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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Political Genius
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* * *
At that moment.
Rico was reading the letter Lilis had sent via the sisters, Jeti and Jun.
Just how did she know the exact timing for when his sister needed the medicine?
The letter had arrived along with the next dose of Salvacion, right on schedule.
[Rico-Rico!
I'm writing my first letter since I'm sending the antidote with my big sisters.
How is the person who needed this medicine? Are they doing much better?
I hope they are….
Can you send a reply telling me if they’re okay?
If it's a bother, just draw a ○ (a circle)
↓right here]
Rico let out a small laugh at the cute request.
[Oh! And there's something I'm curious about….
Do you know Baron ‘Joseph Luttman’?
He’s a nobleman who used to live in the capital, and I thought you might know him.
I don't know where he is now, so if you happen to know, please tell me.
But I have to give you information for a trade, right……?
Hmm, I'll come find you with something big soon.
Stay healthy until then ☺♡♡]
A faint smile on his face, Rico read and reread the crooked handwriting, but his eyes suddenly sharpened.
*Do you know Baron ‘Joseph Luttman’?*
Joseph Luttman.
The magnificent title he held while active in the capital until about two years ago was none other than…
‘The Political Genius.’
An eye for the flow of power, the skill to select talented people, propaganda, agitation, strategy…
He was a brilliant man whose political capabilities surpassed even the most seasoned nobles in the political world.
‘How does she even know to look for a man who vanished two years ago?’
What in the world was this kid?
Rico decided to stop trying to guess Lilis’s identity.
“Hey, Rico! Let’s have a drink!”
*Thud!*
A thick arm placed a mug of dark beer on the table.
It was Billy, a member of The Red Falcon.
Rico smirked and tilted his beer mug.
“Good work yesterday.”
“Work? It felt like ten years of indigestion just cleared up after finally teaching those scoundrels a lesson. Hahaha… Anyway.”
Billy’s eyes shone with anticipation.
“Have you made your choice? Duke Rubinstein?”
“We’ll see.”
Rico gave a noncommittal answer.
“What do you mean, ‘we’ll see’? Wasn’t the whole point of asking us to protect his princess to get in touch with the Duke?”
“It was more that the young lady helped me with something. I haven’t met the Duke myself, so I don’t know what kind of person he is.”
“Man, don’t even get me started. He was perfect! You could tell from his eyes alone that he’s a good person. Better than I expected!”
“Is that so?”
“Honestly, there’s no place better than the Rubinstein family. The Duke’s return this time must be a sign from the gods, don’t you think?”
The Red Falcon was searching.
Searching for someone who could bring about a revolution in the rotten empire.
But it wasn’t easy.
It was a task that could only be accomplished by a powerful ability user who hadn’t been tainted by corrupt power.
Rico and The Red Falcon despised the rotten nobles and ability users, but…
Ironically, for the blade of revolution to even be drawn, its wielder had to be a nobleman who held power.
“Besides them, is there anyone else who’s completely clean?”
“You’ve got a point.”
In fact, Rico had been keeping an eye on the Rubinsteins for a long time.
They boasted power second only to the imperial family, yet, as Billy said, they were an upright family without a single shady corner.
And in the midst of that…
‘Honestly, I was surprised. The fact that the Duke’s daughter came to find me first.’
He had wondered if it really was a sign from the gods.
“But it’s going to be difficult.”
Tilting his beer, Billy clicked his tongue.
“He seems like a good person, but he also doesn’t seem to have any ambition.”
“…”
“His abilities are unquestionable, but a revolution isn’t something you can achieve with force alone. He’s been away for seven years, so he has no connections in the political world.”
Rico nodded.
Enoch Rubinstein’s current standing in politics was like that of a newborn baby.
Not only did he lack connections with the central nobles, but his long absence would also make it difficult for him to read the flow of power.
To awaken such an Enoch Rubinstein in a short amount of time…
‘Wait. No way.’
Rico unfolded Lilis’s letter again.
*Do you know Baron ‘Joseph Luttman’?*
Why, at this specific time, was Lilis looking for Joseph?
Joseph Luttman was the very strategist Enoch Rubinstein needed most right now.
‘I have to assume this is intentional. This suspicious young lady wouldn’t be looking for Joseph just to play house.’
Rico shook his head as he tried to guess Lilis’s intentions.
‘What on earth is this little lady’s identity? Is this her second life or something?’
Rico immediately prepared a reply to send to Lilis.
The whereabouts of Joseph Luttman, which Lilis was so curious about, were right in the palm of his hand.
* * *
Mr. Billy, the one who fought my dad over Princess Lala’s shoes, was a member of The Red Falcon?
I was so surprised by their resourcefulness that my jaw dropped.
‘I-I really never imagined.’
It seemed that each and every member of The Red Falcon was like a specially trained spy.
