“…A fight? Between Alex-sama and Clive-sama?”
“Yes…”
Two days after that incident, a troubling rumor reached Patricia’s ears.
It happened yesterday, inside the Royal Palace.
It seemed that many servants and The Palace Knights had witnessed it, and the gossip spread like wildfire.
The two had argued, and it almost escalated into a fistfight.
“Why would they do such a thing…?”
“From what those who heard say, it apparently had to do with that slave matter.”
“…Mia-san’s case? That means…”
“They say the cause is unclear, but it was something about her treatment.”
“……I see.”
That must be related to the recent situation.
Whether Alex heard what Patricia told her, or Clive did, either way, Alex had become openly angry about it, and the two ended up fighting.
“Trouble is inevitable, isn’t it…”
“…Yes. Especially since it’s the two of them who fought, it seems the atmosphere in the Royal Palace has become somewhat uneasy.”
“Uneasy? …What exactly happened?”
“The truth is…”
Here’s what happened.
When they met in the palace corridor, Clive apparently brought up the recent matter.
Although the explanation was rough, it must have come as a shock to Alex.
Moreover, the person who brought it up was the last person Alex would have wanted to hear it from.
He must have been seriously furious.
The situation almost became a brawl, but their aides and The Palace Knights intervened just in time to prevent it.
However, there was no way news of a fight between princes wouldn’t reach the Emperor.
Through this incident, the truth about Mia and Alex must have come to light.
The love between a slave girl and the Crown Prince would spread instantly—an illicit scandal.
The question is how it would be perceived.
Would it be seen as the Crown Prince’s infidelity, having a predetermined fiancée, or as a love story transcending social status?
Depending on which interpretation prevailed, the Imperial Family’s reputation would shift drastically.
That was what concerned the Emperor, and the future course of action would change greatly depending on the outcome.
And Patricia herself was caught up in this.
No matter which way it went, she would suffer damage.
If the former, she would be pitied as a discarded woman.
If the latter, she would be seen as a wicked woman interfering with the two.
Either way, Patricia’s standing would decline.
“…The worst.”
What was especially terrible was that there was nothing she could do.
Everything that followed depended on others.
Her future hinged on what people thought.
“How frightening.”
“Milady?”
“…It’s nothing. More importantly, the Emperor’s birthday celebration is coming soon, so I want to request a dress.”
“Understood. Shall I ask Charmont to make something fashionable?”
“Yes…”
The current trend was layering many sheets of faint pastel-colored fabric, creating volume underneath.
However, such styles didn’t suit Patricia well, given her distinct facial features like eyes and nose.
Still, outright ignoring fashion trends would be unwise.
After all, as a candidate for Crown Princess, everything—from her actions and clothing to her makeup—was under public scrutiny.
Although not to the extent of Lady Drake, she also had the power to set trends.
That’s why she had to incorporate them while showcasing herself.
“Have them make it with layered fabrics in deep colors instead of pale ones. Keep the volume underneath as it is, and leave the rest to them. If it’s Charmont, they’ll create something that suits me.”
“Very well. I’ll tell Charmont accordingly.”
“Thank you.”
Emma stepped back to relay the request, leaving Patricia alone in the room.
She took a sip of tea and tried to relax, but many documents were spread out before her.
They were all about the Slave Liberation Bill.
They included the number of slaves, cost estimates for clothing, food, and shelter, as well as transportation fees to villages near the border, and various other expenses that would arise.
This country was not rich enough to swallow all of these costs easily.
They had to cut wherever possible and reduce expenses to the target amount, or the national budget would falter.
The citizens couldn’t be subjected to increased taxes over this matter, so the budget had to be trimmed carefully.
“So, the areas to cut are…”
Her dreams had been restless lately, and she found herself falling asleep later than usual.
She was grateful to have work like this, but sleep deprivation was no good.
She understood well that lack of rest would reduce her performance, but it wasn’t a problem she could easily solve.
Originally, this was a task for Alex, the proposer of the Slave Liberation Bill.
He could delegate it to his aides, but Patricia was handling it.
She had no complaints about that.
She welcomed every opportunity to put her intelligence to use.
She calculated labor costs based on current prices and presented them, knowing negotiation skills would be essential.
Talking with unfamiliar people was a way to develop her intellect, and discovering new things was her joy in life.
That was why she had no complaints… but still.
“…Complaints, huh.”
She had never uttered such a thing.
Since she was aware of it, she had never resisted the destiny set for her, nor had she ever wanted to.
She had understood that this was what she must do.
But now she found herself wondering.
If this were a world where she could do what she wanted.
If this were a world where she could prioritize her own heart…
What would Patricia choose?
“…What do I want?”
‘What is freedom? Who am I?’
No matter how much she thought about it, her mind would not provide an answer.