The inspection has begun.

Count Philipa and Count Felice were dispatched to the Duke Alois family and the Jenit Company respectively, and the empire began to stir.

The people’s mouths were incessantly talking about the interest in this unusual event and praising the imperial family for not sparing any budget for the people.

“Did you assign the right people?”

“Yes, Your Highness. We carefully selected and assigned capable individuals.”

But what is unusual for them is just another variable for me to deal with.

I had to come up with a way to not allow any of those variables.

For now, I assigned people to each of the two inspectors being dispatched, and just in case, I also sent people to Alois, Valois, and Gilroyd.

Once I learned that Lloyd’s collaborators were Valois and Gilroyd, it became difficult to think of the three families separately.

“But it’s a bit hard to understand. Duke Gilroyd is very close with our Duke. Although he is moderate, he generally supports Your Majesty’s opinions.”

Betty asked, looking puzzled, as if the young lady surely couldn’t be unaware of such a thing. Why is she moving together with the Viscount?

I also found it understandable, but such cases were not entirely nonexistent.

It is common for people belonging to a family to act according to the family’s interests and political direction, but there are always those who go against the will of the family head.

Just as I supported Lloyd against my father’s will.

The young lady of Gilroyd must have some reason for supporting Lloyd.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“There must be some reason. Maybe Lloyd made another empty promise.”

“Still, she must believe in something that makes sense. Or she clearly wants something.”

“Yes. The young lady wouldn’t have acted without any reason either. If not, she wouldn’t have moved like that.”

Or maybe even Duke Gilroyd has something else in mind.

I muttered softly, recalling the conversation I had with my father a few days ago.

‘I understand what you mean, but Gilroyd has absolutely no reason to do that.’

When I told my father about what the young lady of Gilroyd had done to me and asked if the Duke might have sided with Lloyd, that was his answer.

I sighed, recalling my father’s face, which was clearly startled.

There is no betrayal in the world without a reason.

Especially a betrayal without any gain is even more nonexistent.

I don’t know what it is, but the young lady of Gilroyd or the Gilroyd family must have been promised something.

Or maybe they have already received it.

I gave Betty another request to keep a close eye on Gilroyd.

“Since she even mobilized my mother, she probably won’t back down easily. Strengthen the security around and make sure no unauthorized persons can enter or leave the palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will inform the knights and palace staff.”

Valois and Alois are people who have laid the groundwork well from before.

The two of them moving together will be caught anywhere and won’t look strange.

But Gilroyd, who anyone can suspect, is different.

If they make a move, it means nine times out of ten that Lloyd has other intentions.

At this time when everyone’s attention is focused on the inspection for the imperial family’s support project, using someone whom no one thinks is on their side is a method I often employ as well.

I sighed, feeling my head throbbing as the number of things to worry about increased.

“Is the messenger from the East not here yet?”

“He will arrive soon. Hayley said a knight bearing the flag of the East passed through the capital’s gate.”

“Then he will arrive within today or tomorrow.”

“Yes. Hayley said he will make a move before entering the Imperial Palace.”

I had to meet the messenger from the East before he entered the Imperial Palace.

And through him, I had to convey my intention to meet with Daimar.

To persuade the stubborn Daimar, the lord of the East, I first needed to talk to the messenger announcing Daimar’s visit to the capital.

“And a letter arrived from the North.”

“From the North?”

“The abbot sprouted seeds on the outskirts closest to the northern castle. They say the North is in a festive mood right now.”

Betty took out a letter from her bosom and handed it to me.

It’s welcome news from the North.

I hurriedly unfolded and read it, and saw the handwriting was scribbled as if written in great excitement.

“Abbot Beren seems to be a little lacking in discipline.”

“I think so too.”

Revealing emotions so recklessly in such a matter.

When I spoke with a smile, Betty also responded in an amused voice.

The content was the same as what Betty had said.

Although they have not yet reached the land of severe cold, they saw the first sprouts in the outskirts of the northern castle, and if this improvement is successful, they may be able to have the first harvest next spring.

“We will have to continue supporting the North at least until next spring.”

“Will we have enough funds for that? The budget going to the East right now is not small either…”

“It can’t be helped. But we have to save people first.”

Betty answered worriedly at my words.

I understood her feelings, but if this project succeeds, the money flowing into the company will be tremendous.

Perhaps before the company’s financial power declines, that much income will come in again.

I gave Betty a faint smile.

“And if this project succeeds, there will be plenty of support coming in. As much as we have spent so far, maybe even more.”

“Well, that may be true, but…”

There are variables, after all.

Betty mumbled softly and sighed.

“Trust Hayley. When have you ever seen Hayley fail?”

“No, well. That’s true. But you said you would take your hands off this matter, Your Highness. If you and Hayley put your heads together, no one can really win against you…”

Betty muttered with a slightly sullen face.

