Chapter 5: The Duke’s Daughter’s Heart Quivers

Chapter 5:
The Duke’s Daughter’s Heart Quivers

 

“DEAN, WON’T YOU consider a life with me?”

I begged for what seemed like the thousandth time, but Dean simply smiled with nary an eyebrow raised.

“I appreciate the offer, but…”

And for the thousandth time, he shot me down. Ugh, this was so frustrating. Now, if you had just tuned in to this conversation, you might think I was confessing my love. Or I might even sound like something slightly more dangerous: a woman trying to seduce her young servant boy in desperate pursuit of a beautiful companion…

Well, in some sense I was indeed trying to seduce him.

I sighed. “Fine. Don’t think this means I’m giving up, though. But for this week at least, I’m glad to have you.”

“Glad to be of service.”

What was he doing this week, you might ask? Why, participating in the government as my aide. It had been four months since I first scouted Dean. He was handling his job wonderfully, and we were closing in on a resolution to the embezzlement case.

As it turned out, it wasn’t the town mayor but the town’s accountant and his family who were the masterminds. I say accountant, but all they really did was deal with government officials. He was also the mayor’s younger brother. Our investigation revealed that he had played around and fallen into debt. Basically, it was the tale of an irresponsible younger brother and an inattentive older brother. As such, the younger brother had been fired and the older brother dismissed due to joint liability. Both had also been fined. I made sure to impress on them that they were lucky to not be rotting in cells.

It wasn’t a perfect ending, but Dean performed admirably. Simultaneously, he managed to finish the record of past taxes. I really was glad to have found him.

“Here are reports from the academy’s departments on their income and expenses, as well as applications for next year’s budget,” he said.

“Oh, the forms are finished?” I asked.

“I took the liberty of adjusting them a bit.”

“Thanks. Elementary-level classes are now open all across the duchy. Next, I’m thinking of establishing a middle level that focuses on occupational training.”

“With our present budget, that will be difficult,” Dean cautioned.

“True enough. We really need to switch to a stable tax revenue system.”

“That said, it’s also too early for a consumption tax. The fundamental principles of any tax are objectivity, simplicity, and fairness. At present, with elementary schools open, the literacy level of the people will slowly rise. Ensuring their understanding—and support—at this point will be difficult. And while big companies would be one thing, the strain on smaller businesses would be too much.”

“I know…” I groaned.

“However, I believe it’s an innovative idea,” Dean said. “When the regional literacy level has risen a bit higher and arithmetic has had time to spread, you should go ahead and introduce it.”

“Hmm… Should I start here, after all?” I flipped through the income proposal.

“You mean abolishing the poll tax and switching to an income tax? Personally, I have my doubts. As I said earlier, the fundamental principles of taxation are objectivity, simplicity, and fairness. The other advantage of a poll tax is that it reminds everyone they’re part of the duchy.”

“The problem is that it’s too impartial. We’re even taxing children with no ability to pay. The poll tax is nothing more than a shackle for people looking for work.”

In terms of pure theory, I did think a poll tax was ideal. It was simple and impartial. But in reality, it was too impartial, which actually led it to be unfair. Furthermore, taxing those who could not pay not only deprived the government of money, it became an incredible psychological burden for the taxed.

“That is a valid point of view,” Dean conceded.

“This draft proposes taxing based on personal income,” I explained. “But it might be too difficult for those in some professions, like farmers, to accurately calculate their annual income. Perhaps the town halls should calculate an ‘estimated income’ and collect based on that?”

“Is that why you’ve been pushing to have Abitante clarify property law?”

“It is. Of course, that’s not the only reason.”

“I see. This system would also let you take the year’s climate into consideration when it comes time to collect.”

“Yes, exactly.”

Dean frowned. “Is it possible to get the manpower needed to perform those calculations for each town hall, though?”

I paged through some documents and produced the relevant folder. “I have Borsa employees taking turns attending higher-level finance classes. So there’s them, plus the upcoming academy graduates. Ideally, the populace will eventually be educated enough to file their own taxes.”

“That sounds like it’ll take quite a long time.”

“Well, I never expected anything overnight. The key word is ‘eventually.’ Furthermore, we have to establish taxes on businesses, not just individuals. At present, a company and its president are jumbled together when calculating income tax. We have to separate cases where the president receives a salary from the company from cases where company and personal income are treated the same. Then we can apply a tax rate focused on businesses.”

“Don’t you think that would incite backlash from the merchants?”

“We could ease off on tariffs at the same time. Currently, even within the duchy, whenever goods enter or leave a town, a fee has to be paid. We can change that to apply only to goods leaving or entering the duchy while also lowering the tax rate. If we do, it should also increase the flow of goods.”

“The two combined would temper any outrage. Also, most companies have employees studying double-entry bookkeeping at the academy, so they should be able to calculate and file the new taxes themselves. Which means the burden on our end won’t increase too much.”

“Yes!” I grinned and began noting down our most important thoughts. “Let’s collect the main points we just discussed and present the timeline to Borsa again.”

 

***

 

Thanks to Dean’s help, I spent far less time on governmental duties and was able to visit the city more often. These trips were profoundly refreshing. Strolling down the main street, I window-shopped at various stores.

Suddenly, I spotted a couple entering a sizable store, arms linked intimately. If I recalled correctly, that was a famous jewelry store that had invested in the academy.

“My lady, is something the matter?” Tanya noticed me gazing off into the distance and looked at me worriedly.

“I’m fine. Do you two mind if we make one last stop at the orphanage?”

“As you wish, Lady Alice.” Dean smiled.

Lately, whenever I went into the city, I invited Dean as well. It gave me an opportunity to bounce ideas off him as they came to me. It was nice that he was so quick on the uptake. Plus, Lyle and Dida guaranteed he could protect me if it came to it. However, Tanya had been rather vehemently against my excursions with Dean, which was why she still insisted on tagging along.

Funnily enough, though I had never imagined Dean interacting with children, he turned out to be pretty good with them. Now they loved him more than me. A small part of me was jealous, but it was lovely to see him playing together with the orphans, so I put up with it.

“Big brother! Big sister! Will you come visit again?”

Those doe eyes made my head spin. Ah, so cute!

“Of course,” I promised. “Right, Dean?”

“Yes. So be good and wait for us, okay?”

As the sun began to set, I headed home feeling entirely fulfilled. Today had been so fun. I was all energized for tomorrow. I had started taking breaks after Mother stayed with us but never any real holidays. Lately, however, I’d been able to go into the city all day as a “day off” whenever Dean was in town. It was thanks to him that my workload now tended to be taken care of early enough for me to do so, even leaving me with enough time to take off for a whole day. I supposed this, too, was important.

 

***

 

“Lady Iris, do you have a moment?” Dean entered the study and, upon spotting me doing battle with a pile of documents, frowned deeply. “I don’t believe you have any pressing work… Is something bothering you?”

