Chapter 92

First, let’s escalate the situation.

Immediately after securing Victoria’s weakness, an idea sprang to Siena’s mind.

And with that idea, a concrete plan was instantly complete.

There was no need for deliberation, discussion, or advice. It was as natural as a grand wizard casting a spell… Her innate disposition made it inevitable.

Now that the plan was set, it was time for execution.

Siena immediately turned her gaze towards the opium den manager.

A man named James, who was now waiting for his punishment with a world-lost expression after confessing everything. He was a third-year military studies student from an ordinary viscount family’s cadet branch.

Yet, judging by how he managed to acquire morphine, he seemed quite capable. More than enough to serve as bait.

“You.”

“Your Highness, please have mercy…”

“Then do as I say.”

“I’ve told you everything I know.”

“Here’s what you’ll do. One of your crew is going to run straight to Timothy Wolphall, that lieutenant who’s been supplying you morphine. You’ll tell him it looks like Medoff Pharmaceuticals is onto him and if he doesn’t act, the morphine leak will become public knowledge. He needs to cover his tracks.”

This meant giving time to the main perpetrator behind the morphine diversion to conceal the incident.

Confused by this strange instruction, the opium den manager showed suspicion on his face. Siena quirked an eyebrow and let out a short sigh.

“Sorry…”

“It’s fine. What did you expect from you lot? Just pass this message to Timothy Wolphall as I instructed. It’s not even a lie, right? It’s true that I’ve caught you, and it’s also true that staying silent will lead to public exposure.”

“That is true…”

“If you carry out my orders, I might show leniency. At the very least, you won’t end up dying meaninglessly while installing mine supports in the mines.”

The students who ran the opium den exchanged looks, wanting to discuss but too afraid of Siena’s presence.

Having no patience for waiting, Siena gave another directive.

“One person.”

“Uh…?”

“I’ll only show leniency to the one who runs to Timothy Wolphall immediately. The rest of you will sit nicely with your customers until I’m done, then be handed over to the military police. Surely you don’t think all of you will be forgiven, do you?”

Immediately after this announcement…

“I’ll go-!”

The manager James darted out of the opium den with surprising agility, leaving behind his fearful demeanor.

The other members of the opium ring and their customers were left stunned. Even without a clear hierarchy among these Academy students, their representative had just fled for survival.

“That little bastard…”

“…He deserves death.”

“Your Highness, he’s the worst of them!”

The remaining individuals erupted in complaints.

But Siena paid no attention.

Because she had no intention of showing leniency in the first place.

Both those who ran as bait and those who remained in the opium den were destined to be sent to the mines or the ship decks. Not out of malice, but simply because there was no reason to show mercy. They all had to fall.

There was only one person Siena intended to spare.

And she wanted to torment everyone else equally.

‘Now that I think about it, what’s Alan doing right now?’

Compared to the incompetent opium dealers before her, Alan was a hundred times more capable, no, the idea of comparing him to them was absurd.

By now Alan was likely in the production room, or perhaps in the greenhouse cultivating psilocybin. Or maybe he was working with the managers to establish an ethanol factory. Siena was quite diligent herself, but Alan matched her in that regard.

Initially, she had planned to spend time with Alan after tidying up the opium ring.

They were going to stroll through Temseugung Palace’s main garden, look at the newly bloomed opium flowers, and have dinner together.

Especially a banquet.

Unlike Siena, who could eat oats, pudding, and fruit all year without complaint, Alan seemed to take care of his food. Although Siena had no interest in gourmet cuisine, she had planned to adjust for Alan’s sake…

But that pleasure would have to be postponed.

Because of Victoria.

Because she needed to push her sister, who showed excessive attention and affection towards Alan, aside.

Hours later.

“Your Highness. I’ve delivered the message to Lieutenant Timothy as you instructed. He seemed quite flustered but told me he’ll handle it himself. He warned me not to say a word or he’d kill me.”

The bait seemed to have been successfully cast.

By now, Timothy, the sixth cousin of Victoria who had diverted the morphine, must be doing something to cover up the situation.

He might seek help from his family elders or try to resolve it on his own.

Either way, it didn’t matter. The important thing was that he was making efforts to conceal the mistake. The more he tried to hide it, the bigger the fault would become.

“Your sister will bear more burden as well.”

After leaving the opium den to the knights, Siena headed towards Victoria.

It was a moment she looked forward to more than ever to meet her sister.

At the same time.

