I looked around cautiously and whispered to the Empress Dowager.

“It has regenerative power.”

“Regeneration...?”

“Dragons are immortal beings, right?”

“Yes.”

“I read in a book that dragons are immortal not because they have endless lifespans, but because they can regenerate.”

Before I was even born, there was a mage who claimed that a dragon’s immortality was due to its regenerative power.

He was dismissed as nonsense.

Eventually, the mage was labeled a weirdo, nobody sought him out, and he died lonely.

‘But when I was seventeen, it turned out to be true.’

By chance, I got some shed skin left behind when a dragon molted in a certain kingdom.

When I experimented with it, it really did have regenerative power.

So surely Lagon’s feathers must also have that power.

“I have a feather Lagon left when he molted into a dragon. I tried it on an old man, and it had an amazing effect!”

“What...?”

“The old man said his joint pain, toothache, and presbyopia all improved a lot.”

The Empress Dowager looked very surprised.

Even healers cannot restore a frail body.

So for an old man, this must be an irresistible gift.

I smiled innocently and continued.

“Of course, he didn’t regain full youth, but he felt much better than before. So... I want to give this to Your Majesty.”

“If it’s that precious, you should give it to your grandfather first.”

“But I thought Your Majesty would need it more.”

“...Why?”

“You must have been very troubled by this incident.”

I lowered my eyebrows and looked up at the Empress Dowager.

“I know you were upset by the late Empress, Anatoli, and this matter involving me.”

“I can’t say I wasn’t.”

“I’m sorry. I tried not to say anything until the end... but I was so scared and frightened...”

I mumbled and glanced at her.

Then I took out several torn pages from my ledger that I had brought.

“I want to give these to Your Majesty as well.”

“What are these?”

“Evidence that a maid was involved in this matter. I tore them out from the ledger.”

“Why?”

“The maid said that this particular maid used to work in Your Majesty’s palace...”

“...!”

The Empress Dowager’s expression hardened.

A clever Empress Dowager would understand.

People could connect rumors far and wide just by the fact that a maid who served Anatoli had ‘worked in the Empress Dowager’s palace.’

They could even link it to the Empress Dowager’s involvement in this affair.

That was another reason I hadn’t trapped Anatoli during the Festival of Abundance.

‘I couldn’t let the Empress Dowager get into trouble too.’

A carefully built good relationship could be destroyed by a single rumor.

‘But every crisis is also an opportunity.’

If I could block this beforehand, how adorable would that make me?

The Empress Dowager examined the papers I handed her carefully.

Then she asked the close maid who had escorted me to the imperial palace,

“Was a girl named Elizara ever in my palace?”

“If it is Elizara... yes, she was serving Your Majesty two years ago, attending your evening. But since she seemed more interested in ‘other things’ than service, she was sent elsewhere...”

‘Other things’ meant power.

I listened as the Empress Dowager and the maid talked, pondering.

The Empress Dowager’s mouth twisted.

“I almost got caught up in dirty ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) rumors.”

“Terrible things.”

“Anatoli doesn’t appreciate the grace that raised her.”

As the Empress Dowager’s aura grew cold, the maid quickly lowered her head.

The torn pages crumpled in the Empress Dowager’s hands.

“My child.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“But why are you giving this to me?”

“Well, actually...”

I hesitated, pretending to be cautious.

“It’s a lie that Anatoli never told anyone about what she did to Lagon.”

“A lie?”

“Yes... I have a precious friend who lends me wisdom. I asked him what I should do...”

“But—”

“This is a serious matter, and no matter how much I cover it up, he said I should give the ledger to Grandpa.”

I looked directly at the Empress Dowager.

“And if I worry about Your Majesty, he said it’s best to tear that part out.”

“Why would the young lady worry about me?”

“You and I are friends of the picture! Friends cherish each other, protect each other, and try to make each other happy!”

Speaking with childlike innocence, the Empress Dowager and maid’s eyes widened.

They exchanged glances and then...

A soft laugh escaped the Empress Dowager’s lips.

The maid said,

“Young lady, no one can be friends with the Empress Dowager.”

She looked troubled but smiled faintly.

She seemed to find the child’s words very cute.

Ahaha, the Empress Dowager’s clear laughter was accompanied by a wave of her hand.

“No, yes, friends... it’s been so long since I heard that.”

“Was that rude?”

The Empress Dowager mischievously took Lagon’s feather.

“Is this also a gift for a friend?”

“Yes... You must have been troubled by this matter... Grandpa says adults grow a year older every time they worry...”

“Indeed. If I want to be friends with a cute child like you, I mustn’t grow older.”

“Oh, then...!”

“Use these two gifts well. I wonder what reward I should give you...”

The Empress Dowager pondered while holding one cheek, and the maid chuckled.

“If it’s not rude, may I add something?”

“Oh my, this is the first time I’ve seen you speak up.”

“The young lady is so admirable and lovable.”

“It shows even to your eyes.”

“Yes. When we went to the Lily Garden party with Lady Anatoli, the young lady worried very much about Your Majesty.”

“Really?”

“Even though Lady Anatoli was violent towards her, she was told not to tell anyone.”

“Goodness... I heard she said such cute things, but that she actually did?”

“She was so worried Your Majesty would be troubled. It moved my heart.”

“This won’t do as an ordinary gift.”

The Empress Dowager bent her knees and met my eyes.

“Anything you wish for, say it.”

“Really?!”

I covered my mouth with both hands, pretending to be surprised.

The Empress Dowager smiled kindly and nodded.

“Yes.”

“Well... besides Your Majesty, I have another friend...”

“You mean the one who lends you wisdom?”

“Actually, it’s my butler. I was a little scared today and asked him to come with me. But he can’t come to the palace...”

“He could come as a servant, no?”

