A little while later, once the pounding in his chest had finally begun to settle, Yuri turned his gaze toward Elise.
"Lady Elise..."
As if deliberately switching his mind to the next task, he continued.
"You know the young lord the viscount's daughter is in love with, right? The one we were talking about. I'd like you to handle that side of things. Could you somehow arrange for him to escort her at the evening party?"
Elise blinked once in surprise, but then her cheeks flushed faintly and she gave a small nod.
"Understood... I will make certain he proposes to her."
Her quiet determination reassured Yuri, and he moved on to the next instruction.
"And Aina, Lily."
At the same time, both women looked to him.
"Could the two of you work with Lady Elena to prepare a dress for the evening party? We don't have much time, but if Lady Elena takes the lead, I'm sure it'll work out."
"What shall we do about the fabric?" Aina asked in a calm voice.
Yuri tilted his head slightly, looking troubled.
"Hmm... I could prepare a finished dress, but that would cost something like 125 gold coins."
"O-one hundred and twenty-five gold coins?"
Elena's eyes flew wide, and she cried out in shock.
"Yeah. I don't have enough on hand right now, so I'd have to ask Lady Elise to advance the money, but that's a bit much, isn't it?"
When Yuri looked to Elise for confirmation, she shook her head with a pained expression.
"Yes. Even with my authority, arranging that much money at once would be difficult."
"I figured... If it's just the fabric, it's forty gold coins. I could go cheaper if we used something lower quality, but..."
As Yuri trailed off awkwardly, Elena suddenly leaned forward.
"Elise, could we manage somehow if we sold the dressmaking jewels we have at the workshop?"
Elena looked at Elise with a grave, earnest expression.
"Let me think... Considering what we originally paid for them, I believe we should have that much."
After a moment's thought, Elise nodded.
"Thank you! Lord Strauss, we'll raise the funds that way, so could you please prepare the fabric?"
Elena looked up at Yuri, her eyes full of hope.
"Sure. I understand. But if possible, could I take the jewels themselves instead of converting them into gold coins?"
"Huh...? That would be fine, but..."
Elise still looked slightly puzzled, but she agreed.
"Good. Then I think we can manage the dress fabric!"
Yuri let out a breath of relief, and his expression softened naturally.
When he looked around at everyone again, he noticed that Ophelia was gazing down at the pieces on the table, her head tilted slightly.
"Ria, is something bothering you?"
At Yuri's question, Ophelia reached a hand toward the black king on the table. With a smooth slide of her fingertip, she knocked the piece over.
"My lord, what do you intend to do about gathering information?"
At that casual question, Yuri set a hand to his chin and sank into thought.
"Right... If we could place a magical device that records voices in the room where the secret meeting will be held, I think we could obtain some very useful information."
"A magical device that records voices... Such a thing exists?"
Elise's eyes widened in surprise.
"Y-yeah, more or less. I can make one."
Yuri looked away as he answered, sounding faintly apologetic.
Actually, all I'd be doing is buying it through my Merchant Gift.
"The problem is, even then, someone has to enter that room twice. And it needs to be placed somewhere people would naturally have private conversations..."
He continued with a sigh.
"I could probably infiltrate the place with magic, but that costs money... and I'd rather keep this cheap if we can."
At those words, Elise tilted her head as if to ask, "Money for magic?" But then, seeming to remember something, she thought for a moment before looking up.
"Now that you mention it... I heard that the head of that trading company has been searching for an apothecary."
"An apothecary?"
Yuri tilted his head.
"Is he sick?"
"No... Apparently, it's a symptom one would hesitate to discuss with others. I heard he said it itches so badly that he cannot sleep."
Elise answered with one hand lightly covering her mouth, wearing a slightly troubled expression.
"It itches so badly that he can't sleep, huh..."
Yuri fell into thought at those words and remembered his days as an office worker in his previous life.
Athlete's foot or ringworm, maybe? If it's bad enough to keep him from sleeping... ringworm?
For an instant, that possibility surfaced in his mind, and Yuri silently covered his face in his heart.
Ugh, I'd rather avoid this if I could... but there probably isn't going to be a better opportunity than this.
Perhaps noticing his reaction, Ophelia tilted her head with interest and asked,
"My lord, do you have some idea what it might be?"
"Ah, yeah... I mean, I have a rough idea."
Yuri scratched his cheek with a strained smile.
"I think I can get medicine that would work on those symptoms. I'd have to examine him first, but... if we use that, I think I might be able to get inside."
Yuri ended the explanation with some unease, but Elise's eyes suddenly flashed.
"I see. An examination would place you alone in a closed room with the company head...!"
She clenched the quill in her hand, her eyes sparkling as though she had just come up with a new story idea.
...Huh? Did I just step on a land mine?
Yuri had a vague bad feeling, but he still did not know what it meant.
"A closed room... an examination..."
Elise repeated the words, pressing a hand to her cheek and murmuring dreamily.
"This is the scene where that stern, no-nonsense company head, burdened by a secret shame he cannot share with anyone, confides in the young Lord Strauss...!"
Wait, where is this going!?
Yuri screamed inwardly and tried to steer the conversation back on track, but Elise's imagination would not stop.
"First, the company head would confess with great embarrassment, 'It itches here so terribly I cannot bear it.'"
"W-wait, Lady Elise!"
Yuri hurried to stop her, but Elise paid him no mind and continued.
"And then Lord Strauss would gently encourage him with perfect composure, saying, 'Please don't worry. I'll examine you properly,' with a tender smile—"
"That is not happening! Also, Lady Elise, were you always this kind of character!?"
Yuri, bright red to the ears, denied it with all his might, but Elise seemed to be enjoying his reaction all the more.
"Now, now, Lady Elise. Do keep it in moderation."
Ophelia soothed Elise with an easy smile.
"Now then, my lord, what illness does the company head have?"
At that question, Yuri looked away and answered awkwardly.
"Huh? Come on, isn't it fine? Everyone has things they'd rather keep private."
"I am one of your wives, my lord. No matter how embarrassing the matter may be, I am prepared to accept it."
Ophelia smiled with refined elegance, leaning forward just a little as she continued.
"No, you'd absolutely enjoy this and report it to Her Majesty the Queen Dowager."
"I do possess discretion. However, when I see you looking so troubled, my lord, I do find myself... rather tempted."
As Ophelia laughed in delight, Yuri looked away despite himself and gave a helpless shrug.
When we first met, I never imagined she'd ever tease me like this...
In his mind, the day he had first met Ophelia rose into view.
Back then, she had been composed, dignified, and flawless, like a sculpture carved from ice.
If I remember right, it was at Lady Celine's Marriage-Down Ceremony... Back then, she had this aura that kept everyone at a distance.
And now that same woman was smiling and trading lighthearted jokes with him like this.
It feels strange somehow. But not bad. Actually, the fact that I'm happy about it is what's troubling.
Unable to get Ophelia's delighted smile out of his head, Yuri returned his gaze to the others with a wry smile.
"W-well, let's leave that topic for later. Everyone, please handle your preparations for the evening party."
Ophelia smiled as if satisfied by that answer, then brought the room to a close in a cool, graceful voice.
"Very well. If it is that difficult for you to say, then I suppose it cannot be helped. Now then, everyone, shall we begin our respective tasks?"
Ophelia's words rang through the reception room, and everyone quietly nodded.
A calm air of resolve spread through the room as they prepared to put the plan into motion.
With everyone here, I'm sure the White Queen Happiness Plan will succeed.
Thinking that to himself, Yuri let out one long breath.