Ran decided not to go to the ball after she had fallen out with the Crown Prince. Levery agreed with her.
"It's already been advertised enough. You'd rather stay away from the Crown Prince than get tangled up with him."
The prince even sent a bouquet of flowers to Ran, who said she was not feeling well and lived there. Ran put up with the urge to boil the bouquet.
Levery smiled.
"Let's just go shopping and relax."
"Shopping... is a strange luxury···."
She murmured, and Levery squinted her eyes and said.
"It's not luxury, it's basic consumption. What are you going to do with your fortune?"
"Oh, yes."
Come to think of it, now that the money has come in, we have to repair the land extensively. I need to check what happened to the armor I asked Dwarf. ·····
"Shall we go back to the estate?'
There is nothing more to do anyway. Normally, I'd go to more ballrooms and go back to the estate with the achievements of my social studies, but I don't really need the results of my social studies in Lazia-In addition, she is getting tired of political battles.
'I've told Eus this social season I will be in the green arch.'
Thinking of Eustaf, her ankle was itchy and she twisted her feet.
"Well, Levery, I have a favor to ask of you."
"What?"
Ran peeked around. There was no one in the room. Ran spoke in a low voice.
"Can you create a proper identity for me? Secretly."
"What kind of status would it be?"
She didn't ask me where I needed the leverage. Ran was impressed by the quick-witted half-elves.
"It just needs to be a suitable status. A semi-noble person should be suitable."
"All right."
Levery didn't even blink as if she wasn't asking for anything.
"You don't have to be an empire nobleman, do you?"
"Of course."
Perhaps she will leave the empire altogether. Then it'll be as good as the semi-noble of any other kingdom.
It was easier than I thought, so I was puzzled. I thought you'd at least ask for one price or another.
"You look surprise."
Ran groped her face as Levery smiled and said.
"Is it obvious?"
Levery put down the teacup, saying, "That's the level of tact."
"I like you. Duchess of Lazia. So, I'm just doing a little favor."
Ran grinned.
"I don't know if I can give it back to you."
"That's what I think."
At Levery's words, Ran shook off her easy burden. One day, Levery may ask for something from her, but there will be very little Ran can do by then.
"Then I'd be grateful for the favor. Thank you, Levery."
"It's an honor, Duchess."
Levery answered with a slight bow, and Ran unknowingly admired her appearance.
What can I say?
When I saw Haresh, the elves have perfect features, but they are not human, so there is a sense of distance. However, Levery looked much more beautiful, perhaps because she was a harp.
The difference between races is something that cannot be experienced in the rest of the world, so Ran felt amazing.
"Levery, you're a beauty."
Levery opened her eyes wide and laughed at the sudden compliment.
"Thank you, Lord. You are beautiful as well."
"ei-not compared to Levery."
"Oh? You're really flying me."
Levery grinned. She was satisfied with this friendly appearance, which is still often seen as a young Duchess. A million verats of trust were felt.
"I heard you're doing a good job with the Elf."
"Yes, it's a part of it, but that alone makes me wonder where it is."
At Ran's words, Levery's eyes were distinctive.
To humans, elves are just elves. Most of them were ignorant people who did not understand that there were various kinds of elves and their own cultures, or that they would all be the same.
But Ran knew that, and she knew that her deal was only a fraction of that.
Levery smiled while holding a teacup.
"Really, the Lord is not human."
Ran opened her eyes round and smiled.
"I'll take it as a compliment."
"It's a compliment."
Levery said so and smiled again. She then brought up an important matter.
"About ice crystal."
"Yes."
"Now our monopoly period is coming to an end."
Ran opened her lips slightly and then smiled.
"Right. How is it? Was it worth a million verats?"
"You know that. It was worth ten times as much."
Levery said so and asked cautiously.
"Would you like to extend it for another year?"
"Exclusive?"
"Yes, of course, we're going to increase the price of ice crystals. And as an advance, I'll pay you 10 million verats."
For a moment Ran had to try to hide her astonishment. Ten million verat?
10 million?
I thought you were just saying that earlier. Ten million. Besides, not real estate, but cash, ten million. Ran seemed to have goose bumps.
The top of the Golden Rose has become huge enough to lend that amount of money.
Ran didn't snap at the bait. She pondered and asked.
"How much do you intend to raise the price of ice crystals?"
"We're starting to raise the price, so we're going to raise the market price by 20 percent this year. We're going to increase the purchase price of ice crystals by about five percent."
Ran smiled and said.
"I don't need 10 million verats. Instead, let's cut our commission by 10 percent when we deal with the Golden Rose top."
"Lord."
Levery spoke seriously.
"If you quit the Duchess of Lazia, will you come to our top? I'll give you an exceptional treatment."
Ran burst into laughter.
*******
The prince grew irritated. He asked Ran to dance at the ball that day, but was rejected, and he heard a word from the Empress and the Emperor.
'Damn it!'
He kicked the table with abusive language. The hard table made of black wood did not budge.
'I'm so embarrassed that I can't even go to any ball!'
Since that happened, no matter how Ruth was, he couldn't raise his head. After that, I didn't like what Devan said.
Duchess.
She is only a Duchess.
How dare you face the next Emperor of the Great Empire!
