Transactions begin with mutual agreement.

When the interests of both parties align with what they desire, only then can a deal be struck.

Of course, the underlying motives or hidden agendas may differ from reality.

However, at least on the surface, there must be acceptable conditions for a transaction to be executed.

Ultimately, the essence of a transaction lies in understanding what the other party wants and aligning that with what I desire to achieve it.

From this perspective,

I was able to choose how to act.

*

Count Andreas’s wife and Dust were selecting Santana’s bride.

The two looked at the three shortlisted candidates with expectant expressions.

“Of course, we’ll know more after meeting them again, but for now, it seems best to choose among these three.”

“That’s true. Among the noble ladies near our Bohemia, these must be the finest.”

Nodding with a smile, Dust agreed with her mother’s words.

Through direct and indirect meetings and letters, they had selected these three.

Looking at their portraits before them, they felt quite satisfied.

One of the 13 nobles, Count Atlas’s daughter, Selion Atlas.

The second daughter of the Wilhelm house, the lord of the northern Prussia duchy, Angelica Aren Wilhelm.

And the last one…

The woman they had just met, the sister of the lord of the Rhapsody region,

Estelle Bertina Fernandez.

All three possessed exceptional beauty and refinement, and their families were of impeccable noble bloodlines, so Countess and Dust thought one of these three might be suitable for Santana’s bride.

“Honestly, I can’t choose beyond this. They’re all such wonderful people, I can’t decide who to select.”

The countess wore a happy yet troubled smile.

Given that Selion Atlas had a deep bond with their family, the other two were considered some of the most sought-after brides within the empire.

Such remarkable individuals could only be chosen by someone deserving of such a privilege.

The fact that these women were being considered as partners for her beloved son brought her a mix of caution and immense joy.

Observing her mother’s demeanor, Dust smiled and, unusually cheerful, spoke.

“If I had to pick one out of the three, it would be Estelle. Someone who has achieved such remarkable victories alongside my older brother would certainly suit him.”

The tales of how Estelle subdued the nobility within her territory and the thriving Rhapsody region under her practical governance were quite the talk in the empire.

Pointing this out, Dust subtly pushed for Estelle, and while the Countess nodded, she maintained a somewhat cautious stance.

“That may be so, but it seems this isn’t a decision we can make lightly. No matter how it is, we should give your older brother the freedom to choose.”

No matter how much this was a political marriage, they needed to consider Santana’s opinion to some extent, which is why he would also be present during the upcoming second meeting.

However, putting that aside, the Countess honestly found it difficult to weigh the merits of these three.

Each had their strengths and weaknesses, and all could promise political advantages.

In her view, any of the three would be acceptable, so she concluded it would be best to grant her son the freedom to choose from this point onward.

At that moment,

Although Santana had already made his choice in his heart,

*

After accepting the invitation from the House Andreas and finishing the meeting, Estelle Bertina Fernandez was briefly exploring Bohemia’s Lord’s Castle.

As she looked around the residence and territory of a lord that held more power and size than her own territory of Rhapsody, she began to grasp the strength of Bohemia.

“As expected… while the strength of the 13 nobles is formidable, the power of Bohemia’s lord is extraordinary.”

She was well aware of the political risks posed by the lower-tier families that made up the 13 nobles.

However, even with that in mind, the power and influence of Bohemia’s lord were certainly stronger than the neighboring Rhapsody area.

The sheer size of the territory was different, and the land was richer than Rhapsody, along with being a vital commercial hub of the continent, elevating the average level of this area above others.

In other words, even if power is dispersed, the overall average remains high, making it less noticeable.

Considering this, Estelle began to ponder what advantages she might gain if she were to marry into this region.

“Being neighbors, it has many perks. Since we’ve had a competitive relationship since ancient times, perhaps I could eliminate that conflict and… if things go well, we might even attract some of Bohemia’s market rights to us.”

Of course, aside from such advantages, Estelle hadn’t firmly resolved her feelings about marriage yet.

While there were undoubtedly significant political benefits, she had to be cautious about stepping into a quagmire of political strife with the 13 nobles, and ultimately, she didn’t have a clear decision regarding marriage.

Her main reason for being here was to observe the situation of Bohemia, a powerful neighboring region that would inevitably be either an ally or a competitor.

Since few had touched upon her as a candidate for marriage,

she could move around the castle relatively freely, allowing her to gather the level of information she desired.

“The overall situation is quite favorable given it’s just after the war ended in victory. Given that it’s a wealthy region, recovery efforts seem to be proceeding rapidly…”

Feeling a mix of admiration and wariness towards Bohemia’s resilience, Estelle finished her information gathering for the day and returned to the castle for some rest.

Soon after, she headed toward the lodging assigned to her.

At that moment…

A woman she had never seen before blocked her path.

Dressed as a maid, she possessed such stunning beauty with her red hair that even Estelle, as a woman, was taken aback.

Then, the maid politely bowed her head and spoke to Estelle in a calm voice.

“Excuse me. Are you Miss Estelle Bertina Fernandez?”

“Yes, that’s me! Is there something you need?”

As Estelle inquired with curiosity,

the maid kept her politeness intact, smiled gently, and said,

“My master wishes to meet with you for a moment. If it’s not too much trouble, could you spare a bit of your time?”

“Your master? Could you clarify who exactly that is?”

Feeling a bit strange, Estelle asked cautiously.

The maid moved a little closer to Estelle and spoke in a hushed tone, just loud enough for her to hear.

“My master, Lord Santana Andreas, would like to meet with you. Would you accept this invitation?”

“?!”

Estelle displayed a slight surprise at the maid’s words about the main figure in this marriage.

Of course, it was likely they would meet in the upcoming second meeting, but the fact that he personally requested a quiet meeting intrigued her.

“A private meeting before the formal one… this seems to be getting interesting.”

Since she was here primarily for information gathering, Estelle had no real reason to decline the request.

With a smile on her lips, she replied softly to the maid in front of her.

“Very well, I will accept that request.”