TCMGF 43

Chapter 43

His eyes held trust.

Sweet acknowledgment—something I had rarely received from anyone—was given to me by Ezekiel Betra.

“The person who had felt the most like a stranger is the one who acknowledges me fully.”

Even though I knew it wasn’t genuine, my heart tickled at the thought.
If Anna was the first happiness the world had planted for me,

then what was this man to me?
A sweet lie? Or a new blessing I had yet to recognize?

“Lunch is over. Outsiders, please step out.”

The brief meeting ended. Anna and the butler shouted words of encouragement before following Ezekiel out.

He left indifferently without even looking back.
No—that’s what I thought. But just before disappearing, he glanced back at me and gave a faint smile.

Once again, only the candidates and Crown Princess Giovanna remained in the palace courtyard.

The Crown Princess sat leisurely, sweeping her gaze over us.

“Did you all enjoy your meal?”

Some people, too nervous about the setting, had barely eaten.
A few even looked pale, perhaps from indigestion.

“You should have eaten heartily. The afternoon exam will require much talking.”

The Crown Princess smiled gently.

This afternoon’s test would reduce the current eight first-round passers down to five.
Eliminating only three wasn’t that difficult a trial.

“But I messed up the foreign language test earlier.”

I needed to make up for it in the afternoon to secure my position.

“The next test will be a Q&A.”

Giovanna tapped her fan lightly and curled her lips upward.

“My lady-in-waiting must delight me with her wide knowledge of politics and society. Therefore, what I expect from you is honest and wise answers.”

We were to form pairs, wait our turn, and then enter the palace’s reception room two at a time. There, we would answer the Crown Princess’s questions and then head home.

“What will the Q&A topic be?”

“Probably revealed once we’re inside the reception room.”

I tried to calm myself while listening to the other participants.

“Ugh… I hope it’s not something difficult.”
“Please, let it be about a lady’s etiquette or refinement.”

I recalled what Ezekiel had told me over lunch:

“Crown Princess Giovanna likes hearing about candidates’ personal experiences. Especially when it shows leadership and charisma.”

So maybe I just needed to answer confidently?

The groups for the reception were soon announced.

Group G

• Viola Betra

• Camilla Starace

“Dear heavens, please…”

Not exactly the most pleasant pairing.
Camilla’s face twisted as though she thought the same.

At the very least, she must have realized that standing out more than her partner in front of the Crown Princess was the only way to get closer to passing.

Between the two of us, only one would leave a stronger impression.

“Group G, enter.”

Time flew by, and together we walked down the corridor toward the reception room.

Camilla was so nervous she didn’t even bother picking a fight with me—she just kept biting at her cuticles.

Finally, the reception room doors opened. The Crown Princess’s slow, piercing gaze swept over the two of us.

“Greetings, I am Lady Camilla of the Starace viscount family.”

“Viola, mistress of the Betra ducal household, greets Your Highness.”

For a fleeting moment, Giovanna’s eyes lingered on me.

“Betra ducal house, hm…”

It was awkward. I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed, knowing that at one time a marriage proposal had been discussed between Ezekiel and Giovanna.

But the Crown Princess showed no sign of it.

“I will now announce today’s interview theme.”

As soon as we sat down on the sofa across from her, she began.

“‘What mindset is needed to properly take responsibility for a territory?’”

It was, in a way, a question linked to a lady’s refinement. After all, noblewomen who married often participated in managing their family’s lands.

Camilla was given the first chance to answer.

“Your Highness, I believe that what is required of one who wishes to properly take responsibility for a territory is diligence.”

I gauged the meaning in her words. Not bad.

She continued, speaking slowly.

“A territory is not managed by numbers alone. Though what a lady receives may be ledgers and figures, behind those papers lie real people, their blood, sweat, and tears. To guide the livelihoods of so many, one must have the diligence to lead even if it means burning oneself out.”

“A textbook answer.”

The Crown Princess smiled with satisfaction.

“Have you ever demonstrated such diligence yourself?”

“Forgive me, but yes. My family, the Starace viscounty, has struggled greatly with debt.”

(Actually, still ongoing, I thought inwardly.)

“At that time, I dismissed those in the house who lived in luxury, earned goodwill by appearing in society, and started a business with the information guild. None of it would have been possible without my diligence.”

I nearly clicked my tongue. She was laying claim to her aunt’s accomplishments—and the guild was really Zenobio’s venture.

“Therefore, I studied the ledgers carefully and identified where the money was leaking…”

It was a well-framed answer.

Even if none of it was her own doing, she had clearly studied her family’s achievements to prepare for this selection, and thus could answer smoothly even to follow-up questions.

“Very good.”

The Crown Princess’s short sigh carried satisfaction. Camilla’s face brightened.

Now Giovanna’s gaze turned to me.

“Now, it is your turn. What mindset is needed to properly take responsibility for a territory? Answer.”

I drew a deep breath in, then out.

“There is only one mindset I believe in: ‘I will abandon my shame.’”

The Crown Princess’s eyebrows twitched.

“Shame?”

Stay calm. She wasn’t angry with me. Honestly, after Ezekiel, I had built some immunity to such reactions.

I organized my thoughts and continued.

“Territory management is not a lofty affair. Sometimes there will be conflicts with other leaders, and sometimes one must even go against one’s own nature to work for the region’s sake.”

Then, I shared my own experiences.

“Competing with neighboring lands over a single product and getting into disputes, or wearing a mask and acting as a model just to promote an item…”

At that, Giovanna lifted her lips slightly, as if recalling something.

“Now that you mention it, Betra territory’s recent activities were quite impressive. I read about them in the papers.”

“Thank you.”

“So that was your work.”

Her favorable response gave me momentum.

“Rather than being someone who keeps up appearances and leaves debts unresolved, I value those who abandon pride and take unusual actions if it means achieving growth for their territory.”

Camilla ground her teeth, realizing something from my words.

Not that it mattered. I was being honest.

“I, too, am prepared to do anything for my land, even if it means being ridiculed by others.”

If necessary, I would discard all shame.

The Crown Princess seemed to savor my words for a moment before snapping her fingers.

“I’ve heard you both come from the same family—the Starace viscount’s eldest daughter and a branch daughter, yes?”

Camilla and I answered in unison that it was so.

“What an interesting fate. The Betra duchess wasn’t particularly notable in society before marriage, you know.”

That was true. My entire family’s resources had been poured into Camilla and Zenobio, leaving me in the shadows.

“But it seems you spread your wings only after tying yourself to the ducal house.”

It was rare to hear such an evaluation from an outside party. Listening to her thoughts gave me a strange feeling.

But soon, Giovanna’s expression hardened.

“Viola Starace, who has been making noticeable moves in the Betra duchy—precisely because of that, the imperial palace is wary of you.”

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Camilla, who had been flustered, now looked as if she had finally found cause to rejoice.

It was obvious—the Crown Princess was radiating displeasure toward me.

“Why only me…!”

Resting her chin on her hand in a playful manner, Giovanna continued:

“Especially my father, His Majesty the Emperor, detests both you and the Duke of Betra greatly. And I…”