194. The Flower Garden's Queen (2)
194. The Flower Garden's Queen (2)
- 1 -
"May I offer a piece of advice, Lady?"
Geurim said to me after we had left the garden.
The old goblin of the Mammon Trading Company stood in a respectful posture. Contrary to his wrinkled face, the way he looked up at me with keen, shining eyes was impressive.
Though he was a goblin and a noble, his politeness was probably a survival tactic honed over his more than 200 years of life.
"Speak."
"As a Lady whose survival has been confirmed, you currently outrank most counts in the demon realm's aristocracy. Even by honor alone, that is the case. Therefore, even if some count tries some trick, you need not endure it."
Geurim's words carried a hidden intention. It was likely an indirect criticism of how I had accepted a loss in my conversation with Count Huelin.
But I shook my head. There was no way he didn't understand the situation, and the fact that he brought this up must have meant he wanted to confirm my thinking.
"If I do that, I'll end up isolated in the demon realm's political world. I still have nothing, while that man has many connections. Isn't that right?"
Power was not something that could be sustained alone. No matter how much higher my position was than theirs, I couldn't ignore my relationship with them.
At my words, the goblin smiled, his eyes full of admiration.
"You are outstanding. I merely wanted to properly inform you of your standing, Lady."
"I see. Thank you."
We walked in silence for a while after that. Only after the floral scent of the garden grew distant and we had left the royal castle did we resume our conversation.
"So, the reason you introduced him to me?"
"Count Ophillius Huelin is on the younger side among the Court Counts of the royal castle, but his ability was recognized, and he was appointed vice-chief of the Administrative Office. Furthermore, the Dungeon Lord Management Department is one of the most powerful departments within all the various branches of the Administrative Office."
The Dungeon Lord Management Department.
To manage the process of turning monsters into Dungeon Lords was essentially no different from managing the appointment of Demon King heir candidates.
His words also hinted at the size of the power I could use. But if it was power of that scale, the origin point would be clear.
In that case, I already knew the department's original name.
"It was originally the Royal Management Department, it seems."
"You are astute as ever. It was a branch detached from there when Dungeon Lords began to be spread across the surface."
If it was a duty entrusted with managing royalty, then regardless of his personality, his loyalty and ability had been verified.
As I thought that, Geurim continued speaking.
"However, its prestige is not lacking compared to the Royal Management Department, since it manages the heir candidates designated by His Majesty. If Lady Libertas continues to rise higher in the future, he is a suitable person to build a connection with inside the royal castle."
"I see..."
I recalled Ophillius's shameless face.
Though he seemed to humble himself, there was a reason behind his attitude of subtly looking down on everything. He must have wanted to test me based on his own background.
Also, I could understand the true meaning behind Geurim's words.
"He would also be suited to be used and discarded."
Just because he was loyal to the current Demon King didn't mean he would necessarily be loyal to the next Demon King.
In the end, he was a being with whom I would have to continue both cooperation and surveillance simultaneously.
"You may do so. Or you could enlighten him about someone truly worthy of being served."
Geurim hid his sinister smile with his sleeve.
That was one of his true natures.
Though he always showed only a favorable side to me, he was a seasoned noble who had survived well over 200 years in this demon realm.
Perhaps his reason for helping me was also due to that nature. Since the emergence of a new power was both an opportunity and a danger.
"Anyway, to be a vice-chief at such a young age with such firm loyalty... is he perhaps a relative of the Demon King?"
"...How did you know?"
Geurim's eyes widened. This time, he seemed genuinely surprised.
But this was merely a simple guess. It was because I had suddenly recalled the ancient Chinese government post of 'Zongzheng.'
This post, which handled the auditing and enfeoffment of the imperial clan and maternal relatives, meant 'head of the clan,' and in principle, only relatives of the emperor were appointed to it.
Therefore, I had thought that this position managing Dungeon Lords would also operate on a similar principle. After all, the structure of aristocratic societies was ultimately similar.
