“It’s not a treasure, it’s junk. Something buried in the palace storage, and who knows when it will be cleaned up.”

“Osun, did you know this junk existed?”

“How would I know?”

“A wife who has only visited the palace twice knows, don’t they?”

At that, Osun was slightly surprised.

“Isn’t it proven by the fact that the mistress knows about a treasure I didn’t know even after living here for 10 years?”

He was right.

Except for a few servants who managed the treasure in the palace, no one would remember such an insignificant longago tribute.

“Think about it the other way. This becomes a chance to test the mistress’s abilities. That also strengthens us.”

Finally, Osun nodded, understanding his meaning.

“I’ll prepare with Evan in case the plan goes awry.”

Osun and Evan left the office. Hertian stared blankly at the paper containing Anette’s plan.

“Her handwriting remains the same.”

The paper was filled with Anette’s handwriting.

A smile naturally formed, feeling like he had received a letter after a long time. He knew Serdis had intercepted it, but he took no action.

If he still meant something to Anette, she would go around searching for the letter’s whereabouts. So, he decided to wait a bit.

“But her crossing a line with me, is that a good sign?”

Since their marriage, Anette had never asked anything of him. In fact, she had been cold, even claiming to look for another man just last night.

But her eyes changed after hearing about the war. She stepped up to stop Eleanore and solve the problem herself, even transferring embers to the fireplace. She was different now. Her only flaw, her background, had finally been overcome.

“She must be anxious, thinking the person she deemed safe might die in the war.”

Anette had a warm heart.

She never wanted to see her people get hurt.

Hertian was finally sure he had entered Anette’s territory.

When he thought he had finally set a foot in, a smile burst forth.

“I suddenly feel like going to war.”

(This is a time separator.)

Two days later.

News arrived from the palace.

“They say it’s not a proposal but an order, and refusing to participate will be considered treason.”

As expected.

The royal family was pushing him into corners while praising Hertian as a great warrior of war.

“I didn’t even hope for anything. Let’s set off immediately.”

Hertian and I had already prepared to go to the palace.

The plan could start only after arriving at the royal family.
The castle’s repairs were nearly done, so there wasn’t much to worry about.

“Madam, I will go with you.”

“No. I’ll be back as soon as possible, so we’re keeping the escort minimal.”

“Safe travels.”

“Yes. Report back if there’s any news.”

So, Hertian and I left the ducal palace and headed back to the imperial palace.

Back to the imperial palace we didn’t expect to return to.

And to the longmissed capital.

After spending almost a day and a half in the carriage, the sharp rooftops of the imperial palace came into view. My mouth was dry. Anticipation to see my parents was mixed with the discomfort of having to face Serdis.

I thought marriage would naturally create distance.

I thought I could just safely wait in the ducal palace for the day when Serdis and Violet would be connected.

But it seems that wasn’t the case for Serdis. As if there was a rule that things must go as in the original story, he still held onto me.

“What are you pondering so deeply?”

“I was imagining finally cutting ties with His Highness Serdis.”

“I was thinking the same.”

Hertian was more composed than expected. As if this wasn’t the first time.

“Aren’t you worried?”

“Why would I be, when I have a reliable wife.”

Just then, Hertian knocked on the window where the coachman was.

“Please stop the carriage for a moment.”

“What’s going on?”

As I stood up in anxiety, he extended his hand towards me after stepping out of the carriage.

“We need to buy gifts for the Earl and the Countess on our first trip to the capital after getting married.”

“Gifts, in this situation?”

I asked in surprise, and he forcefully pulled me down from the carriage.

“It’s going to end in our victory anyway. Don’t we need gifts for the family who will celebrate with us?”

“Really, Hertian…”

My tension loosened and a laugh escaped. He was so nonchalant even after hearing my absurd plan. As if he was certain that the plan would succeed.

Then he suddenly asked a strange question.

“Did I cross the line?”

“What?”

“I told you that I would cross the line too, last time.”

Ah.

It was the conversation we had in the office. A conversation interrupted by Osun, which Hertian remembered.

“It’s just a quick stop.”

“It won’t take long; I’ve already prepared a gift list.”

He took out a piece of paper from his pocket. Written on it was a list of gifts for my father and mother. He even had the name of the wine my father liked.

Really, what a meticulous man.

I had to wonder why he couldn’t woo Eleanore, if he wasn’t asexual.