in attendance. And if all these ministers were loyal to Prince Alfred, it wasn’t difficult to imagine that he could already carry out a certain amount of his political agenda.

“I’m honored that he thinks so highly of my duchy and the way I’ve been running it. Although, I’m not sure all my policies would be as successful across the kingdom.”

I’d been able to revolutionize so many systems in Armelia to the extent that I had because I was the one in charge. The reach of a governor’s powers in Tasmeria was substantial, to the say the least. If the royal family tried to enforce my policies in every other domain, I had a feeling they would be met with significant resistance from more than one governor. It would take a great deal of time and effort for things to smooth out in that regard.

“I’m confident the prince could succeed. He can change our systems and build the one true kingdom.” Count Sagitalia said this with a smile, as if reading my thoughts.

But the last thing he said nagged at me. The one true kingdom? He had a mischievous grin on his face, like that of a child. Almost like he really could see into my mind.

A governor’s powers in this kingdom were indeed very strong. Generally, each domain operated like its own state, all of them together composing our country, the kingdom of Tasmeria. The governors were given free rein to determine tax rates and other laws within their domains, so long as they didn’t break any national edicts. That was why I had been afforded so much freedom. The only exception was the capital, which fell under direct control of the monarchy.

So when the count said “change our systems,” what systems did he mean? In other words, did the first prince intend to strengthen the power of the monarchy? That would weaken the governors’ powers and return their influence to the royal family. That, in turn, would make it easier for the kingdom to implement whatever new policies they desired.

But it was all too easy to imagine what pushback they would receive for suggesting such a change. Could it really be done? Moreover, why was Count Sagitalia telling me this? Just because I was attending the baron’s party didn’t mean I was committed to the first prince’s faction. All these thoughts led me back to the exchange we’d just had. “I have to wonder what your ultimate goal might be.”

Was this why he’d asked? What if—and I thought this unlikely, but—what if he was asking me, “What would you do if he could successfully change those systems?”

Would I rebel against Prince Alfred and try to declare Armelia’s independence? Or would I cede my power to the kingdom? He wasn’t trying to find out what my father would do either. Instead, he was asking me, the person actually running Armelia as the acting governor.

“Well, I’ve never met the prince, so I’m not sure what kind of person he is,” I said. “So honestly, I can’t say. But if he were successful, and if his changes benefited the citizens, then I can’t think of anything that would make me happier.”

What I told the count was true—since I’d never met Prince Alfred, I couldn’t offer a real opinion on the matter. And I certainly couldn’t declare my support—or lack thereof.

“Is that right? Very interesting, indeed. So much so, in fact, that I would love to see you standing by his side one day.”

“Oh, my! Surely you jest, my lord. I couldn’t possibly be by the prince’s side—that would be most improper.”

“Pardon me. Perhaps I teased you too much.”

After the count and I parted ways, I spoke with several other people and then sat in a chair on the edge of the room to rest. The mansion really was packed with impressive individuals. I’d been so on guard when I spoke with the count that I was exhausted. I took a sip of my drink and spotted the host of the party, Baron Messi, approaching me.

“What do you think of the party?” he asked.

“I’m enjoying myself very much.” I answered, plastering a smile on my face. If I wasn’t careful, my fatigue would show. “By the way, Lord Messi, may I ask you a question?”

“Of course.”

“Why do you return to your domain so early in the social season? Everyone here—besides the ministers, who work at the palace all the time regardless—stays in the capital until the end. Honestly, that surprised me; I assumed they would be returning home just like you do.”

For a moment, I was worried I was prying, but the baron readily answered me. “It’s because of the duty that was entrusted to me.”

“Your duty?”

“Yes. Has your grandfather told you about the Tweil War?”

“Yes, of course. But nothing more than what’s been written in the textbooks.”

“That’s more than enough. As I’m sure you’ve heard, I fought under your grandfather’s command during the war. And I was awarded my title and lands for my service.” A faraway look rose in the baron’s eyes as he spoke. “But at the end of the day, I’m a military man. A title hasn’t changed that. And the war isn’t over. As someone whose domain is on the kingdom’s border, I simply can’t leave it unattended.”

That was true, but something still didn’t add up for me. Even though both Baron Messi and Count Monroe had land on the borders, it was obvious that the former was far more cautious. And it did seem like he was going home awfully soon. He was required to attend the Foundation Day celebration in an official capacity as a governor, but I heard he had arrived right before the party began, and now he was leaving straight away. The only reasonable explanation I could conceive was that he anticipated war would soon start up again.

“As such, I’m always in a war frame of mind, if you will. I can’t reassure you and claim there’s nothing to worry about. I will only ask you to please be on your guard. I don’t expect fighting imminently, but I’m sure Tweil still has its sights on our kingdom.”

“Because of our abundant grain and other resources?”

“Yes, and because they still hold a grudge from the war, even after thirty years.”

The war.

Armelia was on the opposite side of the kingdom from the border with Tweil, and that border was quite far away. But that didn’t mean I could let down my guard. If fighting broke out, every domain would feel the burden.

“Thank you for the warning.”

“Pardon me for bringing up such a serious topic during a party. I’ll excuse myself now.”

“Please don’t apologize. It was extremely valuable information. I appreciate it.”

I stayed for a little longer, then decided to go home. I’d made several new acquaintances and gained a great deal of information.

After I returned home, I went to bed and slept most soundly. I’d done everything I had planned to do in the capital. Now the only thing left was to pay a visit to my father and finally go home.

 

***

 

“Lady Iris.”

I was working in my study the next morning when Tanya came in. “What is it, Tanya?”

“There are two things I need to speak with you about.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve looked into Ms. Yuri since we spoke last. I’m not finished, but I did discover some things I thought you should know right away.”

“All right. Go ahead.”

“The first is about her upbringing. I thought that her mother had only ever worked for House Neuer, but I was mistaken.”

“Oh? I thought she began a relationship with Baron Neuer while she was in his service? Where did she work before, then?”

“The royal palace.”

“The palace? What did she do?”

“She was a handmaid. I’m not sure how she met the baron, but she went to work for him after she resigned from her post there.”

“That must be where they met, then. Nobles often have occasion to go, I suppose.”

It was certainly possible they had met at the palace. But how in the world had they gone from baron and handmaid to an intimate relationship? I mean, it happened, but I just wasn’t sure these things just happened.

“I asked people who knew her at the time, and her coworkers remember her well for her beauty.”

Of course. She was the protagonist’s mother, after all. And since Yuri was the protagonist, naturally, her mother was beautiful as well.

“It’s harder to find information about her life once her mother left the baron. There are traceable accounts from when her mother was still alive, but I’m having trouble finding where Ms. Yuri was and what she did once she was alone.”

“And that seems unusual, since she’s so striking—and she was by herself. Is there something else?”

“While her mother was alive, one of her neighbors recalls saying, ‘It must be tough raising a child all on your own. Is there anyone supporting you?’ and the mother said there was not. But immediately after she passed away, a man appeared claiming to be Ms. Yuri’s blood relative.”

“Was that Baron Neuer?”

“Unclear.”

“Do you have a description of them?”

“I asked the neighbor for one. The man had no characteristics that stood out. The only thing anyone can be certain of was that he was indeed a man.”

So Yuri’s mother had received no support in raising her, yet a man had shown up saying he was her blood relative? Right after the woman passed away? Two possibilities immediately rose to mind.

One, that Yuri’s mother had cut ties with her family for some reason, and because of that reason, she had been unable to depend on them for help—but after she died, the family had decided to take care of Yuri. If that theory was true, then we had to establish where her mother was from.

Two, that Baron Neuer himself had come incognito to take Yuri away with him, or that he had sent someone from his house. That seemed the more likely answer, but if that was true, why hadn’t he publicly acknowledged Yuri until she entered the academy?

Either way, both stories left me with more questions.

“That reminds me: How did Baron Neuer know Yuri was his daughter? There’s no way to prove such a thing, after all.”

“He recognized her from the pendant her mother gave her. But apparently Ms. Yuri is also the spitting image of her late mother.”

Obviously, there was no DNA or paternity testing in this world, so it was no wonder that they would have to rely on circumstantial evidence like that. However, there also wasn’t plastic surgery or any other way to alter one’s face, so people put a lot of weight on physical resemblance.

“And he searched for them for more than a decade? Baron Neuer must have really loved her.”

“That I haven’t been able to confirm. I have some more digging to do. But at present, that’s all I know about the baron’s daughter.”

“I see. Well, thank you, and good luck with the rest of your search. What was the second thing you wanted to tell me?”

“You asked me to look into Lord Monroe.”

“Ah, yes. That.”

After I’d seen Count Monroe at the Azuta Corporation’s members-only boutique, he’d piqued my interest, so I’d asked Tanya to do a bit of an investigation. I told her what I’d heard about him at the tea party and described the man I’d seen him with.

“The man who accompanied Lord Monroe that day is called Divan. He’s staying at Lord Monroe’s mansion as a guest and often goes out to town with him. I checked with the Azuta Corporation, and many employees have confirmed those details.”

“He’s a guest? I wonder where he’s from.”

“Divan is the head of the Ayler Corporation. I looked into it as well, and it’s registered with the merchant guild. Their business mainly deals with food products. However, I couldn’t find out any further details about their clients.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. That kind of thing is usually kept confidential. But if the count’s so close with the head of a corporation, perhaps that’s where all this extra money is coming from?”

“Perhaps.”

I couldn’t think of any other reason. Count Monroe’s domain was largely known for its agriculture, and the Ayler Corporation dealt in food. So perhaps Divan had invested in the count’s land and they’d made some kind of deal? But where were they selling all this food?

“Tanya. I want you to look into this Divan right away. The Ayler Corporation, too. I want to know where they’re selling their goods and for how much.”

“Yes, my lady.”

I had a bad feeling about all this. The situation was changing at a dizzying pace, especially considering what I’d learned at the baron’s party. I had been a bit concerned that I was cooped up in my domain, but now that I’d come to the capital, I realized just how sheltered I’d truly been in Armelia. I still wanted to go home immediately. But I couldn’t simply let this matter go. Something important was going on that I didn’t know about. I was certain of it.

 

***

 

“Why did we have to come, too?” Dida sighed.

Lyle frowned at him. “We had to, Dida. Master Gazell ordered us.”

“Yeah, but we have nothing to do with today’s training.”

They were observing a joint training session between the military and the royal knights. As Dida said, it had absolutely nothing to do with them, but their master, General Gazell, had made them come.

At first, they had declined. Iris was attending a party at Baron Messi’s mansion and they intended to accompany her as her bodyguards. However, they had been overruled by Iris, Lady Merellis, and Lord Louis. Lyle and Dida relented when Iris agreed to bring guards who had been trained not only by themselves but by General Gazell. Also, if something did break bad, she would have Tanya with her.

What was Tanya up to these days? Lately, it seemed like Dida wasn’t the only one wondering.

Putting that aside, he sincerely wished he could have been with Iris at a party in her fancy dress rather than hanging around with this gang of sweaty men.

“We might not be involved, but it’s to our advantage to know the strength of the soldiers and the knights. Don’t waste this opportunity.”

“That’s all well and good, but I don’t get why he had to call us here now, of all times. We’re not the only ones who don’t like it.”

This training had been designed to strengthen the bonds between the two groups, for at present, they didn’t see eye to eye. The men of the military thought the royal knights were a bunch of spoiled brats who had never seen real battle, while the knights thought the soldiers were a bunch of unrefined brutes. Each group looked down upon the other. Lyle and Dida didn’t much care for either.

