Chapter 163 (1/2)

Chapter 163: Chapter 163

Staring at Entea who politely bowed to me, I was lost in thought. Would it be better to give additional instructions only to my family’s intelligence collectors or ask Entea for more?

Maybe it’s better to ask both of them. I might be in trouble if any of them were caught by the other side, but this kind of spying is done by both sides, so I didn’t have to avoid it.

“How many informants are planted in the Duke Jena family?”

“Around five.”

“Well, please increase them by three fold, no, five fold.”

“But in that case, there is a greater risk of them being caught… ”

“I’m not talking about planting them inside the duke’s mansion. Dispatch them not only to the duke’s merchant groups but also his vassals and estate. Don’t forget to plant a couple of moles around the duke’s daughter. No matter how trifling it is, try to collect as much information as possible.”

“Sure. Will do.”

Is this enough? Anyway, I left it to the vassals and intelligence collectors of my family to win the support of some nobles including Viscount Apinu and gather information about Jiun, so I didn’t have to give Entea any more assignments regarding that.

Suddenly, something came to my mind when I was about to wrap up my meeting with her.

“Do you have anything else?” Entea asked.

“Can I ask one thing? How many hairpins have you sold recently?”

“Well, the new hairpin is a steady seller because they can turn their hair up with just one hairpin because of the hot weather.”

“Hmm, really?”

For a moment, I recalled my recent memories. At that time, it was not so hot like now and I hadn’t invented the hairpin yet. So, I could imagine how Jiun would react comparing the situation before and after the hairpin were sold on the market.

“Perhaps sooner or later the merchant vessel groups controlled by the duke family might try to buy muslin. So, try to buy muslin as much as possible in advance. I believe you know what I mean even if I don’t say anymore.”

“Of course, my lady. I will take the necessary measures.”

“Good. Then, I think all is good. Anyway, for now, gathering information about Lady Jena is the most important. So, pay the most attention to it.”

“Sure.”

I think it was more than enough. I’d given the necessary instructions. As for my substitute for the crown prince’s bride, I can consult with Frincia. As I don’t have much information at this point, I can’t make a judgement about Jiun’s purpose or take the necessary measure as soon as I obtain additional information.

Did I talk too much to Entea? I felt empty all at once.

Suddenly, I had mixed feelings. Why am I doing this now? It looks like I’m trying to be the crown prince’s wife instead of getting away from him.

Of course, it wasn’t my original purpose, but it was obvious to anybody that I was now trying to keep her at bay for fear of losing my status as the crown prince’s fiancee.

Despite that, however, I couldn’t let Jiun have her way. I was so anxious that I couldn’t let her do whatever she wanted to do. What if she took away my happiness just like she did in the past?

“Whew!” I let out a sigh.

Well, that’s it. I’ve done everything I can do right now. For now, I just hope they can carry out the job as I instructed.

I felt I had better sit on this for a while until then. As there was nothing I could do right now, it would drive me crazy if I kept thinking about it.

When I stopped wrestling with complex thoughts and looked around, an unexpected scene caught my eye. Frincia and Ilya were talking with a man. Of course, it was common in any banquet hall, but the thing was not their meeting but their talking partner.

He was letting his long gray hair in a knot hang down to the floor.

Why is he in the banquet hall?

“Hey Entea, have Frincia and Lady Genoa met the High Priest before?”

“No, I haven’t heard of that. ”

“Really? Then let’s go there. ”

“Sure.”

I headed to them with Entea.

As I made my way through the people, who were squinting at me, I heard his mysterious voice scattering into the air.

“You’re as beautiful as a red rose and the dew on its petals, Lady Monique.”

“Oh, thank you, Your Eminence.”