Due to Callis changing the schedule on his own accord, Chloe had to return to the ducal estate.

“I should have stayed at the palace.”

Jane, who had yet to regain her full consciousness, and the emperor, who had revealed his friendship with ‘Kun’.

Especially the latter, needed to quickly settle the matter to define their relationship, but nothing had been concluded despite the major incident.

After Kun hinted at his identity, everything remained still, contrary to Chloe’s expectations.

The emperor, who left abruptly after finishing his words, did not return.

That night, when she expected him to initiate a conversation, no signal came from the emperor.

The same was true for breakfast the next day. The emperor acted as if nothing had happened.

Before breakfast was over, Chloe tried to change the subject, but everything became a mess due to Callis’s interruption.

“There are things to sort out in the ducal estate, so I can postpone it for a while.”

Upon returning to the ducal estate, Chloe went straight to her room to unpack.

“There’s a lot of stuff.”

Sweating profusely as she unpacked, the baggage, which included gifts from the emperor and the steward, was excessively abundant.

Her room was absurdly small to accommodate all the items.

“Should I change rooms?”

As Chloe contemplated, she looked around her room once more.

Indeed, her room had objectively been small since ‘that incident.’

Back then, Chloe thought enduring the inconvenience was her way of atoning to Callis.

How foolish.

“Why am I even thinking about something that should obviously be changed?”

Chloe, who brushed off the dust on her knee, went outside.

The estate was bustling, perhaps because the duke had returned from a business trip after a long time.

Chloe, who deliberately went downstairs, sought out Shane.

Busy tending to the ailing Helena, Shane was instructing the maids here and there.

Working busily, Shane took a moment to catch his breath behind a pillar.

“Shane.”

“What can I do for you?”

“I need to move all the stuff in my room to a larger room. I could use your help.”

Chloe approached Shane and made a request.

Upon hearing this, Shane furrowed his brow for a moment.

“…Has it been discussed?”

“Discussed? What do you mean?”

“I’m asking if it’s a unilateral decision or if it has been finalized.”

Chloe was taken aback by the assertive Shane.

Despite the hollow authority, Chloe was still the lady of the estate.

If she thought her room was small and wished to change it, there was no reason not to comply.

“Do I need someone’s permission to change rooms?”

“If neither the Duke nor Helena approves, we can’t assist you. Isn’t that the rule of the ducal estate?”

Shane answered, treating Chloe as if she were strange.

“Helena? Permission from her is required at the ducal estate? That’s laughable.”

“Currently, Helena is the lady of the estate.”

How had this habit developed?

The Duchess of Argen was often belittled as being inferior even to a commoner’s wife.

“I’m not the lady of the estate? That’s not a problem. I command you as Chloe Balront.”

Chloe immediately cited the kingdom’s laws.

Indeed, would Shane, born of nobility, dare to refuse Chloe, who claimed royal status?

“Change the rooms. Are you planning to refuse this as well?”

“But this is the ducal estate…”

“Ah, so in the ducal estate, a royal’s words don’t count? Then please convey that to your father, Shane Merchain.”

Shane was taken aback at the words that followed.

Considering Chloe emphasized Shane’s family name, she must intend to complain about Shane’s misconduct to the Merchain Viscount.

It was childish, but Shane’s misconduct was even more so. Moreover, his actions deviated from the actual rules of the nobility.
If this fact were known to the Merchanian nobility, she would undoubtedly face severe punishment. Moreover, if it were to spread to the public, not only she but her entire family would be dishonored.

If she had merely eaten something bad today, that would be fortunate. But if Chloe had begun to contemplate resistance…

“I apologize. I misspoke! I’ll correct it. If you assign a room, I’ll move all the mistress’s belongings there!”

Realizing that her fate rested in the hands of the woman before her, Shane assisted her thoughtfully.

“Thank you for sparing me the trouble of repetition.”

Before Chloe even had the chance to express her gratitude, Shane had left to assemble the maids. His aim was to swiftly carry out Chloe’s instructions and move her belongings.

Looking at the empty space, Chloe muttered quietly to herself.

‘It’s simple.’

It had been a straightforward task to correct the wrongs.

It had taken far too long for her to grow confident.

‘I was a bit unfortunate, though.’

Embarrassed by her own words, Chloe couldn’t help but laugh.

Now, wielding the power under the name of Balront without any regrets. More resolute and straightforward than even when she was in the royal palace.

Could it be because she had been by the Emperor’s side all this time?

On reflection, she thought her tone had strangely resembled Coon’s.