A man named Ludwig Elbach knocked on the gate of the Elbach estate five days after the engagement hearing.
Estella had learnt of this through Leonhardt's information network. From a maid in the baronial house to a civil official, and from the civil official to Leonhardt. Just like before, the information quietly made its way through the channels.
By a window in the corridor. An exchange of administrative documents.
"Millefeuille's biological father visited the baronial house." Leonhardt's voice was low and flat.
"Apparently, he discussed the future of her adoption with the head of the baronial house. The baronial house is considering revoking the adoption to preserve their family name but Ludwig used the loans they owe him as a leverage and told them not to rush the decision."
"That's coercion."
"Within legal bounds, yes."
As Leonhardt handed over the documents, he slipped an additional piece of paper between them.
"At the same time, our investigation has also progressed. This came out of Duke Viktor's credit check."
Estella looked down at the piece of paper.
The Elbach Company had obtained a letter of recommendation for their royal purveyor application from Viscount Forster's house, one of their debtors. The certification process for becoming a royal purveyor required a recommendation from a noble house. That letter had come from a viscountcy house bound to them by debt.
"Their recommendation came from someone who owed them money."
"It's possible that they pressured House Forster to write them a recommendation letter, but the application itself is legal. I don't have the authority to reject it as an administrative aide."
Leonhardt's voice contained a trace of frustration. He was trying to maintain his emotionless tone, but a slight crack was showing. This meant that finding a rational solution to this would be difficult.
Estella slipped the paper back between the documents and thought.
If we can't stop it legally, then we'll have to undermine the application.
Memories from her past life surfaced. During her department store days, there were cases when she couldn't stop the unreasonable complaint, but she could dismantle it. She would present product inspection records when people claimed the product was defective. She undermined their claims and the complaints lost their validity.
"Your Highness. The credibility of their recommendation letter will be compromised... if the viscountcy house who wrote the recommendation were to testify that they were coerced into doing it because of their debt."
Leonhardt looked up.
"Even if the application itself is legal, if the recommendation is fraudulent, then it can be reported to the royal family."
"Would the viscountcy house testify against the company they owe money to?"
"That is the problem. The viscountcy house would be scared of worsening their relationship with the company. Persuading them to testify would be a political act beyond the scopes of your duties, Your Highness..."
"You're saying that I need the ducal house."
Estella nodded.
"I will ask Father."
The words came out naturally.
Before... if she were her past self... she would have been opposed to asking for help. She stood alone at the counter, solved her own problems and dealt with her frustrations alone. Those habits were ingrained into her very bones.
Now, she could choose to rely on her father. Leonhardt's intelligence-gathering ability, Duke Viktor's political influence, and Estella's strategic planning. The collaboration between the three had formed naturally.
"Undermine the recommendation and damage the credibility of their royal purveyor application. Stop the company from expanding into the court. That is the order we will do things in."
"Clear enough."
Leonhardt rearranged the documents; signaling that their exchange was over.
His hand stopped.
"You're still talking formally to me even though your engagement has been annulled."
Estella was speechless for a second.
Leonhardt's voice sounded slightly warmer than his usual administrative tone. It was a casual query, a private remark that had slipped in between business.
"You are still royalty, Your Highness." Estella answered gently.
"And..."
The words came out more honestly than she had intended. "I'm simply afraid of changing the distance between us."
Silence fell.
The footsteps of students passing by sounded as if it were happening from very far away.
Estella was surprised by her own words. "Afraid." She had let half of her true feelings slip out so carelessly. The emotional control she had cultivated in her past life in the service industry sometimes slipped beyond her grasp in his presence.
Leonhardt did not answer.
After a few seconds, he readjusted the documents in his arms.
"The viscountcy house will see a way to free themselves from the company if the head of the ducal house intervenes. They can even renegotiate their debt with the ducal house acting as an intermediary." He steered the conversation back; from emotions to facts.
Estella accepted this. He prioritised facts over emotions. That was his principle and also what made him trustworthy.
But.
Behind the change of conversation were words left unspoken; about using formal language even after her engagement was annulled, about the distance, about Estella saying she was afraid, about how Leonhardt wanted to respond to that.
He had said nothing.
Did he choose not to think about it or did he back away after giving it some thought?
Estella didn't know but not knowing caused her to feel slightly lonely.
But she too was running away from her emotions since she thought it was alright to feel lonely.
She wrote a letter to her father after she had returned to her room.
She requested that he arbitrate with Viscount Forster's House. The ducal house could show them a path to freedom by offering them patronage. She proposed that the ducal house acted as an arbitrator during renegotiation.
She was relying on her father.
She noticed that she could make this choice without the resistance she once felt.
Have I changed?
Asking for help was a sign of defeat in her past life. In this life, asking for help was a part of the strategy. The difference was huge. But she felt it was more than just that.
She had her father and Leonhardt.
She was not alone.
Estella still couldn't admit that it was something beyond strategy.
She pressed the wax seal and instructed her lady-in-waiting to arrange a courier.
A thought crossed her mind when she put down the pen.
Why had Leonhardt said nothing in response when I said I was afraid to change the distance?
He does prioritise facts over feelings. Is postponing the emotional conversation a rational choice? Or was he too running away from facing his feelings?
She couldn't come up with an answer.
Estella picked up her embroidery hoop and began moving the needle. Her stitches were even. This was a habit for when she needed to clear her mind.
That evening. Her lady-in-waiting brought new information.
"A reply from Duke Viktor, my lady. He says he has agreed to arbitrate with the viscountcy house. And..."
her lady in waiting lowered her voice.
"The Duke's credit check has confirmed that the Elbach Company has been exerting their influence over noble houses by implying stricter repayment terms. It is legal, but by the customs of noble society..."
"It would be interpreted as a commoner merchant house threatening nobility."
"Yes. The Duke is reportedly considering handing this information to the Royal Council."
Estella nodded.
The pieces were beginning to move. Leonhardt's intelligence, Estella's strategy and Duke Viktor's political influence. The coordination of the three was slowly chipping away at the outer walls of the company's schemes.
But the head of the company, Ludwig, would not stay silent either.
Estella looked out the window. In the darkness of the night, the lights of the academy dotted the landscape.
This opponent would not be moved by emotion. Neither tears nor performance would work. But his plan could be dismantled.
Estella closed her eyes with the embroidery hoop on her lap.
Now it was their turn to make a move.