“Commander. I will take my leave now. We’ll continue the conversation next time about the matters we couldn’t finish today.”

Aaron’s face was also distorted.

Next time? When is the next time?

An unjust Aaron tightly clenched his fist.

“Until next time.”

He was left alone again.

An eerie aura filled the corridor around Aaron, who was left alone with the candles.

From Aaron’s lips, who was watching the receding figures of the two, an uncontrollable expression of frustration flowed.

“My goodness.”

Even when the queen accepted Aaron, she turned and embraced her daughter.
The mother deer’s protective instinct towards the fawn was beyond Aaron’s imagination.

As usual, bright light poured through the window.

The wind that entered through the open window gracefully circled the conference room.

Amidst the rustling wind, Delia’s heavy sigh seeped in.

“Phew.”

The officials conducting the meeting in the conference room exchanged glances.

Who had upset the princess’s mood.

Finally, the finance minister, pushed by the disapproving gazes of others, subtly asked.

“Your Highness, are you okay?”

Delia turned her gaze away from the window and looked at the finance minister.

She lightly nodded in response to the finance minister’s concerned look.

“I was thinking about something else for a moment. I apologize.”

Delia apologized, and while doing so, she received the documents handed over by the finance minister.

“What is this document?”

“It’s a plan for the payment of compensation for fallen soldiers.”

“Why did you bring it to me instead of presenting it to His Majesty the King?”

“His Majesty the King has instructed that from now on, it should be brought to you for approval first, Your Highness.”

“His Majesty?”

Delia, who was muttering the words, contemplated her current situation.

After obtaining permission for the marriage.

Fortunately, the protective barrier of her mother noticeably decreased.

Although she had to sleep with her mother at night, she wasn’t heavily interfered with during the day and could live a relatively normal life.

However, meeting Aaron was still awkward.

Now that her mother had stepped back, her father began to lead Delia.

“We cannot leave the position of the Crown Prince vacant for too long, so for the time being, you will take over Alfredo’s duties.”

Following her father’s command, she ended up taking on the responsibilities of the Crown Prince and even more.

Knowing what her father’s orders meant, Delia had no choice but to accept.

Leaving Alfredo waiting like this was not an option because Iorente was still unstable.

But is it okay to proceed like this?

“Is it okay to proceed like this?”

At the finance minister’s question, Delia regained her composure.

Delia handed over the documents while quickly scanning them.

“Move up the execution schedule. Matters related to the fallen soldiers should be given top priority. If delayed, they may feel neglected.”

“Yes, understood.”

Delia laid the documents on the table and continued speaking.

“According to the peace treaty, as part of the cultural exchange with the Empire, we are to send an embassy. Has the departure schedule and list of the embassy members been decided?”

After Delia’s question, the foreign minister bowed and then spoke.

“Not yet. It seems that the plans after that will be clearer once the wedding date is firmly set.”

“I see. It would be good for Giuliano Kyung to lead the delegation. He is a responsible and neutral legislator. Confirm Giuliano’s intentions and get a definite answer.”
Delia, who had been gazing out of the window for a moment, followed up with advice.

“And when organizing the personnel, make sure that the royal artists accompany the embassy.”

In terms of technology and science, the Shuiteraits Empire was undoubtedly dominant.

Especially when it came to handling firearms and machinery, it was impressive.

However, in the humanities and arts, Iorente was not lagging behind.

The prestigious Belloni Royal University, known throughout the continent, was located in Iorente, and artists who could paint masterpieces flocked to study here.

The Empire insisted on including artists in the cultural envoy, indicating their importance.

Iorente’s reputation in humanities and arts was common knowledge spread across the continent.

“Royal artists?”

“To publicize the cultural level of Iorente and meet the Empire’s demands, wouldn’t it be appropriate to send the best talents of Iorente, including the royal artists?”

And.

If the Chief Royal Painter, Perugino, were sent, he wouldn’t have to paint portraits for a while.

Delia was pleased with her perfect plan and displayed a satisfied smile.

As her smile flowed, the officials in the same space bit their lips in silence.

Quickly erasing her smile at the strange silence, Delia brought up the next topic.

“Chief of the military.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I previously instructed you regarding weapon development. How is that progressing?”

“Your Highness, that.”

“Chief of the military, answer.”

Under Delia’s chilly urging, the Chief of the military repeatedly wiped his forehead.

“That. Due to technicians returning home during the war, the research was discontinued.”

“So?”

“Yes? That.”

The Chief of the military couldn’t answer readily and hesitated.

Perhaps he had let it go since then.

Delia’s frozen expression did not ease in the face of this absurd situation.

Delia tightened her grip on the armrest and spoke up.

“Restart the research immediately.”

“But now that we have signed a peace treaty with the Empire…”

“Are we such a carefree country that only needs to stop weapons development after blocking the Empire? Ferber, who is coveting us, Boswell, who betrayed us and tried to stab us in the back, and Ionik. They are enemies. Yet, you are letting go of weapon development just because we have barely signed a peace treaty with the Empire?”

The stern reproach from Delia left the Chief of the military unable to respond.

“Start the research again as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“While I temporarily took charge due to my father’s disappearance, I have no intention of doing it in vain. Before reporting to His Majesty the King, modify and improve today’s discussion points and bring them to me.”

She was a princess who accompanied the king, emphasizing the duty of the royal family every time they moved during meetings.
Thanks to that, the princess didn’t need much time to grasp state affairs.

“Yes. I understand.”

In the minds of the officials who answered quietly, Prince Alfredo naturally came to mind.

The Crown Prince who always nodded silently.

It was much more comfortable working back then.

Whatever he proposed, it was approved.

Unlike that Crown Prince, the atmosphere in the meetings conducted by the princess was intense.

Her actively expressing opinions and making officials tense seemed reminiscent of the late King Leopold III.

Thanks to this, there was a lot of work to do, but she strangely felt a deep sense of stability.

Like a ship that was being aimlessly pushed, dropping anchor and finally anchoring.

“Let’s end here for today.”

In response to the princess’s words, the officials politely nodded.

“We will withdraw now, Your Highness.”

Thud.

The officials, carrying documents, left, and the meeting room door closed.

The princess of Iorente was left alone in the meeting room, looking out the window.

“Phew.”

A faint sigh escaped from her slightly parted red lips.

Being alone brought back the worries she had barely suppressed.

She thought everything would be resolved once she got approval for the marriage.

But her mind became even more complicated.

There was still no contact from Alfredo, and the conversation with Aaron was left unfinished.

Everything was entangled in confusion, swirling around in her mind, yet the view outside the window remained peaceful.

Lost in thought for a while, Delia bit her lips firmly.

As if she had made up her mind, she tightly gripped her skirt’s hem and left the meeting room.

“I have to meet him.”