Since that confrontation with Sergio at the evening ball, the atmosphere within the Rosenberg estate had shifted. The servants were cowed by their mistress's sharpened gaze, and even their footsteps in the hallways grew quieter. In the east wing, Chloe sat at her desk, old ledgers spread out before her. She desperately tried to recall the patterns of economic blockade she had seen in the game from her past life. Outside the window, the afternoon sun bleached the courtyard's stone pavement white. *Knock, knock.* It was a discreet knock. "[gentle] My lady, there is a man at the back gate claiming to be a traveling merchant. He asked me to give you this." In the maid's hand was a coarse envelope. Chloe raised her head, thinking for just a few seconds. "[cold] Let him in. The drawing room. Have the guards wait nearby." She broke the seal. Inside, just two lines: *'Verbal supplement to follow. Requests an audience.'* There was no sender's name. But the rough texture of the paper, a product of Grünford, told her everything. (*He's here.*) Her heart gave a single, heavy thump. Taking a deep breath, Chloe headed for the drawing room. The burn scar on her left cheek throbbed. When she opened the heavy door, the man was already standing. A worn brown cloak. A sun-beaten face. At a glance, he looked like a peddler you might find anywhere. But only the look in his eyes—appraising, sharp—set him apart. "[gentle] Well, well, Lady Rosenberg. Please forgive this sudden intrusion." The man bowed respectfully, but his eyes weren't smiling. Chloe elegantly arranged her skirt and took a seat, a cold smile gracing her lips. "[cool] Please, sit. Tea?" "[gentle] No, thank you. I shall convey His Excellency the Chancellor's proposal immediately." The man lowered his voice and spoke in a rush. "[serious] If you would be so kind as to inform us of Prince Alexis's movements, Grünford will cease all economic blockades against Elvasion, permanently. This is His Excellency's benevolence." A beat. The air froze. "[serious] Should you refuse, all trade of grain and iron to the kingdom will cease next month. The Nordstein mines, the food supplies reliant on imports—everything." Still smiling, Chloe placed her fingertips on the edge of the desk. She suppressed the trembling that threatened to take over. In my past life as a salaryman, I'd been threatened like this countless times. But this was different. The fate of a nation hung in the balance. "[cool] ...I shall consider it. You will have my answer in three days." The man's mouth twisted slightly as he stood. "[sarcastic] I expect your wise judgment. ...Truly, a favorable reply." The door closed. The footsteps faded away. In that instant, Chloe gripped the edge of the desk tightly. Her knuckles turned white. A tremor surged from the core of her body, and she clenched her teeth. "[whispers] ...He really came." A low voice. Her words nearly mixed with a masculine tone, and she hurriedly covered her mouth. Humiliation and rage blurred her vision slightly. (*'Become mine,' huh. Just like that letter. Holding the whole country hostage.*) Several hours later. As dusk approached, Alexis came rushing in. He must have ridden his horse hard after receiving an urgent report from the guards. His platinum blond hair was disheveled, and his sky-blue eyes shone with an unprecedented sharpness. "[serious] Tell me everything." In a small study deep within the mansion. The two faced each other across a narrow desk. Chloe relayed the secret messenger's words verbatim. The furrow between Alexis's brows deepened. "[angry] So, he wants you to be a spy. And if you refuse, the country will be ruined." "[cold] Yes. Just as calculated." Chloe spread a map and papers across the desk. The candlelight flickered, illuminating their faces. "[serious] In the game from my past life, Sergio had a habit of leaving evidence. After his opponent made a move, he would always send written instructions. A procedure to keep his own hands clean while pinning the crime on someone else. Therefore—if I act, he will definitely send a written order. That will become our evidence." Alexis listened in silence. Then, he looked up. "[serious] I can't put you in such a dangerous position." "[cold] It won't be a trap unless it's me. Because I am what Sergio wants." At her quiet, interrupting voice, Alexis swallowed his words. He clenched his hands tightly, then let out a deep breath. "[serious] ...Understood. But I will confirm all communications. I'm telling you not to act alone." For a moment, Chloe looked surprised. She had expected opposition. Yet he wasn't stopping her from diving into danger. He was just telling her not to go alone. "[sarcastic] ...You really are useful." She muttered under her breath. Alexis didn't even crack a wry smile, just looked down at the map. "[serious] Let's begin. We don't have much time." They put their heads together and began formulating a plan. Over the small desk, close enough for their shoulders to touch. Chloe suddenly realized that Alexis's shoulder was touching hers. It was warm. (*Right now, the plan is more important.