IBLTW Chapter 41

“Hmm. If there are five pieces in the set, wouldn’t that leave one extra?”

I asked regretfully, and she nodded.

“That’s correct. However, the remaining jewel is also intended for a Helios royal woman who will marry into Vermouth…”

The two marchionesses, who had been quietly observing, chimed in.

“It will likely go to the eighth princess of Helios.”

“There have been letters exchanged regarding her engagement to Prince Stollen next year.”

“How old is she?”

“Twelve.”

…What? She’s still a kid!

I frowned in disbelief, but the three noblewomen showed no signs of budging.

Unlike Ruby, who had been relatively open with me, these ladies had clearly heard all kinds of fearsome rumors about me. So while they remained polite, they kept a firm and distant stance.

I decided to switch tactics.

“What are your hobbies, ladies? Lately, I’ve been interested in landscaping. I even tend to the palace gardens as a personal hobby.”

For example, I could frame my medicinal herb studies with Lindo as simple gardening, making it sound more approachable…

“Oh? I enjoy reading.”

“Wow. What kind of books do you like?”

“Differentiating Blood Types Through Sacred Science and Technology.”

…What sacred science exactly?

“That sounds… difficult—uh, I mean, fascinating.”

In the end, our first meeting was nothing more than awkward small talk that led nowhere.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. They’re not usually this cold, but they place a great deal of importance on a sense of belonging…”

“It’s fine. That jewel is precious, so I understand why they wouldn’t easily offer it to someone who isn’t from Helios.”

I patted Ruby on the shoulder, reassuring her before sending her off.

Then, with my arms crossed, I watched the departing carriages roll through the palace gates.

The farther they went, the more my competitive spirit ignited.

‘I said I understood, not that I was giving up!’

That jewel? I’d already laid my claim on it.

 

 

****

 

 

“What in the world is she thinking?”

Marchioness Hessen sighed, pressing a hand against her chest.

Her chronic indigestion always worsened at social gatherings, and even just looking at the spread of refreshments made her stomach feel heavy.

But more than that—

Fending off the Empress’s attempts to get closer had completely drained her energy.

She was already in her fifties, had raised three children, and was finally enjoying a well-deserved period of rest. Dealing with the relentless enthusiasm of a young royal was exhausting.

‘This is exactly why I hate social circles.’

She absentmindedly stroked the sapphire ring on her finger, still irritated by today’s forced gathering, which she had only attended because of Duchess Shire’s request.

The Empress had far rarer and more valuable jewels in her collection, so why was she suddenly after Helios’s gemstones?

“Absolutely not.”

It wasn’t just about the Eighth Princess of Helios. That little girl would likely receive new gems from her homeland when she married.

In reality, the fifth gemstone in the set wasn’t meant for her at all. It was more of a reserve piece, in case one of the others was lost.

The true value of the jewel lay elsewhere.

The secret society known as the Gem Club.

Vermouth’s empire was vast, and many noblewomen had married in from foreign lands.

These women often struggled to adjust to unfamiliar customs and social hierarchies. Gem Club had been formed as a support network—an unofficial alliance where they helped and protected each other behind the scenes.

Membership in Gem Club meant you had a silent, powerful backing.

Regardless of nationality or rank, members stood by each other like family.

Soon, Ruby, the Duchess of Shire, would be inducted as a full-fledged member.

‘There’s no way we can let the Empress in.’

Hessen Marchioness was a conservative woman, and she found the Empress unsettling.

She didn’t know all the internal affairs of the palace, but it was obvious that the Empress was not an ordinary woman.

Leah Vermouth was the only daughter of the notoriously arrogant Duke Celeste. And immediately after marriage, she had indulged in a life of luxury and decadence.

Most scandalous of all—there were rumors that she had a private palace filled with handsome men.

She had nearly fainted when she heard that one.

‘Though, to be fair, she seems quieter these days…’

Still, it had to be a passing phase. People didn’t change that easily. And hadn’t she blatantly hinted at wanting the gemstone today?

‘She was probably spoiled rotten, raised without a single hardship. A pampered, arrogant, and stubborn woman.’

Marchioness Hessen had no intention of ever meeting the Empress again.

Who knew when she might suddenly throw a tantrum or even blackmail her for the jewel?

She wasn’t interested in stress or drama.

Her stomach churned just thinking about it.

She sighed and tapped her chest habitually. At least her home was peaceful now—her children were married, and her husband had passed on.

Yes. The quiet was a blessing.

Until—

“Hello, Marchioness Hessen! Would you like to have tea with me?”

The Empress appeared at her doorstep, beaming, with her arms full of who-knows-what.

 

 

 

*****

 

 

“How do I win them over?”

That thought consumed me. Whether I was eating, walking, or lying in bed, it was all I could think about.

“You seem a little off today.”

Since we were sharing the bedroom tonight, Xian immediately noticed something was strange. He reached out and placed a hand on my forehead, but I just blinked at him.

