“I wish she had talent.”

This was the first time Artizea had spoken about Leticia’s education.

She’s been trying not to talk about the baby’s future prematurely. She didn’t want to do it twice because she had already once made the mistake of saying that she owned the baby’s future as her own.

Leticia should be able to play freely, be loved a lot, and grow up freely. Of course, she had to learn responsibility, but she wouldn’t force anything more than that.

But if she wants to be a little bit greedy, he hopes Leticia is a person who can manage herself well.

She wished she was able to stride forward on her own, rather than someone who struggles to take responsibility.

Cedric smiled.

“Mel will be a good teacher. Don’t worry.”

Artizea nodded her head.

Cedric emptied the casserole bowl clean. Then, he said cheerfully.

“Shall we go for a walk? If you can walk.”

“Yes.”

“After eating the rest.”

Artizea slowly ate the rest of the stew at his prompt.

Cedric stood up first and held out his arm. Artizea grabbed his arm and stood up.

“Wait.”

Before Cedric folded his arms, he meticulously wrapped a fur shawl over Artizea’s cape.

Artizea smiled.

“You got used to it.”

“I worry more about you than Ticia.”

“I don’t cough that often.”

“If your neck is cold, you will get cold quickly.”

Artizea hesitated for a moment. It wasn’t that she hesitated whether he could or not. She knew that Cedric would do it no matter what.

If anything, this was also her right as a wife.

She was still not used to giving her body to his urge. Her old habits slowed her down, though she knew she didn’t have to think and count and move carefully one by one.

It was a leisurely evening, but she quickly put away her thoughts. She wrapped her arms around his neck before Cedric stepped back.

“Tia?”

Cedric called her in a slightly startled voice. Artizea lowered her eyes and said,

“It’s not the only way to get warm.”

“What’s going on?”

Cedric smiled and wrapped an arm around Artizea’s back. Artizea relaxed her strength and leaned on him, and her body fell into Cedric’s arms.

“Just. Or shall we go for a walk?”

“You know how to make people excited.”

He put his other arm behind Artizea’s knee and lifted her up lightly.

“I can walk.”

“I just do it because I want to.”

Cedric said and walked inside. Artizea buried her face in the nape of his neck.

The servants went ahead like a shadow and opened the door.

In fact, in the living room next to the bedroom, Hayley and Hazel were waiting because they had something to report to Artizea. But when they came out into the hallway, they quietly bowed their heads, and took a step back.

As they entered the bedroom, the door closed silently. Cedric laid Artizea down on the bed and bent over her.

“Umm…….”

The second kiss that day was sweet and tender.

Cedric’s hand pulled Artizea’s accessories off her head. Her long, golden hair, fluttering in the light of the candles, slid down her back.

“Ah…….”

Artizea let out a small moan as he laid her back on the bed, holding her back.

“Turn off the lights, please.”

“A moment.”

Cedric got his body up after kissing Artizea one more time.

After extinguishing the candle on the nearby bedside table and all the lights on the other side of the bedside table, white moonlight permeated through the large window.

Artizea lay still in the bed until then. Her hair was messed up on the bed and her face looked whiter in the moonlight.

Cedric went back to bed and gently stroked her hair. Artizea called him with her arms wide open.

He willingly sank into it.

＊＊＊

It was a month later that a guest arrived from the North.

This time, the representative of the vassals summoned from Evron was Mel Jordyn.

“Long time no see, Your Majesty.”

Mel got down on one of her knees and bowed politely. The dress she wore was a simple yet elegant robe suitable for the Empress’ lady-in-waiting, but perhaps because of her appearance, she looked like a knight.

“Welcome.”

Artizea greeted her with a gentle face. Mel had never come out of the North before, so it was their first reunion in 4 years.

“You must have worked hard. The North must have changed in many ways.”

“It is all by the grace of Your Majesty the Empress. It is full of vitality as a considerable number of merchant guilds have come and gone at the stronghold.”

Since it was the official place where she was greeted, she responded only like that to Artizea. This is because her job as chief lady-in-waiting to Grand Duchess Evron was to care for the stronghold.

She actually had a lot more to see and do. The statistics had already been conveyed, but the changes taking place in the North were not limited to the stronghold.

From the Thold Gate to the southernmost villages, more people than ever before have left their villages to find new jobs.

