CH 56

They’re grateful to their beautiful parents for giving birth to them, but sometimes they feel an unexpected anger. They don’t see their abilities. They only worry about whether the flower will leave the garden.

‘I’m tired, I’m bored.’

Riett set down the tableware.

“Thank you for the compliment, Count Terrator.”

Riett’s unaffected demeanor in the face of the clearly understood meaning caught the Count off guard. He knew what she meant, but she casually expressed her gratitude.

“But let me say this. I have been closely observing, and your hands are very delicate, Count.”

“…My hands, you say?”

“Yes, like a woman’s hands.”

Everyone’s attention focused on Count Terrator’s hands. Feeling burdened by the gaze, the Count awkwardly fidgeted with his hands.

“That’s why, since earlier, you’ve been clumsy with the salmon.”

Or perhaps lacking in strength. As Riett muttered, a burst of laughter could be heard from beside her.

“I’ve been concerned since earlier. If it’s too difficult for you, I can cut it instead. I’m skilled in swordsmanship, so I can handle knives well.”

With a bright smile, Riett responded to the attack, causing Count Terrator’s face to blush.

“W-What…! What do you mean by saying my hands are like a woman’s!”

In response to the Count’s reaction, Evan, who was next to him, spoke up.

“Count.”

The Count glared at Evan with wide eyes. His expression seemed to say, “What’s wrong with you again!”.

“It seems like Riett was joking, feeling envious of the elegant and beautiful hands of Count Terrator.”

Evan’s calm voice subtly pressured the Count.

“You’re not angry because of a joke, are you?”

Count Terrator looked around with a bewildered expression. Everyone, including the Emperor, was looking at him, having stopped eating.

In a situation like this, the one who gets angry first is the loser.

‘How dare you treat me like a woman…!’

Although anger boiled up inside him, he had to endure it. The Count hastily composed his voice and controlled his expression.

“Ahem, of course.”

Riett raised one corner of her mouth and kindly asked once again.

“How about I cut the salmon for you?”

Laughter erupted from all around. The Count’s face turned red as if it were about to burst, but he could only bite his lip.

“…It’s fine.”

His squeezed-out voice was filled with embarrassment and a sense of defeat.

‘How many people like you have there been until now?’

Riett looked at Marquis Callian with a relaxed gaze.

Having witnessed his right arm being humiliated by a young girl, the Marquis’ reaction must have been quite different.

As if anticipating it, Marquis Callian’s knife skillfully sliced through the food.

At that moment, the Emperor spoke to Riett.

“You are Riett Marren, the daughter of Duke Marren, right?”

Riett tensed for a moment, but she read a friendly emotion in the Emperor’s expression, which had become even softer than before.

Ahem, after clearing her throat, she opened her mouth.

“Yes, I am Riett Marren.”

“Fascinating.”

Fascinating? What does he mean…?

Seeing Riett’s puzzled expression, the Emperor smiled and extended his hand.

“Ah, it’s the first time a woman has risen as a noble candidate for the council.”

“That’s what I heard.”

Riett was worried that the Emperor, like Count Terrator, would be displeased by the fact that she is a woman, but fortunately, it wasn’t the case. At least the Emperor didn’t seem to be such a conservative person.

“I heard you’re graduating at the top of your class from the Noble Academy.”

“I was fortunate.”

When the word ‘top of the class’ came out of the Emperor’s mouth, it felt like Riett’s shoulders were reaching the sky, but she reminded herself to remain humble. 

This was a dinner disguised as an interview. After the meal, there would be a vote, and she needed to maintain a good impression of that.

The Emperor nodded with a smile. His next gaze was directed toward the seat next to her.

“You are Evan Kreutz, Duke Kreutz’s son.”

“I’m Evan Kreutz, Your Majesty.”

Evan introduced himself with a slight bow.

“So, Duke Kreutz is your father. You have had an excellent mentor.”

“Your praise is too kind, Your Majesty.”

Duke Kreutz, who was sitting quite far away, bowed his head in acknowledgment.

Even amid this heartwarming atmosphere, Riett felt nervous. She was worried that the Emperor might mention Evan’s birth.

However, contrary to her concerns, the topic quickly shifted.

“I heard that Evan can remember everything he sees once. Is that true?”

The Emperor knew more about Evan and herself than she had expected. Even though they had never spoken or met before.

“It’s a credit to him.”

“Uh-huh, so it’s true. What a talent!”

The Emperor burst into laughter and genuinely liked Evan.

‘Indeed, there is no place to denigrate a genius like Evan.’

Considering the current situation of the Truto Empire, talent was even more desperately needed. 

Recent internal disputes had led to frequent squabbles with neighboring countries. Unfortunately, the response to these conflicts had been inadequate, weakening the national power.

