Erin and Aiden visited the Prince’s Palace.
There were two reasons for their visit today.
“Erin Lienster requests an audience.”
Frederick responded with a slight nod.
“I wish to speak privately, so everyone please withdraw.”
Following Frederick’s instructions, the attendants stepped back.
With only the three of them left, the atmosphere around them changed.
“Can we stop with the formalities now?”
“I’ll continue when there are other people around.”
Erin firmly replied to Frederick’s remark.
In fact, it had been almost ten years since Erin, Aiden, and Frederick had seen each other.
Their relationship was more private and intimate than the formal ties between the royal and noble families.
The three of them began to discuss one of the reasons for their visit to the Prince’s Palace today, which was about Lady Quiness.
Erin explained to Frederick the same method she had talked to Aiden about, the way Lady Quiness could easily negotiate her divorce without incurring loss.
As the explanation concluded, Frederick’s expression became more scrutinizing.
“Truly, in times like this, Lienster Lady is truly exceptional.”
He exclaimed in admiration, “Does that mean Her Highness also approves?”
“Yes. Completely,” Frederick nodded vigorously.
“However…”
Frederick opened his mouth with a tinge of concern, lowering his voice.
“Your Highness still tries to prevent Auntie’s divorce. It must be quite burdensome for Your Highness for Auntie to return to the empire.”
In truth, the Emperor had his reasons for strongly disapproving of Lady Quiness’s divorce. Before her marriage, Lady Quiness had been the Emperor’s most beloved daughter.
She had been exceptionally bright from a young age and became a subject of admiration for everyone she met. As she grew up, the comparison between her and the current Emperor, who was a prince back then, became inevitable.
Even now, despite the fact that he had become the Emperor, he wouldn’t want the lingering presence of Lady Quiness, who was once the subject of comparison with him, to be felt in such proximity.
Moreover, there were also issues with the land belonging to the empire that Lady Quiness had inherited as part of her dowry.
The fact that the Emperor had been managing this land in place of her and now had to return it was also a significant factor.
“Please don’t reveal that Her Highness helped this time. As long as the Emperor is in good health, it’s best not to provoke his feErings by interfering with Lady Quiness, even if Her Highness might be a source of strength for the Emperor.”
“I also think I’ll do my best.”
Frederick agreed with Erin’s words.
That’s why Frederick was somewhat stepping back from this matter.
Even though Aiden and he shared information and discussed steadily, it was Aiden who was taking substantial action.
Instead, Frederick was monitoring the movements within the palace, especially whether the movements of the Emperor’s private knights were connected to the Algersen Kingdom.
However, if it became a problem, Frederick had enough distance to step back immediately.
“Lady Quiness will understand that much, won’t she?”
“But I’m not trying to help Lady Quiness to oppose His Majesty.”
“Huh?”
“Of course, that’s one of the reasons. But more than that, I just want my aunt to live as she wishes.”
Lady Quiness’ unhappy marriage.
Although people might not know all the details and deep stories, there was no one who didn’t know that she was once the most beloved noble princess in the empire, but spent a long time without happiness.
“Aiden also has reasons similar to mine, right?”
When Frederick added his comment, Erin turned back in surprise.
“……?”
Aiden nodded slightly.
In fact, Erin’s feErings while considering various interests and ways for Lady Quiness to come back were not so different from what Frederick said.
Every time she indirectly heard about her marriage life, which was barely described in the original, she hoped for her to be free and live as she wished.
And the fact that Aiden had a similar thought to Erin made her heart flutter.
As Aiden didn’t have to say why he had such feErings, it was clear enough.
He even wished for Lady Quiness’ happiness for Erin’s sake.
The fact that Aiden had changed so much because of Erin, and that he always thought of Erin at the center of all his thoughts, made her heart swell.
Erin held Aiden’s hand tightly.
Their eyes met, completely forgetting about Frederick who was next to them.
“I have the same thought.”
Erin said to Aiden with a crescent-shaped smile in her eyes.
As Aiden’s face also melted for a moment.
“Let’s make sure Lady Quiness returns to the Empire.”
Erin decided resolutely.
Aiden nodded as if he would follow her thoughts.
