“You will soon become rich, Princess.”

“Yes, and Torcan will become wealthy too. Torcan’s seafood will become trendy, and Torcan merchants will travel to countries in the center of the continent, spreading word about the strange drinks sold in Torcan’s capital’s tea houses. Curious connoisseurs will come to visit, and after experiencing the effects of the drinks, they will spread the word.”

“If that happens, many travelers will come to Torcan, which was still considered a dangerous area.”

“Torcan will prosper, and the guild I created will also gain fame. This will be the foundation for me to reach them.”

Floyd knew that everything would happen as she wished.

“Then what do you want in return for your guild offering drastic discounts for our Torcan?”

Roxiana opened her eyes wide and shook her head.

“What do you mean, want something? I have already received a lot from Your Majesty.”

“You have received a lot. I saved your life, provided you with a good place to stay, and now I’ve agreed to remove that stigma. And you paid for that by risking your life to return the land where my people lived.”

“But…”

“I only saved one princess, but you saved many more Torcan citizens. That’s what you did, so don’t underestimate it.”

Roxiana pursed her lips slightly and then said,

“If that is Your Majesty’s wish, I understand. But there’s no guarantee my plan will succeed…”

“That’s how investments are. It’s a risky business, and when you have the acumen and decisiveness to recognize that risk, you gain great profits. I’m betting on and investing in the success of your guild. What do you need right now?”

Roxiana, having already thought about it, answered without further hesitation.

“A trustworthy person to act as guild master, a building to receive requests, a guild establishment permit, and skilled informants.”

“Alright. I’ll look into it.”

Afterwards, the two continued their conversation about future plans, losing track of time. When the dawn light began to tinge the sky reddish, Floyd said,

“You must be tired. Let’s stop here for today and go rest.”

Roxiana wasn’t tired. Rather, her heart was racing with excitement that Floyd had not opposed her and had taken her plans seriously, making her feel like she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

But suppressing her desire to talk more, she nodded.

“Yes, Your Majesty must be tired too. Today, no, yesterday you just returned, and I’ve been keeping you too long.”

“It’s not like that.”

Floyd answered briefly and turned to leave, but then suddenly asked as if he had just remembered,

“By the way, have you decided on a name for the guild?”

“Guild Inferno.”

“Fierce flames. It’s perfect.”

“Yes, these flames they haven’t noticed will become a hell they can’t escape from.”

+++

Elise stared at herself in the mirror. Seeing her flawlessly beautiful reflection, a smile naturally spread across her face.

‘It’s already July.’

It had already been over a year since she had delivered the iron mace of blood to the Franche royal family. But nothing problematic had occurred.

Roxiana wasn’t sold to the Hoben Islands as planned, but she hadn’t been able to do anything either.

‘Seeing as I haven’t heard that name for a year now, she must have died somewhere.’

No matter how much Torcan prohibits slavery, what could a young woman with no family, money, or status do? Even if she were alive, she would surely be barely surviving by selling her body.

‘I must have overestimated her too much.’

Roxiana had been praised for her intelligence since childhood. Even Elise’s father, Duke Hailis, had once said, “The princess has a cleverness beyond her years. If she had been born a man, she would have been someone who could have dominated an era.”

‘So I must have unknowingly overestimated you too much, Roxy. But you could only hear such praise because you were a princess.’

Now, those green eyes that used to follow her every day were no longer seen.

‘I’m now in too high a place for you to reach, whether you’re dead or alive. And you and your family are falling deeper and deeper into the abyss.’

Joseph V moved quickly as soon as he guessed what Lucas had done. While spreading rumors that the Crown Prince was locked up in his palace, not coming out due to guilt and sorrow for having to give up his fiancée, he also created stories about how the Franche royal family, including King Victian IV of Canta, had been committing atrocious acts.

Victian IV tried to find ways to use monsters through the dark magic of non-believers in New Sweden.

Victian IV framed and expelled Duke Hailis, who had pledged loyalty to the Pelur royal family in the past. Then he kept the duke’s young daughter in the palace and mistreated her for a long time. The Franche family not only pretended not to know this fact but also persecuted the young noble lady for a long time.

Crown Prince Lucas, after getting engaged to Roxiana Franche, frequently visited the Ider Palace and learned about the terrible atrocities they were committing. After agonizing for a long time, he decided to realize justice.

Not everyone believed these stories. But continuous exposure raised doubts in some people’s minds, thinking, “Could it really have been like that?” Once doubt started, it grew like mushrooms after rain, making people talk about crimes that Victian IV had never even committed.

Thus, Elise became a pitiful woman beyond compare.

‘Even those who used to look at me unkindly now pity me. The noble ladies and young ladies who used to look down on me sometimes come to comfort me.’

At such times, Elise pretended to hold back tears and said, “Thanks to the Crown Prince noticing and saving me, I can breathe and live like this, so I’m just grateful for this new life I’ve gained.”

When things got to this point, Elise truly felt as if she had been abused by the Franche royal family.

