After wandering the ballroom for several dozen minutes with the lost child...
“This is strange.”
“What’s wrong, Kania?”
“I can’t see them.”
After several mishaps where people mistakenly thought the lost child was my secret child, Kania begrudgingly used her black magic once again. But this ti, she frowned.
“If they were nearby, I would definitely be able to see them. But for so reason, nothing shows up.”
“Maybe try expanding the range?”
“I’ve already expanded it to the maximum,” she said, shaking her head slightly, her expression growing more serious.
“Wherever they are, if they were within the Empire, I should at least be able to catch a faint silhouette... but there’s nothing at all.”
“If that’s the case...”
“It seems like sothing may have happened to the people this child was with.”
She concluded.
If what Kania said was true, then it was quite concerning. Could the people who were in this very ballroom just monts ago have suddenly vanished? Sothing was definitely off. Perhaps we should strengthen the security.
“Or maybe it’s just because my mana has been completely tainted with darkness.”
“What do you an?” I asked.
“Since all my mana turned into black, regular spells don’t work as well anymore. It could be a side effect.”
“Hmm...”
“Or maybe the connection between this child and their companions is weak. There are many reasons it could be, especially since it’s not a higher-level spell.”
From Kania’s explanation, it seed like there could be a variety of reasons. Hopefully, none of this will cause any problems for the coronation ceremony tomorrow.
“By the way, the kid seems to have cald down quite a bit now. Maybe it’s ti we ask about his companions’ nas?”
“Huh?”
“If we get their nas, we can check the guest list and identify them.”
Now that I thought about it, I had just been keeping the kid close without pushing too much to avoid overwhelming him.
But now, it seed like he was no longer as terrified.
“.........”
Although the kid was still trembling, he had stopped crying. It might be the right ti to ask so questions.
“Hey, little one.”
“I wanted to ask you sothing...”
“Thank you for helping .”
The boy suddenly said, bowing his head.
“Huh?”
I blinked, confused as he gave his thanks.
“B-But... I think I can look for her by myself now.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Y-Yes, I’m sure. Please let try.”
“Well, it’s not really a problem... But are you really okay? This place is quite big.”
I scratched my head at the boy’s sudden change in attitude.
Then he suddenly clenched his fist in determination.
“I... I want to beco brave and strong like you, Hero!”
“Like ?”
“I... I’ve been weak and sickly since I was born... and scared all the ti... My sister always had to take care of ...”
The boy, now trying to sound as confident as he could, stood on his tiptoes and looked up at .
“But... I can’t live like that forever... Like you said, I’ve been holding onto a toy and crying like a baby...”
“Hmm.”
“It’s so embarrassing, even to ! I’ll never do sothing so childish again!”
“Is that so?”
“Fufufu... Fufu–ouch”
Kania, who was stifling her laughter behind , earned another sharp pinch from as I turned back to the boy with a slight smile.
“If a man decides to solve his own problems, then I guess there’s nothing I can do but support him.”
“Th-thank you...!”
“But instead of running around looking, it’d be quicker to tell that maid over there her nas. Just wait in the lounge, and I’m sure she’ll co find you soon.”
“Thank you for the advice!”
With another bow, the boy hurried off toward the maid I had pointed out.
“Just in case, we’ll check on him later at the lounge, but for now we should...”
“Fufufufu.”
“Kania, seriously, enough.”
“Ah, sorry...”
Watching the boy’s retreating figure, which felt strangely familiar, I began to move again, giving Kania another sharp pinch for her continued smirking.
“Anyway, it’s ti to head in.”
“Yes, it seems things are about to truly begin.”
The mont we had been anxiously awaiting, both anticipated and dreaded, was just around the corner.
.
.
.
.
.
The night before the Empress’ coronation marked a grand social gathering—an event where key nobles and their heirs, who would shape the Empire’s future, gathered to mingle and form connections. While the official purpose was to foster such exchanges, there were hidden, less peaceful agendas lurking beneath the surface.
The root cause of this unrest lay in the presence of certain high-ranking nobles. Though many had been reford after the Great Purge, and several families had never indulged in ostentatious displays, the old traditions of the Empire ran deep. Despite the efforts of Clana and myself to swiftly dismantle many corrupt practices, the rigid mindset of the upper echelons, especially among those who had received thorough aristocratic education, couldn’t be easily eradicated overnight.
