"What's wrong?" Anna asked. She was a bit confused as to why Noel's expression turned grim at this moment.
"I'm going to be summoned to the capital soon."
"If you use your fastest speed, you should be able to reach the capital within three days, right?" Anna frowned, thinking this wasn't a problem. Even if he had to attend the banquet, he would only be gone for about a week.
However, Noel shook his head helplessly and said, "No. It's going to be a month."
"A month? Why? Are you going to do something?"
"Not at all. If that Duke Raymond is like what has been described, then he will be sending a slow carriage to the capital city. If I go by myself, it will be the same as challenging the royal family. In other words, I will be stuck in that carriage for a few weeks. And they will definitely delay the ceremony for a bit.
"So, my original assumption is that… I will be stuck in that carriage for about three weeks. An additional one week for the delay." Noel shook his head helplessly.
"This…" Anna sucked a cold breath. With Noel gone, Anna had to remain in this place for a while as the future lady of the Ardagan family.
And people would definitely think that Anna was much easier to deal with than Noel.
This was why Noel wanted to show his trusted vassals that they could trust Anna.
Anna fell into deep thought before saying, "So, they are planning to do something while you're gone?"
"Yes. They are most likely going to pressure you. I am not sure who will be coming, but I doubt that the Third Prince and the Void Arbiter will be able to do anything right now. From my speculation… I believe it'll be the Crown Prince."
"Ah." Anna's expression turned grim. The royal family definitely tried to marry her to the crown prince, so they might use this chance to attack her.
Anna didn't bother to ask whether Noel was alright or not. After all, she believed that Noel was capable of going against that duke.
In other words, the problem would be in this territory.
Before Noel revealed everything, he asked, "So, what do you think will happen?"
This was a kind of test as well as a chance for her growth. So, Anna carefully considered the possibilities and asked, "Should I meet the crown prince in Laivaen City? The crown prince is probably aiming for this city, so if I go there, the crown prince has no choice but to stay there."
Noel smiled. "Why do you think that way?"
"It's because…" Anna raised a few fingers, but she wasn't sure how many clues Noel had given her during the meeting. "Well, I noticed that you changed the migration schedule and forced them to gather in Laivaen City first. Of course, it was better this way since we only let the spies check Laivaen City.
"And once you returned, we could begin the real migration. I could stay there by saying I'm in charge of the migration as the acting head of the Ardagan family or something.
"It appears that you're planning to use this as another excuse for the Sword Arbiter. If I can convince the Sword Arbiter, I can get his help. Maybe I can tell him that once you return, we can go to the main city together with him.
"Harley has set up his branch as well, so he can help me deal with the espionage. There is also the fact that you're planning to split the second migration into batches, meaning that there is a chance that Dimitri will be done and help me there."
Noel was happy with Anna's improvement in this area. She gradually understood the bigger picture. However, Noel still added two more reasons. "You have found out my clues, but there are still two more reasons. First of all, you can bring the Moon Temple's saintess there with the excuse of observing the creation of the Moon Temple's branch.
"Unlike the headquarters that we have sponsored to build because we have isolated this city, Laivaen City's branch will definitely be visited by the Moon Temple. There is a chance that some high-ranking officials from the Moon Temple will be there, which reinforces the reason for you to be there."
"Ah!" Anna nodded in agreement. "That's possible."
"Then, the last one is still related to the Moon Temple. Right now, the Moon Temple must be eager to support us, especially in building their headquarters. Even though we sponsor them right now, with Layla in Laivaen City, she will find a way to at least send the materials to speed up the progress. The headquarters are going to be big, so it will take more than one year to finish.
"That fact alone is enough to make Layla desperate. She is planning to use those materials in exchange for the fact that the headquarters will be finished before our city officially opens."
"!!!" Anna gasped, connecting the dots. "Now that we have gained Layla's help, we can show the automatic carriage."
"Exactly." Noel smirked.
Anna contemplated before muttering, "By showing this new longer carriage, we can show them how we can transport a large number of materials. First of all, it's going to be beneficial for the Moon Temple. I believe that they request that the service be expanded to a lot of their branches. In other words, there will be a lot of nobles that will hear about this new carriage from the Moon Temple and will be forced to join the alliance.