The Imperial Princess Victoria sat contentedly in the audience chamber attached to the palace.

Today was an official working day.

She usually commuted to the Military Affairs Ministry building unless there were special circumstances. Being an imperial princess, she often attended foreign events, but today wasn’t one of those days.

There was a specific reason she was lingering in the palace. After a power struggle with her father, she had finally achieved what she desired.

“His Majesty the Emperor has agreed to award Sir Alan Medoff the title of Comte de Madway. He has entrusted Princess Victoria to ensure all qualifications are met. For the peace of the Imperial Court, please keep this confidential for the time being.”

The glad tidings just delivered to her by the Chief Steward meant that the title for Alan had finally been decided.

The Comte de Madway.

The official title was longer.

The Comte de Madway of the Bruyfen Great Battle.

One of the imperial titles. About 80 years ago, it was granted to a collateral line royal who achieved military merit in a war. Although the title discontinued after three generations due to lack of heirs, it was far from insignificant. As it was the only title created to honor royal military achievements.

‘There could be no more fitting title for Alan.’

A title closely associated with the imperial family, symbolically commending indirect military achievements.

Giving Alan Medoff, who gave half of the Great Forest to the empire and received nothing but criticism, a comforting and rewarding title- could it get any better?

Even more pleasing was the fact that the emperor had agreed to grant the title.

This meant the emperor was relaxing his guard against Alan.

Though suspicions would remain, this was still a significant advancement. Knowing people’s views on Alan, and still granting a title, let alone an imperial one, carried immense meaning which her father, more than anyone, would understand.

‘But it’s not time to celebrate yet.’

Still, the biggest obstacle had been overcome.

What remained was confirming the intentions of the party in question, Alan.

Because receiving an imperial title meant becoming part of the imperial family.

Since there was no royal blood in the Medoff family line, notorious bankrupt nobles, there was only one method.

That was marrying into the royal family.

Perhaps this was the real challenge from now on.

Although the emperor’s approval had been secured, if Alan himself refused to become part of the imperial family, nothing would change. While it was rare for a noble to reject an engagement to the royal family, with Alan, it was a plausible scenario.

To ensure Alan didn’t feel burdened…

‘No, it would be impossible not to feel burdened.’

Victoria wanted to approach carefully, making it at least bearable.

Formally, they would have to follow the prince selection procedures, but Victoria personally intended to obtain Alan’s consent. She had no intention of rushing or pressuring Alan.

She wanted a marriage that went beyond mere strategic interests.

A relationship based on mutual respect, affection, cooperation, and perhaps even a little warmth…

“Your Highness, Princess Siena requests an audience.”

The butler’s report made Victoria’s momentarily buoyant expression turn cold.

‘Why now? Of all times?’

Could she have obtained information about the title?

Alan’s planned ennoblement as viscount was known only to the emperor, Victoria herself, and the Chief Steward. Official announcement was still far off as making it public now would cause an uproar among the nobility.

However, knowing Siena’s abilities, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

‘Dangerous situation ahead.’

She wanted to postpone the meeting with Siena.

But it was an obstacle she had to eventually overcome.

While she shouldn’t see her half-sister as an obstacle, that was the reality. Considering Siena’s character, it was unlikely she would willingly give up on Alan. She would probably employ her devilish talents to hinder things.

She might even start a revolution feeling her territory was encroached upon.

Since it was an inevitable conflict, confronting it now wasn’t a bad idea.

“Tell her to come in.”

Victoria prepared herself and admitted Siena.

She even unconsciously gripped her sword’s hilt not to strike Siena as soon as she entered but to calm herself. Though she wasn’t a trained knight, Victoria had an attachment to swords.

Soon Siena arrived.

Her long silver hair flowing down to her waist, her round cheeks tempting to pinch but untouched all her life.

That much was unchanged.

But…

“Good news, Siena?”

“Yeah. There is.”

Siena’s expression was unusually excited. She was also wriggling her small hands as if eager to boast something.

While a smile was good, considering her abnormal emotional development, it rather made Victoria uneasy.

After an awkward silence, Siena finally spoke.

“I can overlook and let it slide, depending on you of course, sister.”

A rather out-of-the-blue declaration.

Victoria managed to conjure an awkward smile, asking what she meant, but…

Her smile quickly faded.

“The Wolphall family has been diverting military morphine to sell on the civilian market. We’ll soon find out how many are involved.”

Because it was something Siena said that was absolutely unbelievable.

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