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Unlike me, who could only manage an awkward smile, Idris went even further.
"To be relieved by such a sight, my sin is great for not finding a spouse even at this age."
...The young master and sister-in-law are quite the pair.
Perhaps sensing my predicament of being caught between them, Her Majesty the Empress chuckled and diffused the situation.
"Oh, of course, I don't intend to pressure Leticia. If the Grand Duke disappoints you, tell me. I'll find you a better man."
"It would be difficult to find a better man than me in the Empire."
"No matter how good a man is, if he cannot capture the heart of the woman he loves, what good is he? Strive diligently, Grand Duke."
I thought our Empress was just kind, but...
'She subtly knows how to apply pressure...'
It was around then that I began to think that the real power in the Empire might not be His Majesty the Emperor, but Her Majesty the Empress.
As a maid appeared with tea, the two who had been conspiring to pressure me fell silent.
Before the interrupted flow could resume, I brought up the story I had intended to tell Idris earlier.
"Your Majesty, Empress. And Idris. I have something to tell you."
Both the Empress, holding a teacup, and Idris turned their gazes to me at once.
"I heard that His Highness the Crown Prince will also be attending this hunting festival."
"That's right. That's why His Majesty bought him a horse. He even hired a riding instructor."
"It may be a presumptuous thing to say... but wouldn't it be better if His Highness the Crown Prince didn't attend this hunting festival?"
At the unexpected remark, not only the Empress but also Idris gave me puzzled looks.
I added an explanation.
"I'm worried because the mastermind behind the attempt on His Highness the Crown Prince during the founding festival has not yet been caught."
"It seems they're still waiting for an opportunity."
Her Majesty the Empress nodded as if agreeing with my speculation.
But her following words were different from what I expected.
"Thank you for worrying about Ludian. But I don't think I can accept that suggestion."
Her Majesty the Empress began to explain calmly why she couldn't accept my suggestion.
"First, a member of the Imperial family not attending an event hosted by the Imperial family simply because of the danger would undermine the prestige of the Imperial family."
"..."
"Second, it might be more dangerous for Ludian to be left alone in the Imperial Palace."
Only then did I recall a possibility I had overlooked.
'Since it's an event hosted by the Imperial family, the Imperial troops will naturally be concentrated at the hunting grounds.'
Then, as the Empress said, the Imperial Palace would be more dangerous.
"And the third reason..."
Her Majesty the Empress took a sip of tea, then put down the cup and continued.
"You said this, Lady Leticia. That Ludian is more prudent and cautious than others his age."
"Yes, I did."
"Do you know why Ludian developed such a personality?"
Come to think of it, it was surprising.
That a mere five-year-old could gauge and judge risks in everything he did.
When I looked at her with a clueless expression, the Empress explained.
"The biggest reason is his innate temperament, but more than anything, it's because he was taught that way. Because he is the child who will become Emperor."
"..."
"There will be many dangers while that child grows up, but he cannot hide every time."
I had no choice but to agree with those words.
'Even if Deon disappears, the danger targeting Ludian could emerge anytime, anywhere.'
He cannot hide to avoid that situation every time.
"Of course, as a parent, I want to hold him in my arms and protect him from all the threats of the world..."
"..."
"But an Emperor shouldn't do that. Because he is the one who must care for and protect many people."
The moment I heard that, I remembered Idris's childhood story.
Idris had to be a shield to protect His Majesty the current Emperor, who was then the Crown Prince.
And the story of His Majesty the Emperor, who grew up safely, unaware that he was using his precious younger brother as a shield.
Perhaps the reason why His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are not hiding Ludian is because of what happened with Idris, I thought.
"I always keep in mind that Ludian is not just my child, but the person who will become the ruler of this country."
"..."
"That is the weight of the crown that child must bear. And Ludian knows that weight better than anyone."
"..."
"If I told such a child to hide because it might be dangerous, it would be very insulting to his pride."
Suddenly, I remembered Ludian's appearance, proud of the fact that he was the Crown Prince and would become Emperor in the future.
'Well, it wouldn't be right to disappoint a child who is excited about showing off his riding skills at the hunting festival.'
Persuaded by the Empress's words, I chuckled and nodded as if I had lost.
"Then I have no choice. We'll just have to serve him better."
I glanced at Idris, who nodded with confident eyes.
The afternoon tea time ended like that.
Peaceful afternoon.
In the quiet office, Peidan's voice, full of anger, echoed.
"Count Cloel returned to his territory?!"
"Yes..."
"Ha... I should have known from the moment that old geezer sold that strange fabric."
Peidan rubbed his forehead, which was hot with anger, and cursed.
A few days ago, the fabric problem at Boutique Blanc was widely reported in the newspapers.
I tried to stop the newspapers from reporting it, but it was useless.
Even if I could silence the reporters, I couldn't silence all the customers who were there that day.
Once the article was published, even those who had minor complaints about the quality of the clothes spoke out.
Public opinion grew uncontrollably.
Moreover, because I had made a lot of clothes in advance, all the raw materials were used up.
Even if I wanted to make new clothes, I needed more raw materials, and it took time to make them.
Unable to do anything, Boutique Blanc quickly declined.
And those involved were the first to notice the changed atmosphere.
"Your Excellency, we have to pay the balance to the Usia Merchant Guild by today."
The merchant guilds that had supplied raw materials after receiving the down payment began to demand the balance one after another.
"What? Didn't they get money a few days ago?"
"That was the Rikein Merchant Guild a few days ago."
Peidan bit his lip and slammed the desk.
But it only hurt his hand, and nothing was resolved.
"Tell them I'll give it to them next week."
There was no way to get cash right away.
It took time to sell land or goods.
At that moment, when Lockherd replied with an unwilling expression, there was a knock and the butler's voice was heard.
"Your Excellency, a person from the Lumada Merchant Guild has come. What should I do?"
Hearing that name, Peidan was startled and looked out the window.
A carriage was parked in front of the mansion gate.
Lumada Merchant Guild.
It was the merchant guild run by Deon.
After the news of Blanc spread, the first person to come to Peidan and demand repayment was Deon.
"I thought that you, who have led the Farnese Duchy so far, would surely succeed in this business as well... I seem to have overestimated you."
"...I'm sorry."
"I can't stay on a sinking ship. I'm sorry for what happened to you, but I'm not someone who runs a business with sentimentality. I would like you to return the funds you borrowed at this point."
"Your Highness, I can't give you that money right now. If you give me just a little, just a little more time, I'll do anything...!"
"Then pay the interest."
"I, interest?"
"Isn't it a small amount compared to the principal? If you can't even pay that, I have no reason to keep watching this business."
And today was the day to pay the interest.
Peidan hurriedly drew the curtains and shouted at the butler.
"Tell him I didn't come home because I had something to do, tell him to come back another day!"
The butler retreated, and only Lockherd and Peidan were left in the office again.
Peidan, who had been sighing and muttering curses for a while, opened his mouth.
"Lockherd. Send people to capture Count Cloel."
Only two people existed in his head right now.
Count Cloel, who sold him the fabric...
'Leticia...'
And her, the source of all this.
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