Choice and Focus (1)

The First Imperial Prince Regnum paced anxiously back and forth in his office.

“How dare… how dare she reject my proposal?”

At his angry muttering, his personal assistant who had been waiting nearby carefully approached. She spoke in a gentle voice, as if trying to calm him down while gauging his mood.

“Please calm yourself. She might truly need time to consider—” “No.”

Regnum shook his head firmly. His eyes gleamed coldly.

“That was a clear expression of rejection.”

An ambiguous attitude. Regnum accurately read the hidden meaning of rejection within that attitude that was neither affirmation nor denial. He had experienced the exact same thing before.

Back when he was pressuring the Franz family to arrange a marriage between himself and Loen.

During that brief meeting with Loen that he had managed with difficulty, Loen had said just that. ‘I appreciate the proposal, but I’ll think about it more,’ she had said.

And the result? The marriage arrangement eventually came to nothing.

“I was generous enough to overlook that disrespect back then… and now she insults me again?”

At that time, he had endured it in consideration of relations with the Franz family. The fact that Loen, who was the heir to the family at the time, showed absolutely no interest in power also played a part. There was no need to make an enemy of someone who posed no threat.

But now the situation was completely different.

Loen Franz was no longer just a quiet ducal lady. She had risen as an influential figure in the Inspection Corps and ruler of the south.

Moreover, the Franz family had grown too large. Large enough that even he, an imperial prince, could not easily dismiss them.

At that moment, the assistant leaned her body against Regnum’s arm with a seductive smile. Her eyes contained both explicit seduction and ambition.

“To reject the proposal of Your Highness, who carries the noble blood of the Emperor, twice. She doesn’t even know what an undeserved honor it is…. What a foolish woman. If it were me, I would have accepted it with open arms and joy, Your Highness.”

Regnum stared down at his personal assistant who was subtly rubbing her chest against his arm.

Honestly, her appearance was flawlessly beautiful. Being from a prominent noble family of the Empire, her status and background were also impeccable. But she wasn’t a woman suitable for his side.

Instead of the iron will and cold rationality felt from Loen, her eyes were filled only with vulgar ambition and desire.

Regnum smirked and naturally changed the subject.

“By the way, wasn’t the name of Father’s secret decree called the Great Holy War?” “Yes, Your Highness. According to our investigation, that’s correct.”

At Regnum’s question, the assistant hid her disappointment and erased her smooth manner. She instantly returned to the image of a capable assistant. She answered with a rather serious expression. Indeed, not an easy man to deal with.

“I had planned to focus quietly on expanding my influence during the Great Holy War. But that won’t do.” “What do you mean?”

Regnum murmured in a low voice as he looked out the window.

“What if the Franz family, with Loen behind them, stabilizes the south and grows their power without any interference?”

The result was obvious.

“I guarantee, they will emerge as a major variable in the imperial succession competition. And the moment they break their neutrality and support that woman Elia…”

The prince paused briefly, and the assistant carefully completed his thought.

“…Your Highness might fall behind in the competition.” “Indeed.”

Regnum’s voice sank coldly.

“Therefore, the clearly right choice is to delay the speed at which Franz is sprouting as much as possible.”

As much as they claim neutrality, he couldn’t openly interfere with them. But there were countless ways to hinder them indirectly. It was just a matter of not getting caught.

“Do as Your Highness wishes.”

Regnum’s eyes, which had been gazing into the distance, turned back to the assistant.

“Speaking of which, what’s the recent situation with the Inspection Corps? Those arrogant hunting dogs.” “I was just about to report. About half of Enforcement Division 2 team, which was dispatched to the west, died during a battle with traitors.” “That’s good news.”

A satisfied smile appeared on Regnum’s lips.

The Imperial Inspection Corps. A group of arrogant hunting dogs who claimed to be loyal only to His Majesty the Emperor and refused even his orders. They were people who ran wild, trusting only in the Emperor’s confidence.

The weaker they became, the better it was for him.

“What about the Investigation Division?” “Well… they’re all fine.” “Tch. Tough ones.”

Clicking his tongue, Regnum took out a letter from his chest and handed it to his personal assistant. The assistant received the letter with proper etiquette, then broke the seal and quickly read the contents on the spot.

After a moment, the assistant looked up from the letter to Regnum.

“Have you read it all?” “Yes, Your Highness.” “Burn it.”

Whoosh. The assistant used her magical power to turn the letter into a handful of ashes.

Around the time the black ashes scattered and disappeared in the air. Regnum commanded.

“Carry out the orders written in the letter without the slightest error. But remember. All of this must be done in absolute secrecy.” “I will remember, Your Highness.”

Farewells were exchanged between the Duke and Duchess Franz and Loen’s group in front of the palace entrance.

Duchess Karin was the first to speak.

“Lady Seraphine, Lady Psyche. Though it was a brief time, I truly enjoyed being able to spend time with both of you.”

It was an elegant greeting without unnecessary embellishment, with grace embedded in every word.

Karin’s gaze moved from Seraphine, who stood perfectly straight without the slightest slouch, to Loen, who stood with her arms crossed in a crooked posture.

“Honestly, our Loen has many aspects that are, shall we say, unbecoming of a noble lady… I’ve always worried about her as if she were a child left by the waterside. But having such reliable companions by her side, I couldn’t be more reassured as a parent.”

