Leoprick thought to himself.

No matter what, she would always be an eternal puzzle to him.

From their first meeting to their last, Amelia was always a person full of question marks.

Why did it have to be Lloyd?

And yet, why did she allow him to be by her side?

Why, just why?

From the day he first met her until he drew his last breath in her arms, she always asked questions that couldn’t be answered.

Even now, having been reborn, it was the same.

He was still, constantly asking questions.

Why does she show a completely different side from her past life?

Why does she keep provoking the desires he’s trying so hard to suppress?

Why does she give him chances, allow him by her side, and stimulate him?

And why…

“…I still can’t understand.”

He knew much more than before.

What he needed to do to protect his beloved parents.

What he needed to do to suppress his cousin, who seemed fine on the outside but was rotten on the inside.

What he needed to do to maintain his position and protect his loved ones.

But despite all that, there were things he couldn’t figure out in the end.

What he needed to do to keep the one he loved enough to be reborn by his side.

What he needed to do to win her heart and nullify the absurd contract.

What was the way to gain even a piece of her heart?

No matter how much he thought about it, the answer never came easily.

No, even throughout his rebirth, he couldn’t find the answer.

He could only do his best to express his heart to her with passion and sincerity, using everything he had.

Yes, other than hoping her heart would change even a little by doing what he couldn’t do in the past, there was no other opportunity given to him.

So on days like today, he could only quietly agonize over this anxiety alone.

He hoped she would return soon.

He muttered softly, picturing Amelia’s face as she said she was going to rest for a bit.

He wanted to see her face soon, talk with her, and look at her to relieve his anxiety even a little.

Thinking he might seem a bit childish, Leoprick let out a long sigh.

‘No matter how much you struggle, you can never be the one chosen.’

And without fail, it always comes to mind at times like this.

That day that hinders his thoughts and actions whenever he tries to do something.

Recalling the memory of that day that weighs down his mood, Leoprick turned around.

If he spent any more time thinking alone, it seemed like it would be even harder.

So he turned his back on the memories that kept trying to tie him down in darkness.

To think of a slightly better future instead.

Hayley was already waiting when I arrived at the headquarters, having received the message first.

Seeing her out here even though she must be busy made me feel uneasy.

As soon as I got off, I apologized to Hayley first.

“Sorry for bothering you when you’re busy, Hayley.”

“Not at all, young lady. It’s only natural since it’s your company. The guest also arrived a little while ago and is waiting.”

Hayley lightly bowed her head and guided Betty and me.

We moved through the company’s secret passages as I wished for a quiet visit.

Yet somehow, familiar faces were stationed throughout the passages, greeting me.

“Everyone wanted to see you even for a moment since it’s been a while since you visited, young lady.”

Hayley quietly explained after I received my fifth greeting.

Seeing this reminded me of the hospitality I received at the Waynes company.

Most of the people at the Waynes company were chosen by Mother, but most of the people at the capital company were ones I personally selected and trained together with Hayley.

I must not have paid much attention to the company as I was busy with national affairs, so everyone must have felt somewhat regretful.

Looking at the same scenery but feeling differently, a faint smile appeared on my lips.

I headed deeper into the company, exchanging greetings with those who were a bit more affectionate than others.

“Where is Lady Gilroit?”

“I had her taken to the inner reception room. But young lady, there is one thing I need to tell you…”

“So bring her here right now, I’m telling you!”

It was when we emerged from the secret passage and were walking down the company’s corridor.

The moment we entered the path leading to the inner reception room for the company head, a shout was heard.

A raging voice that shouldn’t exist in our company.

“…My apologies. Not only the guest you mentioned, but also their entourage came together.”

“Entourage?”

Entourage, you say?

Pressing down on my robe, I took steps forward but felt my head go cold.

There is only one entourage Adela Gilroit would bring.

And there is only one person who would shout angrily like that.

Frowning under my robe, I slowed my pace.

On the path not far from the destination, I saw the Duchess of Gilroit.

With an extremely angry expression, she was grabbing one of the company’s employees and yelling at the top of her lungs.

“We don’t think it was our mistake…!”

“Didn’t you hear me? Bring the person in charge, not some lackey like you! How dare you judge if this was a mistake or not?”

The employee’s voice in front could barely be heard even if I focused at this distance.

Yet the Duchess’s voice could be heard so clearly.

I looked at her creating a scene she would later regret with indifferent eyes, then turned to Hayley.

