[Chapter 252] No Need to Give Up Good Habits

"Listen up, Madam! Open the door and cooperate with the imperial family. This is an imperial decree!"

People living near Madam Mariah's estate had quite the show to witness.

The Madam, a respected elder in royal circles, usually kept a low profile in the capital. Lately, though, she had been hosting social gatherings more frequently, but they were never too loud or extravagant.

However, when the prince declared war on Maindelant and started asking for military funds from various sources, her manor suddenly became the talk of the town. While other nobles and royals begrudgingly handed over some cash, the Madam firmly shut her doors and refused to talk to anyone from the imperial side.

Every day, knights were sent to pressure her. This was not just a show of force against her defiance but also a clear attempt to get their hands on her wealth. With no children or close friends, the Madam was one of the richest individuals in the capital, which must have looked pretty tempting to her nephew.

"I'll say it again, this is an imperial decree!"

The knight, proudly displaying the imperial emblem on his chest, shouted in front of the securely locked gate. He definitely had the authority. Ever since the prince took control, the phrase "imperial decree" had been thrown around so much that it had lost its impact.

The ruckus was clearly audible inside the house. The Madam, peering out the window from the reception room, sighed in disinterest.

The dignity of the imperial family has really taken a hit. That guy has the nerve to throw around the term 'imperial decree' and hang out right outside my place.

"Looks like he's trying to snag that position since Sir Ralph isn't bouncing back. He's gotta make a splash to get noticed."

The Madam's reception room usually had just her in it, but today there was someone else there to chat. She shot a glance at the man who seemed so self-assured.

"You're pretty chill about this. Don't you think they'll come after you first if they break into my house? My nephew is itching to catch those Morie Trading Company kids."

Aaron, Joan's assistant from the Morie Trading Company, flashed a grin.

"Oh wow, that sounds terrifying. How about you show me a little mercy and let me slip away before that happens, Madam?"

"I've already said it. I have no reason to leave my home. Sending you and your trading company leader is all the thanks I owe for the wedge purses he's sent over the years. If I go with you, I'd be betraying my family and my country."

When Joan of the Morie Trading Company left the imperial capital, the Madam had taken steps to stay out of the Elandria family's sight.

It was rumored that the Madam's gesture was a reward for uncovering the truth behind the death of the maid she had loved like a daughter, but it was deeper than that. The Madam had often seen Joan's face at the social events that had once been the Duchess of Maindelant's domain. She secretly anticipated the gifts Joan brought every week.

Even if Joan was unaware, Aaron recognized that the Madam held a special place in her heart for Joan's genuine and principled character. Otherwise, she wouldn't have kept him hidden in the manor after Joan's departure. So, he wore a confident smile.

Most of the trading company members, including Joan, had headed to Maindelant, but a few stayed back in the imperial capital, and Aaron was among them, choosing to remain. His mission was to convince the Madam to join them.

To leave the imperial capital together.

"How can a lord returning to his own territory be seen as abandoning the country?"

The Madam frowned. 'Her' territory?

"Weren't you planning to go to Maindelant?"

"Officially, yes, but you don't have to, Madam. Oh, I might not have explained it well."

Aaron grinned.

"Our two brilliant ladies from the trading company have two main goals: first, to ensure your safety, and second, to help you safeguard what is rightfully yours. Things are going to get chaotic for a bit, and it wouldn't hurt for the owner to keep an eye on a place like Tropur, which could easily become a target."

The Madam studied Aaron for a moment. Her piercing gaze felt like a glare, but he didn't flinch.

Even in her isolation, the Madam was aware of the court's dynamics. She, too, wanted to escape the imperial capital. This place felt suffocating, and she had no fondness for her bothersome nephews. She had no desire to get tangled in the messy situation where others were trying to pull her in, nor did she intend to contribute any military funds.

Furthermore, the Duke and Duchess themselves were the ones designated as enemies.

But she was adamant about remaining where she was. In this manner, in the event that Maindelant lost, she would still be able to save at least the Duchess.

The Madam often reminded herself that she had only recently met Neris and that they did not yet have a strong bond. She was actually unable to tell.

Her feelings for the Duchess.

She was worried about the little girl's eyes, that was all. Beyond the deft and elegant manners, those eyes begged desperately.

Take a look at me.

The Madam was aware of that appearance. As a child, she had gazed at her father with the same eyes.

She did not like Nellusion Elandria at their first meeting since she was obviously trying to control her, but she figured that if she had anything to say, she might listen. The Jewel Eye did not appeal to her. Someone without blue eyes developed a Jewel Eye... What the heck?

However, something altered. from the instant the girl instinctively held out her arm.

She instantly smiled in a way that seemed familiar, as though they had known one another for a long time.

Despite her icy manner, the Madam surmised that the girl was good-hearted and honest. So she was worried. As though she were making a presumptuous request, she had actually gathered and taken care of the low-status individuals she had left behind.

"It looks like you have a plan."

This message was being conveyed by the astute girl, which indicated that it was mostly motivated by concern. However, the Madam was also able to read the composed thoughts of someone who had spent a lot of time getting ready for this moment.

