Chapter 45

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 45

Chapter Title: Flower Jealousy and the Spinel Crisis

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Viscount Roman summoned his retainers in secret before he could even compose himself.

"The Duke's been utterly bewitched by that little girl. How else could he reduce us—those who stood with Duvered from the very start—to this state without losing his mind!"

"Hmmm……."

"We must drag Theodor Duvered down and execute that wench who's ensnared the family head."

Yet the retainers' reactions to Roman's words were lukewarm at best.

"Is there really any need for that?"

"What?"

"I think it's a good thing, myself. Now we have someone to keep the ducal house on a leash, don't we?"

"She's still a fake! A commoner, no less!"

"Well, that rumor seems to be nonsense anyway."

The retainer who said that chuckled and glanced around at the others.

"Didn't we all witness the miracle Little One performed in the audience chamber?"

"It was an astonishing power."

"She even got verified that her divine power has been amplified. I hear the Papal Court is thrilled about it."

"Amplification is incredibly rare, you know."

"That's why some are saying the first verification was mistaken. Honestly, I saw it coming. You could tell just by looking—she radiates noble aura."

The same retainers who had insisted Leblain could never be treated as a true noble lady of the house flipped their stance in an instant, showering her with praise.

"Imagine how jealous the other families will be, the ones who dismissed her as a fake Child of Destiny just because she became the Lady Duvered."

"It's not even about her being real—among all the great nobles' ladies, none are as lovable as her."

"Even a child can tell good from evil, right? After what we did, she still protects us. She must be an angel descended from heaven."

These men, smitten by their lifesaver, gushed with gooey, adoring faces.

"You lot……! Get a grip. That girl isn't the Child of Destiny—she's a demon bewitched the ducal house!"

At that, another retainer slammed the table with a sharp "Hey!"

"That's going too far!"

"Didn't Little One save your life too, Lord Roman? I never knew you were such an ungrateful beast!"

"We don't want to dine with you—get out!"

The retainers banded together and drove Viscount Roman out.

After dinner, the Duke summoned me to his study.

I stood before him, sneaking peeks at the Duke, who had narrowed his eyes into slits.

"Leblain."

"Yeah."

"Why haven't you given me a flower ring?"

"Yeah?"

I stared at him like he'd said something bizarre, and he pointed at Henri and Ishak, who were grinning ear to ear with bulging eyes.

They'd spent the whole afternoon flashing their hands around, proclaiming "The language of flowers means love" and "Leblain's love," and it had apparently reached the Duke's ears.

I pointed at the Duke's index finger.

"You already have the seal ring."

When I indicated the Duvered seal ring on his finger, he yanked it off with a flick and tossed it to Nos.

"Not anymore."

Is it really okay to just toss that thing around……?

It was astonishing, considering how Duke Ballua had handled the seal with reverent care.

'Too late to get violets now.'

As I pondered what to do, I spotted yellow tulips in a vase.

I grabbed them and struggled to make a flower bracelet—tulips had such thick stems that they wouldn't fit on a finger, so I turned it into a bracelet instead.

"Here."

After finishing the flower bracelet and slipping the seal ring back onto Nos's finger, I let out a sigh of relief.

The Duke stared intently at the flower bracelet I'd made.

'Does he not like it after all?'

Well, a delicate violet ring might be one thing, but a big tulip bracelet like that could feel a bit much.

The Duke glanced at the young masters, then smoothly raised his arm.

"Mine's bigger."

I felt like screaming.

Stop it!

"Twice the size of yours."

Please stop.

"Isn't mine the prettiest?"

Shut your mouth!

Why was it that his words made me feel the embarrassment?

Flustered, I looked around at Henri, Ishak, and the others.

Lea and the maids were biting their handkerchiefs in envy, while Ishak fumed.

"But I got mine first."

The child's outburst made the Duke's lips twitch upward in a smirk of a victor's disdain, leaving Ishak at a loss for rage.

At least Henri was staying quiet—small mercies.

'Henri's still within the realm of normal, at least.'

I nodded to myself in relief when Henri beamed radiantly at the Duke.

"I hear yellow tulips mean unrequited love."

"……What did you say?"

"Purple violets mean love."

As Henri's eyes crinkled into crescents, the Duke's mouth hardened into a straight line.

Ishak alternated glances between his purple violet ring and the Duke's yellow tulip bracelet, then grinned.

"Aha, unrequited love."

So he said.

The world had gone mad.

After the Duke coldly shooed the young masters away, I worked hard to soothe him.

"Leblain doesn't know flower meanings. Real talk."

"……."

"Tomorrow, violet flower ring. For the seal finger. Two!"

Only after I promised to make rings for both hands did the Duke's expression soften.

I sat on the Duke's knee and sighed.

This is weird.

