Marion, Theodora, and Charlotte.

Michelle's eyes sparkled as she looked at the three women seated together at the table. Charlotte, unsure of what was happening, glanced around the First Princess's bedroom, which she was entering for the first time.

“Start with your report,” Michelle ordered.

Still looking bewildered, Charlotte slowly nodded.

“Yes, Your Highness… Count Agon instructed me to deliver the report directly to you regarding the palace security.”
“Didn’t I say not to increase the guards?”

As Michelle furrowed her brow, Charlotte hurriedly shook her hands.

“No, Your Highness. I only conducted a solitary patrol of the palace, and there hasn’t been any noticeable activity, so you may rest assured. The guards on duty have all remained in their assigned sectors. Dennis has gone to report to Count Agon, while Maxime and Christine are on duty guarding the treasury.”

Michelle glanced at Charlotte again, her gaze tinged with sympathy.

“…You’ve all been working hard. It seems like I’ve unnecessarily dragged you into this.”
“That’s not true, Your Highness. How could the theft of the royal crown be dismissed as a mere trifle?”

Michelle’s face tightened ever so slightly at Charlotte’s response. Charlotte anxiously wondered if she had said something to upset the princess. However, Michelle soon broke into a gentle smile and continued.

“Understood. Thank you for your report.”
“I’m simply fulfilling my duty.”

Charlotte glanced at Marion beside her. Marion appeared to be biting her lip, as if she wanted to say something. Her gaze, however, was directed at Theodora across the table. Charlotte followed Marion’s line of sight to Theodora, who looked more uncomfortable, anxious, and tense than ever before.

‘…I don’t think I’ve ever seen her look like this.’

It was a refreshing change in its own way. Charlotte didn’t know Theodora well, but from what she had observed, Theodora was a knight with little expression, immense strength, and unshakable mental fortitude. For her to wear such an expression now…

‘Could this missing crown somehow be related to Commander Theodora?’

Momentarily forgetting where she was, Charlotte became absorbed in her own speculation. She alternated glances between Theodora’s face and Marion’s expression several times before Michelle, seemingly having gathered her thoughts, placed her palm firmly on the table.

Bang.

Startled, Charlotte flinched and looked at Michelle, while Theodora and Marion visibly jumped. Drawing their attention, Michelle cleared her throat and focused on Charlotte.

“Now then, Dame Charlotte. This might feel a bit sudden, but there are a few things I’d like to consult with you about regarding these two. Would you hear me out?”

Consultation? About work?

The theories Charlotte had built in her mind crumbled in an instant. Confused, she asked Michelle, “Consultation… about these two?”
“As you know, both of these women are engaged to the same man. Surely you don’t need me to tell you who that is?”

Ah, so that’s what this was about.

Maxime’s face came to Charlotte’s mind. At first, she remembered him as a striking man with dark hair and a large scar on his face. Over time, that image had shifted to his current appearance—golden-haired and unblemished.

“Is something the matter with Maxime?”
“Well, it’s surprising there’s an issue at all, to be honest. Since I don’t have a lover or a husband, I can’t quite understand their feelings.”

Michelle gave Charlotte a knowing look.

“Aren’t you going to marry Sir Dennis soon?”

Blushing, Charlotte slowly nodded. She had known Dennis even before joining the First Guard. Naturally, as they worked together, their bond deepened, and it didn’t take long for their feelings to grow into love. Although the decision to marry had solidified after the recent civil war, their relationship had been progressing steadily for years.

As an aside, while the two thought their relationship was a secret, no one among the knights was surprised when they announced their courtship and engagement. Even Maxime and Christine merely scolded them for taking so long to make it official, implying they had all known and simply kept quiet about it.

“Though it’s a little embarrassing, that’s correct, Your Highness,” Charlotte admitted.

Seeing Charlotte’s reddened face, Michelle smiled with satisfaction, as if she had chosen her subject well. At that moment, Charlotte looked like nothing more than a bride-to-be, completely in love. Michelle clasped Charlotte’s hands in her own and smiled broadly before turning to Marion and Theodora.

“As someone about to become a bride herself, I thought you might have advice to offer these two.”

The matter of the missing crown aside, Charlotte knew she had to comply with the princess’s order—or rather, royal command. It wasn’t as though she was thrilled to have her relationship with Dennis acknowledged by the First Princess. Nor was it to boast about it to others—certainly not.

“Of course. I’ll do my best to offer them whatever advice I can.”
“Excellent. May I ask the first question, then?”

Though she felt as if she were walking into a trap, Charlotte nodded. Michelle released her hands and leaned back in her chair.

“Pardon the hypothetical, but how would you feel if your future husband, Sir Dennis, took another woman as a concubine?”

Charlotte’s face darkened at the question. It was something she couldn’t imagine at all.

“I… I don’t know. I don’t think I could accept it. I can’t imagine sharing Dennis with anyone else.”
“Even if their situation was like these two?”

Michelle gestured toward Theodora and Marion.

