After that, Bellia and Callid often visited the casino whenever they had free time to enjoy various games.

Some days they would just sit at a table and drink wine together, and other days they would win huge amounts of money from games.

Of course, there were also days when they lost everything and returned empty-handed.

As everyone became accustomed to them spending small enjoyable moments at the casino like this,

They received a report that Raul had started frequenting the casino.

“Is it tomorrow night?”

“Yes.”

It was the day the illegal gambling den would open after several days.

Finally, the time had come to expose Raul’s weakness.

“We just need to be witnesses who saw him caught there. Then the rumors will spread on their own.”

Callid raised the corners of his mouth coolly.

“The guards who will show up that day have no connection to our side, right?”

“They’re the ones who participated in the crackdown on illegal facilities with Raul. So they’ll definitely appear at the scene if a report comes in.”

If an investigation concludes they were negligent in their crackdown, it will harm their superior Raul.

Their loyalty will be Raul’s downfall.

“Ah, right! Did you capture all the people Raul sent?”

Bellia suddenly raised her head and asked.

“Of course. They’ve all been caught and imprisoned underground already.”

“Good.”

As expected from the beginning, Raul didn’t think it was mere coincidence that Bellia and Callid appeared when he was there. So he secretly assigned people to monitor their every move and daily life.

But Bellia and Callid knew this fact clearly, yet deliberately left them alone.

“There’s no need to give him any more information now.”

Completely ignoring the people Raul had hidden could make him more suspicious.

So they rooted out the obvious ones, but deliberately didn’t touch those hidden secretly. To make him think he really had hidden spies.

But now that the day to trap Raul was approaching tomorrow, there was no need for that anymore.

“This is just the beginning.”

“I know.”

“But little by little, we’ll crumble the ground he stands on.”

Bellia’s expression was very flushed.

It was obvious the emperor would try to gloss over this incident. But they could start shaping public opinion from here, so it couldn’t be allowed to pass idly.

“Let’s go over it one more time.”

Bellia put the pen tip in her mouth, pondered for a moment, then started writing something on the paper.

Officially, tomorrow Bellia and Callid were scheduled to visit the clinic construction site together.

“Tomorrow will be busy from the daytime.”

The clinic construction they had worked hard on was almost finished.

Sponsoring artists had also taken root to some extent, and they didn’t forget to regularly visit and help childcare facilities.

Recently, favorable reactions to Bellia had increased among the imperial citizens.

Especially when Bellia visited childcare facilities as a sponsor, everyone would greet her welcomingly from nearby.

“Once the clinic construction is finished, we’ll start manufacturing medicine right away.”

“Yes.”

“There’s a medicine we must make.”

And in a short time, too.

‘The empress didn’t live past next summer.’

She had already requested Derrick to create an antidote for the poison, but there was still no news.

‘We must definitely make the antidote before summer comes.’

The empress must not die now.

If she dies, it will be a fight too disadvantageous for Callid.

“What kind of medicine are you thinking of making?”

“An antidote.”

Callid made a puzzled expression.

Bellia bit her lip hard. It was difficult to tell him that his mother was poisoned, and the culprit was likely the emperor. She was afraid of hurting him.

That’s why she couldn’t bring it up until now, but now she had to tell him. If it gets any later, it might really become irreversible.

“Her Majesty the Empress is poisoned.”

It was a very small voice, but Callid understood immediately.

He looked a bit surprised. But he didn’t ask any questions.

How did you know this, who is doing such a thing, why didn’t you say anything until now.

None of it.

“…You’re not asking anything?”

It had been a very long time since Callid met and talked with the empress.

The empress would snarl when she saw Callid, and Callid was uncomfortable seeing the empress like that.

“…So that old man is determined to kill my mother after all?”

Callid asked, breaking the long silence.

Bellia nodded her head painfully.

“I see, so that’s it.”

That was the end of his response.

Bellia couldn’t tell what Callid was thinking. But somehow she felt like he was screaming inside.

“I’m going to make an antidote. I’ve already put in a request to the information guild Lunes. We’ll gather the ingredients and start manufacturing right away, and when the antidote is completed, we’ll secretly deliver it to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Bellia explained calmly.

“There are people constantly watching the Empress. So we need someone we can draw to our side in the Empress’s palace. I’ll ask you to take care of that.”

“…Alright.”

The hot summer sun had already calmed down, and cool breezes blew at night. During that period when the earth’s heat was cooling, Bellia and Callid had done many things.

The firmer the foundation, the stronger the castle that can be built.

Now they were working hard to lay that foundation.

“First, let’s start by touching Raul tomorrow.”

The clinic was mostly complete with only finishing work remaining. Bellia walked around the clinic, carefully examining the walls, floors, and interior.

