Chapter 53

Loreina is Joffrey's sister and the eldest daughter of Uncle Valderic.

The Joffrey family has regarded me as an enemy ever since we took half of the prime territory of the Valderic domain.

'Well, who told them to frame me as a thief?'

I don't want their love, but I wonder who struck first.

'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Don't you know?'

—Though I did repay them a bit harshly.

It's a ridiculous mix that they burn with hatred towards me when their brother framed me and their father bet the territory in front of their grandfather.

Anyway, Loreina's blessing is <Beast Transformation>.

It's like an advanced version of Joffrey's skill.

'He only transforms his lower jaw.'

When Loreina uses her blessing, she can turn into a beast. It was a very threatening blessing.

Loreina smiled and showed me mercy.

"Can you handle it? You can forfeit if you want."

I replied bravely.

"I'm fine, sister!"

Beep!

The whistle blew.

As the signal for the match to start, Loreina immediately transformed.

Bright yellow irises with small pupils.

Four legs specialized for speed.

Fur that sprouted menacingly, covering her body, was yellowish and had a mottled pattern.

'Leopard!'

The beast Loreina transformed into was a leopard.

"Roar!"

The leopard roared and charged at me.

Bazak and Joshua, who were watching the match, looked anxious.

When Loreina swung her front paw with sharp claws, they screamed.

"Forfeit! Forfeit!"

"Erylot!"

'Cheer me on!'

Telling me to forfeit when I'm already tired.

I dodged around energetically.

I tried to attack by swinging my whip, but Loreina, with her fast speed, dodged skillfully.

Indeed, a human body couldn't keep up with the speed of a leopard.

"Huff, huff…"

I dodged hard, but there was no more place to run.

I was cornered at the end of the training ground, facing the leopard.

The leopard chuckled.

The leopard transformed from her legs back to Loreina's human form.

Silently.

Loreina walked lightly like a leopard in her human form.

Loreina's face was full of smiles.

It must be particularly satisfying for her since the previous match was between Bazak and Joffrey.

Loreina asked with a generous look.

"Will you forfeit?"

"…"

"You can't even stand up to an offensive blessing no matter how hard you try. Your ancient language reading blessing is kind of useless, isn't it? Pitiful."

She says it's pitiful, but her expression doesn't look pitiful at all.

One step, two steps.

Loreina's face, slowly approaching, twisted and transformed into a leopard.

"Roar!"

At that moment.

Beep!

A high-pitched whistle tore through the air.

* * *

Thud. Thud. Thud.

A huge something burst through the forest and ran out.

Whoosh! Crack!

Leaves clashed and branches broke, making a noisy sound.

Crack!

A flock of birds resting on a tree flew up into the sky in a fit.

And.

"Huh?"

"Huh, huh?!"

"It's a monster!!!"

A monster burst out of the forest.

The training ground turned into a chaotic scene in an instant.

"Everyone, take cover!"

The servants and teachers tried to evacuate the people.

However, with so many people gathered for the match, a quick evacuation was difficult.

It was utter chaos.

"Damn!"

Loreina also transformed into a leopard and tried to run away quickly.

However.

A large monster resembling a crow flapped its wings and quickly descended, targeting Loreina.

Squawk!

Thud. Thud. Boom!

It tried to stab with its beak and snatch with its sharp claws.

'What? Why only me…!'

No matter how fast she tried to escape from the monster with the speed of a leopard, the monster only followed Loreina.

'Really, it's only targeting me?'

Even though Erylot was nearby.

'What! He's easier to catch. Why…!'

Erylot was standing with her arms crossed, watching herself being chased by the monster.

She didn't look scared at all.

Instead, she looked incredibly relaxed.

'What is it?'

Is she crazy?

Why isn't she running?

"Lagon."

The monster obediently landed on the ground at Erylot's words.

"…!!"

"Ah, I forgot to mention."

Erylot smiled and continued.

"I have a new blessing."

"What, what?!"