“No. I’m just noting down the ideas that came to mind during today’s trip outside.”

“Then why did I see you writing about the budget composition?”

I smiled sheepishly at his sharp question. I couldn’t hide anything from him. “It really started out as just note-taking, but then I spotted some unresolved issues,” I confessed. “So I figured I’d fit in what I could.”

“Rest is important—and necessary. Remember what Dida said? You worry everyone in this mansion when you get too focused on your job.” Dean frowned. “Why do you work so hard?”

The cogs in my brain stopped turning for a moment. I hadn’t expected the question. “You’re working hard too, Dean.”

“It’s not the same. I work to provide for myself. But you’re different. As the duke’s daughter—the prime minister’s daughter, no less—you don’t have to work to survive.”

He had a point. It was exceedingly rare for nobles to work, especially noblewomen. It was believed that a wife’s role was to protect the family and throw parties, leaving the care of the house and territory to servants. Things had been similar in Armelia until that fateful day two years ago.

“But I’ve been appointed acting governor. Isn’t it a noble’s duty to perform as needed such that no dishonor befalls their position?”

Dean smiled tightly. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but my sense of the nobility has always been of people who get fat off the taxes they milk from their citizens. Besides, couldn’t you pawn off the responsibility to Sebastian, like your father did?”

“It isn’t that I never thought of doing so… But in the end, this job was given to me specifically. So even if I’m inexperienced, I want to try my hardest. That’s how I thought in the beginning, at least. Now, though…” My eyes fell to my hands. My small, small hands. It made me laugh to think how unsuited they were to grasping hold of a future for my people. What could I protect with these? “After meeting the children of that orphanage, I realized there was something I could do despite who I am—no, because of who I am. I learned to have faith in my actions. And if my efforts eke even one more smile from my people… If they’re happy, then isn’t that the most wonderful thing?”

“I see…” Dean’s beautiful smile captured my whole attention for a moment.

Whoa, whoa! His smile was a dangerous weapon. I had to be more careful. Slightly ashamed, I looked down. Ugh, this wasn’t like me.

“A-anyway, Dean, did you want to talk about something?”

“Oh,” Dean muttered, as if he’d forgotten until just then. “It’s nothing much, but do you mind?”

“Go ahead.”

“During our trip today, you seemed lost in thought at one point.”

It was my turn to mutter, “Oh.”

“Something about you seemed a little different in that moment. Was anything bothering you?”

“No, not really. I was just impressed by how much one of the academy’s investors had grown.”

Dean gave me a troubled smile.

“Wh-what?”

“It’s nothing,” he said. “Only, you had that same numb expression just now.”

“I did…?”

“Yes. Forgive my rudeness, but it wasn’t the store you were looking at, was it?”

Dean’s words pulled the pin holding in all my tension. He was so correct that, rather than exploding outward, the pressure that was built up so high within me slipped soundlessly from my body. I knew from Dean’s work that he was sharp and wise, but it would have been nice if he’d avoided pointing that acuity at me.

If he hadn’t dug so deep, though, I probably would have kept swallowing my feelings. And one day, all those bottled feelings would have consumed me, just like my resentment had when I lashed out at Yuri and Prince Edward those two long years ago.

“Could you humor me for a bit?” I asked.

“What do you want me to do?” he said.

“Open that cupboard.”

I pointed to the cabinet by the door. Dean did as I asked; inside was wine. It was made from grapes grown in the west. There were also wine glasses inside the cupboard so that the wine could be drunk at any time.

“Sometimes I get the urge, too,” I said. “Today’s my ‘day off,’ after all. Dean, do you partake?”

“If you want me to.”

I got up from the desk and sat on a low chair by a table. Dean pulled out the cork from the bottle and poured a glass.

“Dean, you sit, too.”

“By your leave.”

I picked up my glass; Dean did the same with his. We each took a sip. Ah, that’s good.

“Do men hate it when women ask them for objects?” I asked. “Or does it make them happy?”

Dean seems troubled by my non sequitur. “I couldn’t say. Perhaps it depends on the person.”

“Depends on the person… You’re right. I wonder which of those two suggested going to the jewelry store.” I took another sip. “They seemed so happy… Smiling, linking arms, and going places together. I was engaged once, but I never experienced any of that. Perhaps that’s just my lot in life as a daughter of the nobility. Strategic, loveless marriages exist too, after all.”

But I had once loved the prince… The part of me that was a living person wistfully remembered that feeling, but the pain entwined with the memory stabbed at my heart.

“But even in strategic marriages… No, perhaps especially in strategic marriages, it’s common for presents to be given, right? I mean, even if it’s just for show.”

“Yes, I believe so.”

“Yet I never got a single one…”

Maybe I had meant nothing to Prince Edward even before I entered the academy. If that was the case, then how pathetic had I been, all excited about one day being queen? At the same time, I could sympathize with myself.

“Why do I work so hard?” I asked, echoing Dean’s question. “I told you it was because I want to use my power to bring even one more smile to my people’s faces… That’s not a lie. But perhaps, with equal ardor, I need to find meaning in my existence.”

My engagement had been broken off, bringing dishonor on my house. I had managed to avoid being disowned and exiled, but perhaps I’d thought myself on the edge of a cliff. Thus, work had become an obsession. Not only had I proved unable to arouse the least spark of interest from my ex-fiancé, I’d also failed to marry into the royal family. My reason for existing was…non-existent.

Amidst all that, the thing I discovered and clung to was work, and only work. Talk about selfish.

“Lady Iris, you mustn’t demean yourself.”

“Hm…?”

“You just told me your reason for governing as you do was your citizens, did you not?” Dean’s words were hesitant, but I waited patiently for him to continue. “No matter your motivation, no matter what else fuels you, you’ve seen what lies ahead, and you embrace your role. Thus, I believe you’ll never lose sight of what’s truly important.”

“You…do?”

“Yes. I have no advice to offer in matters of the heart, but this, at least, I’m confident in stating.”

“Ha…I see.”

No more words were shared between us, but it wasn’t a heavy silence in the least. In fact, it was the most comforting, relaxing span of simply being I’d experienced in a long while.

 

***

 

Two days later, on the final day of Dean’s latest contract, I collapsed for the first time in a year. I had been so careful to prioritize my health… I didn’t understand why this happened. But my fever left me no ability to ponder the question, and all I could do was sleep. The next time I opened my eyes, it was already dark in my room. Had I slept all day?

I sighed. Managing one’s own health is one of the most basic aspects of any job. I couldn’t believe I’d collapsed and slept the day away… What a failure of a governor I was.

“Tanya…?”

My voice was a bit dry, but nothing felt wrong with my throat. I was incredibly thirsty, though. My clothes stuck to me from the sweat, and it was, in a word, gross. Tanya, who had been waiting in my room, came to my pillow as soon as I called her. Her expression seemed slightly angry, yet also on the verge of tears.

“Some water, please,” I murmured. “And a wet towel. I want to wipe myself down.”

