I stomped off, pouting.

‘Hah... I almost assassinated a valuable magician.’

My rule was that anyone who feels lust for children deserves to die.

“Wonhwa!”

Liam shouted.

Iseze followed, saying,

“Let’s decide the escort by contest.”

“...These guys, really.”

They were fighting over something trivial.

I smiled and turned to look at the two.

“You, Liam.”

“Yes.”

“You’re the one who disobeyed my orders during the standoff with the Crimson Ghoul.”

I told you to retreat, but you got excited and charged the Ghoul alone.

Iseze smirked at Liam.

“Iseze.”

“Yes.”

“You’re the one who talks back to superiors, right?”

“...”

I glared at both of them.

“What have you done to deserve being escorts? Escorts, my foot.”

Can’t you just disappear?

My harsh gaze darkened their faces.

Jowick grinned.

“Then is there a chance for me? Ah, I’m not aiming for the Grand General position. I’m not that attached to ranks—”

“Shut up.”

“Yes, sir.”

Other knights who were about to speak up to volunteer for escort also shut their mouths.

I waved my hand and dismissed the knights.

“Everyone, leave.”

Such a nuisance.

I’m busy enough as it is.

Only /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Kazin looked at me seriously.

I frowned at Kazin.

“You’re not going?”

“Please consider my request.”

He bowed and turned away.

‘Why on earth does he want to stay in the Southern army?’

I really couldn’t understand.

When I returned to the mansion, there were packages everywhere.

I stared at the courtyard in surprise.

“What is all this?”

Heidi and Betty were excited.

“These are New Year gifts from the neighbors.”

“Oh wow, way more than last year.”

Jeanne smiled gently.

“Since the Master, Young Master, and Miss have started living in the Imperial Capital, it’s only natural there would be more.”

“We have to repay them...”

Even though I already had a lot to handle, more was added.

‘I hate New Year!’

There would be a party in Astra as well.

Because of the New Year contest, I had to attend for sure.

Jeanne saw my gloomy face and smiled faintly.

“I prepared a list. Next to each sender’s name, I noted a few of their usual favorite items. Would you like to decide from this?”

Jeanne’s documents were neat and easy to read.

‘Though she was in the Imperial Guards, she’s still a former bureaucrat!’

After dealing with headaches, seeing something so clean really refreshed me.

I knelt in front of Jeanne to meet her eyes and hugged her.

“Thank you, Jeanne!”

“I’m glad you like it. Oh, and...”

Jeanne whispered in my ear.

“I heard from a junior in the Emperor’s personal knights. There will soon be a large-scale training.”

“Training?”

“It seems His Majesty has advanced the schedule to pressure the nobles.”

“Who will command the training?”

“Most likely it will be decided by the Wonhwa contest. Usually it’s a 5-on-5 battle. This contest seems very important.”

My eyes widened.

“How do you know?”

“I heard from a palace maid. I still have connections beyond my station.”

Truly an idol of the Empire’s women.

They gathered information on their own.

I embraced Jeanne again, feeling touched.

“Jeanne, you’re the best! The best!”

Surrounded by troublesome men, seeing Jeanne who does her job well made me so grateful.

Jeanne chuckled and patted my back.

“You’re falling deeper in love every day. This is serious.”

“Is that a burden?”

“No, it’s my heart.”

“I don’t find it a burden at all. I love it!”

“I feel the same way.”

As I laughed softly at Jeanne, I heard a sound of someone biting a handkerchief.

“Again, going into your own little world with the nanny.”

“My lady’s affection... I’ll get it back...”

It was Heidi and Betty.

The servants gave Jeanne gloomy looks.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t take good care of Jeanne with all the Year-End Festival fuss.’

According to Michelan, Jeanne had become a public enemy in the meantime.

“Jeanne, tell me if anyone bothers you!”

Just then, Balzac, Joshua, and Dad’s backs stiffened as they approached me.

Jeanne just smiled confusedly, “Hm?”

‘Maybe because she’s kind and surrounded by such rough people...’

Jeanne rose to the Emperor’s personal knights from a modest family, and as a woman.

She’d even been imprisoned.

Having gone through so many harsh experiences, even when our family watched her warily, she seemed to take it well.

Han Ji-hyeok came up and whispered to me.

“She’s the strongest.”

“Hmm, that’s my nanny.”

