Chapter 211: The Otome Game 11

Fortunately, Liliana was able to enter her room without arousing the suspicion of her maids. They found it strange that she had no escort, but when she told them she had some business and had sent them away for a short time, they didn’t press the matter further.

As the maids were wiping her body and helping her change, Olga returned.

“Was it received?”

“Yes, without a hitch.”

Effortlessly grasping the meaning of Liliana’s brief question, Olga, who had taken the brooch to the official, gave a firm nod. A satisfied smile played on Liliana’s lips.

When a lost item was reported, the finder had to submit a report according to a set procedure. Furthermore, the place she had told Olga to take it was quite far from her current room. For that reason, she had expected it would take some time for Olga to return, and she had been right.

“I hope the owner is found.”

“Yes.”

Olga nodded and stood at the doorway to resume her guard duty. Liliana watched the maids’ efficient work without really paying attention, when she heard a sound like shattering glass near her ear.

(The white bird has been destroyed.)

The one that had disappeared was the curse bird that had been tracking Belasta. Although it had been cleverly hidden with an illusion so as not to be noticed by him, it seemed to have touched some kind of barrier and been destroyed. The birds Liliana made could slip through simple barriers. But there was no doubt that the bird had been blocked by a barrier and had vanished.

(Around the Ministry of Magic, perhaps.)

She didn’t know what purpose Belasta had in going to the Ministry of Magic, but it was the most likely possibility. The individual abilities of the sorcerers working at the Ministry of Magic were no match for Liliana’s, but the barrier protecting the ministry was a magnificent thing, rivaling even the barrier of the royal palace. If she recalled correctly, Ben Draco had said that during his time as Deputy Director, he had reviewed all the barriers on the Ministry of Magic and the royal palace and enhanced their effects. Since it was the fruit of the efforts of the kingdom’s foremost sorcerer, it was no wonder it had repelled Liliana’s curse.

While Liliana was thinking about such things, the preparations for the banquet were steadily progressing. After changing her clothes, having her makeup redone, and putting on perfume, she was finally released. She sat down on a sofa and drank the tea her maid had brewed. It had been checked for poison, but Liliana always made it a habit to detoxify it with magic before partaking.

As the maid was pouring her a second cup of tea, another maid announced that the Crown Prince had arrived. Since her preparations were already complete, there was no problem in meeting him. Liliana nodded to the maid and told her to show Riley in.

\＊＊＊＊＊

The banquet was held in the same hall as the ceremony. The basic format was to sit and enjoy a meal while listening to the music of the court musicians, but unlike the ceremony, it was for the purpose of socializing, so there was also time to move around freely and chat. And the number of participants was larger than at the ceremony.

After a simple meal, Riley and Liliana were constantly occupied with the nobles who came to greet them.

“It has been a while, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

The woman who had spoken with a smile was a stranger to Liliana. Standing next to her was a gentle-looking man with a serene smile. But his eyes held a shrewd glint, and it was immediately clear that he was not as gentle as he appeared.

“Duke Bromberg, Duchess, welcome.”

A smile, not a forced one but a genuine one, spread across Riley’s face. And Liliana, too, recognized the name he had spoken.

Duchess Henrietta Bromberg was Riley’s aunt, who had married into the Yunatian Empire. She was not a striking beauty, but her intelligent gaze was impressive.

In fact, it was said that when she was a princess in the Kingdom of Slibegrad, many had lamented her talent. It was said that many believed that if she had been a man, she would have taken the throne instead of the current king, Horatio.

The man next to the Duchess was her husband, Duke Josef Bromberg. He was a moderate, a rare thing in the Yunatian Empire, and seemed to want to coexist with the Kingdom of Slibegrad. It was rumored that despite this attitude being contrary to the intentions of the current imperial family, he managed to deftly avoid the emperor’s wrath by maintaining a skillful distance. In fact, it was even said that the emperor was careful not to provoke the Duke of Bromberg.

She didn't know how much of the story was true, but judging from the couple’s demeanor, Liliana decided it was quite credible.

As Liliana observed the Duke and Duchess of Bromberg with a smile, Riley took her hand and gestured for her to step forward.

“This is Lady Liliana Alexandra Clark, my fiancée. Lady Liliana, this is my aunt and her husband, the Duke of Bromberg.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time. Thank you for coming all this way.”

When Liliana greeted them flawlessly, the Duchess’s eyes softened.

“Oh, what a lovely young lady. Please, call me Henrietta.”

“In that case, I would be delighted if you would call me Liliana.”

“Liliana, then. When you marry this boy, we will be aunt and niece. I would be so happy if we could get along.”

Though we are far apart in the Yunatian Empire and here, Henrietta added cheerfully, and a natural smile appeared on Liliana’s face as well. Henrietta’s husband, Josef, narrowed his eyes as he watched their conversation.

