🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 105………………..
“No way…! Is that true…?!”
“Y-yes… Lady Misha just came by and told me to pass it on. A-and she also left this letter….”
Lanya’s hands trembled as she handed a letter to Yevgeny. The luxurious stationery was sealed with the imperial crest.
As expected, it was from Empress Dolores.
Yevgeny bit down on her lip hard enough to draw blood as she listened to what Lanya had just told her.
‘Why is Lilien’s favorability with the citizens so damn high?!’
It had been five hours since Misha had received the empress’s order.
Apparently, she had gone straight to Yevgeny after meeting with the empress, bringing both the letter and her investigative report.
The news had been shocking enough that Yevgeny’s fist clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.
‘The people’s affection for Princess Lilien is far higher than expected. According to my findings, she’s been secretly donating astronomical sums to the temple every year.’
‘W-what…?! B-but what does that have to do with her popularity with the people?!’
Misha regarded Yevgeny briefly before replying in her usual indifferent tone.
‘The people’s love for the temple is beyond the imperial family’s reach. In times of war, the temple is the first to extend aid to the citizens. Even outside of war, they consistently provide relief efforts every year.’
‘I-I see….’
Yevgeny was ignorant of politics.
If she was this oblivious about state affairs, how much less could she possibly understand the commoners she scorned as beneath her?
She had always assumed the temple rivaled the imperial family’s authority only because of the divine power bestowed by the goddess.
But strength aside, while she had remained ignorant of history, the temple had steadily been aiding the people.
And with Lilien’s donations, the temple had covered hospital bills, food, housing, and even free education within temple schools.
Naturally, whenever children were taught there, the temple made sure to say it was thanks to Lilien’s donations. They had thoroughly conditioned the people in advance!
This was the public opinion manipulation that Pope Maridris had spoken of.
Yevgeny alone, unaware of the bigger picture, stood trembling all over, her jaw hanging open.
Her eyes were blazing red with fury.
Lanya nervously fiddled with her fingers, afraid Yevgeny might lash out again.
But no matter how long she waited, nothing was thrown at her.
Hesitantly, Lanya raised her head, which had been lowered almost to the floor, and looked at Yevgeny.
“Y-your Highness…?”
To her astonishment, instead of exploding in her usual violent fits, Yevgeny was grinding her teeth, trying to suppress her rage.
‘Wh-what on earth….’
Could it be that the princess had matured? Lanya was just about to feel relieved when—
“Mother told me to hold back until after the vote… so I’ll have to endure it.”
“Y-yes, of course….”
Lanya nodded awkwardly, her earlier relief vanishing. Yevgeny’s glare cut into her like a blade.
“What are you doing? Get out! Don’t come back until I call you!”
“Y-yes! I’ll leave right away.”
Terrified that Yevgeny might finally erupt and direct her anger at her, Lanya hurriedly scurried out.
Left alone, Yevgeny opened the empress’s letter and rolled her eyes over the contents.
“Stay… still…?”
Not to act, but simply to stay put?
Puzzled, Yevgeny reread the letter two or three more times, worried she might have missed something between the lines.
But no matter how many times she checked, the conclusion was the same: “Just stay still.”
She set the letter down, pacing anxiously back and forth until she grew exhausted and collapsed onto the sofa.
“Don’t worry, Mother said she’d persuade Brother Mimi as well.”
Perhaps her mother was right—waiting quietly might indeed be the best course of action.
Suppressing her anxiety, Yevgeny fixed her sharp gaze on the First Princess’s palace through the terrace window.
“I won’t lose. To Lilien, of all people—never.”
She would secure her place at all costs, crushing her arrogant elder sister’s pride beneath her feet.
A short while later.
Ilia and Mulin approached me, unable to contain their curiosity about my plans.
“Are you really not going to tell us anything…?” Ilia pouted.
I shot her a glance.
“Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Even walls have ears’? This is for precaution.”
“But still… we’ve already driven away the other servants! So maybe just a little hint—”
“No. Go do your job.”
“Hmph.”
Ilia sulked, standing up with a pitiful look. Mulin clicked his tongue.
“Your Highness. As ordered, I scouted the area near the empress’s palace.”
“Oh? Did you find anything?”
“Well….”
Regretfully, he shook his head.
“No suspicious figures at all. After all, ever since the hunting festival eight years ago, the empress’s palace and your own have been heavily guarded. Do you think they’ll really come…?”
“They will. I made sure to let a few things slip.”
“Then… I suppose that’s reassuring.”
But Mulin still looked uneasy as he sighed.
“Please don’t overdo it, Your Highness. I’m honestly a little worried.”
“Yes, yes.”
I waved him off casually, then dismissed him as well. With the eve festival so close, I couldn’t leave the palace.
So I had no choice but to make use of those around me.
‘The last time I met with Mother, I let certain words slip. Even if they’re late, they’ll attempt contact.’
Until then, I might as well catch up on the pile of letters waiting on my desk.
The first was from Emily, asking again if I really didn’t need her help. I politely wrote back, “No, I don’t.”
Next came letters from Lara and Biante, excited about the eve festival and discussing dress codes.
Then one from my grandfather, with updates about the current situation in the Tower.
