Chapter 208 (2/2)

“Really? How?”

“Although I don’t know the maids of the Dias family directly, I think I can get the news about her indirectly. For example, I can use the clerk working at the grocery store that they need food urgently, or the store their maids usually go to… By the way, I have to do it secretly, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Got it. What should I do? I don’t know if it’s possible, but shall I check it out? ”

“Can you do that? But you should never let the name of my family be leaked.”

“Sure, please leave it to me. ”

I smiled at Lina, who was pounding her chest as if she was confident. Even though she seemed frivolous, she carried out any assignment I gave her, so I didn’t have to worry about. But I strongly asked her to keep it secret once more. I smiled rightly at her quickly getting out of the room.

As the dice was already thrown, I would have to wait and see what I could get.

The next day I was reviewing the action plan about my coming-of-age ceremony after seeing off my father who went to the Imperial Palace every day recently, when somebody knocked on the door.

“You have a guest, my lady.”

“Guest, who?”

“He is Duke Verita.”

“Really? Is he here to see my father or me?”

“He said he wants to see you. And I have got a letter from the Duke Lars family.”

“Ah…Okay, got it.”

I opened my eyes wide. I thought my proposal would be attractive to him, but I didn’t expect he would send me such a quick reply.

While I was going down to the reception room, I first opened Duke Lars’s letter.

When I opened the red-colored letter with the sword and rose inscribed on it, his neat handwriting caught my eye.

The direction of my sword has been set already?

I giggled at that. This kind of description represented his personality well. Anyway I succeeded in bringing the Lars family into our fold. My next goal was the Duke Verita family.

Folding the red-colored letter, I headed for the reception room. The man with green hair sitting on a cream-colored sofa said with a smile, “It’s been a while, Lady Monique. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

“I have received your letter. It looks like you were very much upset with me.”

“… ”

“I won’t tell you long, but hope you can remember one thing. Either Arkint or I prioritized the interests of our faction. If we had been preoccupied with our own interests, we would have installed you as the empress under any circumstances,” Duke Verita said, putting down the teacup. “Okay, did you say you wanted my help?”

“That’s right.”

“Okay. I would like to make the most of your proposal. I’ll give you whatever information you want, so try to make an excellent sword to cut the black rose at one go.”

“Thank you, Duke Verita.”

“Well, it’s me who has to thank you. Even though you have earned a great cause, the price you have paid is too high. But don’t take it too hard. Nothing is certain for now.”

When I expressed gratitude to him who was looking at me pitiably, he said with a nod, “First, let me dig into their possible tax evasion or smuggling of some major families. How about it?”

“Good. Actually, I have already done some investigation, but I think I can expect more quality information with the intelligence capabilities of the Verita family.”

“Huh, I was a little surprised to hear that your father gave you the whole authority of your family, but I’m amazed by your shrewdness. I now know why he has shown me big confidence in you. Even if it takes a little time, let’s make sure that we get rid of the Jena faction this time.”

“Thank you, Duke Verita.”

I thanked him once again and saw him off at the porch, who said he wanted to leave.

When I thought I would be quite busy in the days ahead, I sighed in spite of myself, but I had to knock myself out to get the most from now on, as I had the strong support of the two dukes.