Claudia, impatiently, stood in front of the conference hall where the National Assembly was being held. Is it because the guards guarding the door didn’t close it properly?
The door opened slightly on its own. At this, Claudia leaned close to the door and listened.
The voices of the ministers came out through the open door of the hall. They even laid out a map, arguing about what it would be like to get the things that Crown Prince Maynard had suggested, what advantages it would bring to the Empire, and about her marriage.
“These are the best conditions that cannot be ignored. The huge profits from Maple estate are worth more than gold.”
“How about the Mukas trading rights? This is a great opportunity to grab both. Your Majesty.”
As the ministers continued their discussion, the silent Neuschwan spoke.
“Of course, it’s not a bad condition, but it’s true that I don’t want to send the princess away too hastily. She’s only sixteen.”
“Your Majesty, with all due respect, sixteen is not that young anymore.”
“It is not that the words of the lords are wrong, but an official marriage proposal has not arrived. Let’s take our time and wait.”
Claudia bit her lips and left as the guard approached to check the door of the conference hall.
Fortunately, her father was on her side, but if the ministers’ voices were too loud, he had no choice but to give in.
Reynold, leaning obliquely against the wall of the dark corridor, stood up when he saw Claudia.
“This is even before Alfredo returned to his country, but the hall is already very energetic.”
“Reynold? What are you doing here?”
“Just. I stopped by on the way.”
The Imperial Palace and the Prince Palace were in opposite directions. Reynold must have come to spy because he wants her to marry the Maynard Crown Prince.
Whether it was the atmosphere of the conference hall or Claudia’s expression.
“What do you think Sister?”
Are you asking me because you don’t know?
Claudia didn’t like the deliberate questioning tone, as if laughing at her. He, who already knows her opinion better than anyone else asked on purpose.
“……What do you think?”
“Ah, of course, the decision of marriage isn’t solely up to Sister, but it’s just…I want my sister to be happy……”
The expression on his face seemed to really care about her, but Claudia didn’t believe in him anymore.
“……Reynold.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to hear more. Excuse me.”
She coldly turned, and Reynold soon returned his expressionless face.
Claudia walked out of the palace, biting her nails in deep thoughts.
‘Is there anything I can do?’
She bit his lip and walked around the wide corridors of the imperial castle, but he couldn’t think of an answer.
Claudia wanted to share her concerns with someone, but no one comes to mind.
Talking to Mrs. Lara and her mother would only increase both of their worries, and her imperial teacher and the maidens from prestigious families who came in as maids were all done by the ministers’ recommendation.
So, it was difficult to tell the truth to anyone.
It was truly depressing to know that there was not a single friend in this great Imperial Castle with whom she could confide her heart.
Claudia sighed deeply and agonized. Then she suddenly looked at the gerbera flowers in the glass vase.
Luciel.
Suddenly, she wanted to see the little, young, white-like girl. Her clear eyes and cute cheeks made Claudia smile just by looking at her.
Most of all, she felt at ease when she was with Luciel.
Although she had been wary of others since childhood, Luciel was a child with a mysterious power to disarm people of their suspicions.
“It’s really strange. I met the Princess only once…Shall I send her a letter?”
Claudia sat at her desk with a refreshed face in an instant mood change, holding paper and the quill.
* * *
Luciel was standing next to Evelyn, looking at the knight’s training hall on the other side. She saw Kizef warming up with some of the knights.
The knights seemed to be making a fuss about the arrival of Kizef’s new swordsmanship teacher from Dracan, the land of dragons, and the hometown of Grandma Evelyn.
“I can’t believe your swordsman is a dragon. Master Kizef, will you be all right?”
“I heard that Dracan’s sword technique is difficult to deal with even as a swordmaster.”
“It must be a great technique…There are rumors that the person who won first place in the Squire Martial Arts Tournament in the past also used Dracan’s sword technique.”
Evelyn just smiled softly at the voices of the regular knights who didn’t know about her identity.
Luciel was also curious about who Kizef’s swordsmanship teacher was, but inside the Knights Order, the story of the grown-ups seemed to be getting longer, from the Duke to the new teacher, to commander Jarga.
Kizef, who was waiting, was slightly nervous, and his face was a little flushed. When Luciel’s eyes met his, he approached to walk her way, but the Commander called him from within making Kizef stiffen and turn back.
Luciel smiled broadly and waved her hand to cheer him up.
“Luciel, don’t worry too much. I guarantee that the new teacher will be a good one. Kizef is a strong child, so he’ll get used to it.”
“Yes, I need to do my best, too.”
“If there’s anything Luciel wants to learn, please tell me.”
