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“I dare to speculate that it wasn’t they who requested this gathering, but rather that His Majesty himself hosted it.”
“Oh my, that might not be wrong.”
Whether it was simply to flaunt the new Hardenberg to everyone,
or because the rumors circulating on the streets were true—
Either way, this gathering held significance.
‘Just what kind of occasion is this?’
Who would be the one to become the new power of this empire?
They all wanted to witness it with their own eyes.
“Presenting the head of House Kolhart, Duke Vermon Kolhart, and Lady Saren Kolhart!”
As the herald’s voice rang out, the doors opened.
At the mention of names connected to this event, the entire ballroom fell silent.
Click—
The sharp sound of Saren’s heels echoed through the hall.
A father and daughter with black hair and purple eyes entered.
“Oh my, look at her complexion…”
“So the rumor that she’s not truly the duke’s daughter was true. Then who is she really…?”
“They spread the news so grandly, and yet… how shameless.”
Mocking whispers reached Saren’s ears. She clenched her gloved hand tightly.
Unlike her usual radiant and elegant demeanor, she looked as if she hated being here—her reluctance was plain to see.
“Saren.”
“…Yes.”
“Try not to worry too much.”
The duke forced the words out. Saren pressed her lips shut.
She felt as though she was walking willingly into hell, knowing exactly what awaited her.
At that moment, the soft music ceased. Conversations fell silent too.
“His Imperial Majesty, the Great Sun of the Empire, and Her Imperial Majesty, the Great Moon of the Empire, are entering—!”
Upon the red carpet appeared a man with blond hair and grayish-blue eyes, and a woman with red hair and green eyes.
Everyone bowed deeply in greeting to the rulers of the Empire.
“Thank you for gathering here on such short notice,” the Emperor, Cassus, began.
“First, I must express my regret for the inconvenience caused by this sudden summons. However, the matter is of great importance, and thus we had no choice.”
“…”
“Baseless rumors have spread, premature hopes have been formed, and surely…”
His gaze flicked toward Duke Kolhart and Saren.
“…there have been some careless words as well.”
Everyone understood the unspoken meaning.
Saren ground her teeth silently.
“Let’s get to the main point. In the name of the Emperor, here and now…”
The Emperor raised his hand toward the ceiling. All eyes followed his gesture.
Flash!
Blue light burst in midair.
Under the golden glow of the chandelier, six figures appeared.
They wore deep navy uniforms, almost black. Each was strikingly handsome and radiated an air of composed confidence as they surveyed the surroundings.
“Hardenberg…” someone murmured instinctively.
Among the five familiar figures, overwhelming just by their presence, stood a new face.
The Emperor confirmed her identity.
“The sixth Hardenberg.”
“…!”
“I am pleased to introduce the Empire’s new blade.”
A woman with flowing black hair and unique orange eyes—like a blend of gold and shadow.
It was Shuneria Kolhart.
❖ ❖ ❖
While we waited upstairs where no one paid attention, Isaac spoke to me.
“Shunen.”
“Yeah?”
He came closer.
“You’re Hardenberg. One of us.”
“….”
“Remember only that.”
His unwavering voice was far more reassuring than a hundred words telling me not to be nervous.
I burst into a smile.
“Got it.”
Of course, I wasn’t nervous anyway—nor did I have a reason to be.
But I appreciated him saying it.
We could hear the Emperor declaring, “…in the name of the Emperor, here and now…” and saw him gesture toward us.
“Let’s go,” Isaac said.
Let’s show them who you are.
I gripped Isaac’s hand tightly, and together, we finally stepped forward.
❖ ❖ ❖
The hall fell silent. No one could speak.
Tap.
The sound of my heels striking the floor echoed loudly.
All eyes fixed on even that single sound.
I swept my gaze lightly around the room.
‘Whoa. That’s a lot of attention.’
It felt like being a celebrity.
I didn’t dislike this kind of spotlight, so I straightened my back proudly.
As Isaac had said, now that I was a Hardenberg, shrinking away would only tarnish their name.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been to the Imperial Palace,” Ethan said first.
The other four started adding their own remarks one by one.
“You guys are just shut-ins, that’s why.”
“Seriously, what’s with this duke’s family and their obsession with gold?”
“Hey, we had to come for Shunen today~ Endure it, brother…”
“Hazen’s right. Stop grumbling.”
Even with my eyes closed, I could tell who said what.
The Emperor greeted us lightly.
“Welcome, Hardenbergs.”
