Chapter 5

"Father."

Nadia looked him straight in the eye and spoke. It was time to take a risk.

"I don't want to marry a stranger whose background I don't know."

"You fool. If you had obediently married Lee Jihoo, you could have stayed in the prosperous capital! Do you even know what the north is like...!"

The duke, enraged, suddenly stopped shouting. He realized that no matter how much he vented his anger, it wouldn't change anything.

"Haa..."

Heaving a deep sigh, he rubbed his forehead and continued.

"So, according to your judgment, the Duke of Winterfell is a better choice? You're not so dim that you don't know what kind of relationship that man has with me, right?"

"I know that's why I'm stepping forward. The Duke of Winterfell hates you. He wouldn't accept someone under your influence as his wife. Do you have a concrete plan for how to marry him?"

"..."

At that moment, Duke Balazit's mouth clamped shut.

Nadia inwardly cheered.

'Sure enough, there's no quick solution!'

Marrying the Duke of Winterfell would take about a year after Lee Jihoo and she were engaged.

Considering her father's impulsive nature, it meant he had no other plan in mind at the moment.

Of course, he would eventually succeed in pushing one of his people into the Winterfell family after more than a year of covert operations, but that future was still uncertain.

To persuade her father, she needed to focus on this point.

"We need to expand the scope. We need to make the whole country interested in this marriage. There's no better event to draw attention than a triumphal entry."

"..."

"A triumphal entry. After it's over, if His Majesty orders the marriage by royal decree, that man won't dare refuse. If he rejects a royal decree while the whole nation is watching, his loyalty will be questioned."

The king is nothing more than a puppet. It's safe to say there are no truly loyal lords to the king.

So, the issue isn't his true feelings.

What matters is that he could become a target for other lords if he's seen as disloyal to the king.

In an era where regional warlords vie for their own interests, the Duke of Winterfell wouldn't risk becoming a public enemy.

Duke Balazit, unable to find a counterargument, replied in a more subdued tone.

"Your point is valid. But if we do that, he'll be the most prominent figure at the triumphal entry. How do you plan to handle that?"

"Give him a moment of glory. Isn't the important thing to prevent any potential rebellion?"

"..."

Corrupt nobles. Power-hungry ministers who manipulate the foolish king. Turbulent political climate.

There have been countless instances of regional lords rebelling against the chaotic central government.

Some have even led to a change in the dynasty.

That's why her father is wary and threatening the north.

The fear that his position might be threatened. That psychology needs to be exploited.

"Isn't it because you foresaw the danger that you planned today's events? The hostility between the south and the north will only intensify. A conflict is inevitable."

"Hmm."

All of this is something she can say because she knows the future. But to him, who doesn't know she has returned from the future, it's astonishing.

"Let me do something to earn merit for you. If you 'sacrifice' me in this matter, you can claim that you sacrificed your child to keep the Duke of Winterfell in check. Your position will be even more secure."

"Doing something to earn merit... That's quite an interesting proposal."

The duke let out a short laugh.

From his perspective, having always seen his daughters as pawns in political marriages, it was a rather fresh expression.

A piece on the chessboard making a bold claim.

He liked those who tried to prove their worth. They usually made good trading partners.

"So, what do you want in return for earning this merit? If you marry Sir Jihoo, you'll live a comfortable life as a noble knight's wife. Compared to that, becoming the Duchess of Winterfell and heading north is a much riskier choice, isn't it?"

"What I want is freedom, Father."

This was the final step to deceive Duke Balazit.

Saying she was doing this for her father's sake wouldn't be convincing. It was more effective to state her desires.

"I don't want to be tied down as someone's wife and live a suffocating life in the capital."

"You can't possibly mean you want to leave the capital just because it's suffocating."

"That's not what I mean. When the day comes that you defeat your enemies... I will either be a widow or a divorcee. When that day comes, promise me my freedom and ample support."

"So, you want to be a wealthy widow or divorcee."

"An unmarried woman will inevitably face societal judgment, but a widow or divorcee is an accepted status. Even if I don't remarry, I won't bring shame to the Balazit family."

"What are you saying?!"

Karein, unable to bear it any longer, shouted.

The idea of living alone without a husband was unthinkable to her.

But what was even more unbelievable was her father's reaction.

"Yes, I understand what you're saying."

"Father? Why are you...!"

"Quiet, Karein. This isn't your place to interfere!"

"..."

The study fell silent at the harsh rebuke.

The duke stroked his smooth chin, lost in thought.

'She's so perceptive. She'll handle herself well in the north and will be of help to me someday.'

Moreover, he could claim the merit of sacrificing his daughter to the king and other nobles.

No matter how he thought about it, it was a tempting proposal.

Karein, with a nervous face, suddenly interjected.

No matter what was happening, she wanted to stop things from going as Nadia wished.

"Wait, Father. What about Sir Jihoo? The marriage was already being discussed. If we suddenly change our minds... he'll be upset."

"That's not a public story, is it? We can introduce him to another noble lady."

"But..."

But her hastily concocted excuse was far from enough to change his mind.

He looked back at Nadia and said,

"I'll discuss this more precisely with His Majesty and let you know. Until then, stay in the mansion and behave yourself."

"Yes, I understand."

Nadia smiled faintly. From his reaction, it seemed she had secured her father's approval.

'With Father's support, I can secure a sufficient dowry.'

The funds she could take from her family would be a great help in planning her future.

Avoiding the engagement with the foreigner Lee Jihoo was just the first step in changing the future.

"I need some time to think. Nadia, Karein, go back to your rooms."

"Yes, Father."

"...Yes."

Karein bit her lip in frustration but, with her father's dismissal, there was nothing she could do.

They obediently left the study as ordered.

Nadia bowed slightly and stepped over the threshold.

Click.

As the door closed, her half-sister's harsh voice followed.

"You... What's your plan?"

"Secret."

"Feeling smug because you got Father's attention for a moment... Where are you going? Are you listening to me?!"

She wasn't listening. The sound of her half-sister stomping her feet echoed behind her as Nadia walked away.

But her half-sister didn't dare cause a scene in front of her father's study and didn't follow to continue the argument.

Before anything more tiring happened, Nadia hurried out of the main house.

Just as she entered the path leading to the annex, an unexpected commotion caught her attention.

"I'm innocent! I really didn't do it! I swear, Head Butler!"

A familiar voice. It was Amber, the cleaning maid.

Nadia turned her head toward the commotion. A dozen people were gathered at the entrance of the annex.

Among them, a young girl was kneeling, her face tear-streaked. Amber, the maid, was pleading with the head butler, her hands clasped together.

Nadia paused and decided to watch for a moment.

"Proof has been found, so how can you deny it!"

"I really didn't steal it! I swear!"