As a result, this gathering still bore the influence of those ancient traditions. It was a ti when the worthy and the expendable would be separated—a delicate and sowhat unseemly process, elegantly disguised as a noble occasion.
However, there was so consolation in knowing that, unlike in the past when nearly all nobles participated in such events, the number of attendees had significantly dwindled.
“Hmm, hello there,”
“Oh, pleased to et you. I’m from the Marquis of Holind...”
It seed that with fewer participants than before, this “Great Purge” process had shifted from the realm of adults to that of their children—particularly the young ladies.
“Most of these are familiar faces.”
“Of course, they’re from prestigious families.”
“But there are quite a few unfamiliar ones as well.”
“Indeed, perhaps it would be wise for so introductions to be made.”
Both Serena and Roswyn noted the subtle snickers and condescending glances being thrown around.
New blood and lower-ranking noble families found themselves subject to quiet mockery and thinly veiled ridicule.
“Um... well...”
One of the newcors stamred.
“Sorry, could you speak up? I can’t hear you.”
“Could you speak a little louder?”
“O-oh...”
It was a petty and embarrassing display, but an effective one nonetheless.
“I... I’m the second daughter of the Isis Trading Company...”
“A trading company? How fascinating.”
“Are rchants being invited to social gatherings now? My, how tis have changed.”
This subtle bullying was more than just an idle pasti; it was a strategy to establish power dynamics, form alliances, and solidify connections among the upper echelons.
And now, with the dissolution of the two dominant noble factions—those led by Frey and Roswyn—the power vacuum created a perfect breeding ground for such behavior.
“I-I’m sorry...”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
“I-I think I’ll be leaving now...”
“Oh, what a sha. We had so much we wanted to ask you.”
It was clear how the situation was unfolding.
Lesser-known families, rchant families, and other lower-status groups began to shift nervously, eventually gathering at a distant table.
“Birds of a feather flock together.”
“Seems to suit the situation perfectly,”
As those deed unworthy moved to a far corner, the high-ranking nobles exchanged satisfied glances and prepared to engage in more aningful conversations.
“Now that the rabbles have left... shall we finally discuss more important matters?”
“Speaking of, our family had a little conflict with that trading company earlier...”
“Oh, I’ve brought so fresh chamomile tea...”
Just as a new power bloc seed poised to rise in place of the previously dominant factions, the door to the ballroom creaked open.
- Creak...
The gathered noblewon paused, their eyes shifting toward the door.
“W-Why are they here?”
“A-Ah...”
.
.
.
.
.
Not long after...
“...Ah.”
As Frey entered the ballroom with Kania by his side, he froze, staring ahead with a dazed expression.
“Hmm, this is...”
What lay before him was a scene that made cold sweat run down his back just from looking at it.
“”...””
At the right table of the ballroom, for so reason, Serena and Roswyn were sitting with icy expressions, emitting an intense chill.
“””....”””
Nearby were Aishi and Eurelia, both with stern expressions, the Horizon sisters and Miho tilting their heads in confusion, Arianne looking sowhat lost, and Alice, clearly restless.
“”...???””
anwhile, among them, the young ladies from lower-ranking noble families either wore confused expressions or were trembling with awe and emotion.
“Ah, um...”
To top it off, for reasons unknown, Vener stood stiffly at attention beside the table, looking completely tense.
- Shudder, shudder...
At the left table, several young ladies from high-ranking noble families sat huddled together, their heads bowed, trembling in fear.
“...This is... a total disaster.”
After carefully observing the situation, Kania quietly comnted with her usual calm tone before asking in a low voice.
“So, it’s ti to choose. Which table will you be going to?”
Frey, dripping with cold sweat, quickly turned toward the left and answered.
“I’ve always been a fan of green tea, you know? And that green tea over at the left table looks pretty tasty.”
“It’s chamomile tea.”
“Yep, yep. Chamomile tea. My favorite.”
Frey stamred, trying to cover up his slip-up.
“But you actually prefer coffe– ouch.”
Kania started to say, only to be silenced with a quick pinch to her side.
Even as the painful twist went through, the chill from the right table continued to intensify.
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