“I was about to get into the carriage, but something powerful threw me off it. When I woke up, the carriage had already disappeared. I tried to find Penelope, but I couldn’t because I didn’t know where she went. What the hell is that woman?……”
At Raven’s words, Luciel and Kizef also hardened their faces.
“……To throw you away, does that mean that the Marquise also has the same strength as my master’s?”
Listening to their conversation, Luciel was thinking.
She was familiar with Baluk’s name. Because it was the Merchant Guild that contributed to Bellstein’s ruin by monopolizing glass crafts.
Then, someone knocked on the door.
“It’s me.”
It was the Duke’s voice. In response, Raven became black smoke and disappeared. Luciel quickly opened the door, and the Duke and Ellington were standing together.
“Ellington. You’re back.”
“Yes, I’m on my way back from the office to buy Silent Island, as Little Madam had recommended. But do you know who I ran into?”
“Who is it?”
Ellington remembered the face of the Bilpu he had met a while ago. He was able to remember the face he had met in the past when he disguised himself to take care of the usury case.
“Marquis Cavill employee. The recent financial situation must have been bad, but I think he was trying to buy the island nonetheless.”
“Well, then, what happened?”
Ellington showed the land deed on which he had purchased the island.
“The purchase has been completed.”
“Wow, I’m so glad.”
“It was almost taken by him.”
It was then that Ellington’s communication port was contacted.
“It’s Hawkeye, sir.”
Soon after, the Duke nodded to Ellington. It was a sign that the children could listen together.
When the communication started, what Hawkeye’s intelligence operative had told was exactly what Raven said minutes ago.
―Baluk had lent a whopping 500 million tillings to Cavill so he could pay off his debts.
“What is the purpose of Baluk? Is it possible to track other movements?”
―It is very difficult to find an informant in Baluk. This information was also something that came from the Cavill family.
“……Did I just heard that ‘it’s difficult to do’ coming out from Hawkeye’s mouth?”
―I’m sorry. We’ll give it a try, but it will take a little longer.
“I don’t think they have that much ability.”
The Duke frowned at the end of the communication. Baluk has been showing a strange behavior of scratching his heart since old times and has continued to inflict damage on Bellstein indirectly if not directly.
In the meantime, he really didn’t touch the Baluk’s base because it was very far away from Bellstein.
“Looking at the dirty behavior of Baluk until now, it doesn’t sit right to see Baluk support Cavill.”
It wasn’t only the glasswork that Baluk touched.
They own the wine plantations of Ricardo’s estate, which supplies wine to various parts of the Empire, and has extensively expanded in the furniture industry and even the mining industry.
The Marquisate of Baluk was an Eastern noble, residing in the southeastern region, but for some reason, the Marquisate was always empty, so rumors circulated that it was a haunted mansion.
Although they had strong capital power to lend a large amount of money to Cavill, little information had been revealed to the public. It’s like they were a more closed family than Bellstein.
“I don’t think it’s a good sign if Baluk and Cavill go hand in hand……”
“I know, Luciel. Maybe the time will come when I have to wipe out all the unpleasant things at once.”
“……Do we have to prepare for an emergency?”
The Duke exuded mana that was close to killing intent and nodded his head to what Kizef said.
Tired of father and son unhuman auras, Ellington said.
“Your Grace, Young Master. Calm down for two minutes. Nothing has been revealed.”
“That’s right. You need to calm down now. Have you ever met the Marquise of Baluk?”
He shook his head.
“No. Baluk never showed up in public. She probably won’t even be attending this Imperial Salon….”
“Really? But this time, they are bringing Penelope, the daughter of Marquis Cavill, to the salon.”
“……You mean that crazy kid? Hopefully, we can use that kid against her to get information about Baluk.”
“Penelope?”
As Luciel’s eyes widened, the Duke nodded his head and gave out a cold smile.
* * *
The next afternoon.
Luciel laid down in a bathtub and relieved her fatigue, her maids came and started drying her hair. Rose brought a bunch of dresses and said.
“Little Madam, the time has come to choose the final dress from among the twelve first selected dresses. We’ll take two suits to change in the middle. First, choose a suit for the dinner party, and a suit for the presentation at the salon.”
“I have to change dresses three times in one day?”
As Luciel tilted her head, Rose said with a smile.
“This is also a minimal number.”
“It’s somehow more complicated than a wedding.”
“Because everyone wants to look the best in the Imperial Palace.”
Rose put her hands together and spoke as if it was every girl’s dream, but Luciel could not sympathize with it.
‘It’s like a monster……’
‘Don’t make eye contact. You might be cursed.’
The Imperial Palace was the most splendid and cruelest place for Luciel. She hardened her face for a moment, and then returned to her usual bright mood.
“Well, I’ve already made up my mind about the literary salon dress. With this one.”
Luciel pointed to an apricot-colored dress that embodies flowers. It was a dress from Beatrice’s Haute Couture with a layered lace skirt.
“As expected of my Little Madam. You will be as pretty as a flower. Please choose another dress. We’ll finish packing everything.”
