---
I stared intently at the thing in front of me.
'Could this be...?'
-Cuckoo, cuckoo.
After a moment, the familiar sound of birds chirping and the creaking of mechanical springs was heard.
Soon the sound of a beautiful melody accompanied the appearance and dancing of the wooden dolls.
I found myself staring at the large clock, mesmerized.
“I...I'm telling you this so you don't misunderstand, but I definitely didn't try to save you or hug you out of love...”
“Your Excellency, this is...”
I was so immersed in the hour that I ignored his words.
Before he finished speaking, I extended my hand and pointed to the big clock.
He frowned slightly, his gaze following my finger.
“That… hour?”
“It sure looks expensive.”
I smiled brightly at my recent discovery.
After a moment.
The Archduke's office was tense, as if he was holding an important strategic meeting.
“Your Excellency, you cannot sell that watch.”
"It may be valuable, but it's just a watch.
We're on the verge of bankruptcy, and it's wasteful to display something like this as decoration."
“But His Excellency received it in recognition of his achievements in joint training with the Kingdom of Grace...”
The soldiers of the 107th Regiment, including Victor, objected with a frown.
The butler, Albert, joined them.
“It is a luxury item.
It is difficult to find even among the nobles of the Empire.”
It's just a watch, isn't it something they think can only be bought with money?
I tilted my head.
Albert noticed my expression, so he added an explanation.
“It is a piece produced exclusively by the Grace Kingdom Watch Guild, and its sales are strictly controlled.”
“So, watches like this can't be made in the empire?”
"The blueprints and technology are too complex to make.
They strictly censor the watchmakers who know them so they can't travel to other countries."
Finally I got it.
The Arya Empire, despite its great advancement in the arts and humanities, had a culture that despised engineers and scientists.
The primary weapon of the imperial army was also swords, not muskets or cannons.
I patted my chin softly.
“Didn’t the guild publish the blueprints before?”
“They show it to people who want to buy the watch, but only for a short time, so they can see it.
I heard they don't even allow paper or pens to trace it.”
"truly?"
Then suddenly I had a brilliant idea.
Perhaps a way to solve the Archduke's financial distress once and for all.
I licked my lips gently.
“I think we should sell the watch.”
“Huh?”
Victor and Albert looked at the Archduke, waiting for him to object to my proposal.
But the Archduke, who seemed resigned, muttered quietly.
“...As you wish.”
“Okay.
So, it's probably more profitable to sell new watches than used ones, right?”
At these words, everyone's eyes widened.
After a moment, the Archduke frowned, as if he had guessed my meaning.
“Do you mean that you will practice the brokerage trade?
That is impossible.
Only those licensed by the Imperial Family can trade with other countries.
Moreover, I doubt that the Watch Guild will provide all of this.”
“No, that's not what I meant.”
I smiled at the confused faces.
“I say that Archduke Richard's family will now enter the watch business.”
***
Over the past few days, the Archduke had been busy preparing for the Grace Kingdom's visit.
The obvious target was the Archduke and his wife's delayed honeymoon.
But the real goal, of course, was to recover the clock blueprints, which the Kingdom of Grace had secretly hidden.
Even if the Guardian Guild knew, they couldn't object because we didn't physically steal the blueprints.
After all, it wouldn't be wrong to say it's from my mind.
The problem was that we didn't have enough money to travel to the Kingdom of Grace.
Even with a limited crew, crossing the border will require a large sum of money.
The one who set out to secure this money, of course, was Archduke Richard.
“We will subjugate the barbarians who invaded the Duchy of Caprice.”
“Subjugate…barbarians?”
My eyes widened.
He said that subjugation meant they would wage war.
Yes.
The duchy placed a bounty on the barbarian leader.
This amount is enough for the journey to the Kingdom of Grace.
“This is impossible!”
I got up from my seat and let out a loud scream.
As I have repeatedly emphasized, the most important thing in the process of arresting the real culprit and recovering the property is the survival of Archduke Richard.
“إذا كان إخضاعًا … فهو خطير. ماذا لو أُصيب الأرشيدوق هناك …!”
The Archduke's gaze wavered slightly, then quickly became indifferent.
