Chapter 29

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 30

Chapter Title: Star Festival and the Ashen Wolf (2)

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Kirshan’s sharp observation drew a smirk from Floyd.

“Right, the princess called this mad thing inside me a spirit too. A fire spirit.”

Adrian, who had been snickering the whole time, fell silent as their conversation started to sound plausible.

Magical Beasts weren’t greatly affected by ordinary fire, but strangely enough, they screamed in agony from even the slightest touch of Floyd’s flames. The Grand Temple had called his power “another form of divine power,” while the Magic Tower dubbed it “immense magical energy,” but no one had truly unraveled its nature.

The Grand Temple had wanted to capture Floyd and study his power, but since it was so overwhelming and he had so many devoted followers, they were content to observe for now.

Adrian furrowed his brow and spoke up.

“If that princess is sane and truly wielding spirits, she’ll become even more dangerous than before. Up until now, only Lucas was after her, but if word gets out that there’s a spirit sorceress here, the Grand Temple and even the Empire will undoubtedly try to claim her. They might even kill her on the spot.”

“It’s not just the princess. Have you forgotten what power our lord wields?”

“Oh, right. If the princess is a spirit sorceress and people learn what spirits can do, suspicion will fall on our lord’s power too.”

Adrian ruffled his hair frantically with both hands, then turned to Floyd with a serious expression.

“My lord, we should really chase that princess away...”

Floyd kicked Adrian in the side, sending him sprawling away, then ordered Kirshan.

“Keep this quiet outside the Grand Duke’s Palace for the time being. It’ll leak out eventually, but it’s best to prepare beforehand.”

An eagle soared over the skies of Selsar City, the capital of the Torkan Grand Duchy.

Before the knights who had gone out on the subjugation returned, the eagle brought news that gave some headaches over impending troubles, but most people were overjoyed and prepared for the festival more boisterously than usual.

Even though not all problems were resolved, the people of Torkan, who resembled their lord, threw themselves into preparations for the Star Festival, the grandest event of December.

By the time the festive atmosphere of the capital reached Roxiana, who had been cooped up in Lily Palace, Floyd and the Red Spider Knight Order entered the city gates.

The waiting crowds showered them with flowers and music, praising the lord and knights for their hard work.

When a woman tossed a flower at Floyd, he deftly dodged it. Adrian, standing beside him, caught it instead, brushed his lips lightly against the petals, and tucked it behind his ear.

Adrian, prettier than the woman herself, smiled brightly with the vivid red flower in his ear, prompting the women to squeal and chant his name. Kirshan, walking silently, muttered under his breath.

“Maybe it’s not the princess who needs her head examined, but you, sir.”

“With spirits and spirit sorceresses popping up, a little madness is fine, don’t you think?”

Adrian hummed along to the musicians’ tune, then suddenly leaped from his horse, grabbed a nearby woman’s wrist, and pulled her into a dance.

The woman chosen by Adrian flushed red, while the others shot jealous glances.

Floyd clicked his tongue at the sight.

“He’s completely lost it.”

While the city buzzed with the lord and knights’ triumphant return, Petria went to see Elledrun Hills Countess, the head maid. In the Grand Duke’s Palace without a lady of the house, using funds for women required the head maid’s approval.

Floyd had provided Roxiana with fine lodgings and meals, but he lacked finesse and hadn’t attended to her wardrobe. Her clothes were just a few thin dresses unsuitable for the season and some cardigans.

What worried Petria most was that there was no dress suitable for the festival.

“A dress?”

Elledrun frowned upon hearing Petria’s request.

“Petria, do you not know what situation the Grand Duke’s Palace is in right now?”

“Of course, the water contamination...”

“The water isn’t the problem anymore. That forest burning to the ground is. When all the people who lived there flood into the capital, the palace funds will go toward relief efforts. A dress at a time like this? You’re too naive. We need to tighten our belts right now.”

At Elledrun’s harsh refusal, Petria bit her lip and mustered her courage.

“But Head Maid, even if it’s not a dress, the princess needs warm clothes. She’s only just recovering her health—a cold would be disastrous.”