In any case, that was why the two groups occasionally held these joint training exercises. Both the soldiers and the knights idolized General Gazell, and they came running any time he summoned them. The general had wanted to attend his old friend Baron Messi’s party, but he couldn’t neglect this opportunity to mend the frayed relationship between the two branches of the armed forces and so had regretfully declined his invitation.

Dida heaved an inward sigh, lamenting the bad luck that had led to him and Lyle getting wrapped up in it, too.

The knights and soldiers were already gathered on the training field located on the palace grounds. General Gazell was nowhere to be seen. As Dida and Lyle belonged to neither the military nor the knight order, they were regarded with a good deal of suspicion.

“Oho, there you are!”

At last, General Gazell appeared behind them. The instant he did, everyone straightened and focused their attention on him.

“General Gazell! Pardon me, but who are they?” one knight asked.

“My apprentices. They happened to be visiting the capital, so I invited them over.”

“General Gazell’s apprentices…”

Now the gathered men studied Lyle and Dida with a new light in their eyes. Was that the light of challenge? No, simple evaluation. It only went to show just how much these men admired the general. Most had done some manner of training drills with him, but very few had taken any kind of private lessons from the general himself. Small wonder they looked at Lyle and Dida with such interest.

“Shall we begin, Knight Commander?”

“Yes. We’re ready, General Gazell.”

This was Doruna Kataberia, the knight commander of the royal guard. The instant Lyle and Dida saw him, their eyes flashed. So that was Dorssen’s father.

Neither of them made a move, however; they only observed the exchange between the general and the knight commander with their own renewed interest.

 

***

 

“Phwaaah…” Dida let out a huge yawn. Close to an hour had passed since the training exercise began. He and Lyle were still standing around watching it from afar.

“You look bored,” General Gazell said with a wry grin.

“Seems a good reason to let us go, Master.”

“Not a chance. I want you to participate later. You’ll go a round with me.”

At those words, the two of them tensed up.

“But that’s later. What do you think of the training?”

“About ten stand out. For me, only four are good enough to be worth fighting.”

General Gazell laughed at Dida’s flippant comment. “And you, Lyle?”

“Hmm… I’d take two, maybe? The others are fine on the training ground, but I wouldn’t want to take them into a real battle. Their swords are too light.” When he said this, he of course didn’t mean physical weight but the intent with which they wielded their blades.

“Ooh, so Lyle’s the more critical judge, hm?” General Gazell understood why, so his smile held a grim edge.

“Come on, Master. You know his motto is ‘Tough on yourself, tough on others.’”

“Or maybe you’re just too easy on people, Dida,” said Lyle.

“Yeah, yeah, or maybe your expectations are too high. Especially of these guys. They’re floundering in a basic training exercise.”

Dida’s eyes were flat and emotionless as he studied the men. They were in the midst of an exercise to increase their stamina. It seemed much harder than their usual training regimen, but to Dida and Lyle, disciples of General Gazell himself, it looked incredibly elementary.

“Master… Perhaps you should stop gallivanting across the realm and train them more assiduously? They need more real field experience as well.”

“Don’t say that. There haven’t been any battles since the Tweil War anyway. Not to mention that the knights are so rarely sent to the front line. And all the hardened soldiers are already guarding the borders.”

“Hm…”

“Oh, they’re calling for me. You go ahead and join us whenever you like.”

Dida and Lyle didn’t move. They’d done their own drills first thing that morning, long before they came to the palace.

“Say, Lyle, which ones do you want to fight?”

“The brown-haired knight and the soldier with the black hair in the back over there.”

“Heh. Same. I’ll take the knight, you take the soldier.”

“I was just about to say the same thing to you.”

The two smirked mischievously at each other. As they were already here, they figured they might as well take on the two strongest men the armed forces had to offer.

“Hey, you two.”

Someone suddenly called out to them. They turned, suspicion in their eyes, and saw Dorssen Kataberia standing before them.

“Do you need something?” Dida asked, not bothering to hide his contempt.

“I don’t need anything except for you to leave this place at once.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know how you managed to butter up General Gazell, but you need to give up on your delusions of grandeur and stay in your own little world.”

“Delusions of what now?”

“You’re dreaming of joining the royal knights, aren’t you? Why else would you people come here?”

Another knight rushed over, sensing the tension. “Hey, Dorssen! Knock it off. Those two are—”

“Dreaming about being knighted? Ha. That’s a funny joke, eh, Lyle?” Dida laughed coldly, at which Lyle nodded, expressionless. “I’d never serve the kingdom. What has this country ever done for us? Our mistress saved us. You think we’d ever even consider leaving her? Listen up, rich boy—don’t worry your pretty little head. We’ve never once thought about becoming lowly knights. Not even once.”

“Lowly knights?! You arrogant—draw your sword this instant!”

Dida laughed out loud at this challenge. By now, the rest of the men had heard the commotion and realized a fight was imminent.

“Draw my sword? Sure, I’ll take you on.” Dida followed Dorssen over to the training yard. Lyle made no move to stop him.

“O-oi, Dida,” General Gazell called, bewildered.

Dida smiled coldly. “Rich boy here challenged me to a fight. You don’t mind, do you, Knight Commander?”

Dida directed this question to Doruna, who solemnly nodded. “My apologies for the trouble.”

“Well, the knight commander gave us his permission, so let’s fight.”

In his heart of hearts, General Gazell wondered if an unspoken “…to the death” was hidden in Dida’s challenge, but he held his tongue. “I’ll be the judge,” he said instead.

“Thank you, Master.”

The knights and soldiers cleared the area as Dida and Dorssen faced off.

“Begin!”

Dorssen snapped to action the moment General Gazell spoke the word. His speed was enviable for a newly minted knight, yet Dida expertly answered his every move.

“A knight’s job is to protect the royal family and the palace, right?” Dida asked, utterly collected as Dorssen struggled to keep up with him. “I’m sure you don’t want lessons from a mere bodyguard, but what do you think is the most necessary skill for a professional protector?”

Dorssen gave Dida a suspicious, puzzled look as if to say, “Huh?”—but he didn’t have the chance.

“Do you think it’s the strength to kill as many people as possible? No, of course not.” Dida had been on the defense, but now he batted away Dorssen’s sword.

“Hah!” Dorssen struggled to fend off these techniques—too fast, too sharp—that outstripped the skills he had thus far worked to cultivate. Dida’s bladework inspired a primal fear within him. If he couldn’t win this—

“You have to be able to forsake physical strength,” Dida continued. “If you face an enemy who’s flat-out better than you, and you’ve got someone to protect, you still have to figure out how to defeat them. Right? You have to protect your master. So maybe you realize the best plan of attack isn’t to fight at all but to run. Or maybe you have to sacrifice someone else so your master can live.”

Dorssen could no longer fend off Dida, and he fell back onto the ground.

“We watched you guys train. I can tell you’re better than the other new knights. And you’ve got what it takes to improve, but only to a point. You’re overconfident in your own strength and abilities, so you challenged someone whose strength you misjudged… Not to mention, any man who raises a hand to a woman has no decorum—and no business being a knight.” Dida approached Dorssen. He raised his sword. “I don’t know how much pride you take in being a knight. But I don’t consider you one.”

“Also, I wanted to tell you I finished the new items you requested.”

“Oh? Have you brought them with you?” I’d asked Merida to make desserts from gelatin we’d obtained from trading with the neighboring kingdom.

“No, I just wanted to make you aware. I came here in a rush, so unfortunately, I forgot to bring them. I’ll show you sometime later.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Also, that coffee drink you mentioned? When would you like me to start serving that at the cafes?”

Oho! It seemed she’d tied off another of my projects while I was away.

We hadn’t yet managed to find any actual coffee beans, so we were making dandelion coffee. It was definitely a different experience for me, since I’d been an avid coffee drinker in my past life.

“Well, we haven’t advertised it yet, so I think it’ll be a while,” I said. “Until then, I’d appreciate it if you started thinking of ways to add coffee to your desserts.”

“Understood. I was thinking about lingering here for a while. I’ll work on those while I’m about.”

“Wonderful.”

“So? How was it, being back at the capital after such a long time?”

“I thought I’d feel more strongly about it. But really, I didn’t feel anything.”

“Nothing?”

“No. Of course I felt nostalgic, and happy when I saw old friends and my family, but apparently, I didn’t have any lingering attachment to the capital itself.”

“You sound like you’ve really gotten over it,” Merida observed with a chuckle.

“More like I realized I never belonged there in the first place.”

I’d regained the memories of my other life right in the thick of the incident that drove me from it, after all. I’d come here soon afterward, so the newly combined me hadn’t had much time to get too attached to the capital. Regardless, it would have been too stifling to stay there, weighed down by the expectations laid on a duke’s daughter as well as by everything that had happened with Yuri.

“Hm, I guess that’s just how it is.”

“That’s right. This is my home, and you all are my family. That’s enough for me.”

“Ha ha ha. Well, I’m honored.”

Merida and I talked for a while longer until she left the room.

After that, I resumed my work checking various documents. We’d begun trading with other countries, and our company’s revenue had skyrocketed, along with profits from numerous innovations we’d been developing at our academy. With the creation of so many new jobs, individual income was on the rise. We were also sorting out infrastructure in Armelia’s various territories. The capital city’s infrastructure was so well organized that everything ran smoothly, but some places in the duchy still didn’t have running water or proper sewers.

After I checked on the progress of all of that, I signed the necessary documents and fixed those in need of fixing. By that time, it was already fairly late at night.

 

***

 

“Ah… I’m exhausted…” I moaned as I rubbed my eyes. I looked out the window to find it already dark outside. As I lived in and worked out of the governor’s mansion, a good deal of land surrounded the property. With no other residences nearby, it grew extremely dark after sunset. The one good thing about this was that the stars shone so brightly at night. I peeled my attention from the documents and gazed up at those stars.

“Excuse me. May I have a moment?”

Dean stood in my doorway.

“Of course. What is it?”

“I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I have this for you.”

He’d brought me a document that required urgent response. I checked it over and took care of the items needing my attention.

“I’m terribly sorry. You seemed to be at rest.” Dean bowed his head in apology.

“It’s all right. I’m surprised to see you up working this late.”

“It seems to me you’re the last person who ought to lecture me on such matters, my lady. In any case, my time in Armelia is limited, so I strive to finish as much as I possibly can now, in order to ensure the work is manageable next time I come around.”

So the work would be manageable, would it? He tried to make it sound like he did this for his own benefit, but I understood that he was trying to lessen my burden as much as he could. Every bit of work he took charge of was work I then didn’t have to do. But for all that, there was still nothing forcing him to return.

“You really needn’t work so hard.”

“I’m well aware, my lady. Why don’t you take a real break? I was just about to myself.”

“Well… All right, then.”

The two of us stepped out onto the balcony. Right before I’d left for the capital, I’d asked for a table and chairs to be placed out there so I could use the space to rest when I took my eyes off my work. Tanya had reluctantly agreed. She would have preferred it if I took my breaks away from the study entirely.

“So, how was the capital?”

“It was fine. Not much to say about it, really?”

“Nothing?”

“Mm-hmm. Between you and me, I honestly couldn’t wait to come back home.”

“Ha ha ha. Everyone dreams about the social season in the capital, what with the fetes and balls, but I suppose it would take more than that to impress you, hm?”

“Ha ha. I suppose.”

