“Princess, please put on your coat.”
“I will personally tidy up your hair, Princess.”
Why are they doing this?
After greeting the guests and sitting down, I noticed that the behavior of the Norma surrounding me was strange.
“Why are you acting like this?” I asked with ventriloquism, forcing myself to keep a neutral expression.
“We were told to be kind and affectionate, even to the point of pretending.”
The Norma answered with a smile. From afar, it would appear as if we were sharing a very affectionate moment.
Ha, these guys…
“I bet you’ve heard the rumors about the Grand Prince Benio. It might be challenging but just do it. The more pretentious, the better.”
I recalled the words I had advised them in the carriage. Actually, I hadn’t really expected much, but they were doing well.
“Your Majesty the Emperor is entering.”
At that moment, the chamberlain’s announcement quieted the hall.
“May the goddess’ blessing be upon us.”
As everyone bowed their heads in respect, the emperor headed to the main seat. The moment his gaze, which had lightly flickered towards me, reached Redian,
“…”
I noticed the emperor’s golden eyes flicker peculiarly. But then he composed his expression and sat down in the prepared chair.
“Oh, we have all the distinguished guests you’d usually see only during the founding festival.”
A low chuckle leaked out here and there at the emperor’s joke. Although the atmosphere was slightly relaxed, his presence in the black cloak was overwhelming.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The high priest who entered next knelt in front of the emperor and offered a plaque.
“Felicite has raised such fine knights and elevated the glory of Meteora. I will award them in recognition.” The emperor, holding the plaque, turned towards me.
“Felicite will follow the noble will of the goddess and remain loyal to the empire and the imperial family, Your Majesty.” Instead of clutching my skirt, I placed my hand on my left chest and bowed.
“The glory of the Rixon imperial family will be Felicite’s glory as well.”
Then, kneeling on one knee in front of the emperor, the hem of my dress spread out like waves.
“If I kneel to the emperor during the award ceremony, you must kneel too. And when I stand up, you must also stand.”
I felt the Norma behind me following my lead and kneeling on one knee. They’re doing well, very well. Soon, my kids might be slapping Ash in the face.
The sacred oath of allegiance enveloped the banquet hall in ecstasy.
“I’ve never been so satisfied with the oath during the monster hunting competition awards.” A smile formed on the emperor’s lips.
For the past few years, Grand Duke Benio’s family had monopolized the victories in the monster hunting competition. Thus, by elevating Felicite, the emperor was targeting Benio.
“Your Majesty flatters me.”
It goes without saying how humiliating this moment must have been for the Benio family.
“Hmm, it’s a pity to just give out plaques and prizes for such an excellent performance.” The emperor spoke, gently stroking his chin.
I thought I saw a mischievous glint in his eye.
“I will personally bestow a name upon the lady.”
“Good heavens.”
The hall buzzed at the sudden dramatic statement. It was already agreed that the emperor would bestow a name upon me, but to do so publicly… I’m thankful, of course. The emperor was indeed a great partner in enhancing my vanity.
“I am honored, Your Majesty.”
“To Princess Felicite, the commander of the proud warriors who have elevated Meteora’s national strength…”
Huh? Warrior? Commander? That’s a bit too much!
But the emperor’s voice grew stern, commanding the attention of the audience. “As the guardian of wisdom leading the heroes, I shall name you ‘Minerva.’”
Minerva…
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Receiving a name from the emperor was an honor not easily bestowed upon even royalty.
“Our Felicite will be grateful for this grace bestowed by Your Majes—”
But then,
“I object.”
Someone’s voice from the VIP seats interrupted me.
“Your Majesty, forgive my rudeness. However, I must object to this award result.”
I remembered the note from the empress I had received before entering.
[Key Figures: Count Francis, Viscount Lester, and Viscount Rune. As it’s an imperial event and you might not know the attendees, I’m sending this.]
That person must be Count Francis. He was Francis’s biological father and the man who had tried to kill his son by pushing him off a cliff.
He couldn’t have imagined it at that time. That the boy would step on the cliff and climb higher by stepping on his father’s head.
“The overseeing wizard Stony died, and the monsters grew in strength. Above all…” Count Francis, who stood up, turned his gaze towards me. “I heard these are Norma raised in the ducal castle’s basement as murderous weapons.”
