/
It took quite a long time to reach the Empire.
I attached as many accelerating magic tools as possible to the wagon, but the Principality of Liloney and the Empire were far away.
In the meantime, Pyeol lay down on my lap and asked.
<Kiana, what are you going to do in the capital? Are you going to start a big business, become super rich and pressure Heaton with your money?>
“What are you talking about? I don’t have any economic ideas, so I can’t do that. I know how to spend money, but I don’t know how to earn it.”
<Then, are you going to intervene in the political arena and put pressure on Prince Heaton with political strife?>
“What are you talking about? I don’t have any connections in the empire, so I can’t do that. I know how to swear at politicians, but I don’t know how to do politics.”
My self-understanding was perfect.
At that wise and humble answer, Pyeol showed an expression of disbelief.
<Wait a minute, Kiana.>
Pyeoly asked very anxiously.
<…… You- you’re not thinking about being honest with your family, are you?>
“Why not?”
Pyeolyak opened his mouth wide when I blinked and said. He looked as if he had heard the worst answer.
<Kiana, think carefully.>
Pyeol said seriously.
“Kiana appeared at the duke’s office after six years and said, ‘In fact, I returned, and Prince Heaton said he was going to ruin Frelai, with no reason ‘ will there be a family member who will believe her?>
“Of course not. Who believes me, who was mean and always closed the door and went in?”
I answered calmly.
“So I should go back and try.”
<Um… Yes… effort…well, try…>
Pyeoly shrugged his shoulders as if he had no confidence.
Well, throughout my childhood at the Duke of Prelai, I was a nuisance to my family. Because until I was sixteen, I  was growing up into a gloomy villainess who served as an example for others.
Everyone had said that in the Prelai duchy there was an angelic Melissa and a demonic Kiana.
But nonetheless, working with my family was my plan A. So, my destination was the duke’s residence.
I tilted my head as if I  was worried about Pyeol and said it again.
<But somehow, Kiana’s messy reputation and vicious past are very much on her mind.>
“Actually, I like that too. So I also have a plan B.”
I looked out the window with my chin hanging.
“To help avenge Heaton’s biggest enemy, ‘that man,’ we need to take his hand to hasten Haeton’s downfall in a year time before he accuses us of treason”
“Anyway, I think it’s because Prince Heaton has been in a rush these days… It seemed that he thought that we would stand on the side of the crown prince.”
When Melissa said that in prison, I had no idea what the hell was going on.
However, thanks to the ‘original story’, I was finally able to understand the situation in which Prince Heaton was cornered.
<Oh, the enemy of my enemy is on my side?>
“Yes.”
My voice lowered as I thought about the future.
“It means that I will get along well with my family and actively help ‘that man’ as well.”
* * *
The capital of the empire, Rapahan.
“Ah…”
The black-haired young man received a report from the office and tilted his head slightly.
“Princess Kiana is returning to the Empire? suddenly?”
“She even applied for cancellation of all patents registered under the academy’s name by participating in joint research. That’s why the academy is in a big mess right now….”
The man who looked at Kiana’s name on the report narrowed her eyes.
He was a young man with a solid body, tall stature, and elongated yet decadent eyes.
The impression that he seemed to be somewhat familiar made the viewer feel an instinctive sense of intimidation.
His neat attire was impeccably clean, and even the pen in his office was undisturbed.
“Did something happen at the academy?”
A big foreign subordinate immediately answered the man’s dubious question.
The stern-looking subordinate’s expression was serious, he was not used to the imperial language, so the pronunciation is somewhat broken.
“Well, I don’t know the details because it’s such a closed place, but at least it seems like the academy wasn’t expecting it at all.”
“Seeing that the route is towards the capital, I wonder if it is coming to the Duke Prelai’s residence. Maybe it’s because she was really fed up with doing research stuck in that corner of the country?”
So, the report of the subordinate was over.
“I don’t know, but…”
After a moment of silence, the well-forged man stood up slowly.
Contrary to his languid gestures, his eyes were sharp, like a beast accustomed to dominion.
“Anyway, we can finally meet.”
An obvious anticipation flickered across his face as he grinned and muttered.
“After a very long time.”
