“I’ll prepare as soon as we get to the room!”

I exclaimed excitedly as I was carried in the duke’s arms to the room after dinner was over.

The duke lightly tapped my forehead.

“There’s no need for that. There isn’t much to prepare. We have a mansion in the capital, so most things will be there.”

“My clothes too?”

“Yes, I had them prepared in advance.”

It wasn’t surprising that the ducal family had a mansion in the capital. What surprised me more was that my clothes and other necessities had been prepared in advance.

How did they know when I would be going up to the capital to prepare such things? It must have cost quite a bit.

‘This is the power of capital……’

“Still, there’s not much time left before departure. If there’s anything you need to prepare, tell me now.”

“Well. We’ll be departing in 2 weeks, is there really a need for that already?”

Hearing those words, I became puzzled.

“In 2 weeks? With less than a month left until the founding festival, won’t that be too late?”

“If we don’t use teleportation, we’d have to leave now to arrive just in time. We’ll be using teleportation to go. So we can prepare leisurely without being late. Using teleportation, two days is enough.”

Hearing the duke’s words, I furrowed my brow.

‘Strange, being able to use teleportation……?’

[This is the timeline separator]

I couldn’t understand at all, so I asked the divine beast again. Grumbling, the divine beast went to the area with the teleportation and told me.

[It was alive and well. Even today, the lowly creatures were using it just fine.]

After finishing speaking, the silver snake didn’t leave my presence, as if waiting for something.

I spread out the accessories in front of the silver snake. Its eyes widened. Its tail swayed gently.

“Take just one.”

[…..]

“I said take just one.”

As I stared at it with a stern look, the silver snake clicked its tongue and dropped the ruby it had been holding in its mouth.

A sapphire ring was already hanging from its tail.

‘This is really strange.’

In the original work, it was clearly stated that the teleportation connecting Hesera and the capital could not be used.

‘That’s why the duke hated going to the capital so much, because it wasted too much time coming and going.’

But now they say they can use teleportation.

‘Could it be that the incident hasn’t occurred yet?’

The incident that stopped Hesera’s teleportation – the very incident where the inspection team died in an unexplained accident while using teleportation. Does this mean the inspection team is coming to the duke’s estate?

My prediction was not wrong.

Exactly one week later, uninvited guests came to the mansion.

Through the open window, there was a faint feeling of the ground vibrating, followed by the sound of clanking metal. The room seemed to shake with the sound of heavy footsteps.

“Oh my.”

Sophia, who was looking out the window, wore a worried expression. I also stood on tiptoe to look out the window, following her.

“Are those knights?”

“Yes, young lady. That’s right. Can you tell which knightly order it is?”

“Yes, I can see the sun emblem, so it’s the Imperial Knights.”

“That’s right, you know well.”

Sophia patted my head as if to say well done. Then she laughed softly and said,

“The imperial family always barges in suddenly like this without any message. You could say they’ve thrown manners into their soup.”

Rarely did Sophia speak in such a vicious tone. When I glanced up, I could see a crack forming on Sophia’s forehead.

‘Barging in without a message is throwing manners into soup. Therefore, the emperor is a person who’s thrown manners into soup.’

I diligently etched that fact into my mind.

The reason Sophia was so angry was because she cared so much for our family.

And I, who had come to love the Crustel family members no less than her, was also very angry at their appearance. They’re not even a villain family yet!

‘Anyone would think they’ve come to wage war.’

If they’re coming to deliver a message, a messenger would have sufficed. Why, did they have to send so many knights?

No wonder Dad can’t help but dislike it when the imperial family acts like this. I clicked my tongue inwardly.

Fortunately, the knights didn’t barge into the main gate. Only one unfamiliar carriage entered smoothly through the main gate.

It was a completely different design from the carriages the vassals had brought during the last meeting or the ones the guild people had brought. The intricately carved patterns were hard to take my eyes off of.

A sun-engraved ornament hung in front of the carriage, and the sides of the carriage were decorated with flowing golden lines that looked like water.

Carriages were originally made for transportation. But as if unaware of that purpose, it was excessively ornate and luxurious.

A carriage adorned with sun symbols and gold representing light.

Sophia sighed briefly and continued speaking.

“They’re really showing off that they’re from the imperial family. Such things are easy targets. It’s what amateurs do.”

I didn’t know how she knew these things, but since she said she used to be a mage, I thought she must have some combat experience.

‘All of these words are valuable lessons.’

Once again, I diligently etched those words into my mind. About four men got out of the carriage.

I narrowed my eyes, trying to discern their identities. Well, soon there was no need for that.

“Lady Sophia!”

The door burst open. Delma said, panting heavily.

“The inspection team from the imperial family has come!”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Well, it’s been a while. Duke Crustel. We last met at the imperial palace before coming to Hesera, so it’s been about 4 years, hasn’t it?”

Count Vasco, the head chamberlain who came carrying the emperor’s message, was full of confidence.

The duke smiled coldly as he watched the uninvited guests enter the mansion as if it were their own home.

Count Vasco, standing face to face with Cailius, also raised the corners of his mouth into a long smile.

