Chapter 9

* * *

The next day.

I woke up early in the morning and moved busily.

There was a lot to do.

By the afternoon, I had to prepare for the banquet as well.

Lady Rita’s dress arrived in the morning.

The part where the ink had stained was completely clean, without a trace.

‘They must have cut out the ink-stained part and sewn it back together.’

Conrad, who saw me dressed up, said,

“You look very beautiful today.”

“It’s because I’m a princess. (Because I’m a noble lady.)”

I lifted my chin proudly, and he burst into a pleasant laugh.

“Yes, you look like a beautiful noble lady.”

“Thank you for the dress.”

“You’re welcome.”

Conrad told me what I needed to know for the party.

“The party is divided into two parts.”

The first part is a dinner in the banquet hall, and the second part is a party in the hall with light drinks.

“I’m in the first part.”

When I said this, Conrad nodded.

“Yes. Miss Lianxin is also assigned to the first part.”

Then he continued with a worried look.

“You can leave after greeting everyone. You’re still young, after all.”

“Okay.”

I nodded obediently.

‘He seems worried about Lianxin.’

Conrad had witnessed the ink bottle incident yesterday, so it’s understandable that he’s worried.

Finally, the sun set, and the lights in the banquet hall turned on.

The start of the birthday banquet.

When I entered the banquet hall, my eyes widened.

‘Amazing…’

The shiny black marble floor.

Pillars adorned with gold, climbing like ivy.

Behind the head table, water fell like a waterfall, refreshing and cool.

As I looked around the banquet hall, people’s gazes focused on me.

After all, I was the only small noble lady, about the size of a forearm, who could enter the banquet hall.

“Hello, Miss Erylot.”

People who recognized me started to gather one by one.

“I am Stein from the Moriho family.”

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Gildas from the Jober family.”

I spread my skirt and lightly curtsied.

“I am Erylot Astraim.”

People smiled at my clear speech.

Of course, not all the gazes were kind.

“She’s a bastard, right?”

“They say the great gate opened and she manifested a blessing. Is that even possible? It’s about a sudden mutation…”

I could see Conrad’s expression stiffen from a distance.

He seemed worried that I would be hurt, but I wasn’t bothered at all.

I had expected this kind of reaction.

In fact, it was less harsh than I had anticipated, and most importantly—

‘Jackpot! This is a jackpot!’

If I could build a lot of connections here, it would definitely help me in the future.

I confidently greeted people.

They admired me for being able to attend the party on my own, without parents.

“You’re so cute.”

“My daughter was like this too.”

Just then,

“Lord Moriho!”

A cheerful voice rang out.

“Oh, Miss Lianxin.”

“It’s been so long.”

“Yes, it has. About… four months, I think.”

“Thank you for inviting me last time. I told ‘Grandfather’ that the garden was beautiful.”

“To the Duke!”

The man’s eyes sparkled.

Lianxin giggled.

“Yes. I like to tell Grandfather all sorts of things.”

“The Duke spends time with Miss Lianxin…!”

“Well, among the direct descendants, I talk to him the most. Right, Dad?”

Lianxin looked back.

A plump man with brown hair appeared.

‘It’s my uncle.’

Uncle Decons, the third son of Grandfather.

“Yes. Our Lianxin is always affectionate to Father.”

“Dad said that Grandfather is weak for me. Isn’t that right~?”

“Yes. He’s especially fond of you.”

Uncle Decons chuckled.

The attention in the banquet hall instantly focused on Lianxin.

Duke Astraim was known as a cold-blooded old man who had no mercy.

A rumor said he had killed his own child who plotted a rebellion with his own hands.

He was not someone who easily let people get close, and even if you wanted to, there was no way to do so.

If the Duke’s beloved granddaughter were to befriend someone, it would be advantageous.

“The garden of my mansion is also very beautiful, Miss Lianxin.”

“My daughter is the same age as you. Why don’t you visit my castle sometime…?”

Lianxin quickly became the center of attention at the banquet.

She giggled.

“It’s hard to find time because I need to study, but since you all are asking so nicely…”

Just then,

“His Excellency, Duke Astraim, has arrived.”

The banquet hall instantly fell silent.

People parted as if on cue, and soon he entered through the door.

The owner of the golden fragrance.

The king of the most vast and prosperous territory in the west.

The center of the empire’s underworld.

—Duke Astraim.

“I greet His Excellency, the Duke.”

“I greet His Excellency, the Duke.”

Grandfather walked through the crowd to the head table.

People gathered one by one at the large table.

