Newspaper and magazine offices erupted with enthusiasm.
“This product is sure to be a hit!”
“Write about it even if you have to steal a sample!”
Places where there was a lack of security, Mariposa specimens were stolen. Since they work in the same field, journalists share information under the slogan “A good thing praises itself,” so if Madame Rochette, in her majesty, has made a fuss over it, then it must be an exceptional product!
This was a flow of events that Lillian knew nothing about yet.
* * *
The Grand Meeting Room of the Imperial Palace —
This was the day of the regular meeting that included the heads of the Five Great Families, their close associates, and senior state officials.
As usual, Duke Balthazar and the Emperor were absent from the audience, and while silence prevailed in the atmosphere...
“Didn't you read that article?”
“Yes, you mean the story of Mariposa?”
“My daughter doesn’t stop talking about it and almost loses her mind with excitement!”
Most of the high-ranking officials were also capable, and when one saw Mariposa's name mentioned in every newspaper he picked up, the name was bound to be imprinted in his mind regardless of his age or gender.
“My daughter is begging me to buy it for her, but I don't even know how to get it...”
“Wow, no one even knows where they are sold.”
“How long will this mystery last-”
“Shh!”
Everyone pretended to be innocent as soon as Duke Teilhard entered the hall.
It was enough to look at the face of Duke Teilhard and his young grandson Quirn.
'Oh my god, it looks like the Mariposa butterflies have turned into moths that have poisonous eyes.'
'They seem very upset'
The Taillard family had monopolized the creation of ability control artifacts for generations, so exaggerated praise of another person deeply displeased them.
But when First Prince Evren entered with Elias, everyone was stunned and confused.
'What? These two appear together?'
The First Prince was famous for wandering the borderlands, not to mention his bad reputation for having a personality flaw due to his abilities, but…
'Doesn't he seem in a suspiciously good mood?'
Second Empress Rubelia, a representative of the Pavel Family, narrowed her eyes and said, “It has been a long time, First Prince.”
“It has been a long absence, Empress.”
“You seem in a really good mood lately?”
"There's a lot of fun stuff going on these days, so I'm really happy. And I'll be even happier today because we're going to talk about Kyle."
“…….”
The corner of the Empress's mouth twitched slightly. As for Kyle, sitting next to her, his face froze with a feeling of defeat and shame.
Crushing the might of the Dawn Knights was shameful and humiliating enough…!
At that moment, General Bolivier spoke; With his personality, he would never remain silent.
“Your Majesty, the matter of the Second Prince’s private army is very serious!”
The general was not one to mince words.
“He withdrew part of the Imperial Guard without even my order, this is an overreach!”
“Hoo.. General. When necessary, the prince’s command can-”
“Do you mean that he is justified even in using prohibited weapons in a monster hunting area!”
Rubelia gritted her teeth behind her black fan. This wild boulevard…
Although they claim neutrality, their support is considered the decisive trump card. So she had to calm him down smartly.
“General, I completely agree with you.”
"I'm not trying to protect Cale. As the Empress and the leader of the Pavel Family, I shouldn't commit such a blind act," Rubelia continued elegantly, while Cale remained frozen and tried to feign indifference.
Rubelia smiled slyly: “But I see there is a need for a ‘just punishment’. What do you think?”
“…? If the punishment is just, to whom will it fall?”
“The place where Cale made a mistake is the Black Rusyn Forest, right?”
Although it was later revealed that there was a secret training field for the Bolivier family there, but…
“In fact, that area is very close to the private lands of the Absent Duke Balthazar.”
Rubelia directed a cold look towards her true prey; Not to attack Evren directly, but towards Elias standing next to him.
“Notification should have been sent to that area in advance to prevent the knights’ movements. Because of the absence of one of them, a major disaster almost occurred, right?”
“……!”
“Since that person is absent, Sir Elias should have at least done this.”
