That night, Jennifer witnessed a shocking scene in Elisha’s room inside the Emerald Palace.
‘Oh my god, what is that?’
Inside the room, Elisha was standing there wearing a dress of the same color as the one Liliana had worn today. And Mikael was evaluating it.
Even her hairstyle was exactly the same as the one Liliana had today. Even the accessories were all similar.
Jennifer covered her eyes with her hand as if it was horrifying.
After a while, the curtains in the room were drawn and the lights went out.
Just imagining what situation would unfold was horrifying enough.
Jennifer, who had returned to the detached Palace, ran to the bedroom where Liliana was.
“Your Highness!”
Liliana was changing into her nightclothes.
“What is it, Jennifer?”
“I have something to report.”
Nodding, Liliana sent out the other maids, including Anna.
“Tell me.”
Jennifer informed her of what she had seen in the Emerald Palace.
Hearing the story, Liliana was newly shocked.
“Is that true?”
“Yes. No matter how I look at it, that was…”
“It must have looked like he was using Elisha as my substitute.”
Jennifer held back her words as if devastated.
“How could he do something so degrading…? It is horrifying.”
Jennifer clenched her fist tightly as if she was angry.
“Don’t be so angry.”
“How can I not be? He dared to think of Your Highness like that!”
Thanks to Jennifer getting angry for her, Liliana was instead able to calm down.
“It seems Prince Mikael is expressing his desire for what he can’t have in that way.”
“Exactly! Elisha is really pitiful too.”
In any case, it was her own doing. It was a place she crawled into on her own, so what she had to endure was also Elisha’s share.
‘She said she was doing well, but this is how she has been living.’
To think that was the hardship hidden behind her smiling face.
And it was unexpected. She hadn’t thought Mikael would treat Elisha in such a way.
In the past, he had cherished her very much. Whether it was love or not, she didn’t know, but he cherished her enough to let her enjoy luxury.
And yet, that same man was now treating Elisha like that…
Liliana remembered clearly.
‘He destroyed my family, and the two of them were smiling as if they were very happy.’
Mikael had sat arrogantly upon a throne stained with blood, looking down on the world.
Since he had ascended a throne stained with blood, he should have known that his own blood would also be spilled upon it. Every drop of blood came with a price.
“I think it would be best if only you and I knew about this.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Go and rest now.”
After sending Jennifer away, Liliana lay down on the bed.
***
The next day, Liliana met the Emperor together with Estevan and spoke about the abandoned mine.
The Emperor’s sharp gaze turned toward the two of them.
“You discovered it by chance?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“So the reason you came to see me is…”
“I wish to sell the magic stones from the abandoned mine and use them for His Highness.”
“Hmm…”
“As you know, His Highness must also form a knight order, and for that…”
“You will need funds. So you intend to use the magic stones from the abandoned mine for that?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“However, it’s not right to use magic stones for personal greed.”
This time, Estevan stepped forward.
“We will give a portion to Your Majesty.”
“You will give it to me?”
“We will give 30 percent of the mined magic stones to Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s gaze turned to Liliana.
“Do you think the same?”
“Of course. Naturally, it should be given to Your Majesty first.”
As if she had been waiting for this, Liliana took out a document.
“We even prepared a contract like this.”
The Emperor, after looking at the contract, burst into loud laughter.
“Good. Since Mikael has a knight order, Estevan should have one as well.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty.”
As the two bowed their heads at the same time, the Emperor looked at them with a meaningful smile.
“That’s enough, raise your heads.”
Then he gestured to his chief attendant.
“Bring the seal.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor stamped the contract with his seal on the spot.
“The contract must be kept without fail.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
When Liliana answered with a smile, the Emperor looked at her with sharp eyes.
“I will trust you.”
Even without him finishing his sentence, Liliana understood what he meant. She knew it was a request to take good care of Estevan.
Liliana then introduced Baron Mille to the Emperor.
“So you are the one in charge?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Baron Mille will oversee everything, including the development and sale of the magic stones.”
At Estevan’s words, the Emperor nodded.
“I will remember that.”
The Emperor took in Baron Mille with his eyes. Baron Mille bowed his head in respect.
