The capital of the Empire, Bronsch, was still buzzing with excitement from yesterday’s competition.

The winner is Kaldenbach of Elbartan.

– Emperor Hart von Klardeus.

This brief and concise announcement replaced the notice that had been in Bronsch’s fountain square. The fact that the news bulletin sold several times more than usual was later heard as an afterthought. The bulletin extensively covered not only the victory in the competition but also the Elia spices and the oil that Ariel had gifted to the Grand Empress Dowager.

[The magical powder that led Kaldenbach to victory, Elia spices. What is its true identity?

The 15 judges who tasted the steak gave extreme praise, calling it a heavenly flavor. Whether anyone can buy Elia spices. When the hotels owned by Kaldenbach will start selling the steak and dessert they presented at the competition. These were the matters of utmost interest.] [What is the identity of the oil that captivated the Grand Empress Dowager?

It was similar to the gift that Ariel von Elbartan had given to relatives who visited for the wedding. It is expected that there will be a commotion for a while across the medical and industrial fields with the emergence of a groundbreaking treatment method good for insomnia and headaches.]

As a result, the capital mansion of the Elbartan duchy was crowded from morning. Kaius had to leave the mansion empty all day due to a busy schedule, so he set up strict security and instructed not to receive guests. In such a situation, there was no one bold enough to knock on the door of the mansion. Except for one person.

After facing Empress Catherine, Rosalyn knew that today was her only chance. She had already stationed someone outside to carry out the plan, and confirmed that the duke had left the mansion.

The purpose of the visit was none other than to lure the duchess outside.

“Hello, my lady.”

Rosalyn Vienne knocked on the door of the mansion. Ariel was not generous enough to show mercy even to those who had been unkind to her. However, she had to reluctantly allow her visit because she knew about the scandal surrounding them in social circles.

[Rosalyn Vienne, who had devoted herself to Duke Elbartan for over a year, discarded like an old shoe.]

Devotion was a nice way of putting it. People thought of her as Kaius’s mistress. If such a woman came to visit and was turned away at the door? It would seem proper to at least offer a cup of tea, as there would likely be more gossip otherwise. No one cares about the truth anyway.

“Have you been well?”

After the maid who brought the tea withdrew, Ariel spoke first with a calm face. Anna, standing next to Ariel, did not hide her displeased expression and glared at Rosalyn. She looked ready to slap her again if she said even one wrong word. Ariel smiled at Anna’s demeanor.

“Yes… Belated congratulations on your marriage. And on your victory at yesterday’s competition.”

“Thank you. But what brings you here?”

“Well, I wanted to apologize for my past actions.”

“Ah, if it’s about that, I’ve already forgotten it, and Rosalyn has already received due punishment, so there’s no need to speak of it further. Is that all you came for?”

“This is your first time in the capital, right? I’d like to treat you to a meal at a place with good scenery and delicious food.”

Ariel, who had been staring blankly at her, smiled slightly.

“I appreciate the thought.”

With those words, Ariel stood up from her seat. She had let her into the mansion because of watching eyes, asked about her well-being out of courtesy, and responded to the purpose of her visit.

So this was the end.

“It seems your business is concluded, so please leave after you finish your tea.”

“Pardon?”

It took Rosalyn a moment to understand those words. Leave after finishing the tea? How dare she?

From the beginning, Ariel was beneath Rosalyn in her mind. How dare she act like a duchess when she’s nothing but a princess from a poor country. Enraged, Rosalyn forgot her original purpose and threw the teacup at Ariel as she was leaving the reception room. Anna, who had been watching Rosalyn intently, kicked it away. The sound of the teacup shattering echoed through the reception room of the ducal residence.

***

“What’s the matter, my lady?”

Startled, Butler Ted and Ostian and Viktor, who always guarded Ariel most closely, quickly rushed into the reception room.

A broken teacup, tea spilled on the floor, and Rosalyn Vienne glaring at the lady. Quickly assessing the situation, Ostian grabbed Rosalyn. Meanwhile, the butler called a maid to quickly clean up the reception room.

“My lady, how would you like us to handle this?”

Butler Ted asked, breaking out in a cold sweat. It was because an incident had occurred immediately after disobeying the duke’s order not to let in any guests.

“Let go! Ah!”

“Please escort her out quietly. It’s nothing.”

“How dare you lowlifes!”

Ariel, frowning slightly, left the reception room. Ostian and Viktor, who had grabbed Rosalyn’s arms as she screamed, crossed the hall. As they reached the entrance, Ariel, who was climbing the stairs, called for Ostian.