“Right away.”

She must have prepared in advance, because she instantly handed me a glass of water. Ah, that did wonders for my parched throat. Then Tanya proceeded to briskly wipe me down with a wet towel. I wondered how much work had piled up by now… Even thinking about it sent a chill down my spine. Dean had already left for his family home that morning. Ugh, I shouldn’t have taken that day off. Hindsight was twenty-twenty, of course. In any case, I closed my eyes to try to rest up for tomorrow.

The next morning, I dragged my heavy body out of bed and headed for the study. How tall will the pile of documents waiting for me be? I wondered as I opened the door. On the desk was the same stack as ever—no, it was smaller than usual.

“What?”

At just that moment, I heard a knock, and Dean entered.

“Dean? But…why? Didn’t you leave yesterday morning?”

“I should be the one asking questions here. Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, yes. I slept all day, after all. But that aside, this stack of papers…”

“I went through as many as my authority allowed. All that’s left are reports that require your final check.”

“I see… Thank you. But, Dean, are you sure about this? You’ve gone over your contracted pay period.”

He frowned. “I couldn’t just leave when you were sick. I was able to move some things in my schedule, so I’ll be here for another two days.”

“I’m sorry to have caused you so much trouble.”

“It’s fine. It was my own decision. Now, please have a look at these.” Dean placed the reports down and left the room. Once he was gone, I scanned through them. No issues… Which was an issue in and of itself.

I couldn’t help letting out a heavy sigh. This wasn’t good. If something didn’t change, I was going to end up dependent on Dean, and not only for work. Even now, I felt relieved to see him. I wanted to rely on him. I found myself wishing…he’d stay with me.

But I couldn’t. I couldn’t do that again. I had learned the truth with Prince Edward. One day, any day, even those you love most can betray you. That’s why I had to be able to stand on my own two feet. So that was how I operated. I accepted help. I relied on people. I trusted others, if I thought they could handle it. But beneath the surface, I always thought, They can handle this much, at least. I can trust that much, for now. I was always drawing lines. That way, if they ever betrayed me, I would be okay. I’d survive.

Yet Dean threatened to destroy my equilibrium. He threatened to step over the lines carefully drawn in my heart, tempting me to entrust him with anything—everything. And that…scared me. I shook my head vigorously, as if to deny my thoughts. I had to put them out of my mind.

Don’t think. Put a lid on it. And one day…those feelings will disappear.

 

***

 

The man called Dean knocked on the door and entered. The room he stepped into was his mistress’s study—temporarily, of course.

“Pardon me. I’ve brought your reports—”

He cut off midway through his sentence. Before him, Iris, his mistress, lay facedown, asleep on her desk. The sight brought a smile to his lips. She had collapsed two days ago, and yet today she returned to work. Without a doubt, she was pushing herself. Dean hadn’t expected her to do so, and thus he’d extended his stay another two days. Looking at her now, it became clear that his decision had still been correct.

Iris worked far too much. The lives of her people and the Azuta Corporation’s management rested on her narrow shoulders, so in some sense the workload was to be expected. However, how many other governors out there could say they dedicated so much of themselves?

“Goodness…”

If she kept this up, she would ruin her health again before she even properly recovered. But she slept so peacefully that he hesitated to wake her. Dean looked about for something to cover her but found nothing. Besides, it wasn’t proper to get so close as to touch a lady while she slept. He would therefore look for her handmaid. The second the thought crossed his mind, he felt a presence behind him and turned to meet it.

“Good timing, Tanya,” said Dean. “Lady Iris has fallen asleep. Can you get her a blanket?”

“Of course, although I’m surprised you noticed I was here.”

His smile deepened. “What do you mean? I found Lady Iris asleep, so I turned and happened to see you.”

Tanya raised an eyebrow. “Who in the world are you, really?”

This time, it was Dean’s turn to look perplexed. “Well, that’s an odd question. I’m just the son of a humble businessman from the capital. I may have trained under the general for a while, but I’m no one special.”

“Are businessmen’s sons normally so muscular?”

“I couldn’t say. Others may be different, but my master was the general. His vocabulary doesn’t include the word ‘mercy.’”

“Indeed… You carry yourself as I do, and as Lyle and Dida do. I do believe that you trained under the marquis. But the way you sensed my presence… I did not learn the techniques my brethren did. If I truly wished to conceal myself, only the marquis himself could possibly detect me. So how did you?”

“I’m telling you, it was coincidence.”

Tanya exhaled at this reply. She seemed to understand that she wasn’t going to get anything further from him. However, that didn’t change the fact that she had likely placed him on a mental list of all-too-troublesome individuals.

“Never mind,” she said. “I’ll take those documents off your hands.”

“Thank you.” Dean passed the papers to her and then exited the room as if nothing odd had happened.

 

***

 

“Goodness.”

However, once he had some distance, Dean exhaled heavily and muttered to himself. He repeated the word he’d used earlier, but this time it carried an entirely different meaning: I managed to extricate myself once, but I’ll need to be more careful with her from now on.

Funnily enough, his thoughts exactly mirrored Tanya’s.

There was no need to arouse suspicions and cause a stir. The man known as Dean had taken a liking to his life in Armelia. Ideas he would never have imagined by himself seemed to pop out of Iris, one after another. Debating them with her was…fun. He’d never felt such joy. When he saw her working herself to the bone, a desire rose in him to support her in any way he could. And whenever he extended a helping hand, she returned the favor by bringing more joy to his life. If anything about his existence could be called true, it was that he desired to stay by her side and enjoy himself, at least a little bit longer.

 

***

 

The kingdom of Tasmeria was a center of finance and culture. In a corner of its great capital, one could find the academy. Most people, upon first seeing the academy, thought it too grand for the word. That was because it functioned as a gathering place for noble sons and daughters from across the kingdom. Here, they devoted themselves to studying and forging connections day and night. On the large campus were the academy proper, the field, the training area, and the dormitories.

“Good morning, Prince Edward, Ms. Yuri.”

Iris’s younger brother, Berne, exited the dormitory and within moments ran into the second prince of the kingdom, Prince Edward, and his fiancée, Yuri. Male and female students occupied separate dorms, and the academy rules governing their interactions were strict, allowing no exceptions—not even for engaged couples. However, the prince and Yuri were nearly entwined as they walked from the dormitories to the instruction hall.

“Hey.”

“Good morning, Lord Berne.”

Prince Edward’s hair was a bright red, like his mother Ellia, the second queen, and his irises were jet-black. His sharp eyes gave him a hard air—save for when he was with Yuri, and the edges rounded off, leaving him looking quite kind.

I never saw him look like that with Iris, Berne thought. He must really love Yuri.

Beside him, Yuri’s fluffy, strawberry-colored hair was styled in braids. She hardly ever wore her hair like this, so it was even more striking. Her enormous green eyes were beautiful, and her expressive face as lovely as ever. The people around her frequently found themselves likening her to a sunflower.

