Chapter 18 - Earrings if Hung on Ears, Nose Rings if Hung on Noses (2)
Translator : Elizabeth
If ‘von’ is a middle name mainly referring to territorial nobles of the provinces.
‘de’ was usually a middle name bestowed upon court nobles of the capital.
They mostly own their own valuable businesses here and there in the capital, while holding administrative or official positions in the Royal Court within the capital, the center of the kingdom.
『Erancia de Valmonde.』
Could her Marquess family, the Valmonde family, be called the perfect example of that?
No, perhaps they are too big of a tycoon to be called just an example.
Erancia’s father and the head of the family, Marquess Albert de Valmonde, is the man managing the capital’s treasury as the Court Treasurer.
Her mother, Marchioness Celine, is a figure coordinating and managing the capital’s social order as an advisor to the Protocol Bureau.
Is that all?
The eldest son, Lucien, makes a living in finance such as loans and currency exchange for nobles, whom most nobles in the kingdom owe debts to and thus dare not turn into an enemy.
Although her uncle Marcel is currently acting as the deputy for practical affairs, Erancia, as the eldest daughter, is also scheduled to inherit the position of the next master of the Royal Workshop later.
Also because of this, the majority of real estate in the capital is under the ownership of the Valmonde family under her mother Celine’s name.
Therefore, they have connections with various places within the kingdom.
Naturally with the nobles of the capital and the court nobles within the Royal Capital.
Territorial nobles of the provinces treat Valmonde as a gate to enter the Royal Capital and as a source of funds,
And they even have connections to the Church, which treats the Valmonde family as a window for realistic operations that they inevitably lack.
A family truly worthy of being bestowed the title of Marquess.
Of course, they didn't have vast lands along with powerful military force and autonomy like the Ducal family Rosencrantz, which was once the Royal Family of a small kingdom.
But rather because of that, whether it’s the Ducal family or the Royal Family, territorial nobles or court nobles, or even the Church,
They were able to form somewhat friendly relationships, although the degree differed.
Thus,
The 『Territorial Faction』 or 『Ducal Faction』 centered on territorial nobles including the Rosencrantz Ducal family.
And the 『Court Faction』 or 『Church Faction』 centered on court nobles who benefit in many ways the stronger the Church is.
In the current kingdom divided largely into these two factions,
The Valmonde Marquess family has been conducting politics not particularly leaning toward either side.
But the so-called ‘neutrality’ of choosing both sides,
Is no different from ‘isolation’ of choosing neither side—
‘……You are coming out directly without even an intention to hide acting like it’s not, Saintess…… Does this mean to overlook the commoner’s rudeness with this? Or furthermore…….’
—Just like now, like this.
‘……I knew a day like this would come someday, though.’
It is a self-evident truth that pressure to clearly choose one side would come eventually.
And that day has become right now, and the Church, putting the Saintess at the forefront, has come before her eyes like this.
Leading even an army made of students.
‘Is it because the Church ordered her to do so as expected? Or did the Saintess do it arbitrarily to solidify her position within the Church? No, such things are not important.’
……At least,
‘The important thing is that right now, I, Erancia, the eldest daughter of the Valmonde family, am trapped in the board set up by the Saintess…… that trap.’
Erancia had no choice but to think like that.
‘Perhaps the fact that the Commoner Special Scholarship Student acted so rudely to our side was also…… one of the boards prepared by the Saintess intentionally…… Kuh.’
The Valmonde Marquess family, a family standing on rank, not power.
For such a Valmonde family, nothing was more fatal than a rumor that they were ignored by a commoner.
More than the fact that a commoner was rude, the point that the rudeness was tolerated was especially more fatal.
‘Saying the rank and face as the representative of court nobles was ignored…… is like a political disaster shaking the identity of our Valmonde family.’
That meant court nobles would turn their backs on them.
‘Even so…… It seems certain that that commoner entered the Academy as a Special Scholarship Student according to the Church’s will…… Furthermore, if the Saintess even steps forward directly to protect her…… no matter if it’s me, I can’t act recklessly.’
If she did by chance, even if she punished the commoner and protected the family’s rank and face, she would become enemies with the Church, which grants legitimacy to other court nobles.
So naturally, going around and around, the Valmonde family would be turned away by court nobles again in a different sense.
‘……Effectively a dilemma.’
The key to solving this lies solely with the Church, that is, the Saintess on the scene.
……At least,
‘……Fine. Saintess, this board you meticulously prepared…… Just this once, I will dance on your palm as you intended!’
Erancia had no choice but to think like that.
‘Whether it’s the 『Ducal Faction』 or the 『Church Faction』, it was a matter I had to choose someday anyway.’
And with this incident, effectively that answer was as good as decided.
Having planned strategies and schemes that meticulously,
With that black-hearted Saintess tilting her head hm~? with an innocent face saying she knows nothing,
If she can be with her not as an enemy but as an ally, she would rather welcome it.
‘However, lowering my tail obediently like this is the shape of a loser……. As a daughter of the Valmonde family, I can never show such an appearance.’
Therefore, what is important is not the result that has already been decided,
‘So, at least showing that there was justification worth doing so, elegantly and nobly befitting a Marquess’s daughter, to everyone gathered here.’