The series of parties were certainly fancy. But behind the curtains, the social season’s events were nothing more than a game of cat and mouse among the nobles. Also, the capital didn’t hold any good memories for me. Especially now, with this whole business with Queen Ellia.

“How have you been, Dean?”

“Nothing much happened on my end either. I attended to some of my family’s work, visited some friends. That was about it.”

“That reminds me—you haven’t really told me anything about your family. Do you have siblings?”

For some reason, Dean’s face clouded over. I instantly realized I had asked him something I shouldn’t have; his reaction made that abundantly clear.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t pry.”

“No, it’s all right. I have a younger brother and sister.”

“Ah, one of each? Hey, Dean… Can I ask you something strange?” The mention of a younger brother had reminded me of Berne. “Have you ever fought with your siblings?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, as you know, I also have a younger brother. We had quite a falling-out a while ago… And I had pretty much cut ties with him for good before returning to Armelia. But while I was at the capital, my brother apologized to me. I found I couldn’t forgive him, though. I just couldn’t overcome the anger I still felt toward him.” A self-deprecating smile crossed my face. “Am I insensitive? As the older sibling, shouldn’t I just let bygones be bygones and relinquish the grudge? I suppose that’s a difficult question to ask.”

“That’s true. I can’t really give you an answer.” Dean paused for a moment and then continued. “Especially as I can’t honestly say my relationship with my siblings is healthy either.”

I looked at him with surprise. “Really? You too?”

“Yes. I suppose I get along well enough with my sister, but things are worse between me and my brother than between you and yours.”

This last comment bothered me. Not that it was anything to brag about, but it would be terribly difficult to top the strife between Berne and me. We hadn’t spoken for several years, and he’d debased me in public, and he’d done it all while Yuri had been uprooting my life before his eyes. I honestly couldn’t imagine a worse sibling relationship.

But Dean’s answer left no room for doubt. “I don’t even consider him family, to be honest with you. If we had been born in separate houses, our relationship would be over. The only thing keeping us from total alienation is that the same blood runs in our veins. At the same time, I think we both resent each other for that blood. And we both feel like the other is merely in the way.”

As he spoke, his voice grew so cold, I was almost afraid. His face and his eyes were blank, reflecting no emotions. But strangely, I didn’t feel uncomfortable—because I had felt the exact same way.

“So I can’t say anything much on the matter. Although…thanks to my sister, I have at least come to understand the warmth of being with family, and I am endlessly grateful for that. However, I don’t believe there’s anything to be done about my brother. I’ve given up on him.”

“I see…” I smiled a little. “Your answer has made me feel a bit better, though. I felt like I ought to act in a certain way toward my brother simply because we’re siblings. I keep thinking about what I ought to do as his older sister. But I believe now I’ll try to put that approach aside.”

“Good.” Dean smiled a little as well.

The uneasy feeling in my heart had cleared, just a touch.

“Now, may I ask you a question?” Dean asked.

“Of course.”

“Why did you look that way when I mentioned returning here ‘next time’?”

My mind blanked for a moment—his tone was so casual that I was caught off guard. But pausing like that made it obvious this wasn’t something I could brush off. I pulled myself back to reality, regretting my lapse. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Whatever do you mean?”

“The expression on your face. I felt like you wished things were more distant between us. There’s an odd tension in the air, even now.”

Oh, dear. Now what? It was incredibly difficult to deny anything was wrong after he had so accurately guessed my feelings.

“Dean… If you’re so aware of my feelings, you must understand the position I’m in.”

Even if he didn’t know the queen herself had named me a rival, he had to know my position in the kingdom was the picture of precarity.

He smiled in agreement. “Of course. But that has nothing to do with whether I return.”

I hadn’t expected him to say that, so it took me a few seconds to comprehend exactly what he meant.

“Dean… Do you mean it?”

“Of course I do. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”

I stared at him, searching his face. His eyes were impassive; I had no idea what he was thinking, but I knew he was serious.

“Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea have decided I’m trouble. Can you still say you mean it, now that I’ve told you outright?”

“I’m surprised. Did you really think me so unfeeling?”

I widened my eyes in surprise. Did I really sound like I was implying as much? “Of course I don’t—but you also have no reason to stay here. Our contracts have always been short-term. You have no obligation to remain. Moreover, I’m sure you could find far more lucrative employment in numerous other circumstances. So again, you have no reason to stay.”

At the time of signing, we’d established his rate of pay. As he served as my right hand to govern the duchy, his salary was a bit higher than that of the average state official. That being said, those salaries weren’t all that high to begin with. I paid some of my business advisors more than I paid Dean. The only advantage to being a state official was job security; you never had to worry over whether the duchy would go out of business, like you might with a company. However, that job security didn’t apply to Dean, since his contracts were always temporary.

I had no right to keep him here, and he was free to do as he pleased while not under contract with me. He really had no meaningful attachment to Armelia.

“I didn’t know you valued me so highly, my lady,” he said in a joking tone.

I was just trying to be honest. I let out a sigh, which only made him smile more.

“I suppose if you took my work out of the equation, I’ve never before struggled, nor truly hit a wall.”

That was a rather bold statement. Dean just kept surprising me. Although I had more or less already guessed as much.

“But that’s awfully boring, you know? It’s just like studying or exercise. Neither feels especially fulfilling until you get to an obstacle that you must work hard to overcome. Once something becomes too easy, it’s no longer exciting.”

All that made a great deal of sense to me. I’d felt that way in my other life. When I’d come upon a particularly difficult problem, even though getting through it was a struggle, I always felt an incredible sense of accomplishment once I did.

But I really didn’t understand what exactly he meant at this very moment.

“I’ve found my time in Armelia exciting—and rewarding—in the extreme. You inspire me to think in ways I’d never considered before, my lady. The same goes for the supremely talented people who work with you. You’re truly revolutionizing the duchy. What will you try next? What will come of it? It’s been so long since I encountered any such daring schemes. That’s why it’s so interesting, so invigorating.”

He stared deeply into my eyes as he spoke, and the intense eye contact made me feel a bit shy.

“That’s why I continue to return. I only intended to do so the once, but I just keep coming back.”

The amused smile suddenly vanished from his face, which tightened into a serious expression.

“My lady, I understand if you cannot place your full trust in me. I was the one to say I could only enter into a temporary contract with you. Not to mention that you have people in your employ who have been with you since your childhood.”

I did trust them all implicitly. In fact, besides Mother and Father, they were the only people I entirely trusted.

“I won’t ask you to treat me as you treat them. I cannot compete with the long years you’ve spent with them or with the intimacy you share. But, my lady…I relish working for you, from the bottom of my heart. It’s all that I wish to do. Even after my contract has expired.”

“Dean…”

“You need not ever hold back with me. Even though for the time being, I can only be with you for a short time…I’m already yours. And I have been for a very long time.”

My face flushed at these words. In every other circumstance in my life, I had been the one to confess any such feeling of devotion to another. To be on the flip side left me terribly nervous.

He looked at me once more and said, “I’ll take my leave; there’s more to do,” then left.

For a long while after, I simply sat there in stunned silence.

 

***

 

A week passed, and I was very nearly caught up with all my work. It helped that Dean was staying for an extended period. Speaking of Dean, things were surprisingly normal between us. Even though I’d been so flustered and thought for sure our relationship would be unbearably awkward, it wasn’t. It frustrated me a bit, to be honest.

Anyway, I digress.

I was at the library to do research on the information my father had divulged. The library was in a separate building from the main mansion. Its bookshelves stretched all the way up to the high ceilings of the main room, and books lay about here and there.

Rehme looked surprised to see me. “Hm? I haven’t seen you here in some time, my lady.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you were here, Rehme.”

“Yes. No classes for me today. But what brings you here?”

“Research. On House Rubens.”

“Duke Rubens? I haven’t heard that name in quite some time.”

But she had heard of it. Of course. Rehme had reacted to the name without even skipping a beat.

“So he’s a duke? Why haven’t I heard of this person before?”

“It’s only natural you haven’t! Many generations ago, it was the house of a prince. They didn’t have a proper duchy but instead owned land in the royal capital. The last time there was really any talk of them was probably thirty years ago.”

“Thirty years ago? Around the time of the Tweil War?”

“Yes, that’s right. As proof of the cease-fire, a princess of Tweil married into Tasmeria’s royal family. At the time, our monarch was a queen, and her son, the prince, was too young for the princess from Tweil. More importantly, if she had been taken into the royal family or someone too closely related to them, it would have interfered with the line of succession. Therefore they selected House Rubens. So long as the head of their house didn’t pass away prematurely, their own house’s line of succession would be secure—and they were of fine lineage.”

So in other words, House Rubens now had Tweil lineage. And Yuri Neuer’s mother had been brought to the royal palace via recommendation from House Rubens.

It would have been difficult to turn down her application with such a prestigious introduction. Moreover, House Rubens had accepted the princess from Tweil upon order of the kingdom. If the palace had used her heritage as an excuse to turn a servant away, it would have been a diplomatic incident. Although, I suspected my father would have used that to his advantage either way.

At any rate, I’d now connected the dots and was beginning to see the big picture. Frankly, it was a bad one. To put it plainly, there was a tremendously high possibility that Yuri Neuer’s mother was from Tweil or had close ties to it—and that she might have cultivated the same opinions in her daughter. All of this made perfect sense to me.

But as my father said, none of this was under my jurisdiction. A governor—an acting one at that—had no business getting involved in a power struggle between kingdoms. Especially not now when I had to secure my own footing here. One wrong move and it might all fall out from right under my feet.

“What’s wrong, my lady? You look so pale all of a sudden.”

“I was just thinking. But I’m fine.”

Yes, I was fine. Right? My father was certainly also gathering information and making plans. But one thing kept nagging at me, and it was about her.

Let’s say Yuri was a spy from Tweil. In that case, she’d doubtlessly succeeded in her aim. She had her claws in the second prince, and now they were engaged. But if she’d failed, what would Tweil have done? I had to imagine they wouldn’t have just idly stood aside.

Then there were all the things Yuri had said and done. If she was a spy, shouldn’t she have tried to blend in? You know, like a properly subtle agent of espionage? Or maybe I’d read too many spy novels in my past life. Her behavior just didn’t seem consistent with that of a professional.

“Tanya.” I called out. She was waiting behind me. “You’re on my side, right?”

“Pardon me for saying so, but that question is meaningless. I belong to you, my lady. If you told me that you no longer needed me, my life would be without worth.”

“I see. Then stop investigating Yuri.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“But I want you to continue looking into Lord Monroe’s business and clients. I need to know the ranks and activities of as many families as I can. Including my father. I want that to be your first priority.”

I knew I was making a ridiculous request of Tanya—to investigate the very noble house she worked for. But she looked neither the least bit surprised nor flustered.

“Of course, my lady. I’ll tell my agents immediately. I’ll be gone for a while as well.”

“Yes, I understand. Please.”

She quickly left the room.

After that, I returned to my study. Entering it always strangely calmed me, likely because I’d spent more time there than anywhere else. I checked to see what work I had left to do, then called in Lyle, Dida, and Dean.

All three of them entered the room at the same time.

“You wanted to see us, my lady?” said Lyle.

“This is an awfully odd group,” snorted Dida. “What’s going on?”

Lyle scowled at Dida’s question, as usual, but Dida looked genuinely puzzled. Dean clearly agreed with him, because he nodded with a wry smile on his face.

“I require your assistance as my guards.”

