“Oh dear. I was going to tell you first, but I’m a bit late.”

After Deimar left, I also returned to my room.

As always, Leoprick was waiting inside.

When I told him about what happened today, Leoprick nodded, saying he already knew.

“Was that what you were going to tell me earlier?”

“Yes. Actually, before the meeting ended, Duke Deimar sent a note asking if it was alright for him to pledge his loyalty to you.”

Leoprick patted my shoulder as if to say it was fine.

He said he wrote a brief message of acceptance and wanted to tell me in advance so I wouldn’t be surprised.

He had delayed it briefly, not expecting Deimar to bring it up so suddenly.

Right. I also didn’t expect Deimar to talk about such a thing so abruptly.

“…People will surely gossip if they find out.”

“Once they know what you’ve done for the East, the rumors will quickly die down. Such things aren’t important.”

“But…”

Not to the emperor who rules this country, not to the crown prince who will rule this nation in the future.

But a pledge of loyalty to the crown princess who thinks of running away at every opportunity.

Feeling a bit suffocated, I let out a small sigh.

“If I had known beforehand, I would have dissuaded Duke Deimar. Even now, I practically fled…”

“It’s my fault for not telling you in advance. I’m sorry.”

Still, please accept the duke’s heartfelt gesture.

Leoprick embraced my shoulders, comforting me.

Saying it’s alright, that it’s okay, that I’ve done more than enough.

“The Easterners do not forget kindness. It’s good to make them see me through what you’ve done for them, but isn’t this empire a nation that you and I will rule together?”

Making them see Leoprick through me.

Making them see Lloyd through me.

That was the method I thought was best, both in this life and the previous one.

And I thought that was the best way for the country.

“It would also be good for the people if the future empress is respected on a personal level.”

And that will put your mind more at ease.

As if knowing how I felt, Leoprick continuously soothed me in a gentle voice.

“Don’t think too deeply about it. Those who want to talk will find a way to talk, and those who will accept will accept any situation well.”

Since people see what they want to see and think how they want to think, what matters most is how I think and accept it.

He said that while telling me not to feel too burdened by Deimar’s pledge of loyalty.

“What’s important is your heart, not how others see you, Amelia.”

His gentle words and affectionate touch made me feel much lighter about the situation that I had found burdensome.

I smiled faintly, surrendering to his touch.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Thanks to you, I feel much more at ease.”

“I’m glad to hear your mind is at peace.”

The pleasant sound of Leoprick’s voice rang in my ears.

Right. What matters is how I think, not how others see me.

No matter how I act or what I think.

They will all see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear anyway.

Then, rather than worrying alone while being conscious of their gaze, wouldn’t it be better to gain at least one more person on my side?

No matter how firmly I stand, I’m still human.

There may be times when I get swept up in their meaningless gossip and rumors and feel exhausted.

One person who gives their heart entirely to me, in preparation for such times.

Wouldn’t it be better to gain as many of those individuals as possible?

Leaning on Leoprick’s warmly embracing shoulders, I had such thoughts.

In many ways, it would be wiser to gain more allies on my side.

That could be said to be a more prudent way to live in this world.

The next day.

Before the Easterners set out on their journey, I moved a bit early to meet Deimar.

I felt bad about practically kicking him out yesterday in my shock.

I had agonized over what to do since I couldn’t take back a loyalty pledge once made.

But I sought out Deimar with a much lighter heart compared to yesterday.

“Duke, may I have a word with you?”

Deimar had been circling the training grounds since early morning.

I came looking for him after hearing from a knight that he had gone to loosen up his body at dawn.

Apparently, it’s good to wake up the body in advance before a long journey that requires riding a horse for an extended time.

I felt a bit sorry for disrupting his training, but if I didn’t say this now, there wouldn’t be another chance to contact him for a while.

When I called out to him, Deimar, who seemed to have just finished running, was wiping his sweat. He bowed upon seeing me.

“Greetings to the little moon of the empire.”

“Rise, Duke. I apologize for seeking you out so early in the morning.”

“Not at all, Your Highness. I’m grateful that you came to see me like this.”

He bowed slightly again with his hand on his chest.

