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“Is it bad? You don’t like it?”
“No. It’s not that…”
“No pressure. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay!”
How can I wear a necklace made of spirit stones without feeling insecure?
Whether I was embarrassed or not, the crown prince still took the spirit stone necklace from my hand with a joyful expression on his face. He looked like an excited child.
“It contains the spirit of the wind.”
He tapped the spirit stone lightly with his finger.
Then, a small gust of wind suddenly blew through the room.
Even though the windows were closed, the wind around me still circled of its own accord and tickled my hair and cheeks.
“This child will connect us.”
“Connect us?”
“Yes.”
The crown prince smiled and held up the necklace.
His hand drew closer, and slipped through the locks of my hair, it grazed the nape of my neck.
Click.
The necklace suddenly made a click sound after the loop was connected.
I stared at the spirit stone necklace, dumbfounded.
“Well, a simple explanation would be that it’s a communication device used by elementalists.”
He Said,
“It’s a magic tool that allows them to hear… From a distance.”
‘I see. There’s actually something like that?’
“Do spirit stones have that function?”
“Not all spirit stones have the same functions. Usually the ones on the market were the ones possessed by spirits before but not anymore, and this one still has a spirit living inside it.”
“Do you have more of this?”
“Not many. Well, I don’t have time right now. I’ll explain about it later.”
He glanced at the clock on the wall and pursed his lips, then turned his gaze towards the spirit stone.
“Iris.”
The moment the crown prince said my name, the spirit stone reacted and glowed a red color.
“When I want to call for you, my stone will glow blue, and so will yours when you call for me.”
I opened my eyes wide in surprise, and the crown prince chuckled lightly.
He winked at the spirit stone as it changed color from blue to red.
“Try it.”
“… Vasil.”
I fiddled with the necklace and silently called out the crown prince’s name.
The spirit stone glowed a clear blue before I could finish my sentence.
“If you call my name and it doesn’t respond to my name, just say ‘Sylph’.”
“Sylph?”
“That’s her name. Say it.”
“Sylph.”
As soon as I said ‘Sylph.’ the spirit stone glowed with an unusual colorful glow.
It almost felt like it was pleased.
“The spirit seems to like it.”
The crown prince looked at the sparkling spirit stone and smiled wistfully.
It was like he was watching a puppy snuggle its owner or a nephew being petted.
“If you ever need anything urgent, you can use it to call the spirits. They seem to be in tune with you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, the spirit stone can’t be used by just anyone. If a non-elementalist wants to borrow its power, they have to be favored by the Spirit living inside the stone.”
“I’m honored.”
“Ah, yes, a spirit stone can be used by anyone. But it’s almost a one-time use. They can only use the power that was left behind by the spirit who used to live there.”
“I see…”
“Once a spirit starts favoring you, it will remain faithful to you until the end. As long as you wear this necklace, Sylph will always answer your call.”
“Thank you.”
I bowed my head towards him in gratitude.
I was embarrassed to receive such an unexpectedly valuable gift.
“I’ll cherish it! I’ll wear it every day… Thank you so much.”
“If you’re so grateful, then please contact me often.”
The crown prince smiled.
I nodded again, still mesmerized by his smile, which was as pretty as a green shoot.
✤
“… That’s what happened…”
“… What did you say?”
The Empress asked, while trying to compose herself.
She couldn’t believe the news that Count Olettte had brought her.
“Viscountess Sabrina’s Cavalier was said to be the crown prince.”
“Wh—”
A gasp escaped her lips, despite her best efforts to remain calm.
The Empress looked at Count Olette in disbelief.
When he had come over to her late at night, she had guessed that something bad had happened, but the matter was more serious than she had imagined.
“My daughter had heard about it from the crown prince himself.”
Count Olette spoke with a sullen expression, he had heard the news from his daughter, who had gone out and returned in tears.
“Should I do something about it?”
Count Olette couldn’t hide his anxiety.
The Bright family had already drawn attention to themselves by coming out in full force and revealing the existence of Young Viscountess Sabrina.
Young Lady Bright was already a household name, who was known to most people in the capital.
So everyone was intrigued by the fact that she had a twin sister.
The loudmouths of the capital were quick to talk about the sudden appearance of Lady Bright’s twin sister.
Whenever they could get together, they would discuss whether Viscountess Sabrina really looked like the Young Lady Bright.
The curiosity only intensified when the overzealous reporters flooded the Marquis’ mansion, making her unable to leave the estate casually.
Before they knew it, the imperial palace had already marked the start of the debutante season.
They were counting down the days until the ball.
“Once The Young Viscountess shows up at the Imperial Ball with His Royal Highness, she’ll be an instant candidate for the crown princess.”
