“It’s finally over . ”


  After we’d handed the first prince to Prince Majid and escorted him away, I sat down on the couch with a sigh of relief .

  “Mm hm, thanks for your hard work, Iris! You really were professional today . ”


  I felt a little bitterness in my heart at my mother’s warm words .

  That this whole thing went well was thanks to her and Ryle capturing the first prince .

  It was a liability to Prince Majid that the first prince was alive……even worse, alive in another country .

  He had worked so hard for the throne . The fact that the first prince was abroad meant he was unaccounted for .

  After all, people who were against the third prince ascending to the throne were numerous .

  He had used underhanded tactics to gain the throne in the first place, plus the Tasmeria Kingdom might have supported the first prince to attack him from abroad . If this information managed to spread domestically, his supporter base could be destabilized .

  But judging from personnel and resources, Tasmeria wouldn’t invade . So what he truly feared was his own people .

  And that’s why he had to bring the first prince back at any cost……the result of everything confirmed my guesses .

  Who knew what would happen to the first prince when he got home? He might not even survive . But he was an enemy, one who’d threatened my people’s lives .

  I had no pity for him .

  “Mother, you were quite calm too, smiling the whole time……not surprising, I suppose, coming from you . ”


  “Well, I was certain of your movements during the negotiations . If the middle-aged man might have done something, I was confident I could handle him . ”


  I couldn’t help but laugh at her words .

  I don’t know if I should compliment her on being brave or something else……but this was how my mother was .

  “A non-invasion pact and a trade deal . On some level these are the most beneficial deals for us to strike with a large country like that . Plus, the reduction in tariffs and limitations on exports for our territory……this whole thing was a great victory for us in the end . ”


  “For me personally, I think we lost the moment there was a conflict . After all, there can be no victims if there’s no conflict . I tried my best to prevent conflict……but didn’t manage to accomplish this . If I don’t really reflect on this, I won’t have done my duty for the people . ”


  “Iris, you’re quite harsh on yourself . ”


  “Not at all . I’m a noble with a burden to bear, so this is nothing special . I’ve made a mistake that apologies won’t be able to cover . ”


  “I see . And it’s because you are like this that your people are so willing to follow you . ”


  I smiled at my mother .

  Sipping on the herbal tea Tanya prepared for us, we relaxed together .

  Because we’d been so tense the whole time, the scent of the tea seemed to suffuse through our whole bodies .

  “I’ll stay for a week longer, and if nothing else happens I’ll be returning home with the rest of Duke Anderson’s guard . ”


  “Good . Although this is nothing special, let me give you a gift to express my thanks . Also, I want to throw them a banquet before they leave . It won’t be anything too grand . ”


  “Of course, everyone will be overjoyed . They’re all quite excited at the delicious food to be found in this territory . ”


  “That’s great to hear . I’ll let Merida show off her talent during the feast . ”


  “Oh, I’m looking forward to this . ”


  Seeing my mother smile warmly, I felt like the days that had evaded me for so long were finally back . The tea tasted all that much better on my lips .

  How long has it been since I could sit down and enjoy a beverage like this?

  “Milady, there’s been a letter from Lady Letticia . ”


  Sebastian presented a letter to me .

  I couldn’t imagine what might be written within, so I opened it clumsily and read it from beginning to end .

  “So? Iris?”


  I’d just managed to finish reading when she said this . Folding the letter up, I spoke to her .

  “She wants me to go to the capital and see Miss Yuri . ”


  “Huh……what’s going on here?”


  My mother looked thoroughly confused .

  To be honest, I felt much the same .

  “It seems like Yuri was refusing to speak out in the past, but has changed her tune recently to say that she’d speak if she saw me . But why me?”


  “Who knows? I have no idea what that girl is thinking . ”


  I couldn’t help but make a face at my mother’s words .

  “Indeed . ”


  “Milady, are you going to be heading to the capital?”


  “Yes . Our negotiations are over and there should be nothing to worry about with day-to-day operations . I’m quite bothered as to why I need to be the one there . Prepare transportation, let’s leave as soon as possible . ”


  “Ah……”


  “I’ll have to extend my apologies to Duke Anderson’s guard……”


  “No worries . As part of Duke Armenia’s family, let me escort you for part of the journey . ”


  Perhaps they would even be more happy without me here, I couldn’t help but think .

  Although I’ve already met them alongside my mother to express my thanks……my face was twitching when I realize they were looking at my mother not just with respect, but with something close to reverence . Honestly it was a great memory in retrospect .

  After all, with how loyal they were to my mother it was only appropriate that she lead their celebration .

  As a matter of fact, it was quite shocking no one among them wanted to stay .

  “Well then, I’m counting on you, Mother . Tanya, help me prepare, please . ”


  They both nodded in response .

  “All right . ”


  “Understood, milady . ”