“I shared a bit of my magic with you. You exhausted your magic while training, and that makes the body very tired.”
“…”
“You have other schedules this afternoon, and if you handle them while fatigued, it is bad for your health.”
Estevan looked at Liliana with an unreadable expression.
It was only for a moment, but he didn’t want to admit that his heart had raced.
“…Thank you.”
“It is nothing.”
Estevan unconsciously tried to take her hand but stopped, composed himself, drank his tea, and stood up.
“I have another engagement, so I should go. I will see you back to the detached Palace.”
“Then I would like that.”
Liliana smiled brightly and held onto Estevan’s arm.
“Is it alright if I hold on?”
“You are asking after already holding on?”
“Ah, I tend to act faster than I speak.”
“Let us go.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Liliana chattered nonstop as she headed to the detached Palace with Estevan.
Even while thinking that she talked too much, Estevan was overcome with a strange feeling that it was pleasant to listen to.
***
A loud noise rang out from inside the office of House Valentier.
It was Count Valentier’s voice.
“What did you say?!”
Normally hot-tempered, Count Valentier grabbed the butler by the collar and shouted.
“Say it again. What happened?”
“Th-The Imperial Consort… informed us that the event for the Fairy of May for this Founding Festival will be overseen by Princess Consort Liliana…”
As the butler stammered the words, Count Valentier released him and roughly ran a hand through his hair.
“Damn it. Do you know how much money I poured into that…?!”
“H-Her Highness also said she would try to come up with a solution. She said that this time, His Majesty the Emperor took a firm stance, so there was nothing she could do.”
A deep crease formed on Count Valentier’s forehead.
That was what she said, but once the person in charge changed, there was a high chance of unforeseen variables arising.
He had put in a great deal of effort to make his daughter the Fairy of May. In particular, the money he had offered to Consort Isabella alone was considerable.
“Yes, Her Highness must have her own plan.”
She had better.
If his daughter became the Fairy of the Founding Festival, she would walk a solid path for at least three years. If things went well, it might even be possible to form a marriage tie with the Imperial Family.
“What is Cecil doing?”
“She is putting all her effort into preparing for the event.”
In order to make his daughter Cecil the Fairy of May for this Founding Festival, he had assigned her the best tutors in each field.
The Fairy of May was judged based on three criteria: intellect, beauty, and character.
In the first test, which was intellect, four were eliminated. In the second test, another four, and the remaining two compete in the third round to determine the winner.
Before that, ten candidates were selected through preliminary screening.
He was training Cecil so that she could give the best answers to any question.
‘For entering the Central Council as well, Cecil’s position in high society is important.’
High society was a place of connections.
If his daughter became the Fairy of May and became active in society with Consort Isabella as her sponsor, it would greatly help him enter the Central Council.
The Central Council was truly the center of the noble society. It was the shortcut to advancement.
Depending on whether one belonged to the Central Council or not, the treatment they received differed. In other words, the nobles of the Central Council were nobles among nobles.
The Central Council assisted the Emperor in governing the state and was the only body of nobles with voting rights on major affairs of the Empire.
Laws may be proposed depending on their votes.
Consort Isabella knew the importance of the Central Council better than anyone.
Depending on which side the nobles of the Central Council took, the fate of the throne would also change.
At present, they were watching the competition between the two Princes, just like the Emperor.
Some had sided with Consort Isabella, but that wasn’t enough. Consort Isabella wanted at least more than half to be on Mikael’s side.
That was why she was trying to have him enter the Central Council and expand her power.
Thus, controlling high society was the priority above all else.
Becoming the Fairy of May of the Founding Festival was extremely important.
Because the Fairy of May had the authority to attend any social gathering she desired without an invitation.
If the Fairy of May simply expressed her intention to attend, the other party couldn’t refuse.
That was why becoming the Fairy of May was an extremely honorable position for noble ladies.
‘It’s a position that must never be taken away.’
She had to find a way, no matter what.
***
Liliana hummed as she wrote the test questions.
There were three questions in total.
Just as Estevan had suggested, she made them riddles. They were questions that could be solved if one thought carefully.
“I wonder how many will get them right.”
Liliana looked at the question sheet with a pleased expression.
Anna, who had been looking at the questions beside her, tilted her head.