“Indeed.”
“And once it’s known that Viscountess Sabrina is favored by the Crown Prince, there’s no stopping her.”
“Hah.”
The Empress sighed.
Count Olette was right.
With all the attention that was already drawn towards her, it would be even more so if it became known that the crown prince had asked to become her Cavalier.
“The Bright family alone already makes my head ache.”
The Empress lamented, while pressing her temples together.
Having been through a lot of fire once before, it seems like they’ve come back with a strong momentum, especially the Marquis Bright.
In the past few days, the Marquis Bright had already dealt a series of blows to those newpaper companies who published vicious articles about the Bright family.
Several newspapers which published slanderous articles, and misleading News about the young lady Bright were audited under the Marquis’s instructions.
At first, the Guild protested, but they eventually fell silent when it was revealed that they had been found to be evading their taxes and was embezzling money.
In the process, it was also revealed that a nobleman from the Empress’ camp had been secretly sponsoring the newspapers, and he was greatly humiliated.
That wasn’t all.
Several newspapers had introduced Viscountess Sabrina, and criticized all the malicious articles and exaggerated rumors that had been published about the Young Lady Bright.
There had already been a few self-reflections among intellectuals, so the tide of public opinion was finally turning, albeit not immediately.
The disappearance of Young Lady Bright had finally resurfaced again.
The Empress clicked her tongue.
It is now clear that the Crown Prince and the Bright family have joined forces.
If the Bright family, who was leading the neutral faction, supported the crown prince, the advantage they’ve held so far would be overturned.
“I was too complacent.”
The Empress regretted it in hindsight.
She hadn’t expected the Bright family to come out so strongly.
The crown prince was no different.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. What about talking about it with the emperor?”
Count Olette, cautiously said, after a moment of thought.
“His Majesty would not approve.”
The Empress shook her head.
This imperial knight selection test was a way for the emperor to empower the crown prince.
He wanted to reorganize the Imperial Knights and provide a neutral vassal for his son to succeed him.
With the emperor’s support, the crown prince was finally appointed as the head of the imperial knight selection test.
It wasn’t only once, but twice.
He has been assigned to preside over all the examinations of the Imperial Knights in the future.
Count Olette had already went against him once.
He’s lucky the Emperor, who values debutantes, backed him up.
Otherwise, he would have been accused of challenging the authority of the crown prince.
“The problem is the Duke of Bright.”
“The Duke.”
“Yes. Perhaps we have touched the vital point of a sleeping lion.”
The Empress’s voice gradually subsided.
No matter how unreasonable she thought it was, it would still hurt them once Viscountess Sabrina talked about the Second Prince’s affair.
“Why would Duke Bright—.”
Count Olette stammered, with a confused look on his face.
“The Duke of Bright holds half the military in his hands. What would happen if he openly supported the crown prince?”
“He can’t… He’s a a principled man. He even declared that he would not interfere on the matters of the imperial succession, so how come…”
Count Olette swallowed dryly.
He had his doubts that a political outsider like the Duke would go to such lengths.
“You never know with people. A man can sacrifice his own beliefs for the sake of his family.”
The Empress’s face suddenly darkened.
Until now, the Duke of Bright had steadfastly adhered to the principles that soldiers should not be involved in politics.
But in the past few days, his behavior has changed.
The Duke of Bright has been socializing in an unimaginable manner recently, he’s been attending banquets hosted by members of the military.
What’s the point of rescheduling this imperial knight selection test and imposing the débutante condition?
“I must go see the Emperor.”
After a moment of silence, the Empress finally rose from her seat.
If Young Viscountess Sabrina and the crown prince were to appear together at an imperial ball, people would assume that there was an upcoming marriage brewing between the Bright family and the imperial family.
Only that had to be prevented.
“You may depart.”
Count Olette’s eyes narrowed at the Empress’s words of dismissal, so he spoke in a cautious tone,
“I… Empress… My daughter had also come with me to the palace. I hope you will allow her to enter, my child misses you very much.”
The Empress frowned slightly at Count Olette’s words.
Part of her wanted to keep her out of the palace for a while longer.
However, she can’t ignore Count Olette’s words.
“Then alright.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
With the Empress’s approval, Count Olette bowed his head in gratitude. The empress clicked her tongue and left the empress palace.
The Emperor, whose health had been rapidly declining recently, would often go to bed earlier than usual, as advised by his courtiers.
The empress was not allowed to rouse the emperor from his sleep, so she had to see him before he goes to bed.
But her purpose was not fulfilled.
“Empress?”
The Empress stopped in her tracks when she saw Vasil coming out of the main palace.
Vasil gave the Empress a light glance.