Fien, having seen Lutiya off, turned back to Jill.

“Did I interrupt…?”
“No, it’s fine.  Ano, more importantly, about this dress, I don’t think it’s any good?”

Fien looked Jill over from top to bottom and looked at her in concern.

“…Yes, that is the case.  You brought this under the instructions of Her Highness the Sixth Imperial Consort?”
“Yes, it is exactly as ordered. If you have any requests, please convey them to Her Highness the Sixth Imperial Consort.”
“I understand. You may leave.”

The dressmaker gave a silent bow, put away her tools, and left the room.  Fien sighed.

“My apologies, Your Highness the Dragon Consort.  The Sixth Imperial Consort is someone with ties to Noitral, but she deeply admires the First Imperial Consort and is sincerely straightforward.  She is also a bit impulsive…”
“This is harassment then?  They think that since I am from Kratos, I wouldn’t notice blue was a problem?”
“Except, I think this color would be just fine.”

At Jill’s surprise, Fien smiled and explained.

“It is not a color forbidden in Rave.  I also believe Her Highness the Dragon Consort would appear admirable and dignified for not hiding she is from Kratos.”

Is she actually and airhead?  Jill quickly shook her head.

“It is not fine.  It would absolutely give a bad impression!  And the shape of this dress, it doesn’t work with a mantle.”
“Oh, right, apparently all three bearers have withdrawn.  Apparently, threatening letters and such arrived at their homes.”

With Fien speaking as though sharing good news, Jill’s reaction was delayed.

“B-By who!?  Wh-What about the search for the culprit?”
“Well… there are too many suspects, so such a thing might be a waste of time.  Therefore, I think… going without a mantle this time is acceptable.  Surely it is the will of the Dragon God.”

Absolutely not.  Yet when Jill looked at Fien’s smile, she stared to feel her indignation drain away.  She felt as though she herself were the strange one.

“More importantly, the flower crown prototypes are finished. Bring them in.”

Fien called in the court ladies waiting outside the room, and one by one they lined cloth-wrapped bundles along the long table that had earlier been used for her dressing.

“This is the flower crown that will be sold under Her Highness the Dragon Consort’s name.”

Fien whisked away the cloth, revealing a vividly green crown of long, slender leaves.

“Since the request was for something simple, sturdy, and inexpensive enough to spread among the common people, these were made by weaving leaves onto sweet potato vines. Fallen leaves were also mixed in to add color.”

“… Th-thank you very much. But, ano, it doesn’t really look like a flower crown…?”

It certainly looked sturdy and inexpensive, but also had no splendor in the slightest.  To begin with, isn’t something like this ineligible from being sold at a fundamental level?  When Jill looked up, Fien made an apologetic expression.

“Unlike in the past, we have neither the numbers nor manpower to even attach dragon flowers…  But this is a groundbreaking design unlike anything before, one that represents Her Highness the Dragon Consort’s sturdiness and resilience very well.  Perhaps we should attach some berries as well?  Come to think of it, Her Highness the Dragon Consort likes strawberries.  Shall we try attaching some?”

“Wouldn’t that just make it even stranger!?  A…ano, what kind of designs do the other flower crowns have?”

“Ah, so you’re curious?  Then, if I may be so presumptuous, let’s start with mine.”

Fien lifted the cloth at the very end of the table.  What appeared was a cute flower crown adorned with many small white flowers.  At first glance it seemed to be the standard white clover wreath—but it was also decorated with colored berries and four-leaf clovers.  Moreover, it could be tied with a dark green ribbon and be made to resemble a stem.

“This is such a standard design, it is embarrassing.  It ended up like this when I thought about making it affordable.”

“N-no, that is actually quite elaborate…  And the size can be adjusted as needed too…”

“Thank you very much for your consideration.  But compared to the other imperial consorts’, it pales in comparison.  Here, please take a look. This one belongs to Her Highness the Sixth Imperial Consort.”

With those words, she showed her a large flower crown lavishly adorned with flowers of many different colors and sizes.  Crocheted fabric could even be seen on a closer look.  It had been constructed to resemble a headdress to keep it from losing its form.

“A—amazing…”
“Isn’t it?  These flowers were likely gathered by requesting help from the other Imperial Consort Highnesses.  Flowers from many different regions are mixed in, after all.  Fufu, even though they said that since they were no longer active and that they would not participate in making flower crowns.  How sly of them.”
“…Does that mean this is a flower crown the ladies of the inner palace all united together to make…?”
“But the truly impressive one is the First Imperial Consort’s. Please, have a look.”

Fien removed the final cloth.

Despite having prepared herself, Jill’s breath hitched the moment the cloth beside her was removed and she saw the flower crown.

