Chapter 26
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Gathering Trash Makes Treasure
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lucy Rig wasn't particularly clever.
If anything, she was closer to dim-witted.
Even with so many smart people around her, compared to an average person, her abilities didn't stand out.
If there was one reason she'd managed to survive, it was because she was quick on the uptake.
A weakling's way of navigating the world.
Knowing where she could stretch out her legs... and where she couldn't.
Of course, it didn't help that all the kids her age around her were hailed as once-in-a-generation geniuses.
Just thinking of people around her age...
"..."
Shaking off the gloomy thoughts, she turned her gaze toward Prince Theodor.
Prince Theodor.
The first prince of the Castina Empire, who also served as a saint.
His character was impeccable, his actions profoundly just, earning the admiration of all...
'But he's not interested in imperial power, so he won't become emperor.'
That was Count Rig's conclusion about Theodor.
Prince Theodor was far too virtuous to crave power.
In a way, she might even be in a similar position.
'Though in my case, it's because I lack talent.'
A bitter smile crossed Lucy's lips as she looked at Prince Theodor again.
He was staring back at her in surprise.
"...How?"
He muttered in a bewildered tone, and a soft smile bloomed on Lucy's face upon hearing it.
"It's just a rumor."
To be quick on the uptake, one had to keep tabs on the gossip.
The world of children was more brutal yet purer than one might think.
They divided people by talent and mocked those who were different for no reason at all.
On the flip side, as long as she provided fresh meat for the wolves, Lucy had no reason to suffer among the other kids—even without talent of her own.
That was how she'd survived.
Listening to rumors, siding with the strong, living in flattery.
Sometimes her conscience stung, but survival left little choice.
"..."
Prince Theodor stared at her intently.
"Why tell me?"
Curiosity, not suspicion or distrust, colored his face.
Seeing it, Lucy smiled gently.
"Because you showed me the stars."
A lie.
Her father had warned her repeatedly that allying with Princess Lily or Princess Ravire's factions would cost too much...
'Get close to Prince Theodor, Lucy.'
Count Rig's words echoed in her mind.
'He doesn't cast people aside lightly. It'll help you too.'
Objectively speaking, it made sense.
Unlike Princess Lily and Princess Ravire's camps, which drew the talented, Prince Theodor's group attracted eccentrics.
'A magic doll and a former saintess. Isn't it fascinating?'
Recalling her father's words, she gazed at Prince Theodor.
"..."
He looked back at her quietly before nodding.
"Mm, alright then..."
Lucy smiled.
"Then...?"
"Thanks. Go rest."
"...?"
Before Lucy could respond, Prince Theodor turned and walked away.
"...Uh, um...?"
Bewilderment spread across her face.
*
"Master?"
As I returned to my seat, Clue tilted her head at me.
"What happened?"
"Made me uneasy."
"Pardon?"
I pictured the face of the girl who'd called herself Lucy.
"Did she seem to have ulterior motives? If you want, I can fetch her and—"
"What would I even ask a twelve-year-old?"
"Ow."
I lightly smacked Clue's thigh and continued.
"It's just that face of hers doesn't match her age."
Twelve should look a bit more... untouched by the world.
Too well-socialized, maybe.
The kids who'd visited earlier were still shedding their childishness despite trying to fit in, but Lucy seemed overly polished.
"I think it's odd for Master to say that..."
Clue cleared her throat and murmured.
"Huh?"
"Master's awfully mature for your age too. No, beyond that."
"..."
"Talking to you sometimes feels like chatting with a middle-aged family head. It's truly amaz—"
"I'm different."
"There you go again."
"Anyway, she had her reasons."
I'm a jaded office worker at heart.
"So, that girl just..."
"Thank her first, then send her off with a gift."
I couldn't ignore what she'd given me.
"What should we give her?"
"Hm. What to give..."
After a moment's thought, I pulled out a teaspoon.
"This is the one I kept infusing with holy power for practice."
It was the result of experiments with Isfil, wondering if we could turn an inanimate object into a holy relic.
