“But Your Majesty, does it not seem a bit strange?”

Arnold, who was looking at the documents about the final selectees for the support project, tilted his head as if something was odd.

His tone was somewhat unconvincing.

Leoprick, who was looking at the same documents, raised his head at Arnold’s words.

“What is it?”

“The reason why Your Majesty approved both of these people. Don’t the contents of their applications look too similar? And yet, I wonder why you purposely chose to jointly select them…”

Arnold said, tapping on the documents.

This was an extremely unusual case.

It was not legally impossible, but it was unprecedented.

It was a matter that would require an enormous budget even if only one was approved. Since it was not simply targeting the capital city but aimed at improving the lives of the people, the scale itself had to encompass all regions of the empire.

Budget, time, and the patience that comes with it – not a single one could be lacking.

But to select not just one, but two applications with similar contents…

Arnold let out a small sigh with a face that showed he couldn’t understand no matter how much he thought about it.

It wasn’t that there were no business plans submitted with similar content at all.

However, the applications from the Alois and Jenit companies that were selected this time had strikingly similar contents, with only minor differences in the details.

In fact, some of those who participated in the selection even remarked that it seemed as if the same person had submitted them under different names.

In such cases, they would usually select the one who organized the project in more detail, but Leoprick exceptionally selected both proposals.

“Well, the same content can turn out differently depending on who develops it.”

“That’s true, but in this case, wouldn’t the priority normally be to check who plagiarized?”

“It’s not even certain whether it’s plagiarism or not. It’s not right to jump to conclusions.”

Leoprick concisely refuted Arnold’s words.

It wasn’t wrong, but the reason was that the facts were not confirmed.

“Well, that may be so,” Arnold sighed.

“But it’s true that they are similar, isn’t it? And in fact, when looking solely at feasibility, the Jenit company scored much higher.”

Renting out a communication network.

That was the topic of the two proposals.

However, unlike the Jenit company, which had already established a network throughout the empire and only needed to make a few adjustments and improvements, the Alois family had to start from scratch.

In that case, the unspoken rule was to select only the Jenit company, which was a hundred times more likely to be realized, but…

“I thought it would be more beneficial to have the two proposals complement each other, but as you know, the submitters are the submitters.”

It wasn’t that the Alois’ proposal was lacking either.

In terms of presenting the necessity of this project and the direction of future utilization, the proposal submitted by Alois was superior.

As Leoprick said, it would have been even better if the project was supplemented based on the contents of the two proposals, but the other parties were Lloyd’s Alois and Amelia’s Vermerian.

Would those two really put their heads together and think about improving the proposals?

Rather than mediating between them, it would be faster to select both and give points to the one who does better.

Those who participated in the selection together had the same thoughts as Leoprick.

“I understand that you think that way, but there was no better solution at the moment.”

So, all those present at the selection unanimously agreed on this exceptional result.

Rather than spending time figuring out who plagiarized and who didn’t, they decided to directly check which side had more feasibility.

“So is that why the audit is starting early as well?”

“Yes. If the auditors closely observe from the very beginning, the difference will be more clearly visible.”

As the results were unusual, the upcoming process had to be unusual as well.

That’s what the emperor said during the selection.

The purpose of the imperial family supporting the projects of the nobles was to create an environment where the people could live a little more comfortably.

So, rather than unnecessarily wasting time, it might not be bad to watch the selection process from the beginning and have the two compete.

‘Do you know what a pacemaker is?’

The Jenit company was one of the largest companies in the empire.

But it was also a place that the crown princess had been running since before her marriage, so now that she was busy with national affairs, there could be limitations in its operation.

Alois also had a history of successfully running quite sizable businesses since he was a viscount, but the fact that he was ignorant of the lives of the common people could not be excluded.

So, they would watch and keep only the side that was truly necessary and advantageous to the people.

That was the emperor’s expressed thought.

And Leoprick added one more reason of his own that he didn’t mention at the meeting.

If Alois were to be selected here, it would be a very favorable stepping stone for Lloyd.

In his previous life as well, he had used this support project to imprint his name on the people.

Leoprick intended to prevent that in advance.

He didn’t want to help, with his own hands, the accumulation of wealth that would be used for him to become the emperor.

Originally, the communication network rental business was something that Amelia had carried out in the name of the Jenit company in their previous lives as well.

To create wealth that Lloyd could use and at the same time imprint his name on the imperial citizens.

The anxiety that she might lend her hand to Lloyd in this life had not completely disappeared.

But seeing that Lloyd submitted the proposal under the name of Alois, it was clear that Amelia was not helping him.

Hiding the reason he didn’t tell anyone, Leoprick subtly encouraged those judging to select both throughout the selection process.

And the emperor provided a suitable justification for that.