“Your Majesty.”
Letilia bowed lightly.
I considered bowing too, but the others all looked indifferent, so I didn’t.
“Normally, we’d at least keep up appearances, but today we have a clear purpose, so let’s skip the formalities,” Letilia said.
The nobles’ gazes toward me grew more intense.
“There are rumors that we’ve welcomed a new family member. But some people seem to have misunderstood something,” Letilia continued, deliberately turning her gaze toward a certain spot.
Her eyes landed on Saren and the Duke, who happened to be standing nearby.
“…!”
Their eyes met mine. Their lips tightened bitterly, but I turned away with a bored expression. My turn hadn’t come yet.
Isaac, who had been quietly watching the nobles murmur, spoke.
“We might have let other things slide, but we can’t overlook anyone insulting Shunen.”
“So we decided to make things clear tonight,” Letilia added.
They both nodded at me.
Alright, my introduction time. I stepped forward.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” I began. My voice sounded calm and confident, even to me.
“My name is Shuneria Hardenberg.”
“…”
“I am the new Hardenberg and…”
I locked eyes with Saren. You’re not important. I shifted my gaze to the Duke and gave a deliberately radiant smile to his fierce, glaring eyes.
“…the disgrace of Kolhart.”
Anyone present would understand exactly what I meant. To emphasize it, I flashed a bright smile.
“For that reason, I remained unknown even two years past adulthood. But not anymore.”
“Shunen is one of us. It was always meant to be,” Isaac said with a grin.
I caught a few horrified faces in the crowd at his smile.
It doesn’t feel real, does it? Me neither.
I laughed silently inside.
“T-Then!”
A trembling voice spoke up. I turned to see a man who had barely managed to speak.
Oh, brave man. I gave him a nod, signaling him to continue.
“Are you saying Lady Shuneria has been hidden away all this time?”
“Yes. Not just you—none of the people here have ever heard the name ‘Shuneria Kolhart,’ have you?”
The silence was their answer.
Normally, the births of noble sons and daughters are well known before their debutante.
But I wasn’t. I was an illegitimate child, found late, a ghost of a person no one knew. Naturally, I had no debutante.
I continued smoothly.
“I was an unknown existence. And the dear Duke and my sister Saren…”
I deliberately trailed off. All eyes turned toward the two of them.
They looked at me as if they wanted to gag me on the spot.
Frustrating, isn’t it? I know. I’ve been there.
“They couldn’t wait to treat me harshly,” I said.
“Good heavens!”
“Even so, to treat one’s child like that…”
“Duke Kolhart…”
The murmurs spread quickly. Accusatory whispers filled the hall, cornering the Duke and Saren.
Saren’s face flushed red.
“Lies!” she shouted.
“Stop spouting nonsense! Or will you not speak of what you did to Father and me?”
“Saren!”
The Duke tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen.
I silently cheered her on. Go on, keep talking!
“That day, because of you, Father hit his head on the floor and fainted! He suffered for so long afterward!”
Good for him.
I looked at her blankly. Her usual grace was gone, replaced by panicked hysteria.
Novel growled lowly, “That damn girl…”
“Wait, Novel. Let me,” I said, stopping him and taking a slow breath.
Attention shifted back to me.
“That was because you two tried to grab me, and Letilia subdued you. It’s a miracle it ended with just a fainting.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Acting all high and mighty just because you have Hardenberg backing you,” Saren spat.
“Didn’t you hear His Majesty? I am Hardenberg.”
“Ha!”
The atmosphere grew heated.
The Emperor watched silently without intervening.
“You can’t be a Hardenberg. You know why.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re not an Ability User!”
Ah, so that’s the card she’s playing.
A bold move, but unfortunately…
‘The Emperor’s got my back.’
As murmurs spread through the hall at Saren’s words, I scanned the crowd calmly. A small laugh escaped me.
Ethan and Hazen muttered, “Pathetic,” under their breath.
I glanced at the other five.
‘This much is fine, right?’
‘What are you waiting for? Go for it, Shunen!’
Our silent exchange ended with warm smiles.
“It’s not that I don’t have an ability. It’s that you haven’t seen it,” I said.
“…What?”
“His Majesty has already confirmed it. My power is too dangerous, so I swore not to use it recklessly.”
I turned to the Emperor for confirmation.
Everyone waited for his response.
“Please, Your Majesty,” Letilia urged.
The Emperor sighed soundlessly, then nodded.
That was enough.