“I’m fine.”

“Then why are you so quiet?”

He narrowed his eyes, scanning my face carefully.

My complexion was normal, but my expression must have looked dull—he probably thought I had coughed up blood again or something.

“You’ve been running around everywhere. Are you sure your health isn’t worsening?”

“I’m fine. I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Like what?”

“Nothing important. Anyway, Xian, aren’t you going to sleep? It’s late.”

“Tell me.”

Xian pressed on, his expression serious. His gaze had that strange intensity, as if he was deeply bothered by something.

Feeling a little annoyed, I decided to use my ultimate weapon—his greatest weakness.

Whispered ASMR.

“You’re not… playing with some weird people, are you—?”

Soft lullaby sounds.

Xian’s eyelids drooped almost instantly. And just moments later, his head hit the pillow with a soft thud.

Success!

I grinned triumphantly and gently tucked the blanket around him, patting him lightly.

“Good night.”

This is all for you, my little black panther.

With Xian safely knocked out, I could now focus on gathering information about the noblewomen.

Since they rarely attended social events, tracking down their personal details was difficult. They had no obvious hobbies or interests.

But then again, who am I?

“Oh-ho.”

Using the full power of my position as Empress, I smiled in satisfaction.

In my hand was a list of books borrowed by Marchioness Hessen from the Imperial Library.

“Medicine, pharmacology, acupuncture… It’s all related to health?”

Lindo, who had been dutifully feeding me my daily dose of the universal antidote, glanced over at the list.

“Judging by the book titles, she must have digestive issues. Nothing too severe, just a chronic condition.”

“Ohhh. That makes sense. She kept rubbing her chest like she was uncomfortable.”

I had found my lead.

Gulping down the rest of my antidote, I asked excitedly,

“Hey, what was the name of that modified herb we successfully cultivated the other day?”

“Appleplum. It’s much gentler and more effective than standard digestive medicine.”

That’s it!

Currently, the hottest social trend was extravagant feasting.

For the past few years, Vermouth had been experiencing an unprecedented streak of abundant harvests.

As a result, wealthy nobles weren’t just splurging on luxury goods—they were also going all out with their banquet spreads.

Mountains of meat, fine wines, exotic fruits, and decadent desserts lined the tables.

Even cakes were five layers high by default.

At these daily banquets, the competition wasn’t about who hosted the best party—it was about who served the most extravagant food.

Naturally, people ate more.

And as they indulged, the demand for digestive remedies skyrocketed.

‘Lindo and I were already planning to make money off this trend…’

After all, the more money, the better.

Even though I was secretly stashing away a personal fortune, it would be best to have a steady source of income after my divorce.

So for months, I had been laser-focused on finding profitable business ideas.

And I had struck gold with this new digestive aid.

“Lindo, since the research and testing are done, we can use it right away, right?”

Dried and processed apricots and plums were already excellent digestive aids.

Following my request, Lindo had crossbred them to enhance their medicinal properties, creating a brand-new herb.

The Appleplum.

It required no special processing—just steep it in hot water like tea.

Mild yet effective, it was the perfect product to drain the wallets of the nobility.

“Wasn’t this supposed to be distributed through merchant guilds? Are you planning to hand it over before the official launch?”

“Yup! Think of it as a market test.”

With that, I had my secret weapon ready—fragrant tea leaves infused with the soothing power of Appleplum.

The only problem left was…

How do I visit Marchioness Hessen’s estate without an invitation?

“Would you like some company?”

A deep, pleasant voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned to see a red-haired prince standing at the entrance of my palace.

Kaibel.

My eyes widened as he approached, holding a massive basket of roses.

“Ruby was upset,” he explained with a warm smile. “She told me that the Empress was the first friend she made in Vermouth, and she felt terrible that she couldn’t give you the gift you wanted.”

Ah.

So Ruby must have told her brother.

As realization dawned on me, Kaibel continued smoothly,

“I was planning to send a basket of roses to all the noblewomen close to Ruby. No one would find it odd if I delivered one in person.”

…What a tempting offer.

Kaibel was a prince of Helios, and the noblewomen adored his sister, Princess Ruby.

That meant they would naturally welcome him.

Even if I wasn’t invited, I could just tag along under his pretense.

I hugged the lush bouquet of Helios roses and grinned.

“Thank you! Then may I join you when you visit Marchioness Hessen’s estate?”

“Of course,” Kaibel said, his eyes crinkling in amusement.

“Shall we go right away?”

I nodded eagerly and handed the basket back to him before leaving the room.

“Oh, I should return this to you.”

“It’s fine. That’s a gift for you, Your Majesty.”

“…You’re giving me this many?”

He had already given me a rose last time.

Tilting my head in curiosity, I stared at him, and he leaned against the doorway lazily, resting his chin on one hand.

“Yes,” he murmured.

“I brought them just because… I wanted to give them to you.”