Chapter 116

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 116

Chapter Title: Duke Ballua's Fury

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CRASH!!

Duke Ballua hurled his wine glass at his wife the moment she returned to the mansion. The Duchess dodged it by a hair's breadth, her face draining to a sickly blue as she clapped a hand over her mouth.

"H-Honey..."

"You witless wench!"

She rushed to her trembling-with-rage husband and clung to him desperately.

"I was the victim too. How was someone as delicately raised as me supposed to spot a con artist gunning for us on purpose? The Duvereds targeted you through me...! Eek!"

Duke Ballua's eyes rolled back as he seized her shoulders in a brutal grip.

"What did that art dealer bitch say? Did she really hand every last loan over to the Duvereds? Huh?!"

"..."

The Duchess couldn't bring herself to answer and averted her gaze. The Duke shoved her roughly away and clutched his forehead.

Henri Duvered, the second son of House Duvered who had shown up claiming to stand in for his younger brother, had a chilling edge utterly unlike a boy's.

[Barging in at dawn and ordering us to pack our things! They say a young master's father knows no manners!]

[Do beasts know manners? Y-Young Master, please don't provoke us any further.]

[Wh-what?!]

[I'm having a hard time putting up with the stench any longer.]

He had mocked her word-for-word with the exact same insults she'd once heard from Theodor Duvered long ago, not a syllable out of place.

Blood kin or not a drop related, that base slaughterer and his spawn looked down on her with the same vulgar gaze.

Just like that day when trash born to a lowly whore—mere seventh son of the late Duke Duvered—had pinned the heir of House Ballua beneath his heel.

[My apologies. You blabbered so boldly, I assumed you knew how to wield a sword.]

The memory flooded back in sequence: the first humiliation of his life, evoked by the image of young Theodor.

The garden where nobles had gathered.

His own sword sprawled on the grass, Theodor Duvered's blade inches from his throat.

The whispering voices.

[Theo, that's enough.]

The slender back blocking his view, hair gleaming like sunlight.

The only woman William Ballua could never have in his life.

The man's firm hands embracing her.

For an instant, the Child of Destiny smiling innocently at Theodor Duvered's side overlapped with that woman's face.

Duke Ballua clenched his fist tight.

"Taliman!"

A man entered wearing a wide-brimmed hat and gloves covering both hands.

"Your command."

"Bring 'them' up from below."

"The Descent?"

"Yes."

The man bowed deeply. Duke Ballua's eyes gleamed red.

'Think I'll let you take it from me again this time?'

The dazzling glory was his. All that would remain in that man's life was the shame of failing to protect what mattered.

The prize for the mock combat tournament victor would be awarded at the imperial banquet four days later.

The moment I returned to the mansion, I sent my reply to the invitation from the palace.

And today, our family set off for the imperial palace.

The children from the two houses who had advanced to the finals, along with their families, were already seated at the banquet table.

We exchanged nods of greeting, and soon after, the Emperor, First Imperial Prince Andre, and Empress Ivonne entered.

Normally, the highest-ranking person present would open the greetings.

But today, as the mock combat champion, that duty fell to me.

"Blessings of the gods upon the Sun of the Empire. May you bask in eternal glory."

I bowed politely and intoned the words.

'How's that? Perfect, right?'

I'd learned it from Great-Aunt Camilla and the chairman.

I heard Dad, my brothers, and my aunt stifle chuckles, then everyone followed my lead in paying respects to the Emperor.

"May you bask in eternal glory."

"May you bask in eternal glory."

The Emperor nodded with a pleased smile.

"Welcome to the palace. Be seated."

Once we were seated, everyone at the banquet began to eat. Light conversation flowed, and the mood stayed pleasantly warm throughout.

I'd worried my finalist opponent, Young Master Shuhail, might look uncomfortable, but he seemed good-natured enough—he'd apparently already put the loss behind him.

He even offered me a slice of pie. "This one's delicious."

"Thank you."

"Eat up and grow big and strong. That way, no one will mock you as 'too small' in the next tournament."

...So he hadn't forgotten the defeat entirely.

Ishak snorted and plopped another kind of pie on top of the one he'd offered.

"What? You think my little sister beat you because you looked down on her?"

"Beat me? Watch your mouth—this is before His Majesty."

"Fine then, pick one. 'Got my ass handed to me,' 'Completely wrecked,' 'Turned to mush.' Which suits you best?"

Edgar Shuhail scowled fiercely before clicking his tongue. "Let's drop it."

People said the two were sworn enemies at the Academy, and it looked like the rumors were true.

I made a mental note while munching on the pie Ishak had cut for me.

'But where's the prize? The prize!'

