Mess 160
by Cristae160.
The binding magic cast on the former Marquess Iris was utterly different in system and structure from anything found in the Imperial Magic Tower.
Even the flow of mana lingering around her neck felt distinctly foreign.
“Could this be magic from another country?”
“That’s what I’ll have to investigate.”
“…Good heavens…”
Ex slumped to the floor, burying his face in his hands as he asked.
Duke Felikia’s eyes flashed coldly at the Marchioness, who met his gaze with indifferent calm.
“Is there nothing you can do on your own, Duke?”
“I cannot break this by myself. This is fundamentally different from Imperial magic. I’ll have to contact the Tower Master.”
“Your sister?”
“This is quite serious…”
Duke Felikia looked more fatigued than ever.
“That wretched woman, and I’m forced to ask her for help…!”
The very thought seemed to leave him shuddering.
“…”
For the first time, Ex felt a pang of sympathy for the duke.
“The Tower Master is a member of the Felikia family?”
“You didn’t know?”
Day of the banquet.
Seraphy and Luni began their day’s routine as usual. The only difference, perhaps, was that today they lay side by side on the bed, receiving massages from the maids.
“It’s funny to bring this up now, but—”
Luni, with thin slices of cucumber laid out on her face, offered advice.
“You really need to keep up with the world better.”
“….”
With nothing to say in response, Seraphy simply closed her mouth.
“The current Tower Master is Penny’s aunt.”
Despite herself, Luni ended up explaining anyway.
“She’s the Duke Felikia’s elder sister—a rather cool, impressive lady. I bet she’d find you so adorable, Seraphy, she’d want to nibble your cheeks!”
“Oh, heavens…”
A pair of siblings like that? Just the thought exhausted Seraphy, who squeezed her eyes shut.
After the full-body massage, the two slipped into a tub filled with warm water and floating petals to bathe.
Soothed and groggy from the heat, they were lifted out like fish, then received another massage and had their nails trimmed and filed.
“…I had this thought last year too.”
Growing bored, Seraphy muttered to herself.
“Does any of this really make a difference?”
Even at last year’s banquet, she’d undergone similar rituals. Though it was far simpler then, she’d found it tedious even at that.
“Tsk, tsk. This is why children never understand,”
Luni chided, as if gently scolding a wayward child.
“Do you know why we’re getting ready from the crack of dawn?”
“Futile vanity?”
“To bring out our dormant beauty, of course!”
Seraphy’s face twisted in discomfort.
“You didn’t drink this morning, did you?”
“Getting dressed up isn’t for others’ approval—it’s so I can be confident and satisfied in myself.”
“…”
Seraphy, starting to find Luni a little intimidating, fell silent in response.
‘She wasn’t like this last year.’
Back then she’d grumbled about not wanting to outshine her superior and had barely bothered with her preparations.
But soon, Seraphy understood why Luni was putting in so much effort today.
“All done, little darling?”
Once her preparations were complete, Luni immediately went to find Karl.
“My goodness! You look marvelous, my dear!”
“Lu, you’re much more beautiful and striking.”
“And my darling is just wonderful! It suits you perfectly!”
Touched by the praise, Karl self-consciously adjusted her outfit. Her silver hair, swept back neatly, lent her a newfound maturity.
“Isn’t this a bit much?”
“In my heart, I’d have you wear nothing but precious jewels—absolutely nothing else…!”
While Luni enthusiastically recounted the ways ancient tyrants spoiled their favorites, Karl was so startled that she wrapped her arms around Luni to calm her down.
‘…So it was for Karl.’
Coming in behind, Seraphy watched the affectionate pair and nodded to herself.
This was Karl’s first formal public appearance since losing her lands and title. No one could tell what would happen to a Karl who had changed so much.
Luni clearly wanted to spare Karl even a single unkind word tonight, and so had prepared with fierce determination.
‘She really does care for Karl.’
Whenever Seraphy saw Luni so serious about Karl, she felt both surprise and real admiration.
“Seraphy.”
Karl, seeing Seraphy at last, walked over with a warm smile.
“You look truly splendid.”
“Karl, you shine even more. It fits you so well.”
“Thank you for caring about me.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Seraphy smiled as well.
Currently, Karl’s father was temporarily managing affairs in the Iris territory and would not return to the capital until the lands were stabilized.
With Karl alone, Seraphy had brought her to the Validus manor and taken charge of her preparations for the banquet.
“Friends are supposed to help each other out.”
At Seraphy’s words, Karl’s face visibly relaxed.
“I’m grateful all the same—and a bit sorry.”
“Not at all. Without your help, Karl, I wouldn’t be enjoying life as I am now.”
She said it gently, so Karl wouldn’t feel uncomfortable accepting help. Karl was deeply grateful for such thoughtful kindness.
“If anyone gives you trouble tonight, call for me right away.”
