The effect of stirring up Richard was quick to be seen.
Count Spencer personally 'invited' all the vice ministers, including the foreign ambassador in charge of handling this delegation, to his estate.
The advisory group in charge of the aftermath of an already 'established fact' gritted their teeth at his public declaration that he would be evaluated clearly to see if he was fit to be a candidate if he wanted to, but... there was nothing they could bring up.
The Emperor's silence meant that he tolerated all of this.
With the player taken away and the curse of Richard attached to her, it was only natural that many held a grudge against Dorothea.
“I’m a little worried, Thea.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to worry.”
Despite Ben's concerns, Dorothea just smiled.
If she had been afraid of the gazes and words of the nosy nobles, she would not have even decided to take on this important role in the first place.
Plus, she had a great love interest named Richard.
Aiden, who had been listening to his worried advice, punched in the chest next to him.
“Yes, brother-in-law! Just trust him!”
“...”
Felix, who was pushing forward with the policy, was in no position to leave the capital, and neither was the Marquis.
In the end, it was Aiden and Colin who ended up following her as escorts and protectors.
One side was an excessively powerful but careless person, while the other side was rational and cool-headed but extremely weak.
'Besides, both of them are very stubborn in some ways.'
Ben turned his head away from Aiden and quietly spoke to Wood.
“Please take good care of my daughter.”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.”
Rather than risk his daughter's misfortune, he thinks it would be better for him to ask about the well-being of other nobles.
Wood swallowed those words and focused on reassuring the father who had a daughter.
His mind, which was trying to let go a little at Wood's calm, suddenly sank again the next moment when he heard the loud trumpet sound from outside.
The third Prince, looking very stylish, was getting out of a carriage pulled by four shiny horses with his chin raised.
"Oh my goodness."
Diana, who was standing next to Felix who had frozen, covered her slightly open mouth with her hand.
The Marquis' eyebrows twitched and shot upward.
Behind the carriage Richard was riding in, two more fully loaded wagons were seen following.
***
A carriage decorated with ornate gold leaf passed through the street, flanked by escorts on both sides.
The conservative nobles looked daunted in their shaking carriages, but at least Richard, the main cause of this noisy procession, was in high spirits.
Colin, who was riding in the Highclere family's carriage following behind, had a pale face and closed eyes as if he had been given the day of his death and was silent.
It was the complete opposite of Aiden, who went out riding a horse, complaining of a sore body.
“No matter what, isn’t this a very conspicuous procession?”
“I like to stand out.”
Dorothea answered Valerie briefly.
It would be better to announce openly that a person of high status is on board, to prevent the approach of idiots.
Besides, if it becomes widely known that the Prince and his party are 'going to Spencer Territory', unexpected people may be lured.
“Thea, if you don’t mind. It seems like you have something on your mind.”
Valerie laughed as she said that.
Dorothea's smile grew a little deeper as mealtime approached, as she chose silence instead of adding a cliched explanation.
“I think it would smell too much if we grilled meat here.”
“His Majesty eats a light salad with fruit for breakfast, cooked meat for lunch, and seafood and grains for dinner.”
Most of those who had gone out together were silent.
Although the procession of nobles was no small feat, it was rare for such a table to be set and fresh ingredients to be airlifted for every meal.
'The journey is going to be very long.'
What if someone accuses me of neglecting my main job by saying that this procession is too extravagant?
“It’s good to be comfortable, but shouldn’t you do it in moderation?”
“Count Jubel must be in a difficult position as well. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager simply finds the tyranny of the Third Prince amusing.”
“The person in charge of this procession is actually...”
The nobles' heads were focused in one place.
Dorothea was already seated at the prepared table and was the first to start eating the food on her plate.
Valerie, sitting next to her and quietly taking food from her plate, asked quietly.
“Just in case.”
"Yes?"
“You didn’t bring the Prince in with this in mind, did you?”
Dorothea simply smiled faintly and moved her hands diligently to take out the next plate.
“Your Majesty has been sparing me from my service until now, but he has waited for the right time. I feel a heavy burden on my shoulders since I was given this important task from the beginning!”
A girl with heavy shoulders does this kind of thing on the street.
Everyone looked at the maids diligently lighting a fire in a corner and the chef who was absorbed in cooking.
Richard was extremely excited, whether he knew or not that the rest of the group were exchanging gloomy glances.
“I can’t believe you’ve entrusted me with such an important task for my first official assignment.”
To be precise, all negotiation authority was left entirely to Dorothea, and it would be more correct to view it as her implicit permission to 'use anyone.'
One of the deputy ministers, unable to stand by, stabbed Aiden in the ribs.
“Sir Aiden, why don’t you come forward...!”
If it were normal, he would have beaten the bastard Prince's butt and sent him to the palace to apologize, but he would have tried to fix the messed-up discipline.
Aiden quietly turned his head and watched Dorothea happily eating, mumbling sadly.
“My niece, who has been sick for a long time and is weak and has a bad constitution, is so reluctant to be a little more comfortable on her long journey?”
