Juno smiled. “Its purpose is to protect.”
“Protect?”
“Yes, I named it Protective Barrier.” Juno took out the item. It was small and light. “I heard we’re on bad terms with the Kingdom of Darnan.”
Her words startled the nobles.
“How did you…”
“The count didn’t hide anything from me.”
The nobles’ expressions changed.
It’s obvious what they’re thinking. Peter, rumored to be madly in love with her, must have expressed his dissatisfaction by telling his lovely wife one of the empire’s well-kept secrets.
“That’s why I’m revealing this to you after much consideration.”
They realized this wasn’t a place for flattery.
“Is that why everyone here is related to the army and the royal family?”
Juno nodded. “Out of my love for the empire, I’d like to make a suggestion.”
Their pretentious smiles disappeared; their true faces were revealed.
A nobleman asked, “What do you want?”
“Please invest in me,” Juno said.
“I beg your pardon, what did you say?”
“Are you asking for money?”
Juno shook her head. She didn’t want money. She wanted trust. “Please support and acknowledge me as the new family head of House Sergien.”
One of the noblemen sighed. “…My lady.”
Juno couldn’t be addressed as Count Sergien; that was the law of the empire. However, Juno didn’t want to be just a countess.
“I will continue to be Countess Sergien, but everything that belongs to Count Sergien shall be mine.” She smiled. “Of course, I understand you must be hesitant to support a woman of only twenty years with nothing to show for it. John?”
“Understood.” He handed Juno another box. It was the same size as the box that contained the Protective Barrier.
“What is that?”
“A weapon. I call it a Shooter.” She ignored the gazes of the nobles. “John, can you open the window for me?”
“Yes, my lady.”
Juno turned to the noblemen. “My apologies, I don’t want to destroy the house.”
“What do you—”
Juno took the Shooter, aimed it at the open window, and pulled the trigger. A white light flashed.
Boom! With a loud noise, beams of light hit one of the trees near the mansion. The noise and dazzling light startled the aristocrats from their seats.
“T-The window!” A noble looked at the cracked glass.
Juno covered her mouth and smiled. “As you can see, it’s not perfect yet.”
“The tree…”
The nobles were in a daze, seeing the tree laying a great distance away.
“It…”
“That small weapon…”
They turned their attention to the Shooter. It was about the size of two hands.
“And it’s still a prototype…”
“I-Impossible…”
A noble asked, “Will you sell it to me?”
“We don’t sell weapons here,” Juno replied.
“Why?”
“The count passed away. No other weapons can be made.” She pointed at the cracked window. “As I said before, it’s not good enough.”
The nobles sat down after realizing they were admiring the destruction caused by the weapon.
In reality, the Shooter was as perfect as the Protective Barrier; however, Juno wanted revenge for Jupiter’s death, not the destruction of the entire continent, by using the greed of the empire and nobility. The Protective Barrier would be sold on the market to show Juno won’t let Peter’s legacy go to waste. I also don’t want to disappoint Peter.
Juno lost Jupiter, and she didn’t want to lose Peter too. With a lovely smile, she looked at the nobles.
“Hmph, so why did you reveal that weapon?”
Juno pointed to the box. “To show the effectiveness of the Protective Barrier.” She looked back at John before winking at the nobles. “Everyone, please take one each.”
They each took a Protective Barrier and whispered amongst themselves.
“How can this small thing protect us?”
“The weapon earlier…”
Juno raised the corners of her mouth, pretending not to hear their conversations. “Just hold it in the palm of your hand.”
Boom!
The dining room was ruined instantly. The marble table was fine, but pieces of tablecloth and plates had scattered in all directions. The glass window was completely shattered. The aristocrats blinked. They were the only ones unharmed, not a single strand of hair out of place. The person who used the Shooter was also fine.
“T-The…” a nobleman muttered, looking at the slightly damaged walls behind John, who was perfectly fine.
“Oh, don’t worry. I have a doll that specializes in repairs,” Juno said.
Breaking the long silence, a noble shouted, “That was remarkable!”
The others stared at the Protective Barrier greedily.
“…Of course, the items on the market aren’t much compared to what you have now.”
“Indeed.”
“Yes.”
“I-Is that so?”
Juno asked, “But this will help you. Isn’t that right?”
They nodded.
“Of course, our empire will grow stronger!”
“Hasn’t the empire been thinking of going to war these days? With this, we won’t suffer any casualties.”
“Then, do I have your support? I will sell these to the knights and soldiers of the empire.”
“Well…”
Then a noble asked the most important question. “Has the count created any more of these?”
That’s what Juno was waiting for. “I’ll be the one to make it. Any other questions?”
“Did my lady just say you’re going to make these?”
“Yes, my lord.”
The aristocrats were surprised. It meant she was an alchemist.
“How—”
“As I told you before, the count hid nothing from me.” She was still smiling, but the nobles felt a chill down their spine. “You must have forgotten that he was a cold-hearted person. Why would he choose me as his wife?”
“…Oh.”
The rumors they heard were false. The count didn’t bring in a wife; he found an apprentice. This young woman was the new alchemist and would influence the empire’s future.
Juno glanced at the object in their hands. “There are only ten of those in existence, including mine and the one belonging to the butler. You may keep them. Also, His Majesty won’t receive one.”
The nobles stared at one another, hoping one of them would speak first.
“…You have my support.”
Juno curtsied to the marquis who spoke. “Thank you.”
The other nobles also expressed their thoughts.
“I’ll help. With this, the empire…”
“You’ve made a great contribution to our country. Of course, I should support you.”
When all eight of the high-ranking officials agreed to support her, Juno thanked them. “Also, dolls will be sold and repaired like before. Please schedule an appointment ahead of time.”
Dessert was served to the guests, and the dining room was filled with laughter.
“Hahaha!”
“Oh my, I’ve never met such a wonderful woman before.”
“Hahaha, long live the empire.”
Juno picked up a glass of wine to hide her sneer.
