Having barely managed to send Augustus home, Cedric sighed and leaned his head against the carriage wall.

Controlling Augustus was becoming more difficult with each passing day.

Lately, he caused trouble whenever he drank. In the past, he picked fights with lower nobles, but now he vented his anger on non-nobles as well.

Whether picking fights with nobles or commoners, he always said the same thing.

“You parasites living off our noble blood.”

Who on earth was living off Augustus’s noble blood?

Once, when he was sober, I was so curious about his thoughts that I asked him what he meant.

While I could understand his view of the nobility, I couldn’t comprehend how he thought commoners were living off the Rose Faction’s noble blood.

“We’re fighting on their behalf. So they should treat us well.”

“We’re fighting for ourselves.”

Whenever Cedric said that, Augustus would avoid the conversation.

Augustus had changed. Whether it was due to his high position or repeated failures in operations, I couldn’t tell.

Perhaps he had always been that kind of person from the start.

“Um, Cedric…”

A Rose Faction member who Cedric had offered a ride to spoke up cautiously.

Lost in thought with someone right in front of him. Feeling apologetic, Cedric spoke more kindly.

“Speak freely.”

“It’s about the leader.”

He seemed to be struggling to say something difficult, repeatedly pressing his lips together and apart.

“Whatever you say here will stay between us, so go ahead.”

“…He, he’s been going to gambling dens.”

“What did you say?”

Cedric was so shocked he would have jumped up if they weren’t in a carriage.

He’d been going on about needing money for weapons, but it was for gambling?

Just how far was he planning to disappoint him?

Cedric rubbed his face vigorously.

“He seemed to be in a very tight spot. I was wondering if maybe Cedric could help?”

Cedric’s mouth opened and closed without an immediate answer. If Augustus’s behavior became known, it would be a huge blow to the Rose Faction.

Even the smallest moral flaw is not tolerated in those who cry out for justice.

That’s why their fight was even harder.

“If you don’t help him, I’m afraid he might do something really reckless soon. Please help him.”

For Augustus’s sake, the man willingly bowed his head.

* * *

Though Jane learned of the tragedy of the previous Duke and Duchess of Hastings, her life didn’t change.

No, it did change.

Jane worked tirelessly for House Hastings, disregarding her own wellbeing.

She no longer paid attention to Cain’s schedule either. Whether he came home or not, Jane silently carried out her duties as the Duchess.

Jane called Nathan to her room. After asking a few questions, she brought up the topic of taxes.

“There’s quite a surplus from last year’s tax revenue from the territory. It must have been a good harvest.”

“Yes, that’s right. The surplus has been set aside as savings.”

“I’d like to convert part of that surplus into an emergency fund for years of poor harvest. Here’s a proposal. Please pass it on to Cain.”

Nathan’s eyes widened as he quickly skimmed the proposal.

Neat organization, perfect three-part structure with introduction, body, and conclusion, and even future predictions and benefits for House Hastings.

It had been a very long time since he’d seen such a proper proposal.

“Did you do all this yourself?”

“Yes. And you know that region in the local territory where the river regularly floods? What if we built a dam there? I’ve gathered some related materials.”

Jane held up a thick stack of papers, and Nathan quickly reached out his hands.

Jane placed the documents on his arms with a grateful smile.

“When on earth did you have time to do all this?”

“I cut back on sleep a bit. Cain is busy, but I can’t just sit around doing nothing.”

“Oh my, His Grace has always been busy though.”

“He seems especially busy these days.”

Jane lowered her gaze.

She wanted to stop caring about Cain, but it was so difficult. In the end, Jane asked:

“There’s no problem with the business, is there?”

“Not at all. The business is doing very well. It’s because of those damn Rose Faction…”

“The Rose Faction?”

“Ah! No, never mind.”

Nathan quickly bit his tongue. Cain had strictly warned him never to mention the Rose Faction in front of Jane.

“I guess that’s something I’m not supposed to hear. I’m still lacking as a Duchess, aren’t I?”

Nathan’s heart ached at Jane’s bitter tone.

It’s not that she’s lacking, she’s overflowing if anything.

Nathan chewed on the corner of his lip, debating whether he should tell Jane.

Jane pretended to be uninterested while waiting for him to finish deliberating.

“The Rose Faction…”

Her patience bore fruit. The expected words came from Nathan’s mouth.

Jane raised her lowered head.

Looking at Jane’s eyes, calm as a still lake, Nathan thought:

‘What? She’s perfectly fine even at the mention of the Rose Faction.’

With a more relaxed mind, Nathan smoothly explained the situation.

“They’ve been staging violent protests. Even ordinary citizens are getting hurt.”

