35 BEWARE OF THE VILLAINESS

[Checked the comment section for the Map]

At noon, Kirsi received word from one of the guards at the front door of the residence, that a girl claiming to be Viona Winslow had delivered a text message that she would decline her patron's offer. Sitting on the soft plush sofa while enjoying the view of the snow falling heavily outside, Kirsi laughed so hard her stomach cramped. Alruna, Laura, Dahlia, and Rose who were serving around, could only close their eyes and didn't dare to comment.

So that's the choice she made huh...

How naive.

"Alruna,"

"Yes, Madam?" Alruna, who was summoned, instantly approached to hear her orders.

"Bring me a floor plan of Hilaria."

Hilaria is a beautiful name that belongs to the capital. The author of the novel had added in the author's note that Hilaria was taken from the name of a woman who became the first-ever witch in this place. Based on the author's narration, Hilaria was a witch who was burned alive in the town square as an offering. Thanks to her, the capital became a place full of blessings from the earth and the sky.

The story behind peace is always filled with tragedy in it. Kirsi wouldn't be surprised if one day she wasn't so lucky either.

After all, this world is a cruel place.

"Yes, Madam."

Alruna's work efficiency is extremely good. It didn't take her long to get what Kirsi asked for. A map scroll was in her arms.

"Sit next to me and help me," Kirsi ordered once again, and Alruna agreed without saying much. The two of them, one being the mistress of the house, and the other the most loyal servant, sat side by side as if they were not hindered by caste. When heaven and earth are united in the same universe, what is created is only harmonious camaraderie.

Kirsi spread out the map of the capital on the surface of the scented and sturdy agarwood desk and looked around for a while. Her slender, shapely fingers traced the slightly rough surface of the map, stopping somewhere to the east. It was a place on the outskirts between Maple Boulevard and Clarence Terrace. She also asked Alruna next to her without turning around. "There's a forest around here, right?"

Alruna also looked in the direction she was pointing and nodded. "That's right, Madam."

"Whose is it?"

"It was public land. At first, it was under the assets of imperial ownership, but then passed on to the local government for processing. But until now, there has been no clear realization of development because the land is somewhat in dispute with residents. In the end, to avoid more riots furthermore, that place is temporarily open to the public. But if you ask whose area the land is located, then that place falls under Count Arlo's territory."

Kirsi asked once more, "Where else is the wild forest near Maple Boulevard that the public can enter?"

"Hmm..." Alruna rubbed her chin while thinking for a moment. She pointed around between Maple Boulevard and Prince Way, to an empty place with no name. She explained, "This place is a large training area for the imperial army under Viceroy Sirius. Even though it is actually a restricted area, the area around it is quite large and is fine for civilians to enter as long as they do not enter any areas within the training grounds."

"Does my husband have authority there?"

"Oh, of course, Madam. The Duke's position in the capital is vacant. Thus, even if it isn't written down on paper, the Crown Prince has the upper hand here. If using the Crown Prince's authority, it wouldn't be difficult to rule the place even without Viceroy Sirius' permission. But I don't think it's the right choice."

Kirsty nodded. There was a lot of new information that she got from Alruna today. If only relying on her limited knowledge of novels without acting, she would be unable to gain anything. Not to mention that the information described in the novel has never been written as detailed as Alruna's explanation just now. Worse yet, a lot of the information in the novel is not valid as time goes by.

There were many dukes in the capital, but not all of them were designated fiefdoms by the Emperor. Kirsi knew that the position of Duke who ruled in the capital was deliberately left vacant, but she didn't know the reason why. She could only faintly guess that the Emperor might use the crucial position as bait to catch a bigger game.

While it might sound incredible that Cedric would be in control of the entire capital, it precisely wasn't that easy. He's not without his inhibitions, but he's full of them. Even though Cedric looked like he could do anything, seeing that there was no official title he held other than the position of Crown Prince, obviously, if Cedric did even the slightest mistake while he was commanding the capital, the first thing to be tarnished would surely be his credibility as one of the successors to the imperial throne and nothing else. If only Cedric was made Duke in the capital, he could still scapegoat important people under him, such as counts and city prefects for example.

