“Um....”

Yuli looked at Florence in confusion.

Florence turned to Yuli with a resolute expression.

“Don’t worry. I will protect you.”

“But—”

“I possess the Sacred Blessing. No one in Astra has a stronger barrier than mine!”

I scowled.

“Stand back.”

“The main branch must never attack a Baran noble again. I will risk my life to stop it.”

“Nonsense.”

“Does it sound like nonsense to you?”

Florence Ezlo narrowed her eyes and continued.

“The world has changed while you were away.”

“....”

“An age when one could tyrannize in the name of family history or the main branch is over.”

“....”

“Lords now consult merchants to relieve the people, and His Majesty the Emperor has established the People’s Relief Bureau to hear their voices directly.”

“....”

“If you truly cannot step back, I will lead the people myself to the People’s Relief Bureau.”

“Lead them where?”

“To tell everyone that you, miss, were the one who started the war!”

“But Yuli?”

At my question, Florence blinked and stared at me. It seemed odd that she acted so familiarly toward Yuli.

Florence cast a glance at Yuli.

“Um, Your Highness...?”

“Yes... Lil, no, Miss Erilot of the main branch and I are very close.”

“...Pardon?”

“It was just a jest between friends earlier.”

Yuli smiled awkwardly, and Florence looked from us to us dumbfounded. Then she gasped, “Oh my, oh dear!” covering her mouth with both hands.

“What a rude thing to say...! I-I’m so sorry!”

Her face bright red, she buried her face in her hands, peeking out at Yuli.

“What should I do....”

“I will not forget that you meant to protect a Baran noble.”

“My goodness... such regal dignity you possess. I am truly sorry.”

Yuli smiled softly. She was known in Baran for her courtesy and kindness. Though Yuli might forgive Florence’s behavior, I would not.

I stepped toward Florence.

“And what about me?”

“Oh, my apologies. I thought you were trying to threaten another royal....”

“Again?”

“You did it to the prince too... I had to watch helplessly, but truly it made me uncomfortable....”

Muttering in distress, Florence suddenly cried out and waved her hands.

“But my fault isn’t yours, milady. It was wrong of me to rush in without knowing the circumstances.”

“....”

“I know Father often warned me, but my temper is like fire... I am truly sorry.”

“You admit your fault.”

“Yes, I am grateful for your forgiveness... Milady?”

I took out the communication stone and entered the code. The recipient was Viscount Debussy.

[Yes, milady.]

“Long time no see, Viscount.”

[I was moved to see your growth from afar, milady. What has happened?]

“Who currently heads the Relief Committee?”

[Lady Bastina is in charge.]

“Then inform her that Miss Florence Ezlo is to be brought before the Relief Committee.”

“...!”

“...!!”

Yuli and Florence looked at me in surprise.

“Oh, milady...!”

Florence stared at me in panic. After a brief greeting to Viscount Debussy, I ended the call. Florence stiffened, watching me as if I no longer existed.

“A Relief Committee can’t be convened for this. No member of the main branch has ever—”

“They could not. They’ve been too busy fighting over the ducal title to recruit the cadets to their side.”

Florence bit her lip hard.

“For what reason will you summon me? An unjust punishment is main branch tyranny...!”

“First, the crime of disgracing the ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) main branch’s honor before a Baran noble.”

“Pardon?”

“Second, the crime of spreading the lie that you threatened the prince.”

“But you did threaten him!”

“Shall I ask the prince if he agrees?”

Salvatore would refuse. A prince of the throne would never claim he was threatened by a duke’s granddaughter. Out of pride, he’d deny it outright.

“Do you consider how far your words may be twisted to endanger our house?”

“Th-that is....”

“Third, the crime of blocking me time and again over trivial matters, nearly ruining vital affairs.”

“But nothing was actually ruined.”

“Fourth!”

I shouted. Florence Ezlo flinched and looked up at me.

“The audacity to utter tyranny!”

At that moment, guards swarmed toward us. They appeared to be acting on Viscount Debussy’s orders. They arrested Florence Ezlo.

In a panicked voice, Florence cried out,

“Let go of me! We’re in the middle of a conversation! You misunderstand me—let me go!”

But their armbands were bright red. They were the duke’s direct troops, fanatically loyal to the house, ruthless in any matter. They dragged Florence away. Her likely destination was the underground prison.

Yuli watched Florence being taken and then turned to me.

“Is this really okay?”

“For what?”

“Before coming, I heard rumors about Astra. House Ezlo is the cadet branch with the closest magic railway station.”

“You did your research.”

Yuli sighed deeply.

“It means they are the most prosperous cadet branch. You gain nothing by picking a fight with their eldest daughter.”

I smiled broadly.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“....”

Yuli flinched and stepped back again.

“I have nothing more to tell you.”

“If I threaten you again, who will intervene, Yuli?”

“....”

“It’s been two years. You were my first friend in a foreign land, just as I was yours. You are special to me.”

“...What exactly are you hoping for?”

“Let’s go to the garden for a moment....”

I bowed my head in mock sorrow. At my upset expression, gentlemanly Yuli looked helpless.

“Oh, you meant to stroll in the garden together. I’m sorry, I misunderstood.”

“...Have I only ever made troubling requests of you?”

“That’s not true, Lil. I was narrow-minded to misjudge you.”

“Then shall we go...? As you showed me the roses in your palace, I’d like to show you the flowers of my fortress....”

I glanced at him and said, and Yuli smiled kindly.

“Of course.”

Ah, Yuli really is kind.

I led Yuli toward the garden. With the aid of magic tools, blossoms of all four seasons were in bloom.

“It’s truly beautiful. It reminds me of my fortress’s garden.”

“You were always dedicated to gardening.”

“It was the only thing I had to do.”

