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"This is a necklace that the Empress Dowager used to wear. It's something Her Majesty the Empress has been desperately searching for."
Azeph's brow furrowed at that.
She brazenly came to the Imperial Palace first, and now she's suddenly brought a necklace and insists it's the Empress's.
'What is she up to?'
He wondered if his younger sibling had met a cunning woman.
Azeph, feeling inwardly worried, glared at Leticia with an uneasy look.
Leticia, as if anticipating Azeph's reaction, added an explanation.
"If you check the initials engraved on the back, you'll know that the owner of this necklace is Her Majesty the Empress."
Azeph's eyes wavered as he suspiciously checked the back of the necklace.
V.N
The initials of Empress Vanessa were engraved there.
However, there was still something that didn't sit right with him.
"...I've never heard the Empress mention anything about a necklace."
"Of course, she wouldn't have told His Majesty. If she had told you, you would have publicly searched for the keepsake, and that would have put you in a difficult position."
"..."
"Her Majesty the Empress was more concerned about the position of her beloved husband than her own wishes."
Empress Vanessa was originally an illegitimate princess of the neighboring kingdom of Rudim.
The ambitious king of Rudim coveted the Empire's territory and started a war, but was defeated.
As a sign of reconciliation, he sent his illegitimate daughter.
Even though he had other legitimate princesses.
Fortunately, Azeph acknowledged and accepted Vanessa as his partner.
However, the imperial citizens who had lost family members due to the war caused by the King of Rudim did not like Vanessa, the princess of Rudim.
They didn't care what kind of treatment Vanessa received from her family in her home country, and were just eager to turn their anger towards her.
In such a situation, Vanessa couldn't publicly search for her mother's keepsake, which her family had arbitrarily sold off, even if she wanted to.
'If the Emperor steps in, public opinion will worsen.'
And that point seemed to touch Azeph's heart.
'I suppose. He must feel heartbroken knowing that his wife was hiding even her longing for her mother, considering his position.'
She anticipated that emotion and deliberately mentioned 'beloved husband.'
And that plan worked perfectly.
No, it had no choice but to work.
The Emperor loves the Empress.
'Is that what real love is like?'
Thinking of the other person first, and taking a step back for the other person's sake.
Just as she realized that her obsession with Peytan wasn't love, Azeph asked.
"Is the purpose of bringing this necklace here as a bribe?"
He still seemed distrustful of Leticia.
'Well, it's not like he'd look favorably on the Duchess, who's embroiled in a scandal with his younger sibling, just because of a necklace.'
But that was also the reaction she had expected.
No, to be exact.
'It was the reaction I was waiting for.'
Leticia smiled and replied as she had prepared.
"I just wanted to return it to the owner of the necklace. Because that's the obvious and right thing to do."
"..."
"But if you feel like you'd be indebted to me if you receive it as is, there's also a way for you to make a deal with me."
"...A deal?"
"We exchange what we want, and leave no feeling of being indebted."
Azeph paused to think for a moment.
'It's a somewhat presumptuous offer, but it's the best way.'
He felt uneasy about readily accepting Vanessa's necklace, as it felt like he would have to allow Leticia and Idris's relationship.
But he also felt uncomfortable about just taking the necklace and treating Leticia coldly.
Finally deciding, Azeph asked.
"What do you want?"
Leticia smiled triumphantly and answered as if she had been waiting.
"If Your Majesty allows it, I would like to get back my mother's land that Peytan Farnese paid instead of taxes."
"Kek... Puhahaha!"
Inside the carriage returning to the Grand Duke's residence after finishing the conversation with His Majesty the Emperor.
Idris was still chuckling and laughing, as if my presenting the negotiation proposal was so funny.
"Negotiating with the Emperor, my partner has great skills."
At first, I was worried that I was being too arrogant.
But seeing him so happy, it seemed I really was quite amazing.
Feeling awkwardly pleased by the ensuing, not-quite-compliments, I subtly gave him the credit.
"Actually, it was possible because His Majesty sincerely cherishes Her Majesty the Empress and wasn't someone who would oppress with power."
"Even so, there aren't many people who can throw such a negotiation proposal in the face of the Emperor."
Hmm, that's true.
In the end, His Majesty the Emperor was so focused on the negotiation that he couldn't even bring up the original purpose, like 'Break up with my sibling!'
"My partner will be a very successful businesswoman."
I'll have to bring you every time I meet His Majesty the Emperor from now on.
I brushed off Idris's words, which were scary whether they were a joke or not, and got to the main point.
"Anyway, now that the land is in my hands, we can officially sign the contract."
"You said you were going to start a business? What kind of business are you planning?"
"I'm still thinking about it. More than that, there's something I need to do first."
I opened my mouth as if answering Idris, who was looking at me with curious eyes.
"What that is, you see..."
A few days later.
A large-scale business presentation was held at the Delua Grand Duchy.
Businessmen held gatherings every quarter to invite other businessmen and announce new businesses.
It was a meaningful event in many ways, such as keeping competitors in check, seeking partners, or attracting investors.
Unexpectedly, Peytan also attended the event.
'Let's see, how great of a business this adulterer is preparing.'
I didn't want to see Idris's face if I could help it, but if I didn't attend, I felt like I would lose somehow.
Since the discord with Leticia had already become an established fact, I planned to disrupt Idris's business presentation as a result.
By attending, I would remind everyone that Idris was, after all, the protagonist of the scandal.
"Oh, you've arrived. Duke."
Those who attended Idris's business presentation didn't expect Peytan to show up here, so they seemed quite embarrassed when they saw him entering the conference room.
Peytan casually ignored their greetings and sat down.
When everyone was seated, Idris, the protagonist of this presentation, finally entered.
He found Peytan among the attendees and, with his usual relaxed smile, began to speak.
"Thank you all for taking the time to attend."
In terms of status, Idris was clearly higher than everyone at this event, as he was an imperial family member and Grand Duke.
However, since the business presentation was a place where the presenter showcased the business, honorifics were used.
Peytan sneered inwardly as he watched Idris skillfully give his opening remarks.
'How dare he shamelessly stand in front of people after destroying someone else's family.'
After all, unless he returns the dowry, Leticia won't immediately say she wants a divorce, so Idris will be an adulterer to the very end.
Soon, the business presentation began.
Contrary to Peytan's expectations, people were looking at Idris with envy.
That was because all the businesses he had touched so far had been very successful.
Idris started his presentation, feeling everyone's attention focused on him.
"I plan to build an airship over the next two years."
"Airship?"
Everyone gathered at the event began to murmur at the unfamiliar word 'airship.'
Idris added an explanation.
"It's literally a ship that flies in the sky."
"Is that even possible?"
"According to research conducted in recent years, it is quite possible."
Peytan, who had been watching Idris's presentation with dissatisfaction, asked a question.
"What is the principle behind it?"
"The principle is a company secret and cannot be disclosed."
"Are you saying we should invest blindly without even explaining the principle specifically?"
At Peytan's sharp criticism, other businessmen, thinking it made sense, nodded in agreement.
However, Idris, as if expecting even that reaction, responded with a relaxed smile.
"I cannot disclose the principle, but I will show you a model that perfectly embodies the principle."
Idris snapped his fingers, and Heather, who recognized the signal, appeared holding a transparent box.
Inside the transparent box, which was larger than an adult man's upper body, was a small ship-shaped model.
And a translucent blue stone was embedded in its center.
It was a mana stone.
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