Chapter : 141
“Didn’t the Archduchess suggest all of this?”
Among them, there were still those dissatisfied with opening the floor of the Abyssal Sanctuary with their elemental powers to extract the gemstones.
One of them muttered their complaints, and it didn’t take long for another noble, seemingly in agreement, to echo the sentiment.
“So I’m saying, what does a young girl who’s never even caught a monster with her own hands know?”
“That’s exactly what I mean. Even the Duke, famed for his skill, seems to be under the Archduchess’s spell, unable to think properly.”
The whispered grievances drew nods from those nearby, as if nobody dared to speak louder but all shared the sentiment.
The discontent slowly transformed into arrows aimed at Liriope, targeting her directly.
“She must have lost her mind after barely surviving.”
“She must think of herself as a special person blessed by the gods.”
“Next thing you know, she’ll be aiming for the Emperor’s throne!”
The murmurs grew louder and wilder, losing all control.
“Hey, that’s going too far.”
“Exactly. How can one talk about rebellion so shamelessly?”
Luckily, a few nobles scolded them sternly, and the unruly noble quickly cowered.
“Well, that’s just how the talk goes….”
“You should know when to speak and when to stay silent. I’ve seen many who paid the price for careless words.”
“No, Count Juonard, don’t you feel angry? All the nobles are being swayed by a young princess who knows nothing!”
“Watch your words. ‘Young princess’? She’s Her Grace, the Archduchess.”
When Count Juonard sternly corrected him, the noble who called out let out a scoff.
“See? The wedding had to stop because the bride died, and now she’s back alive—and they even went through the marriage vows first.”
“They didn’t even have an engagement ceremony. These young people today really disregard tradition…”
“Look at Duke Artein. Do you really think he’s the type to care about tradition?”
Grievances about Liriope spread, but eventually shifted toward Theo. The nobles who had been outmatched by Theo’s cold efficiency—so cold that they hadn’t drawn a drop of blood—saw this as their chance to vent.
“Isn’t he arrogant even to the Crown Prince?”
“Exactly. Even if they’re close relatives or like friends, he’s still going to be under his command soon, and he doesn’t even use his proper name.”
“I don’t understand why His Majesty allows it. How dare someone address the future emperor so casually!”
As Theo and Cadin discussed the nobles’ positions for the work, the discontented whispers about Theo continued—right up until he gestured for them to begin.
But shortly after the work started, a noble’s exclamation caused all complaints toward Theo and Liriope to vanish instantly.
“I-It seems that holding this gemstone maximizes the water element!”
A baron, helping a viscount extract a gemstone, had grabbed one that was in his way. The moment he held it, he noticed the water path he’d split with his elemental power widening on both sides. Excited, he shouted.
At his outburst, the other viscounts holding gemstones either tried them themselves or passed them to their team members with water and wind elements.
Soon, the elemental powers of all nobles holding the gemstones began to amplify.
“Whoa! It’s true! My elemental power is being maximized too!”
Even nobles who had struggled to split the deep waters of the Abyssal Sanctuary could now easily widen the fissures.
“Amazing!”
“Me too!”
The exclamations reached even Cadin and Theo, who were leading the way in splitting the water.
They simultaneously grabbed nearby gemstones with their elemental powers.
“Uh…!”
Cadin’s eyes widened.
Theo, too, confirmed that his water-element ability intensified greatly, whipping the water in the fissures rapidly.
Just as Liriope had said, the gemstones on the Abyssal Sanctuary’s floor, which had eliminated the monsters’ food sources, were valuable items.
“Gemstones that amplify elemental abilities.”
Theo murmured, eyes sparkling.
Thanks to Liriope, the Empire had discovered a gemstone with a new ability that day.
At the imperial palace, Liriope’s face brightened upon hearing the news.
She had suggested the idea thinking that the Empire’s gemstones would each have some ability, but she hadn’t expected them to amplify elemental powers.
“Really? Wow, amazing. Thanks to your suggestion, the nobles are finally able to use the gemstones they didn’t know how to utilize. They’re all praising you.”