Well, it made sense. There was a reason Rico had such a firm grasp on the capital’s affairs.
‘Siding with Rico so quickly was a really good decision.’
I nodded to myself.
“Anyway, we can’t let the Duke find out, so the boss ordered us to watch over you until the very last moment and only step in if something happens to you, miss.”
“I see. Please tell the boss I said thank you.”
“Hehe, I will.”
“But, miss!”
Jun clapped her hands and hurriedly hugged me.
“Oing?”
“There’s no time! You have to be the prettiest girl in the world today!”
* * *
My aunt was hosting a tea party.
The most distinguished noble ladies of the central aristocracy were coming, and their young daughters and sons were also invited.
It seemed my aunt was planning to have me get acquainted with the noble kids my age.
‘The original was a novel for men, so there weren’t any episodes about social gatherings…’
I had been worried, but I shook my head and clenched my small fists.
This isn’t a novel, it’s reality!
I am the daughter of Duke Rubinstein!
World peace is Dad and Chessier’s job; I have my own work to do.
‘I will display the dignity befitting a great noble family and go on to rule the social scene!’
I am the protagonist!
‘…or rather, the protagonist’s daughter!’
As I puffed out my chest, steeling my resolve, Jeti and Jun let out gasps.
“Oh, no way.”
“W-Would you like to look in the mirror?”
It seemed they were finished.
‘Gasp. Is that me?’
I went to the full-length mirror in my room and stood before it, moving this way and that.
My hair was in soft, round waves that came down to my shoulders, adorned with a blue headband featuring a hexagonal diamond.
A lace dress of mixed white and blue perfectly suited my sugar-doll-like pale face.
White socks that came up to my calves and round-toed blue enamel shoes completed the look…
‘Th-This is the best! I really am the protagonist’s daughter!’
I’m definitely an important character!
I leaned in closer to the mirror, which I could stare at forever without getting bored.
I was even pretty when my nostrils were flaring with excitement.
This, this… Princess Lala wouldn’t even stand a chance, would she?
“Our young lady is the best.”
“Phew. We’re completely burned out…”
Behind me, the exhausted sisters squatted down with their knees apart like a couple of old men and muttered.
“Hehe.”
I placed a hand on my slightly chubby cheek, which still had some baby fat, and blinked my eyes.
“Kyaaaa! Our young lady is the best! So cute!”
“This is crazy! A doll is moving!”
“Hey, that’s a bit much…”
What I liked most was that I looked more mature than usual.
‘I’d look even more grown-up and pretty with a little makeup.’
I gazed up at the tall vanity.
The cosmetics my aunt had bought me were always ready, but today, my face was bare.
The sisters had said I was still too young for makeup.
“But can I really not wear makeup? Princess Lala’s lips are red…”
“No, miss. You look perfect just as you are. A bit of lipstick would actually look out of place.”
“That’s right. And cosmetics are still too harsh for your skin, miss.”
The two were firm.
“Oh my, it’s gotten so late. Master Theo asked to be called when you were ready.”
“Please wait here, miss. We’ll go get the young masters right away.”
“Okay.”
Jeti and Jun left the room, and I was left alone to look in the mirror again.
‘It still feels like something’s missing.’
I glanced up at the towering vanity.
‘…J-Just once! If it looks weird, I can just wipe it off!’
Ultimately unable to resist temptation, I dragged a chair over to the vanity, placed it in front, and hoisted myself up.
There were so many different products that I had to open and check them one by one.
‘Is this like an eyeliner?’
I scribbled the pencil-like cosmetic tool on the back of my hand, and sure enough, it was clearly for eye makeup.
I carefully began to trace the lines of my eyes.
‘This is my first time putting on makeup…’
It was embarrassing to admit, but even in my past life of 25 years, I had never worn makeup.
Why, you ask?
I was too busy studying.
All I remembered was wearing thick glasses and carrying heavy books, scurrying across the university campus and writing a ton of papers.
Perhaps that was why I had such a desire for makeup now.
‘This must be lipstick!’
After finishing my eye makeup, I picked out a lip product and applied it to my lips.
“Oh, this is hard…?”
It was harder than I thought to color neatly along my lip line, but I didn’t give up and managed to do it.
‘Do I look pretty?’
I wasn’t sure.
I didn’t think I looked particularly prettier than with a bare face, but…
‘Still, I definitely look more mature, right?’
I was tired of only ever being called cute, so I was reasonably satisfied.
Just then.
*Knock, knock.* I heard a soft knock.
“…I heard you were up. Are you in there? Can I come in?”
It was Chessier’s voice.
I quickly hopped off the chair and checked my appearance in the full-length mirror one more time.
‘I-It’s okay, right? It doesn’t look bad, does it?’
The size of my lips, which looked about twice their usual size, bothered me a little, but…
Still, I thought I looked rather… sultry(?).
I answered nervously.
“Yeah, come in!”
