It was quite early in the morning when the messenger from the palace arrived.
The herald, who appeared with considerable fanfare along with the guards, stood in front of the tightly closed door and blew a trumpet to announce his arrival.
Dorothea, who had just finished her meal, stood before the messenger, leaving the Marquis' worried gaze behind her.
“His Majesty wishes for the Marquis of Highclere to enter the palace immediately and attend a meeting regarding the delegation from the Kingdom of Rohen.”
Despite the long and drawn-out introduction and the lack of compliments towards the other person, Dorothea bowed 'politely' as she had been taught and received permission to enter the palace with both hands.
“I have already requested you to come to the palace several times regarding related matters, but I have not received a response, so please understand that I am walking early.”
It seemed polite, but it was ultimately a remark that pointed out that she had not responded to the Emperor's call.
As Dorothea lowered her eyes silently in response to his remark, the messenger glanced at her with a trembling face.
'I thought you'd be a bit more arrogant.'
Not only her attitude toward him but also her manners in accepting the invitation were excellent without a single flaw. When he saw her unwavering attitude despite being urged, his heart also changed.
He softened his relatively stiff attitude a bit and asked again with a cough.
“I hope that Young Lady also knows that negotiations with the Rohen Kingdom delegation are of utmost importance to our country.”
"Of course."
“Maybe you were preparing something separately?”
If not, how could she have greeted the messenger who had come so early in the morning so calmly?
Dorothea smiled, looking at the face that was filled with a strange sense of anticipation.
If she brought up the fact that she had completely forgotten about it until now, he might end up crying.
Before she could open her mouth, the Marquis next to her spoke with a solemn expression.
“I have nothing more to say about the matter that should have been discussed with those in charge of receiving the delegation by entering the palace a long time ago. It was my granddaughter’s fault for not giving a proper reply.”
The Marquis turned to her and asked softly.
“Are you ready to enter the palace?”
It was like asking a child who was given a rather difficult task whether she had finished all of her homework.
Dorothea blinked and looked at each one.
She had just finished breakfast so she was full, and she quickly changed her clothes because she heard a messenger was coming.
Wood, who was to drive the carriage, happened to be at the mansion, and there was nothing else planned for this afternoon.
“Yes, we can leave right now.”
The Marquis, who heard his granddaughter's quiet answer, smiled happily and patted her shoulder, regardless of the shock in Dane's eyes who had run out in a hurry.
The meaning of the affectionate touch was clear.
“Yes, it’s your job, so I trust you.”
“I will do my best.”
Before Dane, who had been looking at her with disapproving eyes, could even say that he would join her, Dorothea answered with a deadpan voice.
“Because this is my job.”
The delegation was good after all.
Now that she had the chance to enter the palace, it was time to set a new trap.
Up until now, she had been following the traces of events after they had occurred, but now that she had a rough idea of who was involved, it was time for her to take action herself.
'There are quite a few things to find out.'
Although moving around herself can be a hassle, it has the advantage of allowing her to get information without being watched by others.
The reason she had avoided entering the palace until now was because to do so, she had to rely on the power of the Highclere family, not Dorothea herself.
Now that she finally has an excuse to go to the palace, there's no reason not to go.
There are quite a few interesting things too.
“I am humbled that Your Majesty is so considerate of me.”
“...That’s right, right.”
“I will enter the palace right now.”
A look of bewilderment appeared on the messenger's face.
Unlike other noble ladies, Dorothea had a plain face and barely any makeup, let alone any accessories.
The dress she was wearing was luxurious, but it was a bit ambiguous to see it as an outfit appropriate for entering the palace.
Moreover, she said she would enter the palace without even a single aide, with only a maid and an escort.
Even though she's scheduled to attend a diplomatic conference.
'Does that mean you've definitely finished preparing?'
The reason she stayed at the mansion for several days without replying was perhaps because she was desperate to welcome this delegation.
Moreover, the faith and expectation that filled the Marquis' eyes made the messenger accept the situation in that way.
The messenger, who had been visiting the mansion somewhat uneasily, worried about the reckless behavior of the noble lady, gradually began to feel admiration and trust.
Dane, who was watching Dorothea board the carriage and enter the palace, politely attended to by the palace staff, whispered to Edwin with a look of incomprehension on his face.
“What did he prepare?”
"Hmm..."
He didn't know because he'd never seen it, but the adults all seemed to believe that Dorothea had prepared something.
Edwin quietly observed the situation, slipped out of the crowd of people seeing her off, and quickly sent a message to Philip, whom he could trust.
***
The meeting was an arena of competition.
There were many people filled with things they wanted to say.
Dorothea couldn't understand why people would lay out such wonderful food on a table and then just spit on it as if it were decoration.
“Look here, Sir! Are you saying that because you think it is a truly excellent idea?”
“Huh, so are you saying that we should have the entire delegation stay outside the palace as you said? Although the Rohen Kingdom may not be comparable in size to our empire, considering its power...”
Everyone was busy trying to achieve something, their eyes wide open and their bloodshot eyes burning.
Dorothea brought a plate of buttered, baked tarts between them.
The texture of the thin, crispy tart that crumbles in her mouth was completely felt in her mouth.
The sweetness of the rich jam in the middle combined with the richness of the butter to maximize the flavor.
'Certainly, it's palace food.'
It was so satisfying that she even forgot that she had been interrupted from eating breakfast.
Dorothea, who had a cup of tea brewed from carefully selected young tea leaves, followed by a well-baked golden tart, looked around the conference room that had become quiet.
“Does Young Lady have any opinions?”