Ultimately, it didn't become one, but it ended up as a teaspoon blessed beyond belief.
These days, our tea times turned into holy power parties—drinking from the Holy Grail and stirring with this spoon.
"..."
Clue took the teaspoon, her expression subtle, then slowly walked over and handed it to Lucy. Lucy accepted it, unable to hide her confusion, and glanced back at me from afar.
Use it well. It's a good item.
In the end...
"...I'm sorry, Your Highness."
Recruitment failed.
Can't be helped.
"Guess I'll have to attend the salon more often for a while."
"Where?"
"Where else? The salon."
"Ah."
"You can skip if you want."
"No, I'll go."
"You're weird too. You like the salon."
"...Don't say that..."
I watched Clue sigh deeply, then closed my eyes.
Whatever.
*
Lucy's routine was always the same.
Attend the salon, mingle, gather rumors.
If she spotted easy prey, she'd join the flow, enabling the bullying of outsiders.
"..."
That's how it would've gone.
But this time was different.
The cycle had turned, and she was the sacrifice.
Lucy's gaze drifted to the others laughing and chatting.
Inevitable.
A salon was for building allies and weeding out enemies.
Or rather, bonding with allies and ruthlessly cutting foes.
After years of currying favor, her lack of talent had finally cast her out.
"..."
Lucy stared blankly at the teaspoon.
The one Prince Theodor had given her.
She remembered showing it to Count Rig; he'd looked back and forth between it and her in bewilderment before handing it back.
'If the prince gave it, there must be a reason. Use it well.'
Thinking of that, Lucy let out a small sigh.
She had no idea why he'd given her a teaspoon.
The magic doll that delivered it said stirring water with it would boost health and fill her with healing power.
"...As if."
She sighed but stirred her tea anyway.
Hard to call it an outright lie.
It was from Prince Theodor, and whether it was her imagination, drinking the tea really seemed to dispel any foul energy from her body.
Sipping her tea, she watched him conversing with others from afar.
For some reason, the people he met were all rejects like her.
"..."
Like an adult gathering kids to play, Theodor rallied the children.
His status as prince surely helped, but perhaps something bigger...
Lucy gazed blankly at Prince Theodor.
He looked back and closed his eyes.
As if he knew what crime he'd committed.
A faint ache tugged at the edge of her heart.
The man who'd given her the stars.
Back then, her life had seemed smoother; how had she ended up tasting society's storms at this age?
Imagining Theodor scoffing, then bursting into laughter, she took another sip,
"...Oh, Lady Rig."
A familiar, unwelcome voice made her look up.
Similar golden hair, different style.
If only the girl's family outranked or under-ranked hers, but no—same count's daughter.
Rumor had it she'd joined Princess Lily's faction.
The frontrunner in the imperial race, so she'd been deemed useful.
Unlike Lucy.
"..."
With that thought, Lucy tuned her out.
She didn't want to hear more.
How much time passed? The count's daughter left, leaving Lucy alone.
"..."
Lucy looked at the teaspoon again.
Now someone else loomed over her.
"Lucy."
A familiar voice rang in her ears.
She slowly looked up,
and Prince Theodor entered her view, smiling softly down at her.
"Your Highness...?"
Lucy murmured in confusion, and Theodor smiled gently, meeting her eyes before speaking.
"Lucy."
His gaze flicked briefly to her and the count's daughter who'd just tormented her, then returned.
"..."
Then, he muttered something.
She didn't catch it all, just the words "villainess lady."
Villainess lady?
Before Lucy could process it,
"Got nothing to do? Want to have tea together?"
"...Your Highness."
"Of course, I'll pick the members."
He smiled and glanced back.
The stragglers were all watching him.
Obvious salon rejects, to anyone.
"..."
Lucy watched, opening and closing her mouth.
Was this real?
Or would she end up alone again...
The thought made her mouth open naturally.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Theodor smiled, and Lucy followed him, eyeing the others.
Only rejects trailed behind Theodor.
But their numbers... were greater than anyone's.