I headed for my office and waited. I sat on my usual spot, by my desk reading a book, while often looking through the window, at the winter view. Yeah, I have become a true bookworm! That’s right, that checks all the boxes, right?

I’m reading a lot of books, and reading is all I can do when I do nothing. And I’m starting to enjoy it. I think that’s being a bookworm already. Surely being a bookworm was not being too obsessive in books where I go insane if I could not even hold one for days?

I mean, I’m not at the degree yet. No, wait, am I not a true bookworm yet? Dammit!

But, it’s good that I’m not that obsessive, right? So let’s not go too far. Yeah, I’m not gonna.

Time passed, and there came knocks on the door. I inserted a bookmark into my book and closed it. I gestured for Vernon to open the door. Waiting on the other side was, as expected, uncle Meril.

“Uncle, was the news you delivered to my father good or bad?”

He casually sat down on the nearby couch, and after the door closed, he responded. “Mostly, good. Although, it would entirely be up to him if he sees it as either. That aside, why do you hope to learn of the kingdom’s affairs now?”

“Curiosity. I was completely pushed aside from the matters that… matter. It was fine at first, but as this is my home kingdom, I ought to know.”

Being an observer, hah! They didn’t let me in shit.

“And because you heard some things.”

“Mainly. Because of that, I need to know. Will you tell me the current news?”

“Hm.” He placed a hand on his chin, as if deliberating. “I suppose I can share some details.”

I almost feel like he was just messing around, pretending to think about it and acting uncertain. He was the one that asked first, almost like offering, if I would want him to sneak some info to me. He really knew how to get on my nerves.

I nodded. “How is the matter with the nobles?”

“If you wish to know the results of the late Count Farrimond’s spectacle, it went well. As you may have wanted in the first place.”

“Please be a bit more specific.”

“Nobles are shaken, wary of each other. At least we can rely on whoever is loyal to the kingdom to report whoever is suspicious. And the best result, a couple of traitors have turned themselves in.”

“Really? Was it guilt or fear?”

“I guess both.”

“Are they Counts as well?”

“No, they are outer nobles. Near the edge of the kingdom.”

“I see. What about those written as suspicious?”

“We have solid evidence on a few of them, such as my report today to your father.”

“What are you planning on doing to them?”

“For the ones that turned themselves in, they were stripped of their rank and taken to prison. But their families remain and are still under watch and judgment. The rest we have yet to capture, but I imagine it will be the same.”

“That’s quite a light punishment.”

“Light? That’s surprising. It’s a show of mercy, like how you allowed Count Farrimond’s family to live.”

“Is that what you think?”

He groaned. “... Mm, thinking about it, comparing right now they are light punishments. It’s never about pure mercy, isn’t it? You would have them executed?”

“Depends on how much help they can be. Count Farrimond gets to protect his family’s status because of his act of commitment. What did the others do to protect their family? Surrender?” I scoffed. “And now you would only put them in prison?”

His eyes widened slightly as though he came to an understanding. “I see. Fascinating. But, sadly, Estelia, you are not in command.”

“Yes. And everything is fine. What you’re doing is acceptable.”

“Acceptable…?”

“You’re quelling enemies on the inside. That is enough.”

The minimum.

“That is good, then.”

“However, I heard Eleden has been working closely on the matter.”

“Heh, of course you would hear about it sooner or later. Yes, as the crown prince, he’s been given authority to essential activities.”

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“Such as?”

“... Sometimes what to do with the nobles.”

“What operation is he the lead of?”

“Well… I feel you’ll be displeased.”

“Uncle, only a few knew of the deeper operations. But you let my brother in. Without my advice, at that.”

“I tried stopping it. But your father has decided… Wait, is that the reason you’re talking with me now? It is.” He leaned forward.

“What operation is he leading, uncle?”

“I get the feeling you already know. I don’t know how, though…”

“I know nothing. That is why I want to know.”

With narrow eyes, he answered. “He is supervising the three merchants.”

I rose from my seat and walked a few steps towards him. “Why that, of all things?”

“He wanted to do something meaningful.”

“And what direction is he heading?” I asked with a stern gaze.

“You are indeed displeased. No, not only that. You are angry.”

“I am not angry, uncle.”

“... Is that so?” He shrugged. “He has no clear direction as of yet.”

“But he has an idea, right?”

“Yes. He seeks to cooperate with a government, or merchants from other nations, to help.”

I sat down on the couch opposite him. “What made him come to that idea?”

“... I’m not sure.”

“Are we in a tight situation where we need help from others?”

“No, we’re not. Everything is going smoothly. The merchants have tons of resources at their disposal.”

“Then there is no need to receive help, yes?”

“Yes.”

“What country is he thinking of getting help?”

“Myra.”

“Myra?” I leaned back. “I see now. Of course, it has to be Myra.” His beloved princess lives there. “This is not about us receiving help, no not only that. Cooperation between our nations... He wants to help Myra.”

“Likely, Myra is also a target of the Empire, and might have fallen to the same schemes as us.”

“With cooperation, he will share the situation we’re in, and our secret operations.” I gritted my teeth before slamming my hand on the armrest. “He can’t do that!”

“What do you mean, niece?”

“We can’t share anything with anyone. We must not. There will be agents of the Empire everywhere. Our secrets will be nowhere safe. If Myra acts on the Empire’s schemes, Tornridge will be forced to act differently, and they could discover our plans. Especially if our plans get imitated in Myra.”

“Don’t you think it’s nice to help our allied nation? It would be selfish to keep everything to ourselves.”

“The entire kingdom is at stake and you care about selfishness?!”

Meril sighed. “I suppose you’re also right.”

“Secrets are our only advantage, surprises. Can you imagine what Tornridge would do if they discovered what we’re doing? The first dawn of war, they will destroy all our preparations first. We’ll lose.”

I don’t give a single fuck about other nations. Not even Myra. Fuck Myra.

If other nations have to die for mine to live, so be it. I’ll gladly cast the inferno of hell if that’s what it takes. I will not have all my work undone because of compassion. Nations, even allied ones, keep secrets to each other. It’s so stupid to share everything.

“Our enemy is the largest nation on the continent. It will be hard to survive them. We have to keep all the advantages we can.”

“Why not just tell Myra what to do to prepare?”

“We don’t know their political landscape. How information flows. What traitors lurk. I don’t trust them, nor should we. We may trust individuals like maybe princess Lillie, but we can’t be sure with people around her.”

Besides, they were not the first target of Tornridge. Wisteria was. We have much more at stake. Myra has a better chance and more time to prepare while we fight Tornridge. Ask support from allied nations? I’m sure the Empire was prepared for that, they can hold everyone off. Tornridge has the size to back it up.

The Empire will be quick in striking with us if they are to succeed. That is to be a cause of concern. I have to make sure Wisteria can survive longer, to draw out the battle. We have to prepare.

Fuck other countries, they have a better chance than us. Was I just selfish? Of course I am. Tornridge almost brought us to the red line, we need to recover that.

I don’t trust other countries for now. Not yet. We’re not ready. I have to keep Tornridge in the dark.

“We are at more risk than them. Wisteria is unstable, we don’t have a lot of options.”

“Or are you just too wary and paranoid, niece?”

“Better paranoid than dying.”

He sighed. “Then what do you want to do about this? You can’t really do anything.”

“You must convince them not to do this.”

“Ah, I don’t think that would work. I may be a Marquis, but with how much Eleden cares about Myra, I don’t think I can change his mind. If he does nothing, it would be like betraying his beloved.”

FUCK!

I cradled my head in frustration. Dammit, this is so much of a headache than it should be! Should I just have the merchants completely go against the crown? No, that’s impossible. They would never rebel against the entire kingdom just like that.

I have no power here.

Convince my brother? How? Love was in the fucking way. Dammit. I need my authority back. But how the hell do I do that? If I knew it would be like this, I wouldn’t have had Farrimond killed. I could have had the backing of a Count. Shit, I never thought I'd be pushed in the corner like this.

I need to put a stop to this.

If I just go and outright tell them to stop, they’ll know I was snooping around. And Eleden would be too adamant about helping Myra. I was proud at first that he found some love, but now I hate it! I fucking despise it.

“Wow, niece. I never saw you so stressed.”

Was there no way to sneak around this problem? Wait, has Eleden been waiting for this moment? He knew the damage that was done to Wisteria, so he could have figured that other countries might be in the same predicament without them knowing. He’s been looking for a way to help them…

Shit!

“What do I do, uncle…?”

“... Why are you asking me?”

“... I don’t know what to do.”

He gently smiled. “I’m glad you want to rely on me this time. But… even I’m not sure how to proceed. That said, what is holding you back, Estelia?”

“What?”

“You may have an idea of what to do, but something is making you hesitate. Is it family?”

Family…? I… I couldn’t answer his question.

“Perhaps you’re worried that they’ll take you differently. Perhaps you don’t like to be hated by, let’s say, your brother, Eleden.”

My hand twitched, and I lowered my gaze.

“You don’t want your brother to hate you?”

“I…” I paused, mulling over his words. And then I answered. “Yes, I don’t want him to hate me.”

“Why?”

“I… I just don’t want conflict with my family.”

Eleden cared so greatly about me. All of them.

“And because of that, you want to go the roundabout way of solving this problem.”

“Yes…”

“But sometimes, Estelia, we have to keep a family member from making a mistake. Even if they get mad at us.”

“Is that how it is?”

“Families sometimes have disagreements and arguments.”

“... Really?”

“Really.”

“But I don’t want a rift between us.”

“For our family, we sometimes do what we must.”

“I have hoped my brother had learned from the past events. But I suppose it’s a different case if his lover is in jeopardy.”

“And he can’t choose both.”

“Yes. He doesn’t realize that he’s putting others at risk. Us.” I closed my eyes, heaving a deep sigh. “Families often have fights…”

I don’t want that. I don’t know what to do if that happens.

“Will you do something?”

But…

“... I have to stop this.”