“There was also something at the Imperial Palace, so I came to share some good information… If the lady doesn’t wish to speak with me, I’ll take my leave.”

With those words, Duke Amaterasu’s daughter made to stand up.

“You’re being hasty.”

Countess Minster hastily opened her mouth.

As it was, she had been looking into every possible avenue. For useful high-level information.

The taxes collected from the county were barely enough to cover the living expenses of family members who had become extravagant in their spending.

To make matters worse, the county had recently been struck by plague and famine.

Information from Duke Amaterasu’s side seemed like it could be the key to instantly solving the tsunami of problems that had hit Minster County.

“Since you’ve come all this way, it would be best to hear what you have to say.”

Having succeeded in getting Duke Amaterasu’s daughter to sit back down, Countess Minster immediately ordered her maid to bring tea.

“So what is this good information?”

It was obvious what Duke Amaterasu’s daughter wanted in return for providing the information.

‘She’ll probably ask me to put in a good word with the Empress so she can get closer to the Crown Prince.’

Until now, Duke Amaterasu’s family had taken a step back.

They had maintained a neutral stance, supporting neither Princess Trinity nor Joshua.

But that situation had completely changed with Princess Trinity’s death.

They could no longer just watch from afar.

While it was true that Count Tarel’s son had been gaining popularity recently, he still lacked strong support.

So if they wanted to belatedly side with Joshua, they needed to get on the Empress’s good side, and for that, they needed an intermediary.

For example, someone like Countess Minster herself, who was close to the Empress.

‘It seems she doesn’t know I’ve been cast out yet.’

Countess Minster inwardly laughed at Duke Amaterasu’s daughter.

“I have a good idea that can generate enormous wealth in a short period of time.”

However, at her unexpected words, Countess Minster’s eyes sparkled.

Meanwhile, in the office of Duke Cardia, Cabelased was listening to a report about Jieselgrante.

“So one maid regularly visits the Grand Temple, and another maid is monitoring Count Zimmer’s daughter?”

Continuing Cabelased’s question, Count Preston replied.

“That’s right. Duke Amaterasu’s daughter herself has been steadily visiting Countess Tarel’s salon, and recently she went to see Countess Minster.”

“Countess Minster?”

“Yes, after Duke Amaterasu’s daughter visited, Countess Minster apparently bought an enormous amount of flowers.”

As unexpected words kept appearing, Cabelased’s brow furrowed slightly.

‘What on earth is she trying to do?’

Cabelased found it difficult to understand Jieselgrante’s intentions.

At first, it seemed she was questioning Princess Trinity’s death.

Considering she secretly went to see Baroness Oppenheimer.

Then she encouraged Countess Tarel to get involved in the struggle for the throne, and now Countess Minster…

Cabelased needed to know.

What this variable called Jieselgrante was trying to do, to ensure it didn’t interfere with his plans for alliance.

Just then, Count Preston voiced the doubt Cabelased had been harboring.

“What on earth is Duke Amaterasu’s daughter trying to do?”

“…”

When Cabelased didn’t immediately answer, Count Preston spoke again.

“In the end, her goal must be to become Empress…”

“That’s not it. If she wanted to become Empress, there would be no need to bring in Countess Tarel and make the Empress uncomfortable.”

Nodding with an expression of being oddly persuaded by Cabelased’s words, Count Preston muttered as if to himself.

“Is that so? But then again, it also seems like she’s deliberately acting in ways that would put her at odds with the Empress. I wonder why…”

Suddenly, a strange light flashed in Cabelased’s eyes.

‘At odds with the Empress.’

It was something an ordinary noble would never do.

Her son Joshua was recognized as the Crown Prince, and would soon become Emperor.

Who would dare to be at odds with the Empress, who would soon hold absolute power?

But if we assume Jieselgrante is opposing the Empress, it matched quite well with her recent actions.

Though there was no evidence, Cabelased highly suspected the Empress might have been involved in Princess Trinity’s death.

And Jieselgrante had personally visited Baroness Oppenheimer, who was connected to that incident.

Though it seemed she hadn’t obtained any information, as the baroness’s tongue was cut and wrists broken.

The appearance of Count Tarel’s son at the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony was also suspicious. Though the method was still unknown, it was hard to shake off the suspicion of Jieselgrante’s influence.

