Chapter 112
Riena was using a blessing.
The moment I realized that, my body moved before I could think.
“Your Majesty, it would be best if you went to His Majesty the Emperor first.”
I gently snatched the gift bundle Riena was about to hand to the Empress and passed it to the Empress’s maid standing beside her.
“Sister-in-law?”
Riena, who had been focused only on the Empress until now, finally noticed me standing behind her and widened her eyes like a startled rabbit.
“Oh… I see.”
It had been a bold move to interrupt and stop the Empress mid-action, but the Empress showed no sign of reprimanding me.
“You’re right.”
The Empress shook her head a few times, as if her mind was slightly dazed, then said to Duchess Luciano,
“Let’s speak another time.”
The Empress left, and I was about to leave as well.
“Sister-in-law, wait a moment.”
But of course Riena wasn’t going to let me go so easily.
“It’s been quite a while since I divorced the young Duke of Cassius. Why are you still calling me your sister-in-law?”
“…When you act so cold, it hurts my feelings.”
After seeing each other’s true sides in the mining village, it seemed Riena still intended to continue this little family act.
“Do I also need to care about the feelings of someone who tried to seize my mine?”
“You’ll understand someday why I had no choice but to do that.”
I almost laughed out loud at the absurdity.
“Should I also understand what the First Prince did for you this time?”
“Huh? Mikh— I mean, His Highness? What did he do?”
Judging from her expression, Riena seemed unaware of what Mikhail and the Empress had done using Birod’s private soldiers.
Or perhaps she was simply pretending not to know.
When I gave no answer, she tilted her head and then smiled brightly.
“More importantly, would you like to have tea with us now? Duchess Luciano and I were just about to hold a small tea party at Mikhail’s palace.”
Then she asked the Duchess sweetly,
“It’s fine if my sister-in-law joins us, right?”
Duchess Luciano slowly nodded while looking me over with an unenthusiastic expression.
“Well, if Lady Riena wishes.”
Duchess Luciano.
There was a high chance she was someone affected by Riena’s blessing.
Actually, I did want to use my own blessing on someone besides Roland, just to strengthen its effects.
But having Riena there would cause all sorts of problems.
It was uncertain whether my blessing would work properly, and if Riena sensed anything and became wary of me, things would become troublesome.
“I decline. I don’t think we’re close enough to drink tea together.”
With that, I walked past Riena.
“How arrogant! What kind of woman is she?”
I heard Duchess Luciano’s angry voice behind me.
“Lady Riena kindly invited her to a tea party!”
“I’m fine. We can drink tea by ourselves.”
“Besides, she’s nothing impressive except for that mine, isn’t she? I’ll tell my husband never to buy magic stones from her mine!”
Suit yourself.
The Luciano family might lose something, but I certainly wouldn’t.
A Few Days Later
Concerned that the imperial family’s honor might be tarnished, the Emperor kept the incident secret.
But rumors without legs cannot be stopped.
Within a few days, people were whispering everywhere that the Empress, Mikhail, and Duke Birod had joined forces to seize my mine.
Imperial investigators stormed the Birod residence, and palace officials connected to Birod were taken away one after another.
It would have been stranger if rumors hadn’t spread.
Duke Birod handed over his title to his son and left the capital.
The Empress stayed quiet except for briefly appearing at official events.
Mikhail locked himself inside his palace.
According to what people said, the Birod family returned many of the privileges they had enjoyed as the Emperor’s in-laws, and Mikhail also withdrew from several imperial projects he had been involved in.
As if trying to wash away the negative rumors surrounding the imperial family, the Emperor made a grand public announcement about the discovery of a top-grade magic stone mine.
Everyone had already known about it, but once it was officially recognized, excitement spread throughout the empire.
After all, the Temple had monopolized the supply of top-grade magic stones and abused that power for years.
While people speculated about how the increased supply of such stones would change society, a significant change was also happening to me.
The Audience Hall of the Imperial Palace
I knelt before the throne.
Holding a treasured sword passed down through the imperial family, the Emperor lightly touched each of my shoulders with the blade.
“From this day forward, I grant you the name and title of Luciviu. Idel Luciviu, Viscount.”
After I completed the proper formalities and stood up, applause echoed through the hall.
Terrence, who had been watching, smiled as he clapped.
Even the Empress, standing some distance away, raised her hands and applauded.
“Congratulations, Viscount Luciviu,” the Emperor said to me.
“Thank you.”
Today was the day I received my noble title from the Emperor.
