Chapter 111………………
“Good heavens! Shouldn’t we throw a party?!”
“A… party?”
“What party? Don’t you know the First Princess isn’t even allowed to leave the palace or invite guests until the eve of the pre-festival?”
I asked, and Mulin clicked her tongue as if to say, “Did you forget that too?” That sight made Illia flare up in anger.
“Who said anything about inviting outsiders? I meant just among ourselves!”
Illia huffed and puffed, then continued explaining.
“You know how the temple and the imperial family have been quietly spreading the word? They said one of His Majesty’s children will be chosen to light the beacon fire at this year’s pre-festival. Because of that, the contents of the first aptitude test leaked out, and do you know what everyone is saying about the First Princess?”
“What are they saying?”
“Not long ago they cursed her, but now? They’re praising her as if a saint has descended!”
“Ah, true. Public favor seems to be swinging back toward Her Highness.”
“And it’s all thanks to you two.”
I gave Illia a little smile. Straightening her chest proudly, she said,
“Honestly, back then I worried myself sick, thinking you might be beaten to death by the ‘street people.’ It was terrifying.”
Illia shuddered at the memory, though she tried to make light of it.
As if I had just stood by and watched?
I’d done some behind-the-scenes maneuvering. I made sure the Empress would fall neatly into my trap—so she couldn’t avoid it. Through Illia, I had my favorability with the ‘street people’ dragged down.
“Still, the people’s faith is truly something, isn’t it? I nearly got hit by a young man just for insulting Your Highness. Once he realized I had disappeared, he stomped the ground so hard in frustration….”
“He’s a good person.”
“Isn’t he? Anyway! Shouldn’t we at least hold a little party among ourselves? It’s a monumental event that Your Highness has awakened your holy power!”
“Well, if it’s for that reason… it does sound good. Rather than sitting quietly, we should at least share the news with the servants and celebrate together, don’t you think?”
“…Shall we, then?”
I needed a breather anyway. Lately I’d been mentally exhausted, nerves stretched too tight.
When I nodded with a smile, Illia brightened and hurried out to tell the servants.
“What are we supposed to do with that one,” Mulin muttered, shaking his head, and I gave an awkward laugh.
And while Lilien’s palace was thrown into chaos over preparing a party, Rius frowned at Renald’s report.
“The First Princess awakened her holy power…?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. According to His Holiness Maridris, the crystal orb filled completely.”
“…”
Should I be pleased, or not?
Rius’s expression clouded with a complicated look.
‘If things go wrong, they might force the Princess’s residence to move from the palace to the temple….’
Renald gave him a sympathetic smile, as if to say he understood.
“However, since His Holiness made no mention of changing her residence, I believe Her Highness will still remain in the palace.”
“…True.”
“Please don’t be too concerned. Weren’t you already uneasy when the Princess transferred full authority over the orichalcum business to the Crown Prince? If news spreads that she has awakened holy power, no noble will dare underestimate her again.”
“…That’s true.”
“Ah! In that case, why not hold a small party? Isn’t this a joyful occasion? She is the first member of the imperial family ever to awaken holy power rivaling His Holiness.”
“…Yes.”
“It is a pity we cannot invite the great noble houses’ heirs, but Her Highness doesn’t favor large gatherings anyway. If we frame the situation carefully, the nobles won’t be able to complain.”
Rius thought it made sense.
Whenever parties were held, countless people swarmed him, hoping to curry favor. He never knew if the First Princess enjoyed those events or endured them in silence.
Moreover, Dmitri had only just returned from the Aetisra war. Their relationship had grown distant, and things would only get busier later—so now might be a good time. Just as Rius was about to accept Renald’s suggestion—
Knock knock.
Both men turned to the office door.
“Enter.”
At Renald’s word, the door opened, and their eyes widened.
“Your Majesty the Empress?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Dolores entered, her mood heavy. She fixed Renald with a sharp glare, clearly disliking his presence beside the Emperor.
Understanding, Renald bowed and excused himself.
Once the door closed, Rius sighed and muttered lowly to the glowering Empress.
“What’s the matter, coming all the way here? Must be something serious.”
“Don’t you already know the reason?”
“Who can say.”
Feigning ignorance, he made Dolores furrow her brow.
“You still have that habit—pretending not to know until the other says it aloud. Fine then, I’ll speak. Your Majesty, I cannot accept this.”
“What exactly?”
“What else but the first aptitude test?”
“The test is already finished.”
Rius clicked his tongue, reaching for his pen—
Bang!
The Empress slammed his desk, spilling ink all over the documents.
Veins rose faintly on the Emperor’s forehead. His voice dropped like ice.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“That’s my line. What do you think you’re doing, my Emperor? When did you change like this? Once you despised the weak who couldn’t even defend themselves. Yet now you give them attention?”
