After touring the royal palace, Bellia entered her room with Callid.

Herald glared with his eyes wide open, silently protesting that this absolutely must not happen, but Bellia ignored her brother’s gaze and let Callid into the room.

Let the rumors spread. What difference does it make if a few more are added to the ones already circulating?

“That was quite a bold move you made?”

As soon as they entered the room, Callid, who had instantly shed his earlier appearance of an affectionate lover, asked as he plopped down on an empty chair.

Bellia, not to be outdone, sat down across from him with a grin.

“I showed you exactly what Your Highness expected.”

He had thought from their first meeting that she was no ordinary woman, but he never expected her to openly kiss him at that welcoming ceremony.

She was indeed no common person.

Feeling a bit mischievous, Callid interlocked his fingers on the table and smirked.

“But I keep thinking about what the princess said earlier.”

Bellia pondered for a moment, wondering what he meant, then exclaimed “Ah!” and looked at Callid with a peculiar expression.

“My, I didn’t know you were the type to be hurt by such words.”

“You misunderstand. I’m not hurt, I just want to show you properly.”

His tone was clearly joking.

Rather than responding to his banter, Bellia chose to discuss their actual plan.

“Let’s stop joking around. We don’t have time for that.”

No time for that, huh.

That sounded familiar.

Wasn’t that something he often said habitually?

“…Hmm.”

Callid shrugged his shoulders, as if to say “How boring.”

“First, I’ll tell you the location of the gold mine. Come to think of it, it seems I haven’t given Your Highness anything yet.”

“…I think you’re misunderstanding something.”

At those words, Bellia tilted her head quizzically.

“I didn’t accept that proposal just to hear the location of some gold mine, Princess.”

All the women he had seen so far were desperate to jump into Raul’s bed.

But for a woman who received a marriage proposal from him to choose none other than Callid himself in order to reject it?

Callid accepted her proposal out of interest in that fact. Well, there were also many benefits to be gained, of course.

“Tell me more about Raul. Why did you decide to reject his proposal?”

He was none other than the First Prince of the Empire.

And the son the Emperor cherished greatly.

Of course, most people thought Raul would be the next Emperor.

Although Raul was the son of the Empress Consort, he monopolized all attention, backed by the Empress Consort who received the Emperor’s full affection.

In comparison, Callid was the son of the Empress and had the strongest claim to legitimacy, but he lost everything to Raul simply because he didn’t receive the Emperor’s favor.

Even so, Raul was jealous and wary of Callid’s stronger legitimacy.

“Do I need a reason to dislike someone?”

“You must know what it means to marry the First Prince of the Ingot Empire?”

“Because I know that, I’m going to these lengths to create a justification for rejecting his proposal.”

“These lengths meaning?”

“I personally proposed to Your Highness, didn’t I?”

Saying that, Bellia rose from her seat and approached Callid, who was sitting in the chair.

Then, with a very slow touch, she placed her hand on his shoulder. It was a distinctly seductive gesture.

“If you’re so curious, shall we have a deep conversation tonight?”

“…Princess. I’ve been thinking this since last time, but you should be careful with your words and actions. Do I not seem scary to you?”

“What is there to be scared of? You’ve already agreed to be on my side. That’s why you spread those rumors here and there, didn’t you?”

“Kuk.”

As expected.

This princess, who looked so innocent as if she knew nothing of the harsh world, kept piquing Callid’s interest.

Anyone who knew Callid’s usual demeanor would surely be surprised to see Princess Bellia matching him word for word without backing down.

How could she be so fearless when she didn’t have two lives to spare?

“Besides, is there anyone who fears their own lover?”

Saying that, Bellia lowered her hand from Callid’s shoulder and naturally embraced him from behind.

To hug Callid who was sitting in the chair, she had to bend her waist a little, but she didn’t mind.

“So now, listen to me carefully.”

Bellia finished speaking and kissed Callid’s cheek with an audible smack, then returned to her seat with very leisurely steps.

Looking at Bellia, Callid covered his eyes with one hand and laughed out loud.

She was indeed an interesting woman.

“Hahaha. Don’t worry, I’ll keep my promise.”

I thought he looked sharp, but when he laughed like that, his impression seemed to soften strangely, which felt a bit curious.

But that wasn’t very important. Bellia decided to return to the main point.

“The first condition of our contract romance is that I tell you the location of the gold mine, and in return, Your Highness ensures that Prince Raul’s marriage proposal fails.”

Bellia unfolded a map she had brought in advance. Then she pointed to the mountain range extending from the east of the Ronica Kingdom. It was a place that also bordered the Ingot Empire.

It was also where the survey team was currently located. When Callid gave her a questioning look, Bellia extended her slender finger and slowly traced it down to the south.

A point near the southern desert where the mountain range was almost ending.

“Here.”

There was no hesitation.

“Hmm?”

As Callid was about to speak, Bellia moved her finger again. That wasn’t the end.

“And here.”

This time she pointed to a nearby river stream. It was an area where hardly anyone lived, and many people didn’t even know there was a river where Bellia was pointing.

“Didn’t you say it was a gold mine?”

