Death.

Even though she had been thinking about it all along, she felt a strange repulsion.

If she died, of course she wouldn’t be able to see Idren again.

It’s not that there was a specific reason why she had to see him. It’s true that Idren had done a lot for her, and it’s also true that she was waiting for him now, but in any case, he was just another person.

Idren said he liked her. Ophelia knew that his feelings were quite heavy and intense.

But for someone who harbored such great feelings, he knew very little about her. It was mostly her fault for not telling him, though.

Moreover, the root of his feelings was a fantasy planted by a brief encounter in his childhood.

Of course, Ophelia knew that she had shattered that fantasy to pieces. What else could the tears the man had shown a few times mean?

Now Idren no longer saw her as a kind, affectionate – thinking up to here made her stomach churn a little – friendly person.

But the foundation cannot be ignored no matter what.

Moreover, she also knew very little about Idren.

She just thought of him as a man who gets sulky easily, a man with a tender heart and many tears, but that’s a rough impression she covered up because she didn’t have the confidence to know more about him. Ophelia also knew that Idren wasn’t just that kind of person.

It’s just that it’s better not to know about each other, so she just closed her eyes.

But it seemed that man had somehow squeezed his way in. The sight of herself naturally considering him proved that.

But that doesn’t mean she has the courage to live, does it?

She had to come to a conclusion either way. If she was going to stay by Idren’s side, she shouldn’t hurt him anymore, and if she was going to say goodbye as they had agreed, she should treat him more coldly so as not to leave any lingering feelings.

She shouldn’t be confused not knowing her own heart like this.

Her head throbbed again. Ophelia, pressing the side of her forehead again, looked at the person in front of her. Anyway, she had to finish what she was doing.

She said to Anika,

“Can I ask you a favor regarding the grain for Redden?”

“Please tell me.”

“The Edegroon grain market is not the same as before. Thanks to you giving up your territory, a lot of southern grain is flowing in. If we suddenly purchase grain to send to Redden in this situation, the prices will definitely rise.”

Whether using the internal market of Edegroon or the southern market, the result was the same. It meant that demand would suddenly increase.

Moreover, the money to purchase that grain was expected to come out of her vault.

She didn’t think she was stingy, but when she thought about spending money on Redden, she felt it was a waste. In her previous life, it was a market where she could grab and shake it to reap benefits to her heart’s content, but now she had to take care of it, so she felt it more.

Redden would become Idren’s land. Before the words came out of her mouth that she didn’t care whether the people of Redden starved to death or not, Ophelia repeated to herself. So she was just giving back to Idren what she had received from him.

“Please consult with Salode and purchase the grain in a way that minimizes the impact on prices. I will provide the necessary funds from my vault.”

“I understand.”

“But they were starving people, so it would be better to distribute it generously. Please estimate the required amount well when purchasing. When distributing the grain, do it under the name of the Aglante royal family. If we’re not careful, it might give the impression to the Aglante people that we’re taking care of foreigners first, so it would be good to do it together with relief projects…… It would be good to consult with Salode about this too.”

And Ophelia hesitated for a moment. Anyway, Anika was just cooperating with her, not someone she employed, so it seemed like she had ordered too many things.

“If the tasks I gave you were too much, please don’t feel burdened and let me know.”

At her words, Anika shook her head.

“It wasn’t too much. I will do as you said.”

Not long after Anika left, an unexpected person came to visit. Ophelia looked at Siana, who was entering a little nervously. Now that she thought about it, she should have comforted her a little more, but she forgot because she was so busy with work.

Although it was too early to face her before finishing organizing the ledgers and with a complicated mind, Ophelia pulled the bell string and ordered tea to be brought. In the current situation, she had to keep Siana on her side no matter what. If she made her feel neglected, things could go wrong.

Handing the teacup in front of her to the woman, Ophelia asked,

“I was too busy last time to have a long conversation. Why did you come?”

“I, I have a favor to ask of you.”

The words that came out hesitantly were much smoother than she remembered. Ophelia realized that Siana’s stutter had improved a lot. Now that she thought about it, her posture was also quite upright for someone who seemed anxious.

