“What?”


  “I think it must be some kind of plan. What is it?”


  Prince Heinley looked surprised. He didn’t answer, and closed his mouth and looked downward. When I saw his calm face, I remembered my first impression of Prince Heinley.

  ‘That’s right. He only smiled after we were acquainted. Before, I thought he seemed cold.’


  Even if he may have just been thinking, the mood was chilling.

  “I……”


  It was not long before Prince Heinley looked up at me and spoke, his expression softened.

  “Queen, I don’t want to lie to you.”


  His answer had many implications. Good and bad.

  “Yes.”


  On the good side, he was proving how serious his friendship was. He didn’t make excuses when the other option was riskier.

  On the bad side……he was up to something, and he couldn’t tell me. It crossed my mind that whatever it was could be personal or contain confidential information of his country. But there was likelihood that the plan involved bringing Duke Elgy into the Eastern Empire……

  “You don’t have to answer if you can’t.”


  I smiled and spoke in a casual tone, and Prince Heinley stared at me with nervous eyes and sighed.

  *

  *

  *

  McKenna leaned against the wall of the drawing room as he waited for the prince to return. He had a mind to complain to Prince Heinley for calling him a foolish bird in front of the foreign empress. He was most definitely not a foolish bird. He sulked even more as he remembered how Prince Heinley told him to play a pet bird.

  However, McKenna’s mood changed when the prince entered the room and collapsed onto the couch.

  “Your Highness? Are you alright?”


  McKenna wasn’t worried, not initially. He knew how strong Prince Heinley was, and it wasn’t often he had to be concerned about him. However, Prince Heinley unexpectedly waved his hand away.

  “Your Highness?”


  McKenna leaned down to peer at him carefully. McKenna was the one that had been forced to play as a pet bird in front of the Empress, but it was Prince Heinley who had a look of defeat.

  ‘Did it not work out as he thought?’


  “Your Highness, did the Empress say anything bad?”


  McKenna placed his hand on Prince Heinley’s shoulder, but the prince shrugged it off. There was no anger in his face over what had happened. McKenna was starting to worry a little.

  “Did you hear anything bad?”


  “Well, McKenna.”


  “?”


  “I—”


  “Yes, I’m listening. Speak.”


  “I think I like her more than I thought.”


  Prince Heinley’s reply, however, was a complete nonsense. McKenna frowned.

  “What?”


  Prince Heinley buried his face in his hands and gave a shuddering breath.

  “I think I made a slip of the tongue.”


  “A slip of the tongue? In front of the Empress?”


  “Yes.”


  McKenna was more puzzled by his answer.

  “What did you say that made you sad?”


  “What if she’s wary of me now?”


  “Wary?”


  “Studying me with those sharp eyes……aah.”


  The prince stood up from the couch and fell into his bed with a groan. He had rambled incoherently at all of McKenna’s questions, and the knight looked at Prince Heinley in surprise.

  “Did she find out you can change into a bird?”


  “Not that.”


  “Then?”


  “Something else.”


  *

  *

  *

  Although I considered Prince Heinley a good person and a good friend, even differences could cause good people to become enemies. However, being an enemy did not necessarily mean being a bad person—it only meant that they stood opposite of me.

  As soon as I returned to my room, I summoned Sir Artina to give him a mission.

  “Sir Artina. There is something I want you to look into. Be discreet.”


  “Yes, Your Majesty. What is it?”


  “It’s about Prince Heinley and Duke Elgy.”


  “What?”


  Sir Artina, who knew Prince Heinley was the owner of Queen, looked at me in surprise. He seemed to think it strange that I wanted to investigate someone I was already sending letters to.

  “Duke Elgy is understandable……but Prince Heinley as well?”


  “Yes. I want you to focus on their activities before New Year’s, before they came here to the Imperial Palace.”


  Sir Artina looked suspicious, but he was a model knight. Instead of questioning me, he gave a short “Yes” and left the room. Afterwards, I walked towards the window and leaned my head against the frame.

  The Western Kingdom was the Eastern Empire’s most powerful rival, but they were neither too distant or too close. In the meantime, what could Prince Heinley do by bringing in Duke Elgy?

  *

  *

  *

  I remained busy for the next five days. The public ball was to be held a month earlier than last year in exchange for a generous sum paid by Grand Duke Lilteang, and the relevant documents had been approved and distributed.

  There was also good news. For the first time, a child from a state-sponsored orphanage earned a scholarship to attend the academy of magic. It was imperative to nurture magical talent. No matter how much one spent, magic was a priceless talent.

  As a symbolic gesture, the officials recommended that someone in the Imperial Family should present the scholarship, and I was willing to assume the role. I didn’t remember all the children raised at the orphanage, but I did know a fair number of them, especially the child who was chosen. I was happy to do the honor of congratulating them. However, the trip would take more than a day, and so I visited Sovieshu’s office to consult him. I found him sitting at his desk, turning over a small ring in his hands.

  “I thought you lost it?”


  The Red Flame ring, which Sovieshu said was gone, was right before his eyes. I stared at him in puzzlement, and he smiled.

  “Yes. It’s amazing.”


  “Did you find it?”


  “I wouldn’t say I found it.”


  “?”


  Sovieshu set down the ring on his desk.

  “I gave this ring to Rashta, but she said she felt sorry for a poor maid and gave it to her.”


  ” ……The Red Flame ring?”


  “I suppose she didn’t know about the spell. When I told her about it, she was upset.”


  Sovieshu’s voice turned fond, and he continued.

  “I asked Count Pirnu to look for a ring that had a similar property. You remember that from a few days ago, right?”


  “I remember.”


  “And Count Pirnu gave this to me today. He bought it from an auction last night, not realizing that it was already mine……”


  He smiled faintly.

  “Isn’t it amazing?”


  “I see.”


  I wasn’t impressed at all, but I was still obliged to answer. Sovieshu tucked the ring inside his breast pocket. I thought my answer was too brief, so I spoke further.

  “If the maid was poor, she likely needed the money and sold it.”


  “I agree. But information about jewelry, especially magical items, is difficult to find. The average person would not know to sell it for its full price. I told Count Pirnu to find out how much the woman who sold the ring received.”


  The corners of Sovieshu’s mouth lifted in pride.

  “Rashta is kindhearted. I want to make sure her good deed was done properly.”