“I’ve been waiting for you!”
“Seeing how dignified you looked standing before His Majesty, I wished soone could immortalize that mont in a portrait.”
“Haha, everyone… you’ve worked so hard to co all this way.”
Penelope expressed her gratitude to the Halo vassals who had co all the way to the capital.
The retainers, who had been instruntal in helping Penelope revive the near-failed governance of Halo, looked deeply moved. So even had tears welling up in their eyes—most notably the administrative officer.
‘To think we are serving such an extraordinary person as our lord.’
The administrative officer had witnessed firsthand the struggles Penelope endured to rebuild Halo. He himself had spent sleepless nights dedicated to the territory’s restoration.
From developing the green herb soaps to leading the soap workshop’s success, the administrative officer had been a cornerstone of their achievents. The triumph they celebrated today was his greatest pride.
“Sniff… hmph…”
The administrative officer finally couldn’t hold back his tears.
Ahwin, noticing this, leaned toward Penelope and whispered, “The administrative officer is crying.”
“Unless you’re planning to console him yourself, just pretend you didn’t see.”
Penelope, wearing a smile, whispered back in rapid succession. Her breath brushed against Ahwin’s cheek, leaving him montarily frozen in place. Slowly, his earlobes turned red.
‘To think the Tower Master and Penelope could look so intimate… were the rumors in the papers true?’
The nobles watching from a distance fidgeted, eager to approach Penelope. Yet none dared take a step forward.
They were desperate to congratulate Penelope, the newly minted baroness, but the fact that the Tower Master stood by her side made them hesitate.
‘Who knows what might happen if we get on the Tower Master’s bad side?’
Ahwin had long been the subject of strange rumors. The most infamous one claid he could transform any noble who displeased him into a donkey.
Just a few weeks ago, there had been talk that Ortega, the eldest son of Baron Hillos, had been turned into a donkey and left eating feed in the stables. Ortega had fled to his estate not long after, leaving the truth of the rumor unverifiable.
The nobles continued watching the pair from afar, waiting for soone else to make the first move.
Just then, a loud announcent rang through the hall.
“Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress are arriving!”
At the herald’s booming voice, the nobles imdiately knelt, bowing in respect. Penelope did the sa. The only one who remained standing, indifferent, was Ahwin.
He frowned slightly as Elizabeth, wearing a radiant smile, made her way toward Penelope.
“Penelope, I sincerely congratulate you on receiving the baronial title! Watching the entire ceremony filled with such pride.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. All of this is thanks to you.”
“I wanted to host a grander banquet to celebrate, but I regret that I could only manage sothing this modest.”
The empress seed entirely unaware of the true aning of the word "modest."
‘Born with a golden spoon, her perception of reality is just different from others.’
“This is already more than splendid. I’m simply grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness.”
At Penelope’s humble reply, Elizabeth bit her lip and smiled warmly, clearly pleased. Her gaze brimd with undisguised affection for Penelope.
This was the first title confernt ceremony held since Elizabeth had beco empress, and she had personally overseen every detail from start to finish. To her, it was a perfectly satisfying event.
Reflecting on Penelope’s accomplishnts and the future she would build, Elizabeth felt that, for the first ti in a long while, she could embrace the changes she had fought for without a shred of regret.
“Soon, an attendant from the palace will visit to guide you to your townhouse.”
“Thank you so much.”
“It’s nothing. I wish we could talk more, but urgent matters require my attention back at the palace. I must take my leave for now, unfortunately.”
“Oh, I understand. Please attend to your duties.”
After Penelope’s response, Elizabeth glanced around briefly before focusing on Ahwin. Her expression turned serious as she addressed him directly.
“As a friend, let offer you so advice. If I were you, I’d take Penelope sowhere out of sight.”
“And why should I follow your advice?” Ahwin raised an eyebrow, his tone as aloof as ever.
“…I figured you wouldn’t listen, but I said my piece anyway.”
It was advice that made no sense.
Elizabeth, apparently satisfied that she had said all she wanted, turned back to Penelope for a final farewell.
“Enjoy the banquet.”
Once Elizabeth left, Penelope finally felt like she could breathe again.