The Emperor was making efforts to find spirit stones and increase the nation’s strength, but strengthening the foundation within the organization that led the country was also an important task. 

And to strengthen the foundation, they needed new talents like Evan. The appearance of a rising star, like a comet, who could tidy up the chaotic political arena.

‘Of course, I will be one of them!’

While Riett reaffirmed her determination, the voice of Marquis Callian, who was pretending to be cheerful, was heard.

“It’s been a long time since young people gathered together. The atmosphere is certainly lively.”

He said it as if it was nothing, but inside, the Marquis couldn’t bear the atmosphere that was flowing favorably toward the two new individuals. Moreover, one of them was the person who had vehemently rejected his proposal, and the other was the one who knocked him out with a punch.

“However, it’s a bit regrettable.”

“What do you mean, Marquis?”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow and asked. The Marquis lowered his gaze disgustingly.

“I’m talking about the recent incident between me and Duke Marren.”

The Marquis drew out his secret weapon.

“If we’re talking about the incident… is it that Duke Marren misunderstood the Marquis’ deal as smuggling?”

“That’s right, and I am preparing to sue him for compensation.”

The atmosphere, which had been light-hearted until now, became tense. However, someone gathered the courage to speak.

“This gathering is for noble council candidates. It would be better to discuss private matters separately.”

It was Duke Kreutz. Some nodded in agreement.

“Well, you’re right. Bringing up that topic now seems out of place.”

Another nobleman seated next to Duke Kreutz agreed, and Count Terrator retorted in disbelief.

“Well, isn’t it natural for discussions about the household to come up in a place where candidates are being evaluated?”

The sparks quickly ignited and engulfed the noble room.

“Now, now, everyone calm down.”

Ironically, it was Marquis Callian, who started the fire, who calmed the situation.

“I didn’t bring up the topic to attack Ms. Riett here.”

Upon seeing the Marquis’ plea that it wasn’t an emotionally driven attack, Riett secretly let out a hollow laugh.

“Quite literally, I plan to sue Duke Marren. It’s regrettable, but I cannot overlook the damages because I have many people to feed on my territory.”

The Marquis was indeed skilled at presenting himself. That much had to be acknowledged.

“So, I intend to request a compensation of half a million pounds from the Duke.”

Everyone’s jaws dropped at the enormous amount.

“…!”

“…!”

Half a million pounds.

It was precisely the value of Duke Marren’s mansion and property in the capital. The amount carried a hidden warning to quietly leave the place.

Marquis Callian stared at Duke Marren with a relaxed expression.

“Are you able to pay that sum?”

“….”

Even in the face of the Marquis’ rude question, Duke Marren couldn’t answer. Marquis Callian turned his head to the other nobles and spoke.

“Lately, there have been many expressions of dissatisfaction from commoners. It’s something unimaginable in the past.”

The subtle voice incited the nobles.

“It means that the position of the nobility has declined… If a noble member like us starts wandering around without a mansion to stay in the capital, won’t the commoners look down on us even more?”

In other words, he meant that as a representative of the nobility, a “noble member,” it was outrageous for a “riff-raff” to speak.

“So, in this situation, it’s necessary to first consider whether Miss Riett can realistically be a noble member.”

With the final blow, the nobles exchanged glances. They were all swayed by the Marquis’ words.

Riett understood once and for all how the Marquis had climbed to this position. He knew what the nobles feared and how to shape public opinion.

Riett turned her head and looked at Duke Marren. His expression was miserable.

‘Father….’

Despite making several promises to get here,s he seemed unable to overcome the misery of being attacked in a public setting.

But she had no intention of letting it end like this.

‘Now, it’s time for a counterattack.’

When the awaited moment arrived, Riett didn’t hesitate and opened her mouth.

“I wanted to discuss this with the Marquis anyway.”

“……You wanted to discuss it with me?”

There was a slight crease between the Marquis’ eyebrows.

“Since you brought up the topic first, I’ll speak comfortably as well.”

The noble members secretly found this situation intriguing. They had realized since Riett parried Count Terrator’s words earlier that she wasn’t an ordinary person.

However, no matter how stubborn and assertive her personality was, she was still not a noble member. She was either a harmless puppy or a similar beast, but that had yet to be seen.

“The other day, Marquis Callian invited me to his villa.”

Riett dropped a bombshell. The nobles murmured in confusion.

“W-What are you talking about?”

Marquis Callian couldn’t hide his surprise.

‘As it should be.’

The Marquis had secretly summoned an inexperienced young woman to his villa, and he knew it was an embarrassing act. On the other hand, accepting the dubious invitation from the Marquis was also a harmful story for Riett.

‘So you didn’t expect that to come out of my mouth first.’

But Riett had a hole to escape from.