14. Cordelia Inferna
“The only reason someone who’s never bothered to visit suddenly shows up is because they’re up to something.”
“Hey now, I couldn’t visit because you locked yourself away! Wipe that look off your face, the one that says, ‘Why did this annoying guy come?’ I’m here to celebrate your recovery!”
Neslan looked at Duke Inferna with a displeased expression.
Duke Inferna. He was the head of one of the empire’s three great ducal families, and unlike Neslan, who had stepped down as head of his family, he was still active.
These days, aside from Kalinos, the unique traits of each family have mostly faded, but originally, the empire’s three great ducal families each had their own nickname. Kalinos, the house of magic; Reshaniel, the house of divinity; and Inferna, the house of illusions.
Kalinos killed monsters with magic and focused on developing swords, shields, and magical artifacts.
Reshaniel constantly boasted of their divine power and always flaunted the sacred blood that ran through their veins.
Inferna, on the other hand, ruled the empire through illusions, phantasms, and mystical beasts, but their fame was lacking compared to the other two families. Maybe that’s why Duke Inferna was always itching to outdo the Kalinos family.
“More importantly, I can’t believe something this interesting happened in your boring family! Honestly!”
“Hah, really.”
“Who knew Duke Kalinos could be so romantic! Quite impressive! I’m so jealous! Congratulations, my friend!”
“You look more like you’re dying to brag than actually congratulating me.”
Duke Inferna, caught red-handed, cleared his throat a couple of times and muttered. “Ahem! That’s not the point. My youngest daughter, Cornelia, is coming back from a foreign academy. You know, right? My family is famous for illusions.”
“How could I not know?”
Duke Inferna lifted his chin and smiled proudly. He had lost his wife and remained single ever since, living only for his two sons and youngest daughter.
“Ah, have you ever heard stories about befriending noble beings like phantasmal beasts, divine beasts, or sacred beasts? That’s my daughter. Ahahaha!”
“…”
“Getting close to phantasmal beasts was a talent that disappeared after the previous head, haha! My daughter did it, she really did!”
There were three types of talents related to phantasmal beasts. The weakest was the ability to perceive their existence, the intermediate was affinity—becoming friends with them—and the strongest was dominion. Even just perceiving phantasmal beasts was rare, but to actually befriend one?
“Even if she can’t control them, just having an affinity is amazing!”
“Right, exactly. Someone with that kind of affinity hasn’t appeared in the empire for a hundred years. Everyone’s going to be jealous…”
“Hahaha! Exactly! The moment she returns to the empire, she’ll stir up the entire society! Hahaha!” His bragging knew no bounds. “By the way, have you heard about the egg of a phantasmal beast that my daughter brought back?”
“You’re telling me about it right now, aren’t you?”
“Hahaha. There’s a rumor going around that the egg my daughter brought back might actually be a dragon’s egg. You’ve never seen a dragon before, have you? You’ve only ever seen a ton of monsters, right?”
Annoying. Utterly annoying!
“Ahem. To celebrate my daughter’s return, I’m throwing a party on a ship. I’ve prepared something amazing, so you absolutely have to come!”
Watching his friend smugly stroke his mustache, Neslan clenched his fist. He felt like his recently cured illness was about to relapse.
“Just thinking about how spectacularly my daughter will shine at the party already makes me happy! Ohohoho!”
“What do you mean, ‘shine at the party’? It’s just a chance for everyone to mingle.”
“Hm? My daughter’s very existence is the highlight! Hahaha!” Duke Inferna laughed heartily and shrugged his shoulders.
To be able to brag about his daughter like that. Somehow, it made Neslan feel both envious and a little small.
“Leave. I’m too tired, so I won’t be going.”
“Oh, but make sure your daughter-in-law attends!”
The moment ‘daughter-in-law’ was mentioned, Neslan covered his mouth with a satisfied smile. A flush bloomed on his pale cheeks, making him look as beautiful as a flower in bloom.
“My daughter-in-law really is something special, isn’t she?”
“She’s truly strong and fearless…” Recalling Giselle’s outrageous behavior during the Feast of Saint Gladius, Duke Inferna nodded absentmindedly.
This is the first time that annoying guy has genuinely acknowledged my child. A subtle sense of satisfaction welled up inside him.
* * *
[<Who wants to come to the coffee house without worrying about being seen! Sign up!>
1. Emperor ผ(•̀_•́ผ)
2. Empress ლ(╹◡╹ლ)]
I tore at my hair as I read the information brought by my secret informant, my baby hamster Ivanka. Of course, they were both celebrities in high society, even if they weren’t officially part of any social club, but…!
[The only famous person not affiliated with a social club is Lady Cordelia Inferna, who just recently returned from abroad!]
“Oh, right! There’s Cordelia Inferna!”
“Yes!”
“Well done, Ivanka!”
At my enthusiastic praise, my informant—hamster Ivanka—blushed and, with a pop, transformed into a hamster. I grinned happily as I petted the adorable little furball.
No doubt, everyone must be desperate to invite Cordelia to their social clubs right now. That meant she was the dark horse of the social scene.
If Cordelia comes to the coffee house, and all the people who admired her show up too, maybe our bad reputation will start to fade away?
A simple yet perfect plan. And as luck would have it, my employer made a request just in time.
“There’s going to be a ‘Party on the Phantom Ship’ hosted by the Inferna family. My father asked me to visit on his behalf. I’d like you to come with me.”
“Gasp, does that mean I get to make a public appearance as the duchess? What should I do?”
“Just stay still.”
“…Pardon?”
What is this, separation anxiety or something? Anyway, it happened as I passed through the main gate of House Inferna to complete today’s mission.
“Gasp, is that ship made with illusion magic?”
“Seems like it. That’s so typical of the Inferna family.”
Just a moment ago, I was walking across the Inferna family’s lawn! But suddenly, it felt like I was strolling across the deck of a ship, and when I looked around, I could sense the shimmering, illusory sea surrounding me.
As I followed the salty tang of the ocean in the air, a round table piled high with lavish seafood dishes appeared before me. On the ship’s deck stood a round table designed to gather all the specially invited guests in one place. They really went all out with this party.
I took my seat at the round table and glanced sideways at Duke Kalinos, who sat beside me, as still as a rock. Maybe it’s because of the duke, but everyone looks as pale as a corpse.
At times like this, it’s the host’s job to lighten the mood. But unfortunately, Cordelia, who sent the invitations, seemed to have not arrived yet. Thanks to that, the atmosphere was pure, unbroken silence, with not a single conversation to be heard.
“Why isn’t anyone talking? Go on, say something.”
At Duke Kalinos’s words, everyone awkwardly scrambled to say anything at all.
“Ah, hahaha. That brooch is really pretty.”
“That’s not a brooch, it’s a pair of glasses.”
“T-That, Lord. It’s not glasses either. It’s a nose ring!”
Watching them try so hard, I found myself making a renewed vow. Power is really everything. I must become an archmage, and when I do, I’ll be able to smack anyone around. Remembering the textbooks Neslan was busily writing to give to ‘Wot,’ I smiled inwardly.
Just as the awkward small talk was bouncing back and forth like a ping-pong ball, the beautiful Cordelia made her entrance, fashionably late, like the star of the show.
“Sorry I’m late. It’s been a while since I’ve seen everyone.”
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