Theo seemed equally pleased, his expression brighter than ever through the communication crystal.
“It’s nothing. If you hadn’t handled it, it would’ve been useless anyway.”
When Liriope tried to give him credit, he shook his head.
“It’s all thanks to you.”
“But we should be cautious of side effects. Using them recklessly might be dangerous.”
Theo nodded, as if that were obvious.
“I’ve already sent a few to the palace. I also told the people on site not to hold them until we understand any side effects.”
Liriope smiled, impressed by Theo’s meticulous handling.
“I’ll report to His Majesty with Cadin once we finish here. It might take a little while, so stay with the Count’s daughter.”
“Understood.”
No sooner had she responded than there was a knock, and Rosearin’s voice came through.
“Liri, it’s Rose.”
She must have been contacted by Cadin as well.
Liriope answered toward the door with a nod, then returned her attention to the crystal.
“Rose is here. I’ll hang up, Theo.”
As soon as she hung up, the door swung open, and Rosearin, cheeks flushed, ran in, ecstatic.
“Liri, have you heard the news?!”
Liriope nodded with a smile.
“Yes. I just got word from Theo.”
“You’re incredible! How could you even think of this?”
Rosearin’s awe and respect were evident.
“I only thought, if monsters are appearing in the Abyssal Sanctuary, I hope they don’t attack humans. That was all I could think of.”
Rosearin pressed a hand to her chest, marveling at how perfectly Liriope’s idea worked.
“I’m falling for you all over again. The nobles there must feel the same way.”
“Don’t overdo it, Rose. If Theo hadn’t helped, this would have gone unnoticed.”
“Exactly. And the way the Duke trusts you completely is so romantic.”
Rosearin’s excitement resembled that of a girl reading a romance novel, praising Theo’s boundless love for Liriope.
Liriope smiled, secretly impressed by the gemstone’s unforeseen ability.
She had never considered that gemstones that destroyed the Abyssal Sanctuary’s ecosystem could have benefits for humans.
She had only remembered from old novels that almost all gemstones in the Empire could serve as an energy source.
She had simply hoped that undiscovered gemstones could be used to create communication crystals or transport portals.
‘This was pure luck.’
Liriope rubbed her nose with her finger, feeling fortunate.
Liriope’s good fortune continued.
“The gemstone from the Abyssal Sanctuary floor, proposed by Liriope Stella, will bear her name.”
The Emperor declared that the gemstone, proven safe and destined to amplify many nobles’ elemental abilities, would be named after Liriope.
Since newly discovered items were usually named after their discoverers, no one objected.
Except one person: Liriope herself.
She furrowed her brows subtly and said,
“Liriope Gem…? Please, just use my family name instead.”
Hearing that “Stella Gem” or “Artein Gem” would be better, Theo, standing next to her, chuckled softly.
“Then shall we use Artein’s name?”
The Emperor smiled at Liriope and asked.
Liriope hesitated. Despite being married, she still retained her maiden name in this medieval-style world.
Liriope Stella Artein.
Even married women usually put their original surname at the end, but Liriope had abandoned the family headship, holding only the Archduchess title, so “Stella” came first.
She worried that including Artein in the gemstone’s name would upset the Duke.
‘But just Stella might upset Theo…’
Since it was Theo who had executed Liriope’s suggestion, naming it the Artein Gem also seemed appropriate.
Noticing her hesitation, Theo spoke to the Emperor:
“The Archduchess carries the blood of the Stella family. Therefore, it’s proper to use the Stella name.”
Liriope looked at Theo in surprise, and he smiled warmly down at her.
“See, Liri?”
Thanks to him, the gemstone discovered in the Abyssal Sanctuary was named the Stella Gem. The Duke and his cousin, the future family head, were deeply moved and thanked Liriope.
“Living through such blessings… this is truly a family honor.”
The Duke held Liriope’s hand tightly, tearful, as she recounted everything that had happened with the Emperor.
When he heard that Theo had suggested naming it after the Stella family, he looked at Theo with teary eyes.
In an instant, the Duke embraced Theo tightly, shouting thanks.
