“Hah! What is the meaning of this? Who cancels a contract without warning? There’s no point continuing this conversation. I’ll speak with Etor myself.”
Etor had been overseeing House Ellesia’s medicinal herb supply for many years. The only reason Count Lafir was able to sell cheap, low-grade herbs to House Ellesia at outrageous prices was because Etor had been working with him behind the scenes.
Naturally, a sizeable portion of the profits went to Etor, but compared to what Lafir earned, it was a negligible expense.
Convinced it would be quicker to settle the matter through Etor, Count Lafir turned to leave.
“Lord Etor is no longer with House Ellesia.”
“...What?”
Has Etor resigned?
“He was dismissed.”
“D-Dismissed?”
Herion nodded without hesitation.
“He violated House Ellesia’s code. Anyone who conspires with another noble house and harms the family is removed immediately. He’d taken more than enough over the years, so I saw him out myself.”
Even for Herion, dismissing someone she had known for so long wasn’t easy. She had Ceres’s advice to thank for it.
“Do you know why flies keep gathering around you?”
“Flies?”
“Because you carry around rotten garbage.”
“Rotten garbage...?”
“Throw it out. If something’s rotten, you get rid of it. Otherwise, the flies will keep coming.”
So she did. She threw away everything that had gone rotten.
And...
Once the rot was gone, she finally saw what she had left. It was a leverage she could proudly lay on the table for everyone to see.
“M-My Lady, perhaps we should discuss this properly. Just a moment...”
“Didn’t you say you’d be speaking with Lord Etor?”
“Ah, um, that’s...”
“Then I’ll be on my way. Next time, please address me as Countess rather than lady.”
“W-Wait—”
The forceful attitude Count Lafir had shown earlier had completely vanished. Ignoring the desperation creeping into his voice, Herion simply turned away.
“Ah!”
Then, she spotted Ceres standing nearby, watching the exchange. Unable to hide her surprise, Herion froze.
Ceres greeted her with a faint smile.
Not bad.
When Herion saw it, a radiant smile spread across her face.
***
Emperor Devrica left the hall with Kainel after saying he had something important to discuss. Left on her own, Ceres passed the time chatting with Herion and taking in the sights around the banquet hall.
“Ceres!”
After a while, she heard someone call her name and turned to find Cheion approaching.
“You got here early!”
“Or maybe you’re the one who’s late?”
Arriving after half the banquet was over was something only Cheion could get away with.
“Did you come with that guy?”
“Yeah.”
Cheion instinctively puffed out his cheeks, but he looked genuinely pleased to see Ceres. Soon, he broke into a grin.
“Brother.”
Just then, Prince Alex, who had been speaking with several guests nearby, walked over.
“Miss Ceres, I didn’t realize you were here. I’ve been caught up talking with everyone else.”
...You looked straight at me three times already.
Ceres suppressed the laugh threatening to escape. Then again, she wasn’t exactly eager to greet him either, so she let it slide.
“I heard you two already met at the Academy.”
“Yeah.”
Ceres left it at that.
“Would you like me to bring you a drink, Cheion?”
Alex smoothly changed the subject, looking just as unwilling to continue that conversation.
“No, I’m fine. By the way, Ceres.”
“Hm?”
“Why are you still carrying that around? Aren’t you going to drink it?”
Cheion glanced at the wineglass in her hand. She’d been holding it the whole time without taking a sip. If she wasn’t going to drink it, why not put it down?
“I’m deciding.”
“Deciding what?”
“Whether I should drink it.”
“What?”
Cheion looked at her like she’d lost her mind. Ceres stared down at the wine swirling gently inside the glass.
Maybe I can drink it now that I’m in a different body.
Back when she was Grace, alcohol had been her mortal enemy. One sip and she’d be unconscious before anyone could blink.
Honestly, it was ridiculous. Who passes out from a single sip?