In any case, Geurim's attitude turned that speculation into fact.
"It was a simple deduction. His attitude toward the Queen was stiff for a loyal noble working in the royal household."
"You are incredible."
It wasn't difficult to fit the evidence to the answer when you already knew it.
Geurim was simply convinced and let it go.
"Then, I shall take my leave here. Lady Libertas."
"See you again next time."
Parting with him was as routine as meeting him was.
Even when we met, we would quickly part again for our respective duties, and even after parting like that, we would face each other again for cooperation.
- 2 -
Thus, after welcoming Viscount Grimm Du Rol, we spent some time touring more of the demon realm's capital, Pandemonium.
We saw how the magical power extending from the faceless statue of the Demon King in the capital's plaza actually took the form of twelve pairs of wings.
We brought out a table laden with unique and delicious foods created from a mix of demon realm and human cultures, ate only what suited our tastes, and then wrapped up the rest to distribute to the poor on the streets.
"What you mentioned will be ready by tomorrow afternoon, yes!"
"I leave it to you."
Or we briefly stopped by the Pandemonium branch of the Ash Heap Artisan Corps, contracted with my dungeon, to place an additional order.
"So, between nobles, before meeting, they always..."
"Yes. That would be the case."
We walked the streets of Pandemonium and talked.
Serica explained the culture and history of this place to me, and I listened to her stories.
We finished sightseeing everything I already knew from my prior research within the first two days, which also doubled as dates with Serica.
Until the evening of the approaching second day, when she said this.
"Then, I'll be going now. See you later."
Serica's eyes as she looked at me were full of regret.
After tonight passed, I would probably become quite busy.
These leisurely times wouldn't come again for a while.
Her regret was because of that.
"Alright. Let's do that."
Serica's goodbye was still a volkiss.
With an attitude as lively as her bright smile, I held her in my arms for a moment after she gave me a shy kiss.
I waved goodbye to her as she left and went inside the house.
"Master. The hairdresser and seamstress have arrived."
"Bring them to the room. Artemis."
As lodging, I had rented one of the houses on the street flanked by the royal household and the Baritra Marquis Household's mansion.
After all, a noble couldn't prepare for another noble's banquet on the street.
It wasn't as if I lacked the financial means, so there was no reason not to use what I had.
"Is it okay to do it like this?"
"Yes. That's correct. Your magic manipulation ability is truly amazing. Lady!"
Ttog-tok.
As I was adjusting the state of my hair and dress, consulting with the two artists Mure had called for me, I heard a knock.
"Who is it?"
- It's Maria. Master.
"Come in."
The door opened, and through it, I saw Maria, wearing a knight's formal uniform tailored perfectly to her body.
"The uniform suits you well. Maria."
"Thank you, Master. Though there are still many areas where I am lacking..."
Contrary to her modest reply, her posture and demeanor were already sufficiently aristocratic. The fact that she had originally been an adventurer and mercenary was an amusing detail.
Maria stepped into the room, bowed once, and then immediately stated her business.
"A guest has come looking for you, Master."
"A guest?"
I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
Since tonight's banquet was already scheduled, I wondered which impatient noble had sent another invitation.
This was an act that would be rude not only to me but also to Marquis Baritra. The virtue of a noble was luxury and leisure.
The puzzlement born of that misunderstanding soon disappeared.
"They did not reveal where they came from, but they seemed to be someone working for a noble family of great status, at the very least."
By her own admission, Maria had experience dealing with high-ranking nobles.
That was why I had entrusted the front door to her. Because I expected she would be able to distinguish the 'rank' of the visitors and relay that information.
But if it was simply someone sent by a high-ranking noble, since tonight's banquet was already scheduled, I would have just accepted the invitation and sent them back.
Which meant there must be a reason she had come to see me directly like this.
"Bring them in."
I answered without deliberately dismissing the seamstress and hairdresser. That was because it was rude to visit without notice at this hour in the first place.