I hugged Jeanne once more and went up to my room.

Inside, I untied my ribbon.

“Any tasks?”

Han Ji-hyeok rummaged through papers and answered.

“As you said, I bribed the Imperial Capital nobles.”

“Bribed?!”

I jumped up and continued.

“—It’s dedication, dedication.”

Han Ji-hyeok said, “Seriously.”

“Yeah. ‘Dedication that mustn’t be discovered by the country.’”

“You did it cleanly?”

“I set up an art exhibition and sold high-priced art about 60% cheaper.”

“Art is great~.”

Since prices fluctuate wildly, there are many loopholes!

When I smirked, Han Ji-hyeok chuckled dryly.

“I also set up an art gallery. It’s called ‘Yu Gallery’ for now, but the name doesn’t matter.”

It’s probably named after Yu Hye-min. I shrugged.

“Alright.”

“Next, a message from a spy hidden in the palace. The Châteaubriand Duke is putting all effort into the Wonhwa’s 5-on-5 battles.”

“Really?”

“There’s a rumor it’s the last chance given by the Emperor to Silin Châteaubriand.”

Then all nobles’ eyes would be intensely focused.

‘Good.’

I smiled faintly and asked,

“How about Duke Ishiron?”

“Watching closely. We’ve planted our people in Ishiron’s house. But why Ishiron? Wouldn’t Duke Jermo be easier to sway?”

True.

Duke Jermo is flexible and easy to recruit.

Ishiron is a complete old fox.

Almost grandpa-level for being so tricky.

‘Old foxes are worse because they smile while stabbing in the back.’

“But it must be Duke Ishiron.”

He’s the key to my next plan.

Châteaubriand Manor.

Silin frowned as she entered her father’s room.

“What are these filthy things?”

A bunch of burly men were gathered.

They looked lowly, with shabby clothes and faces.

The Duke of Châteaubriand said quietly,

“These are people to be added to the Central army.”

“What?!”

Silin scowled.

‘They’re putting these filthy things in my Central army?!’

Her Central army was always the best.

Skill, status, dignity, appearance.

A perfect group for herself, with none lacking.

And now they’re going to put trash like this in it?

“No! Especially since the Central army is already looked down on because of the Year-End Festival, if they add these guys...”

“Who created this situation?!”

A thunderous shout exploded.

Silin tightened her shoulders.

“Ah, Father...”

“This match is the last chance the Emperor has given us. We must restore the Central army’s reputation and prove your leadership again to save our family’s honor.”

“Even so, I can win if it’s a 5-on-5 match.”

Silin hurried to persuade her father.

“Because of the rules, Erilot Astra can’t summon monsters, and her soldiers are terrible.”

“We must win decisively!”

“...”

“If there’s even a 1% chance you might lose, you must be eliminated.”

She had to prove to the Emperor that the Châteaubriand family was still useful.

‘That we are the best family to carry out his orders...’

The Duke grabbed Silin’s shoulder with bloodshot eyes.

“If you lose this time, your name will be erased from the Châteaubriand family register.”

“Th-That...”

“You will win.”

“...”

“Answer me, Silin Châteaubriand.”

Her father’s eyes were terrifyingly fierce.

Silin nodded faintly, pale as death.

“Yes, Father...”

Only then did the Duke release her shoulder and straighten up.

“These are skilled people I scoured the continent to find. The Koch and Mark brothers are assassins who’ve killed a federation chief.”

“...”

“Munir is a half-blood with a monster...”

Silin listened with a sullen face.

When she left the room, loud voices could be heard.

“The tea smells nice. Such good tea doesn’t often come into Châteaubriand territory.”

That annoying voice...

Silin flinched and looked at the smoking room.

Sitting on the sofa, speaking with her mother, was her cousin Isabella.

“Oh, Silin.”

“...What are you doing here?”

“I was invited by Uncle (the Duke of Châteaubriand). He said to come to the capital and learn about the family business.”

“What?!”

Silin and Isabella were like oil and water.

‘She knows I hate that girl to death... Could it be that if I lose this contest, I’ll really be erased from the family register?’

It meant Isabella would take her place and push her out.

The Duchess also looked gloomy, seemingly suspecting the same.

Isabella stood and approached Silin.

After glancing around, she whispered,

“Because of you, I couldn’t leave the territory, and now I’ll live in the capital because of you.”