“I will tell you later, Grandma.”
“Yes, yes. I know you’re busy. If you ever need anything, ask Grandma as much as you want.”
“Oh, talking about it. That gold coin purse. I didn’t even know it had magic, I was shocked when I turned it upside down.”
“But it’s very useful, isn’t it?”
Luciel couldn’t deny that fact and only nodded her head.
“Yes. It was used very well.”
As Luciel laughed shyly, Evelyn patted the child’s cheek and held out one small envelope to her.
“From this month on, the proceeds from Florine boutique, the fief estate in your name, and your share of the budget will be allocated together. The boutique revenue will include all the things that have been registered in the backlog.”
“Oh, you gave me pocket money again?”
“You have to do this and that to prepare for the future.”
As she said, there were a lot of things that her money would go into, but Luciel opened the envelope and closed it back in a second because of the large number.
“Huh? You don’t you like the amount?”
“This…Is this for a year?”
“No, it’s a monthly payment, except for the boutique.”
Evelyn smiled softly.
“Bu-but is too much.”
“Feel free to ask me how to spend money. For now, this grandma will go back to the castle first because she has something to do, all right?”
“Yes. I will also go to my villa.”
Luciel calmed her startled mind and approached Ralph, the escort knight who was waiting for her. Having prepared the carriage in advance, he cheerfully asked.
“Little Madam! To where should I take you, ma’am?”
“Please go to my little fief, Ralph.”
Luciel rode a short-distance carriage and headed to her villa.
She usually moved like this when she was with an escort, Luciel had a lot of fun riding on a carriage running in the wind from where she could see the outside.
It was also pleasant to leisurely watch the spacious gardens of Bellstein and the scene of the territories passing by. The sparkling sunlight and the gentle breeze blowing in the sky were perfect.
Luciel had an important business today.
It was the scheduled day that Erika came from the tower to do research. Before coming, Erika had delivered a note to Luciel through her brother Eres, whom she met during magic class.
[This week I got a vacation from the tower so I can devote all my weekend to research. I’m so happy. See you that day♡]
‘She was happy to use her entire vacation to research, Sister Erika was truly a mage to the bone.’
When Luciel thought of her note, she burst into laughter.
In the meantime, Luciel, who looked around the jewels she had collected one by one in the jewel room in the villa, became somewhat proud.
Day by day, boxes and sacks filled with jewels became full.
‘Isn’t this place going to get crumped too soon?’
Enough to make her worry for a while.
Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and Topaz each contained the power of the four elements—fire, water (ice), wind, and earth—so now the rest of the gems needed to be researched.
Luciel opened the innermost black box.
A transparent gem with brilliant iridescent color. It was the only diamond she made.
It was the jewel that Luciel was most curious about, and it was a precious jewel that Luciel made after awakening the power of the jewels for the first time in this life. Above all, the vitality felt in this jewel was similar to that felt in the rose of Phoenix, but more intense.
As Soliaphe’s illness was not yet healed, she decided to research the diamond beforehand so that she could protect her mother.
Erika had already arrived in front of the lab, and she also seemed to be in a good mood.
“Lady Luciel!”
“Sister Erica!”
The two girls, who faced each other while calling each other’s names, entered the research center building together.
“I found a way to work the jewels that Sister Erika had studied on my wand. I’ve placed a request now, but I’m excited to see how the results will come out. Maybe it will fail.”
At Luciel’s words, Erika shook her head as if it was absolutely impossible.
“No! It must not fail. I’m sure you’ll succeed. They are precious jewels.”
“Is that so……? Oh! By the way, this is the jewel that you are going to study today. I was hesitant to research this one because there is only one, but I thought it was necessary. It seems to have great and mysterious powers.”
At Luciel’s words, Erika’s eyes widened.
“Is this a diamond? Besides, there is only one…Ah, I’m nervous. It seems to have a different power than other jewels, so it might take longer to research.”
Luciel nodded her head as she grabbed Erika’s hand. The two exchanged solemn words.
“Yes, please. I want to know what power lies hidden in the diamond.”
“Do not worry. My vacation exists for this!”
Erika clenched her fists and rolled up her sleeves.
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“Thank you. Sister Erika is the best.”
It was very reassuring to know that there was someone out there to help her with my work like this. Luciel hugged her tightly, and Erika froze and laughed as if she were about to melt away.
“Ah, I think a doll is hugging me. It’s so soft and fluffy! Lady Luciel, I want to put you in my pocket and take it to my room. No, please forget the last part.”
“What? No. I like it, too. Please invite me next time.”
As Luciel spoke with twinkling eyes, Erika groaned out of sheer emotion.