TSHNL 91🔐

“There’s nothing here… huh? Where did everything go?”

Harper blinked and looked around.

“Documents? There was nothing on the desk. Want to sit on the sofa instead?”

At Calista’s suggestion, Harper paused with a puzzled expression, then nodded.

“Actually, this is just bragging a bit. Today I came to talk about the Marquis of Luseik.”

Harper’s sky-blue eyes sparkled calmly.

It was a completely different atmosphere from their earlier lighthearted chatter.

This meant she was talking about an important plan—one involving not just the Marquis of Luseik, but the Imperial Family as well.

“I wanted to let you know what Sion passed on.”

The four of them moved from the cluttered desk to the comfortable sofa.

Harper happily smiled as she popped a pre-prepared snack into her mouth and then got to the point.

“They say the marquisate’s funds are nearly gone.”

“Just as expected.”

“Yeah. Because Killian made a flashy comeback, all the money they spent ended up wasted.”

Calista gave a small chuckle.

Ten years ago, her then eight-year-old brother had caused quite a mess for both the Empress and Klein.

If the Empress’s plan had succeeded—if she could have painted Klein as the founding emperor avenging his brother against the demon dragon—it would’ve launched him as a hero of the Empire.

But Klein had achieved nothing at the hunting festival.

Instead, the empire longed for the unfortunate imperial prince who had disappeared after slaying the dragon.

Many compared Klein, who failed to achieve anything on the second day of the same hunting festival, and sighed with disappointment.

Rather than earning support from the nobles and citizens, the effort had backfired.

To overcome this, the Empress had to recklessly spend her own family’s money.

The Emperor had no other sons, but he did have brothers.

There were noble families with power nearly equal to the Imperial Family’s, families that could side with another royal should things shift. So Klein’s position wasn’t entirely secure.

“They must have worked themselves to the bone in Luseik,” Calista said.

The Empress and the Marquis had showered the nobles with favors and made donations in Klein’s name to win over the people.

“But all that charity and volunteering? Everyone forgot it the moment Killian showed up with the phoenix. The nobles are starting to show subtle interest in him now.”

“Well, I guess it paid off feeding him well all these years.”

Calista muttered, not clear whether she meant Killian or the phoenix.

The Empress must be seething.

Even if she wanted to declare Klein the only legitimate heir, she couldn’t now reveal that Killian was an illegitimate child.

If she did, everyone would immediately suspect that she was behind the incident ten years ago.

“So that’s why the Marquis has been so focused on trade with the Kingdom of Etar lately.”

Calista recalled the intel Kenneth had brought recently.

Harper probably knew it long before.

Sure enough, she nodded and added:

“The newly formed dynasty is said to be wealthy. They love fancy things, but they don’t have gem mines.”

“That’s right.”

“If Etar adopts Luseik opals as royal symbols, the marquisate’s mines will skyrocket in value.”

Her analysis was more specific than Calista expected.

“The contract must be close, then.”

“It’s… already done. Earlier than publicly announced.”

Harper replied with a disappointed expression.

“I heard that today.”

Calista frowned.

“Originally, my master and I planned to use the emeralds received from the Marquis to interfere by entering a bidding war. But we were too late.”

Teon added.

Calista began estimating the scale of the Marquis’s trade.

Securing immediate funds aside, if his opals gained prestige as the most luxurious gem in the Empire, much of his financial trouble would be solved.

Diamonds were an exception, but since their supply was nearly nonexistent and their origin unclear, they were excluded.

Either way, if the Marquis’s problems were solved, it would be a pity.

“We can’t let that happen.”

Calista concluded calmly.

“My master said the same… but legally, it’s already over. I’m not sure there’s anything we can do,” Teon said, adjusting his glasses.

Calista raised her head and stared at him.

“Who said anything about doing it legally?”

“Excuse me?”

“Huh?”

Teon and Harper spoke in unison.

“If something must be done, there’s no such thing as rules and manners.”

Teon looked horrified, but Harper lit up as if enlightened.

