IBTPEOTMLC 29

Chapter 29

“The girl you met… her name is Coco, right?”

Instead of using the roundabout, aristocratic way of speaking, Jeffrey asked directly. Because of his high rank, no one would dare scold him for speaking like that.

Diego remained silent, but Jeffrey knew that meant yes.

Jeffrey let out a small sound of admiration.

“Wow. When did you meet her?”

“The same day you did.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything?”

“Did I need to?”

“You’re still such a jerk.”

So that meant they had both met the same kid on the same day—and both had been ignored by her.

“Hey, then what did she help you with?”

As if reluctant to say it, Diego spoke a little slowly.

“…She found Zakat and told him where I was.”

“Pfft!”

Jeffrey burst out laughing.

“You couldn’t even beat a single thug!”

Of course, he wasn’t really laughing because Diego had lost.

Jeffrey knew very well that Diego still couldn’t fully control his power.

But the situation itself was simply amusing.

He wasn’t the only one who had been ignored. Knowing his close friend had been ignored too gave him a strange sense of solidarity and made him feel better.

Without even looking at Jeffrey laughing loudly, Diego calmly responded.

“At least I had the excuse that I couldn’t harm a citizen of the Empire… unlike you, who simply couldn’t find your way.”

Jeffrey opened his mouth but couldn’t respond.

In verbal arguments, the number of times Jeffrey had beaten Diego could be counted on one hand.

* * *

Just like the Imperial Palace, the entire Empire was lively with the festival.

The temple was no exception.

Especially since it was the last day, even more people than usual had come out to enjoy it.

Yet during the entire week-long festival, Coco had not appeared even once.

“I can’t go outside during festival days.”

For some reason, that sentence wouldn’t leave Hedwin’s mind.

To be honest, Hedwin didn’t know much about Coco.

Since she came to the temple every single day, he simply overheard things the priests said about her.

He had only seen her from afar a few times.

Usually she would eat alone in the dining hall, then—despite her unusually small and thin body—help wash dishes and assist in the kitchen as a way of showing gratitude before returning to the prayer hall.

For some reason, that image had stuck in his mind.

So when Coco happened to pass by while he was having a difficult time, he had grabbed her.

He had done so because she had a good reputation among the priests.

But—

‘Instead, I got thoroughly scolded.’

Remembering that moment made Hedwin boil with irritation.

Anyway, because of that, he didn’t know much about Coco’s detailed circumstances—like why she never appeared during festivals.

He had never bothered to look into it.

Hedwin felt somewhat conflicted.

Coco, who had endured all kinds of hardships alone since childhood, kept lingering in his mind.

But what happened that day had also annoyed and irritated him.

Those contradictory feelings made his mind unnecessarily complicated.

At that moment, Cassie approached quietly.

“Ahem, ahem!”

Hedwin had been standing still looking at the garden, but upon hearing the sound, he turned his back and began walking the other way.

Cassie hurried after him.

‘Annoying.’

To purify the forest surroundings and check whether there were any abnormalities in the barrier, only those with excellent divine power had been selected and grouped into teams.

Cassie and Hedwin were both part of those teams.

By chance they ended up in the same group, and Cassie had not hidden her displeasure about it.

But after Hedwin had revealed his true personality once, Cassie no longer dared provoke him carelessly.

Whenever she acted irritatingly, Hedwin would simply smile and respond lightly, which only made her more angry.

Yet at some point, Cassie started taking interest in him.

Soon enough, she began hovering around him after completely losing her former hostility.

“Fellow trainee, it’s the last day of the festival. How about we go see it together?”

“I declined before. I didn’t realize you were too ignorant to understand that.”

Despite Hedwin’s response, Cassie didn’t seem bothered.

After all, she had been the one who made Hedwin’s life the most difficult before, so she felt she deserved this treatment.

In truth, the reason Cassie changed her mind was simple.

Every time they went into the forest, she witnessed Hedwin’s overwhelming divine power and limitless potential with her own eyes.

At first, realizing she could never beat him had filled her with despair.

But she soon accepted it and moved on.

Once all jealousy disappeared, what remained in her heart was admiration for Hedwin—and a strong desire to stand beside him.

She was certain that if others saw Hedwin’s divine power, they would think the same way she did.

Since he disliked her, she wanted to at least become his friend.

Her thoughts had taken a somewhat strange direction.

Of course, Hedwin was fully aware of Cassie’s intentions.

Every day she approached him with a bright expression, trying to start conversations.

But Hedwin simply found her irritating.

Just as he was about to say something else to the persistent Cassie—

“Oh! Our handsome Hedwin is here!”

A man with an excessively bright personality and an excessively large body appeared before him.

Despite his frightening muscles and huge build, this man was surprisingly not a holy knight but a devout priest.

He was Tols, a probationary priest who had graduated from the temple academy not long ago.

“Come on! Let’s go out and enjoy the festival together!”

Hedwin easily avoided Tols trying to put an arm around his shoulder and gave his usual polite smile.

“I need to return because I’m worried about the rabbit I’m raising at the dormitory.”

Cassie asked in surprise.

“You’re raising a rabbit?”

“No.”

The firm answer made Cassie confused.

“But you just said—”

Hedwin only smiled calmly.

Only then did Cassie and Tols realize what he meant.

Ignoring their slumped shoulders, Hedwin tried to walk past them—only to be blocked by Ser.

With a face that looked like he was plotting something, Ser spoke friendly words.

“I also raise rabbits…”

After brushing off the people clinging to him one after another, Hedwin suddenly remembered Coco declining the invitation to go to the festival.

