CH 105

“Woah… It is truly spectacular.”

Upon receiving Frey’s invitation, those who visited Grand Duke Prause’s mansion could not hide their surprise.

Prause’s constellation is engraved with jewels imbued with luminous magic in the glass greenhouse.

The scent and soft light of the flowers planted in the garden.

The garden, which was decorated with crystals with clean and clear light on all sides, was beautiful as if it came out of a fairy tale.

“It is several times more splendid than I imagined after hearing rumors.”

“I heard that the Holt Top bought the crystal mine recently, I wondered where they would use it, So was it for today?”

“Look at that! Even the tableware on the table emits a soft light.”

The luminous magic scroll sold by Magic Tower was bulky and expensive, so it couldn’t be used in this way.

The only one who could do this was Frey, who has recently attracted everyone’s attention for her jewelry processing business.

“This tea party is possible because the hostess is the one who can imbue jewels with magic or divine power.”

“Well, even the most noble wouldn’t use a precious luminous scroll like this.”

“I was worried about whether or not to attend the tea party, but I’m glad I visited.”

It’s so beautiful that even those who have seen it can’t take their eyes off it.

The ladies and young ladies continued to look around.

“Thank you for accepting the invitation.”

Frey worked hard to hold back the tension as she greeted the guests.

Her clothes which were reinterpreted by mixing the traditional clothes of the north with the latest fashion designs of the capital were enough to catch everyone’s attention.

“Since this is a late tea party, I have prepared it so that you can enjoy it lightly, so please have a good time.”

After Frey finished talking, the waiting maids took turns delivering food and explaining.

The ladies and young ladies who took their seats took a sip of the first drink that came out.

“This…”

One sip soon became two sips, in one drink.

“Is this ‘Kaunak Tea’?”

“It’s cool and sweet.”

Kaunak Tea is served with ice in sparkling crystal glass.

The ladies, who were wearing uncomfortable dresses, felt refreshed just by drinking a traditional northern drink.

Even the side food recommended by the maids was also new and refreshing.

“The Grand Duchess Prause’s chef is good.”

“The way they serve the food is great, too…”

“Thank you for the compliment. I wanted to show the charm of the north to everyone, so I paid special attention.”

Frey looked at the audience while subtly mentioning the charm of the Prause.

At first, the people who looked a bit tired from the tea party held by the Crown Princess earlier were coming back to life.

‘Of course, since the owner of the most popular cafe in the capital improved Kaunak tea.’

Frey felt a sense of pride.

It wasn’t for nothing that there was a saying in the North, ‘If there’s someone you want to get close to, drink Kaunak Tea with them.’

It didn’t take long for the sluggish atmosphere to become lively and a comfortable conversation to take place.

By the time the sweet and refreshing lemon sorbet was served as dessert, Frey naturally started to speak.

“I had a problem that I wanted to discuss with people with a lot of experience.”

“What kind of discussion…?”

The noble ladies spoke in a voice full of sympathy.

“In fact, from the time I first planned the sacred tower, I wanted to use some of the proceeds for charity.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.”

“I’ve been thinking about the framework of charity work while talking with the high priest, and I’d be happy if I could hear everyone’s advice.”

Frey’s tone was so calm that the high priest would be proud to hear it.

‘Actually, I’m getting coercive cooperation with the High Priestess as a condition of building the Holy Tower.’

Now, the Empire was not on the emperor’s side.

So Frey wanted to be on the Emperor’s side while doing good with the funds she had accumulated while running the Sacred Tower.

“First of all, I asked the high priest to sort out the institutions that need help.”

“You mean orphanages and small schools?”

“Yes. I want to let the children in those places come in contact with things like painting, music, and literature.”

Frey knew. Art, especially art encountered in childhood, leaves a strong impression on a person.

[‘I also want to travel to the composer’s hometown later.’]

‘In my previous life, When I was a child, the charity orchestra performance that I went to with the help of my teacher gave me such hope.’

“As well as providing financial support, I would like to set aside a portion of the budget to teach art.”

“Art to children in orphanages… ?”

“I wonder if we could give them a liberal arts education centered around the capital’s traditional arts, since the arts in the empire feel like a privilege of the few.”

