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Chapter 60
“Surely you must have received it.”
Limutan calmly explained what had happened at the knights’ training grounds, adding that Conrad had looked displeased when he witnessed it.
He also mentioned that his own wife had wanted to attend the tea party but, being of lower status, had not received an invitation.
“So that’s what happened.”
Regina exhaled lightly, finally understanding Conrad’s words and actions.
She hadn’t expected the magical tools she had gifted to the noblewomen to end up with the knights.
She had only thought they might use the ribbons as hair ties and possibly give her a little help later, so she hadn’t made a fuss.
In Ferman, such items were common anyway.
‘How much danger could the noblewomen possibly be in?’
She had forgotten that a woman’s hair ribbon could sometimes decorate a knight’s sword hilt, a token showing a family member’s or lover’s feelings.
“Her Majesty was truly upset.”
Limutan spoke firmly, even as he watched Regina’s expression.
“Understood. You may leave.”
She shooed Limutan out of the office, back to the hall, and pushed the documents aside. Her fingers tapped thoughtfully on the clean desk.
‘So that’s why the Empress Dowager sent a potion to disrupt a mage’s power.’
That had been the cause.
Chloe had never paid much attention to the fact that Regina was a mage before. That was why she hadn’t expected magic when punishing the maid previously.
‘But now things are different.’
It was clear that people had realized Regina could handle magic delicately and even craft magical tools.
“I’ll need to be more careful from now on.”
Before fully regaining her magic, she couldn’t afford to be tricked by Chloe again. She decided to prepare countermeasures.
‘At least I found out in advance.’
It wasn’t pure coincidence that the knights ended up with the ribbons she had given to the noblewomen.
The magical tools had responded to the hearts of parents thinking of their children. Magic-infused items always flowed to those who truly needed them.
Magic, in how it flowed and reacted, wasn’t so different from living beings.
It couldn’t be forcibly blocked or diverted, which was why mages studying magic paid careful attention to nature’s flow.
“So that’s why Conrad said what he did…”
He needed the magical tools, especially those with healing magic.
Her thoughts drifted far from his actual intentions.
After a moment’s contemplation, she untied the ribbon holding her long hair.
With a hand on the ribbon, interwoven with silver and gold threads, she formed a magical sign.
“Thankfully, there’s gold and silver.”
A single spell etched itself in red on the ribbon. She didn’t stop there.
She added another magical seal, then cast a third spell. Bright light poured out, the magic spilling across the ribbon.
Red, blue, and yellow light swirled, then faded slightly after a short time.
“It’s complete.”
The continuous use of magic drained her greatly, but her expression was bright.
It was the first time she had layered magic exactly as she wanted since her powers had been sealed. The energy exchange with Conrad had clearly been very effective.
“Perhaps soon, I might even be able to remove the seal.”
The enormous magic sealed within would push back strongly when released. It wouldn’t be easy, but tasting this hope gave her a strange sense of confidence.
Humming happily, she shuffled through the documents. The light that had shimmered beside her seeped entirely into the ribbon, leaving it ordinary. Regina smiled, satisfied.
Council Meeting
Conrad surveyed the nobles, hiding his displeasure, as they raised complaints.
The meeting had originally been called to address the drought affecting the southern grain fields, but the nobles were complaining about something else.
“How dare the Empress gift magical tools only to the noblewomen who attended her tea party!”
“Such a biased action, Your Majesty!”
“Indeed! There are many knights devoted to the Empire. To deny them and make them feel deprived…”
Bang!
The nobles’ voices went too far, and Conrad unleashed his power.
A thick iron shield displayed at the side of the hall dented in real time, silencing the nobles.
“Say that again. What did you just say?”
“Well, that is…”
“The gifts prepared for the tea party were for the noblewomen. Why should knights appear in this?”
The Empress Dowager faction nobles protested, jealous they hadn’t received anything.
“The Empress gave these gifts out of personal favor, not to discriminate between knights.”
Ulysses, a count, stepped forward, a lace-trimmed ribbon in his hair, showing off that he had received one.
“Even I, without a sword, had my wife tie it for me.”
Conrad glared at him with annoyance.
“It was given to the noblewomen, and if it reached you, it was due to the hearts of the family women. Complaining to the Empress about it is nonsense.”
“If the Empress Dowager gave gifts too, then ask for yours.”
The Empress Dowager faction nobles, enraged, raised their voices again, but Conrad ignored them.
“Enough.”
“I cannot force anyone to accept the Empress’s personal gifts.”
“But Your Majesty! Surely you received one yourself!”
Conrad’s lips curled in disdain at their ridiculous argument: “If you received it, we should too!”
“Do you want me to give to you what I myself have not received?”
The nobles gasped. Stammering, one finally spoke:
“No way… If it was so precious, the Empress must have given it to the Emperor first!”
Conrad had enough.
He threw the pen he was holding, leaving a small cut on the count’s cheek before embedding it in the wall.
“I said I have not received it!”
With a loud snap, the armrest of a chair broke, unable to withstand his aura.
The room felt chilling from the exploding magical energy. Some nobles struggled to breathe, others could barely sit upright.
