CH 62

“It’s like treating an uninvited guest.”

Igdrasil, who sat in the guest seat, smiled at the attendants around her.

Three out of four attendants whispered that the duke was rude, the remaining one said ‘hmm’ and snorted.

“Isn’t that obvious? If I were the Duke, I would pop champagne in the intruder’s face.”

It was very disrespectful to the emperor.

But Igdrasil, let alone other attendants, did not point out his attitude.

Igdrasil looked at the fourth attendant from head to toe and shook her head.

“You can’t do that. If you dress up as an attendant, shouldn’t you also match your actions, my child?”

My child. 

The attendant, who was called like that, let out a languid sigh, as if he had heard annoying nagging.

“Are there any attendants who can imitate at least one among the Crown Prince’s virtues?”

The rest of the attendants were startled by his words and he put his index finger on his lips.

The only crown prince of the empire touched the loose cuff as if they were making a fuss.

His skin, which was exposed between the mask and neck collar, was the color of burnt copper, unlike the emperor and her attendants.

“Then, did you keep the virtue of faithfully carrying out my orders?”

Igdrasil calmed the noisy attendants and asked.

“You asked me to find out why the Duke held a masquerade. Of course, Mother.”

The crown prince shrugged his shoulders lightly and sat down next to the emperor.

“The Duke will announce the existence of the evil spirit boy here.”

Those words were arrogantly and strongly spoken.

“Why do you think so?”

“I tried to make a list of invited families.”

The crown prince murmured as if he had been waiting.

“All of them are minor nobles who follow the Duke, especially those who are only looking for a chance to parasitize in power.”

“Oho…”

“The Princess may be entangled with useless bugs, but to think that he gathered them together… There’s only one reason behind it.”

The answer was as smooth as flowing water.

Igdrasil nodded with satisfaction.

“My prediction was correct. Well done, my child.”

“What are you going to do now? If you leave it like that, the ducal family will gain strength.”

The crown prince arrogantly looked around at the people gathered in the hall and asked.

“Do you think the Duke’s persuasion to use the evil spirit boy will work?”

“Of course.”

The crown prince answered straight away.

“I don’t know about others, but he’s Duke Bauner. His military plan has never failed.”

Each and every word made sense. Igdrasil laughed lowly.

“What do you think I will do?”

“…If it were me, when the duke reveals the identity of the evil spirit boy, I will follow up and reveal it.”

“Of what?” 

The crown prince asked the other attendants to step back with one gesture and spoke softly.

“That the Princess is of the same kind as the monster.”

Igdrasil, who was relaxed, squinted her eyes as if surprised.

“This is it. Even though you are the most knowledgeable person in this empire… It’s a little surprising that you even found out the Princess’ secret. Did you find it out with your ‘ability’?”

“There is no reason to tell Mother about that.”

Through the mask, the crown prince’s eyes were curved like a devil’s tail.

“Did I get it right?”

Igdrasil smiled softly and nodded.

“Recruiting a monster without any connection can be wrapped up as work for the empire, but it’s a different story if his daughter is the same monster.”

“If we reveal the Princess’ identity first, the Duke will be degraded as a pawn of evil spirits who only care about his family.”

“Even if he tries to make an excuse, it will be hard. When it comes to the press, the Imperial House has been in full control for almost 10 years.”

“It’s exciting.”

The crown prince did not hide his anticipation, but shook his head and laughed.

Clank!

Then the duke’s attendant stood near the central staircase and rang a glass of champagne.

He was calling for people to gather. 

The emperor and crown prince clenched their teeth and turned their gaze to the central staircase.

It was time for the evil spirit boy to appear to the world.

***

“Call Benimus.” 

Alan quietly ordered, and it was finally time to reveal Benny’s power to everyone.

I hesitated if I should say the speculation that filled my head as I glanced at him through the eye sockets of the cloth.

‘What if it’s just my one-sided thought?’ 

Alan slowly stood up. I sat quietly until now, but I eventually grabbed Alan’s sleeve.

“Dad!” 

In a hurry, my voice rang out.

Not only Alan, but also Hugo, who was sitting next to me, looked back at me in surprise.

“What’s wrong?”