“Hey, Berne, were you up studying late again?” Edward suddenly asked.

“Yeah, kinda…” Berne replied evasively.

“Oh, no. Are you pushing yourself too hard again?” Yuri asked.

“I assure you, I’m not. I appreciate your concern, though.”

The look of worry on Yuri’s face filled Berne’s chest with warmth. For a moment, his expression went slack. She always found ways to remind him of why he’d fallen for her in the first place.

“That’s amazing, Lord Berne!”

Those were the first words she had ever said to him. At the time, he’d had absolutely no interest in her, so he had brushed her off. It had confounded him to think anyone would find him amazing in any respect. Coming first in academic rankings came simply to him, and his peers seemed to agree it was the natural order.

But to Yuri, Berne’s ability to remain at the top of the class was amazing. She had repeatedly begged him to help her study. It had felt kind of good, and before he realized it, he’d become her tutor. It still brought him joy to see her improving her grades with his help.

“Lord Berne, look! Thanks to you, my grades got so much better!”

Her grades, which had been the middle of the middle of the pack, had shot into the upper tiers. Berne was as happy for Yuri as if this were his own achievement. Somewhere along the way, her high-pitched voice took on a pleasant ring; being by her side brought him comfort. Many girls had approached him in the past, but none had made him feel like Yuri did.

In the end, he lost his chance to be with her forever when she and Edward became engaged. However, as long as Yuri was happy, it was fine. Berne would continue to watch over her from their side.

On the other hand, Berne had begun to cringe for letting himself become so convinced he was indeed amazing. He had even come to regret ever thinking so. He continued to reign at the top of his academic class, and his memory was as sharp as ever—but his confidence had been shattered by his reunion with Iris.

At the academy, his sister had never received impressive grades. Yet on his trip home, Berne had discovered she was not only the president of a flourishing corporation, she was also the acting governor of Armelia. Iris did battle with mountains of documents, spoke in what seemed like a different language as she held meetings, then returned to hacking away at the papers. One minute she was lecturing him, the next minute back to work. She dove so deeply into her business that it made Berne’s head spin.

Seeing her like that was at once surprising…and traumatizing. Berne had taken to proudly considering himself amazing, but on what basis? He had no knowledge or experience. Compared to his sister, he was just a clever brat.

No…it wasn’t just Iris. No doubt many others exceeded him in talent and ability, too. He’d just refused to see them. That was the conclusion he’d come to after returning from Armelia.

It was for this reason that lately, Berne had been visiting his father to seek instruction. He knew something had to change. Nevertheless, it was frustrating. His father worked him hard, as if to make up for years of dereliction, and consistently dumped massive amounts of homework on him at the end of every session. It took Berne until the wee hours of the morning to finish it all.

Suddenly, Berne noticed Dorssen in front of the academy’s entrance. His muscular body and short hair made him quite distinct.

“Good morning.”

“Hey, Dorssen. Morning,” Edward said.

“Good morning, Dorssen. You seem exhausted… Are you okay?” Yuri asked.

“Yes. I was just involved in some training yesterday. I’m fine.”

Dorssen was usually stony, but now that Yuri mentioned it, he did seem tired. Berne would never have noticed if she hadn’t pointed it out.

“I see… Well, don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Lately, Dorssen had been obligated to join the royal knights’ training. It all started when Dorssen’s father, Doruna, had said something about “rebuilding his character” and forced him to do so. Apparently, Duke Armelia’s wife had ceased attending all parties thrown by House Kataberia—Dorssen’s house. House Armelia even gave them the cold shoulder at official events.

In simpler terms, this was the outcome of Duchess Armelia’s revenge. Berne had only learned about it once he started attending his father’s lessons. At the time, he’d recalled Iris’s warning: Think about the results of your actions.

When they reached the classroom, everyone turned and greeted them. This was expected, considering the second prince and his fiancée had just arrived. They took their seats, and just as the class chime was about to ring, the door opened again.

“Morning!”

“Morning, Van.”

Van Lutasha entered at the last possible second. He was the son of the pope of the Darryl Church. Because the Church of Darryl was the kingdom’s official religion, his family was treated like one of the peerage. The title of “pope” had even come to be passed down from father to son, like that of a hereditary lord. For this reason, Van was able to attend the academy, which otherwise exclusively served the nobility.

“Van, you’re always so late,” Yuri chided. “One day you’re going to get in trouble.”

“Considering my history, I’m actually pretty early. More importantly, your hair’s even more beautiful than ever, Ms. Yuri.”

“Thank you! Although it doesn’t sound like much of a compliment coming from you.”

Van’s hair was fluffy and blond, with a silky luster that even women who cared for their hair couldn’t always manage. His soft eyes were the standout feature of his androgynous face.

“Oh, don’t think like that. It really is pretty.”

“Th-thanks. It must be because of the Azuta Corporation’s beauty products.” Yuri blushed slightly.

Van smiled with satisfaction and nodded. “Ah, Azuta.”

“Yes! I finally got my membership approved, too.”

“Unbelievable that a mere corporation made my fiancée wait.” Edward clicked his tongue in annoyance. He’d never liked Yuri and Van getting along, though he was irritable in general.

“Prince Ed, don’t say that,” Yuri protested. “Everyone has to wait. It was only fair that I did, too.”

The second that Yuri scolded him, Edward’s expression changed. “You’re so sweet, Yuri.”

Wait, her membership was approved? Berne was secretly surprised. Given his sister’s history with the prince and Yuri, it wouldn’t have shocked him to see Yuri’s application denied outright. Still, knowing Iris, she probably put aside her feelings in favor of conceding to the royal family. Doing otherwise would be bad for business.

It must have killed the servants who love her to watch it happen, Berne thought as he gazed off into the distance.

“Azuta is so popular. Even I’m still waiting for my membership,” said Van.

“I know, right?” Yuri enthused. “The president must be an amazing person. I respect them so much. I wish I could meet them!”

“In that case, perhaps I should summon them to the palace,” said the prince. “They’ll probably trip over their own feet running over, they’ll be so honored.”

“That’s a good idea!” Yuri rejoiced, innocent to the truth of the matter.

Berne, for his part, broke out in internal sweats. She’ll never come.

In fact, nearly the entire Armelia family nursed a grudge against the second prince. Berne’s visit home had made that all too clear. Not only did his mother flay him with that scathing lecture, but the moment he left Iris’s side, the entire servant staff had completely ignored him. It had been like sleeping on a bed of thorns.

“Speaking of invited guests, what about that business we spoke about earlier?” asked Yuri.

“Oh, that thing about distributing food at that church?” asked the prince. “Sure, you’ve got approval. Right, Van?”

“Indeed. The Darryl Church will gladly assist in this endeavor.”

“That’s so good to hear!” said Yuri. “I hope we’ll bring relief to as many people as we can.”

“Obviously, if you’re doing it, everyone will jump for joy.”