Elledrun sighed.

If this request had come a few days ago, she would have ignored it, but she had heard how Roxiana had healed those sick from the contaminated water. Even without full details, that story made Elledrun think.

‘At least she’s earning her keep.’

She still disliked that a slave-branded woman had taken over Lily Palace, but since she was pulling her weight, she deserved treatment accordingly. Elledrun pulled a few coins from the pouch of emergency funds she carried.

“I don’t want to be this stingy, but we have to economize for now, so buy off-the-rack. She’s not the type to parade around at the festival anyway, so don’t waste money on a fancy dress.”

Petria was dissatisfied with the amount—just enough for a coat and a few dresses—but considered it a win from the strict head maid and bowed.

“Yes, Head Maid. Thank you.”

But she couldn’t hide the resentment in her voice. Watching Petria pout and turn away, Elledrun shook her head.

I thought she was smart, but she’s so immature.

Elledrun still saw Roxiana as a temporary interloper who would eventually leave Lily Palace. She couldn’t justify spending too much on such a person.

Floyd’s lavish spending often gave Elledrun headaches. She had managed the palace’s internal affairs by nagging the maids and servants and even cutting her own salary.

Floyd knew that without Elledrun, the discipline among the palace maids and servants would falter, so he overlooked her occasional oversteps.

‘Lily Palace isn’t the issue right now.’

Though she showed no sign of it to anyone, Elledrun had a major worry.

When the demonic energy contaminated Lily Palace’s water, another place had suffered: the garden of the Hills Countess’s family estate, near the Grand Duke’s Palace.

That garden was Elledrun Hills Countess’s pride and joy. When it won at the annual “Fairy’s Garden Contest”—a spectacular event dubbed the “Garden So Beautiful Even Fairies Would Visit”—she had been happier than when her son Pomiller received his knighthood.

Now, that garden was a dead wasteland, barren of even a single blade of grass and reeking of decay. She hadn’t told anyone yet, but sooner or later, others would find out.

‘Countess Tivran will gloat endlessly if she learns. She still can’t accept her own garden not winning.’

The Tivran Countess’s estate was far from the Grand Duke’s Palace, so it had surely escaped the demonic energy unscathed.

Elledrun desperately wanted to revive her dead garden but couldn’t burden Floyd and his retainers, already swamped with concerns, so she suffered in silence.

“Um, Head Maid.”

At that moment, a maid approached cautiously.

“Countess Tivran is here to see you.”

Elledrun frowned at the name. Countess Tivran occasionally visited the palace like this, scouting knights suitable for her daughter while pestering Elledrun before leaving.

When Elledrun entered the drawing room, Countess Tivran and her daughter Carrie were seated on the sofa. Carrie looked displeased about being there but greeted Elledrun politely upon her arrival.

‘The daughter’s so sweet...’

Elledrun harbored no ill feelings toward Carrie, so she returned the greeting with a smile and sat on the opposite sofa.

“Everyone’s busy with festival preparations—whatever brings you to the Grand Duke’s Palace? Scouting the knight captains one by one again?”

Carrie blushed at Elledrun’s words, but Countess Tivran brazenly replied.

“Do you think I’d come for that? I heard you’ve got troubles, so I came to offer comfort.”

Elledrun flinched momentarily, thinking her garden’s ruin had been discovered. But Countess Tivran brought up something else entirely.

“I hear there’s an uninvited guest squatting in Lily Palace?”

Elledrun clicked her tongue inwardly.

She had clamped down hard on talk about Roxiana, but rumors still leaked out. Part of her thought it was inevitable, but Countess Tivran rushing over at the first whisper irritated her.

“Uninvited guest? Where did you hear such nonsense...”

“Do that many people not come and go from the palace? I heard His Grace carried her in himself—is that true?”

Elledrun could guess why Countess Tivran had hurried over. She wanted to verify the rumor and, if Floyd showed interest in the woman, saw a chance for her own daughter.

Elledrun stared steadily at the greedy countess before opening her mouth.