Chapter 109……………………………………..
What was this supposed to mean now?
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
When I answered cautiously, the empress casually lifted the teacup in front of her and took a long sip.
“I mean exactly what I said. Young Lord Birod would make a fine husband. I’m not saying that simply because he’s my nephew.”
Young Lord Birod was the grandson of the current Duke Birod and the son of the Birod heir.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would eventually inherit the ducal title.
Moreover, rumors said his personality was decent, so he was indeed considered a desirable husband by many.
Of course, I had absolutely no interest.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m not currently thinking about dating or marriage. It hasn’t been long since my divorce.”
After marrying Liandro—who had once been called the empire’s most desirable husband—and seeing it end like that, there was no way such a proposal would be welcome to me.
More importantly, the empress telling me to meet Young Lord Birod at a time like this clearly meant…
“I see. For someone like that, you seem quite close to the Second Prince.”
As expected, that was it.
“You danced with the Second Prince at His Majesty’s birthday banquet before, didn’t you? And the person leading the contract between the imperial family and the magic-stone mine you now own is also the Second Prince.”
“…That’s correct.”
“And yet the two of you are nothing to each other? How exactly am I supposed to interpret that?”
The more I listened, the more irritated I became. Why was I being interrogated like this by the empress?
Meanwhile, I hadn’t even had the chance to properly talk with Terrence for days.
“Actually, I—!”
It had already been several days since I failed to tell Terrence the entire truth in the mining village because of those unexpected intruders.
Since then we had both been incredibly busy—giving orders to the engineers and workers flooding into the mine, calming the anxious villagers, and negotiating contract details.
We saw each other often, but only briefly, always surrounded by people.
It wasn’t the kind of atmosphere where I could bring up things like transmigration or a goddess’s blessing, nor did we have the time.
Things weren’t much different after arriving at the imperial palace.
Aside from discussing contract details, I had little to do. But Terrence, who had to handle everything publicly, seemed busy meeting the emperor and many other officials.
Actually, part of the reason he’s busy is because of me. Sorry about that.
One reason for his workload was that through the contract I had pushed a large portion of the mine’s complicated management onto the imperial side.
Otherwise, I would currently be overwhelmed dealing with countless people swarming toward the magic-stone mine like a pack of wolves.
And understandably so.
This wasn’t just any magic-stone mine—it was a top-grade magic-stone mine.
The world was in an uproar.
The discovery of a new top-grade magic-stone mine—and the fact that its owner was none other than me, famous for the divorce scandal with the Cassius heir—had thrown everyone into shock.
People endlessly gossiped about changing magic-stone prices, the balance of power between the imperial family and the temple, and the divorced woman whose life had suddenly turned around.
According to a letter Diana sent me, visitors were constantly coming to the Leok embassy residence asking to be introduced to me.
When they were ignoring me because I was in conflict with the Cassius family, where were they then…
Still, it was only natural.
Magic stones were widely used throughout society.
Moreover, the magical power of a single top-grade magic stone equaled that of one thousand mid-grade stones of the same size.
The temple had been the empire’s only supplier of top-grade magic stones until now, and its enormous influence everywhere clearly showed their value.
The “gift” the goddess Miela mentioned in my dream hadn’t only meant moving the meteor’s timing forward.
It also meant this.
The Andalla mine—which should originally have been only a high-grade mine—had become a top-grade magic-stone mine.
Come to think of it, the divine beast we fought had also been far stronger than the novel described.
Magic stones were created by divine beasts’ power. Since the beast’s power had grown stronger, the stones’ grade had risen as well.
My nearly nonexistent faith in the goddess Miela stirred faintly within my chest.
Just a little.
Goddess, I still don’t like your personality, but thank you for the top-grade magic stones.
However, gratitude aside, I had ended up in a rather troublesome situation.
Owning several high-grade magic-stone mines in the empire was one thing.
Owning one of only two top-grade magic-stone mines in existence—including the Andalla mine—was something completely different.
If I had only owned a high-grade mine, the empress probably wouldn’t be pushing her precious unmarried nephew toward a divorced woman like me.
“Tell me. Are you truly nothing with the Second Prince?”
The empress’s sharp gaze fixed on me.
“I didn’t say we were nothing.”
“Then?”
“With respect, Your Highness, the prince was first my good friend—and now he is also an excellent collaborator.”
“A friend and collaborator.”