*) She immediately switched gears, her pen racing. The night deepened, and only the candlelight cast their shadows wavering on the wall. Three days later. Chloe sent her reply to the secret messenger: "I will hear you out." For the next few days, Chloe acted as a false informant. While pretending to keep Alexis's guards at a distance, in reality, the guards were recording the messenger's every move. Chloe fed him only harmless information, such as "His Highness will attend next month's Privy Council meeting." However, Sergio's side was cautious. They were slow to send any serious written instructions. "[cold] This isn't working. We need to make them impatient." One day, Chloe pressed the messenger. "[angry] At this rate, my fiancé will become suspicious. Send me a written promise of protection immediately! I cannot act based on mere verbal promises forever." This was turning a tactic Sergio favored in the game against him. Pretending to be impatient to force the other party to act. A few days later. The secret messenger presented a thick, sealed letter. In her room, Chloe broke the seal. Inside were written instructions stamped with the official seal of Grünford. Specific names and sums for bribing key royal figures. The stages of the economic blockade. And then— (*...Take me away.*) Her finger stopped. *'Transport Chloe von Rosenberg to the Chancellor's private residence. The procedure is as follows.'* Written clearly in black ink. Her own name, treated as if it were mere cargo. A wave of heat washed over her body. "[whispers] ...To think he'd write it out this concretely." Her hands trembled. Was it anger, or fear? It was a mix of both. Immediately, Chloe summoned Alexis. She placed the documents on the desk without a word. As Alexis read through them, the color drained from his face. "[serious] ...This is unforgivable." His tone was lower than usual. His sky-blue eyes flickered like flames. It was the first time Chloe had seen such an expression on Alexis's face. (*That face... he's truly furious. For my sake.*) A warmth spread deep in her chest. But this was no time to dwell on it. "[serious] We have the evidence. All that's left is to present it in a public forum." However, that night, an unforeseen event occurred. One of Alexis's guards was spotted tailing the secret messenger. The next morning, the messenger who appeared at the Rosenberg estate showed a cold smile for the first time. "[cold] I will report that a guard was following me to His Excellency. He will likely say he will come to see you directly." After the man left, Chloe remained frozen for a while. (*Sergio is coming directly.*) She remembered those eyes. The snake-like eyes that had appraised her at the evening ball. A chill crawled down her spine. She immediately called for Alexis. "[serious] Before Sergio arrives, we must create a situation where we can use this evidence. Can the international conference be moved up?" "[serious] Yes. I'll arrange contact with the Privy Council and the ambassadors of each nation immediately." Alexis sat at the desk on the spot and began swiftly writing letters. Only the sound of the pen nib racing across the paper echoed in the room. Chloe watched his profile. His serious gaze. His hands moving quickly and precisely. (*If this plan succeeds, we can corner Sergio at the international conference. If it fails, I will be taken away to Grünford.*) Noticing that she was calmly analyzing the situation, Chloe let out a small laugh. Nothing had changed from her past life. Before she could even register fear, her mind had already started calculating the next move. "[laughing] ...I really haven't changed." At her small voice, Alexis's hand stopped. He turned back to look at Chloe's face. Perhaps surprised to see her laughing, his eyes widened slightly. "[surprised] ...What is it?" "[gentle] It's nothing. Thank you, Prince Alexis." She called him by his name for the first time. Alexis froze for an instant, then hurriedly turned his eyes back to the letter. The tips of his ears were faintly red. Unaware of this, Chloe looked out the window. The white towers of Weisskrone Castle were sinking into the twilight. (*Next is the final battle.*) They had the evidence. The plan was set. All that remained was to corner that man. Deep in her chest, a prickling fighting spirit began to burn.