In response to Alicia’s bold words, the emperor laughed and nodded approvingly.
“I heard that Your Majesty devoted careful attention to restructuring the knight orders.”
“That’s correct.”
“The First Knight Order is organized with tradition as its motto, while the Second Knight Order is focused on innovation. If they can be flexibly integrated despite appearing to be in opposition, it may lead to progress in a new direction. Wasn’t that what Your Majesty pursued as a distinction from the predecessors?”
“Hmm.”
The emperor nodded with interest.
Although he didn’t say much, Alicia’s words seemed quite satisfactory based on the expression in his eyes.
“How did you know?”
“I observed it during joint training in the past. While the basic organization and operation of both knight orders are similar, I felt differences in detail.”
It was a conjecture based on what she heard from Allen, and it was not perfect as she couldn’t know about the existence of the Zero Knight Order.
However, Alicia successfully touched upon the emphasis the emperor was making.
“Sharp. I like it.”
The emperor chuckled satisfactorily.
Contrary to what the former Count Lancaster bragged about his daughter, it turned out to be true.
In response to the emperor’s praise, Alicia politely expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“As you said, it would be quite a feat for me to hand over Eric to Valua.”
The emperor referred to the commander or the count as “First Name” instead of using titles.
This meant a closer approach might be acceptable.
“In that case, Your Majesty, would it be possible to postpone the decision on the engagement?”
“Why?”
“I have a plan in progress now. Prince William, Viscount O’Brien, and Lieutenant Chase Spencer are assisting. If it goes well, there will be results that Your Majesty would be satisfied with.”
“I see. There are many accomplices in this. But Eric is not among them. Is that okay?”
As the emperor smiled as if amused, Alicia also awkwardly smiled along.
“Sometimes, not knowing might be better, don’t you think?”
“Oh-ho.”
The emperor grinned.
“Anyway, the conclusion seems to be that we can’t separate from each other. But to prepare such an elaborate plan, it seems that the rumors about Eric being thoroughly caught are true.”
“Your Majesty.”
Alicia’s face turned red with embarrassment.
However, the emperor burst into laughter, seemingly amused.
“He indeed resembles those fellows in some aspects.”
“What?”
“No, there’s something like that. Alicia.”
With a familiar tone calling her name, the emperor smiled at Alicia, who responded with a shy smile.
“Do as you wish. I’ll be watching.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
With the emperor’s farewell, Alicia left the place.
In Alicia’s raised eyes, Eric, who was talking with William, could be seen.
Seeing the two, who seemed to be teasing each other as if nothing had changed, a smile formed, and Alicia thought, “I like Eric. He’s good.”
He’s good, but seeing him unaware and behaving like this amidst the chaos, she felt a bit annoyed.
‘He really has no idea.’
Talking to Eric might unexpectedly resolve things easily.
Whatever choice that man makes, just respecting it might be enough.
However, Alicia knew well how much Eric loved the Britannian Empire.
He might make a sacrifice for the empire.
That would be his role and responsibility as the commander.
So, it couldn’t be helped.
Alicia had to step forward.
She had no choice but to intervene, seeing that man struggling with his decisions.
Alicia took a deep breath and left the place.
There was still much to do.
Alicia calmly stared at Princess Valerie, who was glaring at her with trembling anger.
William had informed her before meeting the princess that the agreement had already been concluded.
Kate conveyed the news that the strategic engagement agreement between the Valua Empire and the Adrian Kingdom had been completed after the signing of the treaty.
“The Valua Emperor merely appeased Princess Valerie’s tantrum before the strategic engagement with the Adrian Kingdom.”
“That, too, is one of the hidden intentions of the Valua Emperor for the trade agreement with the Thurak Kingdom.”
Alicia chuckled.
The Valua Emperor’s easy promise to support the use of the Sanoa Canal for Eric’s personal protection was a pretext. The real purpose was to seize a favorable position for the trade agreement with the Thurak Kingdom using the Sanoa Canal.
In the end, it was a race against time.
They had to lead the agreement before the strategic engagement with the Adrian Kingdom, making it appear as if Valua agreed while ensuring the Adrian Kingdom opposed it.
“It was quite risky.”
With a smirk, Alicia received the resentful gaze of Princess Valerie, who was filled with anger.
At that moment, someone entered with a knocking sound, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
“Your Highness.”
It was the Britannian ambassador to the Valua Empire.
“You should prepare for your return.”
“What did you say?”
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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