What Celine took out from her desk drawer was a small jade-colored stone. It was the size of a child’s fist, and its surface was smooth like a bead.
‘That’s… the Oath Stone?’
It was the ‘Oath Stone’ that contained the Emperor’s authority. The members of the three major ducal families had to take an oath of loyalty once in their lifetime in front of the Oath Stone. Although it was called an oath, it was basically a structure where the Emperor gave orders, and the ducal families had to follow them.
“Are you going to use the Oath Stone to order me to accept?”
“I intend to do so.”
“I understand that the Oath Stone is an absolute command that can only be used on a person once.”
“If it’s worth using, then it should be used. The emperors and ministers who were entrusted with that authority have been saving it and making shit out of it.”
Celine smiled broadly. She was deliberately using casual speech to create a relaxed atmosphere. While the atmosphere itself was warm, the content definitely wasn’t warm.
‘No!’
Viola did not want to work as an executive under the Imperial Minister. Furthermore, since <The Shadow of Bellato> always proceeded from ‘Viola’s perspective,’ she didn’t know much about the Empire’s major or minor affairs. Viola did not work in the Monarch Empire. Her main areas of activity were the Winter Castle and the ‘Place of Blowing Snow,’ causing her to be unknowledgeable about what was happening in the center of the Monarch Empire.
‘Ugh, it’s scary just thinking about it.’
A place where invisible blades crossed, the Imperial Palace. A place full of fearsome intrigues and schemes. It was a place so far removed from the happy world Viola dreamed of.
“I think it’s too big of a treasure to use to scout me, who is only thirteen years old.”
“Then, will the young lady accept my offer so that I don’t have to use it?”
“That’s…”
“Lady Viola has always made very rational decisions. She always leads everything to the best results. My offer will also be the best choice for the young lady. Don’t you think so?”
“Yes.”
Celine’s scouting offer is a family’s honor. If a person could survive the palace struggle, their family could enjoy wealth and honor for generations.
‘I can’t do it.’
A fierce battlefield where geniuses gather to fight. That place was the palace. In an environment where she couldn’t even use her knowledge from <The Shadow of Bellato>, they want her to compete with geniuses in a battle of wits? Viola absolutely could not accept that offer.
“I think it’s a very good offer for a White Bellato. However, before I became a White Bellato, I was the successor to the Bellato family name.”
“What does that mean?”
“Bellato has existed alone in the northernmost part of the country for a very long time.”
Because of that, the central nobles of the continent often thought of Bellato as barbarians. Many of the central nobles didn’t know the fear of monsters because they rarely encountered monsters.
“Protecting humanity from the monsters is Bellato’s great mission.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why I don’t want to leave Winter Castle.”
“If the young lady could accomplish something bigger here, she could save a lot more people than if she just stopped monsters.”
“But I’m not sure if that’s worth it to Bellato.”
Celine’s eyes narrowed.
“So, you’re going to reject my offer? Should I use the ‘Oath Stone’ after all?”
“I don’t think the wise minister would waste her precious command authority on such an opportunity.”
“Since it’s a precious command authority, I’m going to use it to scout Lady Viola. Lady Viola seems to be underestimating her own worth.”
The Viola that Celine saw was not just a genius. She had the potential to become someone higher than anyone else. That’s why she wanted to keep her by her side. For now, she put the Oath Stone back in her desk drawer.
“Today is the first day, so unpack and rest a bit. We’ll meet again in a few days.”
* * *
Carlton has been given a strange mission. First, Carton was to head to the palace. If necessary, he was to return the ‘Silver Star.’ However, there was no way to know what specific necessity was involved. The Duke had merely said, ‘You will know when you meet Celine. If she is stubborn, return the Silver Star.’
Thus, Carton made a formal request and met with Celine.
“It is an honor to meet the renowned butler, Lord Carlton.”
“I am honored, Your Highness.”
The two chatted for a while while drinking warm jasmine tea.
“What order did Duke Heron give?”
“He said to return the ‘Silver Star’ if necessary.”
“Under what kind of necessity?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s a strange order.”
“Yes.”
It was an unusual order for Heron. However, Celine could immediately read Heron’s mind.
“I’m thinking of using the ‘Oath Stone’ to scout Viola.”
“The Oath Stone?”
‘Is she going to use that precious thing for scouting?’
He held back his words.
‘No matter how great Viola’s talents are, that is too much.’