I was impatient to identify the demon from the summoning circle I'd seen in Duke Ballua's secret vault.

I'd originally planned to consult an alchemist, but those who knew about summoning circles were exceedingly rare. Finding one was so tough I'd needed a demon's help just to get that far.

Empress Ivonne, who had been chatting with the matriarchs of other houses over the meal, dabbed her lips with her napkin.

"Your Majesty, the children have waited long enough. Shall we present the mock combat prizes now?"

The Emperor nodded, and my eyes sparkled.

'Bune would be best. If not, the demon from the 56th pillar. Bune said that one's friendly.'

The Emperor raised his hand, and attendants entered.

They handed envelopes to the finalists—there were modest prizes for them too.

And for me, a thick envelope and a transparent case containing a gem.

'So this is Norak...'

A slightly curved oval stone, yellowish-brown. Unlike amber or citrine, its color was a bit murky.

I glanced at the Emperor, and he nodded.

"It's from the ancient records. Feel free to examine it closely."

I quickly opened the case and touched the gem.

'Whoa...'

I knew the instant my hand made contact. Norak really was the passage for the demon I'd been seeking. A light vortex of power swirled in my palm.

'Different from Bune's.'

The 'Dormant Mineral' that served as Bune's passage had felt warmly affectionate. Like being cradled in warm water.

But this was more like the energy from the fossil passage for Paimon—rough.

'No, rougher than Paimon's.'

A powerful demon?

"...if it were."

"..."

"Milady?"

"Yes?!"

I'd been so absorbed in the Norak that I missed what the Emperor said.

'Ugh, my focus...'

Driving off monsters during the tournament had drained my holy power considerably, and dealing with the Balluas had left me mentally exhausted besides. Maintaining an adult mindset was a struggle.

"What are your thoughts, milady? Between the First Prince and Second Prince, which?"

I sneaked a glance at my family. Neither option pleased them.

Empress Ivonne smiled ever so sweetly.

'Ballua's useless now, so she's grabbing for the Duvered strings?'

I scoffed inwardly.

No way in hell.

Nothing was as dangerous as Empress Ivonne and the First Prince—except maybe the temple.

In my first life, Ivonne had been desperate to wed the Child of Destiny to the First Prince to legitimize him.

With rumors I was a fake running rampant, she'd ignored me and fixated on Mina.

The Empress had schemed endlessly to link Mina with the First Prince. I'd suffered so much getting tangled in it.

'The answer was decided long ago.'

"I'd choose Second Prince Adrian!"

Empress Ivonne's face stiffened for a moment. She crushed her napkin in her grip before forcing her expression smooth.

"Why Adrian? You haven't even met him, have you?"

"I saw him at Great-Aunt's—er, Lady Camilla's estate. His Highness honored me with an offer of friendship!"

The Emperor let out an impressed "Oh..." and nodded.

"Is that so? Already with that child..."

It was good for the Emperor too.

Ivonne's faction had grown too powerful; he needed a check on them.

But Adrian lacked a solid support base.

Just having me—backed by Duvered—at his side would halt Ivonne's overreach.

Above all, he'd want to block any alliance between Duvered and Ivonne.

Aunt nodded too—she clearly thought Adrian was the optimal choice.

But Dad and my brothers looked unhappy. Especially Yohan's expression.

He grabbed my hand and mouthed, "Why?"

"You haven't forgotten, right?"

"...?"

"That time with me... Never mind."

I tilted my head.

Ishak muttered under his breath, brow furrowed.

"Weird."

Henri asked softly, "What is?"

"Something about it just pisses me off... Like something precious is getting stolen."

"Watch your mouth. His Majesty's present."

"He can't hear."

Dad and my brothers were still in foul moods even after the banquet ended. I held Aunt's hand and walked, sneaking glances at the family.

"Should I have picked the First Prince?"

"No. Second Prince is better."

"Right?"

Then why the bad vibes?

As I pondered, I clutched the Norak.

'Not the time. Hurry home and summon whatever demon's in this gem...'

Right then, as we were just leaving the Emperor's palace—

A sharp wind whipped up fiercely.

"It's spring already—what's with this gale?!"

Ishak shouted.

Henri gazed at me warmly. "No dust in your eyes?" Dad bundled my coat tighter.

While my family fussed, I stood frozen, staring into empty air.

"That..."

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Something wrong?"

"Baby?"

"Leblain."

I turned to them with trembling eyes.

"You can't see that?"

The man hovering in midair.

The unmistakable mana clump glaring at us with razor-sharp intent.

"What are you talking about?"

Ishak asked, and I screamed.

"Get down!!"

A spark flared from the man's hand, condensing into a massive orb that hurtled straight toward us!