However, the Duchess seemed interested in nothing but exercise.

Let alone adornments, she would often say that extravagant dresses were cumbersome.

So adding even this small detail was Kesha’s little indulgence.

“Isn’t it too cheeky?”

Atia looked at her reflection in the mirror and spoke.

“Um, well… it seems fine?”

“Hehe, doesn’t it?”

Kesha smiled broadly.

(This is a time separator.)

‘Buy all of this land?’

Just earlier, Casus received a proposal to invest in a barren land.

From his father, Heidegger.

As he was pondering whether to buy,

He was told to buy the vast Napht area.

Not just half, but all of it.

However, Heidegger’s judgment had never been wrong. Almost never.

Tap.
Tap.
Tap.

Casus tapped his fingers on the desk.

Time was passing quickly.

Soon, the right to purchase the Napht area would pass to someone else.

Scribble. Scribble.

After much thought, Casus picked up the pen and signed the document that indicated he would buy the entire Napht area.

Thump.

Having sent off the documents, he lay on the couch to take a brief rest.

The cushion felt soft, unlike the hard chair.

Casus enjoyed the feeling that enveloped his body. However,

Even a plush sofa has its limits.

He wished someone would deeply press the places he couldn’t reach.

That would make it even more comfortable.

Suddenly, he thought of Atia.

She who spoke her mind, closing her eyes and smiling.

“Damn it.”

Unknowingly, Casus uttered a vulgar word.

Atia, who had turned pale white when he mentioned the story of the first night.

The image of her staggering around saying her head hurt crossed his mind.

It weighed on his heart that he had spoken without knowing she was in pain.

But,

Was she really sick?

According to the , she was seriously ill.

Then, the cause of the illness must be identified and addressed.

So, he had her thoroughly examined.

But the result was ‘No abnormalities.’

Just in case, after the first physician left, he called for other physicians to Atia’s room.

But the diagnosis was the same from everyone.

Neither a severe illness nor any other abnormalities were found.

The physicians of the Duke were among the best in the Felren Empire, so they could not all be wrong.

‘Surely, there must be something that is not evident.’

Casus, a man full of suspicions, trusted no one.

Naturally, he smelled something fishy.

However, as nothing concrete had emerged, he concluded that it was best to watch and wait.

“Huuh.”

Caught in complicated emotions, Casus closed his eyes and tilted his head back.

(This is a time separator.)

The royal palace of the Felren Empire.

“Your Majesty, a letter has arrived.”
The emperor, Deluman, sat on a massive throne adorned with jewels and crowned with a golden wreath on his grizzled hair.

Deluman, boasting a grandeur enough to overshadow his throne, was the supreme authority of the Felrun Empire.

A smirk crossed the emperor’s lips as he scrutinized the letter.

The letter, emitting a strange light of mixed gold and silver, glittered in his hands. It was a .

It described the recent activities of the Wellington Duke Family.

It stated that they had forsaken the golden lands of Barel and had bought up the entire desolate area of Neiphet.

Emperor Deluman burst into furious laughter.

“Stupid fools! What happened for their judgment to fail so miserably?”

In the ongoing subtle tension between the royal family and the Wellington Dukes,

Both the royal family and the Wellingtons were increasingly focused on securing resources.

It was also with the intention of pressuring the Wellingtons that the emperor had proposed the introduction of the princess tribute system to the great nations.

Externally, while pretending to take a friendly stance toward the most powerful empire, Kerashian, they aimed to gain other advantages.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Emperor Deluman tapped his fingers on the armrests of the throne.

“Somehow, it’s quite warm.”

The attendants standing on either side of the throne turned a shade bluer, fanning him more vigorously with their swanfeather fans.

“I will bring ice.”

At the attendant’s words, Deluman gestured his approval.

Then, he continued to read the letter, propping his feet on the footrest.

“Hmm.”

Deluman’s mind was filled with thoughts on how to bring down the Wellington Duke Family.

The Felrun Empire was one of the countries with immense power, so they didn’t need to bow their heads to other nations.

That is to say, proposing to offer a princess to Kerashian was merely a façade to hide another scheme.

Deluman, who well understood the tendencies of the Wellingtons, had decided to exploit this.

‘Soon, they will take the bait.’

Especially since it was clear that Duke Casus of Wellington would oppose the princess tribute system.

It was a strategy to slowly bring about their downfall.

“Buy up the previously purchased Barel area, even its vicinity.”

The servant who had delivered the bowed his head and spoke.

“Your Majesty, I’m not sure the foreign merchants will agree to sell, but we will try.”

These merchants were people from other countries who traveled the world buying and selling land; even Emperor Deluman couldn’t easily sway them.

Deluman snorted.

“Offer them double, no, quadruple.”

“Huh?”

The servant lifted his head in inquiry.

Deluman again thumped the armrest, saying,

“If they still refuse, they’ll have to see blood.”

The avaricious Deluman wasn’t content with just the Barel region; he aimed to devour its surroundings as well.

The best time to strike is when they’re weakest.

And now was the opportunity, with foolish Casus making poor decisions and struggling.