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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 38: The Empress's Plan
"Limiting the number of participants in this competition was a brilliant idea. My father praised it greatly, saying that the young ladies would feel a sense of pride just by being selected."
Selina responded to Janus's compliment with a bright smile.
"That's right. That's exactly what I was aiming for. If they were chosen to represent their families, it means they've accomplished something noteworthy. I wanted this to be seen as a gathering of such individuals. That way, we're also honoring the late Lady Christa's wishes."
"So, Selina, you'll also get a chance to interact with those young ladies."
"Exactly. This is a fantastic opportunity for me. I intend to make the most of it for the sake of my future."
"How many candidates will be selected through the preliminary and main rounds?"
"All the noble ladies who were chosen to represent their families will participate in the preliminaries. Then, only 10 will advance to the main round. And in the final round..."
"Only two will remain."
"The Imperial Family will take the winner, the Red Jewel."
Janus smiled affectionately as he watched Selina return to her seat beside him.
Seeing his smile, Selina blushed involuntarily.
'Isn't it unfair for him to be that handsome?'
Whether aware of Selina's thoughts or not, Janus raised his right hand and cupped her flushed left cheek.
He leaned in slightly closer and asked,
"Do you remember what we were doing the last time we parted?"
Feeling her heart race even faster from Janus's warm breath near her, Selina shyly lowered her gaze.
"Selina, you're truly testing my patience."
The hand that was on her left cheek now moved to the nape of her neck, gently pulling her towards him.
His lips touched hers, and it felt like her whole body was on fire.
She squeezed her eyes shut, as if her heartbeat was too loud. When she opened them again, she saw Janus looking at her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
Selina didn't want anyone else to know just how much that gaze, filled only with affection, affected her heart.
* * *
The Empress was spending her days busy tackling the task suddenly assigned by the Emperor.
'Why is he making such a fuss over Celina? Reviving the Red Jewel just to bring her here. Well, if she brings a substantial dowry, I'll treat her as I have been, considering her sincerity. But what does he plan to do by bringing in a girl whose reputation is in tatters?'
The Empress couldn't understand the Emperor's efforts to make a mere Count's daughter the Red Jewel.
However, she didn't entirely dislike preparing for the event. After all, the Empress herself was once a participant in the Red Jewel competition.
Even before she was married into the Imperial Family, back when she was still the daughter of Marquis Cherney, she admired the Emperor's older sister, Christa.
Christa was the Empress Dowager's biological daughter and always stood out among the numerous Imperial princesses.
Although her time spent with Christa in the capital was limited after she became a knight and spent most of her time on the battlefield, she still held fond memories of her.
'It's so unfair that she left us so early.'
The object of her admiration passed away before even reaching her thirties, leaving behind Janus, who inherited the power the Emperor so desperately desired.
'Janus also mentioned finding a bride in this tournament, didn't he? Did spending a few days outside with Celina awaken his romantic feelings?'
The Empress believed that she should take care of Janus's marriage in place of the late Christa.
'But the heir is supposed to marry their soulmate, right? Does this mean the soulmate will appear in this tournament? If His Majesty finds out, he won't let it slide.'
The Empress was well aware of the Emperor's obsession. The reason she had maintained her position as the highest-ranking concubine without any major issues was because she avoided any direct confrontation with the Emperor, no matter what she did.
As the Empress's expression hardened, the servants and maids around her moved even more swiftly.
In the Imperial Palace, learning to read the mood of the person you serve was the first lesson.
Amidst the servants moving without making a sound, the Empress pondered.
'The Grand Duke's family couldn't have given up on finding Janus's soulmate. They've been working hard to find them all this time. It definitely means the soulmate will appear in this tournament. What if that soulmate becomes the Red Jewel?'
At that moment, a brilliant idea struck the Empress.
'Since only one person from each family is participating, the child destined to be the future Empress will also be there. I'm one of the judges, so I can give her points to ensure she wins the Red Jewel. I'll keep Celina as the final candidate. Then, the soulmate won't have a place.'
Seeing the Empress's expression soften, the palace servants breathed a sigh of relief.
'I should invite Lady Leila Anderson, the Marquis's daughter, to the palace soon.'
The Anderson Marquis family, like the Cherney Marquis family, was a staunch supporter of the Emperor, firmly connected to the Imperial Family through marriage.
Lady Leila Anderson, who would soon turn fourteen, was the most likely candidate for the future Empress.
The future of this young lady, who hadn't even had her debutante ball yet, had already been decided by the Imperial Family.
'The tournament is after Lady Anderson's debut, so there's no problem. A young lady raised in the family of Marquis Anderson with Empress training can't possibly lose. It will be a picture everyone approves of.'
The Empress smiled, thinking she had come up with a truly excellent plan.
* * *
"The Red Jewel? What's that?"
Baron Hazel hesitated before answering Ingrid, who sat arrogantly before him.
"Think of it as a beauty pageant."
"Ha, what nonsense."
"It's a competition with a long tradition and recognition in high society."
"Then why am I hearing about it for the first time?"
"It was suspended for a while and has just resumed, so you may not be aware of it."
Ingrid scowled again as she watched Baron Hazel stammer, clearly terrified.
'I told him to act like my father, but he can't even drop the honorifics. I picked someone with a servile nature, and now he's displaying the epitome of servility.'
Tapping her chair, Ingrid asked, "So, our family also received an invitation to this competition?"
"Yes, His Highness Crown Prince Eric sent it personally."
"Only one person per family can participate?"
"Yes."
"What about your daughter?"
Baron Hazel's face stiffened.
'How can I send my daughter out in this situation? I can't expose my children to this terrifying woman. I'm so glad I sent them far away from the capital.'
The Baron concealed his true feelings and replied, "I believe the person who received the invitation should participate."
The day Ingrid appeared, suddenly offering a massive sum of money to be adopted as his third daughter, the Baron made all sorts of excuses to send his wife and unmarried second daughter away while preparing to go to the capital with Ingrid.
He sent a letter to his eldest, telling her not to look for them under any circumstances.
Although it was something many did in secret, selling one's status was a serious crime.
If the imperial family found out, the entire family could be wiped out.
'If possible, I'd like to tell her not to participate in this pageant, but...'
But that wasn't an option.
Crown Prince Eric was already infatuated with this woman of unknown origin.
The young and passionate Crown Prince kept sending expensive gifts and royal carriages to bring her to the palace.
Every day, Baron Hazel trembled in fear that her true identity would be revealed.
Meanwhile, Ingrid was becoming more beautiful by the day.
'And that terrifying power I saw a while ago.'
Baron Hazel shuddered, recalling how she snapped her fingers and teleported him and a massive corpse to the backyard.
'That huge man…'
To take a life and teleport someone with a mere snap of her fingers.
Baron Hazel couldn't even fathom what this woman might do next.
Seeing the Baron's pale face, Ingrid clicked her tongue in disapproval.
'At this rate, he might even wet himself in front of me.'
With her displeasure evident, Ingrid told him to leave the invitation and shooed him away.
As if waiting for those words, the Baron placed the invitation on the side table and hurried out.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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