Although there is no concrete evidence yet, based on my understanding of the Director, there's a ninety percent chance she tampered with it!

After picking up another piece of fish, Leon, having made his judgment, didn't immediately go to the Director to get to the bottom of it. Instead, he chewed the fish tastelessly while furrowing his brows, deep in thought.

If someone else chose to conceal something, I would definitely ask them immediately to intervene in time and avoid any regrettable outcome, but the Director is a special case.

Given her personality... or rather her extremely low moral standards, if she encountered a situation she felt she couldn't handle, she would definitely not force herself. She would immediately use all her means and mobilize any available force.

Throwing tantrums, playing dirty tricks, being underhanded, tripping someone up... She'll use whatever tactic works. Overall, the Director, who always practices pragmatism, has ethics that are unfathomably low when it comes to handling "serious matters," and there's no chance of her being stuck in a bind.

As for whether doing so would be embarrassing, whether the means are despicable, or whether it violates rules, such considerations aren't even in her scope of thinking. So if she plans to hide something from me, she must be confident she can solve it alone, judging that it's okay without outside assistance.

And more important than that, if I go to ask her, she might turn the tables and "tease" me, chasing me with questions about what I've seen, followed by mocking me for my fanciful thoughts, finally shirking my questions...

Tsk... Is she planning to not tell me anything for fear I'd confront her after discovering the problem, and thus simply concocted such an obviously flawed fake memory? Seems she's adamant about not speaking to me!

However, just as Leon was deep in thought, pondering how to extract the truth from the Red-haired Director's mouth, sitting beside him at the dining table, Anna reached out and gently patted his arm.

"Brother."

After calling out, the slender young girl somewhat worriedly asked:

"Is there something wrong between you and sister Veronica?"

"???"

Upon hearing Anna's sudden odd question, Leon's eyebrows rose in surprise, and then he asked somewhat puzzled:

"Anna? Why would you ask that?"

"Because... you seem to have something on your mind, and..."

Glancing at the almost eaten braised fish on the table, and then at the other two dishes which were barely touched, Anna couldn't help but express concern:

"And you haven't seen sister Veronica for so long. After returning, you went straight to handle work, then came home for dinner, without mentioning seeing her, so I was thinking, maybe something between you two is..."

"No, you're overthinking it."

After listening to the slender young girl's concern, Leon couldn't help but chuckle, then while putting down the spoon and scooping some mashed yam, he replied:

"It's not that I don't want to see Veronica, but it's too early to go look for her now."

"Too early?"

"Mhm."

After putting a spoonful of mashed yam with blueberry sauce into his mouth, Leon explained with a smile:

"Veronica is a super workaholic. Her schedule is very full, working until after one at night most days. Although I can see her during the daytime, it might affect her work, so it's better to visit in the evening... Mmm, the mashed yam tastes really good."

"So that's how it is..."

After Leon's explanation, the slender young girl slightly sighed in relief. Then, looking at her brother, who was eagerly plunging into the mashed yam, she commented with a slightly helpless expression:

"So, just not to interrupt her work, you're simply not going?"

"Huh?"

Seeing his sister's peculiar expression, Leon asked confusedly:

"I am going, didn't I just say? I'm just planning to go in the evening..."

"Go now!"

"Ugh... you don't understand her habits, she surely hasn't finished her work yet..."

I may not understand her, but I understand women!

Swatting away Leon's hand as he reached for another spoonful of mashed yam, the slender young girl complained, somewhat exasperated:

"The wedding just finished and you went on an extended trip, not having seen each other for over a month doesn't make you anxious, planning to wait until tonight when it's convenient... Only sister Veronica would put up with this; if it were another woman, you'd be preparing to be single forever!"

"No, you don't understand the situation; Veronica has been busy with serious matters recently, I..."

"I don't need to understand the situation, just need to understand you!"

With a less-than-cheerful look at her big brother who still wanted to explain, Anna picked up the plates, one in each hand, and promptly showed him out:

"Time for you to go out; Melanie wet the bed yesterday feeling embarrassed, got up in the middle of the night and took your blanket, and now it still hasn't fully dried. Today there's no place for you to sleep at home!"

"Huh?"

"Leave, go on!"

...

"What's going on?"

As the Prince was unceremoniously sent out by his sister, having to hail a carriage in the night breeze, the Queen, caught up in her intense overtime work, looked up in confusion and directed her gaze towards her maid.

"Is there a problem with the correspondence I asked you to return?"

"No, no."

Upon hearing Queen Veronica's inquiry, the young maid shook her head quickly, then quietly reminded with wide-eyed bewilderment:

"Returning this correspondence means, according to the reply specifications you mentioned, that the Department of Transportation will need to revise the plan and then rush to you overnight for confirmation. You'll be quite busy today because of it..."

"What's wrong with being busy?"

"Uh... there's really nothing wrong, but... but the Prince's Sky Clipper has already returned, right? If Prince Leon comes to look for you..."

"Don't worry, there's still time."

Upon hearing this, Queen Veronica first glanced at the clock on the table before burying her head back into her documents, casually responding:

"Leon is likely to come by around a quarter past one. Don't worry, the returned correspondence won't affect his visit."

???

Upon hearing Queen Veronica's confident response, the young maid was slightly perplexed.

Judging by Her Majesty's certain demeanor, Prince Leon must have sent someone to contact her in advance, agreeing on a time to meet... But I've been on duty all day, why don't I know anything?

"Because no one came, the timing was just my guess."

Clarifying the young maid's confusion, an exhausted Veronica stretched, explaining as she moved about:

"Leon may act without reservations, but he genuinely values 'serious matters'. He definitely won't interrupt others during their work, even if it's me, his wife.

Receiving the 'local specialties' he procured from the North, my speed at handling things here determines the speed of supplies reaching the North—this is a very important 'serious matter', so he'll surely wait for me to finish before coming over."

Ah, I see.

Upon hearing Queen Veronica's explanation, the young maid nodded in realization, while she couldn't help but smack her lips, feeling a strange hint of sweetness in her mouth.

It's really nice, barely needing any exchange to know what the other person probably thinks. This must be that unique kind of intimate understanding between couples, isn't it? Tsk tsk, cousin and Prince Leon are really just...

Hmm? Why is there a man outside the window? And... why does he look exactly like Prince Leon?