Liliana tilted her head and said serenely.

“Thank you for always sending His Highness such unusual sweets. I sometimes have the pleasure of partaking as well.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Henrietta’s eyes widened, and she turned to Riley. Riley blushed slightly and gave a small nod.

“Yes. When we have tea and talk—when we happen to have the sweets you sent, that is. They are, um, so unusual that Lady Liliana seems to enjoy them.”

“Oh, my.”

Henrietta’s face broke into a delighted smile. It was rare for a noble lady’s expression to change so much, but there was no doubt that when necessary, she was a person who could keep her inner thoughts completely hidden. But right now, she was talking to her nephew and his fiancée, and her back was to the other guests. So perhaps her emotions were more on display than usual.

“It is a wonderful thing that you are so close as a betrothed couple. Marriages in our position have many political intentions, but there is nothing more wonderful than a relationship where you can respect and care for each other.”

“I agree.”

Riley smiled brightly. He seemed to agree with Henrietta from the bottom of his heart. At that point, the Duke of Bromberg, who had been listening until then, spoke.

“Once again, I offer my congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince. And I am most grateful that you have allowed me to attend such a joyous occasion.”

“The pleasure is all ours, Duke of Bromberg. There is nothing that would make me happier than to be congratulated by the two of you.”

When Riley replied, the Duke of Bromberg’s smile deepened.

“Yes, at first, we were concerned about whether we could really come, but fortunately, we were able to come with the Second Prince.”

At that moment, both Riley and Liliana stiffened. Riley narrowed his eyes and met the Duke’s gaze. There was no doubt that the words the Duke had just spoken were meant to give them an opening. Riley spoke carefully.

“—I see. I heard that His Highness the First Prince has fallen ill. How has he been since?”

“It seems the recent epidemic is quite persistent.”

The Duke said this nonchalantly. The way he shook his head, as if genuinely concerned, made it seem as if he were truly worried about the First Prince.

The corners of Riley’s mouth lifted.

“I imagine the other members of the imperial family are also on edge, wondering when they might catch the epidemic.”

“I am especially worried about Her Highness Princess Edith. As a precaution, she has been confined to a detached palace to reduce contact—yes, as you know, the more one interacts with people, the higher the chances of catching an epidemic.”

That is true, Riley said with a nod. Liliana, from the side, also feigned a worried expression.

But the exchange that was taking place here was a state secret. The “epidemic” was assassination, and the Duke of Bromberg had just openly stated that the First Prince had been targeted by assassins and was not in a condition to appear in public, and that Princess Edith was also being protected to escape from assassins.

“However,” the Duke of Bromberg began casually, as if it were a side note in a conversation.

“As you already know, His Highness the Second Prince is also carrying out his official duties while being wary of the epidemic, and Her Highness the First Princess, and even His Highness the Third Prince, are more active than ever.”

“My, my, if the next generation is so active, then the future of the Empire is bright indeed.”

“We also have high expectations for Your Highness. You are, after all, part of the ‘next generation.’”

The Duke said with a grin. It seemed that with the conversation they had just had, the Duke had acknowledged Riley. The Duchess of Bromberg looked at her husband’s profile with a somewhat exasperated expression, but she smiled wryly and lightly tapped his arm. Then, the Duke and Duchess turned their gazes to Liliana. Liliana met their gazes with a bright smile. Her expression was one that could be interpreted in any number of ways, depending on the viewer’s own impressions.

Henrietta raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with her husband. The Duke muttered a small “I see” under his breath and gave Riley a meaningful look.

“It seems Lady Liliana has more than enough qualifications to be Your Highness’s fiancée. She also seems to be similar to my wife.”

“To be compared to my aunt, who was called a once-in-a-generation talent, is the greatest of pleasures for me as well.”

It seemed the Duke had judged that Liliana had correctly understood their conversation with Riley. On top of that, he had acknowledged her outstanding talent. Riley thanked him with a happy expression. Liliana, too, with an unchanging smile, gave a light bow to show her gratitude.

“If we monopolize the two of you for too long, we might be resented by the others.”

The Duke said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. The Duchess also gave a small nod in agreement.

“That’s true. There are still many things I would like to talk about—but it can’t be helped.”

The two of them said their goodbyes to Riley and Liliana and departed. Liliana followed their retreating figures with her eyes. The next noble called out to them, and Riley replied.

After confirming that the Duke and Duchess of Bromberg had gone to speak with Margrave Calvert, Liliana shifted her attention to the noble before her.

＊＊＊＊＊

The Duke and Duchess of Bromberg headed toward Margrave Beverly Calvert. While Duke Josef was a mere acquaintance, Henrietta and Beverly were old friends. Though there was a slight age difference, in the past, the two had been said to be like sisters.

“Beverly!”

“Oh, if it isn’t Henrietta. You came?”

