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Chapter 41

"I've heard so much about you from Grandfather!"

At Flora's following words, Emilia made an ambiguous expression.

As I thought earlier...

How much had Viscount Ardel told his grandchildren about her?

"It wasn't me who saved his life—Samuel's proposal was just that good."

"So humble!"

"Ahem."

Emilia found Flora's gaze, so reminiscent of the Viscount's, a little overwhelming and subtly averted her eyes.

Just then, Ivan tugged at Emilia's hem.

"Emilia! Try this!"

The child opened his fist and offered what was inside.

"What is it?"

Emilia picked up one of the small grains in his tiny palm and asked.

The answer came not from Ivan, but from Flora.

"Ah, it's a fruit that only grows in the Zaredan Kingdom. I've been trying to breed a variety that can be cultivated on Imperial soil!"

"Really?"

Emilia looked surprised, and Flora quickly answered.

"I'm very interested in plant research!"

"Ah—I heard about that from the Viscount."

"Grandfather talked about me?"

At her question, Emilia smiled and nodded.

"Yes, he praised you greatly, saying you were a very admirable granddaughter."

"...R-really?"

Flora pouted her lips slightly and murmured, looking a little shy.

"Goodness. Normally he's always scolding me."

But despite her grumbling, Flora seemed very pleased.

"Ahem. W-well, anyway."

She awkwardly steered the conversation back.

"It's less visually appealing than the original, but the nutritional value is the same. And it's perfectly safe!"

She then showed off various fruits and seeds from her pocket.

"These ones are like this..."

She ate a few herself first, then shared them with Ivan and Emilia.

Emilia, intrigued by her story, popped the small fruits into her mouth.

Some had a nice texture, while others were very sweet.

"Wow, I've never tasted anything like this—it's delicious."

"Right?!"

Pleased by Emilia's interest, Flora chattered on about her work.

"Actually, what I really want to do is increase crop yields and environmental adaptability for the people in our territory."

But soon she clicked her tongue in regret.

"To conduct such large-scale research, I'd need not only special greenhouses to shorten growth cycles, but all sorts of other things too."

"Ah..."

At Emilia's sympathetic sigh, Flora laughed.

"Well, it's fine."

She shrugged and continued.

"It's just a hobby, but it's not so bad."

Even as she said that, Flora seemed somewhat wistful.

Watching her, Emilia grew curious and asked.

"Have you ever tried applying for business support like Samuel?"

"Ah, things like this are hard to prove clear results for."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. For example, even if I succeeded in breeding a variety that improved crop yields and environmental adaptability—"

Flora thought for a moment about how to explain, then continued.

"It's not easy to prove. Real farmland has too many variables, and compiling statistics is quite difficult."

She shook her head helplessly.

"Hmm, I see."

Indeed, as she said—

The verification period would be long, and such results would be difficult to express in a single metric.

Just then, Flora shrugged and said cheerfully.

"But it's okay! Once my brother makes a lot of money, I'll just squeeze some out of him for research and fun!"

Watching Flora, Emilia thought:

She's not just interested in tea leaves.

She hadn't realized that Flora possessed such specialized knowledge.

Just then, Laura's voice called from a distance.

"Miss Emilia! Samuel has returned to the reception room and is looking for you!"

"Oh! I'll be right there."

Emilia quickly answered.

Flora looked disappointed, so Emilia smiled and said.

"I really enjoyed our conversation today."

"Me too! So much!"

Flora's eyes sparkled as she answered, her cheeks flushed. She fidgeted with her hands and asked.

"Th-then, if it's not too forward..."

"Yes?"

"Would it be alright if I wrote to you?"

At Flora's hesitant request, Emilia readily nodded.

"Of course, anytime."

Flora's face lit up brighter than ever.

---

The Princess's Palace.

"It's done."

At the voice beside her, Selena opened her eyes.

"Good work."

The maids who had been dressing her with half-hearted diligence quickly gathered their tools and left.

Her silver hair, cool as moonlight, shone more beautifully than ever. But her face was deeply somber.

She had little reason to be excited about dressing up after so long—dinner with her mother was always unpleasant.

Whether her mother was in a good mood or a bad one.

Selena calmly rose and headed to the Empress's palace.

The Empress greeted Selena, who arrived at the banquet hall, with a half-hearted welcome.

"You're here?"

Though she'd arrived earlier than the appointed time, the Empress had already finished her meal.

And those words meant she didn't need a dining companion, but someone to indulge her whims.

"You seem in good spirits today, Mother."

Selena spoke as she took her seat.

Indeed, compared to her mother's irritable demeanor not long ago, it was a noticeable change.

"Yes, of course I am."

The Empress let out a languid smile and murmured.

"I've found a way to deal with that troublesome thing."

Troublesome thing.

Selena understood at once who she meant.

The Emperor's illegitimate child, under the Duke of Valen's protection.

To avoid displeasing her mother, Selena asked in a measured voice.

"Didn't you say last time that you couldn't touch the child because of the Duke of Valen?"

"That's right. I can't exactly send knights to the ducal residence."

The Empress frowned and trailed off.

"But my dear son came up with a brilliant idea."

Unlike before, the Empress smiled with satisfaction.

"Truly, my Aron should ascend the throne as soon as possible."

She murmured with genuine regret.

"What brilliant idea did Aron come up with?"

Selena found it repulsive even to utter her brother's name, but as always, she didn't show it.

"Ah, well."

The Empress took a sip of wine and spoke.

"To bring the child to the palace."

At those words, Selena's hand beneath the table trembled.

"To the palace?"

"Yes."

Pleased just by the thought, the Empress chuckled.

"Tomorrow, we'll hold a grand council and announce that the child in the Duke of Valen's care is His Majesty's son."

She wiggled her fingers as if envisioning it.

"If I appeal before all the nobles to return my husband's child, how could the duke possibly refuse? What reason would he have to keep that bastard?"

Perhaps tipsy, the Empress hummed as she spoke.

"...And then what do you intend to do with him?"

Selena realized her voice had grown too low as she spoke and caught herself.

But the Empress merely giggled like a young girl.

"Why do you ask the obvious?"

The Empress met Selena's eyes and said.

"Kill him, quietly and without a trace."

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