Chapter 28

Chapter 28

“It’s safe to stop now.”

They’d crossed the banquet hall diagonally and arrived at a spot where no members of the imperial family were in sight. Her feet hurting because of her high heels, Eve stopped with relief. She was just about to take a break when a young nobleman greeted her politely.

“I was waiting for you, Seventh Princess.”

“Oh?”

She’d just made a beeline through the hall to get away from her siblings. What was this young man going on about? Eve, confused, watched as he gave an exaggerated bow.

“I waited for you here, knowing that you’d come to find me as well. I, Alvin Redmon, admire your ability to discover undervalued talent!”

“What? Wait. Alvin Redmon?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please go on,”

Alvin raised his head without rising from his bow. His wine-colored eyes were filled with a wistful air. Eve finally began to recognize the young man’s roguish face. Alvin Redmon. He was the second son of Count Redmon, and an official in the Chamberlain’s Office...

He will become a very corrupt official in the future!

Alvin was a prime example of nepotism, becoming an official only because of his father’s position, without having to pass any tests or proving he had any skill. Though he was demoted once, he was placed back in the Office of Finance thanks to his father’s influence, where he then began making an impact by engaging in all sorts of embezzlement.

Eve had been one of his victims. So much of her budget and rewards in her previous life had been stolen from her that she’d rarely received any of the imperial gifts that were handed down at palace events.

I tried to report his corrupt actions several times, but he’d covered his tracks so well that I could never find any evidence.

In one way, he actually could be considered very talented in his field. While Eve angrily reflected on these memories, Mikael moved to guard her, taking a step forward.

“Do you know this man, Your Highness?” he said, his voice filled with threat.

Alvin hiccuped, cowed by Mikael’s presence. He did not, however, straighten up from his bow.

Eve took a moment to consider her answer.

“Yes. I do know him.”

Eve took a deep breath. If she started things on the wrong foot with a favored son of the House of Redmon, and one who would become the corrupt heavyweight at the Office of Finance, her second life might be equally as difficult.

He was watching who I approached and spoke to. It’s not a good idea to turn smart individuals like him against me.

Eve put on a courteous smile.

“Lord Alvin Redmon, I’m pleased to meet you. I’ve been wishing to speak with you for a while.”

“My goodness, Your Highness! So I am one of the talented individuals you have chosen to speak with.”

Though she’d thought him highly perceptive for having noticed her intentional movements, he seemed truly moved by her response.

“I was deeply hoping you would not believe the rumors and still come to see me.”

“Rumors?”

“There have been... unpleasant rumors about me achieving my position purely by my father’s influence.”

Eve was stunned that Alvin would admit to this so openly. Then he suddenly burst out in frustration,

“Oh! All those baseless rumors got started because my superior, Count Sanchez, hates me! But, all will be fine now, since I have learned that people like you exist—people with wisdom. I, Alvin, no longer have reason to be disappointed in this world.”

“...”

Apparently Eve’s information had been incorrect. She did her best to hide her surprise.

Count Sanchez is known to be on bad terms with Alvin’s father, Count Redmon. Could there be any truth to Alvin’s words?

It seemed quite possible. Alvin had been demoted at the same time Count Sanchez had defeated Count Redmon in becoming the head of the Chamberlain's Office. Though Alvin succeeded in returning to the palace later, with Count Redmon’s help, he remained as a low-ranking official after that, unable to achieve any promotions. There was no way Alvin could have failed to stand out in the Office of Finance, considering his first-rate skills in various activities such as ledger duplication, concealment of evidence, and document tampering. It seemed clear from speaking to him for just a few moments that he was genuine and honest in his efforts to succeed, and would not have wanted to get promoted without having earned it. It was strange, then, that he’d never managed to gain any higher titles.

So was it Count Sanchez who cut Alvin’s career short in the previous life?

Not that it justified Alvin’s criminal propensities, of course. Eve decided to adjust her assessment of him. Though his character was questionable, he could still be of import. She would give Alvin an opportunity.

“Lord Alvin, I think you should not be here right now. I suggest you go back to the Chamberlain’s Office.”

“Pardon? Most of the work at the Chamberlain’s Office ended when the banquet began. Why are you suggesting this?”

