Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Minster Family (2)
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Sweating profusely, the family's servants.
When I visited, they had treated me like some peddler.
Now, they were all gathered in the garden, cautiously peeking out.
They resembled a pack of meerkats gawking at a wild beast.
"Your Highness, is the tea to your liking...?"
Father was no different.
The man who had always treated me coldly, like some adopted stray, was now forcing an awkward smile.
"Well, it's not bad."
The garden, always so ostentatious—I'd thought it excessive for a nouveau riche household.
With the princess seated there in her pristine white uniform, it was like a masterpiece painting.
"Haha... Our family holds shares in a tea company, you see. Thanks to that, we always get the finest products first."
The silver-haired middle-aged man chuckled as he stirred his tea.
As if to proclaim himself a noble refined enough to mingle with royalty.
"Judging by the aroma, it's the Eastern Continent Joint Stock Company."
"That's right. As expected of Your Highness."
When Camillia identified the blend, Damon's face lit up with delight.
It was so absurd I wanted to snatch up my half-smoked cigar again.
"Yeah, they recently got caught by me siphoning off smuggled goods. Even mixed low-grade leaves into the tea and sold it."
"......"
Father's beaming smile froze solid.
The servants peeking at the princess from behind did the same.
Only my lips curled into a smirk.
Camillia, whether on purpose or not, stifled a laugh and savored her tea.
"Still, this is genuine top-grade. They must have given the good stuff to investors."
"Th-That seems to be the case. I got lucky."
Damon cleared his throat and took another sip of tea.
But as if the flavor had soured, unease crept across his face.
"I hope you didn't know about the company's misdeeds and turn a blind eye."
"I knew nothing. I'm just a small investor."
Earlier, he'd strutted like he owned a major stake.
Now, he was the epitome of humility.
"Good. I don't want to arrest the father of my close aide."
Derek Minster was her close aide.
At those words from the princess's lips, the family head and even the servants gulped deeply.
"With two sons already under investigation, how tough would it be on the youngest if the father got dragged in too?"
It could look like a brutal shakedown of parents.
But this was the princess's signature cool-headed counsel.
If you want to seem hotshot, cultivate yourself instead of flaunting wealth.
A warning not to drag down the diligent son's ankles.
"I'll keep that in mind, Your Highness."
Father, ever quick on the uptake, grasped her meaning.
He humbled himself graciously before a woman more than twenty years his junior.
But the princess wasn't one to let him off that easily.
Like rapping the bowed head of a serpent before a lion, Camillia pressed her attack.
"By the way, one thing I'm curious about. That Elixir looks like the family's treasure, so why try to sell it to the youngest for cash?"
She had sized up the rift between father and me.
Cheek propped on her hand, she fixed him with an imperious stare.
"With red lines slashed over the two older sons, isn't Derek the only child worthy of the elixir?"
"Haha, it might seem like favoritism to Your Highness."
Count Damon coughed more than usual today.
He opened his mouth politely, dismissing it as a misunderstanding.
"Our family has raised heirs by the law of the jungle since time immemorial. Just like His Majesty's imperial succession trials."
Citing the emperor to ward off backlash.
True to a noble who had survived the long haul, he unleashed florid oratory.
"The other two sons showed outstanding talent from childhood. The eldest became a White Tower mage, the second made his name as a gladiator."
The count glanced my way, his youngest.
Thanks to my title as the princess's close aide, he no longer sneered at me.
That mercenary shift repulsed me to my core.
"Derek, however, showed no talent whatsoever in his youth. Of course, he's just awakened now and impressed Your Highness."
Count Minster slowly slid the snack plate toward Camillia.
With a paternal smile, he deftly pivoted the topic.
"So I deemed him not yet ready for the elixir. I told him to bring the price as a test."
"Meaning, if he proved he could earn the price, you'd hand over the elixir for free?"
His efforts finally bore fruit; the princess showed interest for the first time.
"Yes, Your Highness."
As Damon replied sagely, the princess promptly raised a finger.
As if she'd been waiting for this, she commanded me.
"Perfect. Derek, take the Elixir."
"......?"
Father faltered at the abrupt royal decree.
Meanwhile, I casually laid my hand on Elwin's Tear.
"You're really giving it?"
"......"
Even as he spoke, the count's eyes darted wildly between the princess and me.
He'd reflexively groveled, only to hand over the elixir gratis.
"......Of course, son. Do you truly fail to grasp this father's grand intent in merely testing you?"
In the end, he compromised to curry favor with the princess.
I gazed at him with a thoroughly vile smirk, having hoisted him by his own petard.
"Thank you, Father. As expected, you're the best."
With the elixir mine for free, I seized it beaming brightly.
Father clapped his hand atop it too, dispensing advice.
"Yes, do use this Elixir's power to bring glory to our house..."
"Of course. I'll make it happen, so hold on tight..."
Evidently thrilled by his son's growth, Count Damon's grip clenched hard.
I ground my teeth and wrenched it free by force.
"What a heartwarming father-son scene."
The princess, legs elegantly crossed, clapped her hands.
The distant servants eyed each other meerkat-style, then clapped in unison.
