Recently, there had been rumors that Marquis Ingrave and his wife were acting very proudly.
‘If they knew what I was thinking right now, they wouldn’t be able to act like that.’
Perhaps because of that.
Letters occasionally came from her parents. They contained a little praise, and even the dreamlike words that if she wanted, they would be willing to change her marriage partner to the Emperor.
When no reply came, they had even begun subtly urging her for an answer. Today as well, Rachel was checking a letter from Marquis Ingrave and his wife when the chair across from her was pulled out.
“What are you looking at?”
The Emperor’s appearance was no longer anything unusual.
“His Majesty the Emperor—”
“Forget the formalities. Sit.”
Rachel sat down without refusing. Then she handed the letter she had been reading to Becky.
“Handle it like before.”
“Yes, my lady.”
At a glance, the Emperor’s expression relaxed slightly when he recognized the family crest stamped on the letter.
“A letter from Ingrave?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Even as she answered, Rachel was quietly observing the Emperor, who had been coming here every single day.
The Emperor had clearly noticed her cold treatment. There had even been times when he looked angry.
And yet, he did not stop coming here. It was as if he had some other purpose.
‘……Recruiting talent?’
The Emperor’s love of talented people was famous.
She had come to that conclusion, but sometimes she had a feeling that there might be more to it than that.
“Here. These are the blueprint and key to Viscount Burden’s residence that I mentioned before.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Stopping her thoughts, Rachel smiled brightly as she received the sealed scroll and bundle of keys. The reward ceremony and ceremony for granting titles would take place in a week, when the King of Borza arrived, but Rachel, who would soon have to leave the Imperial Palace, had asked the Emperor for permission to repair the residence she had chosen in advance.
There was also an advantage to having the Emperor visit every day.
“Your Majesty, may I go outside starting today?”
“Because of the repairs to your residence?”
“Yes. I want to call in craftsmen to make repairs, arrange for furniture, and change the locks.”
Rachel could not hide her excited expression. It was her own home. She would not be thrown out of that place.
She would not have to let in anyone she did not want to see.
And she could live however she wanted. She was the head of this family now.
The Emperor, who had been staring at her with his chin resting on his hand, asked,
“Shall I lend you craftsmen from the Imperial Family?”
“What?”
“You are the one who saved my life. That much is not difficult.”
“……!”
She was tempted for a moment, but.
“No, thank you, Your Majesty.”
Rachel shook her head. Once she left the Imperial Palace, she would be finished with the Emperor as well.
The skills of the Imperial Palace craftsmen were tempting, but she did not want to risk becoming involved with the Emperor for even longer.
The Emperor frowned.
“Why? They are the best craftsmen in the Empire.”
“I will soon be independent. I do not want to start rumors when I am a new baroness without anyone backing me, Your Majesty.”
“Why would you have no one backing you? I am backing you. And Duke Valencia will surely be on your side as well, will he not?”
“…….”
Rachel simply smiled. Judging by his current attitude, that might be true for the Emperor, but Nathan Valencia was another matter.
She thought he might have put down his suspicions by now, but there was no way to know.
He was someone who always noticed things Rachel never expected and caught her off guard.
“I really am fine, Your Majesty. And the craftsmen I hire from outside will be more comfortable and better for me. Since I will soon be leaving the palace, I think outside craftsmen will be easier for me to deal with than Imperial Palace craftsmen.”
“You are leaving?”
“Yes. I intend to leave the palace after the ceremony for granting my title. Would that be all right?”
“…….”
Rachel was staying in the Imperial Palace because of the possibility of another attack. But the North had been dealt with, and peace with Borza was also scheduled, so.
Considering that the King of Borza himself would attend the reward ceremony to confirm their alliance, it should be fine for her to move to her new residence then.
Her preparations might be a little incomplete.
Even so, she wanted to avoid staying in the palace any longer.
“……The repairs to the residence will not be finished in just a week.”
“I can have only the places I will use first repaired, and fix the other areas little by little. I need to stay at the residence and check the progress with my own eyes.”
And facing the Emperor, who came every day, was also burdensome. If his goal was recruiting talent, there was no way someone like her, who relied only on the 「Record」, would catch his eye, and even if he had another goal, it could not possibly be good for her.
“…….”
The Emperor silently stared at her before standing up.
“I will assign Imperial Knights to you. Go and take care of it.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Please be careful on your way.”
Rachel stood and bowed at the waist. She could feel a faint trace of anger.
She knew this was probably not a very good choice.
……But that did not mean she could welcome the Emperor either.
Rachel soon took her eyes off the Emperor as he walked away and checked the blueprint and keys in her hands. Burden’s residence was located near the inner castle walls, far from the Imperial Castle, Valencia residence, and Ingrave residence.
Naturally, most of the surrounding residences belonged to barons or viscounts, with the occasional count’s residence, so there was little chance of running into someone she did not want to see.
The main residence had two floors, two detached buildings, a training ground, a warehouse, and well-equipped quarters for the knights and servants.
Above all, she liked the place because it had a large garden and backyard. It really was almost time.
Her conflict with her parents might continue for a long time, but at least she would no longer be forced to marry someone she did not want.
“Let’s go see the residence. While we are there, we will also get estimates for the repairs, so tell me if there is anything you want. Ah, you knights, too. We need to organize a Knight Order, so I would like you to give your opinions about the training ground, quarters, and the territory as well.”
“Of course, my lady.”
Sir Hoffman, the captain of her guards, bowed his head. Her people consisted only of Becky, the maids she had brought separately, Anne, Rosie, Berry, the knights including Sir Hoffman, and Aaron, Dale, and Sir Parker, but.
It was an appropriate number for the first retainers of a baron’s family. There were also people appointed to important positions in the Knight Order and territory, as well as a head maid and people who could manage the residence.
Rachel headed to Viscount Burden’s residence in high spirits, accompanied by a guest carriage bearing the Imperial Family’s flag and several Imperial Knights. It was the residence that would be called Baron Easton’s residence one week later.
Meanwhile, Marquis Ingrave was talking with his wife in his office.
“Did a reply come today?”
“No.”
The Marchioness shook her head at her husband’s question.
The Marquis struck the table with a displeased expression.
“That foolish girl. Surely she has not given up on that ridiculous plan yet.”
At first, when Rachel had accomplished great things and entered the Imperial Palace, Marquis Ingrave and his wife had been delighted.
And when they heard that Rachel would receive the title of baroness along with a territory and a residence in the capital, they had been nothing but pleased.
The problem was that they could not contact Rachel. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that Rachel simply was not sending any replies.
His wife muttered quietly.
“Perhaps she intends to become independent. It is an inheritable barony, after all, so she will become the head of a family, right? And she even has His Majesty’s favor behind her…….”
“…….”
At present, rumors were spreading throughout the Imperial Palace that the Emperor visited the Violet Palace, where Rachel was staying, every day.
Surely not.
But now they might have to admit it. Their daughter, who had seemed strange in some way, might actually be trying to turn her back on the family and become independent!
“How dare she!”
Bang! Bang!
The Marquis repeatedly slammed his fist against the table in anger. Perhaps they should have noticed something was strange back then.
Had she not taken not only everyone she could call her own people, but even all the belongings she used?
At the time, Rachel had accomplished great things, so they had thought well of everything she did.
But now, looking back, they could finally see the situation clearly.
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