Kirsi thought for a moment, then she concluded what she felt was the most appropriate. she turned to Alruna and said, "Buy the land from Count Arlo. If he refuses, increase the price by two, three, four, regardless many times as long as he agrees. I will use my private cash. The person who will make the payment is my secretary. Your job is just to go there and do the initial transaction."

"... Alright, I'll get ready, Madam." Alruna didn't dare to argue. Even though it was too sudden, nothing was impossible for a person with money. Especially a wife of the Crown Prince who has a lot of pre-marital treasures in her hands.

"Sure, go ahead."

Alruna left long before lunchtime started. Therefore, there must be someone else to replace her duties.

While Alruna was away, Laura was the one who took over her duties and served around Kirsi. She was no longer as brave as before when she often pretended to take the wrong things and did other annoying things. Now, she tends to be calmer and more cooperative. Despite this, Kirsi knew that this woman still did not consider her a proper mistress.

And Kirsi didn't care about that. If she couldn't earn Laura's trust and Laura decided to make her an enemy, then Kirsi would eliminate her long before she could do anything about it.

By all means.

-0-

Cedric came home in the afternoon. As soon as he dismounted from his strong and gallant horse, his little wife was already waiting at the front door with a towel in her hand. She approached him and helped clean the snowflakes from the warm robe he was wearing. When she had trouble clearing the snow that had accumulated on the top of his head, he bowed before being asked to make her job easier.

Judged from anywhere, they look like a harmonious married couple. If only forgetting the fact about Cedric who would not hesitate to eliminate Kirsi whenever he wanted, or the fact that Kirsi was here right now and did what she had done against her will, then they really were a harmonious pair.

"What's wrong with you lately?" Cedric asked in surprise. Although usually, Kirsi is also nice by welcoming him while nodding off on the bed, lately it's been a bit different because Kirsi looks fresher and more excited. Just look at it now, she was even willing to wait for him at the door to help clear the snow off his body. Isn't she the extraordinary devoted wife?

Kirsi who heard Cedric's doubts felt a bit offended. She frowned, "Be thankful while I haven't changed my mind."

"... Okay. " well, Cedric wasn't going to protest anymore. As soon as his body was freed from the incessant shower of snow, the warm towels that the maids had proffered around them were picked up by Kirsi and wrapped around him.

They didn't linger at the door.

The front door is directly connected to the spacious living room. The stained glass window whose pattern formed the elegance and majesty of Goddess Sorin did not seem to emit as bright a light as usual because the weather was so cloudy today.

Cedric and Kirsi sat side by side on a sofa that was big enough to seat three to four people. Laura ordered another maid to bring hot tea and snacks suitable for accompanying small talk. After that, they all withdrew from this place, giving the husband and wife enough space and time to chat.

In the quiet living room, Kirsi soon brought up the topic she desired without beating around the bush. Cedric had not even had time to drink his hot tea when the woman spoke,

"Could you make a few new rules in the imperial army training ground?"

The ceramic cup containing hot tea that had been raised to his lips stopped. The topic was so sudden and random that he couldn't react properly. His blue eyes which were as cold as the pile of ice outside could only stare at the beautiful woman next to him as if he was looking at a fool. He answered the question by asking back, "You want me to fight with Viceroy Sirius?"

Kirsi waved her hand in a refusal gesture. She said, "No. You don't need to do anything extravagant. No, you don't even need to do anything." Kirsi inched closer, trying to seduce him with her serious gaze. She knew Cedric wasn't someone who would melt down with a pitiful look and lips that were deliberately pursed to make one look sad. And she was grateful for that, because she would never have allowed herself to embarrass herself in such a way. She will seduce in her own way!

