The Difference in Power - 2
The period was not even three full days since the information request had been submitted.
A rather thick report had been handed to Albert.
“Thank you.”
“Yes, then I shall take my leave.”
Rose withdrew, and Albert’s gaze shifted toward the report lying on the table.
Its pages brimmed with the personal details of the noble ladies, making it noticeably thick.
“Hmm……”
Unexpected?
Albert tilted his head as he read through the report.
According to the intelligence he had received, every noble lady was expected to be united in cursing his name.
Surprisingly, a significant number had actually defended him.
One third of the total, at a minimum.
The remainder voiced their dissatisfaction, yet this was not an entirely unfavorable outcome.
“Mm……”
Supporters and detractors.
Among the detractors, he wondered which one served as the central figure.
Albert skimmed the entire report and quickly categorized it.
Removing the central pillar would naturally shatter the followers’ devotion.
As was the case with Karl Miller, who once harbored resentment toward him.
Who could have guessed the man would be dead?
Albert recalled the late news of his passing and offered a bitter smile.
He had been preoccupied at the time, so he had not had the leisure to worry about Karl, who lived far away.
Yet when the death report finally arrived, he was genuinely surprised.
On the other hand, he had anticipated it would happen one day.
Beatrix’s eyes had been upon him for so long; he could not have survived for long.
Albert was merely startled by how calm he felt about it.
After all, his involvement had led to his demise.
Perhaps because I’ve witnessed too many injuries.
During his time as a servant, he had repeatedly seen people die and been injured on multiple occasions.
Maybe that was the reason.
Albert shook his head lightly and brushed aside the thought.
Tap, tap.
Albert’s fingers drummed against the middle of the thick report.
They said he was soft, so I’ll apply pressure as a gift… This one is weak to flattery, so should I confront him head-on?
While poring over the report and preparing his response, a name caught his eye.
Andy Stove.
Especially the mention of his affection for the eldest daughter of Baron von Bayern struck him.
Of course, the Duke would not wish to send his own son to a viscount.
He would likely seek an alliance with a more powerful lord, such as the Earl of Arum.
Even the viscountess herself was not warmly received by the noble ladies.
He had crossed paths with her a few times at gatherings, but that was all.
If I could resolve this, it would be convenient…
Only embracing those who are friendly toward him would create a faction.
As far as Albert was concerned, that was something he did not relish.
His goal was to silence the voices of discontent, not to form factions.
Let’s start with this man first.
Once this one was subdued, he could manage his followers as well.
Followers were naturally those who placated the central pillar.
So if the central pillar changed his tune, the rest would follow.
Regardless of their true intentions, the noble ladies of this country were like that.
“Excuse me. Is anyone outside?”
After writing the letter, Albert raised his voice.
Soon, the maid waiting outside opened the door and approached, bowing her head.
“Yes, Secretary. Did you call?”
“Yes. It’s not that… Could you please send a message to the Stove noble lady? Ask her to come to the palace.”
Albert extended the letter in his hand.
It was already sealed with red wax and looked exceedingly neat.
The maid accepted the letter and immediately left.
Albert’s invitation was tantamount to a royal command.
Refusal would mean certain death.
At least in the other party’s eyes, so she would not easily turn it down.
And the report stated she was in good health.
—
Why did that orphan…
Clang. The carriage jolted as it raced smoothly along the road.
Because of this, the noble lady with blue hair furrowed her brows in the carriage, but soon sighed and leaned against the backrest.
Her name was Andy Stove.
If she could, she would have refused.
But refusal meant death.
After all, the black-haired tyrant cherished Albert greatly.
If his pride is wounded, so is mine.
And since she valued that orphan more than herself, even more so.
Pride was important, but her mind was not that large.
She did not have the courage to put her life on the line either.
Especially since her family had sent her with the order to go and come back.
Mother, why… to such a lowly person…
Why did she look at the invitation with envious eyes?
Andy would only sigh.
The carriage raced along the road and finally arrived before the royal palace.
“Your Highness, we have arrived.”
“Mm.”
The coachman politely opened the door, and Andy slowly stepped out.
“I will guide you. Please follow me.”
“Mm.”
He passed the knights saluting and trailed behind the maid who walked ahead.
“Secretary. The Stove noble lady has arrived.”
“Yes. Please let her in.”
Knock, knock.
The maid knocked on the drawing-room door, and Albert’s voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
The maid opened the door and stepped back, and Andy strode forward.
Albert secretly extended his hand to the seat opposite him.
“Please come. Sit here.”
“Yes.”
—What is this?
Andy felt uneasy but sat down without showing it.
She seems to be doing well. Her skin is in good condition too.
She was originally beautiful, but good management had made her look even better.
Especially her skin.
Andy smiled, thinking the orphan had made a surprising rise.
“I am surprised and grateful that you invited me.”
Once he opened the topic with a standard greeting, Albert responded as if he had been waiting.
“I am glad you feel that way. Please have some tea and take a moment to relax.”
“Yes. Thank you for your consideration.”
The two men sat in silence, sipping tea and eating small cakes brought by the maid.
“I have never tasted this before… It is quite delicious.”
During this time.
Andy murmured in amazement.
It was not flattery; she genuinely enjoyed the taste.
She was sincere about desserts and sweets like the other noble ladies.
“It’s cheese cake. Since it’s cut into small pieces, it’s easy to enjoy with tea.”
