My time with Their Majesties was enjoyable.

In the middle, somehow Leoprick barged in and spewed nonsense at my parents, but other than that, it was a generally smooth time.

As the Emperor should be the busiest person in the Empire, and the Empress assisting such an Emperor was also not an idle person, the short conversation time ended unexpectedly quickly.

If there had been a little more time, I think we might have even had a meal together…

“Are you sure nothing happened at all?”

It may have been difficult because of Leoprick, who was still urging me by my side.

Even after seeing all the peaceful moments a little while ago, Leoprick acted like someone who was somehow restless.

He persistently asked if His Majesty the Emperor or Her Majesty the Empress had said anything unnecessary, or if Their Majesties had made any unreasonable demands.

Even when I said that nothing really happened, he didn’t seem to believe me at all, which was a bit tiring.

“Really, nothing happened, Your Highness. Their Majesties just said they missed me. After all, I am their daughter-in-law.”

“Of course I understand, but given their personalities, there’s no way they just had a conversation without anything happening, so I’m asking. Are you sure nothing happened?”

The confrontation of truth continued endlessly.

At this point, I guess I have to say something happened for him to accept it.

With a small sigh of fatigue, he began to say something again about sighing this time.

Seeing me sigh, he said it must be true that I heard something, and told me to talk honestly since it’s okay.

“It’s really okay, Amelia. You can tell me comfortably.”

“Can I really do it comfortably?”

Seeing that, I strangely wanted to play a prank.

I don’t know why, but I thought I’d like to annoy this person at least once.

I shrugged my shoulders and told him ‘honestly’.

“It was really nothing special. They just said they felt bad that their son was hiding a person from them for some reason.”

The conversation itself was really ordinary.

Really ordinary conversations like their son was getting weirder these days, he learned only useless things from somewhere when they raised him well, and that their son didn’t trust his parents too much.

I never thought such conversations would come out of the mouths of an Emperor and Empress of a nation.

“They also said that Your Highness seemed like someone else’s son since you changed the honeymoon destination.”

“…Is that really all?”

So I just said it like that.

As it is, honestly.

I thought about playing a prank by giving a bit of a threat…

But why become close enough to even play pranks?

But even with my honest answer, he seems to have something that keeps bothering him.

He asked again if there was anything else, looking somehow unsatisfied, and I shook my head.

“Your Highness. Your parents are not such bad people.”

“No, I didn’t mean that they are bad. It’s just that if that’s the case, I’m wondering why they had to call you separately when they could have called me together.”

Seeing him worrying for a truly absurd reason, I realized.

Leoprick had more unnecessary worries than I thought.

I shook my head and let out a small sigh.

“Nothing happened, really. By the way, did Your Highness also receive an invitation?”

“What invitation are you talking about?”

So before he worries about more unnecessary things, it would be good to change the subject.

I changed the topic by mentioning the invitation to the ball at the Perze Count’s House that will be held soon.

“I mean the ball at the Perze Count’s House. I checked the invitation yesterday and it was there, did you perhaps not receive it?”

“Ah. If it’s that, I checked it this morning. I was going to ask you and send a reply.”

Then Leoprick looked at me.

It was a much clearer gaze, perhaps because he stopped the wasteful worrying he was doing just now.

“If you say you’ll go too, I’d like to give you a dress as a gift.”

“A dress?”

“Yes. I want to have matching outfits to wear together, is that not okay?”

Leoprick tilted his head and looked at me.

And I could see that his worries had headed towards another unnecessary category.

Suddenly saying let’s have matching outfits to go to the ball together?

“I was thinking of going. I sent a letter expressing my intention to attend in the morning. But the dress…”

Of course, it wasn’t strange for a married couple to wear similar clothes when attending a party together.

But somehow…

I don’t really feel like it.

Father and Lloyd would probably attend that party too.

They are people who need to see that I’m getting along well with my husband, but for some reason, I don’t really feel like it.

At the same time as needing to show them our relationship, I also had to maintain a certain distance from Leoprick.

Because of that, I couldn’t readily give an answer to Leoprick who was waiting for a response.

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to. But I want to give you the dress you’ll wear that day as a gift.”

It’s okay even if the design doesn’t overlap much with mine.

And as if reading my face, Leoprick added in a slightly exaggerated, listless voice.

Why did his gaze, which was slightly averted, look so pitiful?

His shoulders seemed a bit drooped, and his head seemed slightly lowered too.

Would it be too irreverent to say that he looks just like a wet puppy?

I looked at him like that for a moment and let out a small sigh.

Yeah. There will be more people to show that we’re getting along well when we go there anyway.

