Even if it was not intentional, Rachel Ingrave continued to be at the center of major incidents, following the fake heir incident and the attempt to assassinate the Emperor.
She would probably continue to get involved with me as well. On top of that, the Rachel Ingrave I had actually met was no ordinary person.
She had easily dealt with minor provocations and had not been intimidated at all, even when facing a Duke’s daughter.
“……Sisi.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
Her loyal personal maid, Sisi, approached and bowed her head. If so, there was one thing she needed to do first.
“Find out about Rachel Ingrave. What she has been doing all this time, how she has lived, and whether there is anything that could become a weakness.”
“Understood, Young Lady.”
This time too, she would somehow get rid of her rival.
Suddenly, she remembered the time when she had gotten lost in the Imperial Palace as a child.
It was her first meeting with Terrius, who was still the Crown Prince at the time.
—Hello, did you get lost?
……That was the day everything changed for Aisha, a child who knew nothing but herself and believed that she was the center of the world.
It was the first time someone had been engraved into her heart at first sight.
So she could not let him go now. Even so, she had spent more time with the Emperor than Rachel had so far.
“It’s okay. I just have to get rid of her before that.”
Nothing would change now.
Aisha put down her fork roughly and stood up to go straight to the magic training room.
“Oh, right. What about Sein? Still no news from Sein?”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
Aisha frowned.
He was not someone who would take this long.
She tilted her head for a moment, but decided to head to the magic training room first. Perhaps, considering his personality, he was deliberately delaying his answer just to make her anxious.
For now, she intended to at least try to get rid of the title of a beginner mage before Sein came.
***
Several days passed. Outside, everything was in an uproar over the tense situation with the Borza Kingdom, the inspection of the northern region, and the search for the traitors.
But Rachel, who was staying in the Violet Palace deep inside the Imperial Palace, was enjoying a peaceful time for the first time in a while.
Even the Emperor was too busy to visit, so she could spend her time without having to see anyone she disliked.
She simply woke up late, ate freshly prepared warm food,
spent time having tea on the terrace, or leisurely walked around the garden. Then, she suddenly realized.
‘This is what I wanted.’
She was well provided for and at peace. The events of the past three months were frightening even when she thought about them again, but thinking that she could continue living like this made it feel as though everything had been worth it.
Now that she would receive a title, she would not have to worry much about marriage either.
“……I like it.”
She was sitting in the garden, buried among deep purple flowers and looking up at the sky, when—
“I’m glad you seem to like life in the Imperial Palace.”
“……!”
Rachel lowered her gaze. She discovered the Emperor, who had approached without her even noticing, and knelt on one knee.
“I greet His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Ah, sit comfortably.”
The Emperor waved his hand and sat beside her, resting his chin on his hand. As he stared at her, Rachel had to make an effort not to stiffen her expression.
He had not visited her for several days, so why had he suddenly come now?
She lowered her gaze to hide her complicated feelings. The Emperor stared at her quietly before moving his lips.
“I’m late in saying this. Thank you for saving my life that day, Lady. On top of that, you brought the decisive evidence proving the northern nobles’ schemes. You have contributed greatly.”
“You praise me too highly, Your Majesty.”
“Is there any reward you want? According to what I heard from the Duke, you want to receive a title.”
“……!”
He said he would help her become independent.
Even while leaving for the north right away, it seemed Nathan Valencia had spoken to the Emperor about her. That was unexpected.
He had also given all the credit to her at the Grand Assembly Hall.
“Lady?”
“……Yes, Your Majesty. I want to receive a title. It was my dream to become independent from Ingrave.”
The Emperor smiled mischievously.
“Oh? Now that I think about it, the reason you were looking for a marriage partner was because you wanted to become independent from your family? Why? Did the Marquis and Marchioness Ingrave bully you?”
“Yes.”
“……Huh?”
Seeing the slightly flustered Emperor, Rachel explained her current situation.
“My parents absolutely want me to marry Duke Valencia. But I don’t want to become involved with a high-ranking noble family, and if possible, I want to quietly live with someone who is decent enough. Of course, if I did that, there would be a chance that my parents would bully the person who became my husband, so I began thinking that if possible, I would rather receive a title and become independent.”
“Ah……”
“So, if Your Majesty can possibly do so—”
Rachel slowly lowered her head.
“I would like you to grant me a title. If I become independent by receiving a title instead of getting married, there will be no need for another family to suffer because of me.”
“……”
Rachel closed her eyes after honestly telling him everything. A quiet voice fell above her head.
“Why don’t you want to become involved with a high-ranking noble family? Is it because of the fake heir incident?”
“Yes. The higher one’s status, the more likely they are to become involved in such incidents. If possible, I want to live without experiencing such frightening things anymore.”
“Hmm.”
The Emperor gave an unreadable reaction and waved his hand. When Rachel raised her head, the Emperor was looking down at her with a strange expression.
“You are not like your father. Marquis Ingrave is capable, but he has a cold personality. But……”
From the Emperor’s point of view, perhaps it looked like the daughter of a high-ranking noble family was simply running away because of one incident.
Or perhaps she looked too soft.
But that did not matter to Rachel.
If she could receive a title this way and escape from Ingrave,
it would be far better than marