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IBP 70
‘Something is wrong!’
Sister was definitely completely healed!
My eyes widened as I watched the knights walking toward us from a distance.
* * *
At the same time, inside the Imperial Palace's outdoor ballroom.
The space was under the effect of magic that kept it warm throughout all four seasons.
Dahlia sat gracefully in her seat, drawing the gaze of many nobles.
As soon as she sat down, numerous people swarmed around her like bees.
“Lady Dahlia Melomande, I heard you received the Emperor's commendation for discovering mana crystals?”
She gave a small laugh, acting modest and shy.
“It wasn't anything grand. I simply told Her Imperial Highness the Imperial Concubine that I would donate a portion of the mana crystals to the Imperial Palace.”
“Ah... how kind of you. I find myself wanting to join the new business you've started, My Lady.”
Dahlia held her head high, basking in the reactions of those around her.
Now that she had a mana crystal mine, everyone was desperate to cling to her and flatter her.
However, instead of focusing on the flattery, she was listening intently to the conversation at the next table.
“Did you hear the news?”
“I heard Duke Ardos is visiting in person this time. They say people saw the Ardos family carriage rushing toward the palace gates.”
As the vanguard of the monster war, Duke Ardos was someone who actively engaged in external activities, such as establishing the academy.
Consequently, he often skipped social balls, which he felt were relatively less important.
Usually, Duchess Lucrezia Ardos or Theresia Ardos would attend such events instead...
“Ah... I wonder what made him change his mind? Is there something important happening today?”
Perhaps the young lady sitting at the same table as Dahlia had heard the news as well.
A lady who viewed Dahlia as an innocent victim gripped her hand tightly and asked, “Lady Dahlia, will you be alright?”
“...Of course. Everyone in the Ardos household is kind. Except...”
Dahlia started to say except for one person, but then she trembled pitifully, pretending to be flustered.
“...And there's no way that person would come.”
“It's common knowledge that anyone with even a slight risk of a berserk state cannot enter the Imperial Palace... but still, it makes me feel uneasy.”
“Lady Dahlia is too kind for her own good. Even at the last social party, goodness.”
Dahlia sneered inwardly as she watched the lady take the opportunity to subtly mock Chloe.
‘The Emperor will arrive soon, and then the commendations for the mana crystal mine will follow.’
Dahlia had served as a lady-in-waiting to the Imperial Concubine for the past few months.
Therefore, the Emperor would have heard about her mana crystal mine through the Imperial Concubine.
Just as she was smiling like a sated cat—
“The direct bloodline of the House of Ardos is entering.”
The crowd's gaze shifted toward the massive doors to see the members of the family attending the ball.
At the front, led by Duke Ardos, Belief Ardos—who had reportedly returned to the family—was visible.
Up to this point, everything was within the normal range. However...
“Is that the adopted daughter who has the scar-mark?”
“Yes. I heard Duke Ardos adopted her personally.”
“Oh... but isn't she only a half-blood, and isn't her supernatural ability quite lackluster?”
“Still, I'm curious. Seeing a young lady who hasn't even had her debutante ball attending a gala, doesn't it seem the Duke cherishes her quite a bit?”
The nobles exchanged meaningful glances.
They seemed to be weighing whether or not it was worth aligning themselves with that child.
‘I wonder if Lucrezia will appear next.’
Recently, Lucrezia's position in the family had been dwindling, as she was short on funds and had fallen out with the Duke over their daughter's issues.
Still, it was common sense for the mistress of the house to attend a ball.
But...
“Eh?”
“T-that person is...”
Dahlia, who had been staring at the door with a calm face, now had an expression twisted in bewilderment.
She wasn't the only one shocked.
“How... how is Lady Chloe here?”
All the direct bloodline members of the Ardos family had gathered, excluding Lucrezia.
That was impossible.
It simply couldn't be.
It was widely known throughout the Empire that Chloe had been secluded in the mansion and had fallen into a crisis of a berserk state around that time.
Then how did she pass through the Imperial Palace's magic circle?
How on earth could she be sitting there so confidently, as if she belonged?
The atmosphere became chaotic in an instant due to Chloe's appearance.
“W-what on earth is happening?”
Dahlia held her breath.
A few seconds later, Duke Ardos cleared his throat with an annoyed expression.
“Ahem.”
With a single cough, everyone shut their mouths, not daring to make a sound.
Dahlia glared at Chloe with a vacant expression before biting her lip.
‘Right, she must have used some ancient secret technique that others don't know about. After all, your family has been noble and wealthy since birth.’
She had forgotten one important fact: Chloe had parents wealthy and powerful enough to find an ancient secret technique to overcome even a berserk state.
At that thought, the inferiority complex rooted deep in her gut began to stir violently.
* * *
‘Phew, I almost couldn't get in!’
I let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
Earlier, in front of the gate to the Imperial Palace, a few knights approached the carriage and pointed to the gate.
“Our apologies, but this is the first time we have heard noise coming from the gate. As this is an unprecedented case, entry may be difficult.”
But it was at that exact moment.
From the carriage in front, which had already passed through the main gate, the sound of Duke Ardos stepping out was heard.
“How dare you block the carriage of a Duke?”
“That is...”
“Look. Now, not a single noise is heard from the gate. Only blue light fills the archway.”
“...But, but the noise from before, Your Grace.”
“Do you view the magic circle created by the Dragon—the divine beast of the first Emperor—so carelessly?”
“T-that is...”
“The Dragon declared that for the sake of lowly humans, he would warn with a ‘red color’ if there were even the slightest risk of a berserk state!”
“T-that is true, but...”
“If you have eyes, look closely. Is it not a vivid blue for all to see? Eh? What are you doing, coachman! Why aren't you driving?”
Thanks to Duke Ardos's shout, my sister and I were able to enter safely.
‘Just in case, I'll have to treat Sister again later.’
She really is a handful.
Having successfully entered the Imperial Palace, I sat beside my sister and waited for the Emperor with a pounding heart.
And finally.
“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor enters!”
Everyone rose reverently.
I looked up at the Emperor with wide, fluttering eyes.
‘Whoa, he's a huge person!’
The current Emperor, Felix, was a middle-aged man with a dignified impression.
He looked to be between forty and fifty years old.
Teacher Belief explained in a very low voice beside me that, aside from being somewhat frail, he was governing the empire without any major issues.
Soon, the Imperial Palace ball began.
However, since the Emperor himself was attending, a few distinguished nobles held conversations with him before the dancing started.
Duke Ardos was the first to have an audience with the Emperor.
“I greet Your Majesty.”
“Oh, Duke Ardos. You've come. Where is your wife?”
“She is at the Ardos residence. My daughter, Chloe, will be taking her place today.”
As if predicting the internal family strife from a single short sentence, the Emperor nodded and looked toward Chloe.
“Ah. And this person is...”
He seemed to be pondering exactly how to describe me.
‘Definitely!’
Because I'm in a state where it's awkward to call me a blessed child, but also awkward not to.
Duke Ardos replied concisely.
“This is my daughter, Your Majesty.”
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