Episode 149
On the day of the unexpected final battle, Asil entered the palace at the Empress’s summon.
The pretext was a tea time to promote friendship with the young ladies of the nobility, but once she arrived, it wasn’t a simple tea time, as political talk kept surfacing.
“The beginning was not ideal, but I intend to use this incident as an opportunity to open a dialogue with the shifters.”
It was a sudden remark, but the young ladies in the room were not surprised.
As families of high enough status to be invited to the Empress’s tea time, they had already heard rumors about the exchange with the shifters.
The Empress, after taking a sip of tea, murmured in a tone like a dreaming young girl.
“I heard that many rare plants that do not exist here grow there. Surely, we will be able to obtain even more tulip bulbs.”
“You will be able to obtain many things besides tulip bulbs.”
“Our family’s merchant guild is always ready to accept new cultures.”
“My family is also…… ready to rush there at any time, no matter how dangerous a place it may be.”
Since they had to make a good impression for the sake of the future, appropriate flattery and appeals were exchanged.
Meanwhile, the topic of the Crown Prince came up.
Contrary to when she spoke about the Forest of Shifters, the Empress wore a dark expression.
“The Crown Prince is coming of age, yet I am worried because he still does not have a good match.”
“What is there to worry about? Where else could you find someone with such a wonderful character as His Highness Reinhardt?”
“Is it just his character? He is gallant, has a fine physique, and above all, a handsome face.”
“Moreover, that sparkling silver hair without a single trace of darkness!”
“Ah, just thinking about it is so ecstatic. Even the Goddess of Moonlight, known for her beautiful silver hair, would take a back seat in front of His Highness……”
The young ladies praised the Crown Prince, attaching all sorts of flowery modifiers.
Even though outside the Imperial Palace, rumors were rife that he had received divine punishment and had fallen out of the Emperor’s favor.
The Empress, feeling better, wore a picture-perfect smile.
“I did not know you all held the Crown Prince in such special regard. It is a shame that I could not call the Crown Prince to this spot due to his schedule.”
“We are happy just talking about His Highness the Crown Prince with Your Imperial Majesty.”
Although the Crown Prince’s position was said to be precarious, the Empress who supported him remained influential.
Furthermore, since there was no other successor to follow besides the Crown Prince, there was also the thought of
‘Surely he won’t be deposed.’
Thus, the young ladies flattered her to win the Empress’s heart somehow.
To gather the prominent young ladies of
the Empire and bring up the story of the Crown Prince who has no fiancé—
‘She is testing the waters to see who to seat as the Crown Princess.’
‘Indeed, the position of Crown Princess has been vacant for too long.’
‘She intends to solidify the shaking position of His Highness the Crown Prince through a marriage with a family that can be a source of strength.’
Everyone in that spot, with the exception of one person, Asil, was thinking the same thing.
Therefore, besides boosting the Crown Prince, they appealed for their own families at every opportunity.
Among them, Mariange, the daughter of Princess Sunrise who had become a bucket with a broken rope after being pushed aside by Asil, was the most diligent.
“As one of the only three ducal houses in the Empire, Sunrise possesses superior intelligence power that other families do not have.”
Asil held out what she had brought as soon as Mariange’s words ended.
“Your Imperial Majesty. I have brought a gift for Your Majesty today as well.”
It wasn’t intentional; she had been trying to take it out for a while but couldn’t find it until now, and Jet had slipped it in, saying the Empress would like it very much if she took it today.
The Empress’s face brightened whitely as she opened the small box.
“Is this not…… Infinite Hope!”
Infinite Hope.
A tulip characterized by a white haze-like pattern on a red background, it was a rare tulip comparable to the Eternal Starlight that Asil had given before.
The Empress, carefully lifting the tiny bulb, shouted in the most joyful tone since the tea time began.
“Where on earth did the young lady obtain this again!”
“I was lucky. As soon as I saw the bulb, I thought that the owner of this wonderful root could only be Your Majesty.”
Actually, Sol gave it to her, but she answered exactly like last time with a straight face.
Naturally, the Empress was even more delighted than last time.