The owner of the trembling voice was one of the people who, from the moment Dorothea entered the conference room, did not even give her the right to speak, let alone greet her.
Dorothea kept her mouth shut because she knew they wouldn't like what she said, so were they planning on making her open her mouth and nitpicking?
Dorothea, who glanced at those whose eyes were shining with the thought of biting her, opened her mouth with a faint smile.
“Aren’t these great people already giving their valuable opinions that they have acquired through long consideration? I dare not interfere.”
“Even though you lack experience, this is a task that His Majesty personally commissioned. You must show your enthusiasm.”
“Well, you have to know something to interfere. Your Majesty has placed too many expectations on a young lady who has not even reached adulthood yet.”
Those who openly sneered were clearly all nobles who followed the Empress Dowager.
However, this does not mean that the nobles who are friendly with the Marquis are favorable to Dorothea.
It would also be unpalatable for them to want the 'Young Lady' to be treated similarly to them and share the credit.
“I will follow your excellent advice.”
As she said that, Dorothea quickly picked up the piece of cake that was placed in front of Count Yunen, who was sitting next to her.
When she cut the cake in half with a fork, strawberry jam flowed out, filling the conference room with its sour aroma. Those watching her put a generous amount of red jam on the cake and put it in her mouth swallowing their saliva.
“Wow...”
Dorothea's eyes drew a line.
“The cake is so soft that it melts in your mouth without you even chewing it. It’s really good.”
Count Jubel, who was sitting across from her and leading the meeting, furrowed his brow at her attitude, which seemed to suggest that tasting each snack on her plate was more important than anything else.
He, who had played a major role in the exchange with the Kingdom of Rohen for generations, had the most say, and he reprimanded Dorothea in a majestic voice.
“Young Lady, what do you think you are doing here? Since His Majesty has specially invited you here, shouldn’t you repay his trust?”
“So, are you saying that it is okay for me to add my opinion to yours?”
“That’s what I’m telling you to do!”
Dorothea neatly put the remaining piece of cake into her mouth, took a handkerchief out of her bosom, and wiped her mouth.
On a dark night, her azure eyes shone with endless depth, like sea water reflected in moonlight.
'Oops.'
Some nobles who had been trying to avoid giving her a chance to speak belatedly opened their eyes wide, but Dorothea had already been given the right to speak by the chairman.
“First of all, I agree that the delegation should be treated with honor since His Majesty has shown his intention to strengthen friendly relations with the allies, but it seems difficult for them to stay at the villa.”
"What?"
“In the Rohen Kingdom, when our imperial envoys visited, they were treated as ‘VIPs.’ They gave them a residence under the pretext that only the royal family was allowed to enter the palace.”
However, if the empire were to receive an envoy in a building within the walls of the palace, even if it was a villa, it would be embarrassing.
“There is a Princess in this delegation.”
“I heard that the Princess will be attending the coming-of-age ceremony hosted by the High Priest separately from the delegation. In other words, there is no reason to provide the villa to a Princess from another country who is visiting on private business.”
“...”
Starting with the sullen and silent Viscount Yunen, she went on to crush each and every opinion that had been put forth so far.
Everyone was silent, their faces crumpled, in response to the opinions that were based on such precise information that it was difficult to find any fault with them.
'I underestimated you.'
A look of disappointment appeared on the faces of those who had been confident that even a Young Lady could cook easily.
Dorothea moistened her throat with the already cold tea without erasing her smile.
The chairman with a shaky face asked while she was silent.
“So, what is the alternative that Young Lady thinks of?”
Since he has rejected all the opinions that have been put forth so far, there should at least be a suitable alternative for her.
Everyone stared at Dorothea, who had just put down her teacup, their eyes blazing like a pack of lynxes ready to tear at anything.
“I would like to recommend the Countdom of Spencer as a place for the delegation to stay.”
“S, Count Spencer!”
The conference room was turned upside down as if a bomb had been thrown.
Some people had their mouths open and couldn't close them, while others had their faces scrunched up and were muttering in discontent. The conference room began to become chaotic as some people showed signs of interest.
Dorothea waited until everyone was quiet before speaking again.
“As you all know, His Highness the Third Prince’s villa is located there. The view of the castle facing the sea is so beautiful that His Highness the Crown Prince praised it greatly after his visit.”
“...”
“Besides, I heard that the Kingdom of Rohen is a landlocked country, so seafood is very rare. I’m sure the Princess would be very happy to stay in a place with a panoramic view of the sea.”
It was obvious that everyone's mind was spinning with excitement.
Where is the Count Spencer's family?
Not only was the family under the protection of the Empress Dowager, but they also had deep ties to the Kingdom of Rohen and were also the maternal family of the Third Prince and the Crown Prince.
While those who had not expected that Dorothea would at least give an opinion that would support the Third Prince's power hesitated for a moment, a person behind her back who would support her appeared.
“If it’s to establish the prestige of this empire, I can give you my villa any time!”
The third Prince, Richard, who has little in his head but is very greedy, has barged into the conference room himself.
Dorothea smiled happily.
'The more ignorant a child is, the braver he is.'
Since the Third Prince intervened directly, this matter was already out of her hands.
Even if a problem arises, it can be blamed on the Third Prince who forced it through.
While the greedy Prince pushed forward, Dorothea was able to savor the melting snack once again.
'It was a good decision to come to the palace.'
The palace patissier had satisfied her enough that she wanted to kidnap him when she returned.
Dorothea smiled as she ate the cherry cake dripping with sweet juice.
Come on, Richard.
You'll keep on going until I empty the plates on the table.
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