Frank Eldric stood with practiced ease, hands folded behind his back as he delivered his report. The cool breeze in the ented courtyard rustled the leaves, carrying the faint fragrance of forbidden flowers as Emperor Andrew Sorius listened in silence.

  Frank cleared his throat and began, “First Prinon tio spend his days in the southern reaches of the ti, deepening his ties with the Hilda Kingdom through his marriage thness, Princess Frederica Hill. Retly, he achieved a rare honor—he was granted access to the Alchemy Researstitute’s High Library, making him only the twenty-sixth fner in history to be permitted entry.”

  The Emperor’s eyes gleamed with faint i. “That boy always had a talent for diplomacy. I take it he’ll be returning to the empire soon?”

  “Yes, Your Majesty. If all proceeds as pnned, he and his wife should make their way baext month.” Frank replied

  Andrew hen his expression darkened slightly. “And what of that sdal? The affair?”

  Fraated only briefly before answering, “It was swiftly suppressed by King Julian Hill himself. His Majesty sought to protect his daughter's dignity, and in doing so, he also preserved the imperial family's reputation.”

  A small chuckle escaped the Emperor. “King Julian is a wise man. Give him my thanks—he has spared us from unnecessary trouble.”

  Frank gave a respectful nod before tinuing, “Sed Prince Landon remains stationed in the cil of Vassal States Region, as per Your Majesty’s orders. He is gathering intelligen anti-imperial fas.”

  The Emperor scoffed, shaking his head. “That fool. He may be a grown man with a wife and childre he still fails to grasp my iions. First, he hijacks my envoy, speaking out of turn in the cil, fumbling his own position. Now, he pys at being a spy? Tch. A ughable attempt.”

  Frank, as always, remained ral, simply aowledging the Emperor’s words before moving on. “Third Prince William has pleted his exploration of the newly spawned dungeon in the Men Dukedom. However, rather than moving on, he has beguiating for the dungeon’s trolling rights. The exact details of his reasoning remain unclear.”

  Andrew’s fingers paused over a silver-petaled flower as he hummed in thought. “Is this the work of that knight, Eugene?”

  “It seems so, Your Majesty,” Frank firmed. “Since Ser Eugeered his service, Third Prince William’s strategies have grown more elusive. There are odd instances where he appears to kly where to be and what to do, as if foreseeis before they unfold.”

  The Emperor’s brows furrowed. “That is ing. A tacti of that caliber could be a valuable asset—or a dangerous liability. Keep a watchful eye on Eugene. If he is a p by our eo manipute the succession, I will not tolerate it.”

  “Uood, Your Majesty.”

  Frank turned a page in his report and proceeded, “Fourth Princess Serena has sent word of her return from the Western ti. She is expected to arrive within the month. Her party has taken the long but safer route to avoid enters with sea-dwelling magical beasts.”

  Andrew’s lips curled into a smirk. “I see. And tell me, is she bringing that fool back with her?”

  Fra his tone measured. “Lary may be of simple baronial status, Your Majesty, but he is a widely respected mert and has secured his e to Fourth Princess Serena.”

  It was evident that the two men held vastly different opinions oter. Frank saw Gary as an asset—an ambitious and resourceful mert capable ing financial stability to the empire through trade. The Emperor, oher hand, dismissed him as an insignifit oner who had merely gotten lucky.

  Andrew waved his hand dismissively, as if brushing the matter aside. His attention, however, sharpe the report.

  Frank turned ane. “Finally, Fifth Princess Ravenna was st seen visiting the Ronin Family. Reports indicate that she ducted rge-scale purchases before returning to her dukedom.”

  The Emperor’s eyes narrowed. “Large-scale purchases? What exactly did she buy?”

  “A signifit quantity of on spell flowers along with lumber, grains, and an ongoing trade deal for a steady supply of paper.” Frank finished.

  Andrew’s irritation flickered to the surface. “Paper trade deals?”

  Frank remained posed as he firmed, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

  Andrew let out a slow, measured exhale, irritation flickering in his golden eyes. “As spoiled as ever. I had hoped that after her exile, she would have finally learned some responsibility. But it seems she is determio dig an early grave now that she has been removed from the succession race.”

  He set down his watering and straightened, his gaze drifting toward the grand walls that enclosed the secluded courtyard. The air was thick with the fragrance of rare, forbidden flowers, a stark trast to the weight of his thoughts.

  Ravenna’s exile had not been a death sentenot pletely. He had ehat she had a slim ce at survival, a way to carve out a future for herself if she was truly capable. A reasonable course of a would have been to take the initial 300 mana s he had provided and sail westward to the western ti, leveragiatus as an apostle of Herptian to gain the support of the Herptian faith. With their bag, she could have recruited meraries, gathered resources, aurned with an army, from there, she could have decred an official territorial war to seize trol of the weaker coastal towns near Jo Isnd.

  opening trade routes into the mainnd empire. Even without direct financial support from the imperial pace, she could have secured her dominioablishing the barren nd of Jo as her stronghold.

  That would have been the logical choice.

  Instead, she was… buying on spell flowers and paper?

  Andrew scoffed, shaking his head. “With no substantial wealth in her hands, she still wastes what little she has on frivolous luxuries. I thought she was smarter than that.”

  Finishing his task, he set down the small pruning shears he had been using and turned back to Frank. The minister, ever patient, waited for the Emperor’s words before further insight.

  “Our reports suggest that Fifth Princess Ravenna has strue sort of trade deal with the Ronin family.” Frank adjusted his grip on the leather-bou in his hands. “We ck the exact details, but our best estimate is that she has secured a long-term loan.”

  Andrew’s lips curled into a half-smirk, half-scowl. “A loan? Hah. Even now, she relies on borrowed power.” He flicked his wrist dismissively. “If she fails, she’ll be crushed uhe weight of her ows. And if she succeeds…” He trailed off, unwilling to eaihought that she might still surprise him.

  Instead, he merely waved his hand, signaling his disi in further discussion.

  Frank bowed in quiet aowledgment before turning to leave.

  As the minister disappeared into the pace halls, Andrew Sorius gnced back at the fountain in the ter of the courtyard. The goddess’s stone-carved face stared back at him, her expression one of serene indifference.

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