Yuli smiled faintly.

“Yes, since your mother was a housemaid, you were treated as if you didn’t exist in the palace.”

“But thanks to you, you caught the Emperor’s eye and gave me purpose. I am truly grateful.”

“Yes, you thanked me countless times, saying you would repay me someday...”

“....”

Yuli flinched, glancing my way.

I gazed wistfully at the sky.

“You would hold my hand and say you’d repay me, saying ‘sometimes comfort can hurt more,’ on that winter night when the cold bit your skin...”

“....”

“And when I said no, you bowed your head and said, ‘there are times when comfort wounds more’...”

“....”

“So I decided I must help you... Though I nearly fell out of favor with the Empress for it, I....”

“What can I do to help...!”

Yuli squeezed his eyes shut and said through clenched teeth. Until then, I had looked wistful, but suddenly my face brightened.

“Asar!”

“...What?”

“I want to apply Asar to the Empire’s magic railway. It’s not such a complex technology for you, right? Export wouldn’t be difficult?”

“As for Asar... it’s not that hard. It isn’t even really a technology. It depends entirely on the underlying resource.”

“Resource?”

Yuli paused and looked around. Lowering his voice, he said,

“You may think of Asar as an energy conversion device, but that’s not quite right.”

“...Not right?”

“Well, for example... hm....”

Yuli picked up a twig and drew in the dirt. I squatted down, eyes shining.

“Power stones generate electricity, right?”

“Of course.”

“But coal stones produce a minuscule amount of power too.”

“That’s negligible. Compared to a power stone, if that holds a hundred units, a coal stone might hold 0.0001.”

“What if you could continuously regenerate that power?”

“...Huh?”

“Simply put, you keep regenerating that 0.0001 so it never depletes, building up to a hundred units.”

“If the resource has regenerative power....”

“Yes, the resource you can easily obtain. Dragon scales.”

Yuli smiled as he continued.

“In Kansis, resources are far scarcer than in the Empire, so they found ways to use what they had.”

“Ah.”

“That’s how came about. Commonly called the Micro-Regeneration Device.”

My goodness!

I grabbed Yuli in a hug.

“Brilliant! You’re the best, Yuli! That’s why friends are important!”

“...Using me isn’t what friends do.”

“We help each other. That’s friendship!”

“Will you let go? Everyone behind me looks like they’ll kill me soon.”

I glanced back to see Joshua and Alexis standing there.

Alexis said with an eyebrow raised,

“This isn’t exactly the pose for the betrothed.”

“Right!”

I rose with a bright laugh.

“Thanks, Yuli. You’re a blessing.”

Yuli chuckled and stood, brushing off his robe, nodding.

After our farewells, I led Joshua and Alexis out.

“Alexis, go fetch some scales from Lagon.”

“...You say that as if asking me to pick apples.”

“You and Han Jihyeok cared for Lagon in our absence. They won’t kill you for plucking a few scales.”

“Lagon hates everyone but you. Did you know?”

“I know. But Lagon is kind—he won’t kill someone without cause.”

I grinned, and Alexis sighed deeply. Then he turned sharply and walked off.

Joshua chuckled as he looked at me.

“Why the scales?”

“To make Asar. But Joshua, what’s going on here?”

“You convened the Relief Committee, didn’t you?”

“Oh, Joshua, you’re on the Relief Committee too?”

“I’m listed, at least. I must show my face if called. But why Ezlo?”

Joshua glanced toward the reception hall where the cadets lodged.

“Ezlo has recently become the cadet branch’s rallying point. Hard to handle.”

“I see.”

“Mm?”

“Breaking up that rallying point will prevent them from thinking they can get away with anything.”

The second generation’s succession fight left our house in disarray; it was time to reorganize. With a cold expression, I followed Joshua’s gaze back to the reception hall.

The area before the registry office was packed. Despite the chill, some wore only light clothing. Others, wearing straw hats and carrying hoes, appeared to be farmers. An old man bent with age walked in with a cloth on his head.

“Allow us to see the lady!”

“I heard our lady’s in grave danger. I, this old man, will give my head if you’d just spare our lady...!”

“Grandma Michelle, calm yourself. You’ll fall again!”

Seeing the crowd, the guards were flustered. They were all subjects of House Ezlo. The guards whispered in troubled tones.

“It’s been four hours already. What shall we do?”

“There’s no way to slaughter all these people, is there?”

“The second and third gens protest that they can’t sleep because of the noise.”

Just then, the communication stone rang. As the guard answered, Bastina’s irritated shout came through.

[What on earth is happening! They said they can’t sleep!]

“Miss Florence Ezlo refuses to leave until we confirm her safety.”

[Why haven’t you arrested them all by now!]

“If over a hundred petitioners descend without official sanction....”

[Sleep deprivation is the enemy of beauty...! Just show her to them!]

“Yes, yes...!”

The guard ended the call and hurried to relay orders. Soon, two guards from the underground prison brought Florence in handcuffs. Seeing her wrists bound, the people cried out in lament.

“What’s going on? Why is our lady...!”

“My stars, what crime has this child committed?”

“Oh, milady!”

Both old and young wept around Florence.

Florence, pale, looked around.

“Why have you come? Grandma Michelle’s knees hurt...! Jackie’s barely over his cold!”

A child, lips blue, sobbed, trying to tear at Florence’s cuffs. The child clung to a guard, imploring,

“Please let her go. Don’t trouble our lady!”

“This, this brat....”

“Let her go!”

The child reached for the key ring on the guard’s belt. Startled, the guard shoved him. As the boy hit the ground, Florence screamed.

“What are you doing!”

“Oh, milady!”

“Oh dear, oh dear!”

At that moment, the frowning prince and royal retinue appeared.