She had unintentionally revealed her abilities as a possessor. There were no regrets about this. If she had not stepped forward, a catastrophe would have occurred and it was better to receive a scouting offer from the Empire than to lose dozens or even hundreds of lives.
‘That’s what happened.’
Overall, she’d rather show off how smart she was so she changed her strategy a bit.
‘Let’s project an overconfident persona and come across like a maverick who gets in the way of the cooperation and harmony of their organization!’
It seemed like that position was the best right now.
“I think His Majesty should be in the imperial palace right now.”
Now the initiative had passed to Viola. ‘Principles’ were something that the Monarch Empire always emphasized. When principles broke down, everything would fall apart. Nelac also lived by principles throughout his life, at least until he fell in love with Celine.
“But His Majesty the Emperor is the Monarch’s only Sun. Who would dare tell the sun when to rise and set?”
Viola’s gaze turned to Celine.
“However, Lady Celine is not like that.”
When she mentioned Celine, Nelac’s only weakness, he frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“Your Excellency, Lady Celine must have known that His Majesty the Emperor was hiding here, playing tricks.”
Zenon, who was watching the situation from a distance, cleared his throat without realizing it.
“Eh-hm.”
Even Zenon trembled.
‘Are you joking?’
Who would show such an expression to the Emperor? Even if it was Heron instead of Viola, nobody could use that expression. Although that expression itself couldn’t be considered a serious crime, it was something that could greatly offend the Emperor.
“It would be a disqualification in itself if Lady Celine, who must see through everything, did not feel the presence of her dearest lover.”
“Viola, my lady, I think it would be best to keep your words to yourself.”
Nelac didn’t hide his bad mood. Even if he could forgive everything else, it was hard to allow someone to find fault with Celine.
Viola’s body began to shake.
‘Oh, I’m scared to death!’
The good news was that her light purple dress, a luxury item of the dwarven race, hid all physiological symptoms. Her body trembling, changes in body temperature, and subtle movements of her muscles, the dress covered all of this. So to speak, this dress was an excellent mask.
Celine clapped her hands.
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP.
To Viola, it sounded like the sound a grim reaper would make.
‘Why?!’
Why was she clapping at this time? This was not the time to applaud! Rather, she should have a very common-sense response such as, ‘That unlucky kid is making such a big fuss!’
“Lady Viola. You know that the way you’re coming across isn’t very helpful in your social life, right?”
“I was just telling the truth. The Minister is in a position to help The Sun, and she should have helped The Sun stay in place.”
Her attitude was not helpful to organizational life. Even though it was the right thing to say, talking back to your boss was damaging to teamwork.
‘So, please! Throw me away!’
“Of course that’s true. Let me ask you one thing. From Lady Viola’s perspective, do I have great insight?”
“Yes.”
Viola slowly became more anxious. The genius characters of the novel had been taking control of the situation in unusual ways. For some reason, she felt like that would happen today as well.
“Then, did I really not know about today’s Fever terrorist attack?”
‘You didn’t know!’
Viola wanted to shout that out, but she couldn’t. If she said Lady Celine didn’t know, everything she had said so far would be contradictory.
“And who can quietly stop the bombardment of Fever?”
Celine grinned.
“His Majesty the Emperor was concerned that the dream trees of the empire would be damaged, so he came in person to prevent a disaster.”
Editor’s Note: Remember, a few chapters ago, Celine called the empire’s future young leaders “seedlings” that would grow up into her “dream trees.”
“I didn’t know it had such a deep meaning.”
“No, that’s not possible”
Celine’s smile grew darker and Viola became more anxious.
“…Yes?”
Yes.
“You don’t have to be so humble when you’re so open about your ambitions.”
…Yes? Had she shown her ambition? When?! Viola felt increasingly uncomfortable inside.
‘No! I really didn’t know!’
“Lady Viola has always been smart. From before her social debut until now, she has planned every move thoroughly.”
Viola had never done that. She wanted to run away. She wanted to cry, but she couldn’t.
“And at this very moment, you insisted on an answer by mentioning a fact that would offend both His Majesty and myself.”
“…”
“A smart Lady Viola would never do that.”
No! She really would do that! Why did they think so favorably of her? She was not that kind of person.
“For someone who would never act like that, it probably means there was a plan.”
The more she listened to Celine, the deeper she seemed to sink into the mire. She felt like she was in hell with her breath suffocating.
“What was the objective?”
“That…”
“You would have already guessed who prevented the bomb from exploding, the moment His Majesty appeared but you probably wanted to know for sure.”
Nelac just looked at Celine in silence. This situation was not very important to him right now.
‘So beautiful.’
In Nelac’s eyes, Celine was both beautiful and elegant. Nelac, who had been crazy about the sword, was now crazy about Celine.
‘Just do whatever you want, Celine.’
Nelac didn’t interrupt what Celine was saying, nor did he display any other action. For the moment, he simply held Celine’s every word in his ears and her every action in his eyes. There was only Celine in his world.
Celine followed her lead.
“I completely understand that sincere intellectual curiosity. If I had a mental conclusion but no physical evidence, I would definitely want to check it out.”
Celine shifted her gaze to Nelac, who was nothing but crazy about her.
“Is it true that Your Majesty prevented the explosion?”
“Exactly.”
“How did you stop it?”
“I cut it.”
