Lillian tapped her bracelet lightly, and said, “Its effect is not eternal, but it will be very useful during monster extermination campaigns.”
“Miss…! You were busy with the princess’s affairs, and yet…!”
Jean felt a pang of emotion in her chest. She had never felt such gratitude in all her time serving her master!
When making artifacts, it is not limited to the external appearance, but the internal magic circuits must be deeply thought about. Lillian said it like it was a simple thing, but it required tremendous effort and focus.
Shadows gathered around Jean, whispering: “She is a genius... truly a genius.”
“We can sell this bracelet immediately and it will be a huge success.”
“How lucky you are, Jan.”
“I want one too....it's childish to think, but I'm jealous!”
At that moment, Lillian turned to the rest and took out more from the box, saying: “I made a sufficient number with the materials available in the temple.”
“……!”
Shadows' eyes sparkled with emotion. Such a thing rarely happened in their lives.
“Thank you, miss!”
“We will use it carefully, thank you very much”
Lilian looked away because she was not used to such responses, and said: “Take what is enough for you today...”
Then she turned to Margaret who was standing next to her: "Margaret, this bracelet can be used by the Dominators as well. Go and distribute it to them."
“Yes...! But does it have a name?”
"Hmm? Name?"
“I know that such innovations are usually called by specific names.”
“Mmm...”
In fact, this bracelet was known in the original novel as the Spirit Bracelet, and later became the Tillard family's best-selling product due to its high effectiveness compared to the cost of its materials. The product was a lifesaver for the family.
'It was created by me, but it was sold under the name Iris.'
In Vernis, there were no intellectual property rights between family members, and even if there had been, the Teilhard family would have ignored them.
But the situation now is different.
“Since it's silver in color, let's call it 'Moon Protection'.”
Lillian smiled as she watched the knights enthusiastically distribute the bracelets among themselves.
'To establish a competition for the throne, there must be qualifiers'
Public opinion believes that a direct confrontation between two heirs to the throne lacks the entertainment element, so the confrontation between the knights affiliated with each of them was the most prominent event.
'The knights of the Pavel family are powerful'
With the support of the tireless high-ranking Tillard family handlers. But…
'I know ways to gradually raise the abilities of those with ability.'
These artifacts were one of those ways.
‘With this, everyone become strong…!’
Be strong! Be strong and defeat everyone!
While she was smiling slyly inside while feeling excited, the villain behind her spoiled the atmosphere: “Miss, it’s time for you to eat.”
“…yes”
Lillian walked restlessly towards the villain. She could never get used to seeing the villain waiting for her at the camp table.
“Here you go, start eating.”
She looked at the large amount of food in front of her with fear...
'How did I end up like this?'
Yes, all because of that suggestion about walking holding hands...
* * *
Lillian has been practicing walking hand-in-hand with the villain for a few minutes a day. And one day...
'Your hand is smaller than I expected'
The villain commented as if he was discovering the matter for the first time. From then on, he started seriously interfering with Lilian's food intake. Despite Margaret's attempts to explain that she was doing her job well, he pretended to lose his hearing.
Of course Lillian loved to eat, but the amount of meat piled up on her plate was so imposing that she felt pressured.
'I'm very grateful, of course, as I was deprived of it before.'
But the problem is the person who eats with her... I hope he realizes that...
'A cobweb pattern appeared in his eyes.'
I don't know if he meant that he would destroy the food if I left him, or if he wanted to fatten me up to become a bigger target for disappearance.
“What have you been eating all your life?”
The fading ability did not erase his ability to persuade, nor did it erase his skill at complaining. Even dogs are not disturbed while eating, but Lilian, twenty-year-old, was being disturbed.
Lillian smiled bitterly and said: “I was eating the food that ordinary people eat, Your Highness.”
“Really? Have you stopped growing tall now?”
Sometimes words that come from pure evil are very harsh.
Lillian put her hand on her cheek and said reproachfully: “Whoo, Your Highness, my heart is very tender, so if you stab me in the places where it hurts, I might die psychologically.”
“Oh my God, you don't have to die.”
The villain smiled. He was very careful about the safety of his survival tool.
Lillian understood that, but what was sometimes difficult to understand was...
“I heard from Rameau Taillard that you often missed meals.”
“Did you hear such stories when you were disciplining him?”
“I was told you used to vomit food sometimes too?”
He began asking questions beyond just instrument maintenance.
'He also asked me when I made my first artifact.'
Sharing too many details of the past is not a good option, but the atmosphere did not allow for evading the answer.
“It's a trivial matter; when I was young there was a period when I didn't eat much.”
“Why?”
“Do you know, Your Highness, that there are those who believe that in the absence of protectors, a balance of suffering must be maintained?”
“Because of the Second Empress?”
Lillian nodded coldly. Empress Rubelia loved the Pavel Family, her original family, more than the Tarania Imperial Family.
She hated the fact that Lilian, “incapable” despite her belonging to the Taillard line, would be given away to her nephew, the heir.
'Even though I was the only one suitable to marry him from the Five Holy Families.'
The Empress was like a whip that always reminded Lillian of her inferiority.
‘What a pity… Lillian. You seem to be more of a glutton for food than I thought.'
'A-, I apologize, Your Majesty.'
'Don't you think that a lady eating more than two spoonfuls is the beginning of vulgarity?'
'I apologize-'
'I don't blame my nephew Karkin if he keeps looking at other than you.'
It was a dirty whip. Anyway, after hearing such words, how could the food pass through her throat? This was the reason for her thinness, which made her hands and feet appear large compared to her body.
Lillian passed over those old memories as if they were nothing. If one did not acknowledge that a wound was a wound, it would have no meaning.
“All that is in the past. Now, you see, I eat well because I appreciate the value of food.”
“…….”
“Anyway, Your Highness, since we are approaching the castle, I would like to ask you- How is Duke Balthazar?”
“The Duke...hmm.”
“How is he?”
“…….”
The villain just looked at Lillian silently. Then he smiled slightly and his eyes returned to their normal color, but he said: “Don’t meet him.”
“……?”
“Do not ask more about this man.”
It was definitive.
Why now especially? Why now especially?!!
'I should know about him!'
For a villain to issue a silence order towards someone who dies in the original novel is suspicious.
* * *
Who is Duke Enoch Balthazar?
He is the current leader of the Earth Balthazar family, and the villain's maternal ancestor.
In the days when the Duke was at the height of his power, the Pavel family did not dare to compare themselves with the Balthazar family; As the Earth Power Family, they possessed vast mines and natural resources.
The problem is...
'He believes that Tarania, Taillard, and Pavel are the ones who killed his daughter.'
So, after the death of his daughter, the First Empress, he completely withdrew from court politics. However, when making important decisions in the Imperial Palace...
‘You must obtain the approval of more than half of the leaders of the Five Great Families.’
This means that the presence of Duke Balthazar would be an advantage when demanding to compete for the Crown Prince.
'In the original novel, he died without appointing an heir, so his position remained vacant for a long time...'
Elias was supposed to become the heir long ago.
'The reason behind the Duke's death is definitely-'
A disease that ravages the soul of those with power; Where he died due to false depression and terrifying nightmares, as stated in the novel.