“No, no.”

Noah sighed with relief and asked.

“So, we don’t have to go to Edmont right away?”

“Yeah. There’s no need for that.”

After finishing speaking, Carson immediately took out a piece of paper and began to write without hesitation. It was an unofficial letter that would be sent to the Empress through an informal channel.

In that letter, he wrote only one sentence, “I will follow the Empress’s will, so as the daughter of the Emperor and my sister, I will take her with me a little more.”

Originally, Carson would have thoroughly investigated those who were reported dead in Edmont. However, for some reason, he didn’t want to do that this time. It was because he completely believed Ines’s words.

“I will go to Monstera within this month.”
Noah sighed at a name he had heard but never thought about. His nightmare was far from over.

“Monstera?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you talking about that territory at the far northwest border of this place?”

“Exactly. You’re quite smart. I couldn’t understand the name at first when I heard it. I’ve even been there, passing through on the way to Puddledin.”

“From whom did you hear the name of that land?”

“From the Empress. She said if I don’t go there, she’ll send our Louis to Puddledin for marriage.”

“What?”

After the blunt explanation, Carson rose from his seat.

“Why are you mentioning this now? If the Empress heard it, it was during the last temple visit…”

“I didn’t have any plans to go to Monstera back then.”

Then, after tapping the surprised aide’s shoulder a few times, he continued. With many people having to travel a long way, he knew the aide would have a hard time ahead.

“But why did you change your mind?”

“What other way is there to stop it?”

“W-well…”

Even the wise advisor, lamenting as the second in the empire, couldn’t come up with an answer. In fact, Carson also had no real solution.

After sending people to investigate in the capital, it turned out that the proposal for a political marriage from Puddledin was true. Puddledin was a country quite hostile to the Kanez Empire. Naturally, sending a princess there would provoke an external enemy.

So, it was obvious that Louis, who had no external power, became the top priority for a political marriage.

Of course, they didn’t ignore thinking about how to deal with it. If they didn’t send Louis, they would provoke a war. So, as an alternative, the first option was to send their troops to Monstera, provoke a war, even though the imperial family wouldn’t actively support, and then, if the army held on for a year in the war zone, they could plan a strategic marriage.

Of course, it was a dangerous idea.

They couldn’t just wish to push all the soldiers to the other side of the world and hope for the safety of their castle. The Empress would undoubtedly come charging with fury.

Since he couldn’t send the child, for now, he planned to try this. Using mercenaries, bribing Puddledin with money.

“Shall we dismantle the iron into weapons?”

“Are you joking right now?”

Noah looked even more upset than Carson.

“If we don’t have a political marriage, won’t war break out anyway?”

“If I go to Monstera, I’ll end up getting married. Louis is the only one not going.”
Perhaps the fifth princess will go to Puddledin. She was only three years older than Louis. It was a regrettable situation, but it couldn’t be helped.

“I’ll start preparing to go to Monstera.”

“Make sure the railroad construction goes smoothly.”

“Yes, understood. I will select nobles to act as representatives for territory management.”

“Good, mix up the age groups a bit.”

“Now… what about Lady Swenden?”

Noah’s question reminded Carson of the conversation he had with Ines a while ago.

She had said, urging him to take a stroll to the nearby garden after unleashing a tremendous bombshell.

〈Let’s go to Monstera. They say you can see cacti anywhere along the road there. We can always come back here.〉

When he didn’t respond, she nervously fidgeted her clasped hands, as if embarrassed. It wasn’t the bold action one would expect from a woman who had just predicted the death of the crown prince a moment ago.

〈I’ve already obtained permission from the High Priestess. As long as we stay where you, my lord, and the princess are, whether it’s Monstera or anywhere else, it’s fine.〉

〈Are you sure it’s okay? Monstera is really far from here.〉

Ines smiled confidently.

〈Don’t you remember what I told you back then? I’ve decided to live the rest of my life for you, my lord.〉

〈I remember.〉

〈As long as I can be by your side, it doesn’t matter where in the world it is.〉

It wasn’t Ines but Carson whose face, and not just his face but even his ears, turned red without hesitation. However, she didn’t leave it at that and looked straight into Carson’s eyes, who couldn’t meet her gaze all the way.

〈Please… take me with you. I won’t cause any trouble.〉

In the end, Carson couldn’t meet Ines’s eyes until the end and abruptly stood up from his seat. Without looking at Ines and gazing into the distance, he spoke.