She had said calmly that she couldn’t go outside during festival days.

‘I thought they allowed her freedom… but maybe that isn’t actually the case?’

Everything about Coco strangely bothered him.

Hedwin furrowed his brows.

* * *

The festival ended.

But once again, there were no results.

After searching for several years without finding any clues, even I was starting to feel discouraged.

Still, hoping there might be good news about the Alexandrite, I went to meet Bey.

When I arrived near Bey’s office, knights who recognized my face personally guided me and opened the door.

“Welcome, Lady Coco!”

The table was filled with a feast.

From rich, fragrant meat dishes to fruit salad and soup.

Bey seated Coco and placed a bowl of soup in front of her, handing her a spoon.

“You probably haven’t been able to eat properly. If you suddenly eat too much, it might upset your stomach, so start with the soup.”

“About the banquet… how did it—”

“Eat first. I’ll tell you everything after you finish.”

From Bey’s tightly closed lips, I could clearly sense her determination not to speak until I ate.

So I deliberately chewed the food carefully.

Unfortunately, my stomach wasn’t very big, so I had to stop after eating only a little.

I wanted to eat it all…

Instead, Oried enthusiastically started eating my portion.

It was amazing how such a small body could keep stuffing food endlessly.

Finally, Bey brought a strawberry cake and cocoa and placed them in front of me.

Only after I took a bite of dessert did she begin speaking.

Bey’s explanation was so detailed that it felt like I had been there myself.

From the beginning—when nobles were gossiping with exaggerated rumors, and the head of the Ezeid family stubbornly insisted on his claims—

To the explosive reaction when the Empress and Princess appeared wearing Alexandrite jewelry.

“Just like we did, everyone stared at it in a daze! Even the Ezeid family head looked like his eyes were about to pop out. In the end, his face twisted in defeat. Ah, you should have seen it, Lady Coco.”

“You’re right. I really should have seen it.”

I sincerely regretted it.

It might be a strange hobby, but I quite enjoyed watching bad people meet their downfall.

The Ezeid family had gained unfair profits for years.

They exploited craftsmen and even destroyed other merchant groups to take their businesses.

So Bey told me I had no reason to feel guilty.

Honestly, I didn’t feel guilty at all.

The Ezeid head was the one who started the fight by spreading false rumors.

Bey and I simply gave Alexandrite jewelry to the Empress and Princess.

If he ended up feeling defeated and becoming known as a liar, that was entirely his own fault.

“He destroyed himself without us even lifting a finger.”

“That’s what happens when someone commits too many wrongdoings. Eventually the truth becomes impossible to hide.”

That was enough talk about the Ezeid head.

I looked at Bey with shining eyes, and she excitedly continued recounting what happened that day.

“When night came, even more nobles gathered in the glass greenhouse—those who heard the Princess and those who came because of the rumors. When everyone’s eyes turned toward the Empress and Princess… it was exhilarating! I haven’t felt that kind of thrill in a long time.”

Autumn moonlight filled the glass dome.

Under that light, the Alexandrite changed from its daytime bluish-green into a mysterious reddish-purple.

People gasped in admiration and couldn’t take their eyes off it.

Then they all rushed toward Bey.

Bey had said only one sentence:

“If you wish to purchase it, send your family’s name stamped with your seal to the Asura Guild.”

Apparently everyone assumed it was first-come, first-served.

Now letters were piling up.

Bey pointed toward a corner.

Boxes were filled with envelopes stamped with noble family seals.

There were even more boxes beside them.

Not only nobles within the Empire, but even people from other countries had sent requests.

I stared with my mouth open.

I never expected such incredible publicity.

For a moment I even wondered what to do next.

But actually—

This was amazing!

The first mission of the gemstone merchant guild was a huge success!

I was already looking forward to the auction.

“To raise the prestige, we’ll invite high-ranking nobles and influential figures first.”

After the auction, Bey planned to open the store I mentioned.

A sign would be placed in front of it announcing the opening date and time.

“Then people will show up according to that schedule.”

I definitely wanted to go see how long the line would be.

“Oh, and the head of the Ezeid family also sent a letter. What should we do? Should we send him an invitation or not?”

[Don’t send it! Tell them not to send it!]

Oried, who had been lying down sleeping after eating, suddenly shouted.

He made an X shape with his round arms to show strong refusal.

But my answer was the opposite.

“Invite him to the auction.”

“Oh, then…”

[Whaaaat?!]

Oried screamed loudly and slapped my cheeks with his round hands.

It didn’t hurt at all.

While restraining him with one hand, I added:

“He’s rich. The more money he spends at our merchant guild, the better.”

“Our merchant guild?”

“I didn’t build it alone. Without Venus and Bey, it wouldn’t have succeeded. So the three of us share ownership.”

“I refuse.”

Bey rejected firmly.

I looked up at her in disappointment.

“W-why?”

“Because you were the one who provided the idea and directed everything.”

Then Bey changed the subject.

“The more money he spends, the better. I’ll invite the Ezeid head.”

I nodded for now and decided to persuade her later.

Then I spoke with a slightly devilish smile.

“Since he monopolizes the gemstone business, if people find out he spent a fortune at our auction, won’t it make the front page of the newspapers?”

“We should send a good photograph to the press. Once the auction happens, no one in the Empire will be unaware of Demeter.”

I hoped that would happen soon.

If enough money gathered, there was something I really wanted to do.

“So what’s next?”

Bey asked with great anticipation.

I answered simply.

“This time, it’s the Samei Mine.”

Two more times.

Two missions remained in Coco’s plan.