Beverly, who had turned at Henrietta’s voice, widened her eyes theatrically. Henrietta crossed her arms and pouted slightly. Her exaggerated gesture was full of charm.

“I did. I told you in my letter.”

“I remember perfectly well. I was just joking, of course.”

Beverly laughed cheerfully. It was a gesture that would be considered unladylike for a noblewoman, but no one frowned at the sound, which was like the chirping of a small bird.

“It has been a while, Duke of Bromberg.”

“It has been a long time, Margrave Calvert. My wife is always looking forward to your letters. She was also looking forward to meeting you in person. I am truly glad we could meet here—otherwise, my wife would have been pining for you all the way back to the Empire.”

“Josef, you promised you wouldn’t say that.”

Henrietta chided her husband in a flustered manner. But her husband just shrugged his shoulders, seemingly unconcerned. Beverly smiled cheerfully again and gently placated her sulking friend.

“We’ve finally been able to meet after so long, so don’t be so pouty.”

“I was just joking.”

Henrietta mimicked Beverly’s words. It was clear she hadn't been genuinely sulking. At the conversation, which was just like their girlhood days, their expressions softened.

“So,” Henrietta began, lowering her voice. She elegantly took out a fan and covered her mouth. Using a fan to prevent others from reading her lips had become a natural habit for her.

“I just greeted His Highness and his fiancée, but are all young ladies these days so lovely?”

“There are many cute girls, but I think the daughter of the Duke of Clark is in a class of her own.”

Beverly also lowered her voice behind her fan. From the flow of the conversation, one could judge that "in a class of her own" referred to her loveliness, but Henrietta, who had known Beverly for a long time, noticed the subtle difference in her tone.

“—In a class of her own?”

What on earth does that mean? she asked. The Duke, who had taken her words at face value, looked at his wife and her friend with a suspicious gaze, his expression unchanged. Beverly looked cheerful, but Henrietta noticed a meaningful glint in her eyes. When Henrietta stared at her, Beverly shrugged.

“You’re as sharp as ever. Yes, in a class of her own. Rumor has it she stood out even among the other fiancée candidates. And I heard that even the late Duke of Ealdred acknowledged her.”

Though Margrave Calvert rarely came to the royal capital, she had more than enough information at her disposal. She knew more than the lower-ranking nobles and the minor high-ranking nobles who frequently appeared in the capital’s high society. High society was by no means the only place to gather information.

“What do you mean?”

At Henrietta’s question, Beverly lowered her voice. After covering her mouth with her fan so that others could not hear, she leaned slightly closer to Henrietta.

“I heard that her crown princess education went too smoothly. At the age of six, she had mastered everything she was taught as a candidate. And after that, she apparently gained as much knowledge as His Highness the Crown Prince through self-study. In fact, they say she is the only young lady who can debate on equal terms with His Highness.”

“—I had heard that His Highness was quite a brilliant person, but she’s on the same level?”

Not only Henrietta, who had heard Beverly’s explanation, but Josef as well couldn’t hide his surprise. They both knew of Riley’s intelligence.

“Then what about the late Duke acknowledging her?”

“I heard they played chess.”

“—What did you say?”

Henrietta’s reaction was unbefitting of a lady. Her eyes widened, and she nearly dropped the fan in her hand.

Henrietta’s generation was well aware of Duke of Ealdred’s chess skills. The legend of his overwhelming victory in a simultaneous exhibition was well known, but as he had aged, the Duke of Ealdred had only played chess with those he knew well. No matter how many times he was asked for a match, he had never agreed. In other words, the late Duke’s chess opponents were those he acknowledged. And the chances of being chosen as an opponent were extremely low.

“I heard that His Highness and the current Duke of Clark also played against him, but it seems that among the young ladies, only the daughter of the Duke of Clark did.”

“Among women, it was only his late wife, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right. The momentous second—and last—woman was the daughter of the Duke of Clark.”

Beverly had been acquainted with the Duke of Ealdred, but they had never played chess. Henrietta had not been close enough to play chess. And the Duke of Ealdred’s second wife, Abby, was apparently not good at chess and was no match for him.

Astonished, Henrietta was at a loss for words. Looking at her friend with amusement, Beverly elegantly curved her lips into a smile.

“That’s why I have high hopes for her as well.”

At Beverly’s words, Henrietta and Josef exchanged a look. It was true that they, too, had a favorable impression of the daughter of the Duke of Clark. They had also thought she was an intelligent girl. But the information Beverly had given them was too shocking.

“It seems she is not just a gentle, wise, and ephemeral young lady.”

“I agree.”

Beverly nodded at Henrietta’s conclusion. It was the first time either of them had met the daughter of the Duke of Clark. But there was no doubt that she had left a strong impression on Beverly and the Duke and Duchess of Bromberg.

—-

Toc

Chapter 212