The spread of new crops increased the population. Grain merchants from the West came up to the North.

In the past two years, even in a village isolated by a snow storm, there has been no starvation. Fewer babies born in winter die.

The changes taking place in the northern village were even more dramatic.

The development of ore veins, which had been neglected due to lack of manpower, also began. Some fast-moving upper management have even offered to invest.

Many in the stronghold thought that Melbon’s spread was a coincidence. There were more people in the West than in the North who revered Artizea as the Saintess.

The magistrates praised the Grand Duchess’ influence, but they knew only about her refining the administrative system and revitalizing commerce.

As Cedric became Emperor, the North became more lively. Not many people knew what role the Grand Duchess was in the process.

But Mel knew what kind of threads Artizea had pulled behind the scenes.

The incident of the dead youngest did not go unnoticed in her heart. But she had so much respect for Artizea that she couldn’t keep it in her feelings.

“It must have been hard coming from a long way, so first, rest. Until now, there has been no chief lady-in-waiting in the Empress’ Palace, so you will have a lot of work to do.”

“I was concerned that Hayley might not have been able to properly serve Your Majesty because of her lack.”

“Hayley has a role that Hayley does. There is another thing you have to do. Instead of giving you a reward, I think I’ll have you do some work again.”

“Order me anything. I am determined to do my best for the sake of the Empress and Emperor.”

The way she spoke was definitely the same as a knight, Artizea smiled.

“You have a lot of stories to tell, so I’ll make time for you again later. Hayley, please guide Mel to her residence and tell her about the Palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hayley politely bowed her head to greet her.

Artizea said before Mel stepped down,

“Oh, Leticia is very interested in the new arrivals to the Empress’ Palace. She especially wants to see your children, so please understand me if she suddenly jumps into your place.”

“We were all looking forward to the day we would see the Princess.”

Mel answered with a smile. And she withdrew from Artizea’s parlor.

Hayley wrinkled her face until she stepped back from the parlor and headed towards Mel’s quarters.

“The room is cleared. Where do I start the handover?”

“No need to hurry, Hayley. Why are you frowning so much?”

“Sister may not be conscious of it, but you are now in the middle of the most hell-like place in the Capital.”

Not one or two people were keen to find out what might change in the Empress’ Palace.

Until now, the chief lady-in-waiting was officially absent from the Empress’ Palace. When a ceremonial rank was needed, considering her age, Mrs. Keshore was at the top, and in reality, Hayley was acting as the chief handmaiden.

There were no power struggles or competitions for favor among the maids.

Mrs. Keshore entered the Palace as Leticia’s nanny from the beginning, and Hazel and Mielle depended heavily on Hayley.

She had nothing to say about Lady Viscount Pescher, who was only going to stay for a while.

But now, there was an official chief lady-in-waiting in the Empress’ Palace. Moreover it was Count Jordyn who came down from the North.

Will the Northerners take the initiative in the Empress’ Palace? Will the ladies-in-waiting go under the chief lady-in-waiting, who has not been seated until now and is virtually new, smoothly?

Can Mel Jordyn take over the social world on behalf of the Empress?

It would be even more exciting if the real sisters quarreled over the power of the Empress’ Palace.

Mel didn’t even know what Hayley was talking about. But she answered calmly,

“I have heard that you are doing very well. You can do it like you did before.”

“What about Sister?”

“My role is to protect the Empress’ Palace and the Princess. I can’t do it for you, and I don’t want to compete with you. If you don’t help, it’s rather difficult.”

Mel said. Then, she stopped and looked at Hayley curiously.

“You should know that? Or do you have any other reason to frown at me for coming to the Capital?”

“Some other reason.”

Hayley’s voice stiffened.

It’s been 4 years since she came to the Capital. Hayley thought she would be well-adapted amongst the snarky Capital’s politicians.

But Mel calmly penetrated through her sister’s insides.

“When I arrived at the Capital, I decided to consult with His Majesty the Emperor about the appointment of the Northern Governor.”

“…… yes.”

“If you have any complaints, tell me now.”

“Nothing.”

“Really?”

“No? What do I have to do with the Northern Governor’s affair?”

“His Majesty has Sir Freil in mind.”

Without asking if it really didn’t matter, Mel said bluntly.

“If it’s a serious relationship, say it now, if it’s just dating, just break up.”

Hayley’s face turned red.