Chapter 69
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Glowing Ring
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Philomel spent the next three days resting in her residence. The debutante ball lasted five days, but there was no need for her to attend.
She leisurely enjoyed her reading, with Tower Master Rguin lounging idly by her side.
"Phil?"
"What is it."
"Still mad?"
"Yes."
"Forgive me."
"No."
"Is it because I cast all sorts of spells on you without asking the day before yesterday?"
"Yes."
"It was all for your sake. I wanted you to shine."
"If you really had me in mind, you should have listened to me."
"...Sorry. I'll apologize properly, so forgive me."
Philomel snapped her book shut.
To her, Rguin didn't seem genuinely remorseful so much as trying to wriggle out of the situation.
But with him going that far, it felt awkward to keep berating him.
In truth, Philomel hadn't been truly angry. She'd only pretended to be upset to ensure nothing like it happened again.
And seeing how much he cared about her reaction secretly pleased her a little.
"You won't do it again, will you?"
When Philomel asked in a gentler tone, an immediate reply came.
"Yeah!"
Anyway, he sure had a way with words.
Philomel unwittingly let out a snicker.
And so it became the final day of the ball—the last day of the deadline she'd given Rosanne.
Late in the afternoon, intelligence arrived from Nancy.
Since Nancy had been pulled to help with the ballroom, Philomel had described Rosanne's appearance and asked her to report if she showed up.
She hadn't been seen for three straight days but had finally appeared at the ballroom today.
The request had been half out of pure curiosity. Philomel wondered what state Rosanne was in and whether she'd actually hand over the ring.
Philomel headed to the ballroom, planning to sneak a peek without officially attending.
If Rosanne surrendered the ring, she'd simply leave. If not, she'd expose the thief's antics in front of everyone.
To put it plainly, Philomel didn't particularly want to turn Rosanne in—not for Rosanne's sake, but for her own.
If the ring incident blew up, attention wouldn't just fall on Rosanne; it'd swarm Philomel too.
She'd resolved not to fear the spotlight anymore, but annoying was still annoying.
Deep down, Philomel hoped Rosanne would finally choose to live right.
Arriving at the ballroom late, she slipped inside through the back door. Naturally, no guards blocked the former princess and current honored guest.
Philomel stood before the least-trafficked entrance among the doors leading to the hall and peered inside.
The hall still seemed peacefully quiet, without any hint of commotion.
Philomel scanned for Ellensia with her eyes. Ellensia was the most likely recipient of the ring from Rosanne.
Rosanne would have ample reason to curry favor with Ellensia and strike at Philomel.
'Not if I can help it.'
If she tried making contact with Ellensia, Philomel planned to blow the lid off first.
Rosanne wasn't visible among the crowd around Ellensia.
Philomel squinted and surveyed every corner intently. Instead of Rosanne, welcome faces caught her eye.
Lexion was chatting with a few nobles.
He was relatively close to Philomel, so fragments of their conversation drifted over.
"This is the friend I mentioned. Sharp young fellow, isn't he? If he weren't palace-bound, I'd snap him up myself."
"You're too kind. I still have much to learn."
"Modest to a fault! Let's grab a drink sometime and talk it over properly!"
"It'd be my honor, anytime."
When did they get so friendly? He hasn't even been here long.
Lexion, flashing his salesman smile, spotted Philomel and gave a subtle nod of greeting with his eyes.
Philomel returned it the same way.
Next, Cardin entered her view. Clutching a plate piled mountain-high with food, he shouted gleefully.
"They give you all this delicious stuff for free—this place is paradise!"
She'd never seen anyone attack the light snacks meant for nibbling with such demonic fervor.
Embarrassing. Better not let on that she knew him.
A noble beside Lexion frowned too.
"Crude youth. Seems like a fellow court mage. Do you know him?"
"No idea."
He ignored his brother as well.
Philomel kept scanning the hall until she finally spotted Rosanne.
Rosanne walked through the hall with her hat tilted to conceal her left cheek as much as possible.
A glimpse under the hat revealed her left cheek looked slightly swollen.
