“The Joseon delegation has officially reached the harbor,” Mi-Reu noted, her gaze fixed on the drifting clouds as she and Gi-Reu lay sprawled atop a long wooden table in their newly renovated office wing. The scent of fresh lacquer and pine still lingered in the air of the quiet hall.

  “That means it will take even longer for us to fill the vacancies for the bureau,” Gi-Reu replied gloomily, staring up at the intricate patterns of the ceiling beams.

  “It already took an entire month just to finalize the renovations and cut through the mountain of paperwork...” Mi-Reu sighed, her frustration mounting. “Now, between the ceremonies and the diplomatic hosting, it will likely be more than a month before we can even hire a single clerk to begin operations. Ergh!”

  “There is nothing we can do to speed it up,” Gi-Reu added, his voice laced with disappointment. “The Memorial Rites of the Ancestors begin this week. Every official from the Minister of Rites down to the lowest scribe will be entirely consumed by the rituals.”

  “So, the renovations are finally completed, I see.”

  A calm, resonant voice drifted from the entrance. The twins sat up abruptly to see Crown Prince Yi-Joon standing in the doorway, his silhouette framed by the late afternoon sun.

  “Yi-Joon!” they exclaimed in unison.

  The Crown Prince Yi-Joon let out a weary sigh, though a small smile played at the corners of his mouth. “It is 'Crown Prince' to you two brats. I have repeatedly instructed you to respect the royal titles, especially within the palace grounds.”

  Mi-Reu and Gi-Reu hopped off the table and scurried toward him, dropping into a perfectly synchronized, exaggeratedly deep bow. “Yes, yes! Welcome, Your Most Magnificent and Exalted Royal Highness, Crown Prince Barua Yi-Joon!”

  Crown Prince Yi-Joon rolled his eyes at their antics. “Clearly, your 'sincere' mockery is as sharp as ever. Let’s put the theatrics aside for a moment.”

  “What brings you here, Brother?” Gi-Reu asked, tilting his head curiously.

  Mi-Reu tapped Gi-Reu’s shoulder, a knowing smirk forming on her face. “Isn't it obvious? He’s here to plead with us to fulfill our end of the bargain, to invite Lady Shin Soo-In to 'observe' our horseback riding practice.”

  Gi-Reu’s eyes lit up as he caught on, letting out a long, teasing “Ah~” of understanding.

  Crown Prince Yi-Joon sighed again, though a faint flush of color touched his cheeks. He raised an eyebrow, trying to maintain his princely composure. “You both gave me your word in exchange for my signature on your bureau's proposal. I expect you to keep your promise.”

  “Of course, we are children of our word,” Mi-Reu replied, reaching up to give his shoulder a reassuring double-tap.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Gi-Reu added with a mischievous smirk, “Actually, we were just discussing when to request an audience with her. We simply thought it best to let her rest first, considering her fleet has only just docked.”

  “Ah... I see. That is... thoughtful of you,” Crown Prince Yi-Joon replied, his smile turning slightly awkward as he realized his siblings were essentially managing his love life.

  “While sending the invitation, deliver this as well... discreetly,” Crown Prince Yi-Joon added, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. He reached into the folds of his silk sleeve and handed Mi-Reu a small, simple letter sealed with unadorned wax. Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and began a quick retreat down the corridor.

  “He truly becomes an entirely different person whenever matters regarding Lady Shin are involved,” Gi-Reu commented, watching the retreating, slightly stiff silhouette of their eldest brother.

  “He really does,” Mi-Reu murmured, though her attention had already drifted. She was smiling absently at the translucent system panel shimmering in her field of vision.

  [Memory Archive System

  Balance: 823 Yang↑

  Cognitive Bandwidth: 2.0]

  “Gi-Reu. Our balance has jumped to 823 Yang,” Mi-Reu informed him, pointing at the invisible glowing numbers. “Now that the official paperwork for the bureau is complete, the system is finally recognizing both of our monthly allowances together as a single pool of 'virtual currency'”

  Gi-Reu’s eyes widened, his frustration over the renovation delays vanishing in an instant. “So we can afford two more Quick Recalls right now?!”

  “Yes... but I think we can actually squeeze out three!” Mi-Reu added, a thoughtful, calculating smile spreading across her face.

  “Three? How?” Gi-Reu asked, leaning in close. “The math doesn't add up. Three would cost nine hundred.”

  “I have an idea on how to obtain another hundred," she replied, her eyes flashing with a spark of ingenuity. She grabbed his hand and began pulling him toward the exit. “But first, let’s deliver Yi-Joon’s secret letter! I’ll explain the plan on the way!”

  With that, the two royal twins bolted out of the newly renovated wing of the Advisory Office for Practical Affairs, their laughter echoing through the halls as they raced toward the guest quarters where the Joseon delegation was being settled.

  “The Royal Twins of Haebang request an immediate audience, My Lady,” the head lady-in-waiting reported, her voice hushed as she entered the inner chamber.

  Lady Shin Soo-In was currently resting on a lacquered daybed, slowly sipping a bowl of fragrant jasmine tea to ward off the lingering chill of the sea voyage. The main hall of the guest wing was decorated with ornate folding screens and heavy silk drapes, creating an atmosphere of quiet, dignified isolation.

  A soft, genuine smile touched her lips at the news. “Of course. Please, show them in at once,” she replied, setting her tea bowl down with a delicate click.

  “I would love nothing more than to chat with the youngest members of the royal family,” she added. While she maintained a perfectly neutral, poised facade befitting a future Crown Princess, there was a spark of hidden excitement in her eyes. To Lady Shin, the twins were not just the siblings of her betrothed; they were the only ones in the palace but her hidden messengers to the otherwise rigid protocols of her visits.

  The lady-in-waiting bowed low and retreated to inform the twins that they were permitted to enter. Lady Shin smoothed the front of her pale pink chima and adjusted her posture, bracing herself for whatever mischief or secret messages from her prince, the two were undoubtedly bringing her this time.