Alan raised his eyebrows anxiously and looked at my face.

I gulped and swallowed dry saliva.

“You can’t reveal Benny’s identity… like this.”

Up until yesterday, I agreed, and now I have changed my mind. Even though I looked like a fickle person, I had nothing to say.

But I thought I would regret it if I didn’t tell him now.

Rather than scolding me, Alan was curious as to why.

“Have you changed your mind?” 

I shook my head, not because of a personal change of heart.

“No, that’s not it… Her Majesty is here.”

I glanced at the guest seat where Igdrasil was sitting.

Igdrasil was contemplating the masquerade, resting her chin on her hand leisurely.

Looking at it that way, there seemed to be no problem.

‘However…’

Rather, what was strange was the direction of the gaze of the attendant sitting next to the emperor. 

He was looking up the central stairs, not the ballroom, much more casually than other attendants.

As if he knew there were more people who would come out even though I and Alan had already appeared.

“…Dad, didn’t Her Majesty expect it already? That Dad will reveal Benny’s power here today.”

If you think about it, the timing of the emperor’s rush was very strange.

Benny was a being that could neutralize the magic of the imperial family.

Rationally, the Imperial House couldn’t let the public know that there was such a child in the Bauner family.

‘It would be nice if it was my misunderstanding, but if it’s not…’

It was frightening to push my argument against Alan, but I couldn’t stay silent when things could be messed up.

“The situation could be going weird. I think it’s better to postpone the release for a bit…”

“Lily.”

Alan patted my shoulder as if telling me to relax.

“Thank you. That you worried about Dad.”

“I, I…!”

I tried to spit out strongly, but I muttered to myself.

“…Because I’m Dad’s daughter…”

I hardened at my own words that popped out at the moment.

‘Why?’

Why was I worried about the man in front of me? It didn’t matter if the emperor was going to do anything to the Bauner family, because I was destined to leave this place someday anyway.

If I kept quiet, Alan would take care of it, so why was I trying to help him?

‘…Because I am Lily now.’

I didn’t mean it seriously. I had to play Lily brilliantly now, so I was simply worried.

I rationalized like that and pulled myself together.

Alan looked at me silently and beckoned to Nike, who couldn’t do anything, and was fiddling next to me.

“What are you doing instead of bringing him here, Nike?”

“Yes, yes!”

Without time to stop it, Nike left. 

Looking at his back, which was moving away in vain, Alan turned my face toward him and whispered as if reassuring me.

“My dear daughter. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Dad, but…”

“Before I came here, I had spoken to Benimus.”

Alan glanced at the door above the central staircase and whispered softly.

“Benimus is smart. To the extent that I wonder if he is really a child.”

I was surprised.

It was the first time that a praise for Benny had come out of Alan’s lips.

“…So he knows that if things don’t go as planned, you’ll be disappointed.”

Could it be that Alan had the same thoughts as me?

Then why was he pushing ahead with the revelation?

“Duke, I had Benimus brought to the waiting room.”

Nike ran behind and informed him, then immediately shouted towards the people.

“Listen for a moment! The Duke has something to say!”

Alan slowly climbed the central staircase. 

Having reached the highest point of the ballroom, he placed one hand on the terrace and spoke sternly.

“Not long ago, the Duchy’s barrier was broken.”

The nobles who listened to Alan let out a sad sigh.

Some had hastily made a flower-shaped gesture.

For some reason, it was more like a show rather than sincerely mourning.

Alan looked carefully at the nobles and spoke again.

“I have something to confess to everyone here.”

Seen from below, he was more overwhelming than usual.

If everything goes as planned, I thought that everyone would be blown away by that charisma.

But his next words shocked me as if I had been hit in the head with a hammer.

“The culprit who broke the barrier is House Bauner.”

The ballroom went silent in an instant. The bewildered people looked at each other for a while, then covered their mouths with fans and groaned.

“What is the Duke talking about?”

“Ah, yes. Obviously, he’s trying to apologize for neglecting management.”

“He’s thoughtful.”

“What I’m saying is not an analogy.”

In spite of the people’s attempts to flatter the Bauner family, Alan cut them off right away.

“The culprit is a member of House Bauner. Everyone in this room knows him.”