“We’ll stand behind you. If anyone messes with you, we’ll strike back tenfold!”
Seraphy and Luni growled as if defending Karl from a threat looming right before their eyes.
To Karl, it felt like she’d gained the sturdiest older sisters.
The banquet, which had once seemed daunting, now felt like nothing at all. In fact, she was proud to face everyone, ready for this new beginning.
“Oh, right.”
Seraphy handed over what she’d prepared for Karl.
“This is for you.”
She handed a small box to Luni and Karl.
“Wow…!”
“Seraphy, this is…!”
Inside the box was an ornamental brooch, crafted from divine treasure.
Luni exclaimed in delight, while Karl stared, flustered and at a loss.
“I’ve thought for a while that we need a mark showing Validus’s protection.”
As the house and its enterprises grew, Seraphy saw the need to protect those who worked for her. Especially with what she knew was ahead.
So she had brooches made from divine treasures.
‘I can’t give them to everyone…’
Which only made them that much more valuable as tokens.
“It’s proof that you’re part of my innermost circle.”
“Oh, Seraphy…!”
Moved, Luni sniffled.
“Can I wear this to tonight’s banquet? It’s so beautiful! Look how big and bright it is!”
While Luni glowed with joy, Karl was clearly overwhelmed.
“Seraphy, I….”
As if she felt unworthy to accept such a gift.
“Karl’s brooch is a little special.”
Seraphy had expected such a reaction—she knew Karl would never accept something so precious lightly.
“This was once a divine treasure I’d given to the former Marchioness Iris.”
“…!”
At her words, Karl’s expression hardened. Luni too was left speechless.
“Do you remember what I said when I gave her the divine treasure?”
“….”
“I said I was giving it to Iris’s true knight.”
“Seraphy, I…”
“But she was never able to wield it.”
If the former Marchioness had been able to use it, none of them would have survived their escape from Iris lands.
What did this mean?
The divine treasure had accepted Seraphy’s will. The Marchioness was not Iris’s true knight.
Because the true knight of Iris was someone else.
“Try it on.”
Hesitantly, Karl gathered her courage, took up the brooch, and fastened it to her chest. The divine treasure responded at once, shining with a pale, majestic glow.
Karl looked at Seraphy in shock.
“You see?”
Seraphy was pleased.
“It suits a true knight perfectly.”
The divine treasure did not reject her.
“Let’s reclaim the Iris Order soon.”
“….”
“Even if the Iris Order comes under Validus, it is up to you to restore its honor and legacy. Only you can do it.”
Tears sprang to Karl’s eyes, but she mastered them, her face suddenly growing solemn and resolute.
“Seraphy. Countess Validus.”
Karl, friend and vassal, pledged herself with reverence.
“Karl Iris will once again uphold her knightly pride.”
“I have no doubt, Sir Knight.”
Placing her hands gently on Karl’s hair and shoulders, Seraphy blessed her.
“….”
Watching, Luni wiped her eyes quietly.
‘I want to become a knight like my mother.’
‘You can do it, Karl! I’ll be by your side, always!’
‘Yes, please watch over me.’
‘My dear, darling, you’ll be a righteous and noble knight!’
Dreams battered by harsh reality, yet a far brighter hope lifted Karl to her feet.
‘Thank goodness.’
Luni rejoiced from the heart.
“Milady.”
Marine came to find Seraphy.
“Duke Felikia’s young lord has arrived.”
It was time to depart.
The imperial banquet was traditionally held once a year, in late autumn, after harvest. The roots of this event stretched back to the founding Thanksgiving festivals.
Which made this spring banquet particularly special.
“The Emperor must be truly fond of her.”
“If Countess Validus were of royal blood, who knows—might she have been heir to the throne herself?”
“Haha! That’s not so far-fetched, truly!”
“She really is blessed by the gods…”
As nobles arrived one after another, all tongues praised the House of Validus and its head.
“The guest of honor tonight is none other—”
Duke Felikia cheerfully raised his glass.
“—than Countess Validus herself.”
“Indeed.”
“A day well worthy of celebration!”
The other nobles echoed with laughter and lifted their glasses.
This banquet was the emperor’s gift, a tribute to Countess Seraphy Validus for the countless achievements of the past year.
Most notable among them were her authorship of the Poor Relief Act and the development of new materials.
A banquet in honor of a single noble had few precedents in imperial history.
“I hear a new spell will be demonstrated with that new material tonight?”
What intrigued the nobility most was the outcome of the joint project among the House of Validus, the Imperial Palace, and the Magic Tower.
“If it’s practical, they say we’ll finally be able to converse with distant people whenever we wish.”
“My niece is at the Tower, you know…”
Praise for Countess Validus flowed ceaselessly.
“…”
“…”
But some had no intention of joining in the festive mood.