“I heard that Bawin met Aria.”

“Is he a trustworthy person? What if he betrays us?”

“We’ll have to think about that when the time comes.”

Admund thought Clea’s response was just like her.

After all, betrayal only comes with shock if there were expectations in the first place.

Clea didn’t seem to have much expectation.

“What do you think they’ll talk about?”

“Isn’t it obvious? They’ll be plotting against me.”

As Clea spoke nonchalantly, Admund nodded in agreement.

At this point, there was no way Aria would turn against Admund.

Then, her goal could only be one thing.

“But why him of all people?”

Surely, there were plenty of people around Aria who would do her bidding with just a word.

Yet, out of all those people, Admund wondered why she chose someone who was merely a viscount.

To Admund’s curiosity, Clea answered subtly.

“Maybe she had a fight with Lloyd?”

“That’s certainly the only thing that comes to mind.”

Admund wasn’t a fool.

He too knew how Lloyd approached Aria.

However, the position Aria was aiming for wasn’t that of a grand duchess, but the crown princess and empress.

Even between close friends, how long could such a relationship between a man and woman be maintained?

Before her family actively expressed their intention for marriage, Aria would have undoubtedly tried to settle things with Lloyd.

At this point in his thoughts, Admund couldn’t help but laugh.

“I suppose she specifically sought out the viscount because he’s someone with as little connection to her as possible.”

“She needs someone to carry out covert tasks. And he’s a card she can discard at any time.”

A card she can discard at any time.

Considering the status and power of House Hersher, it seemed plausible.

“I understand she’s targeting you. But what specifically is she after?”

Admund tried to think about what Aria might be specifically aiming for.

Separating her from him? Or maybe politically isolating her?

While pondering what Aria might truly be after, Clea spoke.

“My life, I suppose.”

She answered without hesitation.

For a moment, Admund thought she might be joking.

But Clea’s expression was far from one suited for a jest.

Admund said to her.

“Tell her to try if she dares. I’ll protect you.”

Clea observed Admund.

His frowning expression, as if he was in a very bad mood, looked cute.

“Don’t worry. If he was going to betray us, I wouldn’t have assigned him the task in the first place.”

Bawin couldn’t be connected to House Hersher.

If he hadn’t figured out the facts about his entanglement with House Hersher, as in the original story, he might have helped Aria.

But from the moment he realized that the villain who had driven his family to the brink was the Duke of Hersher, he would never work under them.

He was a person who valued loyalty and trust above all else.

In that sense, House Hersher was completely out of the question.

‘There’s always a possibility he might leave my side, though.’

Still, Clea trusted him to the extent that they had a common enemy.

“But why did you tell him to acquire the Odoi duchy’s business?”

Admund followed up with another question.

Hayden, who was present, also seemed curious about this and turned his gaze towards them.

Certainly, to others, it would be incomprehensible.

It was something he had almost completely led, despite his constant business failures.

Even the grand duke expressed concern about another failure when he said he would monopolize the business rights.

But Clea, knowing the original story, thought differently.

Despite pouring in so much money, House Odoi remained strong until the moment Clea was framed as a villainess and died.

‘They achieved a success big enough to make up for all the failures so far and then some.’

And this time too, Grit held lucrative business rights that were bound for success, just like in the original story.

Clea didn’t particularly want House Odoi to prosper.

They had used her to secure business rights and ended up giving her nothing in return.

In that sense, Clea intended to take everything that was still undetermined whether it was gold or just a rock.

They might not realize it, but knowing what would happen in the future, she was well aware of their value.

To begin with, the people of House Odoi didn’t deserve such success at all. After all, it was originally thanks to her that they obtained these things.

“I just helped a little because it would be shameful for one of the empire’s ducal houses to go bankrupt due to debt.”

“I see.”

Admund didn’t probe any deeper.

She wouldn’t have cared at all if House Odoi went bankrupt or was disgraced.

There must be another reason, but Admund let it go, thinking she must have her own reasons.