"Why haven't I heard from him?"
That Eustaf!
It was stupid of him to not know how to eat even if I feed him.
'No, no, no.'
Ruth rolled his head for a moment. Although you have been close friends yourself, you may feel that you are still lacking.
"I'll ask my father for a favor. ···."
Ruth caressed his chin. He soon fell on his stomach and shouted to his servant, who was shivering.
"I'm coming out! Hurry up!"
Ruth grinned as the servant quickly crawled away. This plan is great even if you think of it. The quick-witted maids cleared up his clothes.
As soon as he wore a cape, Ruth headed straight to the Sun Palace.
Emperor Carval looked up at the sound of the prince's presence.
Carval didn't make it a big deal, even though he was always disappointed with his ugly son. Rather, if he were an overly smart son, he would have been wary. Carval also had the idea of 'if the empire is well until I die,' so he didn't bother with the succession issue.
"I'm seeing my father."
"Yeah, what's going on?"
Ruth smiled softly at Carval's question and said.
"I have a good plan to divide the Duchess of Lazia."
"Lazia?"
Only then did Carval turn his upper body toward his son.
Lazia was a threat to Carval. First of all, I did not have to gain legitimacy in the Empire, but so far, it was still a poor territory, so it didn't matter. The story of the former Duke of Lazia being held in debt and secured the estate was also a satisfactory rumor for Carval.
However, the situation reversed with the new Duke of Lazia.
Ice crystal.
Lazia accumulating enormous wealth with it. Carval was very displeased with it. If I could, I wanted to hit the Duke of Lazia and take the mine away. But there was a lack of justification.
Furthermore, he found that the Knights of Blue flame was also formidable due to the territorial dispute with the Marquis.
"What's inside?"
But how to split such a Lazia, asked Carval because he was quite happy.
"Give Eustaf a court pass."
"Court pass?"
"Yes, doesn't Duchess Lazia go around asking for temporary leave now? She's taking over the social circle. But what happens if Eustaf is given access to the court?"
"That sounds plausible."
Carval nodded and caressed his mustache. Then, of course, Eustaf would enter the social world, and Ran's influence had to be halved.
Eustaf would have tried to summon his power until he became an adult, but if Eustaf had power, it would be eliminated, so he would advance the fight between the two.
Carval's face reminded me of a satisfied smile.
"Okay, I'll put down the edict right now."
"It's a wise decision, father."
"Ruth, you've come to see a great nation."
Ruth smiled at Carval's compliment. Now, once he gets that letter, Eustaf knows for sure that the Crown Prince is on his side.
'Then I'll let her go to me next.'
Ruth felt his body heat up.
After leaving the emperor Carval, Ruth hurried to prepare a carriage.
I couldn't stand it if I didn't get rid of this desire right away. He was the prince who ordered him to head to the brothel from broad daylight.
The story went straight to Olivia. The servant, who delivered the news, bowed her head with a face of apology.
"Really? Are you saying you're looking for Cortizan from day one?"
Olivia muttered and laughed so hard. She put a needle in a bucket and ordered, "Get away," and the maid quickly slipped away.
There was embarrassment in the faces of Court Lady (a noblewoman who was serving a female imperial family, a poet but friendly position) who had a meeting with her.
Baroness Tori quickly opened her mouth.
"The Crown Prince will soon come to his senses."
When Olivia looked up at the purple eyes inside and saw Baroness Tori, she bowed her head, not knowing what to do. Then another lady gave the answer.
"It's none of our Crown Princess' business. Ladies, isn't that right?"
There is no need for the Crown Princess to be hurt by pride. Olivia grinned and looked at the lady, then said, looking fiercely at Baroness Tori.
"I'm not in the mood for any more embroidery, so I'll call it a day."
At the words, they quickly got up from their seats, bent down, and walked out.
Baroness Tory will quit Court Lady as of today.
Olivia smirked and began to embroider. In fact, she was grateful that Ruth went to the prostitute without looking for her.
Every time we had a mandatory coupling, Olivia felt nauseous.
'Olivia, what do you want to do?'
She whispered and smiled at herself.
*******
Ran received the edict with a puzzled look on her face. It was an edict to allow Eustaf Laban de Lazia to enter the court.
Ran looked at his head as he held out a gold-plated cheek made of parchment paper to Eustaf.
"It's good for me, but why did they send this letter all of a sudden?"
"Maybe he thought you'd be embarrassed if they sent it."
"Why?"
Eustaf grinned as he opened his eyes wide with a look that Ran was really curious.
"For the same reason you always worry that I'm going to kill you."
Ran's face turned red with his uncharacteristic straightforward remarks. She made an excuse in embarrassment.
"I'm not always worried. I really do believe it."
"Promise."
"Right?"
I'm saying I believe in promises, but why is that sarcastic nuance?
Ran looked up and sighed and said.
"No matter what they think, I'm relieved. It's a good thing Eustaf can get in and out of society. Do you want to come with me next time?"
"Are you going out?"
"Yes, since it's Eustaf's debut, I wonder if the palace ball will be good. Oh, let's get new clothes, too."
When he saw Ran saying this and that with a look of excitement, Eustaf stopped "a number of annoying arguments."
"That would be nice, too."
It was just that he answered so.