“His Majesty must be in quite a difficult position.”

“That’s not it… His Majesty ordered to leave the violent protesters alone.”

Jane raised both eyebrows. Nathan scratched the back of his head. He was having an internal conflict over whether he should say this much.

“Let me guess His Majesty’s intentions. He wants to let the commoners develop antipathy towards the Rose Faction. Ordinary people dislike violence, after all.”

Nathan’s eyes widened. He knew Jane was intelligent, but he didn’t expect her to see through the old fox’s intentions.

“That’s right. You know the Rose Faction raided the armory, don’t you? With armed individuals staging protests, the chances of clashes during suppression efforts increase.”

“But why is Cain so busy then?”

If the Queen said to leave them be, what was he doing and where?

“His Grace believes the protesters should be suppressed. Before they resort to violent actions.”

“Before other people get hurt.”

Nathan nodded at Jane’s deduction.

Though he may seem cold on the outside, Cain was originally this caring.

Of course, Cain was simply enduring a bit of trouble to avoid unnecessary hassle. But looking closely, what drives his actions is still kindness.

“Will he continue to be busy for a while?”

“If the Rose Faction doesn’t back down, yes.”

Jane fixed her gaze on the corner of the table and kept her mouth shut. After a long while, unable to find an answer, she asked Nathan.

“What are they demanding?”

“A rose in the left hand, bread in the right, I suppose?”

“That would be their ultimate goal. But there must be a reason they’ve risen up now.”

‘I was going to gloss over it, but I guess that won’t work.’

Nathan gave up on trying to be vague.

“The release of the Rose Faction leadership and financial compensation.”

“Financial compensation?”

“It seems some are demanding money and land to live on in exchange for disbanding the organization.”

Jane chuckled. While the first demand was understandable, the financial demand didn’t align with the Rose Faction’s agenda.

“Thank you, Nathan. Please tell Cain not to worry about household matters. And that Joseph is doing well too.”

“Yes.”

Nathan gave an almost military-like response and held the plans and materials Jane had given him close to his chest.

“Nathan, just one more question.”

Nathan, who had half-turned to leave, faced Jane again.

“Has there been any mention of me from the Rose Faction?”

Nathan’s mouth fell open.

“So there has been.”

Jane had already known when she asked. But Nathan, who hadn’t expected her to know at all, couldn’t help but be flustered.

‘Who told her? We all promised to keep quiet!’

Even searching for non-existent spies.

“Well, you see…”

Jane’s expression was too ambiguous to flatly deny it. She seemed to know something, yet also not know.

“You can speak freely. I need to know so I can prepare a response.”

“There’s no need for that. His Grace is taking care of everything.”

“So there is something. Something significant enough for Cain to take action.”

Nathan’s jaw dropped, then he closed it with a grimace.

“Please, speak comfortably. I’ll be fine.”

Jane decided she would no longer avoid the Rose Faction. She had thought avoidance was best, but now she knew it wasn’t.

Jane was now prepared to properly face the life she had been running from for 7 years.

She was even ready to dive right into it.

Seeing her unwavering eyes, Nathan inwardly sighed deeply and opened his mouth.

“There are rumors circulating in the capital about the Delpion bombing incident.”

Nathan stopped there, but Jane could guess what kind of things were being said.

‘They’ll see me as an accomplice to terrorism.’

“And?”

“There are nobles threatening to withdraw support if His Grace doesn’t leave the Duchess, but you can ignore that. His Grace isn’t particularly interested in parliamentary power. He can manage fine without it.”

Jane also knew that the old nobles’ verbal threats wouldn’t pose much of a threat to Cain.

“Anything else?”

“Her Majesty the Queen… was quite angry.”

Nathan hid the fact that the Queen had furiously berated Cain, asking if this chaos was the result of the marriage he chose instead of her daughter.

“Did she just get angry? Was there any actual harm done to House Hastings?”

“A little… Ah, but I really can’t say any more. I’ve already told you too many secrets. Please have mercy on me, my lady.”

He had thought Jane and Cain weren’t alike at all.

‘You’re exactly the same. The way you subtly coax answers out of people.’

Both of them urged answers with their eyes rather than words.

“Alright.”

They were also alike in pushing people to their limits before letting them go. They stopped just short of crossing the line, making people feel relieved.

If the two of them worked together, it seemed even the vows of the High Priest sworn before the goddess to keep secrets would be useless.

“Thank you for telling me. No, that would put you in a difficult position, Nathan. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything. Instead, let’s make a deal.”

“Pardon? A deal?”

“Tell me how I can meet with Her Majesty the Queen.”

Farewell to my kind and innocent Duchess.

Nathan had fallen completely into Jane’s trap.