C112
Liena is using the blessing.
The moment I learned that fact, my body moved without my knowledge.
"Your Majesty, it would be better if you went to the Emperor now."
I gently took the gift package from Liena that the Empress was about to receive and handed it to the Empress's maid standing beside her.
"Sister-in-law?"
Liena, who had focused only on the Empress until now, finally noticed me behind her, and her rabbit-like eyes turned.
"Oh... yes."
It was somewhat audacious to dare to intervene and stop the Empress's actions, but the Empress showed no signs of reprimanding me.
"You're right."
The Empress seemed a bit dazed, shook her head a couple of times, and spoke to Duchess Luciano.
"See you later."
The Empress left, and I was about to leave too.
"Sister-in-law, wait a moment."
However, Liena didn't let me go easily either.
"I divorced young Duke Cassius, didn't I? Why am I still your sister-in-law?"
"...It hurts my heart when you act so coldly."
While watching each other's dark sides in the mining city, Liena seemed determined to continue the family fun.
"Should I even care about the feelings of the person who tried to steal my mine?"
"Someday, my sister-in-law will understand that I had no choice but to do that."
It was so absurd that I almost burst out laughing.
"Do I need to understand what His Highness the First Prince did for you this time?"
"What? Mikha-, or rather, His Highness, what did he do?"
Just by looking at her, Liena seemed unaware of what Mikhail and the Empress had done by mobilizing Birod's rank-and-file soldiers. Although she could simply be pretending not to know.
When I didn't respond, Liena tilted her head and then smiled brightly.
"Rather, would you like to have tea with us from now on? I was planning a tea party at Mikhail's palace with Duchess Luciano."
Then, she charmingly asked the duchess.
"Is it alright for my sister-in-law to join us?"
Duchess Luciano, who looked at me disapprovingly, nodded slowly.
"Well, if Miss Liena wishes."
Duchess Luciano. A person who has a high probability of being affected by Liena's blessing.
Indeed, to further ensure the effectiveness of my blessing, I wanted to use it on someone other than Roland.
"But with Liena in the same place, it's difficult in many ways."
It's unclear whether my blessing will work correctly, and if Liena senses something and becomes suspicious of me, things will become more troublesome.
"I refuse. I don't think we should have tea together."
While saying that, I walked past Liena.
"Hah! Who does this woman think she is?"
The voice of Duchess Luciano sounded from behind, expressing her anger.
"Miss Liena invited her to the tea party with a very kind heart!"
"Alright. We can drink together."
"Well, isn't she someone with nothing to boast about except the mine? I have to tell my husband never to buy magic stones from that woman!"
Do as you please. I don't know about Duke Luciano, but I have nothing to lose.
* * *
The Emperor was concerned that the reputation of the imperial family would be tarnished, so he kept this incident secret, but he couldn't stop bold rumors.
A few days later, people whispered that the empress, Mikhail, and Duke Birod had joined forces to seize my mine.
Imperial investigators raided Duke Birod's house, and courtiers with ties to Birod were taken one after another, but it was even stranger that there were no rumors about it.
Duke Birod left the capital after handing over the title to his son, the empress remained quiet except for brief appearances at official events, and Mikhail confined himself to his palace.
From what I heard, the Birod family relinquished the rights they had enjoyed as a political family of the emperor, and Mikhail also withdrew from much of the imperial business he had been involved in.
To dispel these negative rumors about the imperial family, the emperor announced on a large scale the news of the discovery of a first-rate magic stone mine.
Although everyone already knew it, the fact that it was officially recognized made the empire vibrate with excitement.
This was because the temple had been controlling the supply of high-quality magic stones and engaging in various tyrannies.
While each person imagined the changes that the increased supply of high-quality magic stones would bring to society, I was also experiencing a rather significant change.
In the throne room of the emperor's palace, I knelt in front of the throne.
The emperor, holding a precious sword inherited from the imperial family, took turns touching my shoulders.
"From today, I grant you the name and title of Lucibiu. Viscountess Ethel Lucibiu."
When I stood up from my seat after bowing, I heard applause.
Terence, who was watching this, smiled and applauded.
Clap, clap, clap, the Empress, who was quite far from him, also raised her hand and congratulated me.
"Congratulations, Viscountess Lucibiu."
The emperor said.
"Thank you."
Today was the day I received my title from the emperor.
"I guess you must not like the title bestowal ceremony because it's too simple, right?"
"It's fine. In fact, I like it because it's quiet."
"I'm glad you understand. If we had followed tradition, people would have come in masses.
