“Are you heading to the meeting again today?” she asked, watching Kun button up his jacket neatly. After a long nap, replenishing his energy, Cloe’s clear skin seemed to radiate vitality.

“It seems like I’ll be busy at least until the evening,” he replied.

The Sahir Empire, hoping for close relations with the Pfreude Empire, proposed creating shipping routes. The idea was to establish direct transportation from the port to the country, making trade, tourism, and immigration much more convenient.

“Cloe, what will you do?”

Her hand, pouring soup over the bread, slowed down. Kun’s gesture was to prepare a belated lunch for Cloe.

“I thought I might meet with Lord Liam.”

“The Sahir Duke?”

Kun’s pronunciation as he asked back was stiffer than usual. The gaze he cast at her, seemingly casually, was strangely sharp.

Cloe, noticing the subtle change, smirked. Only then did he conceal his true feelings and calmly continue the conversation.

“Lately, I seem to meet him quite often.”

“As I mentioned, it seems Lord Liam is dissatisfied with the goods of Duke Arhen. I thought I might use this opportunity to turn him to my side.”

In essence, it was a matter related to Duke Arhen.

“I see. We should do something about that rat soon,” Kun thought, annoyed by the fact that the rat always went against his plans, whether in the past or now.

“What did you say?”
“Say nothing. So, what’s the plan?”

“I’m trying to find something that can replace the Duke’s business.”

Cloe said, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief. It signaled the end of the meal on the barely-filled dining table, considering the small amount of food consumed.

Kun frowned but joined her at the dining table. He handed her the slightly dirty utensils, asking directly.

“Is this your idea?”

“Yes, it is. But, well, this is…”

“What do you think it is?”

“…Um.”

Cloe, who ended up holding utensils on both sides, hesitated for a moment. She recalled her home tutor from the childhood days when she had no choice but to force-feed herself during the picky eater phase.

She wondered if, at her age, she would receive meal advice from someone else. However, the other party realized an absurd expectation.

Kun, who was slicing smoked ham with another set of utensils, eventually did not place the food on Cloe’s plate.

“There seems to be an important conversation with Duke Sahir, so you should at least eat a proper meal.”

“…”

“Right, Cloe?”

Cloe quietly picked up the ham. Some words were unusually emphasized, and when Kun directly mentioned Cloe’s name, it usually indicated an intention to reveal mismatched emotions.

As Cloe slowly chewed the ham, the other party proudly watched, and when Cloe finished her tea, Kun returned to the main topic.
“I guess you’re saying you’ll create a product to replace the Duke’s food preservation jar.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Good. I’ll also search for capable individuals in inventing.”

Kun, who had been looking at the clock, stood up and picked up the jacket hanging on the chair. It was time to move to the meeting room now.

“Oh, wait.”

Urgently calling the other person, she acted as if she were trying to dispel any possible misunderstandings.

Cloe, without taking much of the other’s time, immediately spoke, even though permission hadn’t been granted.

“There’s no need to find other people.”

He quietly nodded, indicating, “What will you do then?”

“I want to give it a try.”

“You?”

“I actually had something in mind for a while, and I think I can surpass his product by improving it.”

Life in the northern region taught Cloe a lot.

People in the north would starve in winter if there wasn’t enough autumn grain. Even if the territorial government could distribute food for welfare, it couldn’t accommodate everyone.

At one point, Cloe also contemplated something that could take responsibility for people’s food.

As time passed, Calis had a groundbreaking invention.

However, now seemed to be a good time. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of existing products on the market, she believed that with improvements, much better results could be achieved.
“Liam has told me. Currently, other nobles choose the safe path rather than trying to create a better product. Perhaps Duke Arhen is also casually staying with the same thought. I plan to take advantage of his complacency.”

Cloe’s eyes sparkled with confidence. It was a child’s behavior that suggested seeking praise by mentioning an extraordinary number.

Unable to contain himself, Kun shook his head with a smile. His laughter lingered briefly and disappeared silently, making it impossible for anyone to hear his muttered monologue.

“Yeah. Then, let’s trust you and see how it goes.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Kun, shaking his head for a moment, muttered something. His lips moved silently, and in the quietness, there was no one to hear his whispered soliloquy.

“Now it seems like you can call me differently. Cloe?”

“Yes?”

“A duke who shares such a fate with Liam, it feels a bit unfair for me to be called Your Majesty.”