After successfully completing the transaction.

I headed towards the operations office located in the center of the exchange building.

It was to fill out the information necessary for finalizing the trade.

After finishing the paperwork and going straight outside, the area in front of the central building was crowded, unlike before.

It seemed to be the crowd that had left the hall after the trading ended.

Their expressions varied depending on the success or failure of their trades, but most of their conversations were about the futures trading from the previous time slot.

“It seems a big deal was made in the Athena Hall.”

Adrian said, looking around as we walked together.

Then, unfolding the pamphlet he had been holding all along, he checked something and continued speaking.

“It appears Ludvian’s stove was put up for sale in the Athena Hall.”

“Is that so? But that stove has already appreciated as much as it can, so it won’t yield much profit, well…”

Seeing me respond indifferently, Adrian couldn’t hide his worried expression.

“But that might be a… more stable investment.”

Looking at him, I pouted my lower lip.

“Adrian, are you that doubtful of my purchase of the special carriage futures?”

After fiddling with his eyebrows for a while with a troubled expression, he slowly nodded.

“To be honest… yes, I am.”

“…”

“Considering the current value of special carriages, even 1.5 million ruts per unit would be a high-risk investment. You bought them for 2 million ruts each… I’m worried the losses might be significant.”

Adrian’s violet-blue eyes were filled with concern for me as he spoke.

I lightly patted his back and smiled confidently.

“Don’t worry, Adrian.”

“But, Your Highness…”

“Just wait and see, okay? I’m going to make a profit with these special carriages that will surprise everyone in the empire.”

Adrian finally let out a faint laugh, as if he couldn’t dissuade me.

“Well… I guess I have no choice. I’ll just have to trust you, Your Highness.”

As I smiled at Adrian, at that moment.

I saw a black shadow slowly seeping at my feet.

When I turned my head reflexively, the first thing I saw was Henry’s face smiling at me.

“Congratulations, Your Highness.”

Of course, Camilla was beside him.

“…Congratulations, Your Highness.”

Although Camilla spoke with a smile, I could immediately tell that she was in a very uncomfortable state of mind.

It was because of the cold expressions that occasionally flashed across her face.

I raised the corners of my mouth leisurely as I looked at Camilla.

“Thank you, Camilla. It’s a very good thing for me, but I feel somewhat uneasy since it seemed you were quite interested in the special carriage futures.”

At this, a slight tremor appeared at the end of Camilla’s lips as she tried to force a smile.

‘She must be feeling bitter about losing an item she coveted so much to me. Moreover, it seems she even borrowed money to raise funds to beat me.’

I intentionally leaked information about my investment funds to Camilla’s side.

‘Of course, all of that was a lie.’

And I watched the entire process of Camilla increasing her investment funds.

She had already scraped together all of her secret funds at that time.

But she couldn’t ask her husband, Count Dmitri, for money, saying she needed more to invest with her lover.

In the end, Camilla even resorted to private loans.

‘Even if she pays it back right now, the interest would be considerable…’

As I was thinking this,

Camilla opened her mouth again with an artificial smile.

“It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. However, I happen to have my eye on something coming up in the next time slot, so I’m going to look at that before I leave.”

“What kind of item is it?”

To my casual question, Camilla answered confidently.

“Colored sugar cane seeds.”

“Ah…”

I nodded my head casually while hiding my startled expression.

The demon realm’s sugar that produces various colors depending on the cultivation method.

Currently, its popularity in the empire was skyrocketing.

However, due to importing the finished product from the demon realm, the price was exorbitantly high.

So, in the empire, they eventually end up buying even the seeds from the demon realm to obtain colored sugar at a cheaper price, but…

‘I remember the story of a nobleman who suffered massive losses after buying those seeds in the original work.’

It would be revealed later that those seeds grow into ordinary white sugar cane in the human realm.

‘Of course, it’s inevitable since the climate here is completely different from the demon realm.’

To think that after missing out on the special carriages, she chose those seeds as an alternative.

I looked back and forth between Camilla and Henry.

‘I wonder if their passionate love will remain the same even after suffering such a huge loss from their joint investment?’

Well, it’s not my concern anyway.

I shrugged my shoulders and bid farewell to Camilla.

“I wish you luck. Well then, I’ll be going.”

.

.

.

Camilla stared relentlessly at the back of Grand Duchess Rebecca as she walked away.

Henry lightly patted her shoulder.

“Camilla, what are you looking at? We need to hurry to the next trading venue.”

“…Henry. I can’t stand it anymore.”

Upon hearing those words, Henry sighed deeply after confirming where her fierce gaze was directed.

“I’m also disappointed about the special carriage deal. But there’s no need to regret it that much, Camilla.”

“…”

“Two million ruts per special carriage. She invested an excessive amount, so the Grand Duchess will end up regretting it eventually.”

At Henry’s nonchalant words, Camilla shouted irritably.

“It’s not because of that, Henry!”

“…Then?”

Despite Henry’s question, Camilla remained silent for a while with her lips tightly closed.