Rosalyn held her breath and listened, thinking she might be called back. The faint voice she heard wasn’t what she had hoped for, but it was even better news.

Visiting the Brandt Library?

This was like killing two birds with one stone. Rosalyn snickered and was quickly pushed out of the mansion while shouting irritably again. Soon, she quietly boarded the carriage she had come in, and a man waiting inside greeted her.

“How did it go?”

“Just look in the mirror.”

As the man held up a mirror, Rosalyn started fixing her makeup and soon smiled with satisfaction before giving detailed instructions to the man.

***

Kaius and Devian went to the hotel construction site where work had been suspended.

“Your Grace, we can finally breathe easy.”

Devian, with obvious excitement, looked at Kaius with a deeply moved expression. Kaius nodded briefly and carefully looked around.

“Your Grace, the construction company president has arrived.”

As Lemon approached and reported, Kaius slowly turned around.

“Let’s finish the paperwork quickly.”

They had to go through another tedious process of negotiation and coordination with the company in charge of the construction. Since the main image of the hotel was ‘winter’, they had to hurry even more to complete the construction before next winter.

“Then we’ll proceed as decided today.”

Kaius signaled the end of the negotiation by nodding. He took out his pocket watch to check the time and pondered for a moment.

“Lemon, let’s go to the Brandt Library.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Knowing the reason for heading there, Lemon brightened up and opened the carriage door. It was then that Kaius noticed the string bracelet fastened to Lemon’s arm. As Lemon climbed into the carriage following that persistent gaze, he began to speak.

“They say it’s a bracelet that brings good luck. So to someone I like…”

“Enough.”

Lemon, who had been rambling about things that weren’t asked with a slightly reddened face, closed his mouth. It was because Kaius’s mood didn’t seem very good.

This morning, when Kaius received Ariel’s request, he had replied that he couldn’t make time, but as work wrapped up faster than expected, he headed there. The library, located on the outskirts of Bronsch, also had many cafes due to the forest scenery surrounding the capital. So it seemed good to have a cup of tea together after finishing business.

Just as they were turning onto that road, the carriage stopped abruptly with a big shake. Lemon immediately got out of the carriage to assess the situation.

“Your Grace, the road is blocked. A cargo carriage’s wheel came off and the cargo it was carrying spilled out, completely blocking the road. It seems it will take some time to clear.”

At Lemon’s report, Kaius frowned and stepped out of the carriage. After confirming the distant view of the library, he took out his pocket watch again to check the time.

“I’ll walk. Come to the front of the library as soon as the road is cleared.”

After giving orders to the coachman, Kaius began to walk towards the library with Lemon, taking wide strides.

***

The stone building of the Brandt Library stood out with its massive stone pillars, like those in ancient myths.

As the largest in size throughout the continent, its scale was majestic enough to feel awe-inspiring.

“Wow… The imperial library is different in every way.”

Quietly laughing at Anna’s admiration, Ariel took the lead in climbing the stairs. The guard knights Ostian and Viktor followed a little distance behind. Ostian, who was watching the surroundings, noticed unfamiliar men approaching Ariel. They were carrying black boxes in their hands.

“Excuse me, may I ask you something?”

Ostian stepped forward quickly, blocking between those men and Ariel.

“What is the matter?”

“Is this the Brandt Library?”

“Yes, it is.”

“I see. Thank you for your answer.”

The men, who had greeted with an affable attitude, soon went up to the library and disappeared, so Ostian also let down his guard.

“By the way, what book did you come to find?”

As they started climbing the stairs again, Anna asked Ariel.

“I’m looking for books about the demon realm or dragons.”

“What do you need those books for? You don’t think the dragon egg in the bedroom will hatch, do you? They say it’s just like a stone.”

Ariel chuckled but didn’t give any further explanation. It would be faster to see the dragon wake up with her own eyes.

She had finally come to find the demon realm plant guide she had been waiting for over a year. As she entered the lobby of the library, her heart was pounding so hard she could barely breathe.

Ariel carefully stepped down the stairs leading to the basement, hoping the book would be there.

***

It didn’t take long for Kaius to enter the lobby of the library. As he was looking around carefully, a commotion began from the entrance of the library.

“Duke, how do you do?”

About a dozen men and women who appeared to be commoners suddenly surrounded Kaius. They held today’s news bulletin in their hands as they asked about yesterday’s competition. It looked very natural to anyone watching, with no sense of discomfort.

Kaius raised his hand to indicate for them to wait a moment, then instructed Lemon to find Ariel’s location.

After Lemon left, they began to pour out various questions about yesterday’s competition and the hotel to be built in the future, and Kaius continued to give brief answers calmly.