Yuri was a very kind girl. She proposed all sorts of lavish charitable initiatives to Prince Edward, like donating food to the poor, and the prince moved mountains to make her ideas a reality.

But do they realize the scope of these events has put a strain on the budget? Berne found himself wondering again amidst their conversation.

No one he knew ever questioned the workings of the system that supported them. The royal family never altered their lifestyle except to make it more extravagant. Queen Ellia often spent money on herself, and Prince Edward showered Yuri in gifts. Yet, the kingdom’s tax revenues hadn’t changed to support these expenditures.

Berne recalled a particular outburst from his father: If that fiancée of his wants to give back to the people, then she needs to reexamine her own wealth. Those accursed lovebirds. She should sell the gifts she so enjoys from Prince Edward and use that money to hold her charity events. But no, she still begs him for more—she’s taking twice as much as she gives.

One or two charity events a year wouldn’t have threatened the kingdom’s coffers, but the constant stream was putting pressure on the stability of the realm. The kingdom’s vassals, especially Duke Armelia, opposed these events, but the queen and second prince forced them through, and in so doing steadily depleted food stockpiles and incurred indirect labor costs. What was more, the charity events were exclusively held in the royal capital. According to Berne’s father, this “aid” didn’t reach the people most truly in need of it. It was, to him, just a ploy to increase the second prince’s popularity.

The consequence of indirect labor costs meant the budget reserved to ensure people could continue working in various jobs had been reduced. As a result, the middle class teetered on the edge of poverty. In the past, Berne had considered Yuri an angel… But perhaps he really had been blind. Again, he recalled his sister’s words:

All you ever ask is why. But fine. The more people who study here and gain knowledge, the more that knowledge will spread among our people. It might take some time, but in ten or twenty years the Armelian standard of living will surely rise. As governor, I believe it’s necessary to look toward that future.

If Yuri truly cared for the people of Tasmeria, she wouldn’t be spending money on random acts of “charity” but working to give them the ability to continually sustain themselves. It had taken a while, but Berne finally understood his father’s and sister’s words. At the same time, a wave of regret washed over his heart.

He summoned his courage and spoke. “Any more of these charitable events will put a strain on the treasury. Maybe you should consider holding back this time.”

“Why would you say such a thing, Berne?” Yuri asked. Tears threatened to flow from her large eyes. “Shouldn’t our priority be to help the people? This would make everyone happy, so obviously it’s a good thing…”

“Charity is good, but only where it’s needed. Yuri, you shouldn’t be putting these infeasible ideas in Prince Edward’s head—”

“He’s the prince of this kingdom! A prince can do anything, can’t he? If the treasury is running low, then replenish it with taxes. Oh, or disband the military? Yes, that’s a splendid idea. This kingdom’s so peaceful, we have no need for a military. Right, Prince Edward?” Yuri smiled at her fiancé, proud of her “perfect” proposal.

Berne couldn’t hide his shock. She’s like a little kid. As innocent as a child and as thoughtlessly cruel. Even a second of deeper thought would make one would realize disbanding the military wasn’t possible. Not only did they defend the kingdom’s borders, but they also kept the peace. Most of all, what of all the people who would lose their jobs? Without proper planning for alternative work, they’d be sentenced to a future of standing in line at Yuri’s one-off charity events.

“You’re so smart, Yuri…” The prince smiled. Then he glared at Berne. “Berne, you’re too stubborn. You’re reminding me of a certain vassal.”

“Forgive me for stepping out of line.” Berne shut his mouth. Ugh, Father’s going to blow his top again. No… Maybe he never really calmed down in the first place.

 

***

 

“He’s graduating already, huh?” I muttered to myself.

“Lady Iris, is something the matter?” Tanya asked.

“Mm… I was just thinking about Berne.”

A lot of time had passed since I left the academy. I’d been so busy that it really didn’t feel like that long ago, though. It was quite an emotional thing to realize the people I’d known there were going to be graduating. According to the original game’s summary, after a year at the academy, the protagonist got a good ending with one of the love interests. If she chose the Prince Edward route, Iris—i.e., me—ended up expelled from the academy in disgrace while they lived happily ever after, or something. You get the picture.

Of course, if the player chose no love interest, she got a neutral ending. There was no harem ending, like what was playing out in reality… At least, I thought it was. That said, I had been the type to power through games on my own without ever looking at strategy guides or walkthroughs, so I’d only ever reached the second prince’s ending. I didn’t know much about the others. Unfortunately, I had just regained my memories of playing the game right at the conclusion of the plot, so it wasn’t like that extra knowledge helped either.

Incidentally, Berne and I had been born a year apart. However, we had been in the same grade. In other words, Prince Edward and everyone I knew would be graduating at the same time.

“My lady, do you miss the academy?” Tanya asked.

“I suppose I do have some nice memories of the place, but that’s about it. My days have been so full since my expulsion that I haven’t had time to reminisce.”

“I see…”

“The effects of their graduation into society remain to be seen. I do hope we’ll be able to separate Berne from their influence.”

“There’s no need for you to waste your concern on him.”

Tanya, Berne is still technically the family heir… I sighed. Talk about cutting him off.

“Look, if the kingdom’s not going down in flames any time soon, then the duchy is best served by maintaining a connection with the central government,” I said. “Assuming nothing happens to him, my father will be the prime minister for a long time to come, but…if you consider the future, then we need to prepare for Berne following in his footsteps.”

“My lady, you make it sound like the destruction of this kingdom is a genuine possibility.”

“You never know what the future holds. After the second prince graduates, I foresee an uptick in conflict, which will mean even more instability.”

Would things truly have a good end with Yuri and the second prince living happily ever after? If the conflict between the first prince and the second prince grew more heated, it threatened to bring the kingdom to its knees.

“That reminds me, you received a letter from your father,” said Tanya. “What did it say?”

“Hm? He seemed grateful. Apparently Berne has finally started coming to him for lessons. I don’t think I did anything, so he’d be better served thanking our mother for setting it all up.”

The truth was, I didn’t really care what happened to Berne. The most I thought of him was as a potentially useful pawn.

“Forgive me if I’m intruding, my lady, but that doesn’t match the look I saw on your face as you read the letter. You seemed…ill at ease.”

“Ah, well… There was also word of Prince Edward.”

That certainly had been a shock. Firstly, that Berne had actually begun reporting Prince Edward’s behavior to Father. Secondly and even more shocking, that he reported what Prince Edward said. Berne had objected—Berne, of all people!—to a charity event, saying it would strain the kingdom’s coffers. Then, out of the blue, they suggested we disband the military!

Father had told Grandfather about this, sending him into a rage: There’s no wasteful spending in the military! If you want to cut something, cut the royal knights!

The kingdom was currently at peace, there was no denying that. We hadn’t gone to war with another country since the Tweil War, the one in which Grandfather won his glory. However, no formal ceasefire had ever been agreed to. Ultimately, we were in the midst of a lull that could spark back into open conflict at any moment. The fact that this had even been brought up was concerning. Grandfather had returned to the royal capital upon the news.