Why do I keep feeling like I'm raising a kid?

As that thought crossed my mind, the Duke offered me a glass of orange juice.

"Drink."

His voice was gentle.

While I sipped the juice, he brushed back my sweat-dampened hair.

"Are you hurting? You're breaking a cold sweat."

"No."

It was just the effort of maintaining the barrier.

The first time Bune appeared, I'd nearly reverted to baby form on the spot, but with Etwal around my neck, it was bearable.

"Your Grace!"

Just then, Viscount Dubos burst into the room.

"What is it?"

"There's a problem at the Spinel Mine owned by the Selbon Merchant Guild."

"What kind of problem?"

"A volcano erupted, burying the mine in lava."

Viscount Dubos scowled as he continued.

"Of all times…… With war against the Kruger Kingdom looming, we can't win without spinel supplies."

Kruger was famed for its powerful magic corps.

Their mages provided rear support to Kruger knights, so the opposition absolutely needed spinel—the mineral that held divine power—to build defensive lines.

'So this was the incident from this year.'

And Duvered was preparing for battle against Kruger too?

But the ones deploying for this fight should have been House Amities.

'Did Duvered give up the battle because they couldn't secure spinel?'

The Selbon Guild's mine was never recovered.

After this, spinel prices skyrocketed.

Even with Duvered's wealth, the issue wasn't just cost—it was securing enough quantity to equip every knight.

'Outside Selbon, the temple supplies the most spinel.'

The temple must have given it to House Amities to check Duvered.

The Duke immediately summoned his retainers.

The retainers debated for hours, but there was only one answer.

Seek help from the temple, the largest spinel supplier outside Selbon.

Led by Viscount Dubos, Duvered's leadership gathered and contacted the Central Temple.

From the Duke's knee, I watched the retainers awaiting the temple's response.

A familiar voice emanated from the communication magic tool linked by mages.

It was Adolf, who had particularly bad blood with Duvered.

His face feigned distress, but his eyes couldn't hide the sneer.

Viscount Dubos swallowed his boiling rage and spoke.

"His Majesty the Emperor personally ordered Duvered to deploy. Without spinel, our forces will be slaughtered."

"What is it?"

Viscount Dubos's face lit up.

"What?"

The retainers froze stiff.

This was tantamount to demanding the Duke kneel before the Pope and beg.

I secretly glared at the smugly smiling Adolf.

'Adolf's as insufferable as ever.'

Unlike other houses, he saw Duvered—which feared not the temple—as a thorn in his side.

Sending him to negotiate was the temple's ploy to humble Duvered.

'Petty.'

They had no intention of providing spinel anyway.

The Duke slowly tapped the table. Tap, tap.

"Nos."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Take Leblain away. The rest of this conversation is too rough for a child's ears."

His tone was flat, yet laced with such intimidation that throats went dry.

I hurried out before the sparks flew.

"I can go alone. Nos, help Your Grace."

Nos crouched down, face full of感動, murmuring, "So kind, so gentle, so compassionate……."

I sent Nos back to the meeting and walked the corridor alone to my room.

'This feels off.'

'I feel like I'm forgetting something.

Something about spinel that I heard…….'

No matter how I racked my brain, it wouldn't come.

'What was it?'

As I groaned around a corner—

Thud!

I bumped into someone.

I plopped down, rubbing my forehead, and looked up.

"Are you all right?"

When I saw who I'd collided with, my eyes went wide.

Despite his age, broad shoulders, straight back, wrinkled but refined features.

A grandfather who must have had legions of admirers in his youth.

'It's the Chairman of the Council of Elders.'

I flinched, shrinking my shoulders, and he said,

"You seem startled."

"……."

"Here, let me help you up."

He lifted me effortlessly and stared piercingly.

His gaze was sharp yet profound, as if peering into my soul.

Being near a power holder who wasn't fond of me made me tense up.

I drooped my brows and peeked at him timidly.

"Just as the rumors say, you're a darling."

"Thank you?"

Unsure if I should bow, I mumbled it, and his brow twitched upward.

"Lord Nuanoch!"

A familiar voice called from afar.

It was Elder Roman, the one who'd tried to oust me with his retainers.

He paused at the sight of me and scowled.

"What are you doing here? Trying to pull some rat-like scheme on the Chairman……!"

"Enough."

The Chairman's word made Roman click his tongue.

"Let's go. The retainers are gathering over the spinel issue."

As Roman cleared the path, the Chairman glanced at me and moved on.

Viscount Roman grumbled in pursuit.

"Child of Destiny, my foot. Ever since that kid arrived, one misfortune after another has struck."

"Loose lips in the castle could cost you your tongue."

I watched them go, then murmured softly, "Ah."

'I remember now.'

Where I'd heard about the spinel!