Chapter 40

I ascended to the new wing corridor where my room is located.

From a room far away from mine, a shout could be heard.

The piercing shout filled the corridor.

“So, you didn’t steal it, is that what you’re saying!”

“N-no, Lady Sara!”

Familiar voices.

They belonged to Geoffrey’s wet nurse and the nursery maid who had left my pen in my room.

‘Given how angry Geoffrey is, it seems I don’t need to get involved in the maids’ affairs.’

It’s a relief.

Today, due to my assigned nursery maid being absent, another maid had taken care of my bed.

“Miss, you’ve grown so much… It’s truly touching.”

“Right? Isn’t that so, Hilda!”

It was Hilda and Greta, who had taken care of me when I stayed at the main castle.

I finished getting ready for bed, enjoying the meticulous and affectionate care I hadn’t received in a long time.

* * *

The discussion about the land of Valderic’s jurisdiction continued until late at night.

Valderic pleaded, begged, and pleaded, but it was all in vain.

In the end, he fainted, and the meeting was interrupted.

After Valderic was carried out on the butler’s back, only Daemond, Debusi, and the Duke remained in the meeting room.

Daemond stared silently out the window for a long time.

Debusi asked, “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking about how powerless I am.”

The Duke, who had been rubbing his temples, glanced at Daemond.

His son, who was as fierce as an untamed bird, never bent because he did not value his life.

He never desired anything, so despite his great abilities, he stopped here.

It was surprising to hear such words of powerlessness from his son.

Debusi spoke in a troubled tone, “How can someone known as the strongest military force in the empire say such things?”

“Would Valderic have done such a thing if Erilott was not my daughter but Grimmie’s sister’s daughter?”

“...”

“Would Valderic’s child have apologized to Erilott if it wasn’t in front of the Duke?”

“...”

“—That’s what I’m thinking.”

Daemond, who had been staring intently out the window, glanced at the Duke.

‘This time, we were lucky.’

The Duke was wary of Valderic’s growing power.

During this time, an opportunity arose to divide Valderic’s most powerful asset, his revived jurisdiction.

That’s why the Duke supported Daemond’s jurisdiction.

‘If we hadn’t been lucky, Erilott would have only received a few insincere apologies.’

He didn’t have the power to make arrogant people like the Duke kneel before Erilott.

He, who had hated the Duke, was even worse than his father.

Power alone is not enough to protect what is precious to me.

I need a greater power to protect my children’s smiles.

Daemond clenched his fists and stood up.

Debusi asked, “Are you leaving? What about the discussion?”

“Erilott’s designated area. No other compromise.”

Daemond strode out of the meeting room.

The door closed, and the sound of footsteps faded away.

The Duke, who had been watching Daemond leave, burst into laughter.

Even Debusi, who had seen the Duke many times, had never seen him laugh so heartily.

Debusi frowned.

“What’s so amusing? I’m trying to figure out how to divide Valderic’s jurisdiction, and my head is splitting.”

“Isn’t it amusing?”

“Pardon?”

“Erilott.”

“Why is Miss Erilott’s name coming up here?”

“I’ve been pushing for years, and he never did anything. But Erilott changed her father completely in just three months.”

“...”

Debusi’s eyes narrowed.

Had the Duke ever looked so pleased?

There was definitely something special about the Duke’s youngest granddaughter.

* * *

The next day.

I got up early in the morning to see my father off.

Today is the day my father returns to his jurisdiction.

My father knelt in front of me and met my gaze.

“Erilott.”

“Yes.”

“Do you like grapes?”

Is he going to buy me some grapes?

“Erilott loves grapes.”

“Yes. This summer, you’ll be able to eat plenty.”

After saying that, my father stood up and said, “Take care.”

We bowed to my father and watched the carriage leave before entering the chapel.

And exactly three months later.

When the grapes were at their best, my father really brought something.

...He brought the king of a country known for its grapes, tied up.

And as a bonus, the territory of that country.

* * *

Seven months later.

I looked at the enormous amount of apples that had arrived in front of me with a cloudy expression.

