A week after 'Cecilion' emerged from the shadows, the atmosphere in Magenta Palace changed to the point that it was visible to the common people. After a week had passed, there was no more commotion over Cecilia's death. The people had slowly accepted that there was now a new prince hidden behind the mask.
The nobles were still wary around 'him', unsure whether to view him as an ally, a threat, or just another puppet who continued to live in his sister's shadow. No one dared to speak to Cecilion directly. Even so, everyone was secretly watching his every move.
For the time being, all attention would be on 'Cecilion'. Therefore, Cecilia did not do much except when she was in her room.
At Cecilia's request, to avoid suspicion, she was given a new palace by King Arkadion. The palace was separate from the main palace where she used to live. Even so, living away from the palace gave Cecilia more freedom than before.
Since the beginning of her move, the palace had become Cecilia's new base. Through Nina, who never left her side, Cecilia began to build her power. She paid attention to who was worthy of being with her and who she should get rid of to prevent unnecessary threats.
In the palace, Cecilia began her battle with time. She slept later than the others. Then, when she finally fell asleep, she would still wake up earlier than everyone else.
That night, Cecilia was the only one who was still awake when the others were already fast asleep. Cecilia was busy writing something in her book. Now and then, her brows would furrow. Then, when she was not satisfied, she would tear the pages of the book and crumple them into a ball.
In front of her was a large map of the Magenta Kingdom. Beside it were scattered piles of books on military strategy, trade, agriculture, and medicine.
Cecilia supported her chin with her hand, staring at the map with furrowed brows. Her eyes were already feeling heavy. However, Cecilia convinced herself not to sleep, not when she had just realized that she had made a fatal mistake by continuing to repeat time.
After Cecilia decided to analyze her life, she realized that all this time, she had been so fixated on the story that she forgot to see that from the very beginning, the Magenta kingdom had many shortcomings that would lead to its destruction in the next few years.
Cecilia straightened her back and let out a long sigh. Rather than her own life, Cecilia intended to focus on developing her kingdom this time. But to do that, she had to study the rotten conditions in her kingdom.
With steady movements, she pulled out a blank sheet of paper and began to write what had been on her mind all this time.
[Causes of the Weakness of the Magenta Kingdom
1. Dependence on the Blaine kingdom's trade routes.
2. Monopoly of medicine by the Landis Kingdom.
3. Depletion of the royal treasury.
4. Corruption at the local government level.
5. Minimal and untrained defense forces.]
Cecilia stared at the list with furrowed brows. Of all the problems, the economic problem was the most pressing problem that she had to solve. In her ninety-nine attempts, Cecilia had never lived more than three years. But during those three years, Cecilia knew that her kingdom was always crumbling because of the kingdom's weak economy.
Without a strong economy, they could not expand the kingdom or strengthen the kingdom's military power. That was their main problem. The Magenta Kingdom would never have won if she hadn't done something about the state of her kingdom's economy.
If she had to rebuild Magenta from within, then the first path that had to be opened was... independent trade routes. Their losses in economic matters were too great. Only after Cecilia had read economic books in the palace for three full days did she finally come to that conclusion.
All this time, the Magenta Kingdom had always relied on the land route through the Blaine Kingdom for trade. Therefore, every time Blaine raised taxes or closed the borders, their kingdom would suffer great losses.
If they had their own route, the Magenta Kingdom would be able to trade directly to the coastal areas or other places without having to rely on anyone. The risk of creating a route was indeed high. However, if Cecilia calculated the benefits... they could fill the palace treasury if they managed to create a trading route for their kingdom.
Cecilia scribbled a plan for a new route, mapped out important points on the map, and then wrote something in her notebook. The plan she wanted to realize would cost a lot of money, but it was still possible. Cecilia would create a new path, even if she had to split the mountain with her own hands.
"..."
Cecilia only stopped when sunlight began to peek through the window of her room. Cecilia looked at the sky and then at her candle, which had run out several times.
"Sigh."
After a while, Cecilia finally put down her pen. Her face looked tired. Of course. Since Cecilia started over, she had barely had any rest because she was obsessed with the plan she made at the last minute.
Cecilia wanted to close her eyes for just a moment. But when she did, she immediately fell into a deep sleep. Cecilia didn't realize when Nina and Sir Robert entered her room to check on her.
"Please don't wake her up."
Nina whispered when Robert was about to reach out his hand to move Cecilia to her bed. Both of their faces were gloomy. As they were the closest to Cecilia all this time, they knew how heavy her responsibility was that she was willing to change her identity and lose her sleep.
"Let her sleep. She needs it."
Robert nodded, then took a blanket to cover Cecilia. Cecilia's sleeping position might not be the best. She slept on her study table. Even so, it was better than waking someone who was easily awake with the slightest movement.
"Good night, Your Highness. I hope what you wish for will come true."
Nina said her prayers earnestly, then left Cecilia's room with Robert.