Hearing that, I could understand the reason for her gloomy expression these past few days.

She wanted me to be able to work on company matters together with Hayley.

She must have been worried since an unprecedented co-selectee appeared and the inspection started early.

I patted Betty’s shoulder to comfort her.

“It’s okay. I learned from Hayley too, so what. He will do well.”

“It’s not just that I’m worried about that. It’s just that Your Highness’s eyes shine the most when you’re working on company matters.”

But Betty mumbled with her protruding lips, saying that wasn’t the reason.

“You’ve been dealing with only troublesome matters lately. Wouldn’t it be good to have a change of pace at times like this?”

“A change of pace, Betty. How is work a change of pace?”

I was grateful for her concern, but I couldn’t help but laugh at her absurd words.

Betty is probably the only person who would recommend work as a change of pace.

When I laughed, she looked at me as if asking what she said wrong.

“Your Highness is a workaholic. You work even when you’re resting.”

“Even so, who calls that a change of pace, Betty?”

“It’s possible for Your Highness. You enjoy it so much, so why are you saying that!”

Well, I don’t usually do things I don’t enjoy.

As I could only laugh in disbelief without making a separate reply, Betty also chuckled looking at me.

“Still, go visit the company sometimes when you have time. Everyone will feel reassured if you go, Your Highness.”

And get some fresh air at times like this.

I laughed at her nagging words.

“Alright, I got it. But after I finish what I have to do here first.”

“The work here is always endless, Your Highness.”

“Hmm.”

“Don’t worry about leaving for a bit, it won’t cause any problems. Let me know if you want to go. I’ll prepare.”

I nodded with a smile at her words.

At times like this, it’s good to simply be grateful for having someone who cares like this.

And Betty was very satisfied with my reaction.

Anyway, such a nag.

“Count Philipa is coming?”

“Yes. Father said to be careful because he’s a cunning person and to convey that to you.”

Lloyd frowned with a displeased face.

It hasn’t been long since the announcement of the project selectees.

Not only are they already sending an inspector, but it’s also someone he has to be on high alert against.

He rubbed his throbbing forehead, recalling the stern face of Count Philipa who rebelled against him until the end in his previous life.

“Any contact from the palace or information regarding this?”

“I heard that during the review, they said they will prepare unusually for this unusual event. The palace messenger said he will likely arrive today or tomorrow.”

Arianna answered in a calm voice.

Of all people, why did it have to be a troublesome figure coming?

And at the most unpleasant time too.

He clicked his tongue, looking at the company hall that was not yet properly furnished.

It was originally a company that Adela Gilroyd intended to acquire.

After the Empress incident, whether she completely lost interest or for some other reason, she didn’t react much even after hearing that Lloyd himself, not her, acquired this company.

Is Leoprick that tempting to her?

What’s so good about that pale and large guy?

Lloyd frowned, recalling the sinister face of Leoprick that he knew.

Either way, it was clear that Adela Gilroyd had become a useless card.

If something is useless, you should just throw it away.

With his eyes sharpened from pondering all night, he thought about how he should deal with Adela Gilroyd.

“Count Philipa is not an easy opponent. It would be best to prepare all possible countermeasures if possible.”

“I know how difficult Gerald Philipa is. It’s better not to give him any excuses if possible.”

Putting aside his thoughts about Adela Gilroyd, he began to recall what happened to the Philipa family in his previous life.

Since he’s such a hyena-like person, it’s important not to give him any excuses to nitpick, but if he can catch his weakness…

That would be the best way to make him ignore any excuses that might arise, even if only one in ten thousand.

As he was lost in thought for a moment, it was then.

“I heard Philipa has a discarded daughter.”

“A discarded daughter?”

Did that guy have a daughter?

He remembered that when Gerald Philipa died in his previous life, the vacancy was filled by his adopted son.

He heard that he had no children for a long time, so he adopted one of his relatives. But a daughter?

When he looked at her with a surprised face, Arianna continued with a smile on her lips.

“No one knows if she’s alive or dead, and no one knows her name or appearance. It’s information obtained by investigating all the people who worked for Philipa.”

“It’s impossible for people working for a family to easily reveal the family’s secrets like that.”

“Of course. That’s why we only looked for people who were fired a long time ago. They all quickly opened their mouths for a few coins?”

Lloyd gave a hollow laugh at her innocently smiling face.

An unexpectedly meticulous side of a woman sometimes pleases him.

Just like this.

“For now, I sent some people to make inquiries. I heard they searched for a very long time but still couldn’t find her.”

“Unless she went to a different region, not the capital, it doesn’t make sense that they couldn’t find a single clue even after searching thoroughly. Tell them to look more carefully.”

“I will.”

A daughter. A hidden daughter.

It would be nice if he could put a leash on the loyal Philipa through this matter.

Still looking at the conference room that was being organized, he turned his body.