Ophelia continued speaking.

“However, if pirates start frequenting the Reden waters, that business will also be affected. The handicraft business is Mahanas’s biggest source of funds, so the impact will be significant.”

And Ophelia thought this wasn’t her style. Rather than just squeezing Mahanas’s finances, it would be much better to lay hands on Reden’s economy.

Pushing Mahanas like this, if Reden remained intact, he could rise again many times over.

So to handle things most cleanly, she should shake the country itself, just like in her previous life.

But trampling Reden like that gave her pause because of Idren.

Of course, Idren had said he would respect her wishes and not interfere with her plans.

He wouldn’t go back on his word, nor would he judge her morally. No, even before that, was there any reason to care how he saw her?

Clearly knowing this, yet when she tried to lay hands on Reden as she had before, Ophelia found herself involuntarily recalling Idren’s words.

“But before that, let me just clarify one thing. It’s not because of what you said, but because I chose it.”

From the words she heard the day she asked to raise the canal taxes,

“You are someone likeable enough. You’re smart, honest, and rational. I think you have a gentle side too, but I won’t include that since you wouldn’t agree.”

To the words she heard even before that.

Ophelia knew it wasn’t like her to be swayed this way and that by mere words.

Since when did other people’s thoughts matter? She just needed to do what was necessary and rest.

Knowing this, Ophelia still didn’t want to hurt Idren while he was alive.

Avoiding his starry eyes and looking straight ahead, Ophelia pondered why she felt this way.

Perhaps it was because she had received too much from him.

Idren had given her all sorts of things and asked for nothing in return.

Of course, beneath that one-sided devotion lay a deep emotion that couldn’t be defined simply as give and take.

Idren called it love. Though she had never heard a direct confession from his lips, Ophelia knew the man thought of that emotion as such.

Hadn’t he said that as long as love remains, marriage is eternal, so they might as well be married?

However, love heard from others’ lips was so different from his that Ophelia couldn’t help but be confused.

Netepel also said he loved her, but all she felt hearing those words was disgust and bewilderment.

Idren’s feelings, while uncomfortable and bothersome, weren’t to that degree, were they?

Moreover, the love she knew was different from Idren’s. Ophelia knew love to be soft, warm, and tender, but she didn’t know it could be so persistently regenerative and, in some ways, even pitiful.

It was fortunate she lacked the strength to ponder which was true, for if she had decided to love him, it would have been quite troublesome.

Since she had no intention of loving him though she could keep him as a friend, Ophelia didn’t think deeply about it.

She did feel some sense of indebtedness, as it was true she couldn’t repay what she had received.

That must be why she felt concerned about him and apologetic. Such things were symptoms that typically appeared when one owed a debt of heart.

So if she could just return as much as she had received from him, these bothersome emotions would disappear as well.

But what could she give him? Ophelia furrowed her brow. She didn’t have much. Most of what she had was given by Idren anyway.

Suddenly, her thoughts turned to the land of Reden.

Come to think of it, Reden was wealth she could earn from somewhere other than him. Though its national power had waned considerably due to mismanagement, with proper refinement it could be no less than any wealthy domain.

Of course, Ophelia had no intention of refining it herself. The greatest kindness she could bestow upon Reden was simply not devastating it.

But unlike her, wasn’t Idren a man who took very good care of things?

Ophelia found herself unconsciously thinking about how to place Reden in his hands. First, she would deal with Dares and Mahanas, then succeed to the throne and die, so the Reden throne would go to him as the sole heir…

That’s when Idren spoke up.

“I don’t mean to disrespect your thoughts, but Starlet is a pirate. Even if he accepted your request last time to attack the Brinwell ships, there’s no guarantee he’ll ally with you this time as well.”

Only then did Ophelia halt her thoughts, recalling the topic they had been discussing. It was then that Idren asked.

“Was Starlet a decent fellow in your past life?”

“…He wasn’t bad.”

He did flirt occasionally, but that was just his habit.

Starlet said similar things to every woman he met. He even had casual relationships with some of them, and quite a few were of high status.

Apart from having no intention of such a relationship with Starlet herself, Ophelia didn’t concern herself with others’ private lives. She figured they all had their reasons for living as they did.

Moreover, Starlet was too decent a person to dismiss just because of his many romantic entanglements. He handled dirty work she didn’t want to touch herself, acted quite cleanly for a swindler, and even smuggled in certain discreet medicines for her.

Even the poison she used in her first life, wasn’t it received from him?

And Ophelia realized that if Idren were to learn this fact, he would become sensitive.

As she was choosing words that would maintain his calmness while still giving a positive impression of Starlet, Idren spoke first.

“You must have your reasons for judging him so.”

Then Idren asked, narrowing his brow. May I hold your shoulder? Ophelia didn’t bother to refuse the request. He seemed to need some comfort anyway.

Understanding the implicit permission, Idren stretched his arm behind her. Pulling her close, he admonished like nagging.

“Still, don’t get too attached to a pirate. It’s not good to befriend someone in a profession with many enemies.”

Unnecessary worry. Ophelia said.

“Do I seem like the type to get attached to someone?”

Instead of answering, Idren let out a small sigh. Ophelia felt his large, warm hand rubbing her arm.

After briefly comforting her with an expression that seemed to need consolation himself, he changed the subject.

“More importantly, it’ll soon be your birthday. Is there anything you’d like?”

Come to think of it, it was now the seventh month. Ophelia shook her head.

“It’s fine. You don’t need to bother celebrating it.”

In her past life, she had never properly celebrated his birthday.

Though she had sent gifts, they were merely perfunctory preparations. It was an attitude opposite to that of someone who did politically meaningful and prestigious things for her on her birthdays.

So it felt a bit awkward to receive anything, but Idren didn’t readily agree to her words. He knew best that he had received such treatment, yet he still acted this way.

When Starlet entered the castle, Ophelia met him in Salode’s reception room. It was due to Idren’s suggestion that it would be less conspicuous.

Despite entering a place where his head could be cut off at any moment, Starlet looked the same as usual. His complexion was bright and his actions leisurely.

As soon as he entered the room, he took off his hat, bowed, and said,

“Would you grant me the opportunity to kiss your hand?”

As soon as he heard those words, Idren’s expression beside her hardened.

Knowing well that Starlet’s words were light, Ophelia placed her left hand on her husband’s knee before he could react negatively. Idren looked at the hand on his knee once, then at her once, and finally put on a wry expression.

Ignoring him slightly squeezing her hand, Ophelia said,

“I’ll grant you that much.”

When the queen who said so extended her hand, Starlet realized that golden eyes were glaring at him fiercely.

Even a man from a decent family would hide the fact that he’s jealous of a mere pirate, but seeing a king reveal it like this, his possessiveness seemed considerable.

But if one were to be intimidated by such eyes, wouldn’t it be a disservice to this face? Starlet carefully grasped the extended hand and kissed it. He didn’t forget to gently open his eyes, which could be considered his pride.

It was exactly the behavior a coastal lord had liked, but the queen withdrew her hand without the slightest change. She asked,

“How’s the work you’ve taken up these days?”

“Same as always. Just making enough to get by.”

It was a bland answer, but not quite appropriate coming from the mouth of a thief. Idren flinched a little. Ophelia twisted her captured hand to grasp his in return.

It wasn’t as if Starlet’s living off other people’s pockets was anything new, and she was in a situation to use that.

Of course, from Idren’s perspective as the king of a country that had been victimized by Starlet, it might feel different… but once she sends Starlet towards Reden, he too will be less bothered.

However, she had no intention of letting the two face each other for long. Ophelia spoke up.

“How about moving the location of the net?”