If it were an insignificant number, she had considered trying to discourage them. However, with over 90%, even Duke Kuran wouldn’t be able to do much, so leaving it as it is seemed acceptable.

Anyway, to bring the current aristocrats, the privileged class, under the control of Helene, some rearrangement was necessary.

Moreover, even if it failed, realizing that the nobles couldn’t change anything with their own power wouldn’t be a bad thing.

But the masquerade ball had to be held.

Ruela abandoned her initial plan to persuade with kind words and pushed forcefully.

“Convey this to the queen. If she doesn’t hold the masquerade ball, the good relationship with Duke Fairmont will not continue. There will be no next trade negotiation, and I will make it clear that it’s because of the queen’s arrogance.”
Trade negotiations were not something that could be concluded in one or two rounds. While the initial negotiations went well, the current food situation in Kuran was not something that could be resolved with a single trade.

“Lominin Yang. What on earth is this talk about a masquerade ball?”

As Countess Raine protested with a flushed face, Ruela responded with a cold voice.

“For us, it was a proposal for Queen Helena. We wanted to celebrate her birthday with a party, but since we can’t hold a ball in the capital, we suggested combining a trade success event with the queen’s birthday party.”

“That’s what I’m saying. It’s not about refusing to hold a party. It’s just about changing the masquerade ball into a regular party. But why are you so insistent on the masquerade ball?”

“A regular party just makes the queen the center without any merit for us. What we want is a trade success commemorative event. Even after explaining it like this, if you still refuse, we will have to make a separate request to the capital. There’s no need to hold a masquerade ball on the queen’s birthday if it’s not desired.”

Countess Raine bit her lip and glared at Ruela.

Seeing that Ruela showed no intention of yielding, Countess Raine reluctantly responded after a while.

“Fine. I’ll convey the message.”

“Please respond by tomorrow. We don’t want to linger on such matters.”

Countess Raine, wearing an unpleasant expression, stood up and left the room.
“I believed it would be a good relationship, but I’m disappointed.”

Ruela also stood up from her seat. Unlike before, she responded with a softer tone.

“I still want to maintain a good connection. I don’t understand why our relationship should deteriorate because of the queen’s insistence.”

Countess Raine, who had shown anger earlier, blinked in surprise.

“I-Is that so?”

“Yes. I’ve said it repeatedly, but I still want to be friends with Countess Raine. And Countess, you’re just conveying the queen’s words. There’s no need for you to feel bad, right?”

“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

Ruela hooked her arm with Countess Raine and left the drawing-room, saying,

“The queen should be thankful to Countess Raine. But instead, causing such difficulties, isn’t it a bit too much?”

Countess Raine turned to look at Ruela, as if asking what she meant.

“When we said we were considering the masquerade ball for Queen Helena, it was actually for Countess Raine. We suggested it because we were concerned about Queen Helena’s birthday party. Otherwise, there’s no need to hold a commemorative party specifically on that day, right?”

The countess’s expression brightened.

“It was for me.”
“Of course, that’s natural. I don’t care about the queen whom I haven’t even met. So, please subtly convey what I just said. Mention that I felt extremely uncomfortable about being rejected for the proposed event due to the friendship with the countess. In fact, I did it more for Countess Raine than for the purpose of celebrating the queen’s birthday. Also, insist that it doesn’t matter if it’s not that day.”

“Is it really okay to convey this message? She might get seriously upset. Later, when the queen becomes the king, things could get awkward between Elab and us.”

After instructing Xenon, who was waiting in the hall, to call the countess’s carriage, Ruela replied, “Would that be a problem? For us, trade with Kuran is fine, and not doing it is fine as well.”

Understanding, Countess Raine, who nodded as if she understood, raised her eyebrows.

“But it’s strange.”

“What is?”

“Miss Romine is from Kuran Kingdom, isn’t she? No matter how much you rely on the Feros Guild, you’re not one of the Elab people. Yet, whenever we talk, it always seems like you’re speaking from that perspective.”

Ruela stopped in front of the wide-open entrance door and faced the countess.

“Who said I’m from Kuran?”

“What?”

“I’m from a noble family in Elab.”

“Miss Romine, a noble from Elab?”

“Yes. My mother is from the imperial family here. Aside from living here, there’s not a drop of Kuran blood in me.”
Moreover, since she wasn’t even the real Ruela, she had no attachment to this place, even though she grew up here.

Especially if she could ensure the safety of the people in the Feros Mansion, she wouldn’t bat an eye even if this kingdom completely disappeared from the map.

As for whether the Raine Viscount family would be included in her protected subjects, that decision had not yet been made.

To those like herself who aimed to overthrow the Kuran Kingdom and bring Helerne under control, the next king and the nobles supporting that person were unnecessary.

Ruela watched as the Viscountess Raine left in the carriage.

What she hoped for from the Viscountess was not the coronation of the queen but convincing the nobles to stand on their side, and if that went awry, she had no choice but to give up.