“You—!”

“Everyone in the Empire is in an uproar. Brave Erilot Astra and the trash Silin Châteaubriand.”

“...!”

“Party invitations have been cut off, right? Because of you, your mother is forced into seclusion. Naturally, the streets are full of curses against you.”

“You, you...”

“Well, good luck, then.”

Isabella tapped Silin’s shoulder with emphasis and laughed coldly.

Silin’s eyes darkened.

‘I will never let that happen.’

I won’t lose.

No matter what it takes.

A few days later.

When I entered the palace, a notice was posted.

Gorgo followed and explained about the Wonhwa 5-on-5 battle.

“It will be held in two weeks. The Wonhwa must submit their list of participating soldiers by this Friday.”

“Understood.”

“Have you thought about the participants...?”

When I glanced, Gorgo quickly said,

“Since you’ve been in the Western army for a long time, you know the knights well. I can recommend some—”

“Gorgo.”

“Yes?”

I sighed and grabbed his shoulder.

“How much to recommend?”

“W-What? I’ve become a new person! Now I don’t take money for things...!”

“How much?”

“F-Five hundred gold...”

I told a passing knight,

“Take this brat to the training room.”

“W-Wha-what—!”

Gorgo jumped up yelling, but I spoke firmly.

“Don’t let him out until he really becomes a new person.”

“Yes, Wonhwa!”

“W-Wonha! Wonhwa! I was wrong! I’m brain-type so I can’t do physical work... I was raised well, really...!”

Gorgo was dragged away shouting.

‘A dog won’t stop defecating; a briber won’t stop bribing.’

I shook my head and walked down the corridor.

Too busy to waste time walking, I read paperwork I brought from home.

‘So the ones who took my bribes...’

These greedy bastards plan to use it well going forward.

As I smiled happily at the list of greedy people, a commotion broke out nearby.

“What’s going on?”

The palace servants were flustered.

“Well, the thing is...”

“Hm?”

“The Western army knights...”

I frowned and shouted,

“Speak up!”

“They’ve been injured.”

What?!

I rushed to the infirmary.

It was filled with Western army soldiers.

At the center...

“What are you all?”

Western army knights lay all over, with casts and bruises.

“Wonhwa, you’re here.”

Ku, the deputy Grand General of the Western army, hurried to me.

The soldiers parted like the Red Sea to give way.

I approached the injured knights with a grim face.

“What happened?”

The knights bowed their heads with troubled expressions, and Ku sighed heavily.

“There was a fight with the Central army in a tavern.”

“Why?”

“Well, um...”

Ku nervously continued, sweating cold sweat.

“The Central army insulted the Western army Wonhwa. Our knights got angry and a fight broke out.”

“Fought so badly and left people like this? Are the Central army that brainless?”

“We did protest...”

“And?”

That was when familiar footsteps sounded.

“Really sorry, Western Wonhwa.”

Silin appeared with the Central army knights.

As soon as the Western army’s expressions stiffened, I thought,

‘Those must be the Central army knights who fought.’

Silin lowered her eyebrows and covered one cheek.

I stared coldly at her.

“An apology won’t fix this.”

“Yes, I know.”

Know?

‘She’s coming so meekly?’

Silin smiled and said,

“We intend to strike all the knights from the Imperial army’s roster.”

“...!”

They would be dishonorably discharged.

They’d lose all their benefits as retired soldiers.

‘Just like Jeanne did.’

Silin smiled and took my hand.

“We punished the knights as much as possible. So please calm your mind.”

The knights all bowed simultaneously.

“We are sorry, Western Wonhwa!”

“We accept the punishment!”

Silin let out a deliberately deep sigh.

“Under these circumstances, I suppose you don’t want to see me. I will take my leave.”

“...”

“Then.”

After a brief conversation, Silin left with her knights.

The Western army was bewildered.

“They apologized so easily?”

“The Central Wonhwa is surprisingly reasonable?”

“There’s a 5-on-5 battle soon, but to dishonorably discharge so many knights... She must have felt really sorry, haha!”

“What fools! We have to fill the Central army’s ranks, but where will we find such skilled people?”

“So tempting, those bastards!”

Yes, Silin’s apology was perfect on the surface.

But...

‘She won’t do me a favor for nothing.’

The pieces clicked in my head.

“Ah, I see now.”

A faint smile crept across my lips.