“What?”
The girl slammed her hands on the desk in the study.
“What do you mean, my peace negotiation proposal was rejected?”
Layne leaned back into his chair, rubbing his nose bridge wearily.
“I wish Lemeng could come back too, but the situation is too dangerous right now. I can’t let you take that risk.”
“I never said I’d go alone!”
The girl crossed her arms and pouted.
“There’s always a guard escort, right?”
“I can’t dispatch an entire army to escort you, but if the guard is too small, what happens if you run into the rebels?”
“This is a golden opportunity that won’t come again!”
Alicia slammed both hands heavily onto the table, leaning forward so her shadow fell over the spread-out map.
“Precisely because the rebels could attack at any moment, the chance of success for my peace mission right now is the highest! The top priority is to reunite the Maximilian family!”
“But I don’t want you to take such a big risk…”
“I have to go, Lord and Master!”
The girl’s voice suddenly rose a few notches.
With rare seriousness, she stared straight into Layne’s eyes.
“This can’t be delayed any longer. If the rebels really reach our doorstep, we’ll be so busy dealing with them we won’t have any energy left to worry about Lemeng. What if Lemeng’s side falls first?”
“Hmm…”
Layne frowned but didn’t argue.
“Even if we set that aside, how long can the Senate keep a lid on something as big as a rebellion? Once the emperor orders us to send troops to suppress the rebels, can you guarantee Lemeng won’t stab us in the back while our rear is undefended?”
Seeing Layne speechless, the girl took a few deep breaths and straightened up.
“Although this peace mission is urgent, I’m not planning to charge over to Lemeng’s side alone right this instant. I’m not stupid.”
Layne shot her a suspicious look.
‘Boss, what’s with that look?’
The girl rolled her eyes at him in annoyance, then continued, “I’ve already got a plan in mind. But I’m missing two key things. First, I need a ‘guide’ who knows Duchess well and is familiar with the preferences of the people around her, to go with me. Second…”
She rubbed her fingers together, flashing a knowing smile.
“I need a bit of… funds.”
Layne looked her up and down.
“You… need money again?”
“You wouldn’t expect me to pay for gifts out of my own pocket, would you?”
Alicia tilted her head, eyes wide.
“Or do you think I can just show up empty-handed and talk things through with just my mouth?”
The study fell silent.
A few seconds later, Layne let out a long sigh, slumped back heavily into his chair, and raised a hand to rub his temples.
“Fine. Go back and wait. I’ll arrange the person and the funds as soon as possible.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
The girl smiled in satisfaction, bowed, and turned to leave.
“Alicia.”
Layne’s voice came from behind her, soft but enough to make her stop mid-step.
“Be careful. Don’t let anything happen. I… the Maximilian family needs you.”
“I understand, my lord!”
…
As Alicia had expected, that very afternoon, Elder Lord Enlaike personally came calling.
When she opened the door, the old man was leaning against the doorframe, catching his breath.
At his feet sat two heavy-looking wooden crates.
Alicia quickly reached out to take them, mumbling, “You shouldn’t have carried these up yourself, milord.”
But the moment her fingers hooked onto the crate handles, an astonishing weight dragged her down.
With a dull thud, she and the crate hit the floor together.
“What—what’s in here?”
Gritting her teeth, she rubbed her wrist and flipped open the lid.
Neatly arranged inside were a full five hundred silver coins! On top of that, there were silver jewelry, gemstones, and ceramic tea sets.
The value of this crate was far greater than her own worth, plus EDF’s two hundred infantrymen, and all the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ agents combined!
“This… how?”
The girl’s eyes went wide.
She struggled to suppress the urge to grab a handful of silver coins and stuff them into her pocket.
Just thinking about having to give all this shiny, golden stuff away to others made her heart ache.
“Stop staring. It’s not yours no matter how long you look.”
The old man glared at the girl who was practically drooling.
“These silver coins and items are meant to be spent for real. You didn’t think you could just hand money directly to those nobles, did you? If you shoved a handful of silver at them, you’d be lucky if they didn’t kick you out!”
“Huh?”
Alicia was dumbfounded.
On second thought, it made sense.
Even back on Earth, you couldn’t just slap a stack of bills on the table when asking someone for a favor!
Even if you were going to bribe someone, you had to do it with style—hide it in a cigarette pack or something, be subtle, show respect and face.
Gift-giving was an art, an art, you understand!
And the target was a noble.
Nobles were noble people, true people, people who had risen above vulgar tastes!
Bribery was too vulgar, unbearably crass!
You had to get artistic!
Take the Duchess, for example.
Besides tea sets, she loved embroidery.
Before Layne’s father made the mistake of failing to control his lower half, the Duchess had been a fairly well-known embroideress among commoners.
Of course, the reason she managed to climb to the position of Duchess was that the Old Duke’s first wife had died early without bearing any children.
