Restlessly biting her nails, Esika suddenly opened her eyes wide at a thought that flashed through her mind.

‘What if there was never a royal lineage to begin with…?’

Even if that were the case, there was no way to verify the truth right now, driving her to the brink of madness.

The king of Solty had intended to send a maid with her when she left for Bashuker.

Just in case.

But due to Icar’s directives that no one from Solty except the princess could enter Bashuker, Esika had no choice but to go alone.

For a while, that had been beneficial.

The maids would have been people of the Solty king and would have reported on Esika’s every move.

That would naturally limit her actions.

‘I should secretly send a letter to Solty to confirm this.’

Though her mind was a mess with all sorts of thoughts, one thing was clear.

She must not be found out as a fake princess.

Especially not by Reneb!

‘Why did I have to drop into a scenario before the original story? If I had been transmigrated into the original plot, I could have easily pushed Reneb out of the way.’

Angrily, Esika kicked a stone stuck in the heel of her shoe.

The flying stone chipped a tree in front and tumbled to the ground.

A maid, who had been cautiously observing Esika, tentatively suggested,

“Your Highness, the day is getting colder as the sun sets. Shouldn’t we head inside?”

It was true; her thin dress was slightly chilly. Reluctantly, Esika nodded her head.

Though she had picked a fight with Reneb, and failed to even get her way, she staggered towards the guest room with a twisted smile on her lips.

‘Let’s see how long you can act haughty with just your noble status.’

Imagining Reneb suffering from a severe allergic reaction after eating a peach lightened her mood.

In front of the VIP room, a guest was waiting for Esika.

“Duchess of Dürenburg?”

“I’ve come at this late hour because it seems necessary to have a close conversation with the princess.”

“Please come in.”

As they moved to the sitting room, the Duchess of Dürenburg got straight to the point, unlike usual.

“Your Highness, it seems you have begun an investigation into Baron Shaban.”

Baron Shaban?

“Is he the one chosen to send goods to Paradium’s VIP?”

Esika’s brows furrowed.

At her visibly irritated expression as if asking how to handle this, the Duchess of Dürenburg quickly added,

“There is no need for Your Highness to worry. Even if we investigate Baron Shaban belatedly, no evidence will come forth.”

When Esika looked at her skeptically, the Duchess of Dürenburg clarified,

“Baron Shaban did not personally come to the palace to deliver the goods to Paradium’s VIP.”

“Then it’s also possible that the goods were switched midway.”

Only then did a smile return to Esika’s face.

“Exactly. How would Baron Shaban even know that Paradium’s VIP has a peach allergy, right?”

“That’s true.”

Even if Reneb, who suffered from a peach allergy, belatedly called Baron Shaban to account for malice, he could just feign ignorance.

Of course, it would be like a bolt from the blue for Baron Shaban.

One of the conditions Baron Shaban insisted on when selling the title was not to make a peep in the capital’s social circle until a generational change took place and a new name was added to the noble registry.

But what could be done?

When you sell your title, you have to prepare for such consequences.

“So now all that’s left depends on whether Paradium’s VIP eats the peach.”

“He will definitely eat it.”

“May I ask why Your Highness is so certain?”

“I have the ability to see the future.”

Esika had no choice but to answer this way. There was no way to explain the original content.

“Ah….”

The Duchess of Dürenburg briefly opened her mouth and then closed it.

“So you can trust me. There will be no loss on your part.”

Meanwhile, Ikar was receiving an investigation report on Baron Shaban in his office.

“Your Majesty, it seems Baron Shaban has essentially fallen into ruin.”

Dhan, who was reading the report, paused for a moment as if surprised, then cleared his throat and added,

“Hmm, it seems he even sold his title.”

Ikar was not unaware that the sale of titles was quietly happening among fallen nobles, but under Bashuker imperial law, it was blatantly illegal.

However, it was a reality that it was difficult to crack down on all nobles, especially those far from the palace.

And even if they bought a title from a fallen noble, they could not immediately add their names to the noble registry.

Among those who bought titles, the more timid lived as nobles only in their region.

The bolder ones chose to be adopted as the children of fallen nobles and take over the family.

Over time, they could launder their status to become full-fledged nobles.

Certainly, this was a loophole in the law.

However, Ikar did not get heavily involved.

If a noble could not manage his territory and was on the brink of bankruptcy, in any way, expelling him was the best way for the empire.

“I see.”

Ikar said with an unimpressed face. Dhan’s report was as Ikar knew.

“So who bought the title?”