She was repeatedly recalling the look in Grand Duchess Rebecca’s eyes directed at her.

On that day when she was caught having a secret meeting with Henry, and today as well.

Rebecca looked down on her as if she were looking at a vulgar courtesan.

“…Pride. That woman keeps hurting my pride. I can’t stand it.”

That’s not all.

If the Grand Duchess were to tell her husband, Count Dmitri, about her relationship with Henry…

All the efforts she had made so far for remarriage with Henry would surely come to nothing.

Moreover, she would lose in an instant all the status of a countess and the fame of a social star that she was currently enjoying, and fall from grace.

“Henry.”

Crunch.

Camilla’s gaze, which had been nervously biting her nails, grew even more ominous.

“I really… want to kill that woman.”

* * *

The carriage was already racing down the last forest path leading to the Grand Duke’s castle.

I opened the window and felt the fresh breeze blowing from the forest.

Adrian let out a small laugh as he watched me even humming a tune.

“You seem to be in a very good mood.”

“Of course I am. Adrian, you don’t know with what mindset I prepared for this trade.”

This trade was the seed money for economic independence after the divorce announcement.

Of course, I would need to earn a bit more to live for the rest of my life, but…

Just completing this first step successfully made me feel like I could fly.

‘Now what’s left is to turn the hearts of the half-demon people…’

Although it had improved, there were still many half-demon people who hated me.

Even if rumors spread that I had changed, it was only within the Grand Duke’s castle. Even then, there were often those who didn’t believe those rumors.

‘Well. It would be strange if resentment easily disappeared just from hearing a few good rumors.’

Now I needed an opportunity to officially announce that I had changed.

‘When the investment returns start to come in, it would be good to start a business for the half-demon people.’

It was then, as I was nodding my head while lost in thought alone.

Clatter−!

The carriage shook violently as if it had hit something, and then came to an abrupt stop with the sound of horses neighing.

“Wh-what…?”

My body lurched forward without resistance at the sudden impact.

“Your Highness!”

Adrian reflexively threw himself at me.

Just as I was catching my breath, leaning against his firm arm.

I could feel Adrian’s soft breath close by.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

When I unconsciously raised my head, our eyes met.

Surprised by the unexpectedly close distance, both our eyes blinked rapidly.

After a moment, Adrian’s brilliant violet-blue gaze slowly fell downward.

My eyes, both cheeks, nose, and… lips.

Realizing where Adrian’s gaze had settled, I hastily turned my head away.

“Something… seems to have happened outside, Adrian.”

Only then did Adrian seem to come to his senses, slowly releasing his hands that had been holding me.

“…I’ll go check and come back.”

Click―.

Adrian opened the carriage door and stepped outside.

Left alone, I could finally let out the breath I had been holding.

‘Adrian has definitely changed somehow.’

I started to sense an unfamiliar atmosphere from Adrian since the banquet at Count Dmitri’s house.

Adrian, who always wore a gentle yet crisp smile.

However, since that day, opaque emotions often flashed in his eyes when he looked at me.

Not clear, but deep, wordless emotions.

‘For the first time, I’ve started to feel greed.’

I was unconsciously recalling the words he had spoken that night, when suddenly,

The carriage door opened and Adrian came back in.

“Your Highness, the situation outside is not good. Please stay here and don’t come out.”

Adrian said urgently as he picked up his longsword that had been placed in the corner of the carriage.

I quickly grabbed the sleeve of Adrian, who was about to go out right away.

“Adrian, what on earth is happening?”

“It seems the coachman was killed while stopping to check the carriage. The escort knight next to him is the same.”

“…What?”

“What’s even stranger is… there’s not a trace of the culprit to be seen.”

Adrian’s brow gradually furrowed.

“It looks like we’ve fallen into a trap.”

“A trap? In that brief moment when the carriage stopped? We didn’t hear any sound at all.”

“…It might not be the work of ordinary humans.”

“Then… do you mean it could be the work of half-demon people?”

I couldn’t hide my shocked expression.

‘Have the half-demon people already started attacking me? They still think I’m the Grand Duchess, so that shouldn’t be possible. This is strange…’

My brow furrowed unconsciously in anxiety.

As if to reassure me, Adrian continued in a gentle voice.

“It’s not certain if it’s the work of half-demon people. It could also be the work of ‘humans’ using black magic.”

After finishing his words, Adrian grasped my hand that was holding his sleeve.

“Don’t worry, Your Highness. I will protect you even at the cost of my life.”

I nodded, trying hard to calm my startled heart.

Then Adrian, who had stepped outside the carriage again, stood at the door and spoke once more.

“I’ll drive the carriage. No matter what sounds you hear from outside, you must not come out.”

“…I won’t.”

He smiled gently with effort and immediately closed the carriage door.

As soon as the door closed, his eyes visible through the window had already turned fierce.

Adrian soon headed towards the coachman’s seat while keeping watch on the surroundings, and the carriage started moving again.

How long had we traveled like that?

Neigh―!

A sharp horse’s cry echoed through the forest.

At the same time, the carriage began to shake more precariously than before.