“What kind of questions are these?”
“Why, are they strange?”
“Yes, they are like riddles.”
“They are riddles.”
The questions Liliana gave were simple.
- What goes and never comes back?
- What stays close, yet can never see one another?
- What is one thing, yet appears differently to each person?
They were very easy questions if one thought of the answers.
“Anna, do you know what the preliminary screening question was for the Fairy of May three years ago?”
“No, I do not.”
Liliana recited the question.
“What is the sweetener used in the sap that is used to make maple syrup, which is poured over waffles or pancakes?”
“That was the question?”
“Mhm.”
“My goodness, is that not something even people like us all know?”
Anna made an incredulous expression.
“Do you know what’s even more ridiculous?”
“What is it?”
“Only one person answered that question correctly.”
“Then… does that mean everyone else gave wrong answers?”
“That’s right. Everyone gave wrong answers, and only one person gave the correct answer.”
Out of the ten candidates, nine were made into mere extras.
‘The reason the daughter of Viscount Kropel, who had the lowest rank among the candidates, was able to win was because Consort Diena backed her.’
Thanks to that, through their social activities over three years, Viscount Kropel was elevated to Count and was flourishing in business in the Capital.
‘And they are thinking of forming marriage ties with the Imperial Family.’
That could be Estevan, or it could be Mikael. They didn’t care whether the Princes were already engaged or not.
That was how influential the Fairy of May was in high society.
‘No matter which gathering she attended, she would take the center.’
But this time she was the one who would hand over the crown. So there was a high chance they would try to put forward one of their own as a candidate.
Liliana saw the name House Ashran on the candidate list.
House Ashran were provincial nobles, and they had business dealings with House Kropel.
Count Kropel’s business was in the hotel industry. Viscount Ashran operated the restaurants of each hotel with his permission.
Count Kropel, using the connections made by his daughter, came to operate three hotels in the Capital and established hotels throughout the provinces.
And the restaurants of those hotels were managed by Viscount Ashran.
The two were in a mutually beneficial relationship.
However, they were trying to expand their influence further by making the daughter of Viscount Ashran the Fairy of this year’s Founding Festival.
As a counter, Consort Isabella put forward House Valantier.
‘Unfortunately, the daughter of Viscount Ashran failed to reach the finals because of the performance of the daughter of Count Lennox.’
As an unexpected dark horse, the daughter of Count Lennox performed remarkably.
Growing anxious, Consort Isabella disqualified the daughter of Count Lennox through unfair means.
But at that time, Consort Isabella had been the one presiding, whereas now Liliana was in charge.
“This will be very interesting.”
Liliana handed the question sheet to Anna.
“It’s an important set of questions, so deliver it to Sir Martin, the official in charge. Tell him to send it to each participant.”
Anna asked cautiously,
“But will the questions really reach them properly?”
“Sir Martin is loyal to His Majesty, so he will handle it fairly.”
After the incident three years ago, the festival administrative officials were largely replaced.
Most of them were the Emperor’s people. And Sir Martin was the third son of the Minister of the Treasury, who was loyal to the Emperor. He was someone more firm about fairness than anyone.
“Just in case, go with Jennifer. It will be better than going alone.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Jennifer, if someone tries to intercept the questions, just subdue them appropriately and let them go.”
“Why? We should capture them and find out who is behind it.”
“It’s already obvious.”
Jennifer nodded as if she understood.
“Right. Then we will be back.”
Anna carefully held the question sheet and left the office. Jennifer followed behind her.
***
Garnet Palace.
The Garnet Palace, which gave off a quiet atmosphere, was more modest and frugal than the Ruby Palace, which was the height of splendor.
The master of the Garnet Palace, Consort Diena, was feeding a bird in a cage.
With black hair and blue eyes, she possessed an exotic beauty.
The eldest daughter of House Asdel, she failed to be chosen as Empress at eighteen and became an Imperial Consort instead.
Her mother was a noblewoman from an eastern country, a foreign land, who met and married her father, Marquis Asdel.
Black hair was an uncommon and distinctive color in the Empire, so the Emperor also liked Diena’s black hair.
But unfortunately, she couldn’t have children. It was due to the aftereffects of drinking poison as part of a plot by the jealous Consort Isabella.