‘Again, again!’

“Do you like apples?”

When asked, I said yes, and he conquered a region known for its apples.

It hadn’t even been four months since I received a mountain of grapes.

My assigned nursery maid had been fired, and Hilda and Greta, who had been promoted, blinked at the countless boxes of apples.

“Are these apples this time?”

“Last time, he asked in a letter if I liked melons...”

“I’m tired of melons now!”

What’s he going to conquer this time?

‘Is he just obsessed with land grabbing?’

Even kids can’t just snatch land like this.

‘Why did conquering become his hobby all of a sudden?’

Of course, thanks to this land grabbing, my father’s status has skyrocketed.

War God.

First Knight of the Calsoi Empire.

He’s completely different from when he only did what his grandfather ordered.

His name was even added to the list of achievements at the palace.

Thanks to that...

“Geoffrey, Erilott is here.”

“Eek!”

—Geoffrey couldn’t even meet my eyes. When he realized I was there, he ran away.

Well, it’s partly because his uncle Valderic’s power has diminished after losing half of his jurisdiction.

Balk, who was leaning on the railing, chuckled. Joshua also let out a soft laugh.

‘These kids have really grown up.’

Compared to seven months ago, they’ve grown by at least two finger widths.

Of course, they’ll grow a lot more when they become adults.

The twins, who had been teasing Geoffrey, looked at me simultaneously.

“Baby, do you have a food pouch on your cheeks? They’re puffed up.”

“No.”

I pressed my cheeks with both hands.

“Then why are your cheeks puffed up? Are you angry?”

“When is Abammi coming?”

“He said he would come after picking melons and blueberries.”

“I’m tired of fruits.”

“Then nuts? The largest almond-producing area is close!”

“...”

When I looked at Balk with a cloudy expression, Joshua smiled.

“He’ll be here soon.”

“Really?”

“Yes. By the way, isn’t the fairy tea party in a few days?”

“Yes.”

Fairy tea party.

It’s an event for children that happens every two years.

In simple terms, it’s a tea party for girls under 12 years old.

There’s a legend that if you hold a tea party on a full moon night in November of an odd year, fairies will come.

The fairies give gifts to good children and leave.

Of course, it’s just a legend; usually, parents give the gifts.

‘Like Christmas.’

Santa Claus gives gifts to good children—something like that.

“Are you tired of the rabbit doll?”

Balk asked with shining eyes. Hilda and Greta, who were behind me, had teary eyes.

The dirty rabbit doll on my bed was a gift from Hilda and Greta.

“I love the rabbit doll.”

“What? Then you can’t get a bear doll—”

Balk grumbled, and Joshua quickly covered his mouth.

‘Ah. He’s going to give me a bear doll, I see.’

Since my father isn’t here, the twins are going to give me a gift instead.

I looked at the bickering twins with a cloudy expression and decided to pretend I didn’t know.

At that moment.

Ding—Ding—

The bell rang.

It was the sound signaling 30 minutes before class started.

“Miss! The bell!”

“Panni, panni!”

I quickly grabbed my books and ran out of the room.

Today is the day when girls gather to learn social etiquette.

Noble ladies from the capital come to teach, so being late is absolutely not allowed.

“Do well, baby!”

“See you later, Erilott.”

The twins, who have to learn social etiquette for boys, walked in the opposite direction.

I waved my hand at them and quickly ran down the corridor.

‘The etiquette room is too far away.’

It’s on the opposite side of my room, so it takes a while to get there.

I barely made it and opened the door to the etiquette room.

“Erilott, over here.”

Dione raised her hand slightly.

She had changed so much in a few months.

She always had messy hair, but now she wore it neatly with hairpins, revealing her previously hidden eyes.

I really like Dione’s blue eyes. They’re like a refreshing sea.

‘She couldn’t do this before because Geoffrey used to tease her for being ugly.’

Geoffrey’s child...

I sat next to Dione.

Next to her was Lianthe.

Dione laughed and said, “It’s only been a month since Lianthe moved to the intermediate class.”