"<Monster Taming>. It's my new blessing."

Lagon licked his lips and looked at Loreina, who collapsed to the ground.

Erylot's mischievous face was annoyingly cute.

* * *

The duke's castle was in an uproar.

"Did you hear about Miss Erylot?"

"She developed a new blessing, right?"

"What good luck Miss has."

"Developing a second blessing after the Great Celestial Gate closed!"

Whispers.

While the servants and vassals were talking, the direct descendants also gathered in the council room.

Hernan, the youngest son of the duke and the seventh son, burst into the council room with a bang.

"Is it true that Erylot developed a new blessing?!"

Grimmier smiled.

"<Monster Taming> is the name of the blessing. It's an unheard-of ability."

His face showed genuine happiness for his nephew's good fortune.

"What's so funny! Our Loreina almost died because of that monster!"

Valderic grumbled in anger.

"Valzak carried Joffrey away, and Erylot tried to kill Loreina. Is there some grudge between the Diamond side and us?!"

He directed his anger at Diamond.

Diamond, unfazed by Valderic's fierce criticism, replied.

"What can I do about my children being excellent?"

The epitome of shamelessness.

Yet, he didn't miss the chance to boast about his children.

Valderic's face turned as red as a boiled octopus.

He looked like he might collapse from anger.

Debussy, standing behind the duke, glanced at Duke Astra.

'He's trying hard.'

Duke Astra pretended to be calm, but his lips were twitching.

For a duke who cherished Erylot deeply, it was a welcome development.

"Hmm. Erylot has been exceptional since she was three."

"That's right."

Duke Astra's summary left Valderic with no room to protest.

Of course, the matter had already been settled by Diamond.

The topic soon changed to other matters.

"Ah, how's the matter of Brother Grimmier's position?"

Duke Astra was now considering sending his children to the capital.

The first to go would naturally be his eldest son, Grimmier Astra.

Grimmier scratched his cheek and replied.

"Well, the palace hasn't contacted us yet."

Knock.

At that moment, Conrad entered the council room.

"What is it?"

Conrad bowed respectfully in response to Duke Astra's question.

"A message from the palace. The emperor has appointed Grimmier Astra as the Foreign Minister."

"Oh!"

Hernan jumped up and clapped his hands.

"Congratulations, brother!"

"Foreign Minister, that's a good position, isn't it?"

Knowing the duke's goal of entering the capital, the second generation all congratulated Grimmier.

"…"

However.

In the warm atmosphere, no one noticed that Duke Astra's expression was as cold as winter frost.

* * *

A celebration for Grimmier's appointment as Foreign Minister was held.

In the banquet hall of the duke's castle.

With many second-generation members and their numerous third-generation children, the atmosphere was lively.

Hernan grabbed a champagne glass from a silver tray and raised it high.

"Let's toast to Brother Grimmier's appointment as Foreign Minister!"

"To your health!"

"To your health!"

Clang!

The raised champagne glasses clinked together with a clear sound.

Golden champagne spilled over the edges, spreading a fragrant aroma in the air.

"Thank you all."

Grimmier smiled warmly, accepting the congratulations and sipping his champagne.

"…"

Erylot quietly watched the scene.

Grimmier, noticing her gaze, smiled kindly.

"Erylot, you're growing so fast. Your reputation has spread even to the capital. You developed a second blessing, right?"

"Yes, I was lucky."

"The first patriarch had three blessings, you know."

Grimmier smiled and praised Erylot.

Valderic frowned deeply.

He was still angry about losing half of his territory, especially the prime land.

It wasn't just that.

'Why…!'

He was also angry that despite all the support, Joffrey couldn't surpass Erylot in rank.

Joffrey, his own son, seemed to be getting dumber as he grew.

While drinking champagne like water, a rumor he had heard earlier came to mind.

Valderic's lips curled up.

"I heard a rumor. They say if you can control monsters, it's a sign of being cursed."

