Captain! Where is the Battlefield?

 

  Inside the room, Nine, the second Empress, stood elegantly on the red carpet in her exquisite dress. She greeted the two entering the room with a cunning smile.

 

  “You’ve worked hard. But… you didn’t bring the person I wanted, did you?”

 

  “Th-that’s because…”

 

  Unable to meet Nine’s gaze, they hurriedly bowed in apology. Nine flashed a gentle smile, the mole near her eye subtly twitching.

 

  “Did you…fail?”

 

  “We even told her that Her Majesty the Empress was looking for her! She was more stubborn than she seemed and even had a strong bodyguard.”

 

  “That’s true! They tried to kill us! She even dared to say that she should be formally summoned to the palace if you wanted to meet her…”

 

  “Did I tell you to look for her? I thought I told you to bring her quietly.”

 

  The two bowed even deeper, as if they wanted to bury themselves in the ground. Watching them for a moment, Nine approached and comforted them with a tender touch on the shoulder.

 

  Feeling her touch, the two relaxed a bit and straightened up, relieved.

 

  “Well, I forgive your failures and mistakes.”

 

  “Thank you!”

 

  “Now, leave.”

 

  They continued to express their gratitude while bowing and quickly left the room, fearing that Nine’s mood might change. As the door slowly closed behind them, Nine muttered with a cold gaze.

 

  “But I won’t let them go. Lady Andree.”

 

  As Nine extended her hand, Andree approached and wiped Nine’s hand with a handkerchief. It was the hand that had touched their shoulders.

 

  “Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”

 

  “Take care of them. For the cause of death… well, you can handle it as you see fit.”

 

  Nine clicked her tongue in disappointment. They were just simple commoners aiming for a promotion – expendable cards, yet it was a shame to lose them like this.

 

  “Oh, and Lady Andree.”

 

  Stopping Andree as she was leaving, Nine grinned with a sly smile, eager to see the face of the one who dared to ignore her summons.

 

  “Tomorrow, immediately summon Duchess Judeheart for an audience.”

 

  ⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰

 

  As usual, Rosalie finished her training and came up after a quick bath. Emma, who had come out in advance to prepare her clothes, helped Rosalie dress and combed her wet hair.

 

  “Your Grace… I think you need to come down to the lobby for a moment.”

 

  Upon hearing Martin’s urgent voice from beyond the door, Rosalie quickly put on her clothes and opened the door.

 

  “What’s going on?”

 

  “Well, someone has come from the palace. They’re looking for you, Your Grace.”

 

  “That was faster than I expected.”

 

  Rosalie’s muttering was met with puzzled expressions from Emma and Martin. Rosalie went straight downstairs to the lobby. 

 

  In the spacious lobby, Nathan and Erudit were waiting, having come out first upon hearing the commotion. Andree, along with two imperial guards, stood in front of the entrance.

 

  “Nice to meet you. I am Andree Lorin Vidian, the lady of the Vidian Barony and a servant of Her Majesty the Empress. Please just call me Lady Andree.”

 

  Rosalie met Andree’s eyes as she raised her head.

 

  The description of Andree in the novel was simple. Her hands moved as efficiently as expected, and she never defied the Empress’s will. Andree was described as Nine’s hands.

 

  “Greetings. Would you like to come up to the reception room for now?”

 

  “No need. The Empress urgently requests your presence. Please hurry.”

 

  Andree said in a firm voice. She didn’t seem to care that Rosalie wasn’t even ready to go out yet. 

 

  “You summoned her so rudely yesterday, and you’re doing it again today?”

 
“Are those words meant for the Empress?”

 

  At Nathan’s mocking tone, Andree’s eyes sharpened, and the hands of the two imperial knights behind her stealthily moved toward their swords. Rosalie frowned at the quickly escalating situation.

 

  “What are you doing at my mansion?”

 

  Rosalie’s voice, heavy with warning, echoed through the lobby.

 

  “Are you planning to use force right here and now?”

 

  In response to Rosalie’s sharp outcry, Joey appeared with the duchy’s knights. As the knights quickly took positions behind Rosalie, Andree smiled and gestured to the imperial knights behind her.

 

  “I apologize. Please understand that this was an action driven by loyalty.”

 

  Upon hearing this, the knights obediently lowered the hands that had been on their sword hilts.

 

  ‘How ridiculous. She was going to try and suppress us when she had the chance.’

 

  Rosalie knew that Andree’s actions were ultimately under Nine’s orders, and Andree, carrying the power of Nine, acted confidently. However, Rosalie had no intention of yielding to their demands and didn’t even bat an eye.

 

  “I’ll come down once I’m ready.”

 

  Rosalie turned and swiftly went back up to her room. As she did, Nathan, who had been following her, leaned against the door.

 

  “I’ll follow you to the front of the palace~.” 

 

  “Alright”

 

  With that, Nathan walked away and disappeared. After completing her preparations, Rosalie boarded her carriage and headed for the palace. 

 

  As she reached the entrance, Nathan knocked lightly on the carriage window. When she opened the window, Nathan leaned in and spoke. 