“Then may I also invest in you, my lady?”

“Is it okay for a clergyman to make money?”

“As I recall, imperial law doesn’t prohibit believers from earning money.”

When Hayden glanced at Admund, he turned his head as if to say ‘do as you please’.

Clea looked at Hayden.

“If you want to invest in me, it’s going to cost quite a bit.”

“Even if I lose it all, I don’t mind as long as I can get in the good graces of the future crown princess.”

Clea was dumbfounded at the mention of crown princess.

Even though the wedding hadn’t taken place yet, people were already regarding her as the crown princess.

She was curious about Admund’s reaction.

Clea turned her head to examine his face.

Meeting his gaze, Clea thought.

‘Well, I suppose it’s natural for them to think that way when the person next to me looks at me like this.’

The future that awaited her, with not much time left.

When she first possessed Clea’s body, she never imagined such days would come in her future.

Not even once. It felt strange to look forward to a future she had never even thought about.

The unfamiliar excitement made Clea a little anxious.

She worried about messing things up again, like during her academy days.

But that anxiety didn’t last long.

She too smiled at the figure standing firmly beside her, looking at her warmly.

“Only one day left of penance.”

That long, long penance was gradually coming to an end.

Their bodies and minds felt fatigue, hunger, and thirst, but the two endured by leaning on each other.

The two were looking forward to what would happen after this day ended.

* * *

Aria thought about the people who could help her.

There were indeed many people around her.

In fact, despite hearing the news from the penance hall, many still sent letters trying to get closer to her.

However, unfortunately, she couldn’t ask just anyone for help.

‘They’re all incompetent.’

Until now, Lloyd had been by Aria’s side.

Perhaps because Lloyd, who could wield power as the grand duke’s son, was beside her, everyone else now seemed unsatisfactory to her.

She wanted someone who could not only risk their life for her but also perform tasks perfectly.

But the people before Aria each seemed to have a flaw for that purpose.

Bawin, on the other hand, was different.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

A blonde man in neat attire and seemingly unadorned appearance entered the room.

For Aria, who had only seen people dressed up to impress her, this was quite unexpected.

The one who entered greeted her with a bright smile.

Aria felt somehow relieved seeing this.

“I called you to repay you as I mentioned before. I’m sorry if I’ve taken up your busy time.”

Cold words still came out of Aria’s mouth, as if keeping a distance.

Although she felt some fondness, she tried not to show it openly.

Such an attitude might hurt those who approached with the intention of gaining favor, but Bawin was not like that.

“It’s alright. As I said, you can call me anytime, and the time I spend with you, young lady, is special to me as well.”

He didn’t have any expectations of her to begin with, so there was nothing to be hurt about.

‘He’s completely different from Lloyd.’

Looking at Bawin’s glib response, she was reminded of Lloyd.

He who reacted sensitively to her every word.

She imagined what would have happened if Lloyd were here instead of Bawin.

As the previous incidents came rushing back, Aria bit her lip.

Her expression was about to frown, but she forced a smile when she looked at Bawin.

“Won’t you tell me what you want? I need to repay you, after all.”

She said repayment, but in reality, this was a meeting to ask for something else.

Before making her request, Aria wanted to know what he desired.

If he wanted money, she could show the duchy’s wealth, and if he wanted honor, she could give him honor. Then he would naturally become her subordinate.

Since human greed is endless, even after getting what they want, they continue to desire more.

However, there was one thing Aria hadn’t considered.

‘I can see right through her thoughts just by looking at her expression.’

While Aria had her share of experiences, Bawin had been through even more.

“There’s only one thing I want. To have a close relationship with House Hersher.”

“A close relationship?”

“Yes, more precisely, I want to have a close relationship with you, young lady.”

At Bawin’s words, Aria thought, ‘As expected.’

He was saying he would join hands with House Hersher to reach higher places.

His blatant expression was strangely not unpleasant. No, Aria liked it.

“Alright. Then I look forward to working with you, Viscount Rockin.”