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Chapter 54
A few days later, after checking the cosmetics, Lapis immediately contacted Ellia.
—My Lady, when are you planning to launch this product?
“Why?”
—I think it’s going to be a massive hit.
“I think so too. Find me a shop location in the capital. Preferably right next to, or across from, Queen’s Cosmetics.”
—Are you aiming directly at Queen’s Cosmetics?
“Yeah, I’m going to ruin them completely.”
—I think I just heard a very sinister laugh from you, My Lady.
“Shut up and just find me a spot.”
—Understood. I’ll secure a store for you even if I have to pay extra.
“I’ll be launching in a month, so prepare accordingly. I’ll send the interior design concept and brand name by letter.”
—Yes, My Lady. I look forward to it.
“Of course.”
After cutting off the communication, Ellia walked into Alexis’s office.
The office was empty. Today was the day Alexis supervised the knights’ training. Noah was probably training with them as well.
Sitting at the desk, Ellia pulled out a pen and began drafting a brand plan for the cosmetics.
She decided on the brand name Beautiful Line and wrote down the interior design concept.
If she wanted to erect a golden statue in the garden, she absolutely had to make this brand a success. Ellia’s ultimate goal was to elevate the Cartellani Duchy to the very top of the nobility.
And there was still so much to do.
Clink.
Grand Duchess Christina dropped the hand mirror she was holding.
“This can’t be…”
Her face turned pale.
“Are you all right, Your Grace?”
Her aide, Roen, gestured for a maid to clean up the shattered fragments.
Roen was someone sent by the organization right after Emma had left.
Christina stared intently into the vanity mirror before rising from her seat.
“I need to rest for a while. Everyone, leave.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
After dismissing all the maids, the Grand Duchess stood and walked toward the dressing room.
She opened the door and stood before a wardrobe deep inside.
When she opened the wardrobe, a staircase leading underground appeared.
The Grand Duchess descended.
At the center of the underground chamber was a spring.
Standing before it, she bit her finger to draw blood and let a drop fall into the water.
Plop. The droplet spread ripples across the spring.
The faintly trembling surface formed a whirlpool, then suddenly stilled.
“My curse… it’s gone.”
The whirlpool slowly calmed, until the spring was as serene as if nothing had happened.
“Noah, that brat must have lifted my curse.”
Her reflection in the spring twisted into a demonic grimace.
“Was this the work of the White Tower Master?”
The Emperor had said Noah was sent there.
So for the past three years, she had tried to confirm whether Noah was truly in the White Tower.
Eventually, she found a witness who confirmed it—he himself was a wizard from the Tower.
Never suspecting that the Emperor had deceived her, the Grand Duchess was convinced Noah had been there all along.
“How could it be undone? Even the Tower Master should’ve struggled to break my curse.”
Seething with frustration, she slammed her fist into the spring.
A grotesque shriek erupted from the water.
“Kiiieee—!”
“Silence. Shut up.”
At her command, the spring fell quiet.
“If it’s come to this, then I must ensure Noah can never reclaim his place, even if he returns.”
The Emperor had said Noah would return when he turned fifteen.
“If that brat awakens the Blessing of the Sun, I’ll be in trouble. I must find the Guardian of the World Tree as soon as possible.”
The Blessing of the Sun was the imperial family’s strongest justification for ascending the throne—it was the very symbol of the Empire.
Raul did not possess it.
That was why she needed the Guardian of the World Tree.
If the Guardian supported Raul, he could still become Emperor without the blessing.
But no matter how hard she searched, she could not find the Guardian. As if they had vanished from the face of the earth.
The Shadows of the Rose had scoured the realm for three years, yet not even a whisper of rumor surfaced.
No wonder the Grand Duchess was growing restless. She had to guard against not only Noah, but also Serhi.
In the past three years, Serhi had achieved extraordinary results in swordsmanship. At only ten years old, he had mastered the Mana Sword—the stage where one could imbue a blade with magical energy.
This level required both immense talent and grueling training, yet Serhi had attained it in only three years.
As a reward, the Emperor granted him command of the White Lion Knights, one of the imperial knight orders.
It was practically a declaration that the Emperor was seriously considering him as heir.
Thus, the Grand Duchess could not afford to lose.
“What’s that?”
Returning from the Tower, Jirk carried three unusual vials.
“These are cosmetics given to me by the Young Lady.”
“Cosmetics?”
“Yes, her newly developed products.”
“And why do you have them?”
“She gifted them to me.”
Austin narrowed his eyes at him.
“Don’t tell me… you asked for them again under the pretense of research?”
“Yes.”
“To put them on display again?”
Jirk answered with only a smile.
“They’re precious to me.”
“Are you… obsessed with that kid or something?”
“Huh?”
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t decorate an entire wall with her gifts.”
Behind Jirk was a display cabinet filled with various items.
“And you even put preservation magic on them…”
“Is that bad?”
“Not bad, just… excessive. Be careful.”
Jirk was clumsy with emotions.
Austin had tried teaching him about different feelings, but Jirk absorbed them much more slowly than he learned magic.
Sometimes, that led to strange distortions.
Austin watched him closely.
‘Just as I thought.’
Each cosmetic bottle was reinforced with preservation magic, layered with protective spells.
Then placed neatly in a display case.
It was filled with Ellia’s gifts—mostly cookies and candies.
‘He doesn’t even eat them, just hoards them… this kid, really…’
Austin had no words.
If Ellia saw this, he could already imagine her reaction. For that reason, he resolved never to tell her.
He didn’t want his cherished disciple to get hurt by Ellia’s words.
Clicking his tongue softly, Austin turned away.
The best way to deal with this was to ignore it.
A lazy afternoon.
Ellia was watching Noah dart about in the training grounds.
Perhaps because the curse had been lifted, his body felt light, and he was moving more swiftly with each passing day.
He leapt, rolled, and swung his sword with dazzling energy.
The faint flickers of the Blessing of the Sun only made him shine brighter.
But against Alexis, it was useless.
As always, Noah was thoroughly defeated.
“Shall we continue?”
Alexis held his wooden sword at Noah’s throat. But Noah knocked it away and sprang to his feet.
“I’m not done yet!”
His eyes blazed with determination.
“Very well, then. One more round, and then let’s go eat lunch. Ellia’s waiting.”
Alexis winked at Ellia, who gave an awkward smile and waved back.
“Don’t get distracted!”
Noah charged again.
Alexis dodged with ease, as though he could see it all coming.
[As expected of a Sword Master. He’s not even moving from that spot, yet he’s parrying all of Noah’s attacks.]
‘Of course. The Duke is the world’s greatest swordsman.’
Even in the past, no swordsman alive could stand against Alexis. Ellia remembered all too well how difficult he was to deal with. That was how strong he was.
Their spar ended quickly.
And once again, Alexis was victorious.
Noah still had a long way to go before he could beat him.