"Then, the second reason is that we're planning to measure the crown prince's ability. If he is at least as good as his father, he will understand the worth of the new carriage. And this will also spread to the nobles in the royal faction. There is a high chance that they will change sides. At the very least, this new carriage will create some unrest among the royal faction."
Noel shook his head. "The second reason is somewhat correct, but not the way I intended… Just think about this. If the crown prince comes there and meets you, what will happen? After that, will he become desperate once he sees the carriage?"
"Ah?!" Anna finally understood what he wanted. Her second reason only covered the bare minimum of the plan, but Noel planned to deal a lot of damage to the royal family. "The crown prince will definitely become desperate after seeing them.
"And because the royal family's original plan was to marry me to him, his desperation would ruin his image. With the Sword Arbiter, the Moon Temple, and even our citizens as witnesses, even a slight rash action will harm the royal family's reputation.
"People will think that the royal family is going to force me, the fiancee of Earl Ardagan, to marry him which is a direct insult to the Ardagan family.
"The rumor will spread and that is enough to make some nobles that support the royal faction leave."
Noel nodded with a smile. "It seems that you can finally understand the bigger picture."
"I'm still not as good as you, but thanks to you, I've learned a lot about politics and tactics. I will do my best so as to not disappoint you."
"Still…I guess I lost to you during the meeting." Noel looked away. "Your suggestions have given us a lot of opportunities. Was that what I did in the previous life?"
"No. The rune technology wasn't that advanced in our previous lives and we probably died before it reached that stage. I thought about the airship from the giant balloon that the Greenwood Kingdom developed. As for the longer carriage, it was due to the Moon Temple. I thought it would be good for the Moon Temple," Anna explained.
The air balloon in the Greenwood Kingdom was definitely something he never expected. And the Moon Temple only came to this place because they had changed history by saving Layla in that city.
"Impressive." Noel nodded in approval.
"Hehe… Are you feeling bad for losing to me right now?" Anna smirked and placed her hands on Noel's cheeks, teasing him. "How cute. Come, let me spoil you."
"I'm merely showing our vassals that the Ardagan family has not only me but also the soon-to-be lady of the family." Noel harrumphed.
"You're not so honest, aren't you?" Anna sat down on his lap while circling her hands around Noel's neck. "You should be more honest, you know."
"What? You truly want me to be more honest?" Noel smirked.
"Of course." Anna thought that Noel had a plan in mind, but she wasn't afraid of him today.
But Noel suddenly launched a sneak attack by whispering directly into her ears. "Why do I send you to Laivaen City? There is actually one more reason… What do you think?"
Anna raised her eyebrows. She tried to come up with another reason, but nothing came to mind. "Maybe… you haven't given me any clues about it…"
Noel only gave her one word. "Marriage."
"!!!" Anna opened her mouth in shock. The words that wanted to come out were stuck in her throat.
That was right. They were going to hold the marriage over there, so it was obvious that they needed a new place to hold the ceremony.
With her there, Anna could check out this new place and do everything necessary for their marriage ceremony.
This might be the most important reason. Although the crown prince and other stuff were important, for both of them, marriage was definitely the priority.
Anna couldn't help but feel moved. Her cheeks reddened. Both of them wanted the same thing, so she felt embarrassed that Noel put more thought into this.
Since her arms were still circling around his neck, she just pulled his head toward her and kissed him.
It was just for a brief moment, but Noel could sense her happiness. As if losing his reason, Noel suddenly stood up while carrying her in his arms.
Anna was surprised for a split second but soon just rested her head on his shoulder. She was simply too happy to care about other things. They didn't know when the buds of their love appeared, but it was clear that both of them could marry the person they loved when political marriage was the norm for nobles. They had overcome the challenges and would come together in three months.
But to her surprise, Noel actually brought her outside the mansion and put her down.
"Eh?" Anna blinked her eyes in disbelief.
"What's wrong? We have a lot of work right now. Or maybe… you are expecting something else?" Noel grinned, whispering the same words Anna used to tease him. "How cute."
Anna's eyes flashed as she instantly looped around him and grabbed the back of his collar, dragging him back inside the mansion.
No one knew how Anna settled the score at that time.