“Wondrous! What use is it to only talk about superior intelligence power with one’s mouth? The power of action is so different.”
At this, Mariange’s face turned bright red.
She had prepared all sorts of treasures to raise her status in social circles which had fallen because of Asil, but she was pushed aside by Asil without even being able to take them out.
The Empress sat closer to Asil and asked.
“I understand that the young lady does not have a fiancé—?”
“Your, Your Majesty! Is Lady Erzébet not still too young……”
“One never knows when her health might deteriorate and she might return to the countryside……”
“The Erzébet Count family also has nothing other than having a place in the Temple……”
The young ladies, who had instantly become dogs chasing a chicken, hurriedly added a word each.
However, the Empress did not even look at them.
In the first place, her reason for calling the young ladies was to show Asil ‘There are this many women who want our Crown Prince,’ as she had no intention of matching him with them at all.
‘To solidify the Crown Prince’s position, I must first do something about the fact that he received divine punishment.’
To do that, she had to match him with a woman who had a place in the Temple, but since the Saintess had a fierce personality and could not be handled as desired, Asil was chosen as the next best thing.
As she received the favor of the divine beasts all to herself, the Empress believed that engaging her to the Crown Prince would quiet the divine punishment controversy in one breath.
The Empress, who did not yet know that Reinhardt had already been rejected by Asil, said with a smile across her face.
“What do you think? If the young lady wishes, I can even arrange a meeting with the Crown Prince.”
“Could I see him together with my parents?”
“Hmm? Why not see him by yourself,
young lady.”
“Because my parents said they also want to see His Highness the Crown Prince.”
At first, she had intended to touch Reinhardt with Bam-bam’s mom’s venom herself, but she changed her mind.
Since they said he was plotting a scheme to wipe out the shifters, she thought it would be too dangerous alone.
So the plan she thought of was to see him together with her mom and dad. Then she could touch him with the venom, and she wouldn’t be scared.
“Hmm……”
The Empress, who had intended to call out only the innocent-looking child and coax her appropriately, hummed.
She didn’t know about the Countess since she hadn’t met her, but the Count was absolutely not an easy person, so he would surely only be an obstacle in persuading the young lady.
“See the Count and Countess later; wouldn’t it be better to see the young lady
alone first?”
“Because I saw His Highness separately a few days ago. My parents said they also want to see His Highness.”
“Really?”
The Empress, hearing something she hadn’t heard before, narrowed her eyes.
“I understand. I shall speak with the Crown Prince regarding this part.”
“Yes.”
Asil bowed her waist politely.
Although the other young ladies sent looks of envy and jealousy, it seemed the tea time gathering ended well somehow.
However, the problem was after she came out from finishing the tea time.
“Heck!”
Reinhardt was waiting for her at the entrance.
She was so surprised that even a hiccup popped out.
At the sight of Asil being severely surprised, Reinhardt smiled brightly.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Th-that, why are you here?!”
“Because there was an interloper last time, I have come wanting to have a conversation again.”
The young ladies who were returning after finishing tea time saw that scene and all covered their mouths in surprise.
However, Reinhardt did not spare them a single glance and tried to guide Asil to a place where there were no people.
“It will only take a moment. Let us talk for a bit.”
“……Yes.”
Thinking he would stick to her until she said yes anyway, Asil bravely accepted.
‘They said even if you are bitten by a human, you can survive if you keep your wits about you.’
Moreover, the opponent was a shifter, not even a human.
Even if he was a half-blood.
Furthermore, since his race was a snake, she was superior.
‘I can do it.’
I am a super, super strong Black Dragon.
I will find out with my own hands whether Reinhardt is a real human or the snake half-blood shifter my mom and dad are looking for.
While following behind Reinhardt, Asil opened the bottle containing the Basilisk venom and secretly dabbed it on the corner of her handkerchief.
And at the moment Reinhardt, who had stopped walking, turned around,
“I think there is no one around by this point—”
“Ack!”
Pretending to trip over a stone and fall, she firmly covered the back of his hand with the handkerchief.
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