“Yes.”
While Luciel was picking out the last dress, Rose and the maids also left the room to pack other things.
Besides capturing the heart of her Majesty the Empress, going to the Imperial Palace meant a lot to Luciel.
She is not a slave that jewels were exploited like in the past, but because she is going to the Imperial Castle for the first time as a Princess of Bellstein, the strongest in the north.
‘I’m going to go to the Imperial Palace and show who I am.’
No one can ignore and disrespect her anymore.
The moment she strongly made up her mind, Luciel’s crimson eyes shone brightly.
Paah!
Tororong!
Luciel, who was soon filled with strong confidence, made a pink diamond. As she took care of her newly made brilliant jewel, she remembered the words Prince Reynold had said to hurt her in the past.
‘If you can’t make jewelry, you have no value. Because you were born for that.’
“Reynold, you are wrong. You cannot determine a value for my existence. This time, I will face you clearly without fear.”
Biting her cherry-like lips, Luciel engraved it deep in her heart.
She hung the dragon talisman given by Grandma Evelyn around her neck and hid it inside her clothes.
Immediately after, Rose and several maids came in to help with the grooming of Luciel, and soon, all four family members were all dressed up. All of them were equally dressed in black.
Actually, at first, Luciel chose a different dress, but when saw the family’s clothes she chose again and picked a black dress.
It’s also the best color to go with Bellstein.
Soliaphe and Luciel looked like mother and daughter, wearing elegant pearl necklaces over a black silk dress.
The Duke was dressed in a red shirt over a black suit and Kizef, who was neatly dressed in a white shirt, also matched very well and gave off a different feeling in black couture.
Those brilliant red eyes and shining blonde hair seemed to play a part. Even if he stayed still, he looked gorgeous, so when he wears black, he shone the most.
“Now, let’s go.”
The four happily climbed into the carriage sent by the Imperial Palace. The crafts were also securely loaded, and Ellington decided to protect them himself.
A long procession of horses and carriage caring Bellstein’s knights and maids followed from behind.
Every street in the city was filled with plays and the performances of the minstrels commemorating the Imperial Salon.
It was very diversified.
After a long drive through the squares and streets of Arte, the Imperial Palace finally revealed its majesty sight. As they passed through the gates, the flags of the seven chosen families and the imperial crest were hung sides by side in every corner.
The spacious garden of the Imperial Palace was filled with nobles who were not invited to the salon, but to attend the banquet.
The carriage went straight to the parlor room where the Emperor and the Empress were present. As soon as the insignia of Bellstein was confirmed, it was possible to pass immediately.
“The Duke of Bellstein has arrived.”
Then, as the imperial servant raised his voice and shouted to announce Bellstein’s visit, the door to the parlor engraved with golden laurels opened wide.
Luciel took a deep breath without even blinking an eye at the silence in the hall.
A golden carpet was laid over the low marble stairs and the throne was visible. Next to the Emperor was the Empress, and the prince and princess were seated next to them.
It was hard to see what kind of face they had because there was a dazzling golden light all over the place.
The Duke and Duchess took the first step, and Kizef and Luciel followed behind them.
“May the Empire have infinite splendor. Greetings from Bellstein.”
“Oh, Duke of Bellstein! It’s hard to see your face. Thank you for coming and welcome.”
Emperor Neuschwan replied to the Duke’s greeting with a loud voice, expressing his delight. Empress Isabelle smiled and spoke softly.
“This is the first time in the Bellstein history that a family of four like this has attended, thank you.”
“I am delighted to be present at this important event, Your Majesty.”
This time, Soliaphe elegantly greeted her back with impeccable etiquette. In the past, they had once met in a contest for the Crown Princess seat, but the two did not care about long gone stories.
On the contrary, it was someone else who was still thinking about the old days. The Emperor, whose eyes widened at Soliaphe, coughed heavily, she said.
“How did the Duchess of Bellstein get away from the flow of time……Oh no, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As his words became unnecessarily long, the Emperor quickly changed his words perhaps feeling the Duke’s glare for an instant.
“It is an honor to be invited to this precious occasion, Your Majesty.”
Then, when Kizef and Luciel also greeted according to etiquette, the Empress’s eyes considerably softened.
“It’s the Prince and Princess Bellstein. You’re a couple that goes well together, as I’ve heard.”
The Empress smiled generously as she said so, and Princess Claudia, who had been quiet in silence, smiled with delight. It seemed that she wanted to quickly run to Luciel and say hello, but anyone could see that she was holding back.
“……Aren’t they a really cute couple?”
At Claudia’s praise, the Emperor and Empress also nodded their heads. Shy Luciel’s face turned red.
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‘Finally, I met Princess Claudia again. See you soon.’
As soon as the Prince stared at Luciel with a piercing gaze, Kizef slightly turned his body with an uncomfortable expression and blocked his eyes.
Luciel was relieved by Kizef’s actions and held herself together.
‘I’m finally inside the Imperial Palace once again. Let’s pull ourselves together, Luciel.’
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