“The hunt was enjoyable. Being secluded in the forest without hearing any news about the Franche royal family was very pleasant.”

When Lucas spoke with a growl, Elise lowered the ends of her eyebrows.

“I see. I’m glad Your Highness enjoyed it.”

Elise spoke sweetly as usual and sat down next to Lucas, rubbing his thigh. Lucas’s mood improved slightly, but Elise’s did not.

Her mood was already fluctuating due to pregnancy. She was tired even when resting, yet had to do charity work at the shelter for the queen, something she had never done before. Laundry, cleaning, even bathing the sick… She worked until her once-delicate hands became calloused.

Amidst all this, she heard news that Roxiana had spent thousands of gold on an engagement. To avoid falling behind her, Elise struggled to find investments and raise money.

During those lonely and bitter times, Lucas was not by her side. After enjoying hunting alone, he now expects her to cater to his mood.

I’m not in the mood for that. I want to be comforted too. I want to cry too.

Still, Elise had to smile. She had to do so to make him her ally and solidify her position.

Lucas laughed heartily, saying Floyd picked up Roxiana like a beggar and got engaged, but Elise couldn’t laugh. Lucas said people would mock Floyd behind his back, but Elise didn’t think so.

Floyd Carlot Ratean. He was an intense man. Like the sun driving away darkness, he would also drive away the shadows cast over Roxiana.

Roxiana will now only be called ‘Ratean Grand Duke’s fiancée’, not the princess of a fallen country. No one will remember the fact that she was ‘once Lucas’s fiancée’. Even if someone barely recalls and gossips about it, everyone will think:

‘So what? Now she’s the fiancée of that great Ratean Grand Duke.’

She hated that so much she couldn’t bear it. She was angry at how stupid and foolish Lucas seemed for not thinking that far.

Why did I choose this man? A man who enjoys hunting without knowing what his pregnant wife is going through. A man who doesn’t even ask if I’m alright when I look so troubled.

I should have gone to Torkan. I should have just gone to Torkan without doing anything to the Franche royal family. Then the place where Roxiana is sitting now would have been mine. The protagonist of the engagement ceremony that cost thousands of gold would have been Elise Hailis.

Elise gently rested her head on Lucas’s shoulder and stroked her belly.

Now the only thing she could trust was the child in her womb. My child, who will be entirely on my side.

‘Come out soon. The moment you enter this world, you’ll be royalty. Everyone will love and cherish you. You’ll live a different life from mine.’

+++

Even before crossing the Gania border, Roxiana used her power to search for Engis and Lanian. The spirits of water, wind, and earth searched thoroughly over a wide area for Roxiana, but after several days, they couldn’t find any trace of them.

When they arrived at the first city after crossing the Gania border, a person from the Karan merchant group, who had been arranged in advance, came to the inn. Roxiana told the man dressed as a peddler:

“Spread it. Let it flow from Kingteren to Atanta City.”

Two days later, a strange rumor began circulating in Kingteren City. It was a scandalous rumor that Elise Hailis, the crown princess, had lured countless men to her bed when she was a lord in Kingteren.

Among the men who became the subject of the rumor, those with power tried to stop it, but they couldn’t completely block the story that spread as if it had legs.

Socialites who enjoyed the commotion in high society would bet on whose child might be in Elise’s womb whenever they met to discuss this story.

The rumor spread to the capital city of Atanta within a few days, but as always, it didn’t reach the ears of the main characters of the rumor. Because of their status, everyone kept quiet about it.

But they couldn’t prevent the story from reaching the king’s ears. Before Joseph V could verify the truth of this matter, the Ratean Grand Duke’s party entered the capital of Gania.

The day the noble guests from Torkan entered was almost like a festival. Many people came out to the streets to see the dozens of ‘carriets’, carriages without horses, that they rode in.

Carriets running on magic stones were so expensive that they cost as much as a country’s annual budget, and because they run on magic stones, the maintenance costs were also considerable, making it difficult for even a king of a country to easily afford such a vehicle.

Naturally, people were breathless with amazement as they came riding dozens of such carriets. Not only were the luxurious carriages running without horses a sight to behold, but the beautiful knight commanders guarding these carriages also became an attraction.

“Those people must be the five wings of the Southern Grand Duke.”

