Chapter 28

"Because it was the second time your marriage was interfered with. The Marquis wanted to keep you in the country for the development of the Sanloin Kingdom, but he finally gave up."

"I was to receive a special education..."

I felt half skeptical and half convinced.

Luka lowered his voice even more and continued speaking cautiously.

"Your father is genuinely concerned about the future of the Sanloin Kingdom. He once had high hopes for the current king, thinking, 'Even if the current king is no good, the Crown Prince will be.' However, as the Crown Prince grew, it became clear that he inherited his mother's greed and his father's incompetence."

This was a secret that had quietly spread among the nobility.

"It seems the next king is also not to be expected. We can only hope for the next queen and the next prime minister."

"The Marquis is quietly amassing wealth in the empire without the royal family knowing, for the future of the Sanloin Kingdom."

"Are you saying... that my father is raising funds to overthrow the government? He's not that kind of person."

"No, that's not it. The Marquis is not after the throne. He is waiting for the right person to lead Sanloin and will support them when the time comes. As the current prime minister, he cannot openly cultivate the next leader. Also, the Marquis is too old to sit on the throne."

Bertine couldn't imagine her father on the throne. He had no interest in power.

"The Marquis always spoke highly of you, saying, 'Bertine is truly excellent.' However, once he realized that he was seen as a threat by the queen, he changed his approach and decided to raise you as a regular noble lady."

Although she had never been called excellent, her father had indeed been strict with her until a certain point.

He wouldn't allow her to move on until she had perfectly completed the tasks he assigned. She often studied while on the verge of tears.

However, around the time Luka's family went bankrupt and their engagement was called off, her education in business decreased, and her studies focused more on embroidery, manners, and dance, typical for a marquis's daughter. The strictness in her business education had diminished...

"Anyway, the Marquis wanted to protect you from the queen. Even before the incident with my family, Lady Rose had been sent as a second wife. The Marquis, angry with the queen, sent you to the allied country for your safety. He has always been interested in the potential of the southern region."

"I see. It all makes sense now. Everything was according to the queen's will. Hmm."

"Bert?"

"I understand that my life, my father's life, and Luka's life have been toyed with by the queen."

"Hey, Bert, don't do anything rash, okay?"

I've been manipulated twice by a greedy and suspicious woman, and my father has been used and forced into an unwanted remarriage. My father must have his own plans, but I can't go back home now. My stepmother is watching closely.

"Thank you. I've learned a lot."

"Hey, don't do anything reckless. The queen is not just greedy; she's smart."

"Yes, she's a scary person. But I've changed too."

"Bert!"

"By the way, Luka, are you married?"

"Yes, I married a woman from the empire. I have children."

"Then you should prioritize your family's safety. I understand."

"The Marquis wishes for you to have a safe life. Think of the worst-case scenario."

"Luka, I've decided to take control of my own life."

Bertine stood up and decided to return to her room. Luka watched her with a worried expression.

Driven by anger towards the queen, she hurried back to her room. Dorothe and Diego were surprised by her expression and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied, deep in thought.

There's no need to rush. I'll plan carefully.

"First, I'll start with the sale of the crimson fabric."

Two days after her reunion with Luka, Bertine was at a noble's mansion in the imperial capital.

In a spacious room that was luxurious yet tasteful, Bertine sat across from a woman.

The woman had beautiful white hair elegantly tied up and wore a deep, rich green dress that looked expensive.

"I heard that you were sent to the allied country as a bride in place of a dowry. But you still have the Juwan surname."

"Yes. Instead of marrying Lord Cecilio, I earned the missing dowry myself."

The woman chuckled.

"True to your father's legacy as an alchemist. So, what rare item have you brought today?"

"Here is the fabric. Please take a good look, Lady Dalila."

Bertine placed a fabric-covered box on the table. Lady Dalila picked up the box, opened it, and took out the folded crimson fabric.

"Oh!"

"How is it?"

Lady Dalila unfolded the fabric and stood up, moving closer to the window.

"It looks vividly crimson, but it glows subtly in the light. It's a mysterious fabric."

"I was surprised the first time I saw it too."

"But wouldn't a dress made from this fabric be too flashy?"

"I thought you might say that. Please look at it this way, Lady Dalila."

Bertine took a very thin white fabric from her bag and placed it over the crimson fabric.

"When the crimson fabric is layered with a sheer fabric, the underlying crimson appears calm and elegant. The appearance can change depending on the color of the sheer fabric."

When a thin blue fabric was layered, the color visible through it became a warm, gentle purple. When a thin yellow fabric was layered, it became a reddish cream.

"Interesting. I like it, but it seems a bit too youthful for me."

"Lady Dalila, the one who should draw attention with this fabric is Lady Diana."

Diana is Lady Dalila's daughter.

Lady Dalila, born into a baron's family, rose to prominence as a palace maid, initially working as a trainee.

After marriage, she continued working, taking time off only during her pregnancy and childbirth, eventually becoming the head maid. When her daughter Diana started working as a maid, Lady Dalila retired.

"Who would have thought that Diana would bear the emperor's child?"

Since the emperor already had an empress, Diana became a concubine, and her son became the second prince. However, both Diana and the second prince, Claudius, are in a delicate position within the palace.

To avoid drawing attention and risking their lives, they live quietly. However, it was well-known among the informed that the second prince, Claudius, was more competent and popular than the first prince.

From the empress's perspective, Diana and Claudius must be infuriating. Given that the concubine's son is more capable than her own, it's clear that the empress would want to eliminate the second prince. Lady Dalila had struggled with this for a long time.

"I don't want to draw attention and cause trouble for my daughter and Prince Claudius."

"On the contrary, Lady Dalila, gaining power will help protect Lady Diana and Prince Claudius."

After a moment of thought, Lady Dalila looked at Bertine.

"Tell me the truth. What is your real goal?"

"A friendly relationship between the Southern Union and the Empire."

"That's a more ordinary answer than I expected."

"Is it?"

Bertine asked for privacy and explained the strategy she had been thinking about since last night to foster a friendly relationship between the Southern Union and the Empire. After she finished, they stared at each other for a while. Finally, Bertine spoke.

"But it's a big plan. It might take nearly ten years. But I won't give up. I will become strong enough that no one can hurt me."

"I wish I could have shown you to Karina. How much she must have regretted leaving you behind as a young girl. But Karina is surely watching from heaven."

"Yes, I think she would smile and say, 'You were strong.'"

With a smile, Bertine thanked Lady Dalila and left her mansion, her face set with strong determination.