Having received the baronial title from the emperor, attended the imperial banquet, and even received congratulations from the empress, it felt as if she had completed her howork for the day.
At that mont, the administrative officer approached her. His face was flushed with awe, likely from seeing the emperor and empress, even if only from a distance.
“We’ll be heading back to the territory now, Baroness.”
“Already? The banquet has only just started. Why not stay and enjoy it a bit longer?”
“I left all the territory’s work to the treasurer and steward, so I can’t afford to linger. I’ll make sure to report today’s events… I an, relay them properly once we return.”
The administrative officer finished with a cough to cover his slip.
Though Penelope felt a pang of regret, she bid her retainers farewell. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the treasurer and steward, who were shouldering the load back in Halo.
And with that, the Halo retainers exited the banquet hall in a lively group.
‘I’m thirsty. And I think I might be hungry too.’
As the tension drained from her, Penelope realized how famished she was. She hadn’t had a proper al since early that morning.
‘Should I suggest we get sothing to eat?’
Just as Penelope turned to look at Ahwin, he stiffened and promptly ducked behind her.
“Ahwin?”
“Don’t move. Court mage incoming.”
If he thought hiding behind her would make him less noticeable, it was a questionable strategy.
Lowering her voice, Penelope scolded him, “Didn’t you say being invited by His Majesty ant there’d be no issues?”
“That was just sothing I said.”
“….”
Penelope swallowed hard. A gray-haired old man wearing the high mage’s robes was striding briskly toward her.
‘Is this what Elizabeth was warning about?’
The old man’s full head of white hair and broad build were impressive even from a distance. Despite his stocky appearance, he moved with an alarming swiftness, his robes billowing dramatically behind him. This, it seed, was the imperial court mage.
‘Oh no, he’s here.’
Stopping directly in front of her, the court mage folded his arms and glared—not at Penelope, but at the person hiding behind her.
‘Dark circles under the eyes. Yep, he’s a mage.’
The man’s exhausted face suggested he hadn’t eaten or slept properly in at least a week. Maybe all mages shared the sa hollow-eyed look.
‘What kind of ss has Ahwin gotten himself into this ti?’
Penelope wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
The mage ground his teeth audibly before growling, “Co with imdiately.”
“….”
Without waiting for a response, he spun on his heel and strode off.
Penelope, still frozen in place, turned to Ahwin. “He said to follow him.”
“…Let’s run.”
Ahwin’s suggestion made Penelope internally sigh.
“If we run now, it’ll be worse later. Let’s just go.”
Ahwin’s expression darkened. For the first ti in a while, Penelope felt the urge to pinch his sharp tongue.
“Hurry up. If we delay any longer, he’ll disappear.”
“It’s going to be a hassle no matter what.”
“Even so, go!”
Dragging the reluctant Ahwin along, Penelope hurried after the court mage.
Fortunately, they spotted him descending a staircase not far ahead. Penelope quickened her pace, and Ahwin, with obvious reluctance, followed suit.
The court mage waited for them at the entrance to the imperial palace’s garden. Strangely, no nobles were in sight, and imperial knights stood watch as if guarding the area.
Frowning, Ahwin clicked his tongue. “The barrier’s broken. What a ss.”
“And whose fault do you think that is?”
The mage’s voice was like a grizzly bear’s growl.
Ahwin replied casually, “The court mage who failed to maintain it?”
Sparks seed to fly from the mage’s eyes. Penelope flinched.
As the court mage stord toward him, glaring daggers, Ahwin quickly shrank back behind Penelope. Clearly, he knew he had said sothing to provoke the man.
“Soone recklessly expanded the mana field into the palace, completely wrecking the barrier! Who in the empire do you think is audacious and shaless enough to pull sothing like that?”
“….”
The mage’s booming voice made Penelope feel as if her hair was being blown back by the sheer force of it.
‘So that’s why Elizabeth told to run.’
Then, from behind her, a voice chid in.
“Tell him, Penelope. I wasn’t the one who struck first.”
“...What?”
Startled, Penelope turned to look back, but Ahwin kept his head down, refusing to et her eyes.
‘Is he seriously hiding behind right now?!’
Reviews
All reviews (0)