“Did a chef from the palace make it?”
“Yes. Thanks to that, I get to enjoy my meal.”
Jealous brat.
Andy smiled outwardly, but felt her insides bubbling.
She disliked Albert, so every one of his actions irritated her.
Clink.
Eventually, the tea and small cakes were cleared away, and Albert calmly placed his fork on the plate.
His smiling face had become as rigid as a lie.
Swallow.
Andy involuntarily swallowed dry saliva and carefully set her fork down.
Why…?
No matter how much he rode on the tyrant’s back, he was still just an orphan.
A man with no notable background.
Andy was bewildered by the pressure and fear pressing on her shoulders.
“Then, since you have calmed down, shall we proceed with the main matter?”
“……Please speak.”
Andy answered in a stiff voice.
What on earth did he intend to say to summon her here?
Curiosity and tension made her heart race violently.
“It seems many people hold grievances against me.”
Grievances.
In other words, she was aware of the rumors spreading.
With a chillingly ominous opening, the conversation began, and Andy’s pupils began to tremble faintly.
She had no time to manage her expression, which she had practiced so often.
“Ah… that is not something that can be helped.”
Andy stammered and barely managed to speak.
Fear was beginning to creep into her voice.
“Yes. But I believe people can spread rumors. If they can’t even do that, they might burst from frustration.”
“……You are merciful.”
“You flatter me. However, if such voices grow too loud, something might happen… I am concerned about that.”
Albert paused for a moment and met Andy’s eyes directly.
Was it because he had inherited Beatrix’s blood?
Or because he had spent so much time with her?
Somehow, Albert’s gaze had become as sharp as Beatrix’s.
“What do you mean?”
Andy asked cautiously.
Albert chuckled.
“Andy. I know you are one of the people who take the lead in spreading rumors about me.”
But. I will not use that as an excuse to harm you.
Albert declared his forgiveness, and Andy’s eyes widened.
Based on the flow of conversation, it would not be strange for her to die right now.
Without any punishment?
After investigating her?
A single bead of sweat slid down Andy’s back.
“You knew that… yet you are forgiving me?”
He gave up on making excuses and admitted his own fault.
Offering flimsy excuses to someone who already knew the full story was something subordinates did.
Instead, it would only fuel the other person’s anger.
“I simply hope the noble lady will stop spreading rumors about me. Even if you are not friendly toward me, please at least do not harbor hostility.”
“Really… is that all?”
“Yes. And I hope the people around the noble lady would think the same way.”
Albert nodded as if it were natural.
Maintaining a proper distance would suffice.
He had no desire to become close.
“But if I force obedience through coercion, it will lack sincerity. So I intend to give you a small favor.”
“What small favor?”
Andy’s face showed suspicion.
A faint smile appeared on Albert’s lips.
“The eldest daughter of Baron von Bayern.”
“Eh…!”
Conversely, Andy’s face, which had been dubious, paled.
She had expected him to investigate her, but she had not anticipated he knew so much.
“You already knew about that?”
“Yes. You seem to be in a similar situation, so I empathized. That’s why I investigated further.”
“Similar situation?”
What did he mean?
Andy frowned and tilted her head,
“The difference in status.”
The moment he heard Albert’s answer.
The idea that it was plausible flashed through Andy’s mind.
Just as with Albert and Beatrix, the gap in status between her and Sophia von Bayern was quite large.
Of course, in Albert’s case, it had happened somewhat by chance with Beatrix…
“Your words are not entirely wrong.”
It was sufficient to evoke sympathy in Andy.
Right now, exactly like this.
“Yes. Therefore, I plan to help the noble lady and resolve the grievances you hold against me.”
“What reason do you have to go through the trouble? It could be resolved immediately if you spoke to His Highness.”
That was something he knew himself.
Albert hesitated over how to answer Andy’s question and spoke.
“I intend to uphold the proverb ‘forgive your enemies.’”
Precisely, he would give her only one chance.
Albert smiled inwardly and thought he could not love her, but…
An enemy.
It was not entirely wrong.
Andy relaxed her stiff expression and smiled bitterly.
Because the size of the person who had belittled her as an orphan was too large, her own pettiness was even more highlighted.
Moreover, she was helping to connect her cherished daughter.
For Andy, it was a miserable situation.
“Please rise.”
The atmosphere had grown too heavy, so Albert stood up and said.
Why suddenly?
Andy tilted her head but obediently stood up.
She could not remain seated while the secretary commanded her to rise.
“Where… do you intend to go?”
“Yes. I am going to the large bath.”
Albert usually used the attached bathroom in his bedroom, but the palace also had a large communal bath.
Created before Beatrix was even born, so that those who worked in the palace could maintain cleanliness.
People say there is no better way to build camaraderie than bathing, and it was not entirely incorrect.
After bathing, one’s tension naturally eases, and showing that would reveal how close he considered her.
Albert led the reluctant Andy boldly toward the bath.
During this, he also asked a maid in the hallway for some clothes.
The communal bath was usually used in the late afternoon or at night after duties.
So, at that moment, no one was bathing in the bath.
What on earth is this bizarre…
Bathing together.
For Andy, it was merely bewildering.
However.
“Hah…!”
The moment she saw Albert’s naked body in the changing room.
Even greater bewilderment struck the back of his head.
The gap was greater than the difference between heaven and earth; even the status was too different.