The atmosphere suddenly became exceptionally tense.

“All three of us? Where are you planning to go, Princess?”

“Dida! I object, my lady. I can understand if you wish to travel around the duchy, but other than that…”

“I am leaving, and it’s because I must. I also want to be cautious about it, which is why I’m bringing all three of you with me.” Lyle and Dida were the most able fighters I knew, and the next after them was Dean. I’d sent Tanya away on the other matter, which made this the best possible arrangement left to me. “So let’s go.”

 

***

 

The sun felt so warm outside. With a tired smile on my face, I wondered when I’d last even left the estate. As we walked through Armelia’s capital, I observed my surroundings. Yes, everything seemed peaceful for now.

“My lady. Would you please tell us what we’re doing today?” Lyle’s voice brought me back to reality.

“We’re doing a lot of things, Lyle—because I’m not sure when I’ll be able to leave the estate again. I want to observe the academy and chat with Headmaster Luca. I also want to visit the church and speak with Father Rafiel. Finally, I’d like to visit the orphanage.”

“What do you need to address with Headmaster Luca?”

“The suggestions you gave me, Dean.”

“Those suggestions weren’t from me, my lady. The ideas originated with you. I only added to them.”

“Oh? Is that right?”

We both smiled at each other.

Hm, good. Nothing had changed, at least on that front. Things were the same as they had always been between us. That was what I told myself as I followed Dida. The three of them walked in such a way that I was perfectly protected on all sides.

“Oh, right. There’s another new restaurant in town, Princess. I heard it’s great.”

“Oh? That’s lovely. Where did you learn of it?”

“The other guards.”

“I’d definitely trust their taste.”

The last time I asked Dida where he’d heard about a restaurant, his answer had been hesitant, and I still didn’t really know why. He claimed he’d received the information from the officials at Borsa. I wondered sometimes about his personal connections, and also why he was talking about good restaurants with tax officials.

This concerned me mainly because my impression was that my bodyguards put their work above all else and largely viewed food as sustenance, not something to be enjoyed. Even if that hadn’t been their attitude when I first hired them, after a month or so on the job, they’d become workaholics. I had established that attitude to be fair, so really, it was my fault.

“Speaking of the other guards, we’ll need to tighten up security across Armelia.”

“What do you mean by that?” Lyle’s curiosity was piqued.

“There’s a chance our unfriendly acquaintances will target not only myself but our people.”

“Then why did you leave the mansion today?” Lyle’s tone was frustrated, but all I could do was chuckle apologetically.

Frankly, he was right.

“This matter will doubtlessly drag on for quite some time. If I waited until it was safe to see to these matters, I would be trapped at home forever. As such, I’ve brought you all with me today so I could tie up loose ends.”

“I see. And besides the two of us, there’s no better guard than Dean. Hence why you’ve brought him as well.”

“Precisely.”

And I couldn’t have done so, if things had still been awkward between us.

“I’m honored,” Dean replied with another impassive smile. “With your permission, if we’re to secure the duchy, I think perhaps we should add more border reinforcements and checkpoints. Since trade is booming, merchants are constantly coming and going, as are travelers from other domains.”

As usual, Dean was just giving me more work, if in a good way.

“I see. It’s possible someone from our friend’s camp will try entering the duchy, too. Instruct Abitante to revisit checkpoint procedures with that in mind. It will be essential to coordinate these efforts throughout our security forces. All right. We’ll commence drawing up a plan when we get home.”

Just then, we arrived at the academy. As usual, the building was swarming with people. Specifically, this was our institution of higher education. People of all genders, occupations, and ages came here, and everyone’s eyes sparkled with possibility. I loved seeing all of these students and teachers, hungry for knowledge. I walked inside, pleased with the atmosphere.

“This place is incredible,” Dean murmured.

Hm? Was this his first time here?

“I’m happy to hear you like it.”

We reached the headmaster’s door and I rapped softly on it, then went inside.

“It’s good to see you again, Headmaster.”

“Likewise, Lady Iris.” Headmaster Luca gave me a warm smile and welcomed us in.

“How are things at the academy?”

“Same as always.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Please don’t hesitate to contact me the moment you run into any problems.”

“I appreciate that very much. Now, what brings you here today?”

“I wanted your opinion on a matter, as someone who works on the front lines of education.”

“Hm? Yes?”

“Right now, I’m working on establishing a preliminary trade school. At the moment, our elementary schools teach reading, writing, and arithmetic, but I was thinking about turning the focus to training for professional careers at the next level of education.”

“What specifically do you mean?” Headmaster Luca’s eyes gleamed with curiosity, though his expression remained serious.

“We’re short on teachers, so I hoped we could train educators, as well as guards and so forth for our security forces. We could also have a medical track.”

I also wanted to develop a private school funded by Azuta Corporation profits to train butlers and maids, but since that didn’t have anything to do with Headmaster Luca, I didn’t bring it up.

“Medical track? But we have one here at the academy, don’t we? Is there a reason to develop a separate one?”

“I want to devise some basic courses for them to take before they enter the academy of higher education. Currently, most of our incoming students already have medical experience at a local level, but the children coming through our elementary schools won’t have that experience. This way, they can learn the fundamentals at the trade school and further their education in the academy, whether it be as researchers or in the name of practical application. We’ll be able to better tailor our courses to students at different levels. As long as you agree, that is.”

“Hm, it’s all very interesting. I do think implementing that plan will be quite effective in the long run.”

“So then…?” I trailed off.

Headmaster Luca nodded. “May I offer one suggestion?”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

“As long as you’re establishing a trade school, I’d love to restructure the curriculum at the academy level, too.”

“And what would you like to do, exactly?”

“If these students from the trade school will be coming to the academy with a degree of specialized knowledge, then I think we should break the medical track down even more into dedicated practical and research tracks. Presently, courses on the fundamentals, practical training, and research methodology are all mixed together. There’s so much material to get through that the students are rarely, if ever, able to delve too deeply into any one subject. If we remove the general education classes from that mix, they’ll be able to focus more on their specializations and deepen their learning. In short, I’d like to give them opportunities to train to become true experts.”

“I see… Yes, this sounds totally feasible. But I’m no expert in curriculum design, so would you like to take charge of it?”

“Of course. I’ll have a meeting with my staff to gather their opinions and then get to work on it right away.”

“Thank you.”

“I must say, your level of enthusiasm when it comes to education is certainly unusual, Lady Iris!” Headmaster Luca said with a curious smile on his face.

“Is it?”

“Certainly. You’re young enough to be my granddaughter, but I have the utmost respect for you.”

“Oh, my. I’m honored to hear that. All I want is to give everyone more power, though.”

“Power?”

“Yes. Knowledge is power. People who are knowledgeable have more opportunities in business and options in their personal lives.”

Ever since I’d regained my memories, I had, perhaps for the first time, become truly grateful for the education I’d received in my past life.

“I want my citizens to have their own thoughts and to have the independence to determine the course of their own lives.”

“I see, I see. Yes, it’s quite wonderful. I’m impressed. I can’t wait to work together with you on this, Lady Iris.”

“Thank you!”

The headmaster smiled warmly at me, and I returned it in kind. The meeting ended smoothly in this manner, but later on, I would regret not spending more time with him. You see, without my say-so, at some point the academy’s motto became “Knowledge is power,” the words blown up into a banner that hung across the entrance of the school.

“I can’t believe he said all that,” Dean said as we left the room.

“Who, Headmaster Luca? Do you know him?”

“I know of him. He’s famous! He’s said to be at the forefront of medical research, and when he resigned as the king’s personal physician, he traveled the realm caring for various nobles.”

“I see. Well, did he say something that surprised you?”

“Indeed. He’s known for having a difficult temperament. So I was startled to hear him praise you so, to say nothing of his quick response to your request.”

“Really? I always thought of him as a wonderfully kind old man.” I’d liked the headmaster from the moment I met him. I remembered thinking how friendly he was despite his reputation as a prominent figure in his field.

“He’s obviously quite fond of you,” Dean said with a chuckle, to which I gave him a puzzled look and kept walking.

 

***

 

Now that my meeting with the headmaster was complete, my next stop was the church to talk with Father Rafiel.

“Lady Iris, do you have some kind of deep tie to this church?”

“A church is for prayer, is it not? And I haven’t been to one in some time.”

Dean looked thoughtful at this response.

“Is it strange for me to go to a church to pray?” I asked.

Now Dean, Lyle, and Dida all had sheepish grins on their faces.

“Of course it’s not strange, per se, but I just assumed it was your habit to take action about something yourself instead of praying to God about it.”

I had to laugh and agree. Perhaps because I was distant with the church since I now had memories of my previous life. I wouldn’t have said I was a complete nonbeliever, but I also couldn’t deny that I wasn’t especially religious.

Still, as a noble, I had been given a religious upbringing and had all the prayers and rituals of the Darryl Church inscribed in my mind, so I had to keep up appearances.

I took the three of them to a small church on the edge of town. Father Rafiel’s church was attended to by himself and two other clergymen. It looked old from the outside, but simultaneously, that lent it a certain comforting warmth.

I opened the door and walked up to the altar. A small number of people were inside. The Darryl Church worshiped the goddess Rilu, the mother of all life. All the citizens of Tasmeria believed in this religion, which served as the foundation of all lives, noble and commoner alike. Religion saturated all our customs, whether we performed them at a marriage, the birth of a child, our meals when we said grace, or our funerals upon death.

The church was also supposed to help the less fortunate and offer treatment to the sick, but at present, they didn’t often tend to these things. Every organization is vulnerable to the seep of corruption, and the church was no exception, even if they were supposed to be agents of God. But in all reality, the church lacked the funds to provide emergency food distribution.

However, Father Rafiel’s church was one of the few churches in the kingdom that did have those means. I was donating to their cause under my pseudonym.

I reached the altar and said my prayers, specifically for the stability and safety of the duchy. After I finished, I called over to one of the clergymen. “Is Father Rafiel here?”

“The father is out at the moment,” said the clergyman with a suspicious look. “Pardon me, but you are…?”

“Welcome back, Lady Alice!” Father Rafiel appeared, interrupting his peer.

“Ah, Father Rafiel. It’s so good to see you again.”

“What brings you here today?”

“It’s been a while since I saw you last. I’m sorry I didn’t arrange a meeting first.”

“Not at all. Would you like to come in?” He gestured toward the small room off the main chapel area. It wasn’t a parlor, but a desk and chairs were inside.

“Did you go somewhere today?” I asked as we sat.

“Ah, yes. I was making house calls in a nearby village.”

“I see. It’s just like you to keep yourself busy when there are patients who need you.”

“I can’t ignore calls for help.” He smiled softly at me.

“Excuse me.” The clergyman from earlier entered the room with tea. “Pardon me for my rudeness before. My name is Noryu.”

“Oh, don’t worry. You looked a bit troubled when I asked for Father Rafiel. Did you have something you needed to speak with him about first?”

“No, it’s just there are so many people who come here wanting to talk to Father Rafiel… Young women in particular…” He had a familiar troubled smile on his face.

“Oh, my…”

“As you can see, our Father Rafiel is quite a handsome fellow. His heart is filled with love, and he can’t resist helping those in need. It’s no wonder people fall for his kind soul and good looks, but some of them are quite forward about it.”

I had to chuckle at that. It was true—Father Rafiel was both sweet-natured and sweet on the eyes. I could easily see how young women would fall head over heels for him.

