The air suddenly became colder.
“Sharp eyes, chiseled jaw.”
“……”
"The long nose and gorgeous smile seemed to be her favorite.
He's the only man she's ever met twice."
A stifling silence followed.
“……”
“Your Majesty……?”
“Count Stefan’s family finances were damaged by last year’s poor harvest.”
Finally, he spoke, his voice deeper than before.
“Yes, the Count’s family?
Yes, that’s right.”
“I believe that Viscount Laetia, one of the major landowners in the West, has a daughter who is ready to marry.
Am I right?”
“Yes, exactly”
“The Viscount is seeking to raise his status, while Stefan's family has long been influential in the East.”
The assistant listened quietly, wondering if it wasn't what he thought it was.
"Yes, this is correct."
“Husband them.”
“…But, Your Majesty.”
“Viscount Laetia, overthrown by Hexagon, harbors resentment.
The Viscount is cunning but lacks boldness.
His daughter, who will succeed him, is a graduate of the academy and seeks escape through marriage.”
He pointed to a document.
“I even went so far as to enlist the help of the Northern Information Guild for this.”
The Empire's Information Guilds were largely under Dale's control.
Although the North was an exception, they had dealt with it secretly during mining rights negotiations years ago.
Dale tapped on the table.
Stefan's family was one of his loyal followers.
Marriage here could take away one of Hexagon's pawns, which is a welcome move.
“Husband them.”
“……I will take care of it, Your Majesty.”
Dale nodded, satisfied with the assistant's clear response.
“Your Majesty, the general meeting of the nobles will be held soon.”
“Yes, I am aware of that.”
“It is said that Marquis Schulz will also attend this time.”
Dale's brow twitched, his expression full of dissatisfaction.
“Who invited him?”
“He has finally inherited the title of Marquis, which he has refused for a long time, so there is no reason to force him not to participate.”
Dale's eyes narrowed.
“Make sure Cassion Schultz doesn't even catch Miss Lockhart's shadow.”
His demeanor became noticeably colder.
***
"It's gone.
The ring must have grown legs."
After a week of searching, no trace of the ring was found.
“Are you cold?”
Dale asked after noticing me wrapped tightly in a blanket.
“Ah, I... feel... cold... and sleepy, I'm not sure?
What is it?
Maybe I have a cold?”
Dale touched my forehead with his large, cold hand.
“It doesn't look like you have a fever, but were you coughing or shivering?”
"maybe?"
I moved stealthily away from Dale, and hid the finger that was missing the ring.
Then Dale's face darkened for a moment.
"Ah, why is it so cold?
I've had tea.
I'll go up first.
Have a good rest!"
“…….”
I hurried to my room on the second floor.
Closing the door behind me, I immediately threw off the blanket, drenched in sweat.
I went to great lengths to hide my finger.
Days of searching turned up nothing.
I searched the house, the lord's castle, the herb garden, everything, even the walkway from the palace to our house, but I found no trace of him.
He's lost.
The ring that Dale gave me was completely gone.
"Yes!"
I held my head as I tossed and turned on the bed.
This won't work.
‘Buying a similar ring is the best solution.’
But there was a problem.
I'm bad at drawing, and while I remember the vague shape of the ring, I can't remember the detailed craftsmanship.
I panickedly assessed the situation.
'I'm in trouble.'
I perished.
There is a limit to how long I can live without showing my hand.
How long can I live like this?
“Enya.”
A bear knocked on the door.
"Cough!
Yes Dale, I'm sleepy!
Don't come in!"
“I'll leave some medicine here.
Just in case you get sick, please take it.”
“Yes, thank you!”
Just hearing his voice made me shiver.
The ring, where is it...
Where is that ring?
The next day, I searched the herb garden again but saw no trace of the ring.
Instead, I ended up treading on healthy weeds.
Footprints imprinted on the lush grasses.
Some of the leaves were torn, and some looked as if they had been gnawed by mice.
“But these don't look like footprints.”
I examined the herbs closely.
These were not torn from being stepped on.
It looked like someone had torn it apart to eat it.
“Ann, get some rest!”
“Sofia.”
She put the herbs in a basket and approached her.
Sofia greeted me with a table full of snacks.
Sophia, who visits me often, brought a small tea table next to my garden.
“Sit down, Anne.
Did you find the ring?”
“…….”
“…….”
Sophia smiled strangely and raised the teacup.
"It'll be fine!
I'll look again too.
Sure, we can find him!"
“Sophia, I think someone entered the herb garden.”
“Really?
Who?”
Sophia's eyes widened in astonishment.
“There are signs of intrusion in the herb garden.”
“It seems so… I think so too.”
Seeing Weed's condition, Sofia noticed and then her eyes widened.
“So, could it be that the culprit who messed around in the herb garden also took Anne’s ring?”
“I doubt it too.”
"I live closer than you, Anne, so I'll come over often to check on you!
I don't know who it is, but I'll scold anyone who bothers you!"
She held my hand as angry as a bird.
However, there was one thing strange about this culprit, unlike the usual herbal thieves.
If weeds were the target, it would make sense to dig everything up, including the roots.
But what was left here were just traces of the leaves of the plants that had been chewed off.
Taking the whole plant will be more profitable than just eating the leaves.
"Or could it have been an animal that took the ring?
Like a wild boar from the mountains."
wild boar?
It's a likely guess.
However, there were no animal footprints left.
All the footprints left in the herb garden were human.
“So, can you be very busy right now?”
“What's wrong?”
Sophia hesitated before speaking cautiously.
“Actually, there is something I want to learn from you.”
"Learning?
From me?"
"Yes."
Sofia's eyes were already starting to shine.
It was clear that she had something she wanted to ask.
“Look at this tea.”
Sophia pointed to the cup of tea.
“When I pour tea, it makes a sound while stirring, you know?
But with you, Anne, it's silent and graceful.”
Sophia said, looking envious.
“How do you do that?
The tea I’m making tastes bitter, and I don’t know how to stir it without it making a sound.”
“Sofia can do it too.”
Sophia looked at me calmly.
She seemed hesitant, and was hesitant about whether or not to speak.
“Anne, I think I know your true identity.
Can I speak frankly?”
When I nodded, Sophia leaned over to whisper in my ear.
“Actually, you are a noble lady who ran away for love, right?”
Sofia whispered, eyes full of anticipation.
“This isolated area often becomes a refuge for storytellers.”
Sophia smiled excitedly.
“In fact, I think Yorta and my grandfather also consider Anne an extraordinary noble lady.
I think so too.”
“……”
"But it's a secret, so I won't tell anyone.
Anne is also my dear friend."
Sophia said shyly, combing her hair.
It would be of no use for this to be known.
Even though I'm supposedly from a wealthy family.
And since Sophia is the daughter of a lord I deal with frequently, it's best that she be on my side.
“Thank you for protecting me.”
“……!So, is Anne really a noble?”
Sophia, in shock, covered her mouth with her hands.
"Oh!
I won't tell anyone.
I was just surprised.
I'm sorry.
This is so romantic, for you to run away with Dale... to get married."
But it would be annoying if the fact that I was a noble leaked out.
In addition, Sofia is weak-hearted and sympathetic.
She put the tea cup down.
“In reality, I am the daughter of a fallen family, unjustly accused.”