Chapter 56
If he was trying to threaten me, he was way off.
If you’re going to stomp your foot, at least shake the ground while you’re at it.
This kid’s got the wrong attitude.
Trying to intimidate someone just because things aren’t going your way?
I stomped my foot at Fidelro.
The ground beneath his feet shook precisely.
Using this level of power was nothing for me.
Fidelro’s face went pale, and his lips jutted out in a pout.
“Lyla!”
“Why are you calling my name so casually, Your Highness?”
Fidelro trembled.
“Why… why are you only mean to me! You’re not like this with the other kids!”
“I’m just giving back what I receive. You’ve been rude to me too, Your Highness.”
From experience, it didn’t seem like Fidelro went crying to the adults about the things I said.
“…Is it because I’m ugly?”
Wait, he’s been holding on to that all this time?
Kids really are just kids.
I let out a deep sigh and said,
“Your looks aren’t what’s ugly, Your Highness.”
“Then what is?”
“It’s your heart, Your Highness. The way you treat me—that’s what’s ugly. I hate people with ugly hearts the most.”
Maybe he’s still too young—he doesn’t seem to understand plain speech.
Fidelro stammered, pale as a ghost.
“But I… I’m a noble prince… I have no reason not to say what I want.”
“There’s no such rule. Aren’t you a person too, Your Highness?”
Ugh. Why am I even dealing with this kid?
Even when I tried to stay calm, irritation bubbled up.
Fidelro lived tucked under Queen Caitlyn’s skirt anyway.
I gave him a glance before running over to my mom.
Fine. Today I’m going to be a mama’s girl!
“Mom! Let’s go together!”
I clung tightly to her hand as we walked past Fidelro.
Before long, attendants came swarming toward Fidelro, looking for him.
Good. Go play with them. Stop confusing me.
*
Whoosh—!
“Hmm?”
Something definitely felt off.
It had been feeling like something kept whooshing past me for a while now.
Tilting my head, I pressed closer to Mom and focused on eating.
Today’s stars were me and Queen Caitlyn, in a way.
I was the heir to the Mage Tower and Rorobante. And Queen Caitlyn was the host of today’s banquet.
People were going back and forth between us, like a game of tug-of-war.
“This is tasty.”
Baldwin would’ve liked this too.
Eating alone like this made me feel a little lonely.
Some kids around my age tried chatting with me occasionally, but still, the absence of Camilla and Baldwin was…
I pouted and stabbed my pudding with a spoon.
Whoosh—!
Ugh, there really is something flying around, but I have no idea what.
While I was tilting my head in confusion, Queen Caitlyn approached us.
Oh? Is it finally time for a face-off?
“Your Majesty, Queen Caitlyn.”
“Thank you for accepting my invitation, Duke. And Duchess.”
“It’s been a while.”
“It seems we’ve neglected our relationship for some time. As a member of the royal family, I shouldn’t have acted with such bias. That was my mistake.”
Queen Caitlyn spoke with noble composure.
“That’s why I think it would be good for us to start maintaining a better relationship now. Endia and Fidelro both seem to like Lady Lyla.”
She smiled sweetly.
Leviathan was openly reaching out to us.
The nobles aligned with the Crown Prince, like Ains, weren’t even invited to this event.
It was just us.
Even so, the name Rorobante attracted attention. But deep down, were they really being friendly?
I felt like a cow tossed into a swamp full of crocodiles.
“If we work together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve. And it would benefit both Prince Fidelro and Lady Lyla’s futures greatly.”
So basically, she wanted to marry me off to Fidelro.
Is this woman insane?
That’s basically a one-way express train to my death.
I gripped my mother’s skirt.
“No one can know what the future holds for children.”
My mother responded gently.
“Lyla hasn’t made any decisions yet. I want to respect her choices.”
“But, Duchess. Don’t think we’ll extend our hand forever.”
“Of course, I understand. I’m grateful for your offer.”
Without me, Rorobante would never deviate from the Crown Prince faction.