Elias's body stiffened more and more. The Empress smiled maliciously:
“Your suffering, Your Highness, is truly pitiful, but such a mistake—”
“It is really interesting to come after an absence to study the history of the imperial lands.”
Evren finally spoke with a lopsided smile: “The Rusyn Region actually belonged to Balthazar... even 30 years ago, right?”
“……!”
“Mmm, who bought it? Oh! I remember it was an old friend of Pavel’s family.”
The man sitting to Empress Rubelia's right trembled. He is the Marquis Somnes, an ally of the Pavel family.
The Empress couldn't hide her displeasure this time, so she looked at him sharply...
“…Marquis Somnes”
“Th-..that..”
It was actually the land that he had purchased at a high price. Only... he didn't expect the Empress to open up this topic, so he didn't talk about his ownership of her, but...
Evren just laughed. Rubelia covered her face with her fan up to her nose so as not to show her anger.
“I completely agree with the Empress on this matter of just punishment.”
“Huh”
“And there is one more thing. It seems that a new pastime has emerged in the capital recently, which is summoning monsters.”
The moment Efrain said that, Qweren's heart beat nervously.
'Impossible...impossible that he knew...'
“I will punish anyone caught at the site immediately, and this will be within my powers.”
Normally, Kyle is the one handling DC security, but his hands are tied now.
Quirn shouted without thinking: “No, this is not possible!”
“Quern?”
Duke Teilhard furrowed his eyebrows in astonishment. Quirn interrupted the prince and shouted rashly unconsciously.
“Uh.. no, I mean.. this.. is.. exaggerated...”
Evren looked at Quirn from head to toe and laughed sarcastically: “What’s wrong? Does the young heir want to enjoy that entertainment too?”
“……!”
Quirn shuddered. The expressions of innate disgust at the word monster appeared clearly on the faces of all those with abilities present...
Evren got up from his seat: “Then, I will go now.”
* * *
There was no talking all the way to the castle. Evren wasn't thinking about anything specific, while Elias was lost in his thoughts.
“…Your Highness, why don’t you look for the Duke?”
“Why?”
“His absence from meetings leaves a very big gap.”
“Work hard so that no one feels this absence.”
“But I am not an agent of the family leader. I must serve the Duke-”
“He's getting old, so the Genesis Ruler will summon him soon. Live efficiently, Elias.”
He meant that he would have to wait until the Duke died to inherit the position.
Elias wanted to hit his forehead for a moment, but he restrained himself.
“…Your Highness, do you hold a grudge against him?”
“…?Why should I?”
Just as he said, Evren holds no grudge towards his outsider grandfather, Duke Balthazar. If a needle pricks one's hand, one will feel upset, but is it normal to hold a grudge against an inanimate object?
“Anyway, it looks like my castle is going to explode from too many tires.”
The Shadows crazily hung clippings of articles on every empty wall, as if they had waited their whole lives to do such a job.
It was a very strange experience; Seeing faces that rejoice in the achievements of others as if they were their own.
Evren quickened his steps to see Lilian.
'I feel deathly anxious when I don't see that woman who tagged me.'
Throughout his time in the palace, he had felt uncomfortable with her absence.
When he went to the Pearl Room, he found Lillian looking at a huge frame containing a large newspaper article.
“Your Highness, are you back?”
"Who's going to read this huge thing? Is it for the Giants?"
“I made the Salon Rochette article so big.”
“Huh”
Efrain stared at Lilian intently. Indeed, when he had given her the torch she had smiled so brightly, but now she was so completely quiet that it was difficult to understand what was on her mind.
“Hold my hand, miss.”
"...? Do you feel like you're going to go crazy?"
“It's not irritation, but since you are in charge of my life, don't be so stingy with me.”
Joyful feelings flowed through their joined hands.
'She's a really funny woman'
She seemed to be very happy with the articles.
He started to play with her little hands, and with every touch, he felt a strange excitement.
...Sure, he hated the idea of Lillian meeting the Duke.
Feelings such as fear and disgust flow from this hand...
This bothers him. Why?
Why?