Chapter 45
45
Viscount Roman secretly summoned his retainers before he could even recover.
"The Duke is completely infatuated with that girl. How could he drive us, who started with Dubled, to this state unless he's gone mad!"
"Hmm..."
"We must bring down Theodore Dubled and dispose of that girl who has bewitched the head of the family."
However, the retainers' reactions to Roman's words were lukewarm.
"Is it really necessary to go that far?"
"What did you say?"
"I think it's a good thing, actually. Doesn't this mean there's someone to keep the Duke in check?"
"She's just a fake! A commoner!"
"Well, that seems to be just a rumor."
The retainer who said that grinned and looked around at the others.
"Didn't you all witness the miracle the Young Lady performed in the audience chamber?"
"It was an amazing power."
"And it's been verified that her Divine Power has increased. I heard the Papal State was very pleased."
"In fact, it's extremely rare for Divine Power to increase."
"So there's talk that the first verification was wrong. Actually, I expected this to happen. You could tell at first glance that she had an aura of nobility."
The retainers who had said that LeBlaine could never be accepted as Dubled's Young Lady completely changed their tune and showered her with praise.
"Imagine how jealous the other families will be when they see that the fake Child of Destiny has become Dubled's Young Lady."
"It's not just because she's genuine, but there isn't a Young Lady among the High nobles who is as lovely as she is."
"Even a child can distinguish between malice and kindness, right? Seeing how she embraces us even after what we've done, she must be an angel sent from heaven."
Those who were smitten with their savior babbled with softened expressions.
"What are you all doing...! Get a grip. That girl isn't a Child of Destiny, but a demon who has bewitched the Dukedom!"
Then another retainer shouted, "Ahem!!" and slammed the table.
"That's going too far!"
"Didn't Roman also have his life saved by the Young Lady! I didn't know you were such an ungrateful beast!"
"I don't want to share a table with you, so get out!"
The retainers banded together and drove Viscount Roman away.
After dinner, the Duke summoned me to his office.
I glanced at the Duke, who was standing in front of me with narrowed eyes.
"LeBlaine."
"Yes."
"Why don't you give me a flower ring?"
"Huh?"
When I looked at him as if asking what he meant, he glared and pointed at Henri and Isaac, who were grinning.
They had been flaunting their rings all day, saying "The flower language is love," "LeBlaine's love," and it seemed to have reached the Duke's ears.
I pointed to the Duke's index finger.
"Gongzhanmi has ring."
When I said that, pointing to the Dubled seal on his index finger, he snatched the ring off and threw it to Noth.
"Not anymore."
Is it okay to just throw that like that...?
It was an amazing sight, considering how Duke Valois treated his seal with such reverence.
'It's too late to get violets.'
As I was wondering what to do, I found yellow tulips in a vase.
I took them and struggled to make a flower ring.
The tulips had thick stems, so I couldn't tie them around my finger, so I turned it into a bracelet.
"Done."
After completing the flower bracelet and carefully putting the seal back on Noth's hand, I sighed.
The Duke stared intently at the flower bracelet I had made.
'Doesn't he like it?'
Well, a small violet flower ring would be one thing, but such a large tulip bracelet might be a bit much.
The Duke looked back at the Young Masters. Then he raised his arm.
"Mine is bigger."
I felt like screaming.
Stop it!
"It's twice the size of yours."
Please stop.
"Isn't mine prettier?"
Shut that mouth!
Why is it that the Duke is the one speaking, but I'm the one who's embarrassed?
I looked around at Henri, Isaac, and the others in embarrassment.
Leah and the maids were biting their handkerchiefs in envy, and Isaac was furious.
"But I was the first to receive one."
When the child said that, the corners of the Duke's lips turned up slightly. His expression seemed to say it was the loser's excuse, and Isaac was frustrated.
Still, it was a relief that Henri was quiet.
'Henri is still within the normal range.'
I nodded, thinking it was a relief, and Henri smiled brightly at the Duke.
"I heard the flower language of yellow tulips is unrequited love."
"...What?"
"The flower language of purple violets is love."
When Henri narrowed his eyes, the Duke's expression hardened.
Then Isaac looked back and forth between his purple violet flower ring and the Duke's yellow tulip flower bracelet and grinned.
"Ah, unrequited love."
-He said.
The world was going crazy.
After the Duke chased the Young Masters away with a cold look, I tried hard to appease him.
"Leubu didn't know flower language. Really."
"..."
"Will make violet flower ring tomorrow. For Gongzhanmi. Two!"
Only after promising to put them on both hands did the Duke's expression soften.
I sat on the Duke's lap and sighed.
Strange.
Why do I keep feeling like I'm raising a child?
I was thinking that when the Duke handed me a glass of orange juice.
"Drink."
It was a gentle voice.
While I was drinking the juice, the Duke brushed the sweat-soaked hair from my forehead.
"Are you sick? You're sweating."
"No."
It was because I was using my power to maintain Bune.
When Bune first appeared, I felt like I would immediately turn into a baby, but it was bearable as long as I had Etwal around my neck.
