On the way to the imperial palace, I kept thinking about the epidemic in the East.

It seemed like the ball at the Marquis of Ferze’s mansion came first, but the epidemic in the East stood out first.

No matter how much I traced back the events before the regression, the conclusion was the same.

Clearly, the outbreak of the epidemic in the East was much later than the ball at the Marquis of Ferze’s mansion and the events that followed.

So, it seemed that after laying a sufficient foundation for Lloyd, I had sent him to the East and pulled strings to spread his good deeds throughout the empire.

Did I borrow people from the Eastern merchant group back then as well?

“Are you thinking of sending people to the East?”

When I was lost in thought, Betty, who was next to me, asked.

Her face was filled with curiosity that didn’t suit her.

Today’s decision must be puzzling.

Even Betty, who usually thought about and understood the reasons for any decision I made, had doubts about this decision to that extent.

No wonder.

My decision was based on my memories from before the regression, after all.

“I’m going to send them. Anyway, the fact that the merchant group’s communication network has been cut off means that something happened in the East, doesn’t it?”

“Well, that’s true, but then can’t you just send a small number of people? I don’t understand why you’re sending things like food and blankets.”

Betty’s words were not wrong.

If it was simply about opening up the communication network, I would have done just that.

But what I’m trying to do is not just for that reason.

“It’s hard for me to give you a definite answer right now. Since the decision is based on speculation, it’s difficult to say for sure.”

“Well, I know well that you sometimes make decisions based on speculation and intuition, but usually I could roughly infer the reason. But this time, it’s a bit difficult,” Betty added.

I smiled faintly at her.

There was nothing else to add.

“I’ve already given the necessary instructions, so let’s think about the rest when we get to the imperial palace.”

So I said, pointing to the imperial palace that was getting closer.

The place where I would stay for a while.

Feeling a somewhat nostalgic emotion, I headed towards the secret passage behind the imperial palace that Leoprick had taught me.

From now on, it was the real beginning of what I had to do.

“Amelia.”

Leoprick, whom I met again, greeted me with a strangely delighted face.

He said he had just escaped from the emperor’s office and was happy that the timing was right.

“Did you finish your work well?”

“Yes. There were no major issues.”

“That’s a relief. Weren’t you worried that you couldn’t be reached on the way here?”

“Indeed.”

Contemplating whether to inform him about the situation in the East, I decided to keep it to myself for now.

It was true that an epidemic had occurred in the East.

But it was unclear whether it was currently in progress or if Enerheim had simply seen the signs and moved to prepare in advance.

I was also worried that if I talked about the East right now, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

I didn’t want to be questioned about how I knew about the East when no one in the capital had mentioned it yet.

Hayley said she would try to contact Gener, so it wouldn’t be too late to report to him after receiving a reply.

Even before the regression, the news about the epidemic in the East had reached much later than now.

So for the time being, it would be better to focus on what was happening in this capital.

With that thought, I smiled slightly at Leoprick, who was smiling brightly.

“Did anything happen to His Majesty?”

He had also said he was going to meet the emperor.

He had said that the emperor had urgently summoned him, although he didn’t know what it was about.

Since the emperor, who had previously urged Leoprick to go on a honeymoon first, suddenly told him to return, I thought there must be a big issue and hurried back on the way.

“Hmm…”

But looking at his expression, it didn’t seem to be a serious matter.

His expression was too jovial for someone who had faced a grave situation.

And as if confirming my guess, Leoprick lightly nodded his head.

“It was nothing serious for me either. It was something His Majesty could have fully resolved, but he called me unnecessarily.”

“But the contact came as if it was an extremely urgent matter.”

“His Majesty is always like that. Ah, I’m telling you in advance since you’ll experience it while staying at the imperial palace, but don’t pay too much attention to what His Majesty says.”

“Oh… Is that possible? He is still His Majesty, though.”

He spoke in a deliberately playful tone.

It was a light tone, as if implying that it was okay to ignore His Majesty’s words.

When I shook my head, wondering how that could be, he waved his hand, saying it was really fine.

“It’s true. Even when he brings up political topics, he is consistently playful.”

“Still…”

“You can really listen with one ear and let it flow out the other.”

I’ll let you know about the important things, he said with a gentle smile.

Seeing Leoprick jokingly talking seriously, I could tell how close he was with His Majesty.

To have such a comfortable relationship, joking with his father.

It made me realize once again how close the current emperor and empress were.

…And also about the impurity that had entered such a close family: me.