My father was falsely accused, my family was massacred by them, and I endured the abuse pouring down on me in the palace all this time as a pitiful woman.

She became absorbed in such thoughts.

‘So, Roxy, there’s no reason for me to feel sorry for you. Right? You and your family just received the consequences for the evil deeds you’ve committed all this time. People as wicked as you shouldn’t live happily.’

Everything was perfect, beyond anything more to wish for.

The reputation of the Franche royal family had fallen to the ground, so even if Roxiana were alive and dreaming of revenge, there would be nothing she could do. Could she even show her face out of shame?

‘But I’m different, Roxiana. Right now, I’m living very well, smiling every day. I’m being praised and loved by everyone, just like you used to be. You used to always receive compliments about being graceful and whatnot, but how about now? Between you and me, who do you think is better?’

Elise swallowed the laughter that almost burst out.

The road construction plan that had faced difficulties was now sailing smoothly like a wind-catching ship, having finished surveying and about to begin the groundbreaking ceremony.

As the stories fabricated by Joseph V spread, those who had responded lukewarmly to Elise’s plans began to show curiosity. Thanks to that, Elise was able to raise investment funds without much difficulty, and although it was a bit of a stretch, she was able to start large-scale construction by taking out loans.

‘No man would hesitate to show favor to a pitiful woman. They would think it proves their masculinity and noble chivalry.’

Today, a banquet is scheduled to celebrate the successful start of construction.

Invitation cards were sent not only to the nobles of this King Teren city but also to influential nobles of Gania. Not everyone would respond to the invitation, but it would be a success if even one or two people with a voice in the royal palace came.

It bothered her that a few of the men attending the party were those she had shared a bed with, but she soon shook off that thought.

‘Unless they’re fools, they won’t be able to openly reveal their relationship with me.’

That’s why she deliberately attracted only men with families. Those with shackles wouldn’t be able to wag their tongues carelessly.

‘You know what, Roxy? Men in bed are so foolish that they carelessly make promises to women who fall into their arms. It’s a method that a woman like you, who’s just tall like a beanpole and has no charm, can’t use.’

Elise chuckled softly and said to the maid who was combing her hair,

“Pull out a few more strands of hair near the nape of the neck. It will make me look more innocent.”

+++

“This is bullshit.”

Hexten muttered.

“Joseph V has gone completely mad with this bullshit.”

Arsen agreed but silently threw a round ball far away. The dogs playing in the garden of the Chetek mansion ran after the ball.

“To spread such rumors to cover up his own son’s crime. Isn’t he afraid of God?”

“Isn’t it amazing?”

Arsen caught the ball brought back by the brown dog Kelt and threw it again, adding,

“The Princess predicted that Joseph V would act like this two months ago.”

“Ah, that’s right. After the Hoben Islands envoy visited, the Crown Prince was confined to the Crown Prince’s palace. She guessed that far just from hearing that. Wow, that’s impressive. As expected, she’s amazing.”

Arsen truly thought so.

‘After the Hoben Islands envoy’s visit, the Crown Prince was confined to the Crown Prince’s palace.’

While it’s possible to grasp the context just from hearing that information with a bit of deep thinking, predicting what would happen as a result is not an easy task. Moreover, Roxiana didn’t spend a long time pondering to reach her conclusion; she instantly guessed how Joseph V would act right there and then.

And that’s not all.

Yesterday, when Arsen encountered Roxiana in the forest while walking the dogs, he asked if she was worried about the false rumors surrounding the Franche royal family. She calmly replied,

−”There’s nothing more grateful than when those on the opposite side act as expected. Knowing that my thoughts were not wrong, there’s nothing happier than this.”

She couldn’t be happy. No matter how false the rumors are, if many people believe them, rumors become truth.

It couldn’t be pleasant for her family, who suffered terribly even after death, to be entangled in such absurd tales, yet Roxiana didn’t show any of that devastating emotion.

And so, Arsen thought it might be possible.

−”The Princess seems to intend to face the entire Pelur royal family.”

Recently, Floyd said at a gathering of the Knights’ Commanders,

−”I too am thinking of joining that cause.”

Although he didn’t know the detailed past, Arsen was aware that Floyd harbored deep hatred for the Pelur royal family. Also, since Joseph V had completely tarnished the honor of the Franche royal family, Roxiana’s enemy had become the entire Pelur royal family as well.

Floyd and Roxiana’s destinations were the same, and there was no reason for Arsen, who had sworn to protect them both, to refuse that intention.

However, he was worried whether Roxiana, who was overly considerate of her subordinates in many ways, could make cold-hearted decisions at crucial moments. But when he saw Roxiana perfectly composing her feelings and smiling yesterday, he realized his worries were unnecessary.

There are such people. People who bring wind to a stagnant life, people who make a hardened heart beat again.

Decades ago, Arsen felt his heart grow hot when he saw Floyd laughing like a madman in the midst of flames. He thought he would never meet such a person again.

But he was wrong.

“A hot wind will blow in Torcan.”