“I hate that man,” Tanya whispered.

This snapped me out of my thoughts. Her expressionless face made her statement even scarier.

“Tanya, I wasn’t pining for Prince Edward, let alone depressed. Not in that way. I was just a bit surprised by the contents of the letter.”

“But it is unthinkable that he should still cause you grief.”

“I appreciate your concern, Tanya.” I really did. “But now it’s time to get back to work.”

I finished my teatime and returned to the study. Now that Grandfather had left too, the mansion felt so big. He really filled any room he was in, didn’t he?

 

***

 

“Oh… Lyle, Dida. What is it?” As I was walking down the hall, I ran into them in front of the study.

“I’m here to submit my report, my lady,” said Lyle.

“I’m just bored,” said Dida.

Lyle glared at Dida. “You need to fix that mouth of yours!”

How many times have I seen this scene play out? I wondered as I sat in my chair. “It’s fine, Lyle. Now, how are things with the security force?”

“Things are going well. While Master Gazell was here, he oversaw our training every day.” Lyle was a harsh critic, too, so they really had to be doing well.

“Yeah, yeah. They can at least hold a candle to us now.”

“Well now, that is fantastic.” Oddly enough, Tanya offered an unsolicited compliment.

True enough, if our forces could go toe-to-toe with Lyle and Dida, then they really had improved. The last time I’d snuck a look at their training, my two guards hadn’t even let their training partners draw their swords.

Seriously, how strong were my boys? Before he left, Grandfather had told me, “Those two beat me! I must be getting old.” He seemed a bit sad about that, since he’d never lost to them before. But his eyes had also sparkled like an excited child, and I clearly remembered him having mock battles with Lyle and Dida every day until he left.

“My lady… If your forces can match these two, then they’re at least as strong as the best royal knights or the foremost soldiers in the military.”

“That does sound fantastic. Keep up the good work.”

I appreciate it, Grandfather, I silently thanked him. However, it did beg the question of what he intended to do with our security force. But if anything were to befall the kingdom, a strong force capable of protecting our lands would prove invaluable.

 

***

 

The detached palace was situated apart from the royal palace. While not as gaudy, it was of equally sturdy construction. Closer inspection revealed a masterful attention to detail. The person who called this palace home was Queen Dowager Iria Fons Tasmeria, who valued peace and tranquility. As the queen of the previous generation, she was also the mother of the current king and the highest-ranking noblewoman in the kingdom.

“By the way, Alfred. I noticed you were going out with Rudy quite often lately.”

Her eyes were on her grandson Alfred, the first prince. By his side was Rudy, his childhood friend and assistant.

“You’re sharp, Grandmother. I’ve found myself quite busy.”

Alfred smiled as he answered, but Iria sighed internally. Though Alfred was her grandson, she found it impossible to tell what he was thinking from his expression. It was at once a tight yet too natural smile. Even for someone such as herself, who had lived for decades within the world of manipulation and deceit known as high society, couldn’t have read him were it not for the years she had spent raising him.

“I have my sources,” she said. “You’re helping the prime minister clean up after Ellia and Edward’s messes, aren’t you?”

The debt accumulated during the Tweil War thirty years past still haunted the kingdom of Tasmeria. They had been managing to gradually pay it back, so barring disaster, there was no real financial threat. Despite this, Queen Ellia and Prince Edward seem determined to sink the kingdom between the constant gratuitous acts of frivolous charity, Ellia’s baroque dresses for official events that she might never wear, as well as the lavish presents Prince Edward bought for his new fiancée.

Once, the prince and his fiancée had vacationed at a resort and the girl had said, “This place is so wonderful! Wouldn’t it be wondrous if everyone could enjoy it?” and in his zealous urge to please, Edward had tried to fully recreate the resort in the capital. If he’d meant it as a joke, no one was laughing.

Thankfully, the prime minister Duke Armelia had staunchly opposed this project and shut it down. This enraged Edward, and he became entirely unreasonable until the commission of Yuri’s dresses was grudgingly approved. But paying for her dresses out of the royal family’s coffers was unheard of. In Iria’s opinion, Ellia and her coddled son were becoming too arrogant for their own good.

The kingdom’s budget was split between the royal family’s and the government’s funds. The royal family’s funds were meant to support their lives and private activities. The government’s funds were, as one might expect, used to run the kingdom.

For example, in the case of the queen dowager, her everyday wardrobe was paid for out of the royal family’s funds, while the dresses she wore at official events were considered necessary expenses for the government and covered by the related funds.

Furthermore, she paid her servants out of her own pocket—in other words, from the royal family budget. However, the officials that served her as the queen dowager were paid by the government’s funds. The difference was incredibly difficult to tell, but basically it came down to whether they served Iria in her private life or were clerks to one of the kingdom’s top officials, the queen dowager. Her handmaids were the former, and officials were the latter. Custom might also dictate where an individual’s salary originated, but this was the general rule.

However, whatever custom might be, Yuri was still only a royal fiancée. There was no precedent for spending either the royal family’s funds or the government’s funds on her daily activities.

“Yes, they’ve been making a right mess of things financially, and within the palace as well,” said Alfred, calm as could be. “Especially the queen’s family and their people. Thanks to them, anyone of merit has been chased off, hence our current straits.”

“And our once-reliable king. Not only did he lose all vigor after your dear mother Sharia passed, now he’s taken ill.” Iria sighed. “Fortunately, the news of the king’s infirmity hasn’t yet leaked to the outside world, but it’s only a matter of time.”

“Indeed.” Alfred smiled softly. “It’s with this understanding that the queen’s family is gathering influence.”

“Alfred,” Iria said sharply, warningly.

“Yes, I know. I’m not planning to die just yet. I will stay behind the curtain a while longer.”

“As long as you understand,” she said sternly.

“Until our final preparations are in place, I will continue to operate in secret,” he promised.

“You mean by gathering allies and preparing to excise the corruption.”

“I can’t hide anything from you, Grandmother.”

Alfred confirmed nothing, but his answer satisfied Iria. She could trust he would get the job done. “Oh? But what of your secret adventures with Rudy?” she asked. “Leticia misses you greatly. Can’t you share anything about what you’re up to?”

Leticia was Alfred’s sister. She was younger than Edward but wise beyond her years. The queen dowager had high hopes for her, similar to those she had for Alfred.

“Perhaps one day.” Alfred smiled mysteriously again. He didn’t plan on divulging any more.

Iria allowed him to have this secret, at least for now.

 

***

 

“Hee hee…”

Alone in her tearoom, Iria reflected on her conversation with Alfred. It made her so happy that she couldn’t hide her smile. Despite Alfred’s reticence, she had a keen understanding of where he was spending his time. He visited many places across the kingdom but often returned to the duchy of Armelia. This, fortunately, aligned with Iria’s goal: to wed the duke’s daughter to a member of the royal family.