“Amelia will understand what I mean after experiencing Their Majesties a few times.”

He spoke in an amused tone and turned his horse’s head.

Following him and pulling the reins, I didn’t say anything.

I had already experienced enough of the Reinhart family to know.

I was determined not to ruin that warm atmosphere this time.

Because it’s best for a close family to remain a close family forever.

As I followed him towards the main gate of the imperial palace without a word, Leoprick suddenly asked a question.

“Isn’t Marquis Vermerian like that?”

It was a question about my father, but for a moment, I couldn’t answer because I couldn’t grasp the intent of the question.

I only let out a foolish sound, “Oh…”

At my reaction, Leoprick chuckled.

“Seeing your expression, I understand. Marquis Vermerian is not good at expressing affection, it seems.”

“…Father is not the type to easily reveal his true feelings.”

“That must be the case. If the marquis had shown even half of what he shows to others to his daughter, you wouldn’t have reacted like this now.”

Leoprick smiled as if he knew everything.

He could have simply moved on, thinking about how my father was.

It was a bit surprising that he could grasp my father’s personality with just one hesitation, and I wondered if that was really the reason.

I wondered if Leoprick was originally good at reading people.

Contrary to the question that came to mind again, he kept bringing up various topics with a strangely pleasant face throughout.

Was the private meeting with His Majesty enjoyable?

“His Highness has arrived!”

Before my thoughts could run ahead, the resonant voices of the knights preceded them.

And as soon as that sound was heard, a small trumpet sound came from inside the palace.

“It’s the sound announcing the return of a member of the imperial family.”

“I know. It’s like a beacon, right?”

“You know it well.”

When I raised my head at the majestic sound, Leoprick kindly explained, and I nodded.

The fires lit in each castle during emergencies are a good means of alerting the capital and various parts of the empire faster than couriers.

There was no aristocrat who didn’t know that inside the castle, danger and announcements were alerted with trumpet sounds instead of beacons.

It was a well-known fact, but I didn’t particularly talk to Leoprick about that part.

Because there was an inexplicable joy in his tone as he spoke to me in a teaching manner.

I decided to put aside the obvious facts for a while for the sake of his enjoyment.

“Welcome back, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Everything after the trumpet sounded happened in order, like a rite of passage.

Receiving the usual greetings, we entered the imperial palace and were escorted by the knights to the palace we would use.

On the way, we also paid our respects to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, who had come out to greet us.

As the crown prince and princess, we received greetings from the head maids and head attendants of the separate palace we would use, and only after a brief introduction could I enter the room I would use with Betty.

“…We finally reached the room.”

“Indeed… You’ve worked hard, Young Lady. No, Your Highness.”

Although the journey was not long, is there any place as good as a space where you can rest comfortably?

Feeling the fatigue that had accumulated heavily weighing down on me, I let out a long sigh.

“Betty, you should rest today too and ask others to attend to you. I think I’ll fall asleep right after taking a bath.”

“How can that be, Your Highness? Serving you is my joy.”

“I appreciate the flattery, but just do as I say for now. You can serve me tomorrow and the day after, can’t you?”

I wanted to take a quick bath and lie down, but I knew Betty must feel the same way.

I sent her out, insisting on seeing her asleep, and decided to be attended by the palace maids and servants.

“After washing up, could you bring me the invitations that have arrived? I think I need to check them before going to bed.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will bring them right away so you can see them after washing up.”

“Alright. And bring a simple meal to my room.”

“Yes.”

“The attendants may leave as I don’t need them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After giving brief instructions to those who were still a bit unfamiliar but needed to get used to gradually, I washed myself.

Soaking deep into the water with floating petals, the fatigue seemed to subside, which was pleasant.

As my body relaxed drowsily, I thought I might fall asleep in the bathtub, so I finished my bath in a bit of a hurry.

After washing in warm water and coming out with a fluffy feeling, I saw the requested invitations and simple meal types placed on the table.

Perhaps to allow me to rest comfortably, there was not a single person left except for the requested items.

It’s nice and quiet.

I alternated my gaze between the two and reached for the invitations first.

Because a somewhat familiar name that I had to see caught my eye.

It was a light yellow envelope.

The quality of the paper that felt carefully selected at a glance and the elegant curves engraved by the highest quality ink written with care.

I picked up the envelope, examined it, and smiled slightly.

“It came sooner than I thought.”

The first official event where I implicitly let it be known that I was behind Lloyd before the regression.

I quietly smiled, imagining the banquet hall that would be clearly different from back then.