* * *
We ran nonstop for days and days.
It was midnight when they arrived at Rapahan, the capital of the Tailies Empire.
<Wow, I’ll be arriving at the duke’s residence soon!>
I grabbed Pyeol, who was looking out the window with his soft hips twitching.
“Wait a minute.”
<Yes?>
I took out a small note from my pocket and put it in Pyeol’s beak.
“I have something else to do for you. I have somewhere to pass this on.”
<Yes? now… Work… do it?>
At my words, Pyeol flapped his little wings and immediately rebelled.
<You should think of your pet as a friend, not an assistant! Pyeol doesn’t like to work! As soon as you arrive in the capital, you can’t see anything and work! Wow!>
“Beep.”
I pressed Pyeol’s chubby cheeks and kindly informed him of the reality.
“If i tell you to go, Shouldn’t you go? I’m your master now, not Melissa.”
<Eh, huh?>
And once again kindly gave advice on life as the owner.
“You can’t try to suck honey under me like this.”
t/n : It’s korean slang when you describe a situation where you do nothing but only take an advantage of it., so she is basically telling Pyeol to dont expect of taking advantage because she won’t let him.
As soon as Pyeol saw my eyes, he was taken aback and then cried and protested.
<Kiana is such a vicious owner!>
“I know. Anyway, send this secretly to P.O. Box 1135.”
<Is it secret? Then it will take a week!>
“I know that too.”
The summons each have their own abilities. And Pyeol’s ability was ‘secret delivery’.
He was able to carry small items wherever he wanted without being noticed by anyone, but great distances were not possible and it took some time. According to Melissa’s recollection, it took about a week.
<Poor Pyeol , they are already being abused!>
Pyeol had a dissatisfied expression on their face.
<I feel like I’ve been hurt so much by my new owner that I have deep bruises on my soul!>
“Beep.”
I said with a straight face.
“The soul has no capillaries, so it cannot be bruised.”
<… >
Pyeol murmured as it flew helplessly out of the window.
<If only magic engineering was ruined>
It was a really cheeky self-talk, but it was okay. It was because even if Pyeol cursed for a hundred days, magic engineering will not be ruined.
After the beeping was gone, I, who was left alone in the carriage, took a deep breath.
‘Empire…Capital Rapahan… Duke Prelai’
It was the first I returned home after leaving on my own at sixteen.
My heart was pounding. I don’t have any good memories here.
No, to be precise, I didn’t remember being proud. Especially when I recalled the splendid and antique duke’s residence, I felt like I was already breaking out in a cold sweat.
‘It’s fine… you are okay. You just have to try, you are okay. let’s try,  I can try.’
As I tried to calm my upset stomach, a carriage arrived at the gate of the duke’s residence.
It was the middle of the night, but the duke was very busy. This was because tonight, the grandfather’s maid attempted to assassinate him with a poisoned dagger.
Of course, the Duke of Prelai was no easy place, so the assassination attempt was failed. Anyway, the important thing is that when I arrived, the duchy was in a state of panic.
When I appeared in the garden, the servants of the duke’s residence were horrified.
“Hey, princess? You are Princess Kiana, right?”
“No, princess… Suddenly without contact… !”
“I’m sorry, princess! Now, of course, an assassination attempt has taken place and the duke’s mansion is in a mess. If you wait a moment, the Duke…”
Well, since it suddenly appeared after six years, it was only natural.
“Everyone looks busy, but don’t make a fuss about it. Anyway, I’m tired from traveling, so I’ll go in right away and sleep. I will say hello to my grandfather tomorrow, to let him know.”
I walked past them with a sly expression.
It was even fortunate that the duke’s house was cluttered and i had to  delay saying goodbye to my grandfather. However, the meeting with my grandfather could not be postponed forever.
‘I can’t just avoid my grandfather just because he’s awkward and uncomfortable like before.’
I took a deep breath once again.
‘Because Grandpa is the only trustworthy head of Prelai… We have to get even a little closer and somehow warn of the crisis and prepare together.’
I walked slowly and entered the huge mansion of the Duke of Prelai.
To my uncomfortable home, a place I never thought I would ever get back on my feet.