“It’s a promise.”

“Alright.”

Ophelia replied halfheartedly to the person she liked, as if that mere letter meant nothing.

As if her attitude was nothing, the man with sparkling eyes turned to look at her again.

“And about your birthday gift. I think I know what to give you.”

Although she hadn’t particularly expected a gift, his manner of speaking was clearly asking to be inquired about. Ophelia did as he wished.

“What is it?”

But when she actually did what he wanted, the man changed the subject.

“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you in advance. It’s not far off, so please wait.”

Ophelia was about to point out that the last time he said something similar, the result wasn’t very good. In any case, she had made it clear about matters related to Reden, so it didn’t seem likely to cause problems.

Just as she was about to say they should leave since the room had another owner, Idren spoke.

“More than that, would you help me with one thing?”

On the day of the regular council meeting, nine out of twelve chairs had cushions placed on them, just like before. Instead of Nevel’s seat, Lerk’s seat was prepared.

Sitting in the seat prepared for Lerk, Ophelia tried to gauge when she could bring Siana to this place.

It seemed she could bring her once Siana’s habit of stammering improved and she could express her opinions in front of people, but it was unclear when that would be.

Until Reden falls, she could sit in Lerk family’s seat instead, so she could wait, but isn’t it better to prepare everything in advance?

Thinking about Reden, there was a face that came to mind. Stroking the cold stone desk with her finger, Ophelia recalled her hated elder brother.

She hadn’t replied since receiving the letter about the canal, and Mahanas still had no response. Seeing him being lazy even in this aspect, he was truly a hopeless case.

But anyway, he would soon come up to Aglante. Ophelia recalled what she had heard from Idren.

“The second prince’s attendant contacted a servant from Reden. The news might reach Prince Mahanas’s ears.”

And Idren, thinking she might be bothered by something, looked cautious, but Ophelia wasn’t particularly moved by those words.

It was inevitable that news about her would reach her elder brother’s ears. She wasn’t very concerned about how that process unfolded.

More bothersome was the letter Netepel would soon send. Ophelia knew he would send an apologetic letter to her before long.

Probably as soon as he arrived in his home country.

Netepel always acted like that whenever there was a minor friction with her. He would apologize first and disparage himself, making it impossible for the recipient to not accept it.

If it were before, she might have accepted it even if she found it frustrating, but Ophelia didn’t know if she could forgive him this time.

Apart from keeping distance, she needed to tie up loose ends of the incident, but she didn’t really want to read the letter coming from Netepel.

Netepel, while being her friend for a long time, had been thinking about it being his turn or whatnot inside.

How much sincerity could there be in an apology made under the pretext of friendship from such a person?

It was then that she recalled words she had once heard from the other person.

“I thought you loved Haslen.”

After that, Netepel mentioned Haslen a few times, and Ophelia, feeling displeased, had risen from her seat.

It wasn’t just because Haslen was already dead and had no reason to be mentioned in such a way.

Before saying that, hadn’t Netepel clearly said this?

“…I heard the news that Haslen died. I also wrote it in a letter… I think it’s truly a sad thing.”

But was he really sad at that time?

Because the tent was dark that day and she didn’t pay close attention to the other person’s behavior, Ophelia couldn’t remember what expression Netepel had been wearing.

She was confused about whether his voice had really trembled, whether the corners of his mouth had truly been turned down.

Just as she was about to furrow her brow to squeeze out even non-existent memories, a bell rang. It was the sound announcing the start of the council.

Only then realizing it wasn’t the time for other thoughts, Ophelia raised her head to look at the platform. Idren was sitting on the throne with an empty seat beside him.

His eyes, which had been looking this way first, curved. Perhaps because of the distance, it seemed a bit gentler than she remembered.

It wasn’t the first time seeing him smile, but somehow it felt a bit burdensome. Ophelia turned her head away from the maroon eyes. The woman sitting opposite her, with hair color exactly like Hazel’s, caught her eye. It was the head of the Chesa family.

Seeing the woman giving her a brief bow naturally reminded her of what Idren had said a few days ago.

On the day he had called Starlet to the castle, Idren had said he had a favor to ask and spoke like this:

“Around the time the meeting is ending, Salode will enter the hall with a newly proposed bill. Please vote in favor of that bill then.”

Since the Lerk family’s seat was originally brought to give to him, there was no need to go so far as to ask, but Idren shook his head.

“Siana Lerk is your share. You brought her into the castle, didn’t you?”

If we put it that way, the castle she brought Siana into was his, so it was a contradictory statement, but Idren continued before she could say anything.

“Before the voting begins, there will be a brief meeting related to the bill. At that time, remember the faces of those who oppose the head of the Chesa family. They are allied with Nevel, so it would be good to know them.”

It would be fine to follow that advice. Just as Ophelia finished organizing her thoughts, the head of the Chesa family, who was said to be in charge of this council’s proceedings, opened her mouth. It was the start of the meeting.

Ophelia observed the heads of the elder families discussing current policies. Words about grain distribution for the upcoming harvest season, military supplies in the Kirios Mountains said to be in the northern part of Aglante, and the increase of troops in coastal areas surfaced.

Watching them, Ophelia realized there was no need to wait until the vote to identify those allied with Nevel.

Those opposing the royalist faction led by the head of the Chesa family were easily noticeable. About two people, among whom one man’s voice was particularly loud. He was the one who came with the right to two votes delegated by Gilord, who was under house arrest.

Ophelia mouthed the family name of the man with dark ash-colored hair. Onde.

He now had three votes. It was more than enough to be a thorn in Idren’s side.

Given the structure of the council, a majority agreement was needed to pass a bill. But with the three votes Gilord originally had, plus one vote from the Onde family, and the vote of the taciturn elder beside him, there were already five opposing votes.

Now that she held the Lerk family’s vote, the situation had improved a bit, but considering that there were only four royalist elders including Chesa, it wasn’t that comfortable. Two votes were still lacking to reach a majority.

Idren had said he had prepared for that as well.

“There are three elders who always maintain neutrality, and they tend to side with whichever side benefits them at each council meeting. This time, I’ve finished talking with two of them to add their votes to our side, so there shouldn’t be any trouble.”

At that time, there was undisguised irritation on his face. Through that expression, Ophelia realized he hadn’t negotiated satisfactorily.

If she had talent in that area, she would have helped, but sadly, she had no aptitude for politics.

Ophelia couldn’t negotiate peacefully with people. Because she wasn’t very patient, she had other preferred methods.

And while her methods were effective, they often caused a stir. In her previous life it might have been different, but now there were many things that made it difficult to use.

By the time the allocated time for the council was almost over, a bell rang outside. It was a signal that someone was entering.

The royalists who had been notified of the plan in advance weren’t surprised, but others turned their heads to look at the door. Observing their reactions, Ophelia discerned which of the three neutral parties Idren had negotiated with.

As the door opened, Salode, who had the same red hair as the head of the Chesa family, entered the hall. He was holding a silver tray with papers on it.

Standing in a position where he could see all the elder family heads, Salode spoke:

“His Majesty has proposed a new bill regarding the royal family’s private army. Those sitting in the seats representing each family, please read the bill and express your opinions.”

As Salode gestured after finishing his words, an attendant standing near the wall approached and distributed the papers.

Ophelia broke the seal on the document placed in front of her. Come to think of it, she didn’t remember hearing what kind of bill Idren had proposed.

She carefully read the densely written text. It was a bill related to expanding the royal family’s private army.

Given that there had been a war with Brinwell in her past life, it was a natural proposal in a way. Just as she was reading the items listing reasons for expanding the private army, a voice was heard from across:

“I cannot agree with this bill.”