Glancing around, Rosanne ducked behind a pillar.
'What now? Up to no good?'
As Philomel stepped forward unconsciously, someone grabbed her shoulder. A chilling voice fell from above.
"Philomel."
It was Emperor Justis.
"I didn't know you'd be attending today. What are you doing lurking out here instead of going in?"
Startled, Philomel backed up a few steps before executing a flawless curtsy.
"I greet the Sun of the Empire, Your Majesty. I trust you've been well."
"...Yes."
The emperor's hand withdrew emptily from her shoulder.
Philomel felt awkward.
'I didn't hear he'd be here today.'
She deflected with an excuse for her presence while sounding out his intentions.
"I hadn't planned to come, but I heard someone I needed to see was here, so I dropped by briefly. And Your Majesty...?"
"Something similar. I was passing nearby and saw someone I wanted to see enter the ballroom, so I followed."
"I see. I'll keep waiting here, so please go meet them, Your Majesty."
"..."
But the emperor didn't budge from Philomel's side.
"...Your Majesty?"
"I'll stay here a moment too."
Philomel barely swallowed the retort she wanted to spit.
You said you wanted to see someone? Then hurry up and go!
Rosanne reached for her left cheek but consciously dropped her arm.
"Damn... still hurts."
Whoever struck her had hit hard; the spot still throbbed. She'd covered the red handprint with makeup, but the swelling hadn't fully gone down.
At long last's debutante ball, her daughter showing up with a wrecked face had sent Viscount Manon into a frenzy.
He'd demanded to know who did it, but Rosanne couldn't bring herself to confess the truth.
'Father, just hold on a little longer. I'll present the ring to Her Highness the Princess and wipe away this humiliation!'
Ellensia, as the true princess, must naturally loathe Philomel for usurping her position all these years. All Rosanne had to do was stoke that latent princess's fury.
Harboring such a sly scheme, Rosanne eyed the red ring cradled in her palm.
It felt too precious to give away. Deciding to wear it just one last time, she slipped behind the pillar.
She slid the ring on and fondled the gem with reluctant fingers brimming with regret.
Suddenly, the gem began to glow.
Emperor Justis stood beside Philomel for a while, striking up conversation.
"How have you been lately?"
"Doing well, thanks to Your Majesty's grace."
"Is the detached palace to your liking?"
"Very comfortable. All courtesy of Your Majesty's benevolence."
"No ailments anywhere?"
"None."
"..."
Philomel pursed her lips, recalling the recent fiasco.
He'd gotten some bizarre advice from Count Polan about parent-child bonds and thoroughly flustered her.
She didn't know the full story, but who else could he possibly fret over that much? Ellensia, obviously.
'If you want to play doting parent, do it with Ellensia only—why drag me into it.'
Because of him, she couldn't slip away to check on Rosanne. Had she at least brought the Ring of Crimson Flame?
"...Lately, you haven't been wearing the Ring of Crimson Flame."
"Pardon? The ring?"
Her exact preoccupation mentioned, Philomel's heart lurched.
For some reason, Justis's gaze seemed fixed on the pillar concealing Rosanne.
"Did you lose it?"
"No, not lost... but..."
It was closer to stolen.
Evidently, Justis wanted the imperial treasure back.
Philomel bowed her head.
"I'm sorry. It's in someone else's hands right now. Please give me a little time—I'll return it promptly."
"You're mistaken. I wasn't scolding you. I merely..."
Justis impatiently swept back his bangs and continued.
"In any case, you're saying the Ring of Crimson Flame isn't with you now."
"...Yes."
"And not by your choice."
"Unavoidable circumstances..."
"That's enough. I'll retrieve it myself, so don't worry."
"P-Pardon?"
Justis strode boldly into the hall.
The paired dancers inside hastily bowed at the emperor's abrupt entrance.
For whatever reason, Philomel felt compelled to follow, so she entered as well.
Justis's steps halted at the pillar Rosanne hid behind.
A foreboding chill gripped Philomel; she quickened her pace.
Rosanne whirled around from behind the pillar in confusion.
Justis silently extended his hand to her.