Cedric entered the capital and first stopped at the Imperial Palace.

But the Emperor did not meet him. The chief attendant came out with an apologetic face and said politely.

“His Majesty is resting right now.”

“I see.”

“It’s only been a few weeks since His Majesty could properly rest. Please understand that His Majesty did not mean to undermine Grand Duke Evron.”

Originally, he didn’t have any temper thinking that this hurt his pride. And in fact, even if the Emperor did it on purpose, Cedric wasn’t in a position to criticize it.

The chief attendant said.

“I will tell His Majesty that Grand Duke Evron has arrived. If there is nothing urgent, maybe the Grand Duke would like to go back to the Grand Duke’s residence and rest today?”

“I would be grateful if I could.”

“Yes. If His Majesty allows, I will ask to schedule an audience for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow and let you know.”

Cedric nodded his head and turned around.

He didn’t even have anything to report. He simply stayed in the camp of the Southern Conquest Army, upheld the discipline and watched the training.

He didn’t really have much to do as they were already an elite soldier and Gayan already had the system in place.

So he thought it was rather good.

As he left the palace early, his lieutenant asked:

“Didn’t you meet His Majesty?”

“It seems that the Emperor is not in a good condition.”

Then the lieutenant kept his mouth shut.

Cedric smiled bitterly. If it had been Freil, he would have spoken plainly and complained about the Emperor in a few words.

Although he always rebuked him not to do it, he realized again that he had been quite amused by that attitude.

“Go to the integrated command and report that the shift was successful. I will go back first.”

“Yes.”

The lieutenant made a military salute. Cedric also responded with a military salute and got on the horse.

***

Artizea was in the garden when Cedric arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence.

The guards caught Cedric at the front door and informed him. They were afraid that the sound of horseshoes would surprise the mistress who was pregnant.

Cedric got off the horse on the spot. He ordered his men to disband.

He walked into the garden alone.

The garden, which the gardener put great effort into, had become quite beautiful within a year.

Cedric felt it all over again. It seems like yesterday that Artizea tripped her foot in a mound of grass and almost fell.

Artizea was plucking the flowers.

Beside her, one of the maids was following her with a large basket. The other maid shaded her with a large embroidered parasol.

Cedric, deliberately not showing himself, stood for a moment and watched her.

He hasn’t seen her in a few weeks and her stomach has been very swollen. At the time he left, he wouldn’t have noticed if she was wearing loose-fitting clothes, but now anyone could tell she was pregnant.

Artizea cut some of the flower stalks with pruning shears and threw the flowers into the basket.

Then she straightened her back and tilted her upper body, and let out a long sigh.

Her appearance seemed peaceful, and his heart was pounding.

Cedric was overcome with strange emotions.

He thought about when he first got all his memories back.

He wished it was his side that had the memories return first. No, it would have been better for Artizea not to have the memories back at all.

If so, he would have saved her before she touched the harm. Before she came to believe that profit and loss rather than good and evil make relationships, and before she came to believe that love only brings profit.

Had he done so, there would have been no need to pay the price for this serenity.

Cedric let out a long sigh. And he approached Artizea’s side.

“Ah.”

Artizea heard the footsteps and turned her head. And she was surprised.

“Lord Cedric.”

“.....”

Cedric swallowed his words once, as he had no idea what to say.

And he said.

“I’m back.”

He didn’t say anything much.

Artizea herself didn’t know why it made her ears tingle.

She already knew that he would arrive either today or tomorrow.

It was thanks to the fact that Cedric had sent people ahead of time before he began handing over to the new commander of the Southern Conquest Army.

But it was very new. The fact that Cedric is here. As if there was no time apart.

Cedric reached out and took the pruning shears from her hand. And he handed it over to the maid.

Artizea’s fingertips, which were cold, warmed up a little. It was vivid.

“Should you do this?”

“It’s hard to walk without any purpose. Now that I’m in a stable phase, they say it’s good to move my body a little for a while.”

Artizea lowered her gaze slightly. Not only did she say this, she thought she should greet him, but she seldom spoke easily.

Misunderstanding that, Cedric asked.

“Isn’t it hard on your body?”

“It’s okay. I can’t walk long, but it’s natural. The baby too.... it’s growing well.”

Cedric looked shy.

“I think it’s very active.”

“That’s a relief. You and the baby are healthy.”

“Yes.....”

The maid with the basket bowed her head and walked away without speaking. The maid holding the parasol hesitated for a moment, but soon retreated as she folded the parasol.