Clap clap clap...
Going all in, the count even attempted an embrace.
Never imagined the day I'd let this man hug me.
Whatever. No skin off my nose.
Thanks to it, I scored the elixir free and pocketed a villa's worth in ring savings.
I patted the count's back contentedly.
His frame was rigid as stone.
"Well then, time to go."
"A-Already...? Please stay for dinner while you're here."
Seeing the princess rise, the count shoved me aside hastily.
Having played the magnanimous patriarch with the family elixir, now reward time.
Rubbing his hands, he schemed to leverage ties beyond Tutton Grand Duke to the imperial family itself.
But.
"No can do. I've got another engagement."
With me whisking away the elixir, the princess prepared to depart indifferently.
As if business concluded.
"Having witnessed such exemplary fatherhood, I can return reassured."
"......?"
Count Minster's face screamed 'that's not what I meant.'
He gawked blankly as the princess swept past, no reward, no praise.
"I'll head out too. My quarters are in the palace, after all."
"Y-Yeah... off you go."
He'd slimed like a courtier but snagged zilch.
Father trailed after, desperate for any connection, but Camillia outpaced him briskly.
"Your Highness, next time I'll call on you first...!!"
"Do what you want."
Camillia strode from the garden, hands clasped behind her.
Damon and the servants bowed in a line.
"Derek, ride with me. I'll drop you at the annex."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
As father and Tolman bowed low, I brushed past indifferently.
Our positions had flipped completely.
"Safe travels, Your Highness. I'll visit for sure!!"
"Depart."
Camillia ignored father's pleas to the last.
Without a glance, she set the carriage in motion.
"......"
The princess said nothing until the Minster estate faded from view.
Only once the mansion vanished entirely did she speak.
As if she'd deliberately crushed father's swagger to boost me.
"You grew up in a real draining household."
"Can't compare to imperial intrigue central. Actually, I was useless as a kid, so it's fine."
Elixir in hand, I replied in high spirits.
Sensing my mood lift, Camillia offered a mature smile.
"Fine? I had my frail days too, so I get it."
"You, the North's premier spear master? Can't picture it."
New revelation.
Prior loops, we never bantered like this.
"Before awakening mana, I was a weak little thing. If His Majesty had ditched me, I'd be shipped off to some foreign kingdom by now."
True enough.
When word spread I was her close aide, the emperor approached first.
He clearly doted on Camillia.
"Whereas you seemed to have no one."
Camillia propped her hand by the window.
Sunset blazed red across the sky.
"Incredible you turned out sane in that harsh setup."
The princess, empire's radiant halo upon her, regarded me intently.
Unlike with the count, her eyes gleamed with keen blue vigor.
"Everyone ends up alone someday. Mine just hit early."
"......You sound just like my father."
Camillia burst into a fresh laugh at my words.
For that instant, she looked stunningly like any 23-year-old woman.
"Grew up rough and matured too fast?"
"Not words for Your Highness. You're precocious yourself."
The princess slowly shook her head.
Then tweaked my jacket collar like an older sister eyeing her brother.
"Anyway, secure the family elixir alright?"
She tilted her head, as if peering into my inner pocket.
Golden locks cascaded softly, like wheat fields before harvest.
"Yes, safe and sound here."
I flaunted the vial proudly.
"Drink it ahead of mine. Good stepping stone before the Elixir."
"Pardon...? How could I accept something so precious? This alone is plenty, thanks to you."
The imperial Elixir was priceless.
One draught amplified mana manifold—truly beyond price.
Yet Camillia just cocked her head, unfazed, like it was corner-store juice.
"It's okay. I'm plenty strong, no need for it."
Ah.
Right—one of the world's top powerhouses.
"Selling it to outsiders just fattens rival powers."
Empowering non-imperials was like rearing tiger cubs.
Made disposal tricky.
"Better to bolster my close aide. Make you a sturdy ally at my side."
The princess's eyes narrowed slyly.
Like nurturing tasty prey for the kill.
"......"
Sudden goosebumps.
Still beats losing the upcoming tournament and our prisoners.
"I offer my deepest thanks for your mercy, Your Highness."
She waved off the thanks and turned away.
Gazing at the sunset vista, wind in her hair.
But soon enough, she had to face me.
"Then I must offer fitting recompense."
I rose and dropped to one knee.
"Recompense?"
"Yes, something quite valuable."
A small gift from her inaugural close aide.
The princess stared, intrigued.
Moment its contents gleamed into view.
Camillia parted her lips unwittingly.
"A treasure leaked beyond the empire's borders. Best returned to royalty like Your Highness."
I knelt, proffering the imperial house's lost ring.
"Will you accept it?"
Sunset rays turned my silver hair ruddy.
Vigor danced in eyes once listlessly hooded.
"......"
Cat-family eyes rounding wide.
She blankly ogled the ring from her first-ever close aide.
'What's wrong? Mad I secretly kept an imperial item?'
I cautiously gauged her reaction.
Clearly staggered, her expression blanked out.
'Should've dropped it anonymously at the palace?'
Camillia swallowed hard at my uncharacteristic tension.
Then lightly nipped her crimson lip.