 

  “Rosalie, don’t worry. You’ll have reinforcements.”

 

  There was only one person at the palace who could provide reinforcements, and Rosalie chuckled.

 

  ‘Nathan must have told Derivis.’

 

  “Okay, wait for me at the mansion.”

 

  The carriage passed through the palace entrance without stopping. After getting out of the carriage and arriving at the reception room of the Empress’s palace, Rosalie was able to meet the person she had anticipated.

 

  “Rosalie.”

 

  “Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

  It was Andree who seemed flustered when she saw Derivis’s face. Derivis, who never set foot in the Empress’s palace, was standing right in front of the reception room. Andree quickly bowed.

 

  Ignoring Andree’s greeting, Derivis approached Rosalie.

 

  “I heard from Nathan. I’m going in with you.”

 

  “I apologize, Your Highness, but Her Majesty the Empress summoned the Duchess alone.” 

 

  Derivis’s eyes turned icy at Andree’s insistence.

 

  “Is there some reason I shouldn’t be allowed inside? I wonder what the Empress is up to.” 

 

  “No, it’s just that…”

 

  Andree faltered, flustered by the unexpected situation. However, Derivis showed no signs of stepping back.

 

  “Derivis, I’ll be fine.”

 

  Rosalie reached out and patted Derivis’s arm. Then, she leaned closer and whispered to him.

 

  “I need to know the Empress’s intentions. Just knowing that you’re here makes me feel safe.” 

 

  “…If it’s dangerous, send a signal to me right away. I’ll break in if I have to.”

 

  Rosalie chuckled slightly and nodded. With an official summons like this, they knew that Nine couldn’t openly threaten her. However, Derivis’s expression remained tense. 

 

  Derivis turned his head and met Andree’s eyes at the door, his gaze full of warnings. Andree reluctantly turned and opened the door, and Rosalie walked towards it without hesitation.

 

  “Welcome, Duchess.”

 

  “I greet Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

  Rosalie bowed her head. At Nine’s silent command, Rosalie slowly raised her lowered head. Nine, with her vibrant purple hair tied up, smiled gently.

 

  “It seems quite noisy outside. Did something happen?”

 

  “It’s nothing, Your Majesty. I heard you were looking for me.”

 

  “Yes, that’s correct. But it seems quite difficult to meet the Duchess.”

 

  “It will be much easier to meet me if you summon me officially.” 

 

  At Rosalie’s words, Nine smiled once again without saying anything. Then, she gestured to the table on one side of the reception room with the fan she had in her hand.

 

  “Shall we sit down and talk?”

 

  At Nine’s invitation, Rosalie took a step forward. Andree, who was standing by her side, filled an empty cup with tea from a teapot.

 

  “The reason I summoned the Duchess here was because I found it intriguing that our Crown Prince seemed to be getting close to the Duchess. As his mother, my primary concern is the Crown Prince’s safety.”

 

  “I see.”

 

  “Fufu, what a dry response. I heard that the Crown Prince even intervened in the trial to demonstrate his friendship with the Duchess.”

 

  “The Crown Prince simply couldn’t stand by and watch a dear friend lose their  sense of morality.”

 

  Nine gazed at Rosalie with a thoughtful look as she remained impassive. Then, Nine gently held the warm teacup with her hand.

 

  “Duchess, I’ve heard quite a bit about you. They say that the resurgence of the Dukedom of Judeheart is all thanks to your efforts…”

 

  “That’s an overstatement.”

 

  “But you know, a revival can also be abruptly halted due to unfortunate incidents.”

 

  The statement was loaded with meaning and an implicit warning, but Rosalie maintained her calm demeanor. Her impassive gaze was irking Nine. 

 

  “If I were to tell you that there is a safer and faster way for you to further develop the Dukedom, I think the Duchess would be very interested.”

 

  Nine picked up a lump of sugar and let it drop into her teacup. The sound filled the space between them as Rosalie’s gaze followed the dissolving sugar cube. 

 

  “What if I were to guide you on that path?”

 

  Rosalie and Nine’s eyes locked in a silent exchange. Then, Nine lifted her teacup as the sugar cube completely dissolved.

 

  “Of course, only I know the way.”

 

  “Your Majesty, I know a short but helpful saying.”

 

  “Hmm, what is it?”

 

  “It goes, ‘Even a stone bridge should be tapped before crossing.'”

 

  Nine’s eyebrows twitched with interest at the unfamiliar saying.

 

  “It means that even a stone bridge that appears sturdy over the water can collapse at any moment, so you should not take it for granted and should test the bridge by tapping it before crossing it.”

 

  “Hmm, interesting. But what’s the reason why you’re telling me this?”

 

  “Because I am naturally cautious, I won’t cross a bridge that appears rotten even on the surface.”

 

  At Rosalie’s words, Nine’s face quickly hardened. Then, Rosalie picked up a sugar cube from the table and dropped it into her tea. This time, Nine watched the sugar cube dissolve in Rosalie’s teacup.

 

  “After all, a rotten stone bridge will inevitably plunge endlessly into the water, just like this.”

 

  

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