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n“Well, one day my father, who returned from the Imperial Palace, reviewed the luxury tax with a serious expression. But I have never seen my father devise such things. That means someone else devised it, right? ”

n“Yes, logically.”

n“Besides, he suddenly mentioned you as his daughter-in-law.”

n“What the heck?”

nDid the duke suddenly mention me as his daughter-in-law?

nI tilted my head curiously, he continued, “Let me tell you about it later. Anyway, if my father mentioned you, the next empress as his daughter-in-law, that means something remarkable has happened to you or you were involved in treason. Definitely there is no possibility that you were involved in treason. If that’s the case, there is a high likelihood that you made the proposal.”

n“Oh, I got it.” I replied, surprised at his reasoning.

nBut his reasoning did not end there. He said, lifting the teacup gracefully, “By the way, my father can’t say anything that might seem like treason. I just feel something bad has happened to your status as the next empress.”

n“… ”

n“Well, I guess I know. If I’m right, it’s going to be quite serious, so I won’t mention it any more.

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nI can’t stand my curiosity, though. I wondered if it was you who first devised the luxury tax, and I was so impatient that I came here to meet you, although I knew it was a breach of etiquette.”

nI was a little frustrated when he looked at me curiously. What should I say? I can’t say I already knew it, and he would notice it quickly if I answer vaguely. After pondering it for a moment, I opened my mouth slowly.

n“Actually, I was not the first to come up with that luxury tax idea.”

n“Huh? What are you talking about?”

n“Well, I saw it in an old book. It said there was such a system in ancient times. ”

n“Book? Which book? What’s the title? ”

n‘Oops!’ I clicked my tongue in my heart. Why did I make such an excuse? The boy in front of me was an immediate family member of Duke Verita, who has produced many prime ministers in the empire, so he must have grown up reading a huge number of books. I thought I made a mistake, but now I couldn’t cancel what I already said. So, I said, pretending to look casual, “Well, it was a book without a title. I happened to see it at the Imperial Palace Library, but I couldn’t find it the next time I went there. ”

n“Hmm. Really?”

n“Yes.”

nThe boy, who asked as if in doubt, shrugged and sat back as if it didn’t matter.

nI sighed in relief, but I raised my head when something suddenly came to my mind.

nI felt I couldn’t call him by his first name since he got close to me because he thought I was responsible for devising the luxury tax.

nAt that moment I realized how cunning I was. Even a moment ago I was very embarrassed when he asked me to call him by his first name, but now I felt a bit regretful that I might not be able to call his first name.

n“Well, are you going to cancel your request for me to call you by your first name?”

n“Huh?” He opened his emerald eyes wide and looked at me. Looking at me for a moment, he smiled and said, “Aristia, you are the first who has come up with the luxury tax. When you told me that you saw it in a book, did you think I’d cancel my request for you to call my name?”

n“… ”

n“No way. I didn’t allow you to call my name simply because of that. I feel a bit sad if you think so.”

n“Then, what is it?” When I asked curiously, he slightly clicked his tongue and said, “Of course, I was surprised that a ten-year-old girl came up with it. And I was also curious about what made my father mention you as his daughter-in-law. ”

n“… ”

n“I was a bit suspicious that you didn’t think about it, and even if that’s true, I’m glad to know that you read a book that you couldn’t find again at the library. I don’t think other ladies are stupid, but I’m glad I can have a deep conversation with you. Even if you didn’t devise it but read about it, not all could digest it and propose such a tax idea like you.”

n“… ”

n“And I’ve not told you yet about the most important thing.”

nSuddenly, I raised my head. When I met his eyes, the boy opened his mouth again with a bright smile, “I like you.”

n“Huh?”

n“Of course, I like your looks, too, but I liked your composure. You might have been embarrassed or angry when I suddenly changed my attitude, but you flinched a bit and kept calm all along. I like your good manners and intelligence. Besides, my father also likes you. So, Aristia, I know you can’t think straight now. When you are done sorting out your problems, won’t you marry me?”

n“What– What are you talking about?”

n“No way! Absolutely not.”

nAs I was so embarrassed, I was stuttering when somebody suddenly opened the door of the parlor and shouting at him.

n“Oh, Daddy.”

n“It’s been a while since I saw you last, Marquis Monique.”

nUnlike me, who was at a loss of what to do, Allendis greeted him in a calm tone, as if he had been ready for my father’s reaction.

n“Tia, come here.”

nMy father approached me quickly and pulled me behind his back.

n“Oh, I think you really care about your daughter, sir. I like her better for that because only the one who has received love can love someone well. ”

n“… I told you clearly I said no…”

n“Why do you not like me?”

nI felt strange because I’ve never experienced things like this as I was always treated as the crown prine’s fiancée since I was born. I thought this would happen to most ladies who got married to their partners for the political interests of their families. I even thought what I experienced today was similar to the novels the maids used to enjoy.

n“To the best of my knowledge, you have never met my daughter before.”

n“That’s right.”

n“Then you met my daughter for the first time today. Do you think it makes sense to propose to her blindly like this? ”

n“Well, I think I could. I may have fallen in love with her at first sight. ”

n“Oh my…” My father spoke as if he was dumbfounded.

n“I hear you are thirteen this year.”

n“Yes, sir. But do you think I can’t even love her because I’m young?”

n“Let me stop talking about it here. Please sit down. Tia, you sit down, too. ” My father cut him off coldly and said, “Even if you are called a rare genius, I am not free or foolish enough to argue with a thirteen-year-old boy. Let me get to the point. What do you want from my daughter? ”

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n“I told you. I love your daughter…Oh, okay. I will tell you seriously, so will you please withdraw your murderous look?”

nAllendis stopped smiling at his cold look and said in a serious tone, “I don’t know how much you heard me talking to her, but I really like your daughter. But as you said, we are still too young to talk about love. ”

n“So what?”

n“But it is true that I have a good feeling about Aristia. I don’t think Aristia hates me, so maybe my good feeling can develop into love. So, how about this way? First of all, given the ongoing situation, it seems quite possible that Aristia will not be the crown prince’s fiancee. Is that correct?”

n“… ”

n“I think I’m right. I am saying this based on my assumption that Aristia is not getting married to the prince. What would other nobles think about you if her marriage to the prince was nullified? I’d definitely think they would start gossiping about your daughter’s problem. ”

n“I wouldn’t stay idle in that case.”

nI gave a thought to what Allendis just pointed out, but I gave it a pass because I had no way to solve it.

n“How are you going to put a gag on those of the social circles? And if that happens, then your daughter’s reputation will have been damaged enough to bar any good promising partners for your daughter. Well, those nobles with lower ranks or anybody trying to cultivate relationships with the Monique family will show interest. How are you going to endure such humiliation?”

nMy father was just listening to him without replying at all.

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