They had also created a space underground so people could stay there in case of emergency.

The construction workers asked why such a space was needed underground.

Bellia made the excuse that space was needed to accommodate patients if there were many, and requested they build it according to the blueprints.

And the finished result was very satisfactory.

‘I’m satisfied. This much space will allow many people to stay here.’

Moreover, being a space dug into the ground, it will be much warmer than regular houses in winter.

If people are reluctant to stay here, it can be used as a regular warehouse.

There was enough space to store food, firewood, and clothes for winter.

“Is it similar to what you were thinking?”

“Yes. It’s sufficient.”

“All the clinics being built in other regions are made in the same shape. We’ll visit them one by one later.”

Callid said, placing his hand on Bellia’s shoulder.

“I’m looking into places to trade foods that can be preserved in winter through the merchant guild.”

“Since it’s already autumn, we need to prepare firewood from now. Find out where to get it too. That way there won’t be any issues preparing for next autumn.”

“Right. I’ve already talked about that too, so don’t worry.”

A year will pass quickly.

So they planned to try it in advance as a rehearsal, reducing the quantity a bit from what was originally planned.

There were many things to check, such as whether there were any problems with long-term storage of food and firewood, and whether the insulation effect of the basement was maintained properly.

“Still, I’m relieved it’s finished before winter. We can check in advance too.”

Bellia said with a grin.

The fewer variables, the more certain results they could get.

“Is this the end of today’s schedule?”

“Hmm, yes. I’ve checked all the important things.”

Bellia continued chatting as she left the clinic with Callid.

“We decided to recruit healers last time, right? There are more applicants than expected, so the clinic operation should go quite smoothly.”

“That’s good.”

Callid’s expression was bright too.

On the surface, it seemed like any other day.

But tonight.

It was the day to finish what they had been preparing for.

“Callid. Let’s go to the mansion instead of returning to the palace right away today.”

It seemed better to go to the mansion considering what was to come.

When Bellia gently grabbed Callid’s arm and spoke, his face brightened much more than before.

Bellia’s face reddened at his blatant reaction, completely misunderstanding her intention, and she slapped Callid’s back.

Yet Callid couldn’t hold back his laughter, grabbed Bellia’s hand and walked forward almost skipping.

“Wait…!”

Suddenly pulled by his hand, Bellia ended up trotting too, but somehow there was no dissatisfaction on her face.

“Callid…!”

Bellia called his name.

Callid stopped walking and turned to look at Bellia.

“Ah… Sorry. My mind’s a bit rushed right now.”

Then Callid put his hands under Bellia’s knees and lifted her lightly.

“Callid!”

“This way we can go faster, right?”

“How long does it take to get to the carriage…! Kyaak!”

Before Bellia could finish speaking, Callid moved forward quickly. Bellia couldn’t bear the embarrassment of feeling like everyone was staring at them.

But it didn’t seem like he would put her down, so she quickly covered her eyes with the hand not holding onto Callid’s neck and pressed her face against his chest as much as possible.

‘Really can’t live like this…!’

He’s becoming more and more foolish.

However, Bellia didn’t completely dislike it either, so she spread her fingers slightly to gauge the distance to the carriage.

There was plenty of time until night anyway.

Bellia chuckled and adjusted her position, wrapping both arms around his neck to make it easier for him to carry her.

In the evening, someone quietly visited the mansion.

Callid and Bellia, who had already finished all preparations, immediately called him to the office.

“So. The guards are moving?”

“Yes. As soon as the report came in, they said they’re gathering those who participated in the illegal facility investigation at the time and heading there.”

“The time?”

“It’s cutting it close. You need to leave right now.”

Callid nodded, saying “Hmm.”

Bellia’s expression beside him instantly turned cold.

“…Let’s depart.”

“You haven’t forgotten what we talked about before, right?”

“Of course. We’re just visiting for entertainment.”

“Good.”

Callid stroked Bellia’s cheek as if proud of her, then stood up.

“We’re leaving now.”

“Yes. The carriage is already waiting.”

Callid held out his hand to Bellia.

“Then shall we go have fun again today, Princess?”

“Yes, Your Highness Callid.”

They grasped hands while simultaneously smiling like villains.

Bellia’s heart pounded as if it would burst as they boarded the carriage with quick, almost running steps and headed to the casino.

Although they had done various tasks so far, it was the first time directly cornering Raul.

“Phew…”

“Why are you so nervous?”

“I’m not nervous. I’ve always been waiting for a chance to make him eat dirt.”

Bellia said with a raised corner of her mouth, showing an expression completely different from her usual calm and docile demeanor.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing what expression he’ll make when he sees us.”