Chapter 34
“Sue, do you have anything to report?”
“No, everything seems to be fine.”
“Hmm.”
It was a strange reaction. Enzhe was more informed than Sue when it came to news during the holidays. She would have known even if she hadn’t asked, but she was deliberately testing Sue.
“Well, whatever. Just keep doing as you’re told, like a loyal dog, Sue. That’s what you Byron people are good at.”
She smirked, her chin resting on her clasped hands. She was clearly mocking Sue, but her alluring eyes, deep as black holes, made her look like a beautiful little devil.
Is life really all about looks?
“Let’s talk about something more sophisticated. All we ever talk about at tea parties is who likes who. I’m not interested in other people’s affairs. Let’s talk about something more political, something more highbrow.”
Enzhe gave the order, but none of them spoke.
What even is a political and highbrow conversation? Sue had rarely had such conversations with Enzhe.
“…Ah.”
Sue, who had been staring blankly at a landscape painting on the opposite wall, suddenly remembered something Leo had told her and nodded.
“I heard that the number of illegal entries has been increasing lately.”
“Illegal entries?”
Enzhe and Melaine’s gazes turned to Sue simultaneously.
“You mean the illegal entry problem. I heard about it from my sister.”
Melaine added, as if she knew about it.
“What about illegal entries? There have always been those idiots every year.”
Illegal entries referred to commoners who entered the capital illegally, without permission from the Imperial examiners.
The capital was a land of opportunity for both nobles and commoners. If you obtained a proper business permit, you could earn a good living in a more prosperous environment.
But obtaining that permit was as difficult as reaching for the stars, so there were a few people who tried to sneak into the capital.
“But I heard the number is increasing. I didn’t know this before… Apparently, some of them even use transformation magic to disguise themselves as residents of the capital. Or they forge permits more elaborately…”
Sue mentally organized what Leo had told her.
“…But they get caught eventually. The Imperial mages in the capital are very skilled, so it’s inevitable.”
“Transformation magic is limited in its use, no matter how skilled you are. Only idiots with low intelligence would try to deceive the people of the capital with that.”
Enzhe scoffed. Her words carried weight, as she was second only to Halo in terms of magical talent.
“But the number keeps increasing, so it seems like it’s become a nuisance to weed them out.”
Melaine, who had been listening quietly, added.
“I heard that the Imperial Magic Division and the Knights Order are going to send support.”
Melaine’s sister was the Commander of the First Knights, so she was more informed about the Knights Order than most nobles.
“There’s nothing to gain from entering the capital illegally… They really don’t know their place.”
Melaine touched her earlobe with a dry expression. Enzhe swallowed a piece of madeleine without making a sound, then replied in a bored tone,
“They should all be killed. Those filthy things.”
Her casual remark wasn’t an empty threat. Both Sue and Melaine knew that. But Enzhe quickly lost interest in the topic. She took a sip of tea. The tea leaves had been imported from overseas, so the taste was a bit unfamiliar.
“Anyway, it has nothing to do with me. It doesn’t matter how much those trash struggle…”
“Yes, you’re right.”
“I apologize, Lady Enzhe. I was being shortsighted.”
Who was the one who wanted to have a more political and highbrow conversation?
But she wasn’t offended. Everyone had expected Enzhe to lose interest quickly, no matter what topic they brought up.
Enzhe cheered up again, surrounded by her two lackeys who agreed with everything she said. Her black eyes, bottomless as black holes, narrowed slightly.
“Hehe… Well then, let’s talk about something else. Ah, how about this? Shina came to my house the other day.”
“Oh my, Master Fritz came again… His love for Lady Enzhe is truly special.”
“I want to hear all about it!”
Enzhe’s endless rehashing of Fritz stories, disguised as a discussion, continued in this manner, starting and stopping abruptly. Sue, having heard the saga of Fritz and Enzhe her entire life, clapped reflexively and clasped her hands together, feigning excitement.
