“I just find it interesting that you seem to really like the Second Prince.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You seem flustered like you’re in your first relationship, it’s a little funny…”

That was teasing.

Velia raised an eyebrow.

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way! It’s just…”

Cloje hastily tried to explain herself.

But as she spoke, she somehow seemed wronged and ended up yelling in frustration.

“Geez! It’s not long before you leave for the Empire, can’t I even joke around this much?!”

Velia was dumbfounded, but she understood Cloje’s feelings and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Why are you leaving so soon? You could have stayed a little longer. If you leave now, I’ll only be able to see you at your wedding.”

Velia gently embraced Cloje.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s disappointing. But I have to go.”

“…I understand.”

Cloje obediently answered.

Seeing Cloje’s sullen face, Velia felt somewhat gloomy. So, she purposely loosened her grip on her sister and, with a brighter expression, clapped her hands and asked,

“Do you remember me saying that I would keep my afternoon schedule open tomorrow?”

“Yes. What’s going on?”

“There’s someone I want to introduce to you.”

She had to gradually wrap up the things she needed to do in Ronica.

After finishing her morning schedule, Velia walked down the corridor, sorting out her thoughts. She had one month left before she left for the Empire.

In the meantime, she had to lay the groundwork to ensure that the Ronica Kingdom did not easily collapse as before.

The first of these was connecting Cloje with Derik.

‘In my past life, Cloje did her best.’

In the letters that the grownup Cloje often sent, there were things she did for the kingdom, and when she saw them, it was evident that Cloje worked incredibly hard.

She helped Herald with a lot of work and handled external affairs as the person in charge. But it must have been hard for Cloje to understand international politics on her own.

Raul had strictly controlled her sister’s life. She would have been completely unaware of it. She would never have imagined that the Empire would destroy the Ronica Kingdom.

‘Who would have thought they would ruthlessly invade the Empress’s home country.’

Velia clenched her fist.

If she introduced Derik to Cloje this time, she would surely be able to make more complex judgments in this life.

Even if she and Khaled fall to Raul, she will be able to devise a way to protect the Ronica Kingdom from the Empire.

‘Next is my brother.’
Even if it meant hurting Herald’s fragile heart, Velia had to make him stronger. For the Kingdom of Ronika, Velia herself needed a heart ruthless enough to sever ties in an instant.

Her family members were too softhearted.

During peaceful times, she would have left things as is. However, it would not bode well for them to bear the full brunt of the repercussions as the Empire descended into chaos.

‘Should drop some information to my brother….’

And then, she had to advise him to be greedy during negotiations to divide ownership of the gold mine.

Prince Khaled had decided to divide the stake in the gold mine between the two countries, and he had announced it.

Khaled, the discoverer of the gold mine, the Kingdom of Ronika where the mine was located, and Ingot Empire, Khaled’s homeland.

Once the negotiations were over, these parties would each claim ownership of the gold mine, with the shares divided into three.

At this point, the Kingdom of Ronika had to be a bit more greedy.

‘I have to leverage the fact that Khaled is a prince of the Empire.’

It was a gold mine in the Kingdom of Ronika.

So, at least 45 percent of the shares had to be demanded.

Even if they did, the sum of the Empire’s and Khaled’s shares wouldn’t exceed 50 percent, so they couldn’t object to the very end.

Moreover, the Empire had not helped at all in the process of discovering the gold mine, so the Kingdom of Ronika’s demand was never unreasonable.

‘Well, it’s unlikely that Khaled’s share will go to the Empire.’

For a month, Velia continued to sketch out in her mind the tasks she had to complete.

“……Yes. That is……”

“Sister.”

“……can’t, won’t……”

“Sister!”

“Huh?!”

Velia was startled by the loud voice calling her, looking around her surroundings.

“What are you mumbling about all by yourself?”

“Huh?”

Oh, my. She must have been mumbling and wandering without even realizing it.

As Velia looked at Clozé in embarrassment, Clozé rolled her eyes, her expression saying it was odd.

“Don’t tell me you’re down because the Second Prince has left?”

“What? Haha. No.”

“But why are you standing alone in the hallway mumbling to yourself?”

Clozé squinted her eyes more and more.

“Oh. I just have a few things to think about. Let’s get inside quickly. We should have a guest.”

Velia took Clozé by the shoulder and headed to the reception room where Derick would be waiting. There, Derick had already arrived and was leisurely drinking tea.

At Velia’s arrival, Derick put down his teacup, stood up from his seat, and offered a greeting.

“Princess Velia. And Princess Clozé. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Rain.”

At his polite greeting, Velia responded with a faint smile.

“Shall we sit down for now?”

As everyone took their seats at Velia’s suggestion, maids immediately came to clear the tea Derick had been drinking, and set up a new tea table.

“The reason why I arranged this meeting today is because I wanted to introduce Rain to Clozé.”

Clozé gave Velia a glance, as if telling her to get on with it.

“Rain is the branch head of the Rune’s Information Guild in the Kingdom of Ronika.”

“Rune’s?”

Clozé widened her eyes as if she had heard of it.

Then she cast a meaningful gaze at Derick.

‘Head of the Information Guild, huh…….’

Even with her favorite tart in front of her, Clozé delved deep into thought. There had to be a reason Velia introduced this man to her.

Eventually, Clozé realized that her sister was asking for a favor, and she smiled very brightly and spoke.