At first, she’d assumed it was some kind of illness, but it turned out she was just born with an unfortunate constitution.
Artia never let me forget it, either.
He used to joke that one drop of wine was enough to send her straight to the afterlife. As annoying as it was, she couldn’t argue with him.
Maybe it’ll be fine this time.
She’d always been curious about what alcohol actually tasted like. That curiosity had gotten her into trouble more than once. The problem was that she never remembered the results.
At some point, Kainel and Artia had both developed the same reaction whenever she reached for a drink. As soon as they saw a wineglass in her hand, they acted like disaster was imminent. They’d practically banned her from alcohol altogether.
That was why she was still staring at the glass now. After all, opportunities to sample wine like this didn’t come often.
...It should be fine, right?
The memories made it difficult to bring the glass to her lips, but her curiosity wouldn’t let her put it down either.
“.....”
Ceres let her gaze drift across the hall. Kainel still hadn’t returned after leaving with the Emperor. If he were here, the wineglass would already be gone.
“Why? Is there something wrong with the wine?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the issue? That’s a pretty good one. It’s smooth, easy to drink, and popular with women.”
“Is it?”
I see.
Ceres narrowed her eyes slightly as she studied the wine. Then, slowly, she raised it to her lips.
***
“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”
“Could you not give it a little more thought?”
“Even if I did, my answer would remain the same.”
A silent sigh escaped Emperor Devrica.
A short while ago, after stepping away from the banquet hall with Grand Duke Persia, he had made the man an offer. He wanted Kainel to assume the position of Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army.
Given how closely the role was tied to the Imperial Family’s security, it was one of the few appointments the Emperor could bestow or revoke at his own discretion. Regardless of what the nobility thought, the Emperor could push the appointment through if he wished.
Should the position be accepted, authority over the Empire’s military would effectively be shared between two people: the Emperor and the Commander.
It was little wonder so many coveted the role. Control of the military meant holding power second only to the throne itself. Yet, Kainel had refused without the slightest hesitation.
“I hate being bothered.”
“That’s all?”
“Is there supposed to be another reason?”
A small laugh escaped the Emperor.
“Even so, I would ask that you think it over a little longer. I don’t mind waiting.”
Kainel’s brow creased faintly. It seemed the Emperor had no intention of letting the matter rest.
“As you know, the situation with the Black Forests has become increasingly concerning of late. I’ve hardly been sleeping. If someone like you were willing to take command, I think I’d be able to rest easy.”
“Then, perhaps Your Majesty should try sleeping herbs. I could recommend a few.”
“Haha. I’ve never cared much for medicine.”
“I’ll take my leave, then.”
After offering a brief bow, Kainel rose from his seat.
Knock. Knock.
Just then, someone entered the room. It was a young woman who looked to be in her late teens.
“Father.”
“Nailia. Come in.”
Nailia de Devrica. The Empire’s only princess.
“I was told you wished to see me.”
After the death of Aseraian and Cheion’s mother, the Emperor had taken a new Empress and fathered two more children.
They were Alex and Nailia. Having inherited their mother’s features, the siblings bore a striking resemblance to one another.
But unlike Alex, whose face always carried an easy smile, Nailia never smiled at all. Her face was cool and unreadable, betraying no emotion. Even her posture was impeccable.
“This is my daughter, Nailia. Nailia, greet him. This is Grand Duke Persia.”
“......”
“......”
Despite the Emperor’s introduction, neither of them spoke. They merely regarded each other in silence.
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
It was Kainel who finally broke the silence. After bowing briefly, he turned and headed straight for the door.
The abruptness of his departure left Emperor Devrica visibly taken aback.
“I shall take my leave as well.”
Nailia likewise bowed politely before making her exit.
“Haha... this is proving more difficult than expected.”
Once both of them were gone, the Emperor chuckled helplessly. He had hoped the occasion might give the two an opportunity to become acquainted.
There couldn’t be a finer match than him, either.
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