Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 142

“Are you saying I should present proof first?”

“We continued these negotiations even after learning that Your Highness the Princess had been plotting something else behind the scenes. Therefore, if Your Highness wishes to proceed with the negotiation, we ask that you show at least that level of sincerity.”

“I find it hard to trust the Duchess’s words.”

The princess let out a slanted smile.

“How can I be sure you won’t betray me once you get the evidence? And I also find it very difficult to believe that you already know something I don’t.”

The princess’s attitude was only natural. It would be foolish to trust someone’s words without any basis here. Though she had long been confined, she was still a princess, and had undoubtedly received a proper education. Moreover, someone clever enough to devise plans for the future certainly hadn’t neglected her studies. It was understandable she’d find it hard to believe that a duchess from common birth held more knowledge than herself.

“…Your Highness’s name reminds me of someone.”

At the sudden remark, the princess slightly furrowed her brow.

“What do you mean…”

“Was it perhaps inspired by the writer Grisha Astrid?”

Astrid was not a common name. The word itself was borrowed from a now-obsolete ancient language.

“I worked with that person. You could say that nearly all the books published under their name in recent years passed through my hands. I was the one who ghostwrote them.”

The princess immediately let out a hollow laugh.

“That’s ridiculous. Are you claiming you were personally acquainted with a scholar so brilliant that even the Empire’s most renowned intellectuals were in awe? I’ve heard no one knows his true identity. Can you reveal his real name, then?”

“That, I cannot do. Even after death, he wished to remain anonymous. However, I believe I can show you this much.”

Brianna pulled out what she had prepared and placed it on the table. It was Grisha Astrid’s manuscript. The raw draft and the markings from edits revealed the intense process behind its creation.

“I also inherited the copyrights for all of his works. If needed, I can prove that too. I’m not so low as to fabricate something like this.”

At the mention of even holding the copyrights, the princess drew a deep breath.

Still, her face showed clear doubt as she began to read the manuscript. But as she turned the pages, her expression gradually shifted to one of awe. Even the margin notes alone revealed the profound depth of knowledge the author possessed. Claiming it was fake would only show one’s own ignorance.

“I had countless conversations with him over the years about the direction of the future. Thanks to that, I can predict the upcoming developments a bit more easily than others.”

A year ago, when she visited the ducal residence, she had told the Grand Duchess without hesitation that war would break out in Sierra. That had been easy for Brianna—she had already discussed it with Leona countless times. The only thing Leona might not have anticipated was that the Crown Prince would collude with the Kazakh Empire.

“In any case, Your Highness will soon be recognized as the next heir to the throne. His Holiness the Pope wishes for that as well. In other words, the problem facing Your Highness is not whether your right to succession will be acknowledged, but whether a princess known only for tending flowers has the real ability to govern an empire.”

Finally, the princess lifted her head and stared at Brianna.

“So you’re saying that the first task ahead of me is to win the hearts of the Empire’s people?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Even if you inherit the throne with outside support, if you can’t gain the people’s trust, it will all collapse anyway. Of course, earning the people’s support will be much harder and take far more time than becoming heir with the Pope’s backing. But if you succeed, you’ll gain an undivided nation.”

“And right now, you are offering to tell me how to do that?”

“Yes. I know exactly how. To be more precise, I can tell you about the one and only chance Your Highness will have to seize that opportunity.”

The princess tightly clenched her fingers. From her perspective, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—something money could never buy. It wasn’t just about hearing the Duchess of Carlisle’s thoughts, but about receiving insight into the future left behind by the great sage Grisha Astrid himself.

Reading her hesitation, Brianna slowly opened her lips.

“…The beginning of all this was the Kingdom of Basel halting wool exports to the Empire.”

Brianna decided to share only the appropriate amount of information with the princess. It was also a test. If she failed to grasp the implications of the story and ultimately rejected the conversation, then that was simply the extent of her capability.

In that case, it would be far more advantageous for Lucius to let her self-destruct.

“Knowing that being unable to secure wool would be a weakness, the Empire must have prepared a countermeasure. So, what kind of changes will come after the war? Have you ever thought about that, even once?”

At that moment, the princess’s lips parted. She stared blankly at Brianna with a look of shock as if struck in the head.

Her eyes flickered busily, full of thoughts. Seeing that, Brianna realized the princess had not spent her life merely tending flowers. A dull mind would not have been able to grasp the meaning of what had just been said.

A moment later, the princess spoke, “Madam Bremer, bring that here.”

“Y-Your Highness!”

Madam Bremer cried out urgently.

“Surely you’re not going to hand over the proof so easily? That’s not acceptable!”

Though she had just been scolded by the princess moments earlier, Madam Bremer protested vehemently, as if this document were her only lifeline.

“Her Majesty the Empress’s and Your Highness’s fate rests on this. You can’t hand it over so easily without any compensation.”

“I’ve already received compensation. I realized something important from the Duchess’s words just now.”

The princess looked at Brianna and smiled gently. Brianna also smiled back at her.

“This alone is enough. No, I’ve already gained more than enough.”

Though Madam Bremer looked frustrated, wondering what exactly had been gained when the Duchess had yet to reveal anything concrete, she couldn’t defy the princess’s command.

She took out a letter she had been keeping in her bosom and handed it to the princess. The princess received it and extended it toward Brianna.

“It’s a letter the Crown Prince sent directly to the Emperor. It should have been burned long ago, but we managed to secure it after hearing that the Duke of Carlisle wanted it.”

With trembling hands, Brianna opened the letter. It bore not only the Crown Prince’s signature but also the international seal used for foreign affairs. With this level of evidence, the Crown Prince, cornered as he was, would not be able to claim forgery.

“I never expected that you would personally bring this.”

“It was to strengthen our position in the negotiation. After all, when there’s meat right in front of you, anyone’s resolve might waver. I had hoped to sway the Duke of Carlisle that way. But I never imagined I would end up being swayed by the Duchess instead.”

“Then what do you plan to ask of the Duke now?”

“I won’t ask for a signature. It’s no longer necessary. Instead, I’ll request a future promise—something like grain exports.”

Brianna laughed. The princess had understood her intentions perfectly.

After the war, the Empire would undergo significant changes. With the halt of wool exports causing economic damage, it was certain they would seek to expand domestic wool production.

To raise more sheep, farmland would be reduced, and farmers would lose their jobs—an inevitable outcome. In that process, grain prices would skyrocket.

“Use it however benefits Your Highness most. You can make great profits from the changes, use that wealth to win over nobles, or become the one and only savior who steps in to help the people while the Emperor ignores their suffering.”