CHAPTER 69……………………
. The Black Rose Princess (3):
Soon, a middle-aged man with olive-toned skin and a sly look entered the drawing room.
He was the head of the Burten Trading Company, second in size only to the Creusa Company.
“It’s been a while, Master Burten.”
“It has, Lord Stenel. I hear the South is quite lively these days.”
“All because the Princess has come.”
“Ahh…”
The corners of Burten’s mouth twisted as well.
He’d grown sick of hearing the Creusa lord and his son endlessly praising that little horned brat of a girl.
At that moment, Count Stenel shifted uncomfortably, crossing his legs.
“By the way, why ask for a bloodstone deal?”
“I judged it to be the perfect mineral for artifacts about to become popular in Iliod.”
Burten smiled slyly.
In truth, he had other motives.
‘After all, I already took a massive advance payment from the Halcyon priests.’
He smirked at Count Stenel.
‘Tch. He’ll cave anyway, so why’s he hesitating?’
It was well known that closing the bloodstone mines would deal a serious economic blow to the Stenel estate.
So of course the Count would agree.
‘And frankly, I don’t even care why Halcyon wants bloodstone.’
He just needed to pocket the money as the middleman.
“So, what do you think, my lord?”
“Hrmm.”
“I daresay the offer is more than fair…”
Count Stenel hesitated.
‘Bloodstone is a war material. Exporting it is forbidden.’
But the sum Burten offered was enough to make him salivate.
‘This would earn me far more than anything the crown would compensate.’
Then he remembered what had happened at the tea party and grimaced.
He had slaved away developing the mines for Queen Asteria’s war—
And now her daughter dared to mock his house like that?
‘…Fine. This is my property!’
Of course, an uneasy thought crossed his mind.
‘Wait… what if those Iliod bastards hand the bloodstone over to Halcyon…? No, that can’t be.’
He shook his head inwardly.
Only demons knew the true effects of the mineral.
Even if some leaked out, nothing disastrous would happen.
‘Still, I should liquidate everything into cash and go into hiding for a while, just in case.’
Nodding decisively, Count Stenel spoke:
“Very well, Master Burten.”
“Thank you, my lord. Then, when should we take delivery?”
“Ahem. Best not to draw too much attention.”
He coughed, nervous about being the subject of gossip among nobles.
“In that case, I’ll bring it to the lake harbor by night. Soon the music festival will attract crowds—let’s do it then.”
“Hmm, excellent.”
Around this season, there was an annual event most southern nobles attended.
The Orpheum Academy Firefly Concert.
On that day, even the guards were concentrated at the Academy.
A perfect time for a secret shipment.
But the Count frowned, recalling one snag.
“Wait. Isn’t the harbor owned by Count Tereine? Won’t the goods be inspected before departure?”
“No need to worry about that.”
Burten chuckled and tapped the brooch on his robe.
In an instant, he vanished—then reappeared.
The Count gasped.
Burten laughed at the demon’s astonishment.
“The ships carrying bloodstone will be covered with the same ‘invisibility’ enchantment as this artifact. It will last until we cross into Iliod waters.”
“Oho…! An excellent plan.”
The Count grinned, delighted at the unexpected advantage.
‘So I can even spite that arrogant Tereine family? Perfect.’
Count and merchant both smirked, each with their own schemes.
“Then, we have a deal.”
“An honor to work with you, Lord Stenel.”
After the tea party, invitations poured in daily to the Autumn Palace.
“Wow. These are all invitations?”
I stared in surprise at the stack of envelopes piled high on the table.
Short puppet shows, boat rides on the lake, and more.
It was obvious how hard they tried to tailor everything to a child’s tastes.
‘Everyone’s desperate to win me over.’
Every morning, Rete carefully sorted through the invitations, and each afternoon she handed me a few to choose from.
“Princess, please pick one you like from today’s batch.”
“Then… I want to go here!”
The one I grabbed was the Orpheum Academy Firefly Concert.
Rete looked quite surprised at my choice.
“Oh my. The concert interests you?”
“Yeah. I want to see it at least once. And also…”
I glanced at her a little shyly.
“Honestly, I’m curious what a school is like.”
“Ahh…”
This region was famous for Orpheum Academy—
The highest institution of learning for noble children.
‘I only ever lived at the temple. I know nothing about such places.’
I’d always been envious, watching from afar. This time, I wanted to experience it for myself.
And I had another reason for being drawn to the concert.
‘Because of what happened back then, with the priests.’
The noble-born priests despised me, a commoner, becoming High Priestess.
Talos, in particular, mocked me mercilessly whenever my lack of polish showed.
“You don’t even appreciate the beauty of music? And yet a lowborn like you became High Priestess?”
“I may not know beauty, but I do know how to enjoy the sound of your throat being slit, Talos.”
‘Hah, are you watching, Talos?’
The very woman you scorned will now attend a concert!
Rete, scanning the concert details, smiled warmly.
“Yes, Princess. Let’s all go together that day.”
“Mm!”
“Then I’ll write our reply. Please wait just a moment…”
“Okay!”
Right. I couldn’t just return home saying I only fought nobles.
‘Now I’ll even have a lovely story to tell Father.’
But once Rete left the room, a blond boy slipped inside quietly.
“Lady Sion, may I come in?”
“Of course! Done with training today?”
“Yes…”
Callion had already changed out of his training clothes into neat attire.
Yet he looked oddly downcast.
Normally, he would’ve greeted me with a bright “Lady Sion!”—but now he lingered at the doorway.
‘Did Minte scold him during training today?’
Unable to watch any longer, I beckoned him over.
“Callion, come here.”
“……”
“Sit beside me and have some sweets.”
Slowly, reluctantly, Callion approached.
But instead of sitting next to me, he knelt on the floor.
“Callion! Your knees will—”
“Am I… really of any help?”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head, hand halfway to his shoulder.
‘What kind of question is that?’
But his blue eyes were deadly serious.
“I became your vassal, Lady Sion.”
“You did.”
“I even received a sword. But I’ve been of no help at all.”
“Well, that’s because you haven’t needed to use it yet…”
The sword was for deterring bullies, not for him to wield right away.
‘Not having to use it is actually a good thing.’
I patted his cheek gently.
“Callion, what’s wrong? What’s really bothering you?”
“……”
“Why are you worrying like this?”
“…At the tea party.”
He leaned into my hand, lowering his gaze.
“Ares helped you then.”
“Mm-hm.”
“But I couldn’t do anything that day. It makes me upset.”
“Wait… don’t you remember what happened after it was over?”
Yes, the event had ended safely.
But afterward, the Autumn Palace had nearly shaken with Countess Tereine’s thunderous wrath.
“You little brat! Get over here this instant!”
“My dear, calm down! He’s still a child!”
“But our precious candy drop, this is the time to teach him a lesson! Ares Ismenios, come here right now!”
“Nooo!”
I shuddered remembering the round Count sweating bullets as he tried to calm his raging wife.
But Callion still looked glum.
And then he whispered something that troubled me even more.
“…What if… I end up being less useful than Ares?”
“Callion.”
“If I lose the reason I’m allowed to stay by your side—”
Flick!
A sharp sound echoed in the room.
Callion looked up at me in shock.
Because I had just flicked his forehead.
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Then, rubbing his forehead, he tilted his head.
“…Ow?”
“I know that didn’t hurt.”
