Royal Dot (1)

“The Supreme Commander is dead. Who is the new one?”

Reichardt spoke toward the lined ranks of the Barker Count’s knights.

“I–I’ll throw down my weapon.”

One of the knights standing in the front row shouted to the others.

“Everyone, drop your weapons!”

The infantrymen lowered their spears and shields the moment the order was given.

The knights dropped their weapons to the ground and dismounted.

“Clean it up.”

Reichardt swung his axe in the air, shaking off the blood, then turned his horse around.

“…What a waste of a good horse. Everyone must think I’m Death’s lackey.”

Roderick grumbled as he showed a sly grin befitting a servant of the Reaper.

Luderne was in disarray.

The battle that had been scheduled never took place.

There was neither victory nor defeat.

Only one person had died.

The House of Duke Lirin emerged the winner without a single drop of blood spilled.

The House of Count Barker was destroyed, its hidden crimes exposed.

Everyone gathered in Luderne rejoiced without exception.

They were relieved that there had been no war, no death.

No one was disappointed about losing their chance to show off their skills.

Everyone felt a bit dazed.

“Count.”

The Emperor sat at the head seat of Luderne Castle’s reception hall.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Alicia had expected everything, but still felt as bewildered as the others.

“To have stopped a war using me—impressive and commendable indeed.”

She hadn’t expected the Emperor himself to grace Luderne with his presence.

“I am honored beyond words, but how could a humble subject dare to use Your Majesty? I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Count, do not feign ignorance. How did you know Count Barker was a slaver?”

Ignoring Alicia’s denial, the Emperor continued.

“I truly know nothing of the matter.”

Alicia kept her stance, acting as if she knew nothing.

“Is that so?”

The Emperor spread a radiant smile.

His smile alone was beautiful enough to seem like that of an angel descending from the heavens.

“……”

“……”

The Emperor stared alternately between Alicia and Reichardt for a long time.

Reichardt had found Reina only last night.

With her help, he located the underground prison of the Barker estate late past midnight.

Count Barker had used the people he captured as slaves for his own amusement.

Those with talent for singing, storytelling, or dancing—and especially beautiful women—had been victimized.

Reina’s lost eye bore the mark of torment by one of Count Barker’s sons.

If she sang well, they beat her for being better; if she sang poorly, they beat her for that too.

After escaping, Reina had tried many times to accuse Count Barker and rescue the captives, but lacked the power to do so.

In the previous timeline, she had only managed to reach the Marquess of Rain six years later to seek his aid.

Her report had greatly aided the Marquess back then.

Alicia had been able to shorten the time thanks to Judith’s preparation and Reichardt’s swift action.

After observing Alicia and Reichardt for a while, the Emperor finally stood.

“I shall take my leave.”

As the Emperor rose from his seat, Alicia held out the key to the munitions warehouse of Denvera.

The Emperor ignored her hand with a graceful motion.

“……”

Feeling awkward, Alicia slowly withdrew her hand.

“Safe travels, Your Majesty.”

“Safe travels.”

Reichardt escorted the Emperor out, and Alicia bowed in turn.

Once the Emperor departed and the doors to the reception room closed, Alicia sighed and stood.

“To think you started a war—what were you doing, Alicia?”

Reichardt gently took Alicia’s hand.

His large hand was warm, yet the voice ringing in her ear was flat and stern.

He glanced toward the reception room door.

Seeing the sign that the Emperor was still outside, Alicia smiled—relieved that his scolding was only an act.

She was a little surprised, though; she hadn’t known Reichardt could act so well.

“My apologies, Your Grace. I couldn’t forgive someone like Gregory Barker. Besides, there was a personal grudge.”

“A grudge?”

At his question, Alicia nodded firmly.

“I met Gregory Barker once at a party. I don’t remember exactly—maybe I tripped, maybe he stepped on my dress—but I fell near the center of the ballroom.”

Alicia spoke with a gloomy face.

Even after overcoming her shyness, the memory was still enough to make her blush.

“That must have hurt.”

At Reichardt’s sympathy, Alicia frowned.

“The pain wasn’t the issue—it was the humiliation. I clearly heard Gregory Barker snicker, ‘Heh!’ at me. I can be terribly timid sometimes, and that was when my timidity was at its peak. I remembered that humiliation deep in my heart. I never thought I’d get to take revenge like this.”

Alicia spoke with satisfaction.

“Well done.”

Reichardt praised her with a complex expression.

He no longer glanced toward the door—the Emperor must have left.

“Your Grace, I have something to tell you. I granted Daisy the title of Baroness of Ronoc. I’m thinking of starting a carriage business as her family enterprise.”

“Do you have any ideas in mind?”

The two sat side by side, their hands still joined.

“I’ve been thinking about wide-wheel carriages.”

“That’s good. Henrik has a retired engineer friend I can introduce you to.”

Reichardt gently brushed aside Alicia’s tousled hair.

They looked every bit the perfect couple.

“All carriages look similar, but once you ride them, you can tell the difference. If we market that difference well, it could be profitable.”

“If the technology allows, it might be good to consider modular parts for resale later—like detachable wooden panels on the back. It’d be troublesome if they fell off in motion, but the engineer I’ll introduce you to is skilled. It’s worth trying.”

Their conversation itself, however, was the problem.

Business talk wasn’t bad—but whose business it was mattered.

“Um, you two…”

Daisy’s voice trailed off, rare for her.

Her face was unusually dark as she came in carrying tea.

“Daisy.”

“Baroness Ronoc.”

Alicia and Reichardt both turned and called her name at the same time.

Reichardt’s quick adaptation was impressive.

“Whose business are you two talking about?”

Daisy asked with a gloomy expression.

“Yours.”

“The Baroness of Ronoc’s enterprise.”

Alicia and Reichardt answered succinctly.

Their faces showed no hesitation.

‘My business? And you two are discussing it without me? Is that really date conversation?’

Daisy had many things she wanted to say.

She didn’t know much about dating, but she was sure she could do better than these two.

“I’ll do my best.”

Daisy quietly set aside any awkward advice she might have given.

Instead, she adopted the polite manner of a newly appointed noble.

Alicia reassured her with serious business suggestions.

Reichardt generously shared his knowledge.

Sigh.

Daisy exhaled silently.

She resolved to study how to date properly starting tomorrow.

The small brazier on the long desk spread its heat.

A tiny pot atop it bubbled and hissed loudly.

A blackened pair of tongs lifted the pot off the brazier.

Drip.

The thin liquid inside was poured into shallow dishes one after another.

“Let’s see.”

Albert’s expression gradually darkened as he placed testing papers into each dish.

He checked five times over.

“Huh… this is…”

After confirming the same result for the fifth time, he could no longer deny it.

“…I must report this immediately!”

Albert burst out of the room.

On the desk lay scattered instruments and a golden incense candle.

Luderne received guests early in the morning.

Josephina, designated heir to Duke Lirin, and Pauline, Marchioness of Istevna, were chatting endlessly in the tea room.

There was never a day in high society without gossip or scandal.

“Pardon?”

At Pauline’s words, Alicia blinked.

“Her Majesty the Empress is said to be pregnant with twins.”

Pauline repeated it with a bright smile.

That couldn’t be.

Alicia’s violet eyes hid beneath her fluttering eyelids before reappearing.

Pauline and Josephina laughed cheerfully at Alicia’s shocked face.

“Pauline… you’re the one who’s carrying twins.”

Alicia spoke slowly, disbelief written on her face.

Pauline beamed and replied as kindly as before.

“The Empress, too, is expecting twins.”

No matter how many times she heard it, Alicia was dumbfounded.

“……”

Her lips half-opened and refused to close.

Impossible.

Originally, the Empress’s first child was a son—

The Emperor and Empress’s firstborn, the First Prince, was meant to become Crown Prince.

But now, the future had changed again.

To hide her confusion, Alicia lifted her teacup.

The ice inside clinked as she held it.

Pauline and Josephina exchanged looks, eyeing Alicia’s cup with curiosity.

“Isn’t it fascinating?”

“It is! To have cousins born at the same time—twins here and there—it’s astonishing.”

Alicia drained the cold tea in one gulp.

What would happen now?

If twin princes were born, the imperial palace would be drenched in blood.

If twin princesses, how would the succession dispute unfold?

Her thoughts tangled.

Tilting her head, she poured another cool cup and drank.

Yesterday’s rain had cooled the air, but today heat rose since dawn—

Summer had arrived in full.

Alicia hated the heat.

She’d had enough of it in hell.

Yet no noble ever drank chilled tea.

When Alicia asked Daisy to add ice, the maid had looked baffled.

“Ice… in tea?”

When Alicia told her to brew and then chill the tea, Daisy kindly questioned if she was feeling unwell.

“In this heat, Daisy—should one really drink something hot?”

Though she didn’t understand, Daisy complied.

Her reaction was ordinary.

Even now, Josephina and Pauline were glancing repeatedly at Alicia’s ice-filled cup, puzzled.

When Alicia lifted her gaze, she met Josephina’s eyes.

“It’s not certain yet, but perhaps…”

Meeting her eyes, Josephina lowered her voice.

Pauline nodded, as if she had heard similar rumors.

“It seems the Baroness of Lenger is also with child.”

The Baroness of Lenger was one of the Emperor’s concubines.

“……”

Alicia silently set down her cup.

If no one were present, she would have clutched her head.

It felt like being struck on the back of the skull with a hammer.

Among the Emperor’s concubines, the Baroness of Lenger had always been the least noteworthy.

In Alicia’s memory, she had only drawn attention when she conceived the Emperor’s child after the Empress.

The sequence matched—but the timing was far too early.

She shouldn’t have conceived for at least another year.

“Lately, the Baroness of Lenger hasn’t been visiting the Duchess of Pfalz or the Three Marchionesses, or any of the other concubines. She says she’s unwell—and His Majesty permitted it.”

“Her family sent a physician skilled in childbirth to attend her. It seems all but confirmed.”

Pauline spoke, and Josephina added what she knew.

“The harem will be in chaos.”

Even in her daze, Alicia responded.

“They might even draw swords.”

“Surely not.”

At Josephina’s grim remark, Pauline shuddered and drew in her shoulders.