Iliana, who was killing time in the mansion in a monotonous and boring way today as well, came down to the first floor to take a walk.

As she was about to move towards the garden, her mother, Countess Minster, who somehow looked happy, came into her view.

‘You seem to be in a good mood?’

Her mother had been staying in the mansion, depressed, not going out except for the Empress’s tea party.

But to look so happy, what could have happened?

“Mother, what’s the matter?”

Iliana asked, but Countess Minster, seemingly lost in her own thoughts, did not answer.

‘Did she not hear me?’

Tilting her head for a moment, Iliana opened her mouth again.

“…Mother?”

Only then did Countess Minster turn her head towards Iliana.

“Oh, Ilia. Where are you going?”

“It was a bit stuffy staying inside, so I thought I’d go for a walk…”

“It looked like it might rain, so if you’re going out, make sure to take an umbrella.”

“I’ll bring it for you, my lady.”

The maid standing behind Iliana quickly ran up to the second floor.

Countess Minster had told Iliana that she was taking a short break for vacation, but Iliana didn’t believe it.

Because from the first day of the vacation, Countess Minster had been in a very bad mood.

Moreover, she would occasionally shout in a voice full of resentment, “This is all because of Duke Amaterasu’s daughter!”

Although she didn’t speak clearly, Iliana roughly understood the situation.

That her mother was in a difficult situation due to what happened at the recent palace tea party. And that her own responsibility was not light for falling for shallow provocation and ruining the Empress’s tea party.

But seeing her happy now, it seemed that news of returning to the palace had been delivered.

“Did you perhaps hear from Her Majesty the Empress?”

Contrary to her expectations, Countess Minster frowned at Iliana’s question.

“We have to give up on that side. She’s a person who shows no mercy even for one mistake…”

After that, Countess Minster continued to grumble as if complaining.

Saying she didn’t know she would be thrown away like trash like this after serving for so many years.

Iliana’s shoulders also slumped as she heard those words.

There had been a hint from the Empress to refrain from appearing in social circles as much as possible until the incident at the palace tea party settled down.

Because of that, Iliana had been unable to move from the count’s mansion since the Crown Prince’s investiture ceremony.

Just like Countess Zimmer, who had been the lady-in-waiting of the late Princess Trinity.

“Then what should I do now? Forget about becoming the Crown Princess, at this rate I’ll lose all the good grooms to other young ladies.”

Was it because the sky had been gloomy for the past few days? Iliana ended up showing her depressed mood as it was.

“Is that my fault?”

“…”

Faced with Countess Minster’s sharp gaze, Iliana pursed her lips with a tearful expression.

Then Countess Minster quickly continued.

“What’s the point of us fighting over past events? We should think about the future… Iliana, don’t worry. People are quite simple, you know.”

When Iliana frowned as if to ask what that meant, Countess Minster hastily continued.

“For now, they’re trying to distance themselves thinking there’s nothing more to gain from me.”

“…”

“But it’s at times like these that it becomes easier to distinguish who is truly on my side and who isn’t. So it’s a good thing. You should watch carefully now too. Distinguish well between those who left your side as soon as your situation worsened and those who remained by your side.”

Iliana only let out a faint sigh.

Not only the young noblemen who had been expressing their favor towards her, but even the young ladies she had been close with since childhood had started to distance themselves from her due to the commotion she caused at the palace tea party.

But she didn’t bother to mention that out loud.

Because she felt her mood would become gloomy again.

And the real reason the situation had become like this was all because of Duke Amaterasu’s daughter.

‘She wasn’t just stupid.’

Duke Amaterasu’s daughter must have had her personality buried in mud as well.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have insulted her by saying her appearance was shabby in front of everyone.

In fact, before the countess worked as the Empress’s lady-in-waiting, the Minster family wasn’t particularly wealthy.

If Countess Minster hadn’t handled her duties well and gained the Empress’s trust, they wouldn’t have even obtained the title of count.

In other words, the current Minster County was no different from what Iliana’s mother, the countess, had built with her own hands, and the foundation of that power was the Empress.

Now that the Empress had let go, only the path of decline remained.

“Yes, I’ll keep your teachings well in mind, Mother.”

Iliana nodded her head roughly and was about to turn towards the garden.

It was because of her doctor’s recommendation to take a walk when feeling depressed.

