—Three months ago.

“I’ve decided to accept Prince Lawrence’s request, but honestly, there are many parts that I don’t understand. I need to carefully listen to his circumstances and do my best…!”

“There’s no need to listen to his circumstances or do your best. You can just refuse.”

“No, Lord Dylan is usually entrusted with special missions by Prince Lawrence, right? In that case, I, as his wife, have to cooperate!”

Though Dylan tried to emphasize that she was his wife, he made a complicated expression when he saw Avril’s eagerness.

Lord Dylan is kind, so he must worry I’ll end up doing something dangerous.

She understood how he felt. Infiltrating the annex disguised as a maid at the estate, and then going on her own at the Victoria… Avril regretted having caused Dylan so much worry.

However, Avril had similar concerns.

Although Dylan was busy with the estate and the duke’s household, he often received special missions from Lawrence. Avril was worried he’d collapse one day.

She wanted to help him and ease his burden even if only a little.

Seeing Avril enthusiastically thinking like this, the maid, Grace, seemed to want to say something. Meanwhile, Dylan and Chris were smiling brightly.

A new maid, watching the scene, seemed about to point out, “Then, it’d be better if you don’t do anything, Madam…” but Dylan stopped her, preventing her from saying anything.

Had she made a wrong choice?

Having finished reminiscing about her interactions at the Duke of Lancester’s household, Avril’s attention returned to the matter at hand.

Even so, today, I’m being treated rather ostentatiously. Last time, I infiltrated a masquerade ball. Then Prince Lawrence came all the way to the Duke of Lancester’s territory, and the mission was more of an extension of his private life. But today, I’m being invited to the Crown Prince’s study.

Preparing herself for this request, which was probably far more important than the last time, she looked around Lawrence’s study.  This was her first time being allowing into that place.

It was much larger and had a higher ceiling than she had imagined. The chandelier was polished to a shine without a speck of dust. When the tea was served, she felt a sense of awe toward the servants of the royal palace.

“Dismissed.”

At Lawrence’s command, the chamberlain who had served the tea bowed respectfully and left. Dylan’s gaze sharpened as he saw this, but Lawrence seemed nonchalant.

Lawrence felt bad seeing Dylan in bad mood because of the new mission. But to Avril, she felt like she had caught a glimpse of their dynamic. The tension in Avril’s mind almost disappeared.

As expected, Lord Dylan is deeply trusted by Prince Lawrence, and is acting on special orders. How wonderful…!

Special missions. They were dreamy fantasies that Avril had only known from the world of books.

To think that the moment she left her family home, she’d be involved in such a dreamlike world… Despite knowing the time inappropriate, she couldn’t contain her excitement.

Lawrence seemed to have seen through Avril’s thoughts, and without any preamble, went straight to the point, looking overjoyed.

“Since you’ve been with Dylan for a while now, I’m sure you know that I often leave special tasks to him.”

Since it was clearly a question for her, Avril didn’t praise Dylan and instead answered casually.

“Yes. I believe I’m starting to understand little by little. Hence the reason why Dylan Lancester’s name isn’t well known.”

“Indeed. Of course, it’s also partly because his father, Brandon Lancester, was too extreme. But when Dylan was growing up, I instructed him against allowing the name and face to the heir of Lancester from become too widely known.”

“That makes sense.”

Avril nodded in admiration, finding closure to her slight doubts, and Lawrence continued.

“Duchess Avril Lancester. You are familiar with the Kingdom of Claughton is, right?”

“Yes, it’s a country that claims to be neutral, one whose main source of income is tourism. Its glamor is always on display, yet the truth remains obscure. While the Kingdom of Claughton can be said to be rich in nature, the high mountains that surround it are more like a natural fortress. It receives little regarding external political matters, and despite welcoming tourists, it isn’t very proactive in interacting with other countries.”

In addition, the monarch changed frequently, and the instability of the domestic situation was a cause for concern.

After she told him all the information she knew in one breath, Lawrence clapped his hands in satisfaction.

“Precisely! Our kingdom has its sights set on the underground resources of the Kingdom of Claughton. Our underground resources will be depleted in about a dozen years. We want to establish a treaty and pave a new path, but the new king is quite a tricky character and won’t negotiate through the normal route. I, who am in charge of these negotiations as the crown prince, am at a loss. That’s when I remembered you.”

“I see… but since I’m going to visit as a villainess, does that mean the king of the neighboring country is the kind of person who can be manipulated by a villainess into concluding a treaty…?”

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***T/N: The exposition… oh the exposition…

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