“Tell me.”

“Ah, can I invite my father to the castle?”

At the unexpected words, Ophelia blinked.

“I thought you didn’t like your father?”

“Th-that’s true. But si-since there was talk of marriage, I thought I should……”

And Siana lowered her eyes. There was still a hint of rejection and fear toward her father in her appearance.

Nevertheless, the fact that she was trying to face her father instead of avoiding him was clearly different from before, but it had to be confirmed whether that opinion was formed solely by her own will.

“I’m not trying to interrogate you, so don’t be scared and tell me. Did Gilrod Nevel ask you to meet?”

“Th-that’s right. But I-I also want to meet him.”

“Why?”

Then Siana lowered her head a little. She seemed to be hesitating whether to tell the truth.

“I just thought it would be good to have a conversation once……”

Ophelia assessed whether those words were all lies, or to what extent the truth was mixed in. Anyway, it was clear that it wasn’t such an honest statement.

It didn’t seem like Siana would kick away the comfort she was enjoying now and go to Gilrod, but no one could be trusted perfectly. Ophelia pondered how to handle her request.

That’s when Siana added,

“La-last time, you said that the situation needs to be changed.”

It was true that she had said that to Siana, who was clinging to her saying she didn’t want to get married. Ophelia searched her memory for how that conversation had ended that day.

When Siana pleaded with her how to escape the legal right of parents regarding marriage, Ophelia had told her that the situation needed to be changed. Then Siana had asked her how to change the situation.

To that, her answer was that she would find a way and told her to wait.

In fact, she had put her heads together with Salode regarding that matter. Salode had said that the easiest way would be for Siana to first bring in another man as her husband and for Ophelia to recognize it on behalf of the king.

However, if they did that, Gilrod would demand a trial, and if a trial were held, the date of convening the council would be further delayed.

“There is also the option of not accepting the trial…… But there is no way to refuse a trial requested by the head of an elder family unless they commit an act of treason.”

“Then it’s an unusable method, isn’t it?”

“If Your Majesty does not approve the marriage, Nevel will have no justification to demand a trial. However, in this case, since it is a marriage without parental consent, Miss Lerk will lose her inheritance rights from Nevel.”

“Then Gilrod Nevel will immediately adopt a son-in-law and pass on the family.”

“He probably will.”

Since they couldn’t let someone from Brinwell interfere in Aglante’s internal affairs, that method couldn’t be used either.

But if they couldn’t find another way, she thought it would be better to do that, and when Idren returned, uproot Nevel in a different way.

Having finished reminiscing, Ophelia raised her teacup.

“I had promised to change that situation for you. But looking at you now, it seems you have a different idea.”

“Ye-yes……”

“Can you tell me what you’re thinking?”

Then Siana blushed a little and answered,

“Ac-actually, I met the Lord of Rohos last time.”

The Lord of Rohos would be Anika, right? At the words mentioning an unexpected person, Ophelia raised her eyebrows.

Siana, perhaps not noticing her puzzlement, continued with a slightly excited face.

“Wh-when I was crying because I was upset, that person co-comforted me.”

We-well, of course, Your Majesty the Queen did more than that for me…… The added remark was definitely a very distorted memory, but that’s not what’s important now. Ophelia narrowed her brows slightly.

“Th-there was an answer in what that person said……”

She didn’t know what that answer was, but at least it wouldn’t be going back to Gilrod on her own feet.

If she had a conversation with Anika, she could confirm it with that side instead of Siana. Having made up her mind, Ophelia put down her teacup.

“As you may have heard from the heir of Chesa, I was planning to present you as the head of the Lerk family at the upcoming council meeting.”

“I-I know that.”

“Things got a bit tangled, but that thought hasn’t changed.”

And Ophelia examined Siana’s complexion. Just in case Siana had any dissatisfaction that she couldn’t tell her.

Fortunately, Siana didn’t seem to have much rejection to those words. There was tension on her face, but it was because she was afraid that her request would be denied.

Letting out a small sigh, Ophelia nodded.

“Do as you wish. But just in case, keep the guards by your side.”