It was an elegant crown centered around white roses with centers that were tinted pale pink and pale purple roses.  Delicate flowers woven together using thin lace and thick ribbon garlands.  An especially large flower was arranged at the knot in the back, and the lace extending from it was decorated with delicate embroidery.  It was a beautiful flower crown reminiscent of the lace worn by a bride.

“Naturally, the price is high, but everyone would surely envy the girl wearing this crown.”
“Ye-yes… I suppose so…”
“But the one everyone will surely wear is Her Highness the Dragon Consort’s.  After all, it is inexpensive and sturdy.”

Which they will lament while envying the flower crowns by the First Imperial Consort and the inner palace ladies.  They will be thinking, ‘All I can wear is this cheap thing.’

This is bad, absooolutly bad.

Her reputation might end up advancing from being an inferior Dragon Consort to the Dragon Consort who brings misfortune.

“If I were to change the design start now, would it make it in time?”
“Starting now?  Creating flower crowns take up a lot of manpower, and then there’s finding those willing to help… It would be quite difficult with my connections.”
“Please, somehow!”
“Then, why not ask His Majesty the Dragon Emperor to exert influence on the Three Dukes?”

Fien continued to smile as Jill blinked.

“Most ladies in the inner palace receive support from one of the Three Dukes.  Should they give an order, not even the Imperial Consorts would be able to ignore it.  And if it is a matter of Her Highness the Dragon Consort being troubled, His Majesty the Dragon Emperor would surely grant the request.”

“But then, wouldn’t that mean making His Majesty bow his head to the Three Dukes?”

For the first time, Fien’s smile disappeared.

Jill did not know what Fien was thinking, but by this point, she at least understood that Fien was not merely a gentle, adorable consort.  Thus, she fixed her gaze on her and spoke without hesitation.

“What do you intend to demand from His Majesty in return?  To remain in the inner palace?  Or perhaps you wish to bring another into the inner palace?  However, I won’t give His Majesty to any of you.  Absolutely not.”

The people around them had gone completely silent without Jill realizing it.  They were straining their ears to listen.

That silence was broken by Fien’s light peals of laughter.

“I have no such grand scheme.  My son and daughter will surely manage well enough, and should the inner palace continue as it is and be quietly dissolved, I will be able to live comfortably until my death with my pension.  It’s too the extent that I am at a loss over where I should relocate.”

Those of the inner palace seemed to be properly provided for.  Jill was a bit surprised.

“I… don’t really understand the inner palace very well… On the chance I spoke rudely, I apologize.”
“It’s quite alright.  In Kratos, I believe even the king practices monogamy.  It is not just consorts that aren’t permitted, but also concubines.”
“Correct.  There is only one queen, and no woman beside her holds the privilege.”
“The Goddess of Love is quite lovely with her earnest devotion.  Although… it is also something to envy.”

Unlike before, Fien’s tone carried an implication.  However, she immediately concealed it beneath her smile.

“Have I gained your understanding, I wonder?  I merely want Jill-sama to become a splendid Dragon Consort. That is why I am personally cooperating.”
“…Then, thank you… very much…?”
“You are unable to believe me?  In that case, let me present another solution.  —Bring Her Highness the First Imperial Consort to your side.”

Fien gently picked up Jill’s flowerless crown and turned back toward her.

“Her Highness the First Imperial Consort— Cassandra-sama, I believe?  I heard she is the elder sister of the Duke of Fairart…”
“That is correct.  She is the current master of the inner palace.  Even for me, she is someone like an elder sister, one to whom I am also indebted.  If Her Highness the First Imperial Consort were to give but a single command to aid Her Highness the Dragon Consort, there would be no one in the inner palace who would disobey.  However, even if His Majesty the Dragon Emperor were to command it, Her Highness the First Imperial Consort would likely not grant an audience.”
“Not even for His Majesty?  Why?”
“That lady is he model of an Imperial Consort.  And because she was the foremost wife of the late Emperor.”

Her gaze upon Jill’s crown seemed sorrowful.

“—Except, Fien-sama seems to have a plan of sorts?  What do you want in return for your cooperation?”

Fien gave a small laugh.

“Her Highness the Dragon Consort is far more mature than her appearance suggests.”

The crown was placed upon her head, a crown that was nothing but blue and without flowers.

“My compensation is exactly as I said earlier.  Please become a splendid Dragon Consort.”
“Of course, I intend to do that even without being told…”
“Then, you can also seize Her Highness the First Imperial Consort’s weakness, can you not?”

Jill thought she must have misheard, but Fien’s tone had not changed.

“Since we have the opportunity, let us take a stroll through the inner palace as a break.”

There’s no way this is going to just be a stroll.  But Fien, apparently believing Jill would in no way refuse, ordered the court ladies and maids to change Jill’s clothes without even waiting for a reply.

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