Nelac answered mechanically, like someone under hypnosis. He was too busy taking in Celine’s appearance.
Celine smiled again.
“How is it? Has your curiosity been satisfied?”
“Yes.”
Celine’s conclusion was very wrong, but Viola couldn’t insist otherwise. She decided to cry while eating mustard seeds and acknowledged Lady Celine’s words.
Editor’s Note: “Cry while eating mustard seeds” is a Korean phrase meaning someone is forced to do something he or she doesn’t want to do and has to pretend to enjoy it. The English equivalent would be to “grin and bear it.”
“Lady Viola has one more quality that will lead her to great success.”
“I have the qualities to succeed… What?”
“An attitude to satisfy her intellectual curiosity even when having to take some risks. A passion for learning that cannot tolerate the unknown. I believe that such an attitude is one of the conditions for achieving great success.”
Celine made an unconventional proposal.
“If you have any questions in the future, you can ask directly. It’s okay if you don’t have to go around in circles like you did today.”
“…Thank you.”
“Now that I know enough about Lady Viola’s wonderful qualities and appearance, I hope we can meet in a warm relationship at the next good opportunity.”
* * *
That night, Celine updated her scouting list. It was originally listed from numbers 1 to 10, but a number 0 was added above that. This was the first time she had ever done so since beginning to make her lists.
[0th place. Viola Bellato.]
* * *
Inside the carriage. Sebastian Marcos looked sideways at the handsome man in front of him.
‘As expected, you are beautiful.’
He had never seen such a beautiful man in his entire life. He was an addictive man who was too dangerous to get close to, and yet Sebastian couldn’t stay away from him. That man was Heron Bellato.
“A transmission report has arrived from Zenon. Would you like me to read it for you?”
Heron nodded and Sebastian Marcos read the report.
“…It is said that Lady Viola prevented the disaster, and Minister Celine showed her considerable favor. In addition, she acquired the right to share correspondence with Celine… Duke?”
While Sebastian Marcos was amazed by the report, he thought the Duke would be very proud. The contents of the report were surprising. The 12-year-old Bellato was showing only the best she could show. Viola’s appearance in front of The Sword Emperor Nelac and Minister Celine was Bellato itself.
‘But why do you look upset?’
Sebastian couldn’t understand.
‘Is there a way to portray Bellato more perfectly than this?’
Duke Heron may have such a method. Sebastian Marcos finished his report and quickly closed his mouth. A chilly air settled inside the carriage. After some time had passed, Heron spoke.
“Sebastian.”
“Yes, Duke.”
“You know Celine Hyrils very well, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Tell me what you know.”
Sebastian told him everything he knew about Celine. Sebastian and Celine Hyrils had been friends since childhood. They met at a Forget-Me-Not Banquet and became close friends, and they still remained good friends.
“What are her interests recently?”
“I heard that she was passionate about discovering “trees” that would later prosper the empire. I think Lady Viola caught her eye.”
“She does her scouting every year?”
“That’s right. January 1st of every year. If she officially scouts you, you become the envy of countless nobles.”
Heron didn’t like that very much.
“Is Winter Castle an insufficient vessel to contain Viola?”
“That’s not true, but it isn’t a fertile environment for Lady Viola to grow.”
“Humans grow higher in extreme environments.”
With those words, Heron fell silent. Sebastian felt a little strange.
‘The Duke is very talkative today.’
He was someone who didn’t say anything unless it was absolutely necessary, but he was talking a lot today.
‘It seems like you hate scouts?’
If Viola choose a career as a White Bellato, being scouted by a minister could be a great achievement. It would serve as a foundation for great growth but Heron didn’t seem to like that at all.
‘That’s strange.’
He was more attractive because it was strange.
‘He’s an unpredictable person.’
He didn’t try to understand Heron. He just accepted it as his personal charm.
* * *
Although the honor of the Marquis of Hyrils was slightly tarnished, the Forget-Me-Not Banquet proceeded without any major problems. Viola continued her best to avoid Jeremy, and the Forget-Me-Not Banquet was finally coming to an end.
Day 6 of the Forget-Me-Not Banquet.
Princess Senna persistently pursued Viola and was eventually able to meet her. Before she knew it, her group had grown to seven.
“Princess Viola!”
Senna glanced at Viola.
‘Same clothes again.’
How could she wear the same clothes and the same accessories for 5 consecutive days?
‘Well, her other accessories have subtly changed.’
And it seemed like her makeup method had changed a bit. It was a strange feeling. She didn’t know who did Viola’s makeup, but it seemed like the makeup would be appreciated.
‘Why do you need a makeup artist with such great skills?’
Still, more than that, what was needed on the social battlefield were both beautiful accessories and outstanding clothes. Viola was an idiot who couldn’t even follow the basic rules. At least that’s how Senna saw it.
‘Especially, that!’
That ugly ring with no flash of splendor at all caught her eye.
‘I can’t believe she has been wearing the same ring for 5 days straight.’
Even if she didn’t have any common sense about high society, why was she advertising that Bellato was poor? Senna laughed at Viola in her heart.
“I would like to give Princess Viola a gift, is that okay?”
She held out one of her jewelry boxes.
“This is a ring that contains my heart.”
So to speak, it was a red line, an act of mocking her for wearing one ring over and over again. The six men and women standing behind Princess Senna were smirking while looking at Viola.
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on January, 30.
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