It’s not about not feeling like it, but about what needs to be done.

“No, Your Highness. I think it would be nice to have similar designs made together.”

“Is that so?”

And with my one word, his expression brightened again.

I doubted what I just saw at that change, which was even a bit dramatic.

If you do that, it seems like you did it on purpose…?

“Thank you, Amelia. I will bring someone who will suit your taste perfectly.”

“Pardon? No, doesn’t the imperial palace also have designers?”

“Ah. Of course, but the imperial palace designers don’t really like these kinds of requests.”

“Yes…?”

The imperial palace designers don’t like requests to make the Crown Prince and Princess’ outfits similar?

No, before that, can the imperial palace’s exclusive designers pick and choose requests from members of the imperial family?

While I was briefly confused by the incomprehensible words, Leoprick smiled and continued.

“I will contact you soon to set a schedule. Please wait a bit until then.”

“What? Ah, yes. When you contact me, I will try to match the schedule.”

“Thank you, Amelia. Well then.”

That was it.

Before I could ask about the question I just thought of, he hurriedly left his seat.

If you do that, it seems like you’re making it so I can’t change my words.

I narrowed my eyes as I watched him walk away quickly.

Strangely, something didn’t feel right.

[This is the timeline separator] [I started the preparations you mentioned. In addition to what we have at the headquarters, we are gathering what’s in nearby branches as well. I will let you know again once the preparations are complete. -H.]

In the late afternoon, between lunch and dinner, a message came from Hayley.

It was a report that they had started gathering supplies to send to the East.

Fortunately, she said they are gathering what’s in other branches too, so I think the quantity will be quite a lot once everything is collected.

Then we will be able to help all people in the East, regardless of whether they are nobility or commoners.

The solution to the epidemic in the East is water quality and hygiene, so if necessary, we may even be able to help with water supply system maintenance.

Of course, it’s questionable whether the lord of the East will allow that.

“Betty. Who was the lord of the East now?”

“The East? The Daimar family has been managing the East for 100 years.”

“Daimar?”

Hearing that name reminded me of something.

Alex Daimar.

The current lord of the East and the most stubborn old man I know.

Even before the regression, I expressed my intention to help with water supply maintenance under Lloyd’s name and was coldly rejected.

He said something like, “Please maintain your dignity as the Crown Princess.”

It was a reproachful remark, asking how the Crown Princess of the Empire could do such a thing under a man’s name other than the Crown Prince’s, but at the time, I smirked at his words.

Anyway, I thought, what’s important now is whose name it is when the epidemic will occur over and over again if the water supply system in the East is not maintained and clean water is not continuously supplied to the people?

In the end, at that time, I ignored his opinion with my position and proceeded with the water supply project under Lloyd’s name.

Like that, I made Lloyd’s name resound more loudly in the East than anyone else’s.

No one objected to that.

Not even Alex Daimar, who told me to maintain my dignity.

He was one of the first to be expelled when I expanded Lloyd’s foothold and removed Leoprick’s people one by one.

Originally, the Daimar family had been moderates for generations.

But he said his mind changed when I ignored his opinion and pushed ahead with the water supply project under Lloyd’s name.

He said it was clear that the path ahead for the Crown Prince was full of thorns, and he wanted to be of strength to him.

At that time, I poured out mocking words, saying he was killing even his own family with that personality, but to me now, he was an ally I couldn’t be happier to have.

I will no longer support Lloyd, so he won’t have to support Leoprick like in the pre-regression either.

But with that personality, he won’t step up to help Lloyd either.

In the end, he will remain moderate.

If he’s not my enemy, he’s my ally.

I was thinking like that and paused for a moment.

“Oh right, Hayley said if you need, she can try contacting Daimar.”

Betty’s words made my paused thoughts move again.

Contacting Daimar?

Is that possible?

“Didn’t you say all communication lines to the East were cut off?”

“That’s true, but fortunately, it seems they were able to contact the caravan people sent with Enerheim. The letter arrived quickly.”

Betty pointed to the rest that I hadn’t read yet and spoke.

…What a mistake.

I finished reading the part Betty pointed out.

Fortunately, it seemed they were able to contact the caravan people accompanying Enerheim before entering the East.

It was also written that if necessary, they would lay the groundwork to work in the East in advance through them.

It said they will be ready to contact them anytime, just give the order.

I quietly looked at the part I missed and nodded.

“Tell Hayley to prepare it for now. And say that I will send the detailed contents to convey to Daimar again.”

“Yes, Princess.”

Betty nodded at my words and went out to write a reply.

And seeing Betty like that, I thought of a new question again.

Why was the epidemic in the East reported late?