It felt like being lectured by Father. But I was painfully aware of what he meant.

That night, after crying so hard for the first time in so long—or perhaps harder than I ever had—I slept deeply. Dean promised me he would help me with my final preparations, and I gratefully accepted the assistance so I could rest.

The following morning, I stood in front of the mirror and took myself in. My eyes were still a little red from all the tears, but I looked so much more at ease.

 

***

 

“I’m sorry for asking this of you, Father Rafiel and Mina…”

“N-not at all! I did what anyone would’ve done, Governor…”

I was so grateful to the both of them. Immediately after I’d received notice of my excommunication, I’d summoned both of them to see me. I had done so as part of an effort to keep the citizens calm in the wake of what was about to happen. Neither of them had had any idea that I was actually Duke Armelia’s daughter, so at first, they had both been quite stunned—especially Father Rafiel, who had expressed such desire to meet the duke’s daughter.

I felt bad, honestly, and also a little awkward.

Obviously, Father Rafiel had heard about the excommunication, since he was affiliated with the church. He immediately used his connections to investigate how we might get the excommunication rescinded. I appreciated it so much. When I’d explained everything to Mina, she had been just beside herself. They each thought this situation was somehow all their fault. I’d expected that reaction and felt absolutely terrible for having to involve them at all.

“The reason I asked you here today is likely obvious. I need a favor from each of you.”

“O-of course. What is it? I’ll do anything I can. Anything…” Father Rafiel’s gaze sharpened, but I couldn’t back down now.

“I hate to dredge up painful memories…but, Mina, I would like you to tell people what really happened when the church was sold. And make a show of it, if you would. Essentially, I need you to explain that the holy church where you lived was sold to people involved in human trafficking, but you refused to leave, at which point the traffickers harassed you endlessly. After I learned of your situation, I had the traffickers arrested, but due to the harassment, the church had fallen to ruin, so I decided to rebuild it in a safer location. Tell them that although the new church hasn’t yet been opened to the public, there will be a grand reopening soon. And tell them that I will be there for it.”

Mina stared at me curiously. “That’s what you want us to say?”

“Yes. I’m sure people will look at you like you have two heads. In fact, I’m nigh positive they will. They may doubt you or accuse you of lying, but I still want you to tell the truth to as many people as you can.”

“Of course I will! I’ll start spreading the word right away! I’ll go to every corner of the duchy to tell your story!”

With Mina’s responsibility squared away, I let Tanya show her out.

“You’ve since gone to the orphanage, yes?” I asked Father Rafiel.

“I have. Thank you so much for encouraging me, Lady Iris.” He gave me a wry smile. “But right now I’m far more concerned about you.”

“Yes…I have a favor to ask of you, too.”

“Well, it will depend on what it is, of course. But I’ll do everything I can. I do need to tell you something first, though.”

“What is it?”

“My connections in the capital have cut ties with me. Not only that, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they’ve painted a bit of a target on my back.”

“Because you’re the priest of Armelia’s main church?”

“No, because they now know of my connections to the orphanage.”

“But how?”

“I suspect Noryu was behind it.”

“Noryu? Ah, that other clergyman at your church?”

“Yes. Apparently, he’s been reporting on me to the head church this whole time. I confirmed as much before my contacts cut me off, and I have physical proof as well.”

“I see. Well, there’s only one thing I have to ask of you. But I’d rather Noryu didn’t know about it. I certainly don’t want him interfering.”

“Shall I send him elsewhere for a while? He does answer to me, so it wouldn’t seem especially suspicious if I sent him on an errand.”

“That’s a good idea. Let’s have the academy play along, too. Although, Father Rafiel, you’re a priest—are you sure it’s all right for you to be so sly?”

“What do you mean? I served at the main branch of the Darryl Church for quite a long time. I wouldn’t have survived without a bit of my own cunning.”

“Well, then. How interesting.”

I went ahead and asked him my favor. He agreed, just as Mina had.

A mere ten days after, the rumors had spread like wildfire to the farthest reaches of Armelia. Of course, they weren’t all positive. Some came from those who doubted the veracity of Mina’s story, and at other times, her story was twisted along the way. But I’d planted the seed, and interest in the newly rebuilt church was growing among the people.

I reflected upon it all as I approached that brand-new structure in a carriage. Mina sat across from me.

“Thank you so much,” I said to her. “But please remember, I’m only the acting governor.”

“O-oh, right.”

“And please don’t tell the children about me. I don’t want them calling me Lady Iris while we’re playing. It would make me feel too distant from them—and that would be far too sad.”

“You’re going to come back?”

“Of course I am. I promised I’d help the children with their studies. And I have all manner of new picture books and other such for them.”

“Thank you so much, Lady Iris. I’m sure the children will be thrilled!”

“I’m glad. I suppose I’ll have to hurry up and take care of this so I can go visit them, then,” I said as I got out of the carriage.

It was the day we’d been waiting for. The new church was complete, and the opening ceremony awaited us. Lyle, Dida, and Tanya would serve as my bodyguards while I participated.

The new church rose before me. Even though it was supposed to be a sacred place, I felt something like a hero striding into the castle of a wicked king. Perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration. At any rate, I had a responsibility—I needed to bring ease to the souls of my citizens.

The Darryl Church was an organization, after all.

Maybe layman’s terms were a bit inaccurate, but priests are like everyone else—they need some kind of income to live on. I’d been sure they had to have some manner of record of their employees in order to manage their payroll, and it turned out I was right.

There was also a list of the priests who owned the various churches. Including the ones I’d spoken to, of course.

“The name of the priest who signed the deed of sale, as well as the one with whom I communicated about rebuilding the church, are both here in this ledger. I was surprised to see they both held quite prominent positions within the Darryl Church.”

“How did you…” Pope Lutasha muttered in disbelief, staring at the booklet.

This ledger was never to be taken off the premises of the main church, so they were all floored to see it in my possession. I’d known that no matter what evidence I presented, I might have been able to convince the nobles to take my side, but the church would never budge. They would vehemently deny that any member of their clergy would be capable of actually selling a church. This ledger was the only way to shut them up.

“I cannot imagine how you got that, but I doubt that booklet is even real!” Father Rafsimons spat.

Queen Ellia’s eyes glinted. So predictable. “Yes, exactly!”

“Go ahead and check it yourself, Father Rafsimons. And anyone else who’d like to see it as well.” I took a step toward them. No one stopped me.

I handed Father Rafsimons the ledger, and he flipped through it until he stopped at the final page. His eyes widened in shock as he stared down. “This is…”

I had to admit, I was thoroughly impressed with his acting.

“I apologize. Yes, this definitely belongs to the church,” he said hesitantly. His voice was quiet, yet it resounded throughout the room.

“No!”

“Go ahead and see for yourselves.” Father Rafsimons passed the notebook to another church official, who passed it to another. At first, each one looked skeptical, but then, one by one, they nodded their assent.

“And just what makes you so certain?” Queen Ellia asked with clear annoyance. Her hands were shaking; she had to be incredibly angry.

“The last page bears the mark of both the pope and the cardinals’ official seals. In order to prevent forgeries, these particular seals have never been made public. They are used only for internal documents such as this.”

Specifically, it bore the seals of the pope and the five cardinals directly beneath him, who were the highest-ranking officials in the church.

“This is undeniably authentic,” I said. “I’m sure this will all go much faster if we just check in with the rest of those involved, don’t you think?”

The moment those words left my lips, Lyle strode into the chamber escorting two men, i.e., the priests in question. Ah, pardon me—former priests. Tanya had used the full authority of my family in order to locate them.

“Would the two of you please introduce yourselves?” I did my best to sound kind.

“M-my name is Danon. I did clerical work at the church in the capital.”

By that, he could only mean one place: the church whose congregation comprised nearly half the capital’s population—the church that the royal family and the highest-ranking officials all attended. It was inextricably associated with the royal line.

“I assisted the pope with all his needs. Regarding the sale of the land in Armelia, the pope gave me permission to sign the deed on his behalf. But then for some reason, I was abruptly fired…”

“My name is Leinin,” said the other man. “I also worked at the church in the capital. I received the request from the governor of Armelia regarding the church in question and responded. But for some reason, I was also abruptly let go from the church following that. They told me it was because I gave false statements, but I was only following orders. I have a copy of the response we sent to the governor of Armelia, which had been approved by the church. If you have any doubts regarding the truth of my words, this document should clear my name.”

The crowd grew even louder after hearing these two statements. I could feel it in my bones that the tide had turned in my favor.

“I’m sure the officials of the Darryl Church recognize these two men.” Naturally, this wasn’t actually a question.

The officials’ eyes widened, and they looked away awkwardly.

“I have additional physical proof as well as witnesses, but I suspect that I have already sufficiently proved my innocence, don’t you think?” I asked calmly.

Queen Ellia bit her lip. Oh, I’m sure there were dozens of things she wanted to say to me circling through her head, but none of them would have been permissible in front of this crowd.

Likewise, Pope Lutasha’s face had gone deep red with anger, but he said nothing.

The queen dowager finally broke her silence. “Very well, then. I think we’ve seen this girl did nothing wrong, and I’m sure everyone here can agree with me. Yes?”

She had posed a question just as I had, but it was clear she wasn’t truly asking for anyone’s opinion. In fact, she was putting an end to this inquiry once and for all.

“Iris Lana Armelia, the royal family hereby proclaims that you have done nothing at all to shame the name of House Armelia, a most noble family of our kingdom.”

There. Her declaration sealed the deal.

“My thanks, Your Majesty. Might I say one last thing?”

“Oh? What else have you to tell us?”

“It’s in regard to who bears true responsibility for this incident.”

Queen Ellia scowled. “You’ve already been absolved. I don’t imagine House Armelia will face any punishment for this either…”

“Of course not. That’s not what I meant. I was referring to the person who caused this misunderstanding. That is who bears the responsibility.”

I lifted my head and stared straight ahead. Directly at Pope Lutasha.

“House Armelia has served the royal family for generations. We have a long history of loyalty and have been granted great influence for it. So to falsely accuse a member of that house of such egregious acts is simply unacceptable.”

Several people averted their eyes. Every lie they’d spewed before was coming right back at them like a boomerang.

“Now that my innocence has been proven, it would set a terrible example for our kingdom if the person responsible were to go unpunished.” I didn’t mention Pope Lutasha, but I continued to stare right at him the entire time I spoke.

“That rings true… What do you think, Ellia?” The queen dowager asked the queen.

But Queen Ellia said nothing.

“All right, then. What does the Darryl Church have to say for itself?” The queen dowager gave an exaggerated sigh as she turned the question over to the officials.

Several of them opened their mouths to speak, got flustered, and then closed their mouths again.

“I simply don’t understand this silence. As I was listening to Iris, a thought crossed my mind. I’m sure everyone here thought something similar. Whyever did the Darryl Church fire the priests involved and suppress evidence…if not to purposefully undermine Iris? Or perhaps even the entirety of House Armelia, one of the most prominent noble families in our kingdom? Just how do you intend to take responsibility for that?”

The entire room went deathly quiet, and then Father Rafsimons spoke up. All eyes turned to him. “With all due respect, Your Majesty… This was an utter failure on the church’s part. I would like to conduct a thorough investigation to identify all parties responsible and punish them accordingly.”

“That will certainly be necessary. But how can we be sure you will in fact do this, when the officials of the church stand surrounded by a veil of secrecy?” The queen dowager’s expression was as cold as ice as she stared at the church officials. She cast the most intimidating pall upon the chamber, just as my father had.