“Really? I was afraid you’d scold me if I just went ahead and did something rash…”

She blinked her round eyes.

She had a habit of seeking Calista’s approval for everything—despite being powerful enough to command Sion, the so-called shadow emperor of the capital, and having changed the Empire’s future at the age of eight.

“If you’ve made your decision, I wouldn’t oppose it.”

Calista stroked Harper’s head.

“Go ahead. If anything happens, I’ll commit treason if I have to and fix it.”

She gave her signature cool-yet-warm blessing.

“Alright then.”

Harper slowly began, her girlish face glowing with a bright smile.

“The Marquis of Luseik will soon be so broke he won’t even be able to pay taxes.”

Cough.

Teon choked on his tea.

He should’ve been used to her by now, but Harper’s extreme shifts between her usual demeanor and bold actions still shocked him.

“Oh, right. Sion told me something strange too.”

Harper, having finished her snacks, suddenly remembered as she stood up.

“What is it?”

“Someone’s developing Mount Agemanus in the Empire’s southwest.”

“…You mean the abandoned mine? The one with the adult demon dragons’ nest?”

“Exactly.”

“Are you sure?”

Calista asked, surprised. Harper nodded.

If true, it was incredible.

Mount Agemanus was the only unclaimed land on the continent.

It was shaped like a mountain that likely held gemstones, but since it was the nesting ground for adult demon dragons, no one had ever dared develop it.

As valuable as gems were, few were willing to die for them—especially without guaranteed success.

A previous emperor had declared that anyone who developed the area would own the mountain and nearby lands—but no news had come from it until now.

“I thought it was odd too. Sion suspects the dragons all died years ago and some people started secretly developing it.”

“……”

“There’s nobody nearby, so no one really noticed. But the developer recently sent an official document requesting imperial recognition as Lord of Agemanus.”

“You mean he killed the dragons himself?”

Harper nodded.

“It was done quietly, without spreading rumors, and apparently with barely any manpower. Sion thinks the person has hunting instincts beyond normal humans.”

“…He’s either insane or extremely lucky.”

Calista finally let out a wry smile after a long pause.

She decided not to mention the face that flashed through her mind.

“Right? But even now, there hasn’t been much change in the number of gemstones traded in the Empire… So maybe it really was just a wasteland where dragons used to live.”

Harper casually said, smiling.

“Alright, I’m off now. We’re still having dinner together later, right?”

“Of course we are.”

As Harper stood, she stopped and turned back.

“Oh, the marriage proposals. I need to take my precious proposals with me.”

She picked up the three envelopes she’d almost forgotten and smiled proudly again.

Calista seemed to remember something.

“Harper, are you truly not considering engagement right now?”

“Nope. How could I get engaged to someone I don’t even know? What if I see their portrait, and the real person looks totally different? Or if they have a nasty personality or are a player? It’d be a disaster.”

“Wise words. An admirable attitude everyone should follow.”

Aramis, who had been quiet the whole time, stressed the word “everyone.”

Calista didn’t react at all.

“Then what about dating? These days people date without necessarily planning to marry.”

Harper absentmindedly fiddled with her fingers and tilted her head.

A few seconds passed in silence.

“Hmm… I don’t think I’ve thought about it.”

She finally replied briefly.

Calista smiled brightly without pressing further.

“You can go. I have things to discuss with Teon.”

After Harper left the room, Calista was lost in thought for a few seconds.

“…Teon.”

“Yes, Your Grace? Is there something that needs resolving…?”

“The accessory on Harper’s wrist—did the Second Prince give it to her?”

“Excuse me?”

“That one she’s been wearing ever since the imperial banquet.”

Calista’s expression was more serious than when she talked about the throne or political rivals.

“I didn’t ask before since she didn’t say anything… but wasn’t the only one she spoke to privately at the banquet the Second Prince?”

Teon blinked several times, trying to grasp the situation, then nodded.

“Yes. It is quite an expensive gift… but since the Second Prince sent several things, I didn’t think it needed separate reporting.”

Calista’s face grew even more serious.