It was when Iliana, who had left the mansion, was walking in the garden.

Countess Minster’s voice was heard through an open window.

“Darling! Darling. It’s gone up again.”

“Is that true?”

“I’m telling you! I think it will go up more tomorrow.”

Iliana glanced at the faces of Countess Minster and Count Minster, who looked happy, and then moved on.

Iliana didn’t know anything about business or estate management, so she couldn’t join in the conversation, but she knew one thing.

That her mother had recently bought some flower bulbs. Quite a lot of them.

While Count Frederick was reading a report that had just come up from his county, the sound of shoes was heard in the corridor.

Click-clack.

It didn’t seem to be a maid working at Count Frederick’s mansion. He had them wear comfortable shoes while working.

‘Who could it be?’

It was when Count Frederick narrowed his eyes.

The office door burst open and Duke Amaterasu’s daughter walked in boldly.

“It’s been a while.”

Behind her, the butler stood with a troubled expression, his lips quivering.

While realizing the butler’s incompetence in not being able to stop Duke Amaterasu’s daughter who had barged in recklessly, he also understood his situation.

Jieselgrante was the only daughter of none other than Duke Amaterasu.

So the butler wouldn’t have been able to stop her.

“Have you been well?”

Ignoring Count Frederick’s dumbfounded expression, Duke Amaterasu’s daughter sat down on the office sofa as if it were her own home.

Looking at that sight, Count Frederick was seized by a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘That boldness that feels almost shameless…’

It somehow didn’t feel unfamiliar.

While he was pondering over this situation that felt like he had experienced it before, Duke Amaterasu’s daughter calmly demanded tea from the butler.

“Not too hot, and with two spoonfuls of honey.”

“Yes. Adjust the water temperature so it’s not too hot. And add two spoonfuls of honey…”

As if already caught up in her pace, the butler was writing down Duke Amaterasu’s daughter’s order.

“Hah…”

In the end, a hollow laugh escaped Count Frederick’s lips.

At that, the butler turned to Count Frederick with a flustered look.

Count Frederick waved his hand, indicating that it was enough and he should leave.

The butler bowed deeply and left the office, and Count Frederick pointed with his eyes at the thick parchment he had been looking at until just now and the pile of documents stacked on one side of the desk as he spoke.

“Due to your sudden action, I am currently suffering real-time mental and temporal damage, you know?”

Count Frederick’s voice was full of annoyance and irritation.

Nevertheless, Duke Amaterasu’s daughter answered calmly without losing her smile.

“I won’t take up much of your time.”

Duke Amaterasu’s daughter had barged into Count Frederick’s mansion without any prior notice.

And at the time when he was most focused on work.

Of course, he had rejected all the letters she had sent a few times before saying she wanted to meet and talk with him.

“I think compensation will be necessary, but what do you think?”

And normally, he should have immediately driven out this impolite, rude, and arrogant Duke Amaterasu’s daughter from the mansion.

That’s what he would have done usually.

The reason he wasn’t doing so was probably…

“Time is money. And I’m fully aware of the fact that I’m consuming your time right now.”

One of Count Frederick’s eyebrows raised.

The saying that time is money was something he fully agreed with and also something he often said himself.

‘Time is money. And right now, Your Highness the Princess is consuming my precious time. In real-time.’

‘Then I just need to pay the value of the time consumed.’

The moment the image of Princess Trinity snorting as if it was no big deal came to mind was not Count Frederick’s intention.

But Princess Trinity and Duke Amaterasu’s daughter had no resemblance at all.

While both were undoubtedly outstanding beauties, they were completely different from appearance to atmosphere.

If Princess Trinity was a beauty who gave a refreshing feeling with her haughty yet bold demeanor and tall, slender figure, Duke Amaterasu’s daughter was smaller and fell into the lovable category.

In other words, there was no reason to think of Princess Trinity while looking at Duke Amaterasu’s daughter.

‘But why…’

It was inexplicable why he suddenly thought of Princess Trinity while looking at Duke Amaterasu’s daughter.

‘Is it because she said the same thing Princess Trinity did?’

He thought that for a moment, but even so, Count Frederick had uttered the phrase “time is money” hundreds of times in his life.

Because of that, people who were close to him knew well that it was his habit.

‘Did I say the same thing in front of Duke Amaterasu’s daughter?’