It was ridiculous. However, Celine seemed to be trying to do something ridiculous.
“Viola’s potential is limitless. If she grows in good soil, she can become a world tree. She can become the Empire’s beautiful tree that will provide safe shade for the people of the Empire.”
“You think highly of Princess Viola.”
“That’s the most conservative assessment. If she had been a child of the royal family, she might have even been recorded as the greatest Emperor in history.”
“His Majesty would be upset if he heard that.”
“Isn’t His Majesty also acknowledging it?”
“…Is that so?”
“I wanted to recruit that kind of child, so I considered using the ‘Oath Stone.’ Duke Heron knew I would and sent me the Silver Star Medal.”
The Silver Star Medal was the highest grade of any medal awarded directly by the Emperor. Those who held the Silver Star Medal did not have to bow to the Emperor and were given the privilege of being saluted wherever they went in the Empire. Those who held the ‘Silver Star Medal,’ which was given only to heroes of the Empire, were given countless benefits. One of them was the right to refuse orders.
“If you return the Silver Star Medal, the ‘Oath Stone’ can be disabled.”
“…Ah.”
Celine, who wanted to use the ‘Oath Stone’ to recruit Viola, and Heron, who wanted to return the ‘Silver Star Medal’ to prevent that recruitment. From Carlton’s perspective, neither of them were understandable.
‘Do those who have reached the top have different perspectives than I do?’
Carlton was honestly a little shocked. Celine and Heron were the ones standing at the top of this world. Their gazes and visions matched.
‘You two see things that I can’t see. There is something more hidden in Princess Viola. I can’t see!’
Carlton’s skills and achievements may not be comparable to theirs, but he was proud that his perspective on the world was not so narrow. He thought he had been supporting Heron well with his broad perspective. However, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
‘I am disqualified as a butler. I have become desperate. I need more training. I have to become more capable. I feel like I’ve been too content with reality.’
In the meantime, Heron and Celine had grown even higher, and he felt like he had been stagnant.
‘I, too, need to grow. So that I can have the same perspective as those two.’
The small flap of Viola’s wings began to affect Butler Carlton.
* * *
Zenon bowed and asked for understanding.
“Our Lady likes strawberry ade more than tea. If it’s not rude, would it be okay if I serve her strawberry ade?”
“Okay. Could I have a glass of it, too?”
At the second meeting with Celine, Viola drank strawberry ade instead of jasmine tea, and Celine was greatly impressed by that strawberry ade.
“Indeed… It’s worthy of a master of strawberry ade.”
“Don’t be so kind.”
Celine closed her eyes and savored the strawberry ade. It was her first time experiencing such a taste.
“I envy Viola. The young lady can drink such high-quality strawberry ade every day, yet this is the first time I’ve tasted ade like this.”
“Zenon is quite capable.”
“I should ask His Majesty the Emperor to grant you the title of ‘Master.’ How about it? Would you like to become a Master? You will be able to gain wealth and honor.”
A strawberry ade craftsman who was given the title of Master by the Emperor would be able to make a lot of money.
Zenon smiled and shook his head.
“I am a butler for only one person.”
He would be too busy if he became a Master. It was obvious that there would be many requests from all over. Then, the devotion he poured into Viola would inevitably decrease, and the quality of the strawberry ade for Viola would definitely decline. That was why Zenon declined Celine’s offer. Celine was deeply impressed.
‘Viola definitely has the talent to make the people around her her own.’
Viola was the one who was growing the fastest as the next-generation Winter Castle monarch. More than anything else, her talent for making the people around her her own was the most terrifying and surprising ability.
‘I want her. I really want her. I wanted Viola.’
She had never been this jealous of a talent.
“Actually, I tried to recruit Lady Viola even if it meant using the Oath Stone.”
“This is the first time someone has made me this anxious.”
“Thank you.”
Viola’s mind was complicated, even though she kept her composure on the outside. She was thinking hard about how to reject Celine’s offer without being strange.
“But I think it would be difficult to keep her by my side.”
Viola’s eyes widened slightly. She had to work even harder to control her expression.
“Duke Heron sent this.”
It was the Silver Star Medal.
“I want to ask. Why did Duke Heron make the bold move of returning the Silver Star Medal? I also recognize Lady Viola’s value and potential, but I’m not doing her any harm. Rather, I’m a scout who would benefit her. Why did he do it? Would you like to answer?”
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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 August, 20.
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