Riz’s violet eyes flickered like a ripple. However, after calming her emotions and thinking about it, she realized that he had not made any promises yet.

Riz cautiously asked about his intentions.

“Is that… What do you mean? Do you perhaps have thoughts about granting independence to the Duchy of Valdemion and making it a kingdom?”

Hursis nodded.

“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.”

As Riz’s face brightened, Hursis continued with a rational and calm tone, expressing his ambitions.
“The current Empire has many places beyond my reach due to its vast territory. That’s why the imperial authority is inevitably weakening, isn’t it? Whether it’s power or a rubber band, if it gets too far, it’s bound to lose tension. Or it might be completely severed.”

“…….”

“You were concerned in the speech the other day that the Empire’s land would diminish. But I plan to gradually reduce the territory. So, I want to create a substantial Empire where imperial authority extends to the very edge of the provinces without any land beyond my reach.”

“…….”

Riz could feel a warm excitement welling up like hot spring water from the bottom of her chest.

She couldn’t determine what held a greater weight of excitement.

Whether it was his desirable ambition, smoothly progressing plans, or perhaps both.

It remained uncertain until the water spurts from the ground formed a massive lake. Her heart was just swelling.

Hursis looked alternately at Riz’s eyes as if comparing them while continuing to speak.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on the timing. Suddenly declaring the independence of territories may face opposition. Besides, we recently obtained land from the Kingdom of Terendis, and that land is not only a golden land like the Valdemion territory but also a crucial trade hub. It seems like now is the opportune time.”

“Are you planning to tell Ishar about that soon?”

Hursis smiled and nodded.

“I’m curious about how he will react. He rarely speaks on such matters.”

“He’ll probably be pleased. Definitely.”

Riz was convinced. She could have staked her life on it. She was so confident that she had even abandoned the god she used to worship.

Riz hadn’t considered the possibility of resentment at all.

“Well, he’s capable, so he’ll become an excellent ruler. Perhaps within the next decade, a new empire might be born on this continent.”

“Are you worried about that?”

“Not at all. Rather, I look forward to it.”

The two looked at each other and laughed together. Their laughter pattern, where their eyes laughed before their mouths, closely resembled each other.

The baby in Riz’s belly kicked, as if asking to join the laughter.

For the first time since realizing the ending, Riz thoroughly enjoyed a warm joy.

Everything seemed to be going well…

Mariad Square was filled with people enjoying a picnic.

Street musicians played folk songs in various places around the square, and children played creatively with a strange contraption placed in the center.

It was a lively and laid-back atmosphere of ordinary people at the end of the afternoon.

Dang, Dang, Dang.

The clock tower announced eight o’clock in the evening. Shortly after, the palace guards loudly announced the closing time of the square.
Musicians packed their instruments, parents took care of their children, and lovers looked after each other as they left the square. It took less than half an hour for the square to become completely empty.

“Did you check this area?”

“Yes, no one was here.”

“How about that side?”

“There too.”

Satisfied with the reports from subordinates, the commander-in-chief ordered everyone to leave with a content expression. Those who had finished their day’s work happily returned. Suggestions of having a drink at the nearby tavern, a beer perhaps, were exchanged.

No one thought there might still be people in the square.

That was because no one had checked the top floor of the clock tower.

“Tsk, fools.”

Rene, looking down from there, sneered.

The sight of burly palace guards filling the entrance of the square, locking it, and repeatedly checking if it was securely closed only added to her amusement.

Although they were far away, they appeared as clear as if they were right in front of Rene. There was a reason for this clarity.

She took her eyes off the lens she was holding.

“A good amount of gold coins indeed.”

Muttering while looking down at the long spyglass that had served as her eyes, Rene continued.

Before executing the second plan, Riz had mentioned that she needed certain items. To obtain them, she said they needed to visit a smuggler, providing a list with the names and expected addresses of some smugglers, including those wanted by the imperial authorities.

The items were in the house of the fifth smuggler they visited.

“Ah, a telescope. Of course, it’s with me.”

The smuggler bit the tip of his cigar and spoke with a rather sarcastic attitude.

“This is an item brought in from the renowned pirate kingdom. It might be the first time a lady in Luzencia owns it.”

Anticipating the continuation, Rene casually tucked her hair behind her ear.

“The price is ten gold coins. Well… considering it’s for the lady, I can reduce it to nine.”

Before his malicious gaze could thoroughly inspect Rene, her earring was yanked from her ear. This time, the tag end of the cigar in his mouth flew off.

“Give it to me for one gold coin.”

As Rene, now tucking her hair behind the other ear, spoke, he accepted her proposal with a contemplative face.

“It was quite a decent bargain. Shall I try my hand at business after this?”

With this being the end of her last assignment, it was time to consider seeking a different path.

While pondering earnestly, with half seriousness and half jest, she suddenly remembered something.

“Oh, this isn’t the right time.”

Rene moved to the opposite side of the window.

Then, she brought the magnifying lens of the long telescope to her eye. After adjusting the position a few times, the place she wanted to see came into view.

On the ground, mud and filth were piled up thickly, and children ran around barefoot on top of it. There were also adults solving their meals with leftovers and old, dreary tents.

It was a view of the slums, Codel 12, located at the heart of the city.
Observing them through the telescope, Rene muttered, “So, are you saying there will be a big fire over there soon?”