Eve took a step toward Alvin, forming the space for a private conversation.

“Quite a few offerings were involved in Rosie’s selection ceremony today. Since the ceremony ended just before the banquet began, I would assume many of those offerings were used at the last minute, without prior approval.”

For example, the offering of a fragment of the Philosopher’s Stone.

“It would not be beneficial to the dignity of the court if any records of these significant offerings were findable, especially when due to a lack of alchemical talent by an imperial princess. The Chamberlain’s Office is probably busy right now fixing any records they can regarding the offerings that were used. I believe you could be of some help with such work, Lord Alvin...”

“Oh! Right you are, Your Highness. Such paperwork is my specialty.”

“Good. Then it looks like I was right about you. I’m sure that you can process the evidence so that no amount of cross-checking will uncover any sort of discrepancy.”

“Your Highness!”

Eve was doing her best to act supportive, trying to encourage him to take this opportunity.

If Alvin Redmon gets involved, there will be no evidence left behind. It will forever be a secret that Rosie used a fragment of the Philosopher's Stone for her selection ceremony. I don’t like helping Rosie out like this, but this could be a good chance for Alvin to prove his worth to his superiors.

Able to calmly calculate what she had to gain by this, Eve decided to press Alvin.

“Go on—make a good impression on the head of the Chamberlain's Office.”

“Yes, Your Highness! I will prove to you that your trust is not misplaced!”

Eve slowly dropped her facade as Alvin rushed away, her affable smile replaced with a tired look.

“Mika... I mean, Sir Agnito.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Mikael responded immediately, stepping forward and giving her his arm.

“Where would you like to go?”

“Let’s just stay this way for a moment.”

Eve leaned more heavily on Mikael’s arm, allowing their arms to be almost interlinked as they stood quite close to each other. Mikael looked at her inquisitively. Eve gave a small smile and whispered,

“It’s my heels. They’re almost as tall as a lady’s hand. I hope you understand.”

“But you are a princess. Can you not use levitation magic to reduce the strain on your feet?”

“I could, but then I wouldn’t be able to walk as gracefully.”

“Oh, I see.”

Mikael made his right arm sturdier to allow Eve to lean on it more.

“I will find us a place you can rest.”

“No, Rosie could arrive at any minute. Plus, this is almost over anyway.”

Eve straightened up and looked ahead. Her next target was a group of six young men. They were all aristocrat’s sons who came from houses with political power, and were studying at the imperial academy, Gnosis.

Among them were the sons of Count Reindel—a member of the imperial advisory committee—and Marquess Remitiello. Young men who studied together in the academy rarely appeared in high society, and when they did, they stayed together in their clique. Such close friendships were based on a common denominator—none of them were heirs to their father’s titles.

Noble families were strictly monogamous, and the oldest son or daughter was usually given the family title. The six sons who were gathered here, despite their excellent abilities and huge ambitions, would be excluded from their family inheritance because they were not the firstborn. This formed a special bond between them.

Two among them, however, do actually succeed in acquiring their family title, despite the odds.

She needed to build a connection. Eve gave Mikael a serious look as she said,

“Mikael, please stand farther away this time.”

“Why?”

“I need to lower the barrier to entry, so to speak.”

“...?”

She could see a confused look in his one uncovered eye, but she offered no further explanation.

“I’ll be back, Sir Agnito.”

Eve released Mikael’s hand and walked away. She put great care in her step, trying to make herself as graceful as possible. She walked up to the group as they sipped wine cocktails, swapping stories about the academy and bragging about their school connections.

“May I have a glass?”

Eve crafted the perfect smile as she looked charmingly at the six noblemen’s sons. The result was quite alluring, attracting strong gazes. Eve did her best to act oblivious to their stares, letting all Sedella’s hard effort do its work.

High society is, at heart, a marriage market.

Because the aristocrat’s sons studied at the academy and princesses were educated solely in the palace, these social groups seldom had cause to meet. If she was to break into this tight-knit group and start up a conversation, she needed a brash tactic. In other words, it needed to be a more straightforward approach that appealed to the fundamental nature of high society.

I may be known as the pariah princess, but I’m still a princess. They can’t shut me down outright. And I only need to befriend one of the six. If at least one of them likes what he sees, I’ll have found my way in.