Erin spoke enthusiastically.
“The important point in this property division is that it should appear as if Lady Quiness is inevitably at a loss and agrees on the surface.”
Erin conveyed the important message to Frederick, while only glaring at Aiden.
“In fact, that’s true in the current state.”
“Well, even if you close your eyes and look, it doesn’t seem like a place that will survive.”
Frederick replied, looking at Erin and Aiden with a bewildered face.
At the same time, he seemed lost in thought, taking Erin’s words seriously.
At that moment, the door opened with a knock.
Claire stood in front of the door.
Erin and Aiden, Frederick, and Claire, who didn’t know anything about the situation, met each other’s gaze.
She was the second reason for the visit to the Prince’s Palace today.
At Frederick’s request, Erin had come to meet Claire today. Claire, upon seeing Erin and Aiden with Frederick, looked surprised.
“The guest has already arrived,” Claire said, looking as though she hadn’t realized there were two other people there.
“Come in,” Frederick greeted her.
“It’s nice to see you here again, Claire.”
“Lady Lienster, hello,” Erin also greeted Claire.
Aiden nodded in greeting from the side. “We were in the middle of an important discussion,” Frederick said.
“I see. Would it be okay if I listened in from the side?” Claire hesitated for a moment at Frederick’s suggestion before taking a seat next to him.
The four of them then continued their discussion about the business proposal Erin had in mind.
“This is a business plan I’ve been considering.
There’s an old mansion not far from the capital of Alzarra, which is currently considered to have no value,” Erin explained the basic idea to Claire, who listened intently.
“What do you think about creating a theme park centered around this mansion? If it succeeds, it could create something out of nothing for the surrounding area,” Erin shared her thoughts with them.
“When people come, there will be business opportunities here, and accommodations will also begin to appear. Not just the mansion, but the entire area will come to life.”
“What exactly is a theme park?” The three of them, except for Erin, had similar puzzled expressions, finding it difficult to understand the unfamiliar term.
This was a possible idea for Erin, who had lived a different life. “It’s a space where people can enjoy a specific theme,” she explained.
“Enjoying a theme,” Aiden repeated.
“What if we create a theme of exploring the old mansion?” There weren’t many ways to make use of the seemingly empty old mansion. But a symbol that could attract people had the power to turn everything around.
“I thought of this while looking at Claire Hertis,” Erin said.
“Me?” Claire was surprised when suddenly her name was mentioned.
“When Claire becomes the princess consort, there will be an increase in people who admire her travel stories,” discussing Claire’s three years of travel. Even though everyone pretended to be disinterested, curiosity about Claire’s travels had already arisen.
“But realistically, not everyone can go on a voyage,” Aiden remarked.
“It’s a kind of vicarious satisfaction,” Erin added. “Right. If we could experience something different with just a short distance for a brief respite.”
Claire and Erin’s eyes met. They were sharing the same thoughts. Erin smiled slightly and continued, “In the past, even if there was curiosity, people might not have made an effort to go. But now that there’s a celebrity who has traveled for three years.”
The plan sounded vague and whimsical just by listening to it, but Erin, who knew the value of this place, continued speaking. “I’ve only come up with a rough draft hastily. We should plan to proceed for at least five years.”
“That’s a quite specific plan for such a thing. Lady Quiness will probably understand this well,” Frederick said thoughtfully.
“I’m sure it will be like that,” Erin confidently raised the corner of her mouth.
Watching her, Aiden smiled contentedly and muttered, “It’s only natural since it’s Erin’s idea.”
Frederick looked at Aiden as if he were staring at Erin as if no one else was present, causing a puzzled expression on his face. But over the past few years, he had seen Aiden act this way several times.
Deciding to ignore this, Frederick opened his mouth and directed his question to Erin. “But has Lady Lienster ever been to this place? How does she know so much about it?”
Erin responded, “I’ve seen a lot of maps and books since I was young.”
“Of course, you’ve always been interested in different regions,” Frederick acknowledged.
Erin, not flustered, offered the excuse she had prepared in advance. Frederick nodded at her explanation and glanced briefly at Claire, as if he wanted to know her thoughts.