The air in the banquet hall instantly turned cold.
“How dare you call such beings, no different from heinous criminals imprisoned for their crimes, knights.”
“…”
I felt Francis’s breathing become unsteady and anxious.
“Indeed. The participants in this competition were officially knighted with the approval of their lords.” Viscount Lester stood up this time. “It’s cheating from the start for such base-born slaves to participate on equal footing with others.”
This was part of the scenario we had prepared, but…
Base-born slaves? My mood started to sour.
“I anticipated resistance. That’s why I deliberated over holding the award ceremony.” The emperor then looked at me as if signaling. “But we decided to let the princess clarify that part herself.”
Reading my cue, the emperor naturally passed the speaking right to me. “Are you prepared, Princess?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As I stepped forward, the two lords’ eyes gleamed with mockery.
“My knights have also been officially appointed through Felicite’s approval.”
They must have thought dealing with a newly adult girl, even if she was a princess, would be easy.
“Therefore, they are more rightfully qualified than the participants from any other house if we were to consider rank.”
“Even with approval, their origins differ. The fact that they were cursed and abandoned by their own parents remains unchanged.”
My gaze met Count Francis’s in mid-air. Those who wet behind the ears.
But from my perspective, having faced such situations hundreds of times, they were merely meddling supporting characters.
“Over time, our Felicite has gathered boys born from the nobles’ one-night amusements and thrown them into the streets, bringing them to the underground castle.”
At that moment, the count hesitated slightly. It was well-known that he had touched low-status women and committed actions he couldn’t take responsibility for. He must have thought killing the children born from such actions by pushing them off cliffs would erase his faults.
“If they are truly cursed, then who is the source of that curse?”
“…What?”
“Admitting there’s a problem with the ‘reproductive functions’ of those fathers is the only conclusion.” My voice was no longer that of a twenty-year-old lady.
“W-What? Princess!”
“I stand here as the head of Felicite.” So, I added firmly, “Show proper respect to me and my knights, Count.”
“…!”
“How dare you speak down to us. Presumptuous.”
At that moment, the hall became as quiet as if time had stopped.
“May I ask one more question?”
The one who broke the silence was Ash Benio. Seeing him step forward, he must have been quite anxious.
“Why were the knights’ faces covered with masks? Is there something you’re not proud of?”
Ash seemed to believe I wouldn’t dare unmask them.
“There are rumors that they are escaped slaves or have committed serious crimes like murder and rape and have been branded on their foreheads. Isn’t it to cover that?”
It seemed like he was trying to push the situation by making up lies.
“Such lowly acts are all the same. How could such people stand proudly before the goddess?”
At that moment, I thought to myself, “So the Grand Prince believes in bestowing equal mercy to all, regardless of status…”
You’ve picked the wrong day.
“So, the ‘lowly ones’ are always considered to be beings who commit all sorts of crimes and get branded.”
“Princess…!”
“I had my knights wear masks to protect them.” I lightly smiled at Ash, who had dug his own grave. “Because there are surely those who think like the Grand Prince.”
Then I approached Redian, who was kneeling.
“Lastly, when I give you the ‘signal,’ can you remove the masks?”
“…”
“I realized there wasn’t really a reason to have you wear masks in the first place.”
“I’m fine with it. It was suffocating anyway.”
“Are you okay with that too, Redian?’
“I will follow Master’s will.”
“I cannot stand by and watch my knights be insulted any longer.”
Vallentin, realizing my words were the ‘signal,’ impatiently removed his mask.
“Let me show you right here.”
Then, Francis and Inein’s masks also dropped down.
“Good heavens…”
As their eyes were fully revealed under the light, people burst into astonished exclamations. There was no ‘brand’ to be found on their faces, which made even beautiful masks seem trivial.
“Happy birthday, Redian.” And the last. I whispered softly and didn’t hesitate to remove Redian’s mask.
“…”
As the knot loosened, his blue eyes were revealed to the world.
“…”
The hall became so quiet that not even a breath could be heard. It was like the humbleness of humans who felt as if they had faced a god directly.
“This is the real gift I’m giving you, Rere.”
It was the sight of them looking at Redian in complete fascination.
Aaaaaah. I was waiting for this moment!
Chills fr 😖🤌🏻