“Could you find out what happened, Hayley? And if you can pull out just Lady Gilroit, have her discreetly called to the office.”

“I will, young lady.”

“Good. Let me know after you find out.”

I turned around and headed to the office, looking at the Duchess shouting and gesturing from afar.

“I thought this last time too, but she really has no manners.”

Betty shook her head and whispered softly.

“Indeed. She’s doing something really improper this time too.”

“Do you think she tagged along on her own accord again this time?”

“Well, at this point, I’m starting to think Lady Gilroit is in on it too.”

I let out a small sigh and entered the office.

I could understand it happening once, but when the same thing happens twice in a row, honestly, doesn’t it feel orchestrated?

I asked the member standing in front of the office for some tea and sat down.

I was having a light conversation with Betty and reviewing the documents Hayley seemed to have piled up for reporting.

“Guildmaster, the guest has arrived.”

With a light knock and those words, the door opened.

The quietly opened door let in only Adela Gilroit before closing again.

The continued shouting could be heard through the open door crack, but I pretended not to notice and greeted Adela.

“You said you wanted to see me regarding company business, Lady Gilroit?”

I pointed to the sofa arranged on one side of the office and looked at her.

Adela Gilroit, with a somewhat embarrassed look, glanced at me still holding documents, then went and sat on the sofa.

“I didn’t expect you to have me called to the office. Your way of speaking seems to have changed too.”

“To be exact, it’s the ‘Guildmaster’s office’. Because here, I’m not the Crown Princess but the head of the Jenit Company.”

After confirming she was seated first, I also got up from my seat.

I briefly told Betty to check on the tea I requested, then went and sat across from Lady Gilroit.

“Since you said there was a company matter to discuss, I’m just intending to deal with it as the head of the company. Besides, it seems the Duchess of Gilroit is also treating this place as a mere company.”

When I referred to the Duchess’s rudeness that had been echoing in the corridor until now, Lady Gilroit’s face reddened.

“Mother… had something upsetting happen.”

“I told the vice-guildmaster here to look into what happened, so let’s hear the details when she comes.”

More importantly, what is this about?

When I asked her again, the lady bit her lip slightly and looked at me.

“You must not have much time, I see.”

“This isn’t high society, so there’s no reason to employ the rhetoric used there. Did you not know that time is money to merchants?”

When I said there’s no time so speak quickly, she let out a small sigh.

“Since you asked straightforwardly, I’ll also speak straightforwardly then.”

Lady Gilroit looked straight at me and opened her mouth.

She said she came to inform me of the loss the company would suffer.

And what followed was something I couldn’t even imagine.

“I was planning to place an order with the Jenit Company for everything needed for the Empress’s enthronement ceremony. My father is someone who spares no expense for me, so the scale would likely be beyond imagination.”

“…So in other words, you’re saying if you don’t become the Empress, our company won’t receive that unimaginable order and will suffer a loss?”

When I asked back, Lady Gilroit blinked as if asking what an obvious thing I was asking, answering my question.

Ah, this is truly beyond imagination.

I could only laugh in disbelief at the absurd assumption followed by the absurd conclusion.

Her becoming Empress is something that would happen after Leoprick becomes Emperor.

And who knows when that will be?

Is she telling me to wail over the loss of future profits at an unspecified time?

“Wouldn’t it be better to make me Empress for the sake of the profits the company will gain?”

On top of that, she innocently insisted I make her Empress.

I had to think for a while if what I heard was true.

What in the world is this?

“Lady, I’m a merchant, not a gambler.”

“But you have enough power to make what I said a reality. Then isn’t that an investment, not a gamble?”

“Sorry, but I’m not reckless enough to bet everything on an uncertain probability either.”

I felt the reason I couldn’t properly explain to Father, the one I could only package as a ‘feeling’, becoming clear.

Adela Gilroit was an actress.

A very talented actress at that.

An actress who makes everyone believe she is intelligent, clever, and highly educated.

I felt I needed to revise all my assessments of her.

Adela Gilroit was not intelligent.

She wasn’t clever either, and it seemed she hadn’t even received the level of education I expected.

She’s just very good at acting, that’s all.

It seems she discarded a bothersome thing like acting since things aren’t going her way.

I clearly conveyed my intention to her once more.

“Unfortunately, I have no intention of investing in you, Lady, nor do I intend to gamble.”

Because the hand I hold has a much higher probability.

And Adela Gilroit’s mask fell off in just an instant.