But she was right. The church was so deeply embedded in our society that not even the most influential noble house could interfere with it. Moreover, since it was the only state religion in our kingdom, claiming every citizen as a believer, not even the royal family could interfere with its sacred status. If this investigation was mishandled, it could stir doubt among the citizens, and that could leave an opening for any number of malcontents to take advantage of.

Either way, the church couldn’t use God as a shield to escape responsibility for this scandal.

For my part, if I didn’t use this opportunity to split the church off of the second prince’s faction, who knew what they would do to me in the future? At the very least, I had to get the pope to abdicate, especially since Van was so close to Edward. I had to sever that connection.

“I won’t let that happen, of course,” Father Rafsimons declared. “I am a priest who serves God, but I am also a citizen of the kingdom of Tasmeria, and therefore I have every intention of punishing those involved in this transgression, no matter their position within the church. And as proof… Lady Iris, since your innocence has now been proven, I assume you no longer need that ledger?”

“That’s correct.”

“Would you mind giving it to the queen dowager?”

“Of course. All I do is for the good of the kingdom.”

“Now, Your Majesty, please take that ledger into your keeping. As you know, it has a list of all the Darryl Church officials in the kingdom as well as their registered churches.”

The queen dowager blinked in surprise for a moment. The booklet listed which church each official was employed at, as well as their positions. It was a glimpse inside the inner workings of the church, hence why it was never permitted to leave the premises. Her reaction indicated that she knew full well the value of what she held.

“I recognize your commitment,” she said. “You have my confidence. Now, when you say those responsible will be punished no matter who they are—do you include yourself?”

“Of course. I shall notify everyone in the church’s employ, as well as the royal family and the nobility, that whoever is found to be responsible shall be punished to the full extent that the royal family allows.”

Pope Lutasha finally came back to his senses and cried out. “Father Rafsimons! What gives you permission to—”

But Father Rafsimons only turned a cool gaze toward the pope. “Pardon me for overstepping my bounds, but I have no other choice. We cannot turn a blind eye to the unspeakable treatment Duke Armelia’s daughter received as a consequence of these false accusations. You do understand that, don’t you, Your Holiness?”

The pope was silent.

“Look around. The people of this country doubt us. That in and of itself should never have happened. In order to rebuild trust with our followers, we must ensure this never happens again and severely punish those responsible.”

“Well put,” said the queen dowager. “Now that you’ve said as much, I assume you won’t mind if I place you in charge of the investigation, Father Rafsimons?”

“It would be my pleasure.” He bowed deeply to her.

“But!” Pope Lutasha raised his voice in a panic.

The queen dowager turned her frigid gaze on him. “What has you so flustered?”

“Please reconsider! Does anyone truly deserve punishment for this? Of course it’s possible that some individuals covered up misdeeds that were inconvenient for them, but—can’t we simply give Your Majesty a report after we’ve conducted a fair investigation?”

“I’m sorry to say, Pope Lutasha, but as Father Rafsimons just said, at the moment, we cannot trust the word of anyone from the Darryl Church. Father Rafsimons has pledged to hold himself as accountable as everyone else, and so I have asked him to take charge of the investigation.”

“But…”

“I will hear no further arguments on the matter. Father Rafsimons, I am counting on you.”

“With God as my witness, I shall follow through.”

“If I may speak, there’s something else I’d like you to investigate as well, Father Rafsimons,” I said, speaking loudly and clearly.

“What’s that?”

“The church’s flow of funds.”

“You mean…what happened to the money the church received when they sold that holy ground in Armelia? Yes, I shall include that as part of the investigation.”

“Yes, I’d like you to. However, there’s something else on my mind.”

“Oho?”

“They received quite a sum for the land that the church stood on, yes, but they also receive large sums of money from the nobility in the name of donations. Yet they begged my mother to attend their charity balls, lest they receive too few donations to continue operations. What is the meaning of this?”

“Well…”

“You intend to notify the nobility of this incident in order to regain their trust, yes? In that case, I think this matter also requires thorough investigation. As governor of Armelia, I have of course made my own donations, and I do not begrudge them in the least. I’m sure now that my innocence has been proven, my mother will feel the same way. But I fear something similar will happen again unless we get to the bottom of this matter.”

“Yes, I think you speak some unfortunate truths, Lady Iris.” Father Rafsimons’s face was bitter. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was touching on a sensitive subject or because we hadn’t discussed this beforehand in our meeting. Either way, I had no intention of stopping.

“Also, I have a concern about the Azuta Corporation. Please excuse my frankness, Pope Lutasha, but how much is your salary?”

“What?! How dare you ask a servant of God such a vulgar question!”

“I don’t ask it because I want to, but this is an important matter. This year, you’ve spent about the same amount purchasing Azuta Corporation products as some of the richest nobles. I have to think your salary is quite hefty. Father Rafsimons?”

“It isn’t,” said Father Rafsimons.

“Well, then, Your Holiness, how in the world did you afford to spend so much on our products?”

“What cheek!” the pope snapped. “I would do no such thing!”

I didn’t come right out and say he’d used the money from the sale of the church to fund his luxury spending spree, but I saw the doubt and suspicion crossing people’s faces, so I knew the seed had been planted.

“Of course,” I said, “because to stand here and accuse you of such a thing without proof would be to do the exact same thing the Darryl Church did to me. Father Rafsimons? Please conduct a thorough investigation to discern where those funds went.”

“O-of course.”

“Is there anything else, Iris Lana Armelia?” the queen dowager asked.

“No, nothing.” I shook my head and bowed to the queen dowager.

“I see. I hereby order the officials of the Darryl Church to be placed under house arrest until the investigation is completed—especially Pope Lutasha and the cardinals.”

The pope opened his mouth to say something but then decided not to. Did he want to once again claim innocence, or was he trying to hide something? I felt momentarily anxious about it. I’d thought he would put up more of a fight, so his easy acquiescence made me nervous. Still, I had successfully struck back against the church. And I was sure that Pope Lutasha could expect a most exacting investigation.

Finally, the inquiry had come to a close.

 

***

 

“I wish you wouldn’t have made my heart race like that!”

“Oh? You didn’t have faith in me?”

Father Rafsimons chuckled wryly at my question.

It had been a week since the inquiry. In that week, the pope and his allies had been purged one after another. They weren’t excommunicated, but they were removed from their posts, so it was in the end a similarly severe punishment.

The investigation of church funds was still ongoing, but I was confident that these men would face the full extent of the kingdom’s punitive system once those crimes came to light.

“That’s not it. I was just surprised you brought it up during the inquiry. Now I think I know how a prey animal feels when cornered by a predator.”

“I had a good reason for saying it there. I had to cast doubt on the church in front of the entire nobility. That’s rendered it far more difficult for his allies to plot any resistance in the open.”

In a single moment, I had ruined every personal connection and ounce of trust the pope had ever earned. Even if he tried to plot against me again, no one would dare cooperate with him in fear of earning my suspicion.

“If he does try anything again, he’ll have to have an extraordinary reason for doing so. It might be necessary to root out the rest of his ilk as well.”

“You certainly have a point.” Father Rafsimons let out a sigh.

“Well? Are you satisfied with the outcome?”

“I think so. We were able to oust the pope and his faction, and now we’ll be able to start rooting out the rest of the corruption in the church.”

If you had to describe the relationship between Father Rafsimons and me, the most suitable word would be “accomplices.” Although it had seemed we were on opposing sides during the inquiry, we had been in on it together behind the scenes.

This accomplice was the final piece I had been missing that Dean had provided for me. I had desperately needed definitive proof of the church’s involvement before the inquiry. However, that proof had been incredibly difficult for me to get, since I had been excommunicated. But Dean had given me access to the exact person I needed.

“Now you can have what you wanted—the church is at last headed down the righteous path,” I said.

Father Rafsimons had been deeply unhappy with the church’s direction as of late. He had risen through the ranks but had been unable to be elevated any further due to the war between internal factions.

“Indeed… I’m ashamed to admit it, but the degree of corruption in the capital’s church was truly incredible. Clergymen simply cannot start acting like nobles. Getting caught up in worldly indulgences and embezzling money from the sale of a church is a blasphemy upon blasphemies. If the church had continued on under those people, it would’ve lost the people’s trust sooner or later. And all because those people had been enabled to neglect their duties. I intend to set things right.”

“I’m counting on you, Father.”

“I suppose now it’s my turn to be tested, hm?” he said with a laugh.

“And did I live up to your expectations?” I asked.

He was the one who had provided me with the ledger, of course. And since it was absolutely forbidden to take the booklet off church premises, he had taken an enormous gamble—a profound risk—to help me.

Also, while I no longer had them, he had given me leverage against him in the form of documents with his signature. That was how he had proven his trustworthiness as an accomplice. He had vowed not to betray me, and I had vowed the same to him.

“You have. So now it’s my turn.”

“I can’t express my gratitude. I swear that House Armelia will do everything in its power to aid you moving forward.” In exchange for his cooperation, I’d promised to give him our full support once my position was recovered. “Well, I suppose I should be going now.”

“Oh, already?”

“Yes, I’m terribly busy with the company these days.”

Not only had my excommunication been rescinded, I’d received a full apology from the church. Immediately following that, I’d put a new product out for sale. It was a dessert using the dandelion coffee I’d had Merida make, a simple one that also used gelatin. It was a real hit, and sales were already up.

I had also put several new chocolate products out. Only those on the development team in the main headquarters of the Azuta Corporation in Armelia had known about it, so even if the employees whom Prince Edward had poached for his own venture had tried to copy our wares, none of them had the recipes for these new products. As such, our customers were returning.

As well, I’d heard that a number of my employees who had left me for Edward wanted to come back. As if I’d allow that.

My clients who had turned their back on us were also returning, so soon enough, the copycat companies would have a hard time truly competing with us. I’d heard they were careless with their businesses anyway.

“All right, then. Thank you for everything.”

 

***

 

After Iris left, Father Rafsimons let out a sigh. Talking with her always made him incredibly anxious. Her aura was more dignified and intimidating than that of any other noble he’d ever met—and coupled with the business acumen of a merchant at that. He had no idea how anyone could ever look down on her.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. He had a feeling it was his other accomplice.

“Ah, pardon me, Dean. Lady Iris was just here. Did you miss her?”

“Yes, and I did it on purpose.” Dean chuckled and sat across from the priest in the seat Iris had just vacated. “Well? How are things?”

“Going so smoothly, it’s almost frightening, actually. Now that we’ve shaken things up, all the dust has come out into the open, thanks to Lady Iris.”

“I see.” Dean smiled gently.

Father Rafsimons was surprised to see that face. “Aren’t you going to ask for more details?”

“I’ll see them when I read your report.”

“That’s true.”

The tender smile vanished from Dean’s face as he resumed his usual expression. Father Rafsimons felt himself tensing up as well. He was always nervous when he met with Dean, almost more so than when he met with Lady Iris.

“I know the risk you took to see this through,” said Father Rafsimons.

“It was a small price to pay in exchange for rooting out the corruption in the church.”

“Was it really that small? The general public may not realize it, but anyone with an ounce of good sense has figured it out—that although you’re supposedly studying abroad, you were actually directing your faction to ensure that the inquiry ran smoothly to prevent the ouster of the prime minister. Now that I think about it, that must’ve taken quite a network.”

“Goodness. Now that you mention it, you’re right.”