When Grandfather sat down, they followed suit.

The seat next to Grandfather was taken by Uncle Decons and his wife, and Lianxin. I sat next to Lianxin.

A glass of champagne was served to each seat. In front of Lianxin and me, there was orange juice.

Uncle Decons stood up and shouted.

“To the endless glory of Astraim!”

“To the glory—!”

“To the glory—!”

A loud cheer echoed.

The atmosphere of the banquet was good.

It couldn’t be bad, as everyone was trying to impress Grandfather.

When about half of the multi-course meal was served, Uncle Decons spoke.

“Father, Lianxin has prepared a gift for your birthday.”

Grandfather’s gaze turned to Lianxin.

Lianxin smiled shyly.

Uncle Decons chuckled and placed his hand on his daughter’s shoulder.

“She worked so hard on the gift, and it’s truly special. Hahaha! Go on, Lianxin.”

Lianxin gestured to a servant.

The servant soon brought a small box. The box itself was very luxurious.

Lianxin blinked and said to Grandfather,

“It was really difficult to obtain. I only managed to get it yesterday after much effort.”

“…”

“I really, really tried because I wanted you to be happy…”

People murmured in amazement.

They seemed intrigued by the item that a direct descendant of Astraim had obtained with such difficulty.

Lianxin pursed her lips and said, “Open it, please.”

Grandfather slowly opened the box.

During this time, Lianxin and I made eye contact.

Heh,

Lianxin smiled, her lips curling up in a clear sneer.

Then she leaned towards Grandfather, who had opened the box.

“You can eat it now. The effect will show immediately.”

“What is it?”

“This. The one I gave you—”

Grandfather, with a blank expression, took out a vial from the box.

It was covered in mold, and the liquid inside looked like something no one could ever drink.

“…!!”

Lianxin’s face stiffened.

I subtly lifted the corners of my mouth.

‘Why, did you think you had stolen it properly?’

Lianxin glared at me.

“What…?”

I pointed at the vial Grandfather held.

“Ebi, zizya!”

* * *

So, this is how it happened.

Before Lianxin entered my room, I had put away the medicine just in case.

And I had put something else in its place.

‘A fake body regression potion.’

What Lianxin took was a failed batch of the body regression potion.

Erylot was the one who started making the body regression potion at <Bing.Hei.Son>.

But it failed.

When the potion was first consumed, the toothache seemed to subside, but within three days, a greater pain would come.

Moreover, even after the arduous process of making the potion, its effectiveness lasted less than a day.

After 24 hours, it would just turn into a rotten liquid.

‘The real body regression potion was improved by adding green lavender to the formula.’

Last night, when I returned to my room, I noticed the drawer on my desk was empty.

I knew Lianxin had taken the fake body regression potion.

Uncle Decons looked at Lianxin in confusion.

“What happened? Is this the gift you prepared? Is it safe to consume?”

“Well… it’s….”

Lianxin turned bright red.

‘She doesn’t know what to do, does she?’

If she insisted it was safe to eat and something went wrong with Grandfather, there would be no turning back.

People started to murmur.

Lianxin had boasted so much before opening the gift, making the situation even more embarrassing.

“What can I say, Miss Lianxin is a bit….”

“Yes. She tends to speak before thinking.”

“Giving rotten items as a birthday gift… It’s embarrassing for the Duke.”

Uncle Decons was very flustered, and Lianxin’s hands trembled. Her expression showed that this was the first time she had experienced such humiliation.

The atmosphere of the banquet turned awkward in an instant.

Grandfather didn’t say much, but his eyes were deeply sunken.

Lord Debussy tried to lighten the mood.

“By the way, I heard Miss Erylot also prepared a gift.”

“Yes.”

“Show it to us.”

I jumped up and got the item from Hilda, who was waiting by the wall.

Lord Debussy said with a smile in his voice,

“What kind of gift is it?”

I pulled out something from the envelope Hilda had wrapped and held it up.

“Oh?”

“What is that…?”

Ha ha ha.

Laughter erupted in the banquet hall.

Because what I had prepared was chocolate.

This was the reason I was busy this morning.

I made chocolate with the maids.

And when the maids weren’t looking—

‘I put the medicine in the chocolate.’

I prepared it this way because a three-year-old wouldn’t just eat the medicine.

What did I put in it?

People’s reactions would definitely be like this.

The nobles in the banquet hall burst into laughter.

It seemed they found it cute that a child had prepared something like this.

I ran to Grandfather and offered him the chocolate.

“Here you go.”

When I placed it in his hand, people were taken aback.