Loen inwardly clicked her tongue and deliberately averted her gaze, pretending not to hear.

Psyche’s eyes sparkled as she looked back and forth between Loen and Karin. Even Loen-nim, who beheaded nobles without hesitation, is ultimately in front of her parents….

At that moment, Seraphine stepped forward. She placed one hand near her chest and gently bowed her head—a perfect display of noble lady etiquette.

“We are even more grateful that you would say such things. Duchess Franz. If I ever have the chance, I would love to visit the Franz family mansion… would that be alright?”

At Seraphine’s words, Psyche and Loen wore indifferent expressions. As if she doesn’t even plan to go…

A smile spread across Karin’s face. Slightly opening the fan in her hand, she answered in a voice reminiscent of a social gathering.

“Of course, my lady. You’re welcome anytime. The rose garden at the Franz mansion will soon be in full bloom, so if you come around that time, you can enjoy a pleasant time with fragrant tea.”

Loen and Psyche blankly watched as the two women exchanged pleasantries with soft laughter.

Time passed.

While Seraphine and Psyche, having finished their greetings, got into the car first.

Karin caught Loen’s arm as she was about to leave.

“Loen.”

Karin’s voice tone dropped dramatically.

“Why did you ask your father so thoroughly about Prince Regnum’s power base last night? Won’t you truly tell me?”

Loen slightly averted her gaze from her mother’s persistent questioning.

“I just… asked out of curiosity.”

Karin let out a soft sigh.

“Loen. Let me say once more, rumors are rampant that Grand Duke Bakel, who leads the Eastern Corps, is backing the Prince. So please, I trust you won’t act rashly.”

Despite her mother’s gaze urging an answer,

Loen simply stared at her mother’s face without saying anything.

Eventually, Loen’s lips opened.

“As long as the Prince doesn’t touch us first.”

However, Loen’s voice contained a certain conviction. A conviction that the Prince would move first.

“The kind of thing you’re worried about, Mother… probably won’t happen, so don’t worry too much.”

Immediately, Loen turned and got into the driver’s seat.

“…”

Karin endlessly watched Loen’s retreating figure.

Inside the bumpy car. Outside the window, the green fields of the south quickly passed by.

Psyche, who had been looking out the window for a while with her chin resting on it, tilted her head and asked. Her tail swayed as if puzzled.

“Huh? Loen-nim, this isn’t the road to Rofenberg… it’s the road to the corps fortress? Weren’t we going to meet Johan-nim?”

Loen spoke in a low voice without taking her eyes off the front.

“There’s something I need to do first.”

At Loen’s cold voice, Seraphine and Psyche in the back seat exchanged puzzled glances. What business?

Upon returning to the corps fortress, Loen, without even a moment’s rest, immediately summoned all staff officers to the operation conference room for an emergency meeting.

The Commander of the Armored Knights, who had just returned to the fortress after completing the mission to eradicate traitors, also headed to the conference room after receiving a summons without knowing why.

The staff officers who arrived before Loen gathered in small groups and whispered with uneasy eyes.

“What’s this about? A full meeting called suddenly at this hour? What’s going on?” “Did she receive some urgent news from the capital?”

The Commander of the Armored Knights asked the operations staff officer.

“Staff Officer Bern. Do you know anything about this?” “Since the Corps Commander called for this emergency meeting right after returning to the fortress… I’m not sure either.”

The sudden emergency summons filled the conference room with a heavy tension.

Click.

With the sound of the door opening, the heavy tension in the conference room deepened. Beyond the threshold appeared Loen with cold eyes.

At her appearance, all the staff officers stood up and saluted. Loen responded with a nod and headed to the head seat of the conference room.

Immediately after all the staff officers were seated.

Loen closed her eyes for a moment. Under everyone’s puzzled gazes, she quickly organized her thoughts.

‘The Great Holy War is not over yet.’

The Emperor’s decree was still in effect, and threats from traitors and demons that needed to be dealt with still lurked throughout the Empire. The inspector’s mission was still in progress.

In this situation, the new threat of imperial succession competition had also surfaced.

Of course, with the Emperor still in good health, competition among the imperial family wouldn’t escalate into a full-scale civil war. The Emperor’s overwhelming power was suppressing all of that.

But it couldn’t be that way forever.

It was an open secret that the Emperor’s ascension was not far off.

And.

In this meeting with the Prince, Loen became strongly convinced.

Regnum. He would certainly not leave her alone. As long as she didn’t take his hand, he would definitely try to eliminate her someday. She could easily guess this from his cruel nature that she had heard about from her father and from the information in the original work.

She needed to choose and focus.

There was no luxury to leisurely stabilize and develop the cities just because she had become the ruler of the south.

The Franz family’s unique magical item production technology. The war machinery development capabilities absorbed from the Donnelly family. And the enormous funds confiscated from the Southern Alliance.

Technology, manpower, funds. Now that everything needed was perfectly in place.

It was time to intensively pour all capabilities into the military sector.

Powerful magical skills and military strength would be the only means to protect the family in the coming chaos.

‘I’ll leave the management of the southern cities entirely to my brother, and I’ll move on my own.’

Loen firmed her resolve and opened her eyes.

From Loen’s mouth, who sat at the head seat looking around the assembly, a firm voice finally flowed out.

“From now on, I will implement a comprehensive reorganization of the corps.”