“…I suppose a decision would have to be made. If I had no intention of giving up Dennis, and the concubine had no intention of giving him up, and Dennis refused to let go of either of us, then there would be no reason to fight. Even if we couldn’t become friends, we’d have to acknowledge each other’s existence.”

Charlotte spoke as she looked at the two women.

“What exactly is causing tension between you two?”

Theodora clamped her mouth shut at Charlotte’s question, and Marion also seemed at a loss for words. Both were silently engaged in an invisible contest over who held the deepest place in Maxime’s heart.

“This isn’t what’s important,” Marion finally said.

Theodora gave a bitter smile.

“I was content just being by Maxime’s side in the beginning.”

When had her feelings grown so greedy? Theodora spoke with self-deprecation, and Marion shook her head.

“Unlike you, I didn’t meet Maxime naturally. I was forced into his life.”

As the two continued exchanging words, they eventually looked at each other and burst into small laughs.

“This is so foolish, isn’t it? Fighting over something like this.”
“Exactly. Maxime is probably out there guarding the treasury, completely unaware of this.”

Then, the smiles froze on their faces. Charlotte and Michelle stared blankly at the two, puzzled by their sudden change in demeanor. Slowly, Theodora’s lips parted.

“…Who did you say Maxime was guarding the treasury with?”

 

“Really… wouldn’t it be better if Senior Dennis was a little more perceptive?”

Christine puffed out her cheeks as she glared at the back of Dennis’s head. Beside her, Maxime walked uncomfortably, keeping pace with her. Dennis turned his head sharply at Christine’s comment, his face twisting into a frown.

“What did I do wrong? I heard from the Count that you two were stuck, so I rushed to rescue you. If it weren’t for me, you’d have been stuck in there, unable to eat, until the next shift arrived—”

Dennis abruptly stopped speaking, realizing what he had just said. His gaze shifted from Christine’s now flushed, angry face to Maxime, who was walking beside her.

“…What’s the matter, Senior?”

Maxime asked, his voice sharp and unintentional. Dennis glanced back and forth between Christine and Maxime, and a mischievous smirk, reminiscent of a teasing uncle, spread across his face.

“Oh, nothing. Christine’s right—I wasn’t being very tactful.”

Maxime sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked rather pathetic, unable to find a proper excuse. Dennis, noticing Maxime’s lack of defense, only smiled more broadly.

“Well, it’s fine, Maxime. Everyone has those moments. Even I… with Charlotte… No, I’d better stop there.”
“If you actually say that out loud, Charlotte won’t let you off the hook, Senior.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Dennis nodded, then knocked on the door to Count Agon’s office.

“Come in.”

The Count’s office was unexpectedly cluttered—or perhaps it was more accurate to say he was buried under his work, unable to tidy up. Count Ray Agon pushed aside a mountain of documents, revealing his face. For someone so deep in work, he looked surprisingly composed.

“You’re always working hard,” Maxime and Christine greeted him.

Count Agon chuckled, waving a hand dismissively.

“This is nothing. I wouldn’t even call it overwork. I’ve got help from my secretaries and the treasurer’s office.”

He gestured to a stack of files thick enough to make one nauseous just by looking at it. Dennis grimaced in disgust.

“If you’d like, you could lend a hand. I wouldn’t mind having more help.”
“…I’m sorry, Count.”

The Count chuckled like a seasoned elder and set the files down.

“You didn’t leave the treasury unguarded, did you?”
“I’ve stationed members of the Royal Guard there. You needn’t worry.”

“Good.” The Count answered briefly, removing his glasses and raising his head from the papers.

“So, Maxime, you’ve got a report for me?”

The Count’s gaze sharpened. Christine glanced at Maxime, who nodded and stepped forward.

“Yes. I’ve discovered a few things while on duty that I’d like to report.”
“Speak freely.”

Maxime exchanged a glance with Christine. Dennis, sensing something was up, eyed the two skeptically. It wasn’t as though they were flaunting their relationship in front of the Count.

“It’s unlikely that the crown’s disappearance was the work of an external intruder.”
“Why do you say that?”

The Count’s eyes glinted with interest.

“When I first entered the treasury, I noticed there were no signs of a search. It was as if the culprit knew exactly where the crown was from the beginning.”
“Couldn’t they have simply cleaned up after themselves?”
“If that were the case, Christine and I would have found some trace of it.”

The Count raised his eyebrows, deep wrinkles forming on his forehead.

“And?”
“It’s inefficient.”
“What do you mean by ‘inefficient’?”
“If someone had the skill to infiltrate the vault, which is protected by the highest security magic in the palace, why would they bother stealing the crown in a way that reveals their presence? If I were a vengeful black magician, I’d attempt an assassination rather than steal a mere crown. Of course, it’s questionable whether anyone has that kind of bond with Leon Benning to warrant such vengeance.”
“Hmm.”

The Count seemed to ask with his expression if there was anything more to say. Maxime sighed shortly.

“In the end, it’s most reasonable to conclude that the crown’s disappearance was the work of an insider. Moreover, given what I observed while guarding the vault, it’s hard to believe that you, Count, were unaware of the situation. And yet, you didn’t seem particularly alarmed.”