“Miss….”

One of the nobles tried to stop me, flustered.

Who would give food to Duke Astraim like this?

But Lord Debussy, worried that the atmosphere would become awkward again, stepped in.

“This is a gift Miss Erylot prepared with great effort. Would you like to try it?”

“…”

Grandfather glanced at me.

Then he put the chocolate in his mouth.

People watched Grandfather with interest.

Lord Debussy, with raised eyebrows, asked Grandfather,

“How is it?”

“It’s not bad.”

“Ha ha, I’m curious about the taste.”

The banquet hall became lively again.

After I gave the chocolate, other people also offered gifts to Grandfather.

A talking bird from a foreign land.

A fist-sized, multicolored diamond.

Each one was extraordinary.

The kitchen also prepared an incredible amount of food for Grandfather’s birthday.

It was a whole roasted calf.

The food was served to Grandfather first.

The meat would be tender, but as it was meat, it would be harder to chew than vegetables.

Still, Grandfather ate it without showing any discomfort, as usual.

However,

“…”

Grandfather paused while chewing the meat.

When he stiffened, people who were watching him started to murmur.

“Duke?”

Lord Debussy asked.

But Grandfather didn’t answer; he just looked at the meat.

I saw my chance and whispered to Grandfather,

“Does it not hurt now?”

“…What?”

“It’s the tooth. It hurts. But it doesn’t hurt after eating chocolate. I have the medicine to make it not hurt!”

Grandfather’s eyes widened.

“How… how did you know… and what medicine is this?”

But he couldn’t say more because people were watching.

Grandfather glanced around and closed his mouth.

It seemed he decided to ask later, so I returned to my seat.

Grandfather continued eating.

He seemed to be checking if it really didn’t hurt.

And he didn’t show any discomfort at all.

‘He finished the whole plate.’

After all, he usually had a good appetite, but he couldn’t eat because of his teeth.

He must have been hungry.

At the end of the banquet,

Lord Debussy said,

“So many wonderful gifts have been received. Which one do you like the most?”

The people in the banquet hall looked expectant.

It seemed they knew that Grandfather would reward the person whose gift he liked the most.

Grandfather glanced at the valuable gifts piled up at the edge of the banquet hall.

Then he slowly spoke.

“The gift from Erylot… is the one I like the most.”

“…!”

“…!”

“…!”

Among the incredible gifts, my chocolate must have looked the most insignificant.

So,

“The Duke seems to like Miss Erylot quite….”

“Yes, he seems to be more fond of her than Miss Lianxin.”

“Now that I think about it, he seemed very close to her.”

It was understandable why people reacted this way.

Conrad, standing at a distance, gave me a thumbs up.

Lord Debussy burst into hearty laughter.

The strong melody created by the musicians filled the banquet hall.

In the midst of it, Lianxin’s face was pale.

Of course, Lord Decons’ expression was also not good.

Lianxin and her mother didn’t say a proper word for the rest of the banquet.

* * *

Grandfather stood up from his seat.

This meant the banquet was over.

‘He’ll probably take a short break before the second part starts.’

The nobles also stood up.

Some people followed Grandfather to the door to greet him.

‘Greetings, greetings.’

I was about to stand up when Lianxin, who was sitting next to me, got up more quickly.

She stood up roughly, causing me to lose my balance.

I instinctively grabbed the table to prevent myself from falling, and the juice glass fell.

Clang!

A sharp cracking sound echoed.

“Ah!”

Lianxin screamed.

Uncle Decons, who was following Grandfather, quickly came over.

“Are you okay?”

“It seems she was cut by the glass shards.”

Seeing his daughter’s distressed face, Uncle Decons frowned and glared at me.

Then, without asking what happened, he started to scold me.

“You weren’t careful!”

I felt wronged.

‘It’s because Lianxin pushed me.’

He didn’t seem to want to listen to my side of the story.

Lord Decons was known as the least competent among Grandfather’s children.

He was hot-tempered, short-sighted, and violent.

He glared at me fiercely and said,

“Apologize now.”

“…”

“Didn’t you hear me!”

People started to pay attention to the commotion.

At that moment, Grandfather looked over.

“You’re still making pig noises, Decons.”

With a strange voice, someone strode into the banquet hall.

Lush blonde hair that seemed to exude a dangerous fragrance.

A sharp jawline that fell smoothly.

Delicate features perfectly placed.

A tall stature and muscles honed from countless battles.

And the same red eyes as mine.

A man with a face so beautiful that it could elicit gasps from the crowd.