“Are you sure that was a good idea? Normally, you prefer working from the shadows, but you really put yourself out there.”

“I couldn’t let my grandmother be the one to put herself on the line this time. Since my father’s health has declined, she’s the head of the family. I couldn’t have her pitting herself against the church. That just would’ve made things worse.”

“I suppose that’s a good point.”

“What’s the problem, anyway? I’ve simply returned from a long absence. It’s my choice to decide how I move forward at this point. And anyway, I’m not putting my name out there as much as you might think. If I did, I’d have all sorts of deadly problems to deal with, even if it was just one little rumor.”

“I’m not sure if measuring your well-being by the number of assassins actively hunting you is the right way to go, but all right, then.”

“Anyway, let’s get back to the main topic.”

At this prompting, Father Rafsimons took out a piece of paper and handed it to Dean. He read it over, checked it, and burned it. Then he read and checked the next document the priest handed him.

“Yes, this is it,” Dean said. The priest nodded and added his signature, then placed his seal on the document.

The document they had just burned was the one Dean had exchanged with Iris before giving her the ledger. The document said: “All responsibility lies with Dean.” That was the collateral he had put up in order for the priest to give Iris the booklet.

In other words, if Iris had not emerged victorious after the inquiry and the first prince’s faction had not won, or the end result had not lived up to Father Rafsimons’ expectations, Dean would have taken full responsibility for the entire incident. Without this guarantee, no one who had worked so many long years at the center of the battle between political factions would have trusted some girl they’d never met before at the risk of their own life.

These two documents, the one they had burned and the one they held now, had been written to become valid at this time. They’d arranged beforehand that if Iris won Father Rafsimons’s favor, this new contract would be put into effect. That was the one he had just signed; it’d already had Dean’s signature on it. It stated that from hereafter, Father Rafsimons would swear his allegiance to Dean.

“When you first contacted me a few years ago, I thought I was dreaming,” said Father Rafsimons. “But I’m glad I listened to you and that I didn’t give up on the church.”

“Everything has been arranged for you to move forward. Don’t slow down now.”

“No, of course not.”

 

***

 

Footsteps echoed loudly as two men walked down a darkened hall.

“Quite a lovely dungeon.”

Rudy laughed in response to the man’s sarcastic quip. “Well, he is the pope. We couldn’t house him with the commoners.”

“It was that line of thought that got him into this mess in the first place, wasn’t it?”

The man gave instructions to the guards, who opened the doors. The guards were standing watch over a special jail cell in which the pope was being held.

“Who’s there—ah, it’s you!” The pope’s eyes widened when he saw who it was.

The man was amused by his reaction, his lips curving up into a grin. “It’s been a long time, Pope Wilmots Lutasha. Although I suppose now you’re no longer a pope.”

The man was aware that the smile on his face was quite mean. He couldn’t help it; the knowledge that he was about to snuff out part of the church’s deep-seated corruption was just too sweet.

“Prince Alfred! Why are you here?”

“Why? Well, because you called me, of course.”

After the briefest pause, the truth finally dawned on Lutasha, and he took several deep breaths to calm himself.

“After you joined forces with Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea, I was compelled to come forward in order to put a stop to it. We’re vying for power, after all. Presently, they have more influence in the capital. Once they had the church’s backing as well, I couldn’t just keep lurking in the shadows. They used your leverage to try to rid themselves of House Armelia, which they find most troubling. I’m not sure they’ll be pleased with the outcome, however, as not only did they fail in that regard, they also forced me to intervene more directly.”

“I-It’s as you say, Your Highness. Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea just used me! Please, have mercy on me, Prince Alfred!”

At this, the prince laughed out loud. He couldn’t help it. He was far too amused. Then he stared at Lutasha like he was out of his mind. “You underestimate me. Were you instructed to do this?”

“Of course not! Queen Ellia would never!”

“That’s not who I meant.” The prince’s voice was ice-cold. Colder, actually, as it had borne no warmth in the first place.

Lutasha blanched at the audible menace in his tone. “What?”

“I’m talking about the merchant. What was his name? Divan?”

All the blood drained from Lutasha’s face. His reaction was so transparent that the prince had to wonder how he’d ever survived as the highest-ranking member in such a cutthroat world as the church.

“H-how did you…?”

“You were a pawn used by Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea. It’s most accurate to put it like that. You really should have predicted this would happen before you joined forces with them. Why did you just go ahead and do whatever they said? Didn’t it occur to you that all of you might have been manipulated?”

Lutasha’s mouth hung open.

“Your purpose was never truly to oust Iris. Well, they would have liked it if you succeeded. But all you really had to do was temporarily hamper the power of Louis de Armelia. You needed us focused on him to make it easier for Divan and his people to act. And his job was to disrupt the flow of income to House Armelia. I don’t know if you thought you’d be rewarded with a position of faith or nobility in that country—but then, I’m not asking you to answer me.”

“But if you knew all that, then why…”

“Why? I’ve been waiting for a chance to lance the boils like you. All I had to do was destroy your plans. I have to thank you, though—you spared me the effort and destroyed yourself first.”

Lutasha’s face twisted to an almost humorous extent.

“I’ll return with more news when it becomes available. Until then, you may continue relaxing in this wonderful room of yours.”

Now that the prince had said all he wished to say, Rudy escorted him out of the room. They heard the sound of Lutasha wailing behind them.

Good thing I left when I did, the prince thought with a smirk.

“You’ve really made your move now, Prince Alfred,” Rudy remarked with a grin.

“This was my best chance to get at the church. It’s used its faith as a shield for far too long. I couldn’t waste the opportunity.”

“Ah, that’s not what I meant. I was referring to helping Iris.”

The prince gave Rudy an irritable look. “Well. She stood on the gallows for me. It was the least I could do in return.”

“Even if you did save her from those false charges in the end, you still could have used the chance to strip House Armelia of its power. Yet you chose to help her. And you crossed quite a dangerous bridge to do so.”

“Yes? What of it?”

“I’d like to leave it at that, but unfortunately I can’t. Because of this, you’re officially in league with House Armelia. From now on, when the head of the Armelia family makes a move, the neutral faction who favors the king will start leaning toward our side.”

Rudy was right. Once the neutral faction heard that the first prince had entered the fray in earnest, they would try to get in contact with him.

“But most of all, as her cousin, I want to thank you for helping her.”

“You don’t have to thank me.”

“You’re quite fond of my cousin, aren’t you?” Rudy asked with a grin.

The prince let out a sigh. Had that been the conversation Rudy had been angling for from the start? “What about you? You seem to know an awful lot about her.”

“Well, I’m her cousin, after all. But not only have you kept returning for her temporary contracts, now you’ve become quite intimately involved with her. I can’t think of anyone else who would do such a thing for her sake.” Rudy laughed.

“I was…surprised. She visits the orphanage often and plays with the children. And not as a noblewoman. She hares off to take care of other things by herself, too. Even if she were doing it without an alias, I’d hardly believe it if you told me.” The prince shook his head, still in disbelief. “I really only meant to work with her the once.”

It had all started from pure curiosity over how Armelia had developed so much so quickly. Once the prince had heard the acting governor was Iris, a girl who had been expelled from the academy, his curiosity had only grown stronger.

He’d seen her once while at the academy, but at the time, his only impression of her had been that she was cruel. She had unabashedly insulted Yuri Neuer to her face. Not only had the words themselves made Alfred raise an eyebrow, he had thought them bitingly harsh even knowing the circumstance that prompted them—and his brother’s involvement in it.

And now that girl was an acting governor? Alfred hadn’t been able to fathom what the prime minister was thinking. He assumed the people surrounding Iris had to be impressive indeed in order for Armelia to have experienced such growth. He decided to go undercover to see the inner workings of the duchy. It had shocked him to see she really was the one giving orders. The realization had changed him.

“It was fascinating. I’d never been responsible for anyone but my own family, and nothing I was responsible for had ever felt outside of my control. Thus, I’d never felt a true sense of accomplishment. In fact, I felt nothing about everything, and nothing truly interested me. But being with her is invigorating. She has ideas I never could have imagined, and I can never predict what she’ll do. Everything about her broke my beliefs about the world as I knew it. She constantly inspires me with new innovations. Every time I’m about to see her, my heart beats faster, wondering what new thing she’ll show me. I honestly never tire of her, and I started wanting to just watch over her.”

In truth, he wanted to spoil her rotten. He wanted her to break down all her walls, but only for him, so only he would ever see her vulnerabilities. She hadn’t allowed it yet, but even that stubbornness was adorable to him. He really was terribly weak for her.

“To me, the people, money, government—I dealt with them all at a desk. Numbers were numbers and nothing more, nothing less. The people who worked for me were pawns on a chessboard and all I had to do was determine where to move them. But after I met her, I realized none of that was true.”

“Yes, you’ve definitely softened.”

“Ha. You’re just going to come right out and say it?”

“That’s why I’m worried.” Rudy’s tone suddenly changed. Before it had been teasing, but now it was serious. “The fact that you’ve grown softer is a good thing for you personally. But if you let yourself get carried away with your emotions, it could ruin your plan. That’s all I’m saying.”

“You just thanked me for saving your cousin. Now you’re telling me to let Iris get involved, Rudius Gib Anderson?”

“First, I think it would take a lot more to take her down. Second, no matter what, I know I’ll always choose you, Alfred Dean Tasmeria.”

Rudy’s words hit Alfred hard. He was declaring his loyalty to the prince over his own flesh and blood.

“Don’t worry,” Alfred said. “I won’t change the plans we’ve already set into motion. My mind hasn’t changed, not once, since we decided to remove both Ellia and the king from power. I won’t become like my father.”

Rudy breathed a sigh. “I’m relieved to hear that.”

“You never had anything to fear. My resolve has only strengthened since forging a bond with her.”

“Why?”

“An incompetent king kills his citizens. My father loved my mother, and even though it’s a tragic thing that he lost heart when he lost her, it’s nothing to pity him for.” The king had lost his will to live with the death of Queen Sharia. He’d grown distant even from himself. That was how Queen Ellia and her father, Marquis Marea, had taken so much power from him.

Like a fool, the king had turned a blind eye to Queen Ellia’s involvement in Queen Sharia’s death. Even worse, he’d been nothing more than her puppet as she tried to rid herself of both of Queen Sharia’s children—Alfred and Letty. Even though they were the children the king’s beloved late queen had given birth to, they had all but vanished from the king’s life. If the queen dowager hadn’t given them sanctuary, they would have suffered the same fate as their mother and died by Queen Ellia’s hand.

“When I saw Iris risking it all, putting everything on the line for her duties, my conviction only deepened. The king is ill, and there’s nothing to be done for him now. Sooner or later, he’ll have to abdicate, and I will fulfill my sovereign duty to rid this kingdom of that corrupt filth.”

Even if it means taking my own flesh and blood down with it, he thought. At this point, his filial bond with his father was nothing more than a burden. The only person he truly thought of as family was his sister, Letty. Removing the king from power wouldn’t trouble him in the least.

Ahh, that’s why… he thought, suddenly realizing something. Letty had also mentioned she thought he was softening. Only now did he realize how right she was.

He had indeed been cold and disinterested in the world. He hadn’t cared how many people died or who suffered in order to achieve his goal—these losses were merely numbers. All he had to do in the aftermath was balance the loss with his victory.

But to the two people closest to him, who saw him from outside himself, his change had likely been strikingly obvious. In a way, that meant Iris had made even more of an impact on him than he’d realized, as she was the fulcrum of this change.