And with Baldwin around, there was no way that would happen.
Queen Caitlyn’s smile stiffened.
It seemed she hadn’t imagined being refused even after lowering her pride this far.
“…You may come to regret this, Duke Rorobante.”
“Perhaps. But even if I returned to this very moment, I’d still make the same choice.”
“…I see.”
Queen Caitlyn forced a smile.
She really is a tough one.
I can’t even begin to guess what she’s thinking.
She’s probably already planning to draw her sword toward Rorobante.
If fate keeps changing as it has so far… then maybe this time too.
Queen Caitlyn might try to use methods she was supposed to use in the future—right now.
In the original story, Lyla gained Queen Caitlyn’s favor by revealing Rorobante’s secrets.
And Queen Caitlyn then stole Rorobante’s core business.
“Here’s a warning, Duke Rorobante. A rigid tree is the first to snap.”
Queen Caitlyn had regained her composure.
As expected.
She wasn’t one to give up easily.
I’d need to keep a close eye on her.
My list of things to ask Aldis to do was growing longer.
After buying off the Alice Merchant Guild, the next step in my plan was to acquire land.
It wouldn’t bring profit immediately, but if you knew the future, it was something you had to own.
What had Queen Caitlyn done to obstruct Rorobante?
She snatched up the mines we tried to buy at auction.
She monopolized the lumber we needed for construction.
And Lyla was at the center of it all.
Then what if I flipped that situation this time?
I could leak false information.
That would be the path to dragging down both the Kali Guild and Queen Caitlyn—along with Viscount Heraize.
*
The Caliburn members sighed in relief.
Prince Fidelro was surprisingly persistent.
Even though they tried tripping him or spilling drinks on him every time he approached Lyla, he kept trying.
“Ugh, what is with him!”
Prince Fidelro jumped to his feet in frustration after being tripped again.
Yet his eyes stubbornly remained on Lyla.
“…This is dangerous.”
“Very dangerous…”
The Caliburn members murmured among themselves.
Everyone here knew how much Lyla meant to Baldwin.
It was so obvious, it didn’t even need to be said aloud.
Even now, Baldwin was following behind her like a shadow, swatting away Fidelro like a pesky fly.
Lyla didn’t seem to care about Fidelro in the slightest, but Baldwin couldn’t stand him getting anywhere near her.
The Caliburn members were cautiously imagining their future duchess.
A union between Rorobante and Winchester? The mere thought sent chills down their spines.
“There he goes again! He should give up by now.”
One of the Caliburn members grabbed Prince Fidelro’s collar and tripped him.
They felt a little ashamed doing something so petty, but orders were orders—especially from Baldwin.
Anyway, they completed today’s mission without fail.
Meanwhile, Viscount Heraize was clinging to Queen Caitlyn’s side, catering to her every whim.
And he was probably tightening his grip on the back alleys known as “Revenge.”
“Everything’s going smoothly.”
Now, if Baldwin could just return to his rightful place by the time he turned fifteen, things would be perfect.
*
Queen Caitlyn and the Kali Guild had successfully broken ground.
Rather than interfering with the railway industry, it was time to consider how to swallow it whole.
That’s why I secretly called Aldis without letting Princess Endia know.
Now that no one would question Aldis meeting with me, arranging the meeting was easy.
It was the day after the groundbreaking ceremony.
“Aldis. I have something I need you to do. Do you need confirmation again?”
“…Last time was enough. I trust you have a purpose.”
“You seem… different today.”
“You mean compliant? Lord Ragnis said to do as Lyla wishes.”
“Huh. Wasn’t Ragnis supposed to be gone for a while?”
I clearly saw him disappear with my own eyes.
“He vanished, but he wasn’t gone. Lord Ragnis is always with us.”
“…Always with us, huh.”
Well, I guess it’s a good thing he’s on my side.
I can now move the Mage Tower’s people however I want.
“This request might be a bit more difficult.”
“Please go ahead.”
“Buy up all the land southeast of the mountain range.”