Until then, Countess Tarel and her son had lived quietly, barely noticeable.

Until Jieselgrante suddenly returned to the capital and started frequenting Countess Tarel’s salon.

That wasn’t all.

As soon as news spread that the Empress was looking for a new lady-in-waiting, she went to see Countess Minster.

It was precisely when other nobles started cutting ties with the Minster family, upon learning she had been abandoned by the Empress.

‘It’s all related to the Empress. But why…?’

As if revealing the long history of the Feysis Empire, the Empress’s office was filled with centuries-old art pieces, and priceless paintings hung on every wall.

And in the center was a massive mahogany desk. It was the seat of the Empress, the owner of the office.

Diagonally on either side of the Empress’s desk were two desks, one belonging to Marchioness Ratse, and the other currently vacant.

In addition, each of the Empress’s ladies-in-waiting occupied their own desk, handling the Empress’s affairs on her behalf.

At that moment, the Empress’s dignified voice broke the almost deathly silence of the office.

“Is this the complete list?”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Only then did the Empress begin to examine the document Marchioness Ratse had placed on the desk earlier.

The document listed the names of nobles who had visited Countess Tarel’s salon.

Next to each name was detailed information on how often they visited, how long they stayed each time, and who they talked to and about what topics.

“This is quite extensive.”

Noticing the thickness of the parchment, the Empress muttered softly, to which Marchioness Ratse replied.

“For Your Imperial Majesty’s convenience, I’ve summarized the important families at the front with detailed information.”

The Empress nodded slightly and turned the pages.

As Marchioness Ratse had said, as she flipped through the document, names of families less important to the Empress appeared.

As she examined the contents, the Empress pulled out a few sheets from the thick bundle of parchment and handed them to Marchioness Ratse.

“Should we put pressure on these families?”

“For now.”

“Understood, Your Imperial Majesty.”

After briefly scanning the list the Empress had handed her, Marchioness Ratse placed one sheet of parchment on the desk of another lady-in-waiting who was concentrating on her work.

She then placed another sheet on the desk of a different lady-in-waiting.

“You all know, right? First, a suggestion, and if the suggestion doesn’t work, you can use any method necessary.”

One of the ladies-in-waiting who had checked the family information assigned by Marchioness Ratse asked.

“Shall we proceed quickly?”

The Empress, who had been watching them while comfortably leaning back in the large office chair, lazily said.

“I’d like this matter to be resolved before the upcoming Imperial Palace ball.”

“Understood, Your Imperial Majesty.”

The ladies-in-waiting who had been looking at their documents immediately stood up.

After leaving the office, they quickly left the palace and boarded carriages.

The two carriages that left the palace entered the townhouse area.

And the carriages stopped in front of the mansions of different families.

As usual, after parking her carriage in front of Count Tarel’s residence and looking around, Jieselgrante’s brow furrowed slightly.

Watching her, Lindsey asked.

“My lady, what’s wrong?”

“The number of carriages has definitely decreased.”

Only then did Lindsey look around at the waiting carriages and say briefly.

“The weather isn’t good today, so perhaps everyone is running a bit late?”

Lindsey said, looking up at the sky.

The sky, which had been dark since morning, looked like it might pour rain at any moment.

“Well… I’ll have to go in and check.”

As Lindsey tried to see her off, Jieselgrante waved her hand saying it was fine, and Lindsey bowed deeply from where she stood.

“Have a good visit, my lady.”

Jieselgrante hurriedly walked into Count Tarel’s residence.

And the spacious hall inside was not as crowded with nobles as before.

“You’ve come, Duke Amaterasu’s daughter…”

Countess Tarel, who had noticed Jieselgrante entering the hall, approached her.

With a troubled expression she had never shown before.

“It’s dark outside. Looks like it might pour rain at any moment. I suppose everyone is refraining from going out and staying quietly in their mansions today.”

Jieselgrante offered words of comfort to the dejected Countess Tarel.

“That must be it, right?”

Forcing a smile, Countess Tarel hugged the cookie in her arms even tighter.

Jieselgrante smiled gently and stroked the cookie’s fluffy head.

“Of course.”

Though she said that, inwardly she was thinking something else.

‘The Empress has begun to move.’