"Then I get it. For a moment, I can leave the imperial residence without anyone's consent."

The populace of the imperial capital found out the following day that the Madam's residence was deserted. 

****

Nellusion didn't seem phased at all by the news of Madam leaving.

"Not surprising. If she's acting like this, we don't have to worry about her switching sides."

He flashed a warm smile, his eyes shining as they have been lately.

Even though he was talking, Nellusion wasn't really in the mood to chat with his team. He was just trying to untangle the mess of thoughts swirling in his mind. So, the team member who had just told him about Madam Mariah's empty mansion and her trip to Tropur decided to stay silent.

Nellusion continued to speak while placing colorful markers on the small map spread out on his desk.

"It would've been smarter for the other side if she had shown off her military strength and used her royal connections to throw up roadblocks. But honestly, it's probably better that she's leaving so openly... What's important now is figuring out who stands with whom."

A gray marker featuring a sword was set about halfway between Maindelant and the imperial capital. *Thud*. After that, smaller markers with simple versions of various family crests lined the way. *Tap, tap, tap*. In the imperial capital, even more small markers were stacked up, overlapping and jostling for space based on family alliances. *Tap, tap, tap, tap*.

The marker showing the Elandria family's leopard was carefully placed to avoid overlapping with the imperial sun marker. His hand, holding a copper coin, moved around the imperial capital for a bit.

He placed the coin in one spot, then picked it up again, moving it between three different locations. Finally, it settled in one of them.

'Minor territories cut off from supplies unexpectedly.'

On the line-drawn map, all land seemed equal, but in reality, every castle and field held its own unique value. Some places were crucial for their rich harvests, while others carried weight due to their historical importance.

Okay, here's a more casual paraphrase of the text:

So, some places are important not because they're super valuable, but because they're in a good spot to get to another place. 

The Maindelant army is marching in like a storm, using a path that emperors used way back when Maindelant wasn't part of the empire. It's an old road, kinda beat up, but the general route is the same.

The imperial army is trying to stop the Maindelant army and fight back, so they're spreading out their soldiers along the way. They're also telling smaller territories to send supplies to where their soldiers are camped.

Of course, these smaller places don't have enough food to feed all these soldiers. So, the lords of these territories are using the money from the imperial family and the nobles to buy supplies from the trading companies they usually deal with. 

But suddenly, these smaller places are crying out because their trade routes are cut off! They can't get any more supplies. They can't even send food from their own people to the soldiers.

Soldiers can't fight if they're starving. So, the imperial army has to figure out why the trade routes are blocked and move their soldiers around. This costs a ton of money.

And Nellusion knows who's behind all this. 

"Neris. It's you."

Knowing who did it doesn't fix anything. Nellusion is annoyed by how smart she is, but he's also happy because it means he wasn't wrong about her.

She's proven that she's the person he needs most. 

"Viscount McKinnon can only go here."

They need money to fix this mess, even a little. And there aren't many noble families who can keep feeding their soldiers, even if they're being held hostage by the imperial family. So, it's obvious to send the families with money to important places.

Joyce McKinnon can't be sent to the front lines because other families are jealous and would get mad. Nellusion is sad that two of the places he picked for Joyce didn't work out. He's thinking about which other families could take those spots.

He doesn't think about it for long.

"Since he's joined the army, he'll have to be useful."

Nellusion says quietly, thinking about a bunch of young 'soldiers' who are just hanging around in the imperial capital, going to parties and stuff.

Her slim, fashionable arms moved gracefully, setting markers on the unfold-out map. *Thud. Thud. tap.*

within the convention room, bathed in the gentle, wave-like daylight, Neris's considerate eyes sparkled with intelligence. The huge map earlier than her was packed with small, difficult, and costly markers, making it pretty complex, however she understood its that means nicely.

In reality, she understood it so nicely that she may want to even guess how the markers in this map might flow inside the destiny.

"If Sir Joyce is here..."

Her finger traced the gold coin that had been positioned in the proper role days ago.

"the alternative spots will likely be stuffed by using my pricey classmates. most probable the Angerson family and the Gardiner own family..."

Markers colored with the crests of the families she named were located in their respective positions. *Thud. Thud.*

This habit of spreading out a map and putting markers to examine the situation become something Nellusion and Caymil had brought to her in her previous lifestyles. that they had stated that if she best thought approximately it in her head, she might leave out subtle clues that appeared insignificant before everything look.

'They were proper. there may be no need to abandon accurate habits simply due to the fact I do not like them.'

And Neris's capacity to examine the imperial circle of relatives's mystery bases and navy strongholds as assessed by using the court docket from the map became also a gift from her previous life. The princess couldn't be blind to her very own usa's land.

'Abelus didn't realize as a good deal as I did... but it's a very good element now.'

The Imperial Vista become now a giant chessboard. Neris's grey portions had been relentlessly charging in the direction of the enemy's coronary heart, and the enemy become busy defending. however so long as Nellusion turned into sitting on the other facet of the chessboard, he would without a doubt provide you with a plan, and Neris intended to settle the state of affairs earlier than that passed off.

Neris smiled as she looked at the crown-formed marker she had positioned in the distant Elandria Duchy.