Capital traditional art.

The tea party attendees did not know the meaning behind the words.

‘Most of the capital’s traditional arts are about praising the emperor and divine power.’

‘I didn’t intend to just do charity work.’

Frey took a sip of Kaunak tea to hide her smile and continued.

“Of course, technical education necessary for a living will come first, but I think their lives will be enriched by the arts.”

“I’m sure it will, Her Highness, Grand Duchess.”

“There are many people who are good at charity work here, so I would appreciate your advice.”

The ladies told the smiling Frey about their own experiences with charity work.

At the same time, the lady thought to herself.

‘It’s true that she’s different from when she was in the capital.’

Time was such a powerful force that it turned a cowardly herbivore into a sly predator.

With a fund raised by the Grand Duchess Prause, the holder of the divine power, it teaches the art of praising the emperor and the divine power.

‘If they become citizens with technical education, who would they praise?’

‘you started changing the minds of the people with the Obelir Post, and now you’re slowly building support.’

What Frey brought to the Tea Party wasn’t just a charity project.

Noticing that everyone quickly began calculating what decisions they would have to make for the future of their family.

The plain and boring tea party of Crown Princess Garnet was slowly being erased from their minds.

* * *

After returning from the Great Council, Daniel moved quietly to avoid interrupting Frey’s tea party.

The butler Baron followed him to the terrace overlooking the greenhouse glass.

Upon reaching the terrace, the small Prause that Frey had worked hard for several days appeared in his field of vision.

Daniel leaned against the railing and drank a cup of Kaunak tea served by Baron, gazing at the scene.

“Your wife has put a lot of effort into promoting northern culture to the social circles of the capital.”

The garden, decorated with aquarin, which emits a bluish yet transparent light, reminds him of the Prause mansion.

‘Seeing the ladies and young ladies looking around and being happy made me feel the pure joy of being a lord.’

How beautiful Frey looks in a white and gold combination dress.

“majesty. Isn’t Her Highness the Grand Duchess today as beautiful as a swan?”

“Yes.”

Daniel couldn’t help but feel that he was alone in his thoughts as he looked at Frey, who looked like a swan.

Filled with loyalty, the baron’s eyes filled with tears, unaware of his master’s mind.

“Your Highness. For the capital’s nobles, today will be a very impressive day. Prause in the North is in central politics like this is…”

Daniel listened to the Baron’s emotions and recalled the argument he had at the meeting.

[“Grand Duke Prause. Do you dare to doubt my legitimacy as the successor now?”]

Tahar said so, but it had no effect on Daniel.

[“His Highness Tahar’s legitimacy, as you just mentioned, means that he was born from the combination of the Duke of Gelon, who has a high prestige with excellent magical abilities, and the royal family with divine power.…”]

Most of the nobles at the conference knew what Daniel had talked about.

A descendant of the Imperial family and a person who does not inherit divine power.

Duke Gelon is presumed to be closely related to undead monsters and the fog of Fall.

Of course, the family of the Duke of Gelon was also highly honored as a family of contributors to the founding.

However, now that the undead monster broke the barrier of the capital once, actual power was more important than honor.

The citizens of the capital. Even the aristocrats don’t have the ability to defend themselves.

Recently, they have begun to question whether Tahar’s ‘legitimacy’ is really valid.

Tahar, who knew this fact better than anyone else, glared at Daniel fiercely.

It was Duke Gelon who poured out his anger on behalf of the crown prince.

[“Grand Duke Prause. If you’re going to raise such a question, you’d better have the strength to do so first.”]

It was an obvious threat.

Daniel, who heard that, received the word as if he had been waiting.

[“Just a few days after the battles of the flag, we’ll know next week at the latest if Prause has the right to question his Highness’s legitimacy.”]

Seeing himself saying that with a smile, Luke and the nobles looked so pale.

‘Pretending to be virtuous while trying to do dirty things to my wife and my family.’

Daniel looked down at Frey in the garden and said to Baron.

“You are right, Baron. The nobles of the capital must have been quite impressed today.”

‘The upcoming Flag battles will also be quite impressive.’

Daniel smiled and carefully emptied the glass that had kaunak tea on it.