“…”
“Your Majesty, return to the way you were. I preferred that ruthless man you used to be, not this one.”
Dolores curved her lips in a sly smile.
“And besides, you don’t want to hurt ‘her’ anymore, do you? It seems you’ve already grown attached. Do you think I’ll simply sit back and watch that mother and daughter, powerless as I may be?”
It was a blatant threat.
The Emperor’s cold face grew even harder, his hand clenching into a fist. Dolores smiled at that.
“Therefore, I declare the first aptitude test void. Two of your children—Dmitri and Emin—have not yet taken it, after all.”
At her words, Rius gave a dry laugh.
“Ah yes, I had forgotten those two.”
“Indeed. So we’ll redo the first test once they return.”
“Perhaps.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Relief flickered over her face—until the Emperor spoke again.
“Then ask Lilien as well. Get her consent, if you can.”
His tone dripped with mockery.
“…What?”
Dolores’s eyes widened. Did he truly tell her to seek that cursed girl’s agreement?
“Threats won’t work. Using those around her won’t work either. You know I’ve already stationed plenty of eyes near her. So don’t even try.”
“You…!”
“So, do you still want it annulled?”
“….”
Grinding her teeth, Dolores’s eyes burned. Forcing down her rage, she smiled thinly.
“No. That won’t be necessary.”
“Then leave. As you can see, I’m very busy.”
He crumpled the ink-stained documents and tossed them to the floor.
The Empress plastered on a fake smile and withdrew.
Renald, waiting outside, bowed to see her off.
‘That damned man.’
The humiliation of being seen like this by his subordinate burned her to the core. Usually so composed, she found her patience shredded today.
Renald only shook his head and ignored her angry footsteps.
In the end, the First Princess’s victory in the first aptitude test was secured.
A letter then arrived from the Emperor.
“A party…?”
At my words, Mulin and Illia both turned quickly to me, asking cautiously,
“A party? Did His Majesty propose holding a banquet?”
“Seems he couldn’t just let the temple matter pass quietly.”
Indeed, the letter suggested holding a small celebration in honor of my awakening holy power.
I blinked, oddly moved that the Emperor had even asked for my opinion.
“A banquet, hmm…”
Perhaps it was better to spend it among family than to gather the great nobles for appearances’ sake. To me, banquets had always been tools to gauge whom I could use.
‘But… I want Grandfather there….’
Count Epsilard, though partly freed from the Empress’s influence thanks to the Emperor, still couldn’t attend imperial banquets because of public opinion.
My position remained precariously high because of this very fact.
‘Maybe I can use this chance to bring him in?’
But until the pre-festival, even the Empress’s own kin counted as outsiders….
“Ugh, what to do…?”
Mulin asked what troubled me, and after I explained, he nodded in shared concern.
Then Illia blinked and suggested,
“In that case, why not use the Crown Prince?”
“The Crown Prince?”
“Yes. He still has to renegotiate with the Mage Tower over orichalcum, right? And wasn’t it originally for Your Highness’s sake that the Tower cooperated? The court magicians are far too busy to produce orichalcum themselves.”
I nodded. “Go on.”
“Well, right now the only ones closely tied to the Tower are Duke Epsilard and Count Epsilard—your uncle. The Crown Prince will have to win them over, otherwise he’d be forced to replace them with his own men, which he’d never do because he’s too upright.”
“That’s true.”
Illia smacked her chest in frustration.
“Then use the Empress!”
“The Empress?”
“Yes! Unlike the Crown Prince, she’s ambitious. She would certainly want to wrest the Mage Tower position from Duke Epsilard and place her own ally there.”
“…True.”
I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them.
‘The Emperor said he’d host the banquet whenever I chose a time…. That’s enough.’
Enough to make this interesting. I gave Illia a warm smile.
“As expected of you, Illia. Thanks. You’ve given me the perfect way to invite Grandfather.”
“I’m glad I could help!”
I felt the same.
Calling Pipi, I tied a note to its ankle.
“Take this to Jayster. You’ll be back soon, right?”
“Pii!”
With that, Pipi disappeared in a flash of magic.
By late evening, a letter arrived at the Empress’s palace.
From the Mage Tower.
“Father.”
“Jayster.”
Jayster climbed to the topmost floor where Adix Lordburigo resided, carrying a small note and a blue bird.
Seeing him, Adix removed his spectacles and looked at his son.
“What is it?”
“I have a request.”
“From that imperial brat?”
That was how Adix always referred to Lilien. Jayster only gave a rueful smile.
“Her name is Lilien, not ‘imperial brat.’”
“Hmph, what does it matter? It’s still her business, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Jayster nodded, approaching his father.
And then, suddenly—
“Let’s cut off dealings with the imperial family.”
The cold words burst from his lips.
Adix slowly turned his gaze on his son.
“Are you ill?”