“Oh, one from the viscount.”
There were only a couple left when I picked up Jeron’s letter, sealed with the Idrea family crest.
[How are you? I’ll forget your face at this rate, Your Highness.]
It began with Jeron’s usual lighthearted teasing.
I smiled faintly, but soon tilted my head, clutching the letter tightly as I read on.
“What is this supposed to mean…?”
I reread it in disbelief.
No matter how I looked at it, the words jumped out at me: he was having trouble with the search.
“No matter how much he searched… nothing…?”
The letter slipped from my fingers as my face drained of color.
The night my debutante ended, I had secretly contacted Jeron with a request:
To find a certain item—a gift that would delight me if received as my coming-of-age present.
I had even hired countless adventurers out of my own pocket as a backup.
Naturally, they had turned up nothing, so I had assumed Jeron would have better luck.
But instead—
[Your Highness, I searched every territory and auction house you indicated. But no matter how thoroughly I looked, I could not find the “Cirel Blood.”
My guess is that someone else already obtained the ring. We’ll need to carefully track its whereabouts. Should I expand the search radius?]
“No… that’ll take too long.”
I bit my lip, massaging my temple.
“I didn’t expect this… I thought the delay was just from gathering funds, but if the ring’s already in someone else’s hands….”
There would be no avoiding that matter.
Clicking my tongue, I picked up a blank sheet and wrote swiftly.
[I permit it.
Please find it as quickly as possible. And—consider the possibility that an adventurer or even a foreign noble might have obtained it.
I don’t care what it takes—steal it in secret, pay any amount. As long as the ring is retrieved safely, nothing else matters.]
I rang the bell cord.
Ilia entered promptly. I handed her the letter.
“Change of plans. Deliver this to Viscount Idrea immediately, and tell the adventurers: stop circling the auctions. Find the ring’s owner at once.
A third of them should keep searching the auctions, just in case.”
“Brother, what about your partner?”
Dina Eliette’s long black hair swayed as she looked up at her elder brother with a bright smile.
But when Richard answered, disappointment flashed across her face.
“His Highness… already found a partner…?”
Richard gave a bitter smile.
That morning, the letter he had awaited from the imperial palace had finally arrived—only to contain a refusal.
Dina muttered under her breath, scowling.
“Who on earth dared to snatch Princess Lilien as their partner for the eve festival? Should I go break their shins?”
“…”
Richard sighed at his sister’s outburst.
Though she had matured into a proper lady through years of etiquette training, her true nature still slipped out at times like this.
“It’s fine. The letter said she’s not going with a man anyway, but with some young ladies she’s known for a long time.”
“Oh, then there’s no problem! Still… it would’ve been better if you’d been her partner. I told you to send the letter sooner. Dragging your feet cost you the chance.”
She clicked her tongue elegantly, and Richard could only smile ruefully.
‘Yes, I know that better than anyone….’
His eyes drifted to the preserved cosmos flower on his desk. Protected by a spell, it remained as fresh as the day it was cut.
‘I was going to give it to her at the eve festival… now I may not get the chance.’
At that moment—
“By the way, Brother. Did you hear the news?”
Richard turned back toward Dina, tilting his head.
She beamed, eyes sparkling at his puzzled look.
“Father said that in two months, the Liamel Ship will arrive in the Empire!”
“The Liamel Ship?”
“Yes!”
Richard narrowed his eyes.
The Liamel Ship was the vessel that ferried adventurers across the world—not along fixed trade routes, but drifting endlessly to sate adventurers’ curiosity.
Occasionally, it docked in kingdoms or empires, and whenever it did, adventurers sold their treasures to the high nobility.
“So it’s the season for adventurers to unload their spoils.”
“Exactly! And that’s why—I want to buy a gift for Her Highness! I still haven’t given her a proper coming-of-age present. Since it’s late, it has to be something truly valuable, don’t you think?”
“Indeed. And so you want us to be their first stop?”
“Yes!”
Dina nodded vigorously, eyes shining.
Richard chuckled and ruffled her hair.
“I can’t promise all of them, but I’ll arrange for at least half to come here. The rest will naturally go to the imperial family first.”
“That’s fine! Among them, there’s bound to be someone with a priceless treasure.”
“…I see.”
He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly frowned.
Even the gift he had given Lilien for her coming-of-age no longer felt good enough.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I suppose I’ll have to see them myself.”
Meanwhile, in a district of the capital—
Mia, a child from an orphanage run by the temple, ran hurriedly down the street. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement.
An adult smiled at her in passing.
“My, Mia. Where are you rushing off to?”
“Auntie Kellen! I’m going to see the portrait!”
“Oh, the portrait?”
Kellen chuckled and nodded.
In preparation for the upcoming eve festival, the imperial family had arranged a special event for the people: issuing portraits of the most popular member of the imperial family. They always sold like wildfire.
Mia belonged to the Mazefie orphanage, managed by the temple.
Every month, the children were given pocket money, and Mia had saved hers to buy the portrait.
Kellen asked gently,
“And whose portrait are you buying?”
Without hesitation, Mia beamed.
“Her Highness, the First Princess Lilien!”
