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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 36: The Revived Grand Competition
“Have you heard the news?”
“What news?”
“Oh my, you haven't heard yet? Her Majesty, the Empress, has decided to revive that long-lost tradition.”
“That tradition, you say...”
“The time-honored competition that any flower of high society would aspire to compete in.”
“The Red Jewel?”
A slightly older noblewoman asked in surprise.
“Yes, the Red Jewel will be held again starting this time. The war of flowers will begin anew in Sephia.”
“But that was banned by Lady Christa before...”
The noblewoman hesitated, wondering if this went against the successor's will.
But Countess Solido, who first brought up the matter, continued her explanation as if it were nothing.
“That was because there were casualties in the previous competition. A young lady who was already mentally unwell failed in the competition and made a regrettable choice at a young age. This time, they plan to select only mentally healthy young ladies as candidates and change the competition format a bit.”
“It means that just being able to participate in the competition is a great honor.”
“Exactly. They plan to be thorough from the selection of participants. As expected, when Her Majesty, the Empress, takes charge, things are truly different.”
Countess Solido, a close aide to the Empress, was able to diligently spread the rumors that the Empress wanted to spread at the tea party today.
* * *
In Count Arsene’s household, Flora's wails echoed once again.
"Your Majesty, how could you do this! Your Majesty, how could you inflict such a terrible punishment on the Acting Head of a family? What did my son do wrong, Your Majesty?"
Brandon was annoyed by Flora's loud sobbing. Finally, he lifted his head from where he had been lying face down, groaning.
"Mother! If you're going to cry, go cry outside. Selina can't hear you here anyway, and you're just hurting my ears!"
"My son, do you have any idea how much my heart aches right now? Heavens, I raised you so carefully ever since we joined the Count's family, without a single scratch. And now you come back with your back covered in blood. How can this be?"
"I took off that blood-soaked shirt ages ago, and I'm applying medicine properly. Instead of fussing here, go and bother Selina. She took the Acting Head position again! Using my injury as an excuse!"
Brandon said, sounding wronged.
'Actually, His Majesty ordered Selina to become the Acting Head and represent the Arsene County family in the Red Jewel. But Mother doesn't know that.'
Brandon winced in pain from his back and thought.
'His Majesty doesn't have to know whether I'm obediently following his orders at home. He only needs Selina for external affairs, right? At home I can continue to be the Acting Head like before.'
Unaware of the Emperor's command, Flora jumped up at Brandon's words.
"Alright, I'll go stop that Selina and make sure the Acting Head position is returned to you."
"Yes, Mother. Please."
'We can't let Selina take what's ours.'
Thinking so, Flora stomped out.
Brandon buried his face back into the pillow, relieved that he could finally rest in peace.
But soon, the stinging on his back made him call for a maid, ordering her to check his wound and reapply the medicine to prevent infection.
A pretty maid came and carefully tended to his back. Soon, overcome with lust, Brandon's hand reached out.
"Y-You can't do this, Lord Brandon."
The maid ran away without even looking up. Brandon cursed his immobile body for not being able to chase after her and buried his head back into the pillow.
'Once I become the Acting Head again, maids like her will be the ones trying to seduce me. Not only that, I'll be able to marry a young lady from a good family. Just a little more patience, a little more. I just need to get rid of Selina.'
The day after returning from the Imperial Palace, Selina entered the Head's office and quietly ran her hand over her father's desk.
Then she summoned the attendant in charge of the office and gave an order.
"First, air out this room. And make sure no one except the Head and the Acting Head can enter this office. You're aware that I became the Acting Head again yesterday by His Majesty's order, right?"
It was a reminder to re-establish the power structure within the Arsene County.
It also meant that the servants who had become lax during the two weeks when Flora and Brandon acted as if the house was theirs after the Count's departure should not remain in the mansion.
"Yes, Miss. No, Acting Head, I will follow your orders."
Selina smiled, satisfied with the attendant's response.
While the office was being reorganized, Selina went to the Central Wing’s garden to enjoy the sunlight and fresh air for the first time in a while.
Then she personally went to the East Wing, organized what she needed to ask Janus in her study, left it on the window sill where Cathy usually picked things up, packed some simple belongings, and moved them to the Central Wing.
After moving her things to her room in the Central Wing, Selina began her work as the Acting Head in earnest.
Flora, who had come to cause a scene in a fit of rage, couldn't even see Selina giving instructions related to the business and the family in the office.
No matter how much Flora shouted and cursed, only the ears of the servants who mechanically restrained her were hurt. Selina didn't even catch a glimpse of Flora's shadow.
* * *
[Please announce that the Grand Duchess will be chosen from among the participants of this Red Jewel selection competition. And please ensure that those who escorted me and His Grace keep their mouths shut about the news of our marriage.]
Janus, reading the letter Selina had sent, let out a deep sigh.
'She told me to rely on her, and now she's making these requests. What am I to do with you?'
Through Cathy, Janus conveyed his message to Selina, telling her not to carry all the burdens alone and to lean on him, her husband.
Phillip, who was beside him, also had a grave expression.
'Reviving the Red Jewel was a stroke of genius. No one in high society would dare to label the winner of the Red Jewel as a villainess. But competing in the competition won't be easy either. I heard they're placing restrictions on participation this time?'
After a moment of thought, Phillip slapped his knee.
"As expected, our daughter-in-law is clever."
Phillip explained the current situation in more detail to the bewildered Janus.
"Originally, the Red Jewel was a competition open to all unmarried noble ladies who had made their debut in high society."
"But they're choosing only one person from among them?"
"That means the winner is someone everyone acknowledges. Someone even countless competitors would nod in agreement with. Your mother was the last Red Jewel."
"Mother was..."
"Yes. But this time will be different. Your mother's intention to abolish this competition was clear, and it can't be revived while undermining that."
"How will it be different?"
Phillip smiled proudly at Selina and said, "They'll ask each family to send only one representative."
"Only one person?"
"Becoming a participant means being recognized as the representative of their family, so that alone would be an honorable thing. Of course, there will be young ladies who are greedy for good results in the competition, but the sense of disappointment after being eliminated won't be as great. The participants from each family can build connections with each other. Rather than a competition, it will become a social gathering for the young ladies representing their families."
Janus also understood Selina's intentions and nodded.
"It's certainly an ingenious idea. Selina, as the only legitimate daughter of the Arsene County, will naturally participate without competition."
"Let's move according to Selina's instructions for now. I'm sure my daughter-in-law has something else in mind. For the time being, we'll use the influence of our families to spread the news in high society that the Grand Duchess will be chosen from among the participants of this competition."
Phillip left to take care of things.
But Janus's dissatisfied expression didn't fade.
'Just waiting like this isn't like me.'
He deeply inhaled Selina's scent lingering on the letter. Then, he waited for nightfall and headed to the County mansion.
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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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