However, after learning the identity of the visitor, I couldn't help but realize how hasty my judgment had been.
A woman with sharp eyes, contrary to her friendly impression. Because I recognized who she was instantly.
The shadow of the person at the highest position in the demon realm.
That she had moved personally meant there had been a command from someone highly respected.
"You two. Withdraw to the next room. I will call you again."
"Yes. Lady."
The two demons, who had been unable to focus properly, either on reading the atmosphere or on their work, only then seemed relieved as they withdrew and disappeared out the door.
They must have dealt with high-ranking nobles often, so they probably had been inwardly torn over what to do, caught between the owner of the room telling them to stay and the discourteous guest.
Only after the signs of people had grown distant and I felt Maria take her place in front of the door did I finally open my mouth.
"Why would such a noble personage commit such a discourtesy?"
At my words, the brow of the woman who had entered the room narrowed slightly. As if she found it surprising that I had recognized her immediately.
No matter how noble her birth, she probably found it hard to understand that a Dungeon Lord, who had essentially grown up in the wild, would know etiquette and also see through her identity at a glance.
But she soon hid her bewilderment and bowed her waist in apology. It was an extremely elegant gesture.
"I have brought a gift sent by a noble personage. I was impatient and caused this, so please accept my apology."
For someone serving another, it was clear the mistake was their master's, yet she was taking the blame upon herself.
She was a person of deep loyalty who also practiced the proper form of it, so I felt even my minuscule remaining displeasure fly away.
Meeting a good person was always a pleasure. Even if I couldn't know their intentions.
"I accept it."
I examined her attire.
A woman's suit, minimally decorated but made of highly luxurious fabric. Even her exposed skin was adorned with high-class accessories.
If she were a noblewoman of a high-status family or newly rich, she would have dressed flashily, and even an impoverished noble would wear a dress, not a suit.
This was, in other words, attire meant to make someone else stand out, and at the same time, such fabric could only be used by high-ranking nobles.
Which meant her identity was either a woman who valued her self-image as an administrator, or someone's lady-in-waiting.
'If it's someone who came looking for me now, who she serves is obvious.'
If it was someone from the Baritra Marquis Household, one of the two possibilities, there was a separate appointment already set.
Above all, it was a face in my memory. Because she was the woman who had stood like a shadow right next to the demon possessing the noblest divine status I had seen today.
The Demon King's wife, the Chief Lady-in-waiting of the Queen.
"You said Her Majesty the Queen sent a gift."
At my words, the Chief Lady-in-waiting's brow twitched once more, but this time, she showed no further sign and handed me what she had been holding preciously in her arms.
Amid the drifting scent of various flowers, I sensed a fragrance I had smelled before.
Chanel No. 19 perfume, or the floral scent used in Iris Poudre.
Iris.
That flower, which even on Earth had symbolized the French royal family. A flower symbolizing the pride of a royal house, and also a flower symbolizing rumor.
"Her Majesty said she wanted to show that flowers can bloom even outside the garden."
The lady-in-waiting said that as she pulled back the veil.
Just as I had guessed from the scent, it was a bouquet centered on irises.
The way the purple flowers stood out among the black and white ones made what this bouquet symbolized all too obvious.
"Please tell her I am grateful for her interest. And that after I have dealt with all my scheduled appointments, I will pay her a visit at the earliest possible date."
"I shall convey that. Lady Libertas."
At the immediate answer, the lady-in-waiting now smiled.
It was a smile that revealed, just like my first impression, that she was a person who lived devoted to her master.
"..."
Left alone where the lady-in-waiting had stood, I remained lost in thought for a while, breathing in the scent of flowers.
I didn't know why she had sought me out so urgently, but this was practically a message telling me to use her.
However, using it would come after I had properly grasped her true intentions.
Because I didn't believe in unwarranted goodwill. Even less so if the subject was 'family.'
Especially if that family was the Demon King's wife, there was no reason to welcome it.
I would be wary, extremely wary.