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Chapter 12
“It’s nothing big. There’s going to be a ceremony and celebration party at the Uros County. I’d like you to come with me.”
“The Uros family….”
They were famous for producing excellent knights, though people often joked that their line would die out because the only heir wasted his time in debauchery instead of becoming a knight.
Still, it was a distinguished family.
In fact, the heir who would be inheriting the count’s title this time was the youngest commander of the Imperial Auxiliary Knights.
Come to think of it, wasn’t he the one who knocked Edel unconscious at the last moment when Cassian stormed in?
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I suppose I’ll have to give the mandrake meant for Duke Dwelsen to myself.”
Rowen said coyly, pretending to pop the mandrake into her mouth.
Edel couldn’t help but hesitate. Even if she wanted to refuse, she had to find a way to create a link between Cassian and Rowen. It was a choice at a crossroads.
“Edel.”
The soft tone of Rowen was like a demon wrapped in sugar.
‘Haah….’
In the future Edel knew, the Uros family completely sided with Rowen. If that was going to happen anyway, it wasn’t such a bad idea to use this opportunity to scout things out.
“I’ll go.”
“Thank you.”
Satisfied with the answer, Rowen handed Edel the glass vial of mandrake.
“Tell Duke Dwelsen to recover quickly. He’ll need to be in good health to support my younger brother.”
“I will.”
Edel smiled brightly, as if grateful—but also because she was looking forward to what was to come.
She planned to deliver the mandrake to Cassian along with a message, so that she could guide him toward maintaining ties with Rowen. Only then would Cassian gradually grow bolder in reaching for Rowen.
With her objective achieved, Edel turned to leave.
“Are you really all right with this?”
Kia, who had suddenly taken the glass vial from Edel’s hand, asked cautiously.
“If you attend the Uros party, won’t that look like you’re lending Princess Rowen your support?”
“It’s fine. It’s not a complete loss. Uros is a family we’ll have to face anyway if we’re to deal with Rowen.”
Edel spoke calmly, though Kia still looked uneasy.
“By the way, have you been sleeping well lately?”
“Mm… not perfectly, but it’s not like I can’t sleep at all.”
“If you need a physician, just say the word.”
“It’s not that serious. But thank you.”
As they chatted lightly, they arrived back at the palace. The place seemed busy.
It must be the arrival of the brooches they had ordered.
The attendants, already aware of the rumor that the brooches were meant for them, were practically bouncing with anticipation.
Edel carefully inspected each brooch, ensuring there were no flaws, and then personally fastened them one by one on her attendants.
“Your Highness…!”
They were moved to tears, looking ready to devote their very lives to her.
For them, even as attendants, such an expensive brooch would have been a huge burden to buy. To have their mistress personally pin them—it must have felt like a blessing from heaven.
Of course, this was only a fleeting emotion, but with this, Edel was able to clear the debt in her heart.
Lastly, she pinned a slightly scratched brooch onto Kia and gave a firm command.
“Kia, make sure everyone knows this brooch with the scratch is yours.”
Kia didn’t question it, only nodded fervently.
“Still, this must make it harder for you to spend freely for a while.”
“I’ve only used the money I saved. I’ve already set aside the funds I needed for investment.”
It was worth it to repay the attendants who had stayed with her until the very end.
After much thought, Edel had come to believe she should always use her enemies as pawns.
But when it came to those who weren’t her enemies, it was different.
Kia seemed to understand the meaning of the brooch as well.
It was Edel’s last pure act of kindness, from someone who hated owing debts.
That thought brought a wave of sadness over Kia, but she decided to feel joy instead. From now on, Edel would no longer be able to act on pure feelings alone.
Seeing everyone so satisfied, even Jane, who had personally delivered the brooches, left with a moved expression.
Watching the attendants excitedly talk about their brooches among themselves, Edel returned to her chambers, pleased.
She now had to send the mandrake to Cassian—preferably with a letter.
Edel, who could imitate Rowen’s handwriting, began composing a letter that looked as though it were from Rowen.
While she was in the middle of her task, Cassian’s attendant arrived.
Edel met him in the reception room. This time, unlike before, his eyes were burning with desire.
No doubt it was because of the brooches glittering on the attendants’ chests. Envy had sparked greed in him.
When Edel appeared, the attendant cleared his throat and delivered Cassian’s letter. But he couldn’t help glancing repeatedly at the brooches.
Cassian’s letter was, as usual, nothing significant, so Edel folded it up quickly.
Instead, she handed him the mandrake with the forged letter written in Rowen’s hand.
“This is a gift from Princess Rowen to Duke Dwelsen.”
“Isn’t this mandrake?”
Though it was common in Rowen’s garden, Edel did not point that out.
Better to let him believe it was a rare and precious gift—something that would weigh on Cassian’s mind.
“Her Highness Rowen also wishes for Duke Dwelsen’s speedy recovery.”
“That’s truly gracious of her!”
“Tell the Duke he should repay her kindness in the future.”
“Yes, I will be sure to convey that.”
Having said all she needed, Edel rose.
For a moment, disappointment flickered on the attendant’s face, but he quietly gathered the things he had been given.
Once outside the reception room, Edel discreetly slipped a new brooch to Kia. It was a man’s brooch she had secretly ordered from Jane.
“Kia, give this to that attendant.”
“Oh! When did you prepare this?”
Kia immediately understood Edel’s intent and nodded.