It all stemmed from her love of Iris’s mother, Merellis. The moment Iria first set eyes on that woman’s lovely, doll-like face, she had wished Merellis was her own daughter. However, Merellis had at the time already been engaged to the previous duke’s eldest son, Louis. She’d loved him since she was just a girl, and so Iria had cried but gave up on her dream. The last thing she wanted to do was force the issue and lead Merellis to hate her.

She didn’t completely give up, however. If Merellis gave birth to a daughter, Iria knew she had to get her engaged to one of her grandsons, no matter what. She later heard from Louis, Duke of Armelia, that they had been given the gift of a daughter—the girl Iria had hoped for. They had named the child Iris, a combination of Iria and Merellis.

Iria worried that she might have gotten ahead of herself, as she hadn’t even seen the girl’s face yet, but the day Merellis brought the young Iris to see her, she fell in love all over again. The child was the spitting image of Merellis, save for the deep blue eyes she’d inherited from Louis, but these lent a certain grace to her features.

Iria had to have her for a granddaughter. Politically speaking, it would be better to have the girl marry Alfred over Edward, Ellia’s son. Unfortunately, with the passing of Alfred’s mother, Sharia, Alfred and Leticia had become embroiled in a number of hardships, and while Iria was distracted ensuring their safety, Iris had become engaged to Edward.

Iria had once roundaboutly asked Iris if she wished to join the royal family, but she had never specified by what means. She’d been sure that even if she said nothing, Merellis would never approve of Iris’s engagement to Edward, the son of a woman Merellis despised. But that belief was turned on its head when Iris fell for Edward. Iris’s doting parents had assented to the union, determined to let the girl do as she wanted. In the end, it had meant Iris would become Iria’s granddaughter, which was her ultimate ambition, so she had reluctantly accepted it as well.

Then the engagement was broken.

When she heard the news, Iria despaired that her plans had once again failed. But, upon re-examination, it proved an excellent opportunity. This time, she would ensure Alfred and Iris married, and she would have that lovely girl for her granddaughter.

They said history repeated itself. Well, she wasn’t about to let that happen. Iria swore that no matter what, she would succeed this time.

And so, she began to make her moves. First on her agenda was returning Iris to high society. Even if Iria’s dream did come true, if Iris remained an outcast, there would be trouble ahead.

Iris hadn’t shown her face once in high society since her expulsion from the academy. If she tried, she would be laughed out over her broken engagement. Now, however, she was the successful governor of a duchy and president of a popular corporation. If anything, it highlighted Edward’s failure in letting her go. All that was left was to create an opportunity for Iris to return to the social season.

Perhaps it’s time to get off my rear, the queen dowager thought as she raised her tired hips from her seat.

 

***

 

“And they lived happily ever after. The end. That’s it for today’s story.”

I closed the book. The crowd of children looked at me with sad eyes.

“Nooo, more! More!”

“Read this picture book next!”

Aw, so cute! In the corner of my mind, I thought, I must have the goofiest grin on my face right now. I did my best to suppress the urge to read them another book. “I’m sorry, but I really do have to get going now. I promise I’ll be back, so forgive me.”

“Awww…”

“When will you be back?”

The sad voices of the children made me want to stay forever. “I’m not sure when, but I promise. Okay?”

“Okayyy…”

“Read us another book next time, too!”

“Of course.”

I bid farewell to the orphans and Mina, then took my leave.

Ugh, I didn’t want to go home. If I ever retired, perhaps I’d work at the orphanage.

Lately, I had been giving such ideas serious thought. After having my engagement to the royal family broken, marriage was not something I could realistically hope for. The dream of marital bliss lay in pieces within me.

One day, I would have to retire from my corporation and governance. When that time came, I wanted to spend my life living quietly, surrounded by children. That would be my ideal. Children really were good for the soul. I had zero experience raising them, so I was sure it would be difficult. But at the very least, with them, I was sure my heart wouldn’t feel as cold as it did now.

Discrepant interests, negotiations… Such difficulties came with business and politics. Exchanges with the kingdom and other territories took most of my mental energy. I was no saint, but I didn’t want to fail to protect what was important to me because I faltered. Sometimes, that meant turning my heart to stone and cutting off what needed to be cut off, or using who needed to be used. I had to protect my duchy, my citizens, my dear parents, and all the people who so graciously worked for me.

It made me tired. Not in body, but in mind. I think it was written in some book: Lonely is the head that wears the crown. I wasn’t a ruler on that level, but I had the final say in decisions that changed the fates of countless people. Whatever my title, the responsibility still lay with me.

At times, the weight threatened to crush me. But I had taken on this burden, so I had to succeed.

One day, however, I would grow old. I couldn’t keep this up forever. I’d have to find a suitable replacement. And when that time came, I’d live a quiet life surrounded by children…

I was getting ahead of myself. But that was just more reason to work hard now, so I could have the peaceful future of which I dreamed.

 

***

 

It had been half a year since my grandfather left the duchy of Armelia. Berne and the second prince graduated without issue, and Berne was studying under my father to learn his duties. The prince’s other sycophants had also returned to their families to learn their trades. I heard even Prince Edward was learning his duties within the palace. He and Yuri weren’t yet officially married. There had been no announcement of when it would happen, but it would surely be soon.

One day, I returned home and headed for my study. First, I glanced over the reports from my corporation and then turned my attention to government issues.

“Welcome, Lady Iris.”

Just then, Dean entered. Ever since I’d collapsed, I’d stopped inviting Dean on my trips into the city even when there was a lull at work. I made sure our days off didn’t coincide, so that no matter what happened, one of us was around to handle things.

Okay, that was an excuse. The truth was, I had been distancing my heart from Dean.

“Hello, Dean. Let’s hear your report, then,” I said cordially.

“Of course. As expected, with the lowered tariffs, exports and imports have increased. Profit is up across the board for all companies.”

In the past six months, we had lowered tariffs and replaced the poll tax with an income tax. The introduction period had been quite chaotic, but as we went, we revised and fixed various issues.

Being a long, thin stretch of territory, the duchy of Armelia enjoyed a multitude of rich port towns on its eastern seaboard. There were other kingdoms across the sea and on our borders, which was a risk in times of war, but for now, our profits exceeded any risk. Plus, being southeast of the royal capital meant they stood between us and hostile Tweil. Compared to that threat, what we faced was nothing.

In any case, thanks to our lowered tariffs, trade with foreign kingdoms was booming. Previously, goods had been taxed going in and out of the duchy, as well as between local towns. We had done away with the export tariff and lowered the rate at which we taxed imports. In the future, I planned to adjust the rates depending on world events and the type of goods.

At present, businesses had increased the variety of products they handled and were consequently seeing higher profits, which made me excited for the business income tax to be introduced, which differed from the personal income tax. The Azuta Corporation had also begun selling to other kingdoms, and we were gradually building up our catalog.