Currently, I am the person most sought after by those in need of the highest quality magic stones, regardless of whether they are nobles or commoners.
Although the imperial family prohibited entry, there were many people snooping around the villa where I stayed.
The goal, of course, is the first-rate magic stones. It was a struggle to somehow encounter them and obtain a quantity of the highest quality magic stones.
The emperor first suggested that we carry out a simple title bestowal ceremony for security reasons, and I gladly accepted the proposal.
I didn't want people bothering me, and it wouldn't make the emperor happy, so it was mutually beneficial.
"It's to clearly place me on the side of the imperial family."
That was the reason I was granted the title.
By name, I was recognized for contributing to the empire's wide benefit by discovering a first-rate magic stone mine that had almost been buried in an abandoned mine.
For the imperial family, it was important to strengthen the relationship with me and receive a stable supply of magic stones.
I could move the divine beast as much as I wanted and turn a different place in the Andala Mine into a magic stone mine.
If that happens, I have no choice but to take care of myself, as the contract I made with the imperial family will become meaningless.
And there was nothing wrong with having a title and a new surname.
"Goodbye to that cursed Wallace surname!"
My name was no longer Ethel Wallace; it was Ethel Lucibiu.
Although I had already severed my legal ties with the Wallace family, it was difficult to change my surname, so I felt uncomfortable when called "Ethel Wallace," but it turned out to be a good thing.
For reference, Lucibiu was the ancient name of the area where the Andala Mine is located.
The Emperor said he would grant me a viscountcy so that Viscount Cainbert would be imprisoned and the land would not be claimed, but I politely declined.
For me, who was already wealthy, it seemed like the number of troublesome tasks would only increase. How difficult is it to manage a territory?
Then the emperor said that among Cainbert's viscounty, he would only give me the village right next to the Andala Mine and call my territory Lucibiu.
It wasn't that bad. No, it was fine.
To manage the mine, it was convenient in many ways for the village to be under my influence as well.
In the future, mining-related facilities will be built there, but it was obvious that if another lord came to visit the place, it would be a nuisance.
So, although I was only the lord of a village, I was granted the rank of viscountess.
I also liked the surname Lucibiu.
"Congratulations."
After finishing my conversation with the emperor, Terence approached me and congratulated me.
"Thank you. It's all thanks to His Highness the Prince."
Because there were eyes from other people on me, I couldn't treat him as comfortably as usual.
"It's not like that. All this was achieved by Viscountess Lucibiu herself."
... Although I received a title, I couldn't get used to the title of viscountess.
I need to ask Terence and the others to treat me as before in private.
At that moment.
"But what exactly is the relationship between you two?"
Although the Emperor never lost his smile, he looked at us one after another with suspicious eyes.
"Father. What do you think is our relationship?"
"It doesn't seem like you're just friends, as you told me."
"Oh, by the way, I have something to discuss about the work you entrusted me with before."
"Don't change the subject."
"I really have something to discuss."
Terence properly explained the Emperor's question and led him to his office.
I muttered after they left.
"...You seem so busy all the time."
I hadn't told Terence the truth yet. I just couldn't afford to.
My rank had increased, but he was on a different level.
This was because the Emperor had entrusted Terence with the task of uncovering the secrets of Duke Birod's family in the imperial palace.
Moreover, because he had to pay attention to the contract between the imperial family and me, Terence seemed to be lacking even two bodies recently.
"But it's also a good opportunity for Terence...."
The Birod family was Terence's biggest enemy, and the emperor had given him the chance to personally extract the enemy's influence.
It was clear that Terence's position within the imperial palace would grow even more due to this incident.
It's unfortunate, but let's hope to have a quiet conversation with Terence later.
I had my own work to do.
"For now, that's all for today!"
Laura piled a mountain of letters in front of me when I returned to the villa.
"...this much?"
"I sorted them in advance."
"Everyone is upset because they can't send me letters."
"Most of them asked to buy magic stones."
Since they couldn't see me, they sent letters. As a courtesy, I had to respond, but I had no idea how long it would take to check and reply to all of this.
"This is Marquis Isaberg, this is Count Creed, and this... Duke Luciano?"
I tossed the letter that seemed to have been carefully written by Duke Luciano.
"I'm not going to sell it to him."
I felt a bit curious about Duke Luciano's face when only he wouldn't receive a response.
Then, one letter caught my attention.
Among the luxurious envelopes, there was an envelope that looked cheap and crumpled.
[Ethel, it's been a while. Do you remember me?]
When I opened the envelope, I found a letter that started with a rather suspicious sentence."