“That’s right. The place I pointed to first is the gold mine. If you survey underground in this area, you’ll definitely find gold ore.”

“Then what about the other place?”

“This is a river. It’s a very valuable place where gold dust can be found.”

“Gold dust… Since it’s next to a mine, it’s not impossible.”

Callid stroked his chin as he stared intently at the map.

Bellia had confidently pointed out the locations on the map. Would her words actually be correct?

“It may be hard to believe, but I’m certain.”

Seeing signs of doubt, Bellia hastily added.

“Right now, Prince Raul and the survey team are all searching this area, this eastern mountain range close to the empire.”

That’s where the magical device had signaled the presence of a mine.

But in fact, it wasn’t there.

“I saw that among the personnel who came this time, there were those included to search for gold mines.”

“You have a good eye for detail.”

Why would she have spent all that time by Raul’s side for nothing?

With her abundant knowledge built from books and her surprisingly accurate judgment.

Bellia’s choices saved Raul from crisis at every crucial moment. That’s why she was elevated to the position of Empress.

Even though he had Erzé, whom he truly loved, Raul couldn’t immediately discard Bellia because she was so useful to him.

“Send them here and order an investigation.”

Bellia’s voice was firm.

Although Callid couldn’t fully believe what she was saying, he nodded vaguely, intending to order an investigation for now.

“Prince Raul keeps pressuring me about the engagement. He seems very anxious. It’s gotten worse since Your Highness decided to visit the royal palace.”

“That’s understandable. He’ll think his possessions are being taken away.”

Bellia spoke without hiding her scorn.

“Did he ever have anything worth taking away?”

To be honest, shouldn’t all of that belong to Prince Callid?

Before, since she was Raul’s lover, she took Raul’s side, but the Empress Consort’s family was of humble origin, so originally Raul could never become Crown Prince or Emperor.

However, the Emperor loved the Empress Consort too much and had no feelings whatsoever for the Empress.

That extreme difference in emotional temperature determined the fates of Prince Raul and Prince Callid.

“You’re the legitimate heir prince to begin with.”

Why did Raul have to be born first? If that hadn’t been the case, Callid could have at least pressed his claim with the legitimacy of his bloodline.

Human hearts are truly fickle. When she had given her heart fully to Raul, she thought that point was very fortunate. But now it had become a hindrance.

“I intend to help you reclaim what you’ve lost.”

“Princess Bellia.”

“That aligns with my ultimate goal as well. So I won’t betray you.”

At those resolute words, Callid closed his eyes and fell into thought for a moment.

Why is she showing such hostility towards Raul?

Callid didn’t like Raul either. Although he was his brother, they had grown up being compared in everything since childhood.

The things Callid did well were considered natural for a prince, while Raul’s accomplishments were endlessly praised.

When he was very young, whenever the Emperor was with Callid and Raul, it felt as if Callid alone was the outsider.

‘I’m your son too.’

But the Emperor’s gaze and smile were directed only at Raul. As if Raul was his only son.

He had to quietly follow behind, watching his half-brother hold the Emperor’s hand and walk ahead.

The Emperor always spent time with the Empress Consort, and their laughter never ceased in the imperial garden.

And hearing those clear, high voices, the Empress stared at them blankly.

On one such day, after spending days that only left feelings of misery, the Empress grabbed her son Callid and said:

“My child. You must become Emperor.”

“Mother.”

“You must become Emperor. I am the Empress, and that woman is just a lucky noble wench. You have the imperial legitimacy.”

“…Father dislikes me.”

The Empress gripped young Callid’s shoulders with strong hands.

Her eyes were tinged with madness.

“Your mother is the daughter of Duke Tessa, the meritorious subject of the empire and leader of the Western Noble Alliance. And I am also the empire’s only Empress.”

“…It hurts, Mother.”

“I absolutely cannot yield that to that woman.”

Young Callid called out to his mother desperately, enduring the pain, but the Empress was already lost in her own world.

“The Emperor’s seat is yours. Do you understand?”

The Empress repeated the same words as if brainwashing him.

“So I will not die. I must hold this position, don’t you see? If I die, that woman will become Empress. Then even the legitimacy you have will be taken by Raul. I absolutely cannot allow that to happen.”

But Callid didn’t want to become Emperor. He only wished for his parents to love him wholly. But that was the most difficult wish of all.

“My child, you must become Emperor.”

Young Callid just squeezed his eyes shut in his mother’s arms, which were steeped in madness.

“Prince Callid.”

Callid, who had been lost in long reverie, quietly opened his eyes at Bellia’s voice.

“I will stay by your side and help you reach the highest position.”

“…Is that the condition for me becoming your hunting dog to achieve your goal?”

Hunting dog.

It was an inappropriate term for him, a prince, to refer to himself.

But in the current situation, there could be no more apt expression.

Bellia erased her thoughts and smiled softly, watching Callid chuckle.

“If you would do that, it would be the greatest honor. Huhu. If you just do that…”

You will become Emperor, and I will be able to get my revenge on him.

At that moment, her eyes flashed with a glint.

“I will stay by Your Highness’s side no matter what happens.”