The tension that had dominated the place a moment ago had somehow disappeared. Arnold, who restored a blank expression, told the Count, “If it’s necessary to suppress the opposition of the nobility, I’ll send them a separate notice.”

“What do you mean by notice?”

“What if I tell them that it’s in their interest for the state to protect the people? It’s one thing granting military power to the aristocrats and another dedicating them to the protection of the people. There will be a difference in the final tax revenue.”

“Ha…”

“If we have a safe environment and our people can focus on work and childbirth and childcare, they’ll pay more taxes and they’ll be better off.”

The Count looked like he wanted to argue, but he just hung his head gingerly.

“Certainly, if you could respond in that manner, complaints will be kept at the minimum…”

“Then, we’ve done the math here enough to convince you. That’s it.”

Arnold turned on his heel and walked away from him. Rishe, who had been bracing herself all along, took a deep breath when he went out of sight.

I don’t know what it was about, but I hope it’ll proceed more peacefully than the outset. Nonetheless, that single expression with such a destructive power is the ultimate beauty…

She looked around and saw the knights smiling at her for some reason. Strangely enough, they were smiling as if they’d been watching her.

She twisted her head around and regained her composure.In the meantime, I must gather a little information about Arnold Hein and His Highness Theodore. I was hoping to get something done with the business today, but I have no resources.

If not the knights, the best source of information would still be that place.

****

“– I heard that the brothers have seldom seen each other since a long time ago.”

The voice belonging to a maidservant echoed in the laundry room of the castle.

“Even though they live in the same castle together?”

“The servers said they have separate seating for meals. They said something about how hard it was to set up the mess hall. There’s no doubt about it.”

“I’ve heard rumors that even if the brothers pass by each other in the corridor, they don’t even look at each other, let alone talk to each other.”

“Those are just rumors, just rumors.”

Rishe, with her hair dyed and glasses on to conceal her face, listened to the girls as she washed sheets and listened to their conversation. She has procured a maid’s uniform, so her identity went unsuspected as they chatted while working hard.

The maids, who had been working at the castle for a little over 10 years, continued with smiles.

“They’re so handsome. I’m sure they’d look great together.”

“What are you talking about? It’s totally disrespectful for us to openly admire them. Though, I’ve had sneak peeks of them myself.”

“But why do they keep such a distance from each other when they’re family?”

Rishe asked, feigning curiosity, and the maidservants turned their heads.

“Why? I don’t know about His Highness Arnold, but I believe His Highness Theodore is interested in his elder brother.”

“You mean…”

“This is just between us. I heard that he once wanted to rob the knights under His Highness Arnold’s service to be his personal knight guards.”

At those words, Rishe couldn’t help but pause.

“Oh! That’s common. Younger brothers usually imitate their older brothers in everything and ask for the same study materials.”

“I see. So that’s what happened.”

“His Highness Theodore looks lovely.”

I thought to myself, while ostensibly agreeing with them, in my mind.

So did he try to contact me for the same reason? But even so, what was the point?