“So make sure to keep a close eye so that there’s no talk elsewhere either. If by any chance there’s someone who goes against His Majesty’s will…”

“If such a thing happens, their head should be cut off immediately. Don’t worry.”

Arnold cut off his words in a single stroke and spat out indifferently while flipping through the documents.

Leoprick stared intently at him answering half-heartedly, but Arnold paid no heed.

“The announcement will be made tomorrow for now. The selectees should savor their accomplishment today.”

Leoprick nodded at the words muttered as if talking to himself.

“Do as you please. The audit and support are scheduled to start in 3 days anyway.”

“Yes. Then I will send the messengers tomorrow.”

Listening to Arnold’s businesslike answer, Leoprick thought about what kind of things would happen tomorrow.

Will Amelia directly participate this time?

Or will she leave it to the company and just watch this time?

Whichever it was, he was convinced that Amelia would not help Lloyd this time.

There was no particular reason.

Hope easily bloomed just from the fact that she didn’t lend her name to Lloyd.

It’s clearly different from before.

He would make it different.

He pondered for a moment and then picked up the quill again.

But just in case, he had to be sufficiently prepared.

“But doesn’t it seem a bit strange?”

“What is it?”

Arianna, who was looking at the letter brought by the emperor’s messenger in Lloyd’s office, raised her eyebrows while tapping on the letter.

Joint selection.

That was also a part he had questions about.

It had never happened before.

An exceptional case that was not recorded anywhere in history books, that had never occurred.

Moreover, it was something that didn’t happen in their previous lives either.

However, this was ultimately a project where the imperial family was supporting with their private funds.

So there was no one who could raise an objection to the fact that the emperor, the party involved, had decided so.

That’s why Lloyd also informed Arianna of the result without any other words, although questions remained.

Arianna pointed that out right away.

“Joint selection, really? Honestly, even the low-ranking nobles living in the provinces all know that the imperial family doesn’t have that much wealth at the moment.”

Arianna tilted her head to one side.

“Doesn’t it seem a bit absurd to say they will support two projects of this scale?”

Clearly, the project proposal they submitted was written using the Jenit company’s as a motif.

Unlike the Jenit company, which already had its own communication network throughout the empire, everyone would know that they were starting from scratch with no foundation.She muttered that she couldn’t understand no matter how much she thought about it, pointing that out.

“Then they would definitely know that it would cost several times more than the Jenit company’s budget, right?”

Arianna crossed her arms with a pensive look.

“But then why did the emperor make such an unreasonable move?”

“The emperor isn’t just sitting in that position for nothing. He must have some thoughts.”

But Lloyd didn’t pay much attention to that.

Just because there were variables didn’t mean the goal would change.

He didn’t forget what was important.

Being selected as a recipient of the imperially supported project was just a stepping stone.

The precedent was that once selected, they would fully support the project until its completion.

As long as he held onto this project, the budget would continue to come in, and he would have a sufficient foothold to move forward.

And that’s where everything starts.

“Has there been no contact from Lady Gilroyt?”

What mattered was what happened after that.

Now that they were selected, the important thing was to make the project a success and create a stepping stone for the next step.

For that, Adela Gilroyt’s role was crucial.

If he could properly utilize Adela Gilroyt, who wanted to stand by Leoprick’s side, he could bring Amelia back to his side.

So, as long as she did well with what she promised, that would be enough.

“Ah, right. Did I not tell you?”

To him, who was imagining meeting Amelia and having a proper conversation through Adela’s arrangement, Arianna made an apologetic face.

“Judging from your expression, it seems I didn’t tell you. About Lady Gilroyt.”

“What about her?”

Whenever that woman talks with such a face, something worrisome always happens.

Lloyd felt his face naturally frowning as he looked at her.

“It seems the empress position will be difficult. Count Vermerian is going around looking for other families.”

“Other families, you say.”

It hadn’t even been a full month since receiving Adela’s letter saying that Count Vermerian had visited her residence and that she would likely be offered the position of empress.

But now Count Vermerian was looking for someone else?

“Is he not trying to bring in another empress?”

“Well, that could be possible. But the person we planted in the palace said that on the day Lady Gilroyt first visited, Madam Gilroyt came along. Without even being invited.”

Accompanying the crown princess’ invitation without being invited.

Lloyd could easily imagine Amelia’s expression in that situation.

He thought he had found a good card, but it turned out to be a dud in the end.

He sighed, rubbing his brow.

“Still, she has to do the job she was given.”

“She did say she would… but is it possible? It seemed the crown princess would no longer summon Lady Gilroyt.”

Arianna tilted her head with a worried look.

But it’s not like there’s no way.

He gestured to Arianna and instructed her on the method he thought of.

In any case, they had to use what they could until it was used up.