Artizea didn’t care.

Her hand was still in Cedric’s.

She thought she shouldn’t pull it out, but she didn’t yet have the courage to face him.

Artizea hesitated, she said.

“I hope....you had a good trip?”

It was a greeting no different from before.

But it was different.

When she said it before, it was a word that asked for meaningful information.

She was wondering if there was an incident that had an impact on the future situation or anything that happened in the place he went to visit.

But what she said now was because she wanted to.

When asked whether he had a good trip or not, she greeted him like an ordinary family.

Cedric smiled. He bowed his head. Artizea’s face turned red.

Their lips met.

Cedric’s hand wrapped around her back.

＊＊＊

The news of Cedric’s arrival soon spread to many places.

The same was true for Grand Duke Roygar.

“What about the news of the Southern Conquest Army?”

“I heard that Grand Duke Evron’s lieutenant has issued a detailed report, so we will soon find out. By now, they should have started marching south.”

In that regard, Grand Duke Roygar had no authority to intervene.

However, since he is the Emperor’s envoy to the South, he was also able to receive news through the official line.

Until now, Grand Duke Roygar had little to do with the military. The Emperor held the central army very tightly, and he had never been involved in the military himself.

He used unofficial routes, and he always paid a fair amount of bribes and heard only one step late.

The military will take care and bring the news on their own. The practical utility was also useful, but the satisfaction was also great.

There were also key personnel who were able to be recruited through this event.

“Good. Very good.”

Grand Duke Roygar said with satisfaction.

And he pushed the thick paperwork he had been reviewing since last night to his secretary.

It was a list of attendants to follow along his southbound trip.

As the Emperor’s special envoy, he will go to the center of trade with other countries. Opportunities like this were rare, even if it was not for trade issues. Even if it was one attendant, he was able to hold a fairly high level of authority.

It was an opportunity to borrow the power of the Empire to negotiate trade.

So, among the top ranks in Grand Duke Roygar’s faction, there was no one that did not want to play a part.

If the upper statesmen were in a position to speak with Grand Duke Roygar, they would come in person and ask for a favor.

Otherwise, if it was a small business lord or a small noble, they would request it through his secretary or butler.

The bribes piled up like that were pretty good too, so Grand Duke Roygar was smirking every day.

He, of course, did not decide his attendant on the bribe alone.

“The proportion of silk items is too high. They say they’re going to make contact with the Kingdom of Iantz, but I don’t know how they all think like that.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Try to reduce it to about 60 percent, and fill the vacant space with small enterprises and nobles. If you think about the future, you have to think about diversifying the trade sector.”

“Yes.”

“If anyone brings an interesting proposition, I will meet them in person.”

Grand Duke Roygar said.

That was then.

A knock was heard. It was the maid chief.

“What’s going on?”

“The Madam said that she must see the master.....”

The maid was at loss.

Grand Duke Roygar sighed and stood up from his seat, and told the secretary.

“Don’t wait, go and do your job.”

“Yes.”

The secretary stood up after him and bowed his head politely.

Grand Duke Roygar kicked his tongue and headed towards the Grand Duchess’ place.

“Garnet, it’s me.”

The place was flipped upside down.

Cushions were thrown here and there, and there were vases and clothes scattered. The maids sat around, each kneeling.

Marchioness Camellia was standing in the corner with her head bowed.

Grand Duchess Roygar sat in an armchair, huffing with a blushed face.

Grand Duke Roygar sighed inside.

“What’s wrong, Garnet? What made you spout horns again?”

“I will go too.”

“Garnet..... I’m not going to play.....”

“I heard you were going to solve the Ford family problems.”

Grand Duchess Roygar said sharply.

“Did I not explain it? It was done to dispel rumors and persuade His Majesty.”

“So, it might take a few months or even half a year, but you’re going alone?”

Grand Duke Roygar glanced at Marchioness Camellia. Marchioness Camellia shook her head slightly so as not to be noticed by the Grand Duchess.

She meant that she couldn’t stop it herself.

“There’s no reason why I can’t go with you unless you’re going to do something suspicious.”

“I’m going to do things that aren’t fun for you.”

The Grand Duchess said sternly.historical

“Am I a child? You’re busy with work, are you afraid that I’ll hold onto you and ask you to play?”

“It’s not like that.....”

“I can’t let you go alone.”

Grand Duchess Roygar declared.

She had been living as if she had forgotten about it for quite some time, but in fact, she hasn’t.

How could she have forgotten that her husband, who she only knew to love her, had his eyes on another woman.