Chapter 14

After the soldiers left, the Rotem estate returned to its usual peaceful appearance.

At least on the surface.

But to Heidi, the atmosphere inside the mansion looked completely different from before.

The maids seemed slightly tense, and security had become much stricter.

“Let’s stop here for now. We’ll take a short break and then continue.”

“Yes…”

“I’ll have some refreshments prepared.”

And compared to before, the amount of studying had increased beyond comparison.

Exhausted, Heidi slumped over her desk.

Sweet pastries and fruit were placed before her, but she didn’t even have the energy to look at them.

Studying history from dawn itself was bad enough. After being bombarded with countless place names she had never heard in her life, she wasn’t even hungry anymore.

“If Anastasia moves quickly, then we must move even faster.”

Right… that’s true.

‘It is true, but this is way too hard!’

Heidi clutched her throbbing head.

Over the past few months, she had learned and absorbed more knowledge than everything she had learned throughout her entire life combined.

Starting with reading and writing, then how to sit and stand properly, and now rhetoric and history.

There were days when she genuinely felt her head might explode.

Desion watched her quietly before speaking.

“Is it very difficult?”

“It would be a lie to say it isn’t.”

Heidi straightened herself and replied.

“I don’t think I’m very interested in this kind of studying.”

“Anyone would feel that way.”

Desion rubbed his jaw thoughtfully before continuing.

“Then perhaps we should discuss something more interesting.”

Something interesting?

Heidi’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Social gossip.”

Heidi let out a small laugh.

“You mean stories about who in which family is involved with whom? I’ve heard a few things like that.”

“Something similar.”

Desion smiled back.

“It may seem trivial, but behind all those silly stories lies a fierce struggle for power.”

“Power?”

“In the end, it’s all about power. And politics.”

Heidi’s expression became subtle.

“…The more I hear, the less interesting it sounds.”

Desion shrugged.

“Trust me. It’ll be far more entertaining than staring at those thick books.”

* * *

“People often say that Panter has three pillars. It’s a term used to refer to the three families with the greatest influence in the kingdom.”

Desion drew three circles on a sheet of paper.

Heidi quickly spoke up.

“I know one of them. The Marquess Heizen family.”

“Correct.”

Desion scribbled inside one of the circles.

“The other two are the Duke Delrn family and the Duke Pretium family.”

After filling in all three circles, he looked up at Heidi.

“To gain the support of the nobility, winning these two families over to our side is the most important thing.”

“But there are plenty of influential noble houses besides those two, aren’t there?”

Desion nodded.

“That’s true. However, every family is ultimately influenced by one of these three proud houses. Most of them share interests with one of them.”

“So if we can’t get the Delrn and Pretium families on our side…”

“Then no matter how hard we try, it will all be for nothing.”

“Mmm…”

Heidi frowned slightly.

She had a feeling it wouldn’t be easy.

Seeing her expression, Desion continued in a brighter tone.

“Fortunately, we don’t need to persuade both of them immediately.”

“Why?”

“Of course it would be ideal if we could. But what we need right now is public opinion. And to create that, we only need a majority.”

Heidi’s eyes widened as she understood.

“We already have one-third on our side…”

Desion nodded.

“Exactly. That means we only need to bring one more family over to our side. Though even that won’t be easy.”

He pointed to the circle labeled Delrn.

“The Delrn family has produced scholars for generations. Many of them work in law and research, and they place great importance on principles and rules. They’ve also produced the largest number of chancellors. They don’t appear much in high society, but since they occupy many key positions in the royal court, their influence is enormous.”

“I heard that the person teaching Princess Anastasia right now is the Chancellor.”

“That’s right. At present, they have close ties with Anastasia. However, because they value legitimacy so highly, there’s still a possibility they may change their minds in the future.”

Heidi nodded slowly.

Then Desion pointed to the circle marked Pretium.

“Pretium is the exact opposite of Delrn. They’re extremely sociable. They’re famous for discovering and sponsoring talented artists.”

“So they’re much more outgoing than the Delrn family.”

“Precisely. People say that every piece of gossip in high society eventually flows to Pretium.”

Heidi’s eyes lit up.

“They must have incredible intelligence networks.”

“They do. Even Anastasia covets that influence. As far as I know, she invested considerable effort into winning the favor of the young duke.”

“The young duke? Why not the duke himself?”

“Because the young duke is effectively acting as the head of the family. The duke has been bedridden for years. Apparently, he rarely regains consciousness.”

“What kind of person is the young duke?”

“A remarkably capable one. Ever since the duke handed authority over to him, the Pretium territory has prospered at an astonishing rate.”

Desion raised an eyebrow and muttered.

“I suspect he made some sort of deal with Anastasia… though for now it’s only a suspicion.”

A deal?

Heidi looked at him curiously, but he said nothing more.

“Rumors are spreading that Anastasia will marry the duke’s second son. Soon, the alliance between Pretium and Anastasia will become even stronger.”

“Ah…”

Heidi’s shoulders drooped in disappointment.

If they were close enough to arrange a marriage, their relationship must be solid.

“Then our only option is to focus on the Delrn family.”

At her words, the corner of Desion’s mouth curled upward.

He shook his head with a grin.

“No. We’ll target the Pretium family first.”

Heidi’s eyes widened.

“But you just said Anastasia and the second son of the Pretium family—”

“Marriage negotiations falling apart is hardly unusual.”

Heidi tilted her head in confusion.

To her, it seemed far more practical to approach Delrn than Pretium, where they would have to overturn an engagement arrangement.

Yet Desion’s face was full of confidence.

“Convincing the entire Pretium family is impossible, of course. However…”

He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips.

“If my guess is correct, the princess’s future fiancé will be the easiest target for us to win over.”

* * *

“A face I never wanted to see again. I was hoping he would never return.”

One spoonful of sugar into the red tea. Then another.

As Anastasia stirred twice with a teaspoon, a small whirlpool formed inside the ornate teacup.

“Yet now that he’s actually out of my sight, I can’t stop worrying about him.”

Clink.

Anastasia tossed the teaspoon far away and bit down on her lip.

‘I thought I’d feel better once I confirmed it.’

Albert had returned from Rotem and reported that he had found nothing unusual there.

Yet she still couldn’t relax.

“My beautiful princess, why are you upset again?”

The nanny, apparently used to this behavior, picked up the spoon from the floor and smiled gently.

Leaning against the soft backrest of her chair, Anastasia abruptly turned toward her.

“What about the investigation I ordered separately?”

The nanny shook her head.

“Albert was right. There was nothing. They searched the house thoroughly and found nothing suspicious.”

“Rotem… So he’s really staying in that backwater place for absolutely no reason?”

The nanny quietly approached and gently stroked Anastasia’s back in a soothing manner.

Her dark golden hair slipped softly through the woman’s slender fingers.

“Perhaps he’s simply there to recuperate. The air is clean and the water is good.”

“Recuperate? That sturdy man?”

Anastasia scoffed.

“It’s still unsettling, but whatever. If I can keep him out of the way for a few years, that’s not a bad outcome.”

Looking much more relaxed now, Anastasia turned toward her nanny.

“Send a message to Young Duke Pretium. Tell him that I’d like to see him.”