Chapter 135
The seasonal festival, as the name implies, was held four times a year, once for each change of season.
Among them, the autumn seasonal festival was always the grandest.
This was because it was a time of abundance, and people’s hearts were correspondingly generous.
Every prestigious family held a banquet for the festival, so countless people would visit the capital during this time.
Most stayed with relatives who lived in the capital, but those without such relatives had to lodge in places like hotels.
However, not everyone could use hotels.
Besides financial reasons, issues like security based on social status and other complications sometimes prevented certain people from staying at hotels.
Dershna, the Countess of the Frontier, was one of those cases.
One of the three frontier counts in the empire.
She was the Countess of the South, a woman who had remained neutral during the Succession War and had faithfully fulfilled her duty to protect the southern coastline entrusted to her.
She stayed not in a hotel in the capital but in the imperial palace.
“Your Majesty, it’s been a long time.”
“It certainly has. How have you been?”
“Nothing much, really. I’ve just been quietly watching the sea.”
Quietly? Hardly.
The southern coastline she guarded was one of the empire’s borders most frequently breached by outsiders.
Countless pirates had set foot there under the guise of some loose coalition, often without any organized nation backing them.
Reports indicated that there were clearly more than one and a half intrusions per day on average.
Most people would lose their sanity just trying to survive there.
“I’ve heard rumors that you cut off the pirates before they even touched the ground.”
When Clovis mentioned the widely known rumors about her, Dershna replied bashfully,
“To live quietly, one must be diligent.”
The quiet life she spoke of was exactly that: killing all intruders so that none dared enter her territory.
Thanks to this, her domain truly remained peaceful.
If her adversaries had been regular kingdom soldiers, they would at least have been treated as prisoners.
But the opponents were pirates of a negligible coalition.
Dershna killed them without hesitation, deeming it a waste of food to feed them.
It was a smart method.
Her domain’s finances were not wasted on feeding prisoners, nor did her retainers have to puzzle over negotiations.
Dershna’s name became a source of fear for her enemies.
Yet, in front of Clovis, quietly sipping tea, she appeared outwardly as a gracefully aging elder.
Clovis had considered asking about the situation in the south but changed his mind, asking another question instead.
“You are the guardian of Irene Terrins, correct?”
“Yes. That little one is so clever and sharp that I, at my age, became her guardian—something I’ve never done in my life.”
Clovis gave a wry smile at the word “clever.”
The day after the school vacation ended, he had received a bill from Irene Terrins.
‘She itemized everything so neatly.’
Even noting discounts from Madame Crevel’s shop, the discount amount meticulously detailed.
Furthermore, for the items Evi especially liked, she had underlined them in yellow.
Upon receiving the bill, Clovis burst into laughter.
‘It’s fortunate that such a clever child is Evi’s friend.’
He hadn’t known what to buy Evi since he didn’t know children’s clothing.
Sending palace staff would have solved the problem.
But moving people for Evi, who was not royal, might have drawn envy, so he refrained from ordering anyone.
“Are you aware that Irene Terrins and Evi Alden, whom I am guardian for, are friends?”
“Of course. Irene sent a letter asking you to visit the seasonal festival, which was only about five lines. But she wrote exactly 143 lines about that child.”
“…”
Clovis knew she adored Evi, but not to that extent.
“So I decided to come to the capital while I was at it. It’s been decades since I’ve seen the palace festival. I plan to shop around the capital too.”
“Shopping?”
“Yes. The thought of new swords and weapons excites me. I wonder what marvelous things have come out in the meantime.”
Clovis fell silent, taken aback by her clenched fists and trembling with excitement.
“Then I will take my leave.”
Dershna, who had been chatting about recent events, noticed a restless attendant at the doorway and subtly stopped her conversation.
“You will meet many others, so you needn’t worry about this old woman.”
Indeed, as Dershna said, Clovis had many upcoming encounters.
“It’s been a long time, yet we have little time to talk properly.”
“Do not worry. I will remain after the festival and will visit often until you tell me to stop.”
