“What’s this about now?”

Why hadn’t he told her anything?

Seeing the disappointed look on Belia’s face, Khalid sighed and spoke.

“I was going to tell you after everything was settled.”

What’s that supposed to mean!

“…Because nothing was certain.”

Before Belia could retort, Khalid took the lead. His expression revealed sincerity.

Eventually, Belia, who had intended to express her anger, exhaled softly and said in a softened voice.

“Explain properly.”

So that she could understand.

With a firm gaze, Belia, Khalid struggled to speak heavily as if revealing a difficult secret.

“…Raul has formed an alliance, connecting the South and the East.”

“What did you say?”

Why, already?

Belia looked at Khalid in genuine surprise.

Even in her previous life, an alliance between the nobles of the South and the East was formed with Raul, but that was a union that would take a few more years to establish.

“Since… it wasn’t certain.”

Khalid grabbed Belia’s hand before she could refute anything.

Then, as if comforting her surprised heart, he gently began to unfold the story.

“I heard the news recently as well. So I had to quickly seize the North.”

However, Khalid was under tremendous pressure from the supporters of the First Prince, and he couldn’t move as freely as before.

In the past, he would have disguised himself and visited the North like a wanderer, negotiating face-to-face. However, after marrying Belia, it wasn’t easy to secretly go somewhere.

“It was the best for us that the Master moved in such a situation.”

So, Derick had to move instead of Khalid.

All of Khalid’s closest aides were being closely watched by Raul’s people. If the Master moved, they would be even more cautious.

“Do you know how big of a deal it is for you to capture the Master of Luness?”

Khalid chuckled as if it almost turned into a real mess.

“Now, let’s explain Raul’s current situation….”

Belia nodded.

“Recently, the Countess of Canterbury and Raul have been actively moving in society, right?”

“Yes. So I’ve been monitoring them along with Lady Caprié, the Baroness of Canterbury.”

“But that wasn’t the purpose of their social activities.”

Khalid explained that it was a smoke screen to hide the fact that they were tying the South and the East together. Their actions became more detailed and secretive. Belia felt an uneasy feeling.

“When we started moving actively, their actions also changed. The optimistic situation you were looking at changed after you and I got married.”

Up to this point, Belia could fully understand the situation. From the beginning, she expected that their actions would change in response to their actions.

But this is too fast.

“Then, why did Derick go to the North?”

“Right. It was to recruit the leader of the North.”

The union of the North was stronger than anywhere else. So, if the leader showed support, naturally, everyone else would follow.

“But the leader of the North is…”

It’s him?

Belia couldn’t continue her sentence.

The leader of the North. Duke Ellington.

He was the younger brother of the current Emperor and the only Duke in the Empire. He was known for always staying in his territory and not having any interest in central politics unless it was crucial to the country.

Moreover, she had a memory of being rejected without even seeing his face when she personally visited him in her previous life, trying to make him support Raul.

“…Duke Ellington and an alliance. It’s impossible.”

Belia said with a sigh, her voice mixed with a bit of frustration.

But at that moment, Derick cleared his throat and turned his attention to her.

“Rest assured, Princess. I have managed to accomplish that difficult task.”

Khalid looked at Belia and grinned.
Then, starting with the statement that he had been steadily building connections with the North even before meeting Belia, a surprising story poured out of Khalid’s mouth.

Before meeting Belia, Khalid had tried to establish contact with the leader of the Northern noble alliance.

However, Duke Ellington was, as expected, not an easy opponent. Khalid personally went to the North and persistently persuaded him for a very long time.

“Then, when I went to see him, had he already joined hands with Khalid?”

This was a story that she had never known even in her previous life.

The more she knew, the more surprising it became.

By the time Duke Ellington’s feelings almost swayed in their direction, Khalid became engaged to Belia, and restrictions were imposed.

“The only person who could go all the way to the North was the Master. Since we had to come to the Empire anyway, I casually told him to visit the North as well.”

Khalid shrugged.

“Why didn’t you tell me in advance?”

“There was a chance of failure. So I planned to tell you after the matter was settled, in case you would be disappointed.”

Khalid, mixing a joke into the atmosphere, said that the inspiration was not usually twisted.

“Still, it ended well.”

A satisfied expression deeply appeared on Khalid’s face.

Belia also let out a relieved sigh.