But the process of reaching that very result.
‘Rather, if it goes well, we might be able to grab the scales on our side, perhaps it could be a good opportunity. Although it’s like exiting through a door the Saintess intentionally left open while already trapped in a cage…… Still!’
Erancia clenched her left hand, which was invisible to people, as if making up her mind.
With that, she eliminates tension and fear.
Immediately after, letting out a deep sigh mixed with admiration and self-mockery, Erancia finally opened her mouth.
The target was the Commoner Special Scholarship Student Iris, who was the axis of the trap maintaining this board.
“……Phew, fine. Special Scholarship Student. Because of you, Lady Hermain suffered great shame in front of everyone.”
And the second target was Clara, who was silently prostrated flat on the floor bowing next to her.
Erancia looked at Clara once with a glance, then spoke to Iris again.
“If you are also a retainer, even if you don’t know well because you are a commoner, chew on that meaning properly before acting.”
—Point!
“Special Scholarship Student.”
Erancia, now holding a fan instead of a whip, pointed at Iris using it as a pointer like before.
“Your rudeness towards me and all nobles, seeing Lady Hermain’s bone-breaking effort not minding even the ground, I will specially consider it as something that never happened.”
Erancia returned the fan to near her and then snap! unfolded it near her face.
“Everyone, know it as such.”
Soon, half-covering her face, Erancia, the Marquess’s daughter, turned her back and walked away with an elegant gait along with her retainers.
They thought she was leaving just like that, but,
—Step.
As if aiming for this timing, she suddenly stopped her steps.
Erancia, still covering her mouth and nose with the fan so only her eyes were visible, making her expression unknown,
“Saintess? I received your apology gift well.”
Spoke while looking at the Saintess who was still holding the box from the Valmonde family workshop full in her arms.
“However, Lady Hermain, who is your retainer, has already paid in advance instead.”
At that time, Erancia laughed small, fufu.
“Unlike me, you have a good retainer, Saintess.”
“Ugh, L-Lady Erancia! I simply……!”
“Shh, quiet. Clarice.”
Glare! Erancia silenced her retainer immediately by glaring.
She continued speaking to the Saintess.
“Besides, that amount was too much compared to the price I intended to receive…… But since it has already become like this, let’s make a separate meeting. Later, I will send a letter from my side to inform you of the place and date.”
Saying up to there, Erancia turned her head again.
While doing so, she adds one more word.
“Then, may the Goddess’s light be with you.”
Having said that, Erancia truly left the back of the Alchemy Hall.
“Hm~?”
Saintess Louise, whose view was blocked by the box so she couldn't even see Erancia’s back leaving.
Louise, following her head that had been tilting hm~? since earlier, was now floating question marks even in her eyes.
Still, if she received a greeting, it is proper to return it.
Even Louise’s learned minimal social skills knew that much.
So first, gathering her voice loudly so it could be heard even from afar,
“Okay~! I don’t know who you are but bye—”
—Bye.
Just as she was about to shout.
“That greeting is the greeting of the Church Faction?!!”
“—Bye whoa?!”
Someone shouted loudly before Louise.
An expression of utter disbelief along with an astonished voice.
It was one of the Church Faction army Louise brought (though she had absolutely no intention to).
And using that shout as a signal flare, other students around also began to shout one after another.
“The, the Valmonde Marquess family?! That was the Marquess’s daughter speaking just now, right?!!”
“Isn't the Valmonde Marquess family a family famous for being neutral without leaning to either side between the Territorial Faction and the Church Faction?!”
“That can’t be……!! I must have heard wrong! There’s no way the Valmonde family, which was so careful not to look like either side, would use words like ‘Goddess’s light’……!”
“No! I heard it clearly too! May the Goddess’s light be with you……!!”
“If they’re a Marquess, I thought naturally they wanted to build an independent force…… I thought so, but did they perhaps really decide a direction this time……?”
“……She mentioned a letter and a meeting. In other words, a deal.”
“S-Saintess! Just what move did you use……?! For that Lady Erancia to suggest making a separate meeting first means soon……!”
“If the Valmonde family really joins our Church Faction, the scales of the two forces that were equal with the Ducal Faction will completely tilt to one side!!”
“W-Where to…….”
“You ask not knowing?! It means it’s bound to tip sharply to our side!!”
“C-Crazy…… The stalemate I thought would last for years, this quickly…….”
“Perhaps there is a possibility that the Ducal Faction will come out radically unlike before.”
“No way, no way. When they know their own force is now completely lacking?”
“Rather, that’s why they have no choice but to come out like that. Listen well. War, you see, doesn't happen when things are going well, but when declining…….”
—Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz!!
The crowd Louise unintentionally brought exchanged heated debates very noisily.
Clearly, just when they first came here, they were reluctant to even come behind the Alchemy Hall saying it’s harmful to the body because of magic residue.
Now, as if they didn't care about such things, they continued chatting like that for tens of minutes.
Just when one wondered when that noisy and long group debate would end.
“A-Anyway—!!”
It was organized easily in an instant by a single word from someone in the crowd.
“—This is all thanks to the Saintess! Thanks to the Saintess!! Long live the Saintess!! Long live Saintess Louise!!”
And this was the trigger.