Her body leaned toward Cedric until their shoulders touched. The silky, soft hair that fell down the side of her face she provocatively tucked behind her ear. Her calm and determined eyes looked him straight in the eyes through her thick lashes. She didn't even let the man have a drink as she continued. "I just want you to restrict entry to the area's grounds."

Cedric put his teacup back on the coaster. There was a hint of frustration as he replied, "Viceroy Sirius deliberately opened that area to the public for a reason."

Kirsi wrapped one arm around Cedric and pinned it against her soft chest. She didn't mean to tease or anything, she just wanted this guy to see her sincerity. "Don't worry, everyone can still go there freely. I just want people who want to go there to have entry permits. They don't need to report every time they want to go, just do it once at the beginning and it will be valid forever, as long as the rules don't change."

Cedric stopped looking at her. The side of his perfect face was brought up to be shown to her. His eyebrows were neatly trimmed with sword-like tips. His thick eyelashes are even longer than any woman's. The bridge of his aquiline nose has a sharp point and a dramatic curve. The upper lip is thin and the lower lip is slightly thicker. He was silent for a while. After a long time of lull, those charming lips finally parted and said, "For what?"

Kirsi did her best not to explain her true intentions. "Can't you?"

But Cedric didn't seem to be going easy on her. "I should know its uses."

"Of course for safety." Kirsi smiled sweetly. She was lying, and Cedric knew it.

Cedric didn't answer right away. Instead, he leaned back comfortably against the back of the sofa resting his hands on the armrests. His head leans lazily showing his Adam's apple moving up and down spontaneously. He looked Kirsi straight in the eye and replied calmly, "You know this isn't a plaything."

"I know very well." After all, Kirsi did this for the safety of both. She won't be messing around. She probably couldn't explain the real intention why she had to do this, as her very reasons sounded a bit childish. Even so, she still had plenty of fake excuses to make.

"Give me the plans and I'll check first." Cedric didn't give up right away by going easy on her. Instead, the man wanted to test how dedicated she was to her designs and see what kind of result she wanted to achieve with his own eyes. If Kirsi had a strong and worthwhile goal, then he wouldn't make things difficult for her.

Kirsi nodded without hesitation.

Two days later, word came out that some places that were previously open to the public now had to get permission to enter. Especially people had to get permission by going directly to the Crown Prince's residence on Prince Way. Later the permit will be valid for life, provided as long as the regulations will not change again in the future.

Staring at the stock of potions that had mostly dried up on the old wooden shelves that lined the small shed at his house, Old Man Benedict could only sigh sadly. His adopted daughter who was equally frustrated could also only sigh behind him. The grey and gloomy overcast sky provided a suitable backdrop for their situation.

The latest regulation about having to ask permission before entering the forest on the outskirts of their district, which was previously a public facility, has become a cobblestone on their runway. In fact, they are not really at an impasse. There was still one other way they could get their usual supply of herbs. The trick is to lower your head and surrender to maintain an endless ego. But saying it is easier than doing. Even Benedict knew how hard it must be for his adopted daughter to humble herself in front of someone who had bullied and treated her so badly most of the time.

Benedict said, "I'd better go to the Crown Prince's residence and ask his permission. I'll find the herbs for you whenever you need them."

Viona gave a wry smile full of sorrow, "Can you really do it, father? The forms of herbs dry and fresh are different. Not to mention, it was obvious that that woman's goal was to make me come to her residence and kneel at her feet. If you come there, they will only make things difficult for you. "

"Besides, why did you have to refuse their patron's offer?"

"That could just be another trap, Dad."

"Wouldn't she dare to go overboard with you because you're close to the third prince?"

Viona lifted the dried herbs into the glass jar and smelled their distinctive aroma. Her eyes were slightly glazed as she said her embarrassing reason. "I'm jealous of her."

"... Huh?" Benedict didn't understand, and Viona didn't want to elaborate.

As a result, they were stuck in a long silence.