Encouraged by her lackeys’ responses, Enzhe launched into a lengthy speech, her voice loud enough to drown out the sound of the music box.
Listening to her love story wasn’t so bad. It was far better than hearing about who she wanted to curse or kill.
If she had always been this way, I wouldn’t have to be so on edge all the time.
Just as she was dismissing those wishful thoughts…
“…Ugh, speaking of which, there’s that ball in two weeks. You’re coming too, right?”
Enzhe suddenly remembered something she had been trying to forget. Her lovely face instantly contorted into a grotesque skull.
“Yes, our family is delighted to attend, having received an invitation from the Grand Duke of Lopetrefer himself.”
“Us too. My sister said she’ll make time to attend as well.”
Sue and Melaine answered immediately, unable to lie about this.
The ball was a celebration of Michaela’s birth. On the surface, it was a celebration of the birth of the next head of the Lopetrefer family, but it was also intended to honor the Lopetrefer grand duke family itself for creating a successful product.
“Damn it.”
Enzhe clicked her tongue, her teeth bared, after hearing their answers. But it wasn’t directed at Sue.
“Why are they even holding that stupid ball? Shina and Woo are both attending, so… Why do I have to waste my time for that brat? I have no desire to bow down to Michaela or whatever her name is.”
Enzhe clenched her small fists. It seemed Michaela was bothering her so much that she couldn’t even forget about her while talking about Fritz.
‘Why?’
The novel didn’t elaborate on Enzhe’s feelings towards Michaela, and she had never explained why she disliked her younger sister.
Melaine seemed to interpret her stress as jealousy towards the successful product, but Sue had a different opinion.
Because Enzhe didn’t seem to be bothered by the fact that she was a failure. At least, that’s how Sue saw it.
Then was it because Michaela was receiving all the attention?
‘…That seems likely…’
But it wasn’t a completely satisfying conclusion. Because in the end, the only person Enzhe truly cared about was Shina Fritz.
“This is so frustrating. I wish the venue would just burn down on the day of the ball.”
The opaque tea swirled in her black eyes, bottomless as black holes. Sue bit her lip, watching her nervously. She had to say something.
Yes, even if it’s just empty flattery, let’s badmouth Michaela. That might make her feel a little better.
“Excuse me for interrupting, esteemed ladies of Löhn.”
Just then, a deep voice came from the door, followed by a loud knock.
“My name is Louwurm, the owner of this salon. I apologize for the intrusion, but I have an important message for you. May I enter?”
An important message?
Enzhe and her entourage exchanged glances. But none of them seemed to have any idea. Enzhe finally spoke in a calm, low voice.
“You may enter.”
Her previous foul mood was gone. Sue chuckled wryly, relieved.
Louwurm, the owner of the salon, entered the private room silently. He was an elderly man with white hair.
“Glory to the empire.”
He bowed slightly, minimizing his presence. It was a sign of his experience, having run the large salon for so long.
“What is it?”
Sue stood up and asked the owner. The owner smiled pleasantly and answered directly.
“Master Woo Acrea Ire wishes to see you.”
“Master… Acrea?”
Sue asked back, her eyes wide with surprise at the unexpected name. Melaine was also speechless.
“Woo wants to see me?”
The only one who was happy was Enzhe. Her face lit up at the familiar name. It wasn’t an act.
“Yes. Master Woo Acrea Ire has requested to see you, so I came to seek your permission.”
The old man repeated in a polite tone.
“How did Woo even… Ah, never mind. Let him in.”
Her approval was immediate. Just the mention of Acrea’s name had made her happier than she had been all day with her two lackeys.
‘Haha… Fritz and Acrea, those two are all she needs. Was there even a point in all this trouble?’
Sue felt a sense of futility as she watched Enzhe fix her hair. But if they hadn’t done this, Enzhe would have gone berserk, cursing her for being disrespectful and thoughtless. It was a predictable outcome, based on ‘Sue’s’ experience.