The meeting hall of the Imperial Palace where the meeting of the Council of Elders is held.
“Her Highness Grand Duchess Prause has arrived.”
Peter, a low-ranking official in charge of guiding the conference participants, felt a strange shiver run down his spine as he said that.
The reason he felt that way was because of the things he saw and heard while assisting the council of elders over the past few years.
[“Did you all hear that? I heard that a baron’s son, who attends the Intermediate Academy, attended the council of elders meeting and said that his dream is to change the world.”]
[“A child from a family that is no different from the commoners mentioned the council of elders, tsk…”]
[“It’s only natural that discipline collapses as commoners without bloodlines or origins settle in the imperial palace.”]
Traditionally, the nobles who were close to Gelon and supported Prince Tahar repeated similar stories countless times.
Low-ranking officials, including Peter, were always uncomfortable with such conversations because there were many commoners in their families.
‘But in the Council of Elders with such a strong lineage supremacy, Frey Prause here.’
It was a great event that a half-princess, who had always been treated poorly because of her mother’s family, was invited to this place.
Peter showed courtesy to Frey and gave him a seat.
Now, the reason why she shines in a neat navy blue dress is not only because she has overcome her status and is standing here.
A council made entirely of commoners and lower nobles.
Merchants who seldom reveal their political will.
And, some nobles started to believe in her potential.
Frey was supported by so many people, so the Council of Elders could no longer ignore her.
‘Who knew. The day will come when the Senate will send a letter to Lady Frey.’
[Obelir’s bloodline, Frey Prause.]
Peter sincerely wondered what the elder was thinking as they wrote that sentence.
Soon the bell rang, signaling the start of the meeting.
Instead of shrinking, Frey spoke in a clear voice.
“It is an honor to be here to discuss the important matters of Obelir.”
Even though she uttered only one word, the elders thought a lot.
‘In the meantime, as a hostess of the grand duke’s family, did she gain her dignity?’
‘You’ve learned to handle pressure while growing up.’
‘Grand Prause is also smiling because he has waited for this moment….’
While she was silently being reevaluated, there was only one person whose expression hardened.
‘Why is Frey here?’
Tahar, sitting at the head of the seat, denied the reality several times, wondering if this moment was a dream.
Frey was invited to the Council of Elders. Especially at a time when his own position is shaken.
Tahar’s physical and mental strength were rapidly depleting as he was busy with his schedule to settle the public sentiment that had already turned away.
He ran a hand through his greasy hair.
‘Damn it. In order to reveal that there is nothing wrong with his succession, it is important to show closeness to Lydia….’
Tahar secretly sent a letter to Garnet, but she did not reply.
Tahar laughed inwardly at the fact that even Garnet was ignoring him.
‘Since Lydia took her side during the argument, Is she misunderstanding that it’s worth competing with me?’
He chose an easy-going young lady who was unlikely to rebel and got married, but to think it would lead to such a result.
Tahar couldn’t concentrate on the meeting because he was angry and complaining about every little thing.
“Does Her Highness Grand Duchess Prause know why she is here today?”
Count Baines interrupted in a cautious voice.
Frey also responded in a serious tone.
“It is because the Council requested that the qualifications of the prospective successor be reviewed, and His Majesty the Emperor has given permission.”
Frey seemed to have no intention of backing down, either pretending not to know or frightened.
‘It’s natural confidence because there are things I’ve accomplished so far.’
Count Baines, who loved the sacred tower more than anyone else, cheered her on inwardly and continued.
“The Council of Elders would like to present a task to prove Her Highness Grand Duchess Prause’s capabilities.”
Count Baines winked at him, and a low-ranking official delivered a thick file folder to Frey.
“What you received is part of the imperial palace’s account books.”
“……”
“Please use that data to analyze the financial problems of the current imperial palace and then suggest ways to improve.”
“What is the deadline?”
“It’s a week.”
“….”
‘It’s going to take me a week to figure out all this stuff?’
Frey pressed her lips together so as not to reveal what she wanted to say.
* * *
“I’m glad you got back before it rained. I was worried when the clear sky suddenly became cloudy.”
Baron said as he greeted me and Daniel getting off the carriage.
Being given an assignment with a ridiculously short deadline, I suddenly looked up at the sky.
“I’m sure it was clear without a single cloud when we set off….”