Furthermore, with the increase in the flow of goods had come an interesting discovery: silk.

In my old world, I believe it was in the age of Rome that silk entered Europe and became a highly sought-after luxury good. But for some reason, silk still hadn’t come to Tasmeria. The material imports were mostly hemp, hides, and cotton. When I one day mused on the fact that, for us, cotton had preceded silk, I started to wonder if silk simply couldn’t be produced in this world.

However, once trade expanded, I finally got my hands on it. One day, I hoped to produce it locally using silkworms. Although, even if I knew the origin of silk, I honestly had no idea how it was turned into cloth. It would probably take a long time to figure out. For that reason, when tax revenue stabilized, I wanted to offer the patronage of the duchy to anyone willing to conduct a thorough battery of experiments to learn the secrets of silk.

I heard a knock, and in came Sebastian. “Pardon me, Lady Iris.”

“What is it?”

“I have a delivery for you.”

I looked at the letter he handed me, and my eyes went wide. The crest on the seal was that of the royal family. I opened it and quickly got to reading.

“Why was this sent to me…?”

It was an invitation to the palace for a party celebrating the kingdom’s foundation. This was an official event, so normally, every noble who could physically make it would be in attendance. Keyword: normally. I, however, had not only been expelled from high society, I hadn’t once attended—let alone been invited to—a single event since leaving the academy. That was to be expected, and it made this sudden invitation all the stranger.

“If I may, Lady Iris… This is an invitation from the royal family. It is not possible to turn it down without extraordinary cause.” Sebastian eyed the invitation with a similar level of suspicion.

“Right… I suppose I’ll have to prepare myself for the worst.”

“Do not worry about the duchy. Dean is here, and if anything untoward should occur, I’ll be sure to send a messenger.”

I steeled myself. “Good. Thank you, Sebastian.”

A few days later, I left the duchy and headed for my family’s mansion in the capital. I hadn’t been here in three years, so the experience was overwhelming.

“Welcome back, Lady Iris.”

Every servant was at the door to greet me. Leading them was the head maid, Elulu.

“It’s good to see you again, Elulu,” I said.

“Yes. For me, there could be no greater joy.”

“You’re so dramatic.”

I walked past the rows of servants and headed for the salon. There, my parents and brother awaited me.

“There you are,” said Father as I entered.

“Welcome home, Iris, dear,” said Mother.

“It’s been too long, Father, Mother, Berne.”

“You seem healthy, at least. Be sure to relax while you’re here.” My normally strict father looked at me with a soft expression. That alone was enough to light a spark of happiness in me.

“I will gratefully take you up on your offer,” I said, taking a seat.

“Dear, I heard from Sei that you have a new product,” said Mother. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“It’s not available to be sold yet,” I demurred. “However, I’ll be showing off a test version at the next party. Please look forward to it.”

“Oooh! Can’t you show it to me later in secret? Please?”

“Let’s save some excitement for tomorrow,” I said. She agreed to wait, if somewhat sadly.

“Iris…are you really attending the party tomorrow?” Berne asked during a lull in my exchange with Mother. He almost looked worried.

“Do I have a choice?” I asked sincerely. “It was an invitation from the royal family.”

“But Prince Edward and Ms. Yuri will be there.”

I was taken aback by his statement, and an awkward silence fell. “What a surprise…” I said.

Berne looked at me curiously. “What is?”

“You actually sound worried about me.”

His expression darkened a bit. “Well, I realize it’s too late to claim I care, but…”

“It’s all right. Thank you.”

 

***

 

After the family reunion, I relaxed in my room. The last time I was there, I had been terribly nervous as I waited to negotiate with my father. I had also been so incredibly busy preparing for what would happen afterward that I didn’t remember this room much. Perhaps that just made it more nostalgic.

As I sat there, Elulu entered. “Lady Iris, the Master is calling for you.”

“My father, huh? I’ll be right there.”

I went to his room to find him sitting in a chair, surrounded by documents. It reminded me of myself.

“There you are,” he said.

“Yes, pardon the intrusion.”

“So, I hear you’re doing well as governor.”

“I’m glad someone thinks so.”

“Don’t downplay your work,” he chided. “Anyway, I really must apologize about this.”

“‘This’ being the party?” I asked lightly.

“Yes. Merry and I tried looking into it, but those who oversee the royal family’s activities and official events insist it’s an honest invitation.”

“What could they be planning, inviting me?” I asked. “There can’t possibly be any advantage for them.”

“No, it will just be hell for you,” he said frankly. “The nobility are wretched toward those who have been singled out for ostracization.”

“Well, I’m prepared for that,” I said, and I meant it. “Since I can’t run away, there’s no use in crying.”

Father nodded. “Fortunately, the confusion surrounding the king’s absence might provide a bit of a distraction.”

I frowned. “The king isn’t attending the Foundation Day celebration? Is something wrong?”

This was a celebration central to the soul of Tasmeria. Only the gravest of conditions could possibly prevent him from attending.

“Six months ago, His Majesty collapsed.”

“No…”

The solemn news made me gasp. The king would be absent at the worst possible time. The chaos brewing in the kingdom was now bound to worsen.

“At the time, his condition wasn’t critical. But at present, it’s worsened to the point that anyone could tell from a glance that he is sick. I suspect his absence at tomorrow’s celebration will alert the entire kingdom.”

That was to be expected. News of the king’s absence would spread like wildfire.

“I suppose you’re right, then. The word on everyone’s lips will be of His Majesty’s absence, not some duke’s daughter. If I can survive tomorrow, my existence will recede once more into the back of their memories. I will promptly return to the duchy and trouble them no more.”

“Yes, indeed…”

“Though, Father, I’m sure your life will be even more stressful after the party. Try to take care of yourself,” I said.

“Same to you,” he said, harrumphing. “I heard you collapsed once already.”

“It was just one day. Since then, I’ve incorporated breaks into my routine.”

“I see. The body is the capital necessary for work. Let’s both try not to abuse our most vital resource.”

“Yes. Thank you for your concern.”

The next day brought perfect weather, so I took my usual yoga routine into the garden. Tanya seemed to have given up on chiding me for doing yoga in a hemp top and pants, but it seemed she never guessed I would do it outside. When she found me, she was in a right panic.

I’m sorry, Tanya. But good weather is so rare in the capital that I just had to!

Just then, Mother also found me and expressed interest in my routine, so I promised to teach her the next morning. The celebration would take up all our time for the rest of the day, so I needed to start getting ready.

I promptly showered and began my preparations. Tanya helped me into my dress, put on my makeup, and did my hair. Incidentally, the test product I mentioned the day before was the dress I intended to wear. I’d had it constructed from the silk I found. Ah, silk… It had a lovely luster.

“You look so beautiful, my lady…”

Tanya, too, was taken in by the dress, and she murmured under her breath.

All right, my armor was fitted. My mind was steeled. It was time to head to the battlefield.