Unplaned Plan

"Are you alone? Where's Rad?" Trey asked when he saw Bree coming down from her room for breakfast.

Bree nodded. "He's still sleeping."

Bree improvised again. She couldn't possibly know where Rad was—whether he was still sleeping or had gone out exploring.

"He might be tired, so he's sleeping in. We covered quite a distance around Marseille yesterday," Trey understood if Rad was still asleep.

"But you don't look tired," Bree commented, looking at her father, who still appeared fresh despite returning late with Rad the previous day.

"That's because I was just observing while Rad was working. And he works hard. I understand why Marseille is so prosperous." Trey shook his head in admiration, recalling their journey with Rad the day before.

"They're wealthy because of trade and fishing, right? They're lucky to be by the coast." Bree was surprised to see her father so impressed. Marseille's prosperity was due to its strategic location.

"Not just that, Bree. Without proper management, even a strategic location won't have much impact."

Bree nodded in understanding. She had never thought that far. In the previous timeline, Bree didn't pay much attention to Rad's work because she didn't want to. Thinking about Rad only caused her heartache.

"Your husband works very hard to develop Marseille's wealth, Bree. Rad isn't the type of leader who just accepts reports. He actively thinks and contributes new ideas for the development of this region. And I'm amazed by all his ideas. He's truly great. Marseille deserves to be wealthy."

"I think you're great too."

Bree praised her father for offering comfort. When mentioning Rad's achievements, Trey looked impressed but also somewhat disappointed—in himself—for failing to prosper in Le Mans.

"You're not judging objectively, Bree. You know the situation in Le Mans and Marseille is very different." Trey smiled bitterly as they turned towards the dining room, continuing to share his failures.

Trey rarely discussed his difficulties with Bree before, but now he felt the need to be honest, as Bree had sacrificed for Le Mans.

"I was too impulsive, Bree. Relying too much on iron ore and neglecting agriculture. Now, I'm dealing with the consequences. The depletion of iron ore led to the collapse of Le Mans' agriculture in a single epidemic. I should have focused more on the development of agriculture, which can sustain us in the long run." Trey's face was filled with regret.

"But now I understand. I will pay more attention to Le Mans' agricultural side so that we can endure stronger."

Bree nodded and slipped her hand into her father's arm. "I'm glad you found a way to help Le Mans," Bree said. They couldn't rely on Marseille forever.

"Yes, but I still have much to learn. Today, Rad and I will be touring again." This was one of Trey's admirable traits—he was not afraid to learn, even though Rad was clearly younger than him. For him, knowledge was knowledge, regardless of its source.

"Touring again?" Bree's enthusiasm rose as she saw the sparkle in her father's eyes.

"Yes. We haven't seen all the areas we explored yesterday. I want to see how Rad manages agriculture in Marseille."

"So you're going there today?"

Trey nodded. "Rad said he would take me around to the farming areas."

"Can I come too?"

Bree and Trey turned simultaneously to see Amber walking briskly behind them, catching up.

Trey looked at Amber in surprise. "You want to join the visit to the farming areas?" Trey asked with a tone of skepticism, as this was an unusual event.

Trey knew Amber didn't particularly like mingling with commoners. Hearing that Amber wanted to join a trip that would take her to remote areas, where she would meet many non-noble people, was a big surprise.

However, Bree wasn't surprised. Their war had begun. Whatever Amber's plan was, she clearly aimed to win Rad over. Bree was confident in this assumption.

"I haven't been out of Le Mans for a long time, and now that I'm here, it would be a waste if I just stayed in the castle. I want to see Marseille. Who knows, I might like this place."

Amber glanced intentionally at Bree when she spoke. The statement was an attack on Bree, implying that if she won, Amber would be Rad's wife and would live here. Therefore, she should like this place.

Bree smiled. "I never expected you to be so interested in Marseille. Thank you, Amber. I'll take it as a compliment, as it means you find my residence interesting."

Bree replied casually but somewhat challengingly.

"Hmm... fine, suit yourself," Trey, who had no idea what was happening between his two daughters, responded cheerfully, completely unaware.

"If that's the case, I'll join too." Bree made an immediate decision.

"Eh?" Trey was surprised again. Bree wasn't opposed to mingling with commoners like Amber, but Bree's decision sounded sudden.

Indeed, it was. Bree hadn't planned to join initially; she had even made plans to practice with Edmond. But Bree couldn't let Amber carry out her plan so easily.

"I think this will be an eventful journey," Trey said cheerfully, completely unsuspecting.

Meanwhile, Amber, who was behind them, glanced at Bree with irritation.

Bree, in turn, glared back but refrained from saying anything. Both knew it would be better not to create a scene in front of their father.

After breaking eye contact, Bree faced forward, her forehead furrowed. Bree might respond boldly and so on, but a sense of frustration was evident on her face.

Bree felt a bit intimidated by Amber. She had even planned to join this journey to get closer to Rad. Whether the plan succeeded or not, one thing was certain—it was a plan. Yet Bree was still at ground zero.

She didn't even have a clear idea of what she wanted to do. Despite thinking overnight, the path she needed to take to keep Amber away surely involved wooing Rad. Just the thought of having to woo Rad made Bree dislike this battle even more.

Apart from it seeming to lower her self-worth in front of Rad, Bree wasn't sure she would remain sane while doing it. Bree had repeatedly called him ruthless and so on, but at his core, Rad was captivating.

Bree couldn't devise a plan without involving emotions. And her feelings were highly volatile when it came to Rad. She didn't want to appear too invested in Rad all this time, and wooing Rad would undoubtedly lead to deep and complicated emotions.

Bree somewhat regrets beating the war drums yesterday.