Lianthe, who was so enthusiastic about escaping the beginner class, achieved her goal a month ago.

“Goodbye, bottom class! Oh—hahaha!”

Dione said, “I thought she would never come back after moving up. Right?”

“...”

Lianthe twisted her skirt and bit her lip.

“The intermediate class kids are mean.”

“Why?”

“They ignore you because you’re from the bottom class!”

Dione nodded innocently, “Oh. So you moved to the intermediate class because you hated the bottom class, but now you’re at the bottom in the intermediate class.”

“...”

I remained silent.

Three girls from the intermediate class were sitting on the opposite side.

One of them, hearing Lianthe’s words, spoke up.

“‘Shit.’ That’s vulgar. Lianthe, can’t you be more careful?”

“What?”

“What if everyone in Astra thinks you’re at this level?”

She fanned herself.

It was quite cold since winter was approaching.

She even held her pinky finger up when drinking the tea she had brought for the break.

The angle was so exaggerated that her pinky finger was trembling.

I realized, ‘She has middle school syndrome.’

Lianthe, who was about to stand up in anger, was quickly held back by me.

“Why?”

“It hurts.”

“Juliana, what hurts? Nothing hurts.”

“No.”

Later, when I think back on today, I’ll be very sad and cry every night.

I know this well from my past life, when I was a lonely wolf in Siberia.

I looked at her with a pitiful expression.

At least there’s no SNS here, which is a relief.

The intermediate class girls chattered.

“Recently, it’s trendy to write on the walls of the commercial district. I heard Juliana did it too?”

“Yes. I wrote a few lines of poetry.”

Seeing Juliana, who couldn’t even accept the one unique aspect of this world, I silently mourned.

Soon, the door to the etiquette room opened.

The identity of the noble ladies coming today was kept secret.

Only the rumor that they were famous noble ladies from the capital had spread.

This is because the etiquette lessons are part of the evaluation.

‘To prevent bribery, I guess.’

Two noble ladies entered the etiquette room.

The lady in the luxurious red dress smiled.

“I’m Margherita Gonallon. I’m pleased to meet the young ladies of Astra.”

The lady in the yellow dress bowed slightly.

“I’m Maria Mir.”

The young ladies of Astra curtsied.

“Welcome to Astra.”

“Welcome.”

“Welcome.”

The oldest girl led the others in the greeting.

“Oh, the young ladies’ posture is excellent. I’m not sure what more I can teach.”

While the other girls were delighted, I was frozen.

‘What’s going on?’

Why is Lady Gonallon here?

Lady Gonallon is the hidden right-hand woman of Empress Ocellia.

Her role is to gather all the information from the social scene and report it to Empress Ocellia.

And Empress Ocellia is...

‘The sister of the Duke of Bushez, who cursed Joshua and was found out, committing suicide!’

Moreover, she is the mother of the emperor’s eldest son.

“We will stay in Astra for ten days to observe the young ladies’ etiquette. I hope we have a pleasant time.”

‘Lady Gonallon didn’t come here for no reason.’

She’s a busy person due to the social scene crackdown ordered by Empress Ocellia.

But she’s staying here for ten days?

It doesn’t make sense.

‘She must have some ulterior motive.’

I watched Lady Gonallon with a sharp gaze.

* * *

The first etiquette lesson ended quickly.

It was just introductions and greetings.

“See you tomorrow.”

After Lady Gonallon and Lady Mir left, the girls dispersed.

Dione approached me.

“I’m going to see the tea leaves. Do you want to come, Erilott?”

“I’m going to my room.”

Dione looked very disappointed, but Lianthe urged her.

“Erilott is still young and doesn’t know much about tea leaves. Let’s go, Dione!”

“Okay.”

As soon as the two left, I headed to my room.

After confirming that no one was in my room, I sat on the bed.

Then I activated the blessing.

The chapters of <Bing.Hei.Son> up to chapter 10 were active.

The protagonist doesn’t even appear until chapter 10. If this is the case, why not just call it the story of the Calsoi Empire?