“Since you are someone the two of them trust and entrust this to, I believe you will carry it out well.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As if he wouldn’t tolerate any failure, the Emperor’s gaze was sharp. Because of that, Baron Mille had no choice but to lower himself even more.
‘So a lion is truly a lion…’
Though he had lived for many years and seen much of the world, the Emperor was indeed different from other humans.
***
After meeting the Emperor and returning to the detached Palace, Liliana communicated with Jerdin in the office.
Previously, she had asked for rumors about magic stones to be spread in the Magic Kingdom, Baharus.
Jerdin was reporting the result of that.
“How is their reaction over there?”
— It seems they are planning to send people to the Empire to verify whether it is true or not.
“Is it an official visit?”
— Yes, it seems they will use the upcoming Founding Festival as a pretext to visit.
“The Founding Festival…”
The Founding Festival was a major event of the Empire held every three years in May, a week-long celebration honoring the first Emperor who founded the Empire and held for the people.
During the Founding Festival, even the common people stopped all work and enjoyed eating, drinking, and festivities. It was the most enjoyable holiday period for them.
Since it was an event for the people, circus performances were held, and various foods and events filled the streets.
“Has it been decided who will come?”
— I do not know. The First Prince has come every year, so I expect it will be the same this year.
“There may be variables, so keep a close watch.”
— Yes, Your Highness.
“And the Emperor has given his permission. Paris will begin full-scale development of the abandoned mine. Make sure security around it is kept strict.”
It would be troublesome if rumors about the abandoned mine spread throughout the Empire now. If that happened, swarms of flies might gather.
That would be truly bothersome. Driving away swarms of flies one by one would be a hassle.
— Please do not worry. As long as I am here, no rumors will leak out.
“You’re truly reliable, Jerdin.”
— You flatter me.
After she finished the communication with Jerdin, Jennifer asked with curiosity,
“Your Highness, I am curious why the Emperor’s permission was necessary.”
“It’s a kind of shield.”
“A shield?”
“Developing the abandoned mine in secret and filling His Highness’s pockets would be deceiving His Majesty. It could even be seen as treason.”
“Then…”
“If we proceed with His Majesty’s permission, there will be no grounds for suspicion. If it’s something the Emperor permitted, who would dare object?”
Only then did Jennifer nod as if she understood.
“Then Consort Isabella and Prince Mikael will not be able to say anything either.”
“Exactly. Even if they try to use it as a weakness, what can they do when it’s something His Majesty permitted?”
Moreover, the Emperor was secretly raising an elite magic corps. It was an enormous army composed only of the very best talents.
Each one of them was said to be equal to a thousand soldiers, so that said it all.
‘That’s why magic stones are necessary.’
That was why he had stamped the contract. And why the chief attendant had brought the seal without a word.
The share of magic stones that Liliana and Estevan would offer was 30%. That would be a great help in building up the magic corps.
***
The Magic Kingdom, Baharus.
The origin and center of magical civilization.
King Arunt was lost in deep thought.
“So, Orleans still shows no signs of improvement?”
“I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm…”
A deep crease formed between King Arunt’s brows.
His eldest son, Orleans, who was more than qualified to become the next King, had fallen gravely ill.
One day, he suddenly went into a magical rampage, turning the surrounding area into ruins, and became half-mad.
According to the court mage, in order to treat him, a large amount of magic stones with 99% purity was required.
However, magic stones with 99% purity were extremely rare minerals. Moreover, obtaining them in large quantities was even more difficult.
When they requested help from the Magic Tower, they said they would treat the Prince themselves.
But there was no telling what those madmen obsessed with magic might do to the Prince, so he had no choice but to refuse.
They were the kind of people who wouldn’t hesitate to use the Prince as an experiment.
King Arunt’s worries only deepened. They were gathering as many magic stones as they could, but the amount was far too small.
Moreover, magic stones with such high purity were so few they could be counted on one hand, making it insufficient to treat his son.
To treat the Prince, the rampaging magic had to be controlled, but there was no way a Prince who hadn’t even undergone his coming-of-age ceremony could manage that.
Because of the wildly uncontrollable magic, he was bound tightly within a barrier cast by the court mage.
Knowing the King’s concerns, the chief attendant finally spoke after much deliberation.
“Your Majesty, if I may be so bold, there is a rumor I have recently heard.”