“They said Your Majesty wouldn’t like it.”

“Who would I dislike?”

The Empress Dowager furrowed her brow, confused.

But then she seemed to recall ‘someone who would be disliked as a butler’ and widened her eyes.

“My child, what is that friend’s name?”

“Michelan!”

“...My goodness.”

The Empress Dowager quickly straightened up from her bow.

She chuckled as if overwhelmed.

“You really surprise me, child.”

“...”

“Yes, if it’s Michelan, he would lend you that wisdom. How could I not know his ability?”

“...What I wish is for Your Majesty to forgive Michelan.”

“...”

It seemed the maid also knew well about the affair between Michelan and the Empress Dowager.

After all, even I in Astra’s territory knew about it.

The Empress Dowager looked alternately at the torn papers and at me.

“My child, you may regret this.”

The Empress Dowager probably intended to grant anything.

Her words were guarded, like someone protecting herself with a knife at her throat.

The late Empress was said to be utterly obsessive when it came to reason.

Past Emperors had taken three wives, but the late Empress had nine.

‘Because she was the worst tyrant.’

The Empress Dowager had defeated all other powerful empresses and claimed the most honorable position in the land.

Because of that, she understood the weight of words best.

‘If I had said I wanted to be Crown Princess, she would probably have made it happen.’

But I never wanted a position like Crown Princess.

I brightened my eyes and said,

“It’s fine! It’s for my friend.”

The Empress Dowager sighed.

“If such words sound cute, I must be getting old.”

“No!”

“I think I understand why Duke Astra treats you so gently.”

“Grandpa loves me. Does Your Majesty feel the same?”

The Empress Dowager snorted softly.

“Yes. Because you’re adorable, I forgive Michelan.”

I widened my eyes pretending ignorance.

“So Michelan did something wrong to Your Majesty?”

“Being too talented can be a fault. Anyway, if you treat Michelan like that, he’ll understand.”

“Wow—!”

I smiled brightly, and the Empress Dowager said to me,

“While your grandfather drones on with boring talk, let’s have tea in my palace. There’s a delicious dessert.”

“The last time you gave me some was really delicious!”

I chatted with the Empress Dowager as we walked into the palace.

Yet inside, I thought,

‘Good!’

I had found Michelan’s name.

Even the Empress Dowager said ‘I forgive him.’

How high must be the quality of the information Michelan brings.

I chuckled like a devil inside.

‘No matter how much gold and jewels I give, it won’t match that information.’

If he could find out about real estate development projects, I’d become rich!

.

.

That night.

Princess Anatoli was expelled from the imperial palace without any servants, her name erased from the royal registry.

And Grandpa pressured the Emperor to gain advantages.

Mining rights to the diamond mine and exemption from certain taxes on the mine.

‘I should have brought the magical railway!’

I fretted for days.

If the railway connected to Astra, it would have brought even more profit than the diamond mine.

After sighing deeply for days, Michelan came to me.

“What is it?”

“...Nice badge, Michelan.”

He was proudly wearing a badge that read even in the capital.

“It’s all thanks to you, young lady.”

He smiled broadly.

Thanks to being forgiven by the Empress Dowager, he was now able to meet palace staff.

Everyone had been avoiding contacting him out of fear of the Empress Dowager.

“Did you meet all the palace staff?”

“Yes. There is a man named Sebastian, who was the third rank chamberlain when I was there. I remember staying up all night teaching him because he was so bad at his job.”

“Hmm.”

“But that man has become the Emperor’s chamberlain.”

“What?!”

“He was appointed chamberlain fifteen days ago.”

I looked at Michelan with awe.

‘Sebastian is the chamberlain who took me into the imperial palace!’

Having connections with the Emperor’s chamberlain—Michelan is amazing!

“Michelan, could you find out about the magical railway?”

“I am close with Sebastian. I covered up several of his mistakes.”

Ah, such a shining personality...!

I knew I’d benefit from it, but I never expected such a huge benefit.

“Then find out when the railway will be discussed.”

“Yes, but first, here is the orphan list from the Iklepto territory.”

“Okay!”

I took the list and scanned it.

‘Dahlia should be here somewhere.’

She stayed in an orphanage in the Iklepto territory.

Now that things are settling down, I need to build a good relationship with Dahlia, who will be the protagonist.

‘Dahlia... Dahlia...’

I scanned the list desperately.

The Count of Iklepto is a good man dedicated to charity, so there were many orphanages.

And many children.

But it was strange.

“She’s not here.”

“Excuse me?”

“There’s no Dahlia.”

Dahlia was the name she used at the orphanage.

But not a single child with that name or a similar one appeared.

“What about physical descriptions? Did you get those too?”

“Yes.”

Dahlia was a caramel-haired child with emerald eyes.

Caramel hair—brown hair.

Many children had brown hair, but none had green eyes.

‘What’s going on?’

What happened?

At that moment, in the garden of Astra’s second estate.

The twins looked out at the garden with bored expressions.

“Why isn’t Eril out?”

Balzac said, and Joshua closed his book.

“Do you think she’ll come just by waiting?”

“It’s almost time for a walk.”

“Go ask her.”

“What if she’s still angry after we followed her to the Lily Garden party last time? You go ask. Got it? Order from your brother.”

“Cut the nonsense.”

Joshua frowned, and at that moment—

“My lord.”

As we approached the second estate, Joshua’s new adjutant came.

“What is it?”

“There is news that Master Joshua, age three, was chosen to participate in the charity event.”

“Charity event?”

“Yes. You will attend the orphanage groundbreaking ceremony in the Iklepto territory.”

Balzac clicked his tongue, annoyed, but Joshua brightened.

‘I might get to go out with Erilot alone?’

Ignoring the annoying brothers and father.