Since Cassian’s attendant was not yet Edel’s man, he might feel burdened if she gave it to him directly.
It would be easier for Kia, with her approachable nature, to deliver it. He would accept it without resistance and then, just as Edel hoped, spread the word within the Duke’s household.
Kia returned to the reception room at once, just as the attendant was about to leave.
“Would you sit for a moment?”
“Eh? Ah, yes.”
He was a quick-witted man. Kia could see the spark of recognition in his eyes at once.
“Princess Edel is deeply grateful to you.”
“Ah, as I thought?”
“Of course. How could she not be, when you deliver news of her beloved Duke every day?”
“Well, I suppose that’s true.”
His self-praise made Kia burst out laughing.
Meanwhile, the attendant’s thoughts raced. Sending even a maid to express gratitude—could it be… they intended to give him a gift as well?
Just as his anticipation peaked, Kia struck at the perfect moment.
“And so, Her Highness wishes to reward you too.”
‘Just as I thought!’
Receiving the brooch from Kia, the attendant’s face lit up in ecstatic delight.
“Thank you so much!”
“You should wear it proudly at the Duke’s estate. It wouldn’t make sense to hide a gift from a princess, would it?”
“Of course not.”
Clutching the brooch with pride, he immediately pinned it to his chest.
“Well then, take care on your way back.”
Kia stood and bowed brightly.
“Please convey my deepest thanks to the Princess!”
“Of course.”
The two, having grown close in an instant, exchanged goodbyes. Kia returned to Edel’s chambers.
“How did it go?”
“I gave it to him successfully.”
“Good. You’re quick-witted, Kia. If you’d hesitated, it could’ve turned into a strange scene.”
Edel let out a candid sigh of relief, watching Kia chuckle.
This was only the beginning.
That evening too, Edel attended the Emperor’s dinner. This time, unlike before, Rowen—now recovered—joined them regularly.
The table was filled with political conversations. Some even raised suspicions about Cassian, who still hadn’t appeared.
“When will Duke Dwelsen finally recover, Princess Edel? He’s not the sort to be bedridden this long. Could there be a serious problem?”
One retainer asked, while the fathers of the three noble ladies also watched Edel intently, gauging her reaction.
“Thank you for your concern. But I still don’t know. I haven’t heard the exact reason either.”
She could have responded sharply, but there was no need. Gossip about Cassian only worked to Edel’s advantage. She had no intention of disrupting such a useful flow.
Her ambiguous answer made the retainers’ eyes glint coldly.
Rowen too joined in with interest.
“Still, one would expect Duke Dwelsen to confide in the Princess, at the very least.”
“Since that day, I haven’t been allowed back into the Duke’s residence. He strongly opposed it. Perhaps his feelings have left me.”
Though in private she spoke freely with her siblings, in official settings Edel had to use honorifics with her elder brother and sister.
It was a cumbersome custom, but unavoidable.
Perhaps that was why, just before her death, shouting Rowen’s name and breaking decorum had felt so liberating.
“What a pitiful situation, Princess Edel.”
Rowen’s gray eyes flickered strangely as she spoke words disguised as sympathy.
Looking back now, Edel realized Rowen must have been waiting all along for a chance to snatch Cassian.
The Duke’s position was a powerful foundation, and it would have been much more advantageous to counter the Kartner family, who supported the Prince.
At some point, without Edel noticing, Rowen must have carefully laid her snares. Neither she nor Cassian, who fell for it, could be forgiven.
‘But….’
Things were different now. This time, Edel would personally push the two of them together, and Rowen would inevitably take the lead.
Deep in thought, Edel didn’t notice the dinner drawing to an end. After bidding farewell to the Emperor, she was about to leave when—
“May I have a word, Princess?”
Turning, she saw Duke Kartner calling her.
Understanding what he wished to discuss, Edel smiled faintly.
“Yes, what is it?”
“I’ll be blunt. What is your intention?”
He skipped all pretense, but the meaning was clear.
Duke Kartner was May’s father. He was asking about Edel’s sudden investment proposal.
From his perspective, it must have seemed nonsensical—investing in the lands of Luhob, of all places.
And as a staunch supporter of the Crown Prince, he couldn’t fathom why Edel was involving herself.
In truth, when the Prince returned, Edel planned to propose the deal to him directly. Only then would the Kartner family naturally learn of it. But for now, it wasn’t time. She hadn’t even secured the Prince’s agreement yet, so revealing her alliance plan with Sisan was impossible.
Therefore—
“The ones I made the proposal to were not you, but your daughters. A family like yours must have given them a fair sum of money. The decision is theirs.”
“As their father, I can advise them.”
“Advice, yes. But I mean the final decision lies with them.”
“……”
His face soured as if he’d bitten into something bitter, which almost made Edel laugh.
Suppressing her amusement with a cough, she continued smoothly.
“Think carefully. I am investing in this myself. If it fails, I will also suffer enormous losses.”
“Or perhaps… you might pull out your money behind the scenes. Or maybe you’re just a puppet princess spouting nonsense she’s heard elsewhere.”
Edel snorted.
“Do I look like such a person to you?”
“Who knows. Anything is possible.”
Most would have retreated at such blunt suspicion, but Duke Kartner stood his ground proudly.
But Edel had grown stronger than that.
“I hope you make the wise choice.”
Having said all she could, Edel turned away. Though his burning gaze pierced her back, she could bear it.
If it was for her goal, this much was nothing.