Rising from her seat, Dershna bowed to Clovis and turned.
Pausing in the corridor, she spoke again:
“Honestly, I came worried, but you seem well. You’ve stabilized greatly.”
“…”
“I must see that child you cherish during the festival.”
Clovis gave an awkward smile at Dershna’s words, like a parent praised for their child’s achievements.
Dershna walked into the palace garden.
After a long walk to a secluded corner away from prying eyes, she spoke without looking back.
“It’s time to come out.”
From nearby bushes, Duke Kaylen and Marquis Lagselve appeared.
“Let’s hear why you’ve followed me all this way.”
“I need the frontier count’s help.”
“Why seek me? It would be faster and more certain for you both to act here in the palace.”
Duke Kaylen spoke:
“Because we need the amnesty authority within the palace held by the frontier count.”
Amnesty authority.
Dershna’s expression showed intrigue.
“Ah, I’ve been recognized for my merits and granted a single opportunity. I treasure it greatly, yet you boldly demand it?”
Though feigning displeasure, her eyes sparkled.
“Tell me what interesting matter requires it.”
Relieved that she didn’t outright refuse, Duke Kaylen asked:
“Do you happen to have connections with the Aradman Count?”
His eyes gleamed.
To stop the situation he suspected, they needed someone unknown to many and someone who could draw a weapon in the palace without punishment.
Dershna fit that requirement perfectly.
Finally, the day of the seasonal festival arrived, and the palace was bustling.
The most chaotic place was, of course, the Academy.
Children, who had prepared since morning, entered the banquet hall brimming with excitement.
Those who had trained for formal attire looked remarkably neat.
At the main gate, Seraphina greeted the students perfectly dressed, unlike her usual self.
“Director!”
Evi cheerfully greeted her, and Seraphina returned a weary greeting.
“You’ve come.”
Though dressed neatly, Seraphina looked exhausted as always.
“You look tired. Are you okay?”
“Not really. There’s so much to prepare.”
She shook her head, muttering to herself:
“Preparing for the festival is exhausting enough, and now Duke Kaylen asks for strange magic… what can I do? If he asks, I must comply…”
Her distracted gaze noticed the worried look in Evi’s eyes.
“Oh, come in quickly. It’s your first festival, so enjoy yourselves. And Evi…”
Seraphina whispered into Evi’s ear:
“The emperor will arrive last. After greeting, go to him.”
“Yes!”
‘Today is finally the day.’
Evi had practiced saying “Dad” countless times over the week, even in her dreams.
“Well then, go on in.”
“Thank you. See you inside!”
Watching Evi and Irene joyfully enter, Seraphina smiled—but the smile didn’t last.
She remembered the magic Duke Kaylen had requested days ago.
‘Why did he want magic related to the imperial emblem?’
He was unpredictable, and the request was utterly bizarre.
‘He must have a reason.’
Still, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.
At the same time, a carriage hurried toward the Academy inside the palace.
But suddenly, someone blocked its path.
“Whoa! Whoa!”
The coachman tried to calm his horses.
“What are you doing?! This is dangerous!”
“I was wondering the same thing.”
Dershna, blocking the carriage, sighed and drew her sword from her waist.
She immediately cut the reins connecting the horses to the carriage and struck the horse to move it forward.
The startled horses ran off toward the garden, leaving the coach alone.
“Good, mobility neutralized.”
Dershna pushed aside the obstructing coachman and flung open the carriage door.
“You must be the Aradman Count.”
“W-who are you?!”
The Count stumbled back in surprise.
“You’re of little concern… now, let’s see. Is this the child?”
Dershna peered at the trembling child wearing a large hat.
Duke Kaylen had asked her to grab the child when the Count entered the palace.
She removed the child’s hat.
The Duke had said the child with the Count would have blonde hair and green eyes.
But…
“Nope.”
The trembling child had brown hair and brown eyes.
The Count laughed maniacally.
“Ha, ha ha! Just as Noma said!”
He giggled and shouted at Dershna:
“The villains trying to stop the princess! She’s already inside!”