That gesture of a knight pledging loyalty to his lord made me chuckle inwardly.

No matter how burdensome I found it or even if I refused.

He was probably determined to serve me as his lord, I thought.

Regardless of what others said, and even regardless of what I, his lord, thought.

I found his unwavering commitment to his beliefs quite admirable.

“I came because I wanted to say something about yesterday’s matter.”

So I had to make it clearer.

When I brought it up, Deimar’s expression stiffened slightly.

He seemed to be trying not to show it, but as someone well-versed in high society, I immediately noticed that small change in his expression.

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

But even so, he was a faithful knight.

Despite the hint of reluctance in his demeanor, he respectfully deferred to my wishes, bringing a smile to my lips.

“I will gratefully accept your loyalty, Duke.”

And I will strive to be a lord who never brings shame to your devotion.

As I spoke, his previously stiff face changed to a surprised expression.

As if he didn’t expect me to change my mind overnight, he stood there with wide eyes, unable to find the right words.

“Yesterday, I was so flustered that I put you in an awkward position. I apologize for that.”

“That’s… not at all, Your Highness. It’s true that I made the request so suddenly…”

“Actually, I had doubts about whether I was worthy of receiving that pledge. I was also conscious of how others would view it.”

“……”

“But I realized it’s more important to look into my own heart rather than worry about such things.”

I was really happy about your proposal, Duke.

I told him with a bright smile.

Yes. I was truly happy.

It made me feel like I had really become someone of importance.

It made me feel like I was doing something helpful since coming here.

I thought the work I started to assist Leoprick was gradually developing and ultimately having a positive impact on me as well.

It made me realize that this is what truly fulfilling work feels like.

So, I bowed my head to Deimar in gratitude.

“Thank you. And I will definitely become someone who repays that loyalty.”

“Your words alone are more than enough, Your Highness.”

The East will never forget this grace.

Deimar muttered as if making a vow, and our eyes met.

At the end of that shared gaze, I felt like I glimpsed a small possibility for the future.

After the whirlwind of events in the East concluded, the focus shifted back to the audit of the imperial family’s support project.

The Easterners had all safely departed, and the support from each family was proceeding smoothly.

So naturally, attention could only return to what was currently underway.

“Count Felice is trying to raid the merchant guild every chance he gets, but we’re managing to hold him off so far.”

“Isn’t he looking for any faults to exploit?”

“Of course he is.”

Hayley, who had briefly visited the palace to give an interim report, came to see me. And since arriving, she had been talking about how sinister and suspicious Count Felice was.

Other matters in the merchant guild weren’t much of an issue, but whenever Count Felice showed up, she suddenly got a headache.

Hayley sighed and held her forehead.

“The other side doesn’t seem to be in a much different situation. I heard Countess Filipa is such a meticulous person that she interferes with everything from start to finish.”

“Countess Filipa is definitely someone who would do that. In a way, it might be fortunate that she didn’t come to our side.”

“But at least she has a reasonable justification, doesn’t she? She’s not just barging in recklessly.”

Hayley let out a long sigh, seemingly quite worn out.

“Frankly, I wish this audit would end quickly, regardless of the outcome. At least then I won’t have to deal with headaches like this anymore.”

“Is it okay to have headaches from other matters?”

“I’d prefer that.”

It seemed Count Felice was desperate to find any weakness in the merchant guild.

Looking at Hayley’s exasperated face, I briefly pondered if there was a card I could play to get rid of Count Felice.

Was there anything I knew from my past life related to Count Felice?

“I also considered exploiting Countess Filipa’s weaknesses, but for someone like her, it might be better to have her indebted to us rather than find her faults.”

“Using Countess Filipa in reverse?”

“Count Felice is also a man with a shady background, so digging into him would surely uncover something, but it would still take some time.”

“By that logic, wouldn’t it also take time with Countess Filipa?”

Betty, who was beside us, tilted her head at Hayley’s words.

Then she brought something over from her desk.

“Count Felice is indeed a man with a shady background. I looked into it as soon as the audit began.”

“Betty!”

What Betty brought were documents investigating Count Felice’s corruption.

Exactly what Hayley desperately needed right now.

Hayley pulled Betty into a tight embrace.