“...!”
“Look at her. Watching her eat.”
He doesn't think it's a scene worth watching with tears in his eyes.
Everyone simultaneously tilted their heads to the side.
The slender, blonde-haired girl ate the food on her plate in her small mouth with astonishing speed.
Just watching them neatly put a mouthful in and swallow it will naturally make you hungry. The way they eat is more like a ravenous person than a greedy person...
“Look at her forcing herself to eat food so as not to lose her stamina even though she has no appetite and has taken on an important role. Our Thea is so mature. No, that’s right, brother!”
Colin closed his eyes, ignoring Aiden's loud boasting about his niece.
His face, which usually looked pale, strangely became more and more pale as he approached Spencer.
'I think it's Colin Highclere who we should be worried about.'
Everyone shut their mouths in silence.
Aiden Highclere, who was in charge of the escort, was condoning the Third Prince's atrocities, so there was no way for anyone else to do anything.
“I really don’t know Young Lady even though I know her.”
The cleverness to lure Richard into putting all the nobles to sleep in an instant, and the cleverness to quickly get away from the disturbing rumors.
But now, isn't the Young Lady of Highclare acting like someone foolish, extravagant, and even foolish, as if she were the mental age of the Third Prince?
As if it was shown on purpose.
"Ah."
Dorothea, who had been putting food on her plate without stopping, slowly put her plate down.
It was that moment when everyone was delighted that the long meal was finally over.
“Oh, the Marquis has finished eating too. I guess we should have tea time then. I need to help digestion.”
“...!”
Dorothea, who was about to stand up at Richard's thoughtless words, quietly sat back down in her seat again.
“I brought the palace’s pastry chef with me, so it won’t be as good as the one at the palace, but it will be quite enjoyable.”
"Yes."
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
As Valerie added that she was looking forward to it without realizing it, Dorothea smiled as she watched the sweet-smelling dessert being made.
“The delegation will arrive soon, but if we prepare like this...”
They haven't even arrived at the villa yet.
At that moment when everyone was pulling out their hair, a woman in a very shabby outfit was hurriedly heading towards the imperial palace.
***
The pursuer was extremely persistent.
If it weren't for the experience of a hunter who was good at terrain, he wouldn't have been able to escape their pursuit.
The group of six that started out was now down to just two.
A man, out of breath, was soothing and comforting the child in his arms.
“Don’t worry. This father will definitely...”
The child, whose eyes were already unfocused, lay limply in the man's arms like a piece of paper.
So much so that he thought she might have fainted.
Feeling her pulse several times and holding onto hope in the faint breath he had left, the man barely managed to reach the capital.
When a shabby man appeared in the downtown area, some people grimaced, while others sighed and circled around to avoid touching the two.
'Is this the capital?'
For a man who had lived his entire life on a small piece of land, the bustling downtown area of the capital, lined with fancy shops, was like a new world.
He opened his mouth for a moment. He walked briskly towards the police station.
“I came to make a report, my Lord.”
A shabby and droopy child. The police chief looked very troubled as he looked into the man's earnest eyes.
“An accusation? And without any proper evidence...”
“W, the witness..."
“A witness?”
“He died on the way here.”
The chief of police swallowed a sigh as the depth of his face filled him. His eyes were sincere, but usually, this kind of accusation never leads to a good result.
“The witness is dead, there is no evidence in hand, and there is no noble to back up the accusation. It is admirable that you dare to come all the way to the capital, but it will be difficult to file an accusation. Especially if the opponent is a noble...”
“I saw people practicing witchcraft in the border area!”
“...”
“Yes, they were definitely the people of the Kingdom of Rohen!”
The moment the name Rohen Kingdom was mentioned, the police were in an uproar.
Why is this accusation being made at this very time when preparations for welcoming a state guest are in full swing?
Isn't the timing exquisite?
“Are you a witness? Did you see it yourself?”
“My, my daughter...”
The child lying unconscious and limp was so lifeless that at first glance it seemed as if she had stopped breathing.
The chief of police, who clicked his tongue, pressed his forehead.
“The Kingdom of Rohen and the Empire are long-time allies, and Your Majesty intends to further strengthen this alliance to block other barbarian tribes along the border. At a time like this, empty accusations are of no use.”
It was a moment when the man's face became filled with despair.
The whispering of a few people standing behind him filtered into his desperate ears.
“Speaking of the Kingdom of Rohen, the person in charge of this delegation was the Lady of Highclere, right?”
“What on earth is Your Majesty thinking? Entrusting such a young lady with the important task of welcoming a state guest.”
“She is the only spirit master in the Empire, aside from Sir McGregor, who resides in the Philosopher’s Tower. Doesn’t she want to show us the talent that will lead the Empire’s dazzling future?”
The man's eyes flashed as he turned around helplessly.
The child's gasping for breath continued on and on.
Even if he found the priest, he knew that he couldn't even dream of getting treatment from her, so he came all the way here.
Even if they go back like this, those who eliminated the witnesses will still be after them.
He had no choice but to go out and find the last hope.
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