He had to laugh at himself for taking so long to notice it. Seriously, how blind was he?

“I won’t become like my father,” he assured Rudy, “because the woman who has my heart won’t become mine.”

Rudy frowned. “I believe House Armelia would be pleased to join with yours, if that’s what you desired. It would be the natural thing. Iris’s younger brother will be the next governor of Armelia. She’ll have to hand the reins over to him at some point anyway.”

True enough. House Armelia had Berne to care for its obligations, and at some point, Iris would be expected to relinquish her role to him. Alfred wondered what she thought about that. Moreover, even if she let Berne become the governor of Armelia, she would still have the Azuta Corporation. And with governorship off her plate, she might well find some other project to pursue and start running toward that.

“The woman I love is a woman who flies free. I could never clip her wings and keep her in the royal palace.”

She had dedicated the whole of herself to governance, and she spent every spare moment traveling through the duchy. Her eyes sparkled every time she overcame a challenge, which only made her more attractive to Alfred. It would be such a waste to confine her to the rules and regulations of the palace.

“I know that’s what the queen dowager expects, and I hate to disappoint her. But I have no intention of asking Iris to join the royal family.”

“I see.” Rudy had a conflicted expression—a mixture of relief and disappointment.

They continued talking as they walked to their destination, the library. This was where Alfred spent the majority of his time when he lived at the detached palace, besides when he slept. Lately, he had been traveling more, so he hadn’t come often, as he spent the majority of his time sneaking into the main palace to work.

One wall was covered in bookshelves, stuffed full of books. He’d always thought it quite the collection, but now that he had seen House Armelia’s library, it seemed small in comparison. How could one person own so many books, anyway?

Alfred walked toward a desk in the back of the library and took a seat there. This wooden desk and chair had been used by generations of the royal family, and although not particularly beautiful, it was comfortable, and therefore he had always been fond of it.

“Shall I bring you some tea?” Rudy asked.

The prince nodded and closed his eyes for a moment. He heard the faint sound of the door closing quietly. Rudy was speaking to a servant outside the door. The detached palace retained the bare minimum of servants. Ostensibly, this was because the queen dowager had retired, but more truly it was because Alfred and Letty lived there as well, and their lives were under constant threat from Queen Ellia.

“Here’s your tea, Prince Alfred.” Rudy carefully placed it in front of him, ever the model attendant. Rudy had a number of remarkable skills, but his tea especially was always delicious.

“Thank you. Hm? Is this…?”

“Yes, it’s one of the Azuta Corporation’s most popular herbal teas. Supposedly, it’s effective against fatigue.”

“I’m aware. That’s very thoughtful of you. Thank you.”

“Of course.”

The pale gold liquid had a unique aroma—it was exquisite.

“Sounds like the corporation is making a comeback.”

“Indeed. Iris remains impressive. Now that she’s been proven innocent, she isn’t letting any opportunities pass her by. She’s been putting out one new product after another.”

“Sounds like my younger brother is suffering because of it, too,” Alfred said with a laugh.

Although Prince Edward’s reasoning for starting his own company was small-minded, he certainly had chosen the right timing to steal employees from the Azuta Corporation. The ones in higher positions—for example, the employee in charge of the kitchen in the café located in the royal capital—would have been well worth the effort of poaching and remained valuable. But most of the employees Edward had taken from Iris had not held meaningful positions and could therefore add little worth to his company.

Azuta’s greatest asset was its ability to produce new and innovative products. In Alfred’s estimation, Edward really should have tried to steal someone from their research and development department instead.

“The report from Father Rafsimons has arrived. First, the charges against the pope are as follows: embezzlement, false allegations against Iris Lana Armelia, and concealing evidence. Due to these incursions, he has been stripped of his position as pope. As you saw in our meeting with him, he is currently imprisoned. Two cardinals and three priests have also received punishment. The full report is here.”

So two of the five cardinals had participated in this scheme. The church was fully on Edward’s side, so Alfred had been lucky to hamstring their operation and their usefulness as pawns of House Marea. It would take some time for the church to regain its influence, and in the meantime, they would be unable to meaningfully participate in the war between the factions.

“By the way, have you seen Milo?”

“I haven’t. I’m not sure he’s returned yet.”

“Hm…”

“You called, so I came… Dun-da-da-daaah!”

Suddenly a bright, cheerful voice interrupted their conversation. The owner of the voice was the person they had just been discussing. He had light brown hair, and his face was strangely sweet. It wouldn’t have been surprising if someone mistook him for a woman.

“You remain unusually skilled at showing up out of nowhere…”

Milo was a master of stealth, so neither Alfred nor Rudy had been alerted to his presence. He had been trained as a spy from the time he was a young boy.

“That’s because I’m a shadow,” said Milo. “Well? What is it you wanted?”

“You know what I want. Your report. Get on with it.”

“Eep! To start, that girl’s terrifying,” Milo began.

This elicited another sigh from the prince. “Why do you say that?”

“The pope’s son hasn’t yet been punished, you see. He’s still living in the house that’s been reserved for the papal family for generations.”

“We don’t yet know what will happen with regard to him,” said Rudy. “Those in line to become the pope enter the academy to study and make connections with the nobility. Upon graduation, they join the church and begin training for their papal duties. But now in the midst of Van’s training, his father was stripped of his position. If we wait for Van to finish training, we’ll be without a pope for several years. Not to mention, I’m sure many people will be opposed to installing a pope of a disgraced bloodline. I’ve already heard that very sentiment from some of the highest officials in the kingdom.”

Milo nodded in agreement. Basically, the chances that Van would succeed his father as the pope were exceedingly low.

“Mm-hmm, exactly. That’s why… So, the kid will try talking to that girl like he always used to, but she’ll say something like ‘Can I help you?’ Like he’s a total stranger. It surprised me. I always thought he stuck his nose into other people’s business without permission, but now she treats him like he’s totally useless. I never expected her to abandon him so quickly.” Although Milo said all of this with a smile, there was an edge in his voice. “I just think it’s a bit soon to cast him aside. I mean, if she really doesn’t have any use for him, I can understand cutting him off, but I just wonder if that’s really in her best interest right now.”

“Is she your type or something?”

“Not sure. She has her pros and cons. But I already have a master. I have no intentions of fooling around with her.”

“Well, and? Don’t tell me that’s the end of your report.”

At this, Milo’s eyes suddenly grew serious, though he maintained his smile. “No. There are an awful lot of rats hanging around her. What do you want me to do with them?”

“Her guards? Or…”

“Both, I’d say? They behave rather strangely for people tasked with her protection.”

“I see… You haven’t gotten anything useful out of them, have you?”

“No one in her circle knows what we’re up to, at least. The duke’s son is starting to distance himself from her—as is the son of the knight commander.”

“Oh? Even Dorssen?”

“Yes. The knight commander forced him to, though. Good thing either way. Got him before it was too late, I should say. If he’d kept clinging to her, we would’ve had to take care of him.”

“The absence of one knight makes little impact on the kingdom,” Rudy said sharply. It was understandable how he’d come by that perspective, given his grandfather’s affiliation with the military.

“That’s creepy, Rudy.”

“Says the man with the splendid mask,” Rudy retorted.

Milo didn’t seem bothered. He had his usual innocent smile plastered onto his face. “Ah, and the duke’s daughter’s maid is sniffing around again.”

“Tanya?”

“She’s pretty good. Almost makes me want to hire her.”

That was true praise, coming from Milo. While eccentric, he was purely professional when it came to his job. For a moment, the prince did consider hiring Tanya, but…

“She’d never entertain the thought of leaving Iris for us. Never in a thousand years.”

It was impossible.

Milo chuckled. “That’s part of what makes her so good, yes! I wish we could have met her before she had a mistress…”

“You only ever met her because of her mistress.”

“Oh, right. What a shame, what a shame.”

“Well? What’s the baron’s daughter after?”

“Hmmm, she meets with that merchant Divan about two or three times a month. They don’t talk about anything especially important. How things are going with Prince Edward, how things are at home. That sort of thing.”

“How things are with Edward, hm? I’m sure that’s quite important to Divan. But why was Divan trying to make another move in the first place? As long as the baron’s daughter has her hooks in Ed, he can pull any strings he wants once he’s on the throne.”

“I don’t know. Perhaps he’s feeling nervous about you, Your Highness. Or perhaps she was nothing but a pawn to him from the very start. One of the two.”

Rudy frowned; he seemed dissatisfied with Milo’s answer. “I’m sure it’s the latter. We have to take into account that he can’t just sit and wait for everything to pan out in the future. Things as they are aren’t good enough for him.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s say Edward takes the throne, but the prime minister is still Louis de Armelia. Duke Armelia has a strong, fortified domain with financial wealth and abundant resources. He holds every official in the palace in the palm of his hand and is the highest-ranking noble. Even if Divan tried to use Edward, he wouldn’t be able to make any bold moves. Instead, it would be more effective to use the internal strife that presently exists within the nobility to weaken the kingdom and grow his own influence.”

“Hmm… I feel like that would be a complex plan with a lot of moving parts. And where would Tweil come into it?”

“Tasmeria’s land is fertile enough to be attractive in itself. Enarene’s report agrees. Just this year, Tweil’s harvest was the worst it’s been in a generation.”

Enarene was another “shadow” just like Milo, one who was currently operating under Baron Marvelas Messi, a noble who held the border with Tweil. Enarene relayed information between Alfred, and the baron and had recently gone undercover in Tweil. According to the newest report, Tweil had suffered an exceptionally poor harvest. Winter lasted most of the year in that northern country, and not only was the soil poor—a condition of the cease-fire with Tasmeria had them paying an enormous amount of money to support the princess who had married into House Rubens.

In other words, they were cornered and could no longer afford to be patient. They would much rather try to destroy a fragile kingdom and take it over, rather than wait for a better future for their own. That was their philosophy, anyway.

“Well, it’s not my place to sort out what to do. And now I’m tired.”

“Is that the last of your report?”

“Hm? Oh, yes, yes. Not much else to say.”

“All right. Keep up the good work.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Milo’s expression turned serious. Then he vanished as suddenly and soundlessly as he had first appeared.

After the prince gave Rudy a list of instructions, he took his leave. Now alone, he flipped through the documents on his desk, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.

He was thinking of the day Iris had let her emotions show and cried.

He knew he had pushed her, and hard. But he hadn’t expected her to explode like that. She had seemed so frail. Truly desperate. She always had such bright, glowing eyes and never showed any sign of fatigue. But that day…her slender shoulders had been bowed under such a heavy burden.

Alfred had seen the immense guilt she felt over bringing such troubles to her family. And it was no wonder, with her history. A noble daughter’s most important role was to get married and bring two houses together. After her engagement was broken, he couldn’t blame her for feeling she had to prove herself. Her driving force was her desire to be valuable to her family. Yet she was afraid that she had caused irreparable damage to them.

Seeing her like that had saddened him. At the same time, it made him angry. He wanted to tell her to stop hating herself. He chuckled bitterly. He really had it bad for that woman, if he found even that part of her adorable.

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Rudy entered once more. Alfred listened to his report and let out a sigh.

“Rudy. I’m going to be asking you to take on another job for me.”

“With the military again?”

“Yes. General Gazell is there, after all.”

“That’s fine. I don’t mind getting some exercise.”

Rudy agreed with a smile, but then he froze when he glanced at the door.

The prince smiled wryly when he saw who was standing there. It was his little sister.