Chapter 75

“Ben…? Don’t tell me….”

 

“Why are you hiding good news!”

 

“I hid it because I wanted to live quietly!”

 

So that was it. I’d thought it was strange how information known to only a handful of people kept leaking out—turns out the enemy was right under my nose. They say it’s darkest under the lamp….

 

I thought reporters were incredible. Turns out it was because there was an informant.

 

I pressed my fingers to my forehead and shook my head, resigned. That wasn’t the important thing right now.

 

“Fine. What’s the point of regretting what’s already happened? Hand over the information.”

 

“Yes! Here it is.”

 

“I’ll let it slide since you’re competent.”

 

If what I was looking for today hadn’t been here, you’d be dead….

 

The neatly organized documents were impressive. I read them carefully. The Empress’s actions, Bastien’s movements, even the pirate incident—everything was arranged chronologically.

 

What was funny was that there was information on the Emperor too. They’d prepared this thoroughly? There was far more than just what I wanted to know.

 

It felt strange. Like I was stealing information someone else had commissioned. It was suspicious how exhaustive the investigation was. But it wasn’t my information, so maybe it didn’t matter.

 

And among it all, one sentence bothered me the most.

 

“This is really ridiculous… This is true, right?”

 

“Yes. Everyone keeps quiet about it, but all the big players know.”

 

I laughed in disbelief. It really did feel like the Empress was a step above the Emperor.

 

Using even natural disasters to draw forces to her side—her move was impressive.

 

A drought had struck the Delta family. Crops failed, drinking water ran out, and everyone suffered. It had happened quite a while ago. You might wonder how someone could manipulate a natural disaster—but Bastien is a water spirit contractor. She used that.

 

The Emperor had provided various forms of aid, but without fixing the root problem it was useless. With people dying of thirst, they weren’t in a position to be picky. So they grabbed the Empress’s hand.

 

‘If it were me, I’d have sent down an imperial mage outright. Mages were rare too, even if not like spirit contractors….’

 

Count Delta wasn’t particularly powerful, so perhaps the Emperor didn’t feel the need to draw him in.

 

“Count Delta joined hands with the Empress only recently.”

 

And from this, one conclusion followed.

 

“So they might come to me for help.”

 

“You are a plant specialist, miss.”

 

“Strictly speaking, I specialize in medicinal herbs, not food crops. But still….”

 

It wasn’t that I had no ideas. There was a plant I knew that was very useful in situations like this. That aside….

 

“No one ever leaves Evan alone. And they’re using me to do it….”

 

I knew exactly why the Empress kept clinging to me.

 

“If you move, Miss, Evan will move as well. From the Empress’s perspective, that’s perfect.”

 

“And if the problem gets solved too, it’s killing two birds with one stone. Others might even mistake it for cooperation….”

 

I let out a deep sigh. But if I ignored the Empress’s request, the backlash would be enormous….

 

I shuddered. Maybe it was because I knew the original game’s plot, but the Empress scared me more than the Emperor. After all, Bastien eventually became Emperor.

 

“How about this information?”

 

“Hm?”

 

I let out a small sigh. I’d almost forgotten. The one incident that could be called the Empress’s only disgrace—or perhaps the sole weakness left from her more careless days.

 

I already knew this. This had been the key Elena used to defeat the Empress in the end. It felt hollow, yet when you understood her character, it made sense.

 

“I got it from someone in her inner circle. It doesn’t feel very Empress-like.”

 

“Proof of failure, maybe.”

 

In a management–dating-sim game, villains were nothing more than seasoning. Once their role was done, they were supposed to step aside easily. The game had been bright and cheerful, not dark.

 

“For now… I’ll just keep it in mind. Oh, right.”

 

“Another request?”

 

Embarrassed for no good reason, I motioned Ben closer and whispered.

 

“Find out which houses sent proposals to Evan.”

 

I was too embarrassed to ask Evan directly.

 

Ben’s expression turned strange. I pretended not to notice.

 

He cleared his throat and asked hesitantly.

 

“Why. Do you have something to say?”

 

“Have there been any proposals sent to you, miss?”

 

“Why would anyone propose to me?”

 

“Not even the young lords you dated?”

 

“Yeah. Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

 

I’d only asked him to look into the houses that had sent proposals to the Weiss Ducal House, so it was odd that he was digging into my personal history.