I continued hesitantly, trying to find a reason.
“It is strange that an imperial archduke should be paid to appear as a mercenary for another duchy...”
As I fidgeted, a chuckle escaped the Archduke's mouth.
“It's not strange.
Like I said, I fought in battles as a mercenary until a few years ago.”
“……”
After joining the Imperial Army, Archduke Richard traveled to countless battlefields.
This often led to his participation as a volunteer in wars between other countries.
The Emperor's diplomatic advantage, which greatly benefited him and strengthened his power, was also due to the contributions of Archduke Richard as commander of the Allied forces.
Of course, he risked his life and achieved countless accomplishments, but all that was given to him was just a false title, Archduke.
“I have always shed blood for them and been rewarded.
Of course, others have been rewarded.”
The more I heard him talk about bloodshed, the more worried I became.
Up until now, he had survived because he was an essential element of the novel, but now, she may have to leave it to fate.
I felt unnecessarily anxious, and fiddled with the worn-out sleeves of my dress.
“There has to be another way.
I can sell the grandfather clock at the Archduke’s house, or I can do something myself...”
“Why are you doing this?
You always try to keep me away from solving the Archduke’s problems.”
His voice was calm.
But I ignored him and continued to persuade him.
“Well, the Archduke is more important to me.
I would rather fire some soldiers and servants and cut costs.”
"What...?
Expulsion?"
The air around him became cold.
But what mattered to me was no one else.
“The Archduke is more important than these...”
“Ha.”
Before I could complete my sentence, a cold laugh escaped his lips.
"I should have said it more clearly.
We're just under a contract."
"What is this …?"
I asked him, surprised by the sudden change in topic.
His face hardened.
His red eyes sparkled, as if he were drawing an invisible line.
“Isn’t it a principle not to let personal feelings interfere?”
“...!”
There was a sudden tension in the air, and I shivered.
What will happen to me if the Archduke refuses to cooperate again as before?
I was overcome by a feeling of helplessness, then despair.
"Let me say it again.
Intrusive interference in my affairs is a breach of contract."
He turned his back to me coldly, as if he had nothing to say.
I shouted at his back as he left the room, clutching at straws.
“These are not my personal feelings...!
After all, as a wife, I have every right to worry, right?”
He stopped suddenly, and without looking at me, answered in a low voice.
“No need to worry about a fake wife.”
And so, the Archduke left the room.
I stood there stunned for a moment.
“Well, I'm definitely fake...”
The words were completely in accordance with our contract, but the way he spoke in a serious tone, pointing out the truth, made me feel a little upset.
Unless payment is late, I have never felt bad for a customer.
'It's simply that if you disobey me and go into battle and get injured, payment may be delayed!'
I shook my head, trying to shake off the awkward feeling.
In the end, it seemed like there was only one thing I could do.
I ran straight to Mrs.
Perona's room.
∗∗∗
After my argument with the Archduke, time passed mysteriously.
He left at dawn, using the excuse of being busy with preparations and training for the campaign, and returned late at night.
The day of the campaign came without any further meetings.
The sun had not risen yet.
In the garden of the Archduke's house, the soldiers, including Victor, had been active since the early morning.
I instinctively opened my eyes, and without having time to get dressed, I quickly ran into the garden.
'No matter what, leaving without saying a word is against the rules!'
By the time I arrived, the soldiers were preparing to leave.
If Mrs.
Perona had not secretly informed me of the campaign program, I would undoubtedly have missed the farewell.
“Ha, ha, ha.
Your Highness!”
My breathing was intermittent from the intensity of running.
The Archduke turned at my call, his eyes blinking slightly.
He seemed puzzled that his plan to leave secretly had been disrupted.
I gave him a slight smile.
“I'm sorry.
I stayed up last night... so I'm a little late.”
“….”
The Archduke did not answer, and merely looked at me with a dead face.
It had been a long time since I had seen him, and his face looked tired.
He must have been exhausted from preparing for battle.
I slowly opened my clenched hands as I ran towards him and extended them to him.
“Before you leave, I wanted to give you this.”
“This...”
The Archduke's eyebrows twitched slightly when he saw the object in my palm.