Getting off track.
Anyway, since the Duchess liked embroidery, the way to bribe… no, express sincerity, was simple.
What?
Buy a ready-made embroidered tapestry, or gift a set of top-notch embroidery needles and silk thread?
Too ordinary, too low-class.
A grand duchess had seen all the good stuff.
How could anything available on the open market catch her eye?
You had to give something worthy of her status, something no one else could easily imitate.
So what could be more fitting than a piece embroidered by the Duchess herself?
That’s right.
Alicia’s first task was to buy the Duchess’s own embroidered work.
What?
Can’t buy it?
Impossible!
In this world, nobles and their ladies loved nothing more than to “casually” let slip their preferences, then “casually” place related items for sale with designated merchants.
The depths of this game ran deep! Ordinary people couldn’t even find where the goods were.
Without connections and means, you couldn’t even ask the price.
After some proper greasing of palms, the girl managed to buy a handkerchief embroidered by the Duchess at an exorbitant price of two hundred Cuini.
At that moment, she had been utterly shocked.
‘How bloody expensive!’
A handkerchief that looked no different from something you’d buy at a street stall started at two hundred Cuini!
If she hadn’t haggled fiercely with her silver tongue, the merchant would have squeezed out another few dozen Cuini.
And that wasn’t the end.
She had to carefully wrap the handkerchief, attach a heartfelt letter requesting an audience, and finally send this highly artistic gift to the Duchess.
Elegance, nobility, rising above vulgarity—this was the unspoken understanding between refined people!
‘Meow, once I get rich, anyone who tries this pretentious nonsense on me will be in for a fight! I’ll stick to cold, hard cash. Anyone who talks to me about elegance and taste will be thrown out!’
Grumbling aside, the work had to be done.
To ensure this generous gift reached the Duchess smoothly, and especially that the intermediary put in a good word, the “key person” responsible for handing it over had to be carefully chosen.
Then, according to the other party’s identity and preferences, the whole process had to be repeated.
If it weren’t for Elder Lord Enlaike’s experience and wisdom, she’d never have managed it.
In the end, all the expenses and bribes ate up every last gold jewelry and gemstone.
As for the silver coins, only a paltry hundred or so Cuini remained as emergency funds, tucked into the girl’s pocket.
‘What, I’m risking my neck going to negotiate peace, can’t I skim a little for my trouble?’
Her wallet was thin, but at least everything was ready.
Now, waiting nervously in the inn, the girl rehearsed her prepared speech over and over, just waiting for the busy Duchess to summon her.
…
In the main building of Saxon City, the Duchess sat in her study, discussing the recent situation with Lemeng.
Even the formidable Duchess had to admit that Saxon City, as the northernmost gateway to the Maximilian family’s territory, was lacking in troops and fortifications.
It might be enough to deal with the menacing Duke of York, but…
They had heard about the rebel’s deeds.
Those locust-like rampages, their snowballing momentum—just hearing about them sent chills down one’s spine.
Her isolated city, perhaps…
Just as the mother and son were frowning in worry, the study door was gently knocked.
“Your Highness, milady, Lord Bu Li Ji Si is waiting outside.”
Bu Li Ji Si was the messenger Alicia had chosen.
This lord had originally been worried about the division of the Maximilian family and was dissatisfied with the Duchess’s regency.
However, he was a veteran minister who had served two Grand Dukes, and he was also Lemeng’s teacher, earning Lemeng’s deep trust.
“Please, let him in.”
Before Lemeng could speak, the Duchess spoke first.
Lemeng’s eyes darkened, but he said nothing.
After the usual pleasantries, the Duchess naturally asked Bu Li Ji Si the purpose of his visit.
“Milady, Your Highness, I have come mainly because of another person’s arrival.”
“Oh? Who is it?”
This time, Lemeng spoke before the Duchess could.
Bu Li Ji Si raised his eyes and replied respectfully, “It is an envoy sent by Prince Layne, Lady Ailixiya, here to pay a visit.”
As he spoke, the old lord presented the girl’s generous gift.
Not to mention how satisfied the Duchess looked when she saw the embroidered handkerchief, the exquisite ceramic tea set firmly caught Lemeng’s eye.
The girl’s gifts had indeed hit the mark.
“Hmph, that boy Layne…”
The Duchess quietly slipped the handkerchief into her sleeve.
“Lord Bu Li Ji Si, you didn’t come away empty-handed either, did you?”
“A fine longsword, a rather beautiful painting, and fifty Cuini.”
The old lord didn’t hide anything, stroking his beard with a frank smile.
“Lady Ailixiya is very thorough in her dealings.”
“Sending someone at this critical juncture, and so thorough…”
The Duchess leaned back into her chair, a thoughtful smile curling her lips.
“Very well. I suppose there’s no harm in meeting her. Arrange it—for tomorrow.”