Diamond, Valzak, and Joshua are sensitive to curses.

Diamond lost his twin brother to a curse, and Valzak almost lost Joshua to a curse.

The three men's faces twisted in anger.

Diamond glared at Valderic and said coldly.

"Still swayed by others' words? Even after losing half your territory because of your son's words?"

Valderic's face turned red as he protested.

"Brother! I just wanted to check if it was a curse…!"

Seeing an argument about to break out, Basile, Dione's mother, intervened.

"What's the commotion at such a good event? With Father present, let's stop this."

Valderic subtly glanced at the duke.

'Oh!'

Despite the joy of his eldest son becoming a Foreign Minister, the duke's gaze was colder than usual.

Conrad, standing beside Duke Astra, exchanged a look with Erylot.

'Sure enough, he noticed.'

It was natural for Duke Astra to be in a bad mood.

The position he aimed for was the core of power, the Central Tower.

But the emperor gave his eldest son just the position of Foreign Minister.

'They're trying to check Astra.'

Duke Astra had every reason to be furious.

The emperor's attitude of checking Astra was so blatant.

And his children, who didn't notice, were throwing a celebration.

Seeing his seemingly carefree children, he was frustrated.

Most of the second generation relied on Astra and didn't think about doing anything on their own.

The only thing the second generation thought about was:

Aiming for the Duke Astra's position.

'There's not a single one I'm satisfied with.'

Duke Astra's anger was clear to Erylot.

At that moment, the communication stone in her pocket glowed.

Recognizing the faint light leaking out, Erylot carefully stood up.

"I'll be back in a moment."

Erylot asked for understanding from those around her and left the banquet hall.

* * *

I came to a quiet place and connected the communication.

The person who contacted me was Michelan.

[Miss.]

"What's up?"

[I found out who the emperor recently had a private meeting with.]

'Sure enough, Michelan!'

He's too competent.

I marveled and asked.

"Who is it?"

[Baron Talos.]

"Is Baron Talos doing well these days?"

[He's on the rise.]

"I see."

It was clear.

Baron Talos was about to enter the Central Tower.

[Yes.]

"Dig deeper into Baron Talos's background. There must be something."

[How far should I dig?]

"All of it."

[Yes. And a gift has arrived from the palace.]

"Gift?"

[The Empress Dowager sent a card to the palace tea salon in your name.]

'What?'

I almost screamed.

'The palace tea salon is directly managed by the Empress Dowager.'

It's held in winter, and only the most outstanding ladies of the year are invited.

It means only the elite of society can attend.

In other words, it's a field of connections!

This must be the gift the Empress Dowager promised.

'But I can't show my excitement to Michelan.'

The Empress Dowager and the late empress, whom Michelan loved, were rivals.

The Empress Dowager even tried to prevent the late empress's coffin from being placed in the royal tomb.

"Keep up the good work."

[Yes.]

After ending the communication, I thought to myself.

'Baron Talos…'

Why him?

If it were a family on par with Astra, it would make sense, but Baron Talos isn't that powerful.

Until recently, many people didn't even know his name.

It's strange no matter how I think about it.

Logically, it's hard for the emperor to treat Astra like this.

'Even knowing what Grandfather would do, he treats me like this?'

It's something only someone with great courage would attempt.

Grandfather would obviously pressure the emperor.

'Besides…'

I immediately asked Lady Gonalong about the palace atmosphere after hearing about Uncle Grimmier's appointment.

Lady Gonalong told me the palace was in chaos.

'That means it's not a coordinated action.'

Even in the palace, not everyone agrees with the emperor's will.

Each person supports different factions and benefits from them.

Then.

'If I dig deep enough, I'll find out.'

The reason the emperor had to give the Central Tower position to Baron Talos.

'I need to find out and take that position back.'

Take it back for Uncle Grimmier?

'No. I'll take it back for my father.'

The position of Foreign Minister and the Central Tower are all ours.

I covered my mouth with both hands and giggled.