“Just a few years ago, wasn’t this place in ruins? To have cultivated it to this extent. His Majesty also highly appreciates your efforts.”

He had stubbornly survived and returned from that war in the past. He had risked his life to defend the border from foreign races and remnants of the kingdom’s army.

And what he received upon returning was Hesera, given in the name of honoring his wartime achievements.

Receiving a territory called the cursed land could hardly be called a reward.

Nevertheless, the reason he came to Hesera without complaint was because he was so disgusted. He didn’t want to stay even for a moment in such a dirty and vile place.

After enduring for 4 years in Hesera and making it a livable place, now it seems they covet this land.

The emperor’s fishy intentions were clearly visible before his eyes. Cailius inwardly sneered.

After being refused roundaboutly several times, this time he sent the imperial chamberlain directly. An even more vicious aura flickered around Cailius.

‘Surely you’re not thinking of beheading him with Ora.’

Beside him, Philen stood by his lord’s side with half fear, half excitement.

As much as he wanted to advise him to strike that smirking face right away, on the other hand, he had no idea how his future self would handle the aftermath if he really did so.

“It’s quite tiring to use teleportation after so long. My body feels a bit stiff-”

Count Vasco subtly looked around the mansion.

The words he had just spoken meant that the journey was long and arduous, so he would rest before returning to the capital.

‘While we’re at it, it would be even better to find any corruption or slush funds.’

Thinking lightly to himself, Count Vasco smiled coldly. Noticing that reaction, Philen raised the corners of his mouth and said,

“I will have a place prepared for you to rest right away.”

“Ho ho! I will certainly tell His Majesty when I return. I will say that I received precious hospitality from Duke Crustel. If I also convey that you deeply sympathize with His Majesty’s wishes, His Majesty will be greatly pleased.”

“I’d like to hear the message before you are shown to your room.”

A wrinkle suddenly appeared on Count Vasco’s forehead as his words were cut off.

‘Does he still think he’s the duke of old.’

Originally, there were 5 families recognized as dukes in the empire. Since the Marquis of Macaio took over the main positions in place of Duke Crustel, the Crustel ducal family no longer held its former standing.

At least within the capital.

However, the capital was the center of the empire. If it was like that in the capital, it would not be an exaggeration to say that all the people throughout the empire thought of the Crustel ducal family that way.

“Actually, that’s not an urgent matter. It’s no different from the greetings we’ve sent every time. You can check that gradually, but more importantly, His Majesty also said to check if you are managing Hesera well.”

“The message from His Majesty is most important, so I’ll hear it first.”

At the low voice exuding pressure, Count Vasco faltered and stiffened. Cold sweat ran down his back.

Count Vasco forcibly smoothed out the wrinkles forming on his forehead and pulled out a rolled up parchment.

“…This is the message from His Majesty.”

[This is the timeline separator]

‘I’m sorry, young lady. It seems I won’t be able to stay by your side for a while.’

Upon hearing the news that the inspection team had arrived, Sophia immediately packed her things and left through the back door.

When I asked Delma, she said it’s illegal to employ unregistered mages at the magic tower.

‘Don’t worry, young lady! This isn’t the first time this has happened. Above all, Lady Sophia is the only one who escaped from the research team she was in, so her skills are exceptional!’

What kind of research team was it that she had to escape from…?

It was a statement I couldn’t understand at all, but it seemed to mean that Sophia wouldn’t be easily caught, so I should be at ease.

I was on my way to the duke’s office. It was to find out in advance the day the inspection team would return to the capital.

If the inspection team safely returns to the capital, the teleportation won’t be blocked.

‘We just need to avoid going on the set date.’

Although the exact cause of the accident was unknown, it was clear that something went wrong with the teleportation magic on that day they were set to return.

If we avoid that day, or return to the capital in advance, the inspection team should be able to avoid the magic accident as well.

As I was walking towards the nearest corridor to the office, unfamiliar voices were heard first.

‘It’s the inspection team people.’

When I peeked out to check, one was a young man, and the other looked older.

‘I’ll go once these people pass by.’

With that thought, I hid behind the corner of the corridor waiting, when their conversation clearly reached my ears.

“Still, it’s impressive. To have developed Hesera to this extent!”

“Hmph, he’s still just a noble exiled from the capital. Do you know why the duke stays only in the Hesera mansion and not in the capital mansion?”

“Is there a reason for that?”

The older man seemed to gesture for him to bring his ear closer. As the young man brought his ear close, he whispered something. The young man’s eyes gradually grew round.

“Tr-trait…!”

“Shh, shh! Keep your voice down!”

The young man shut his mouth tight. The older man showed a sneer.

“So what’s the use of having such a luxurious mansion, what’s the use of ruling over that vast land? In the end, he’s just a toothless dog.”

‘Calling a person a toothless dog!’

My fists clenched tight and my head burned hot with anger.

It was then that the two suddenly stopped in their tracks. A small figure could be seen standing in front of them.

“Say that again.”

“Y-young master?! W-when did you get here…?”

“I said, say that again.”

Daiban spat out the squid he was chewing.

“Who did you call a toothless dog?”