The empress raised an eyebrow while tilting her teacup.
“Then is there any chance the two of you might develop into something more?”
I had intended to say yes—that there was no such possibility.
But strangely, the words wouldn’t come out.
Instead, Terrence’s face appeared in my mind.
The face he made when he celebrated my divorce as if it were his own success.
The face he made when he told me that I didn’t have to reveal the truth if it was painful.
And the face he made in the mine when he was dying, telling me to escape first.
Without even realizing it, I said something else.
“That is something only God would know.”
I smiled faintly.
“After all, no one knows what might happen in life.”
A heavy silence fell over the table.
The empress stared at me as if piercing through me. Even the maids attending her held their breath.
“At last, I offer you my final kindness.”
After a long moment, the most powerful woman in the Asteroth Empire spoke.
“Marry my nephew.”
“I’m sorry.”
My simple refusal immediately drew hostile stares from all directions.
From the maids’ perspective, I must have looked incredibly arrogant—a mere nouveau riche with a mine daring to refuse the empress’s command.
The empress herself didn’t think much differently.
“How foolish. Do you really believe the Second Prince has sincere feelings for you?”
She clicked her tongue.
“He’s simply using you. Even if he whispers words of love, he surely has some other scheme.”
Her tone had also changed, now openly condescending.
“I tried to handle this politely out of kindness, but you refuse to listen.”
Her attitude was extremely forceful, but my answer remained the same.
“I’m sorry.”
“…Is that your answer to my kindness?”
“I have nothing else to say.”
The atmosphere had become not just heavy but almost murderous.
Then suddenly the empress let out a small laugh.
“Do you think I made this offer because I covet your mine—or because I want to separate you from the Second Prince?”
“Pardon?”
“If so, you’ve misunderstood completely. I only introduced my nephew out of pity, as compensation.”
“…I’m afraid my understanding is lacking. I don’t quite grasp what Your Majesty means.”
The empress smiled coldly.
“Do you really think the imperial family would leave a top-grade magic-stone mine in the hands of a mere individual?”
Meanwhile
At that same time, Terrence was in the emperor’s office.
The emperor looked sternly at his other son standing before him—Mikhail.
“Instead of sending away that Cassius girl you brought into your palace, why are you causing trouble here?”
Mikhail spoke urgently.
“Your Majesty, Riena’s situation isn’t the important matter right now. The problem is the mine—the mine!”
“What about it? Terrence is handling everything just fine.”
“Even Your Majesty agrees that the Asteroth imperial family should own that mine. If the temple can possess a top-grade magic-stone mine, why shouldn’t the imperial family?”
The emperor let out a small groan.
Terrence knew that, in truth, his father sympathized with his younger son’s argument.
Above all else, the emperor prioritized the imperial family’s interests. And owning the entire mine would clearly benefit the empire more than merely receiving a portion of its magic stones.
“But the whole world already knows that the mine belongs to Idel Wallace. What would you have me do?”
In that sense, Idel’s decision to leak the news to the press as soon as the mine’s existence was confirmed had been correct.
Before leaving for the Andalla mine, she had entrusted a bundle of letters to her trusted lawyer, Sharon.
If she ever sent a signal, Sharon was to send the letters to the addresses written on them.
Those addresses belonged to various newspapers.
After leaving the mine, Vineta delivered Idel’s signal to Sharon as instructed.
Although there was no solid proof, the contents were so shocking that several newspapers reported the tip cautiously.
Then once the imperial family began moving in earnest, the press caught the scent and began publishing the story widely.
Thus, even though the mine was tempting, the imperial family—who valued honor and reputation—could not easily seize it.
Seeing the emperor’s lukewarm reaction, Mikhail’s lips curved upward.
“Your Majesty need not worry. I will bear all the blame.”
He had realized that his father would not actively stop him.
“And what exactly are you planning?”
“I’ve already sent elite private soldiers from the Birod ducal family.”
In other words—he intended to seize the mine by force.
“We can create a suitable justification later.”
Empress’s Palace
The empress had kindly been explaining her and her son’s plan to me.
“Our family has always done many dirty things for the imperial household. This will simply be one more.”
To repay her kindness, I decided to share something she didn’t know.
“Actually, Your Majesty, I was already aware.”
“Aware of what?”
“That uninvited guests have arrived at my mine.”
I had one adorable little being who could immediately tell me whenever something happened there.