The Count didn’t deny this. He only looked at Maxime, seemingly curious about where his reasoning would lead.

“There are two conclusions. Either you already know who took the crown and are biding your time to root out disloyal individuals, or…”

Maxime narrowed his eyes.

“This entire incident is a fabrication orchestrated by you and Her Majesty.”
“Which do you lean toward?”

The Count asked as if testing Maxime. Maxime shrugged, as if the answer was obvious.

“The latter, of course.”

If it were the former, Maxime would have been more surprised—astonished that such naivety still lingered within the palace.

Maxime’s voice brimmed with conviction. Count Agon shook his head with a faint smile, as if conceding.

“Maxime, have you ever considered joining the secretariat to help with state administration? Your insight and decisiveness seem more suited to an administrator than a knight.”
“…I appreciate the honor, but I’ll have to decline.”
“Fair enough. It would be a waste to let your skills with the sword go unused.”

Count Agon chuckled bitterly, tapping the stack of documents.

“…Why are you doing this?”

Maxime asked. Count Agon turned his back to the group, gazing out the window. The palace grounds bustled with life. From gardeners shoveling snow to court nobles leaving for the day, the current atmosphere was worlds apart from the tense, paranoid days of factional strife.

“For the time being, all power in this country must be concentrated in a single person.”
“You’re willing to tarnish your own reputation for that…?”
“I’m not Leon Benning. Nor am I like those other nobles who are little more than rabble. But…”

The Count closed his eyes and tilted his head upward.

“I don’t trust myself. It’s wonderful that Her Majesty has faith in me, but with that comes the attention, people, and wealth directed my way. My lands have flourished far beyond what they were before. I’m afraid of what I might do with this sudden surge of power.”
“So you’re deliberately trying to deflect attention from yourself?”
“Don’t dress it up as something noble. A truly loyal and capable individual would use the power they’re given to strengthen the monarchy. But I’m not that kind of person. The best I can do is hold myself back.”

Count Agon turned back to Maxime with a bitter smile.

“If someone capable of replacing me emerges, I’ll gladly retire to my domain. Until then, I need to ensure I don’t succumb to greed.”

“Count…”

“Age doesn’t rid one of greed, Maxime. It only makes one impatient.”

“That’s exactly what they call a loyal subject, Count,” said a voice from the doorway.

Maxime had already sensed the presence and wasn’t surprised, bowing politely as he turned to the figure at the entrance. Count Agon, however, looked startled to see the First Princess—no, the new Queen—Michelle Loire standing confidently before him.

“Your Majesty. What brings you here…?”
“Count, I don’t think anyone capable of replacing you will appear in the next decade. And I don’t think you would ever betray me simply because you’ve gained power.”

“I’ve told you many times, Your Majesty, that trust and evaluation are separate matters.”
“Then you underestimate me, Count.”

The Queen’s commanding presence filled the room. Though she was compassionate, there was an undeniable authority that overwhelmed everyone present. Over the past few months, Michelle Loire had become an entirely different person.

“I’m not alone in supporting this kingdom. I’ve met with many of the palace’s officials and won them over to my side. The workload assigned to you is already gradually decreasing.”

Count Agon’s eyes widened in surprise, while Maxime and his companions exchanged glances that seemed to say, “This is the reduced workload?”

“I had noticed things seemed a bit lighter lately. So this was Your Majesty’s doing.”
“Do you know why I agreed to go along with your plan?”

Count Agon fell silent, and Michelle smiled.

“Because I thought it would ease your mind. If participating in this scheme would help you feel less burdened by the power you’ve been given, then I was willing to do so to keep you here a little longer.”

“Your Majesty…”

“No matter how many people I win over, this kingdom still needs you. Count Ray Agon, unclouded by distractions, focused solely on the kingdom’s prosperity.”

Count Agon raised a fist to his chest in a salute. For the first time, he truly felt what it meant to serve his sovereign and to be entrusted with her faith. Tears welled in his eyes. The princess he had once taught had grown into a magnificent queen.

“I’ll gladly see this play through to the end, but after this, please focus entirely on palace affairs without worrying about anything else.”

Count Agon rose from his seat, stepped around his desk, and knelt before the Queen.

“…Ray Agon, at Your Majesty’s command.”

As the solemn atmosphere settled, the group left Count Agon deep in thought in his office. Outside, Maxime found himself alone with three women. Now, however, the pressure was on Christine, with Theodora and Marion closing in on her. It seemed the mood had shifted back to playful contention.

“Well, at least Theodora…”
“At least what? You were trying to monopolize Maxime in secret, weren’t you? Right, Marion?”
“I agree, Theodora.”

At least things weren’t as tense as before.

Michelle shrugged and turned to Maxime, who was looking at her with pleading eyes. She smiled at him with amusement.

This is your problem now.

Her gaze seemed to say as she turned away and briskly walked down the hallway, Charlotte following as her guard. Behind her, the voices of bickering continued to echo.

Thankfully, the palace remained peaceful—for now.