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, so I hurriedly went inside the mansion.
“Baron. Call Vikram and other wizards, as well as Lina, Wiz, and Karuna. I was given an urgent task.”
Baron moved quickly as Frey spoke while slightly lifting the file bearing the Council of the Elders seal.
Soon, those who were contacted by Baron began to gather in my office.
The quick-witted Vikram opened his mouth.
“Your Highness, Grand Duchess. Your face looks like you’ve been pulling all-nighters for ten days to build the Sacred Tower.”
“Um, what…”
It seemed that I had become a vicious employer, and my conscience was pricked in the depths of my heart.
I cleared my throat and started explaining the situation.
“For that reason, I want you to stay at the capital’s mansion for about a week.”
“To sum up, you are saying that we should eat and sleep in the office and focus on your work in order to prove the legitimacy of the Grand Duchess’s succession.”
But Vikram, who said that, was no longer a grumpy face.
Rather, he had a light smile on his face.
“Then I will do my best to help. We wizards are really good at one calculation.”
“Bikram….”
“Of course, our stamina is as thin as a piece of paper, but I’m guessing you knew we’d collapse and called in a bunch to replace us.”
“Ah, You know it’s not.”
I almost became a vicious employer who changed employees in an instant in an attempt to feel a calm impression.
Vikram said it was a joke, shrugged his eyebrows and continued.
“If we finish this job well, the person we follow will become the next emperor.”
“…….”
“We are also looking forward to Her Highness, the Grand Duchess, ascending to a higher place.”
As he spoke, those who were called into the office smiled brightly.
For some reason, my heart throbbed when I realized that there was someone who could solve the immediate task with me.
‘I’m sure I can do it since I’m not alone.’
I smiled and started explaining the data contained in the file.
* * *
While Frey refuses to sleep to prove herself to the Council of Elders.
Garnet, who left the prince palace with Lydia and moved to the emperor’s annex, was having a busy time.
“Prepare tea and fruits that suit His Majesty’s taste.”
“Yes.”
It was because the emperor suggested that she have dinner with him after moving to the annex.
‘Up until now, my mother and Tahar were stubbornly opposed to me hanging out with my father, the Emperor.’
But now, the dominance of the two has significantly weakened.
It seemed that the emperor knew that and planned a meeting with his granddaughter.
‘How would my father feel?’
Garnet was a little grateful that the emperor, who had been treated as an invisible person by the empress, Gelon, and His son, wanted to see Lydia.
It seemed like there was someone in the imperial palace who really cared for Lydia.
[“Garnet! I said get out of the way!”]
[“Mama!”]
bang!
When Lydia used the power of the transcendent at the same time as the explosion sounded.
Tahar reflexively summoned magic.
Even though there was no way he didn’t know that Gelon’s defensive magic was a structure that attacked the opponent at the same time as defending.
‘It’s probably because he’s afraid of the transcendent’s power…’
Because of the behavior she had seen, Garnet couldn’t be sure that Tahar cared for her daughter.
Just like Gelon, it would be close to thinking that a transcendental daughter would be useful.
‘I don’t know if I’m a better person than him.’
Garnet smiled self-deprecatingly and approached the bedside where Lydia was sleeping.
Perhaps because there was no pressure from the crown prince and empress, Lydia took more sleep after moving to another place.
Garnet let Lydia rest to her heart’s content, thinking that it would be a freedom for Lydia, who had been through a harsh education since she was crawling.
But today was a little strange.
“Lydia. It’s time for His Majesty to come soon, so get up and change your clothes.”
“……”
“Lydia?”
Garnet gently shook Lydia.
Then, she felt the same hot body temperature she felt a few days ago.
No, it’s not just that the body temperature has risen because of a fever…
[“She had a high fever that doesn’t get better even with medication.”]
[“Then the medicine will work. If it’s a high fever that doesn’t make sense with common sense, there’s a possibility that it’s a transcendent ‘runaway’… I’m glad it’s not.”]
The day she asked for medicine from Frey at the Prause Mansion.
‘Why did the conversation I had with the family doctor suddenly come to mind?’
[“Because there is no way to stop the transcendental beings who have lost their reason for living and start rampaging.”]
“Doctor, call the doctor, now!”
Garnet shouted with a pale face.
* * *
Omg, a 4 year old has lost the reason for living. Man, Lydia had it rough since her birth.