"Your Grace!"
At that moment, Viscount Dubois rushed into the room.
"What is it?"
"There's been a problem with the Spinelle mine owned by the Selbon Merchant Guild."
"Problem?"
"The volcano erupted, and the mine was buried in lava."
Viscount Dubois frowned and continued.
"Why now...? If we can't get Spinelle now, with the war against the Kruger Kingdom imminent, we have no chance of winning."
Kruger was a nation famous for its powerful Wizard corps.
Because the Wizards protected Kruger's knights from the rear, the opponent had to build a defense line using Spinelle (a mineral that can contain Divine Power).
'This is what happens this year.'
But Dubled was also preparing for the battle with Kruger?
Duke Amitié was the one who stepped up for this battle.
'Could it be that Dubled gave up the battle because they couldn't get Spinelle?'
The Selbon Merchant Guild's mine was never restored.
As a result, the price of Spinelle skyrocketed.
If it was just expensive, Dubled's financial power could have somehow obtained it, but the problem was that they wouldn't be able to secure enough to give Spinelle to all the knights.
'Besides the Selbon Merchant Guild, the Temple supplies the most Spinelle.'
It seemed that the Temple gave Spinelle to Duke Amitié to keep Dubled in check.
The Duke immediately summoned his retainers.
The retainers discussed for several hours, but there was only one answer.
To get help from the Temple, which supplies the most Spinelle besides the Selbon Merchant Guild.
The leaders of Dubled, led by Viscount Dubois, contacted the Central Temple.
I looked at the retainers waiting for the conversation with the Temple on the Duke's lap.
A familiar voice came from the communication Magic tool connected by the Wizards.
It was Adolf, who had a particularly bad relationship with Dubled.
[Dubled's situation is unfortunate, but we are also having trouble with the supply of Spinelle.]
On the surface, he had a troubled expression, but he couldn't hide the sneer in his eyes.
Viscount Dubois tried to suppress his rising anger and said.
"His Majesty the Emperor has directly ordered Dubled to participate in the war. If we participate without Spinelle, our soldiers will all die."
[If you really want it that much, there is a way.]
"What is it?"
Viscount Dubois's face brightened.
[If Your Grace personally pleads with the Pope, how could that merciful person refuse your request?]
"What?"
The retainers stiffened.
That meant the Duke would have to come in person, kneel before the Pope, and beg.
I secretly glared at Adolf, who was just smiling elegantly.
'Adolf is as annoying as ever.'
Unlike other families, he regarded Dubled, who did not fear the Temple, as a thorn in his side.
The Temple deliberately sent him to the negotiations to get the upper hand on Dubled.
'How petty.'
Even though they had no intention of giving Spinelle in the first place.
The Duke slowly tapped the table.
"Noth."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Take LeBlaine away. The rest of the story will be a little too rough for the child to hear."
It was a monotonous voice, but it was so oppressive that one could barely swallow.
I quickly left the room before things got out of hand.
"Can go alone. Noth, must help Gongzhanmi."
Noth squatted down and was moved, saying, "You're so kind, so gentle, so benevolent..."
I sent Noth back to the conference room and walked alone down the hallway to return to my room.
'Something's strange.'
[What's wrong, baby?]
'I feel like I'm forgetting something.
I think I heard something about Spinelle...
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't remember.
'What was it?'
As I was worrying and turned the corner.
Bang!
I bumped into someone.
I sat down with a thud, rubbed my forehead, and looked up.
"Are you alright?"
When I saw the person I had bumped into, my eyes widened.
Despite being an old man, he had broad shoulders and a straight back, and his wrinkled but neat features.
He was the kind of grandfather who would have created a bunch of followers when he was young.
'It's the Chairman of the Council of Elders.'
I flinched and the Chairman said.
"You seem surprised."
"..."
"Come, let me help you up."
He picked me up and stared at me intently.
It was a sharp and steady gaze that seemed to see right through me.
I became very nervous because he was a powerful figure who was not friendly to me.
I drooped my eyebrows and cautiously watched him.
"You are as lovely as I've heard."
"Thank you?"
When I said that, wondering if I should greet him, the Chairman's eyebrows twitched upwards.
"Duke Nuanok!"
A familiar voice came from afar.
It was Roman, the Viscount, the Elder who had tried to manipulate the retainers and drive me out.
He stopped when he saw me and frowned.
"What are you doing here? What kind of rat-like trick are you trying to pull on the Chairman...!"
"Enough."
At the Chairman's words, Roman clicked his tongue.
"Let's go. The retainers are gathering about the Spinelle issue."
As Roman opened the way, the Chairman glanced at me and moved his feet.
Viscount Roman followed him and grumbled.
"A Child of Destiny who will bring hope, my foot. All kinds of misfortune have befallen us since that child came here."
"You'll have your tongue pulled out if you speak so carelessly in the castle."
I looked at the two of them and muttered, "Ah."
'I remember.'
Where I heard the Spinelle story!