 

When I looked at him questioningly, Ben laughed awkwardly and said it was nothing, shaking his head.

 

Unconvincing. I waved my hand and left.

 

“…Boss, what do we do? The young master asked for an investigation.”

 

“How am I supposed to find something that doesn’t exist! What a troublesome request…. Just pretend you’re doing it. Search thoroughly again. You won’t find anything anyway.”

 

Ben scratched his head. The request that had come through Liman was a real headache. Investigate the men around Lepina? Where did all the reports he had submitted so far go? The person who knew best was asking.

 

“Also pass along the additional information about the Empress.”

 

“Understood.”

 

The shadow beside Ben vanished.

 

 

***

 

 

“So this day has finally come….”

 

I ended up standing here without being able to explain everything to Evan. If he found out, the backlash would be terrible—but even if I told him, it would still be the calm before the storm.

 

I was certain of two possible reactions: he’d either forbid me from going, or insist on coming with me. Both were unacceptable.

 

“Let’s think of it as practice.”

 

I couldn’t rely on Evan every time something like this happened. He had his own responsibilities.

 

I walked into the palace boldly. After showing my invitation at the entrance to the tea party, I went in—and found it packed with young ladies besides me. Convinced they were all rivals, they bristled and glared at one another.

 

‘Is this… a marriage market? Ah, right. Did I underestimate their ambition?’

 

All of them were around my age, give or take a few years. The Empress’s intentions were blatantly obvious.

 

Chosen by the Empress herself, they lacked nothing. Each lady strained to show herself off. Full makeup, dazzling dresses—like peacocks spreading their feathers to attract a mate. The skirts were so voluminous I felt like I’d be knocked over.

 

My dress among them looked not just plain, but outdated. Still, what could I do? I was already here, and I had to take my seat.

 

Their gazes were sharp. To those aiming for the position of Crown Princess, my presence was unwelcome. Worse, I was engaged to Evan.

 

‘Wow… Is it midsummer today?’

 

Their looks burned like sunlight on bare skin. My heart pounded. Please, stop staring.

 

“I heard the rumor that she and Lord Weiss aren’t actually broken up.”

 

“What nerve she has to show up…”

 

I can hear you.

 

Not wanting misunderstandings, I put on a harmless smile. It would be troublesome if they thought I’d come to be chosen as Bastien’s fiancée. I was only here because the Empress invited me.

 

“Please don’t worry. I have a different purpose from the rest of you.”

 

I spoke politely and sincerely, but no one seemed convinced. If anything, their stares grew sharper.

 

Ah… this is sad. I felt like crying.

 

Most of the ladies were seated, but the host hadn’t appeared. Instead, a maid announced there would be a delay and encouraged us to chat among ourselves.

 

I lifted my teacup and sipped, scanning the room. Maids stood by everywhere. It would be comforting to think they were just attending to us—but of course that wasn’t it. Some ladies had already noticed and were glancing at the maids cautiously.

 

“Lady Clies, this is our first time meeting.”

 

“…I don’t usually attend gatherings like this.”

 

Looks like I was the first target.

 

“Oh, so you came without knowing what kind of place this is, even after receiving Her Majesty’s invitation? You said you had another purpose—what could that be?”

 

The young lady addressing me stared intently. She genuinely didn’t understand why I was here—and at the same time suspected I might be aiming for the Crown Princess’s seat.

 

Honestly, I’d be suspicious too. Everyone else came for the same reason, and I alone claimed otherwise.

 

But I had nothing more to say. I’d find out what the Empress wanted soon enough.

 

“No one knows for what purpose Her Majesty summoned me. I truly have no interest.”

 

“If you have no interest, couldn’t you have avoided attending and inconveniencing others?”

 

“Are you saying that even though I received an invitation from Her Majesty, I should have declined because this gathering didn’t suit me? Are you telling me to dare refuse the Empress’s invitation? I received it suddenly—I didn’t even know this was such a gathering.”

 

“Lies…!”

 

I was sincere. The invitation had come out of the blue. If I hadn’t gone to see Ben, I wouldn’t have known any of this. I attended while swallowing my unease.

 

But telling the Empress, I heard this is a selection for a Crown Princess, so I won’t attend, would be no different from admitting I’d investigated her behind the scenes.