The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 110

“Angela, welcome.”

Yulania, already seated at the tea table in the garden, raised her hand. Angela, who had been walking quickly towards her from a distance, approached with an even more energetic stride.

“Oh, Princess! You look even more beautiful today!”

Stopping at the entrance, Angela clasped her hands to her chest in her usual dramatic fashion.

“I’m sure you’ve heard this a hundred times, but it’s true. You’re glowing.”

Yulania laughed, accepting Angela’s flattery.

“It still makes me feel especially good when you say it.”

“Oh my, I’d be happy to say it anytime.”

Angela grinned and approached the table. Yulania looked directly at her and lifted her teacup. The clear morning sunlight quietly rippled across the tea.

“I don’t want to talk about this during such a lovely tea time, but…”

Yulania spoke first.

“The Chancellor told me to treat Angela like the Chancellor of Makari.”

Angela’s smile faltered for a moment. Her eyebrows lifted slightly, and a word seemed to form on her lips before quickly disappearing.

“My father said that.”

Angela quietly repeated, sitting down. She picked up her teacup and took a sip without hesitation.

“Well, that’s just like him. Always doing things suddenly from afar without any warning.”

Yulania nodded.

“The territory is growing. It’s too much to call it a simple duchy. Even the land now called the Holy Stone Landfill is being watched by everyone. This is where you need to be now.”

Angela seemed to accept something calmly, placing her teacup back down.

“Do you think I’m qualified for that?”

“Absolutely.”

Yulania said without any hesitation.

“Everything you’ve done for me, everything you’ve told me honestly without hiding anything. And the fact that you’re still by my side. Angela, I want you to establish yourself in Makari. It’s a personal feeling, and it’s a public judgment.”

For a moment, Angela’s eyes welled up slightly.

She dropped the forced smile and quietly inhaled.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I think, the reason for me to leave here has completely disappeared now. Thank you for saying that to me.”

Yulania quietly nodded, accepting her words.

A moment of silence passed. Birds flew by, brushing against the bushes, and the wind brought a few petals onto the table. Angela stopped drinking her tea and carefully looked at Yulania.

She had been feeling it for a while. Yulania was different today. Her usual neat and calm appearance was the same, but there was a subtly refined atmosphere within. Her attitude was calmer than usual, and a faint smile never left the corner of her lips. Angela tilted her head slightly and then cautiously opened her mouth.

“By the way, Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

At her call, Yulania smiled even more brightly and turned her gaze.

“You’ve looked especially radiant lately. I feel like there’s a very deep and calm energy about you.”

Angela narrowed her eyes, trying to read Yulania’s expression.

“Is there something good that happened?”

At those words, Yulania stopped the hand that was holding her teacup. After thinking for a moment, she couldn’t stop a laugh from escaping.

“I wasn’t going to say anything yet, but I’ll give you a little hint since it’s you, Angela. I never thought I’d find this again.”

Angela’s eyes widened at those words.

Yulania smiled softly and sat in front of Angela. A subtle floral scent lingered in the garden, and the teacup, bathed in the spring light, sparkled warmly. Angela didn’t immediately understand the meaning of Yulania’s words, but she noticed that her expression was one of firm determination.

“Your Highness?”

Yulania hesitated for a moment and then said quietly.

“I need to ask you for safe contraceptives again.”

“…Pardon?”

“I can’t have a child every year, can I?”

A playful smile lingered on Yulania’s lips. Only then did Angela widen her eyes in surprise.

“No way, Your Highness. Again?”

Yulania nodded slowly. Her expression was a mixture of embarrassment and composure.

“It’s early. Joel just confirmed it.”

Angela was speechless for a moment, her lips moving, before clapping her hands and exclaiming.

“I can’t believe it! Congratulations, Your Highness! Oh my goodness!”

“Thank you, Angela.”

Finally, Angela rose from her seat, continuing to exclaim in admiration. She clutched her chest, her eyes reddening as she looked at the quietly smiling Yulania.

“Really, my heart can’t keep up every time I hear such good news.”

Then, with sparkling eyes, she asked.

“How is His Grace reacting? Duke Joel.”

Yulania tilted her head back slightly and looked at the sky.

“He was happy. But also very disappointed.”

“Oh my?”

“Joel told me to abstain for a while.”

Angela was momentarily stunned, but soon understood and burst into laughter.

“Oh dear, how pitiful. Our Duke…”

Then, she made a playfully sad expression. Yulania simply drank her tea slowly and smiled quietly.

In the morning sunlight, the laughter of the two women spread throughout the garden.

The conversation naturally led to public matters. Spreading a map between the tea table, Angela said.

“And this is a report on the Holy Stone Landfill. The Holy Stone readings collected from the western part of the territory, the former Land of Demons, and the progress of soil stabilization.”

Yulania nodded, skimming the report.

“It’s progressing faster than I thought. Duke Jensen said he had no problem persuading the capital, right?”

“Yes, fortunately, His Majesty the King still doesn’t place much value on Holy Stones. He’s happy as long as the taxes keep coming in. It seems my father guided him well.”

Yulania sighed softly.

“Whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate we were able to secure autonomy thanks to that.”

Angela pointed to the map with her fingertip.

“This area is still underdeveloped, but the Holy Stone density is high. If developed, it will be much easier to supply energy to Makari Castle in the future. They say they’re planning to arrange it so that it can be connected to the inside of the castle as well.”

Yulania nodded, lost in thought. Holy Stones were not just a source of energy to her. They were like life itself, a miracle that breathed new life into this land of Makari. A lump formed in her throat as she recalled the moment Shuria reacted to the Holy Stone.

“Angela, about what I asked you before. The list of talented people?”

Angela took out an envelope from her bag and handed it over.

“These are the people. I selected people with experience in both Holy Stone research and territory administration. I’ve also organized the recommendation rankings.”

Yulania opened the envelope and scanned the contents, but her gaze stopped at one name.

“Huh?”

Angela looked at Yulania with surprised eyes.

“What’s wrong, Your Highness?”

Yulania smiled slightly and said.

“This person is a scholar who used to teach me. He was strict, but more sincere about scholarship than anyone else. He’s still working in the field like this.”

Angela nodded with interest.

“Then you should consider him as a top priority. It would be great to have someone who can share Your Highness’s vision.”

Yulania put the document down for a moment and looked at Angela.

“Yes, thank you. Things are going much smoother thanks to you. I can see why the Chancellor praised you so much.”

Angela said with sparkling eyes.

“You flatter me. I just wanted to be by Your Highness’s side.”

Yulania, feeling the affectionate weight in her words, smiled quietly.

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