Secrets and Solutions

Thankfully, I didn't run into my mother who was lurking outside the library just moments ago, probably thinking she could sneak a peak without me noticing. I was too lazy and fed up to deal with her right now.

In the past month, I'd memorized every nook and cranny of this palace, including where Duke Oberon's office was. According to my well-rehearsed plan, he'd be busy teaching Esther horse riding at this time.

Meredia's memory apparently didn't including a map of the Duke's office-how convenient! Had she never been here? Or were there still some memories missing? Whatever the reason, I wasn't about to let it slow me down.

I glanced around and saw no one outside his office.

Perfect. Just what I needed.

I approached the Duke's office door, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. My hand hovered over the handle, my heart racing with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.

Pushing the door open just enough to slip inside, I stepped into the dimly lit room. The space was grand and orderly, with dark wooden furniture and rich, velvet drapes framing the windows. A large desk dominated the center of the room, papers neatly stacked and organized.

I moved quickly but quietly, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. I scanned the room for any sign of Duke Oberon's presence, but it seemed he was indeed occupied elsewhere.

I made my way to the desk, careful not to disturb anything. A large leather-bound ledger caught my eye, and I carefully opened it, scanning the pages filled with a neat, flowing script. It seemed to be a record of various financial transactions and business dealings.

I pulled out a chair and sat down, trying to look as if I belonged there. The Duke's business operations were intricate, filled with details about trade agreements, investments, and land management. It was a bit overwhelming, but I focused on finding something that would be useful to me.

A few moments later, a stack of documents marked "Confidential" caught my eye. I glanced around to make sure no one was coming, then pulled them closer. As I rifled through them, I stumbled upon a detailed report about a new trade route the Duke was considering. It included maps, cost estimates, and potential risks.

Among the papers was a note with strange symbols and a message that read.

I stared at the note, trying to decipher its contents. It appeared to be a cryptic list of Valtoria's most luxurious items or perhaps some kind of secret code. In any case, it was intriguing and certainly not what I expected.

"Bingo," I murmured to myself, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. This could be useful in proving my worth.

Suddenly, a noise from outside the office made me freeze. I quickly shuffled the documents back into their place and slipped behind a large cabinet, trying to hide. My heart pounded as the door to the office creaked open.

Footsteps echoed in the room, and I held my breath, praying that whoever it was wouldn't notice me. I could hear the muffled conversation between Duke Oberon and one of his aides. They discussed the new trade route, which only confirmed how crucial it was to his current plans.

After what felt like an eternity, the conversation ended, and the footsteps receded. I waited a few more minutes before emerging from my hiding spot, my body tense with relief.

"Okay," I whispered to myself, trying to steady my nerves. "Mission accomplished. Now to get out of here before anyone notices."

I made my way back to the door, carefully checking to make sure no one was in sight. With a final glance around the office, I slipped out and closed the door quietly behind me.

The documents I'd found might not be a complete game-changer, but they were a start. If I could use this information to impress Duke Oberon, it might just give me the leverage I needed.

"Alright, Meredia," I said, trying to boost my confidence as I walked away. "Time to put this plan into action."

Back in my room, I flipped open the book on noble dialects, the one I'd painstakingly deciphered over the past month. The commoners of Valkathra spoke a simplified form of Valryn, but the nobles used the original, more complex version.

I skimmed through the translations and came across the document in the original Valryn. The content translated into something quite revealing:

Duke Oberon has started a business, Valtoria Luxuries Guild, which sells rare gems, diamonds, jewelry, and clothing-every extravagant hobby a noble person might have.

However, the business faces a significant problem: the vehicles used for transport can't complete their journey before breaking down, especially during the night when travel is restricted. Customers are increasingly dissatisfied, and many have refused to pay.

Aren't they being ridiculous? Instead of relying on a single vehicle for the entire journey, they should consider changing vehicles at each town and state.

I chuckled to myself. "Well, that's just brilliant," I muttered, shaking my head. "The Duke's got a luxury business going, but his logistics are stuck in the Stone Age. No wonder customers are unhappy."

The idea of switching vehicles in each town seemed so obvious it was almost laughable. If I had to bet, this problem was a glaring oversight that any savvy businessperson would have spotted immediately.

I stared at the document, contemplating how I might use this information. It was clear that solving this logistical nightmare could potentially win me some favor with Duke Oberon. After all, solving a problem that was costing him money could be just the leverage I needed.

"Alright, let's turn this mess into an opportunity," I said with renewed determination. "This to cook up a plan that'II get me on the Duke's good side."

I quickly noted down the key points and started brainstorming how to present this solution effectively. If I could get this right, it might just be my ticket to securing a better position in the Duke's eyes-and maybe even avoid the fate of becoming Kiran's bride.