“They’re amazing.”

“They look scary.”

“Do they really fight against monsters?”

As whispers were heard here and there, Adrian turned towards them and smiled gently, causing women to blush. Adrian blew a hand kiss towards them, and the commoners who had only seen stern-looking knights smiled brightly at him.

The carriage carrying Roxiana and Floyd had thick curtains drawn, so they couldn’t see outside, but the excitement of the onlookers was fully conveyed.

Floyd placed his hand over Roxiana’s, which was clenched so tightly it was pale. The tension in Roxiana’s eyes, which had been staring at her toes, eased. As Roxiana turned to look at him, Floyd gave a faint smile.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t look alright. Want to kiss?”

“I’m not sure how useful a kiss would be at a time like this, but… yes.”

As Roxiana nodded, Floyd chuckled softly and pressed his lips to hers. The gentle and languid kiss loosened her painfully tightened heart.

“Better?”

Floyd asked, keeping his forehead pressed against hers. Roxiana smiled slightly.

“Yes. The effect isn’t bad.”

She harbored hope. Though she tried not to hold such things, she couldn’t stop the wish that came unbidden.

‘Lanian.’

The hope that maybe Elise had saved her brother and hidden him nearby crumbled last night. Staying in a village next to the capital, she spent all day pouring out powerful energy to search for Lanian, but the spirits couldn’t find any trace of him.

She entered the capital without finding him. She was about to face Lucas and Elise without finding a piece of her family.

“Do you think Elise knows that I couldn’t find Lanian?”

“What if she does?”

“If she knows… I feel like she might try to use that. I need to steel my heart. So I won’t waver. So I can smile even if Lanian’s name comes up.”

“I see.”

He took Roxiana’s hand and kissed each fingertip. All the while, his eyes remained fixed on Roxiana.

“Smile. At least in front of Elise and Lucas, smile. Only show your tears to me. I want to be the only one to see that.”

“You too.”

“Why? Are you worried I might burst into tears upon meeting my beloved family?”

When Roxiana nodded teasingly, he laughed cheerfully.

“Don’t worry. I’m actually a bit too happy right now. By the way, how’s your plan going? Is it progressing well? Is there anything I can help with?”

A cold smile formed on Roxiana’s lips.

“Yes, investment is like gambling, once you get a taste, you can’t pull out. The money Elise earned today will open its black maw and swallow her whole.”

+++

“This is…?”

Elise opened her lips in front of Madam Histin, who had personally come to the Crown Princess’s palace.

She had been feeling sick because of the fact that people from Torkan were entering the city today, but Madam Histin brought a big gift. With trembling hands, Elise confirmed the number of gold coins in the silk purse.

50 pieces.

“Your Highness had a good eye. It seems the dye business is doing quite well, they’ve distributed interim profits to the investors.”

“Not returning the investment?”

“No, they say it’s a profit distribution. They boast that they’ll be able to give you more next month.”

“And in three months, we’ll get 500 percent back?”

“Yes, that’s what they say.”

Madam Histin quietly watched as Elise’s eyes shook with greed.

“50 gold in just a few weeks…”

She had earned 10 percent profit on 500 gold. If she had invested 1,000 gold, she would have earned 100 gold. In just a few weeks.

Elise swallowed hard and said to Madam Histin:

“I can invest more now, right?”

“Your Highness, you’ve already invested a lot of money. First, wait until the settlement is completed in three months…”

Madam Histin’s words of caution didn’t reach her ears. If 500 gold yields 500 percent profit, that’s 2,500 gold. Including the interim distribution, it’s over 3,000 gold.

‘If I had known this, I would have boldly invested 1,000 gold.’

She couldn’t escape that thought. If she had invested 1,000 gold, she would have received 100 gold now.

Elise, with the earned money in front of her, couldn’t think about the unseen enormous interest. At that moment, Madam Histin’s muttered words drove the final nail:

“I saw on my way here, Torkan is really impressive. They came riding dozens of carriets.”

Hearing that they came riding carriets that cost over 5,000 gold each, Elise’s eyes rolled back.

“I’ll come tonight, Madam.”

“Your Highness…”

“I’ll definitely come, so keep the salon open and wait no matter how late it is. Understand?”