If the man sitting before her accepted her proposal, it would be ideal. No matter how much the atrocities of the Crown Prince against his subjects were hushed, it would have been hard to keep them from Matteo’s ears.

‘So, Duke Caenderson, I need you.’

“I thought you were testing my loyalty, but now I see that’s not the case.”

“Right. I am asking for your cooperation.”

Bialet intended to create an opposing force, equal to the royal power, to crumble the supporting base of the monarchy, even if it included her own family.

The noble lady, brought up in a prominent family, had a rather frightening thought, which seemed to surprise Matteo.

“You became engaged to the Crown Prince… for this reason?”

Bialet said nothing, merely smiling slightly.

If the Duke of Caenderson became her strong supporter, gathering forces would be much easier.

Matteo, realizing he had underestimated the nineteen-year-old lady, stared at her and asked,

“What if I had refused?”

Bialet shrugged and replied with a smooth smile,

“I was confident you wouldn’t refuse.”

Matteo chuckled and nodded in response.

“Let’s see how it goes.”

Bialet looked at him expectantly, and he nodded again.

“I will cooperate as you wish.”

Having successfully persuaded the Duke of Caenderson, Bialet then met with other key families in turn. She subtly approached those in the anti-Emperor faction and those maintaining neutrality.

Intentional meetings disguised as coincidences were a convenient strategy.

She also secured strong backers among influential ladies in tea parties and social circles.

The process wasn’t entirely commendable. For families reluctant to cooperate, she subtly threatened them, and they eventually had to accept her proposition.

Some families expressed immediate interest in her cause at the meetings.

A longing for a new world – an undeniable primal instinct they couldn’t ignore.

Lost in her thoughts and smiling faintly, Bialet was observed awkwardly by Fabian, who commented,

“It seems things are going well for you lately.”

“Yes, thanks in part to you.”
Looking at Fabian who handed her a delicately brewed tea, Bialette lifted the corners of her mouth. The information she received from him contained weaknesses and desires that allowed her to manipulate them as she pleased.

“It’s just appropriate information for a valued client like you, Lady.”

Despite being a member of the Ruschev family, she paid a fair price for the information, prompting Fabian to provide information of equal worth.

“But it’s strange.”

“What is?”

Fabian, resting his chin in his hand, seemed lost in thought for a moment, then spoke with a puzzled look.

“A person seeking the same information as you came to me.”

“What are you talking about?”

Bialette’s voice trembled slightly, despite her efforts to hide her emotions.

“Exactly as I said. Someone came to me to buy information about the neutral and anti-imperialist nobles.”

“Who was that person?”

Fabian chuckled slyly, crossed his arms, and said to Bialette,

“It’s someone you’ve already met, Duke Verdium.”

“……”

‘Was it really Sion?’

It was impossible for the royal family not to know that Denzion had been investigating the accident of his predecessor, the former Duke Verdium.

They had ignored requests to reopen the case, and it was they who had previously been responsible for the death of the former Duke Verdium. Therefore, dealing with his son wouldn’t be difficult for them.

Denzion was now moving according to his plan, evading the watchful eyes of the royal family.

As Bialette’s face turned pale, Fabian looked at her with concern.

“Are you okay, Lady?”

“……Yes. I’m thinking of buying some new information from you.”

“Feel free to tell me.”

“I want information about all of Duke Verdium’s movements over the past year. But this matter should be kept from everyone.”

Bialette needed to find out what was driving the current Denzion.

“Information about Duke Verdium?”

She nodded at Fabian, who was sitting across from her, and said,

“Yes, someone like you should be able to find it easily.”

Over the years she had known Fabian, he had kept all information and requests confidential, even from her father and brother.

To that, he nodded and responded with a smirk,

“There’s no one better at gathering information than me.”

“I’ll count on you, then.”

Bialette now needed to disrupt Denzion’s plans by staying one step ahead of him. That was her way of protecting her cherished former lover.