“Is the ceremony too simple for your liking?”
“Not at all. I actually prefer it quiet.”
“I’m glad you understand. If we had followed tradition, crowds would have flooded the palace.”
At the moment, the person everyone—nobles and commoners alike—most wanted to meet was me.
Even though the palace had restricted access, people still lurked near the annex palace where I stayed.
Their goal was obvious.
The top-grade magic stones.
They were desperate to meet me and secure a supply.
For security reasons, the Emperor suggested holding a small ceremony, and I gladly agreed.
I didn’t want to be harassed by people, and the Emperor didn’t want swarms of opportunists surrounding me either.
It benefited both of us.
It was also to tie me more firmly to the imperial family.
That was the real reason I received a title.
Officially, it was because I discovered a top-grade magic stone mine that would benefit the empire.
But the imperial family wanted to maintain a strong relationship with me so they could secure a stable supply of magic stones.
After all, I could move the divine beast anytime and turn another place into a magic stone mine.
If that happened, the contract with the imperial family would become meaningless.
Naturally, they had to treat me carefully.
And for me, gaining a title and a new surname wasn’t bad either.
Finally, goodbye to that awful Wallace name!
My name was no longer Idel Wallace.
It was Idel Luciviu.
My legal ties with the Wallace family had already been severed, but changing my surname had been difficult.
Every time someone called me Idel Wallace, it left a bad taste in my mouth.
So this was a relief.
For reference, Luciviu was the old name of the region where the Andalla Mine was located.
The Emperor had originally offered to grant me the entire Viscounty of Kainberg, since its lord was imprisoned.
But I politely refused.
I was already rich—taking on a whole territory would only add annoying responsibilities.
Managing land was hard work.
Instead, the Emperor granted me only the village right next to the Andalla Mine and named my territory Luciviu.
That arrangement suited me perfectly.
Controlling that village would make managing the mine much easier.
If another lord controlled the area and caused trouble, it would become inconvenient.
Thus, even though I only ruled a single village, I received the rank of viscount.
And I quite liked the sound of the name Luciviu.
“Congratulations.”
After finishing my conversation with the Emperor, Terrence came over to congratulate me.
“Thank you. It’s all thanks to Your Highness.”
Since others were watching, I couldn’t speak to him as casually as usual.
“Not at all. This is something Viscount Luciviu accomplished yourself.”
…Even though I had received the title, I doubted I’d ever get used to being called Viscount.
Later, I’d ask Terrence—and others—to treat me normally in private.
Just then—
“What exactly is the relationship between you two?”
The Emperor looked at us suspiciously, despite his smiling face.
“Father, honestly. What do you mean?”
“You don’t seem to be just simple friends like you told me.”
“Ah, speaking of that, there’s something related to the task you assigned me that I’d like to discuss.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I truly do have something to discuss.”
Terrence skillfully avoided the question and guided the Emperor toward his office.
After they left, I muttered quietly.
“…He still looks busy.”
I still hadn’t been able to tell Terrence the truth.
There simply hadn’t been time.
I was busy myself, but he was on another level.
After all, the Emperor had entrusted him with uncovering the Birod family’s spies inside the palace.
On top of that, he had to manage matters related to the contract between me and the imperial family.
Recently, Terrence looked like even two bodies wouldn’t be enough for him.
Still, this is a good opportunity for him.
The Birod family was Terrence’s greatest political enemy.
Now the Emperor had given him the chance to personally remove that enemy’s agents.
After this incident, Terrence’s position in the palace would surely grow stronger.
It was a pity, but I hoped we’d have time to talk leisurely later.
I had my own work to do.
Back at the Annex Palace
“That’s everything for today!”
Laura piled a mountain of letters in front of me.
“…There are this many?”
“I already sorted through them beforehand.”
“Everyone seems desperate to send me letters.”
“Most of them are asking you to sell them magic stones.”
Since they couldn’t meet me directly, they were trying through letters.
I should reply out of courtesy, but just thinking about reading and answering all of them made me tired.
“This one is from the Marquis of Izaberg… this one from Count Crade… and this one…”
“…The Luciano Ducal House?”
I casually tossed aside the letter written personally by the Duke of Luciano.
“I’m not selling to them.”
I wondered briefly what Duke Luciano’s face would look like when he realized he was the only one who didn’t receive a reply.
Then one letter caught my eye.
Among the luxurious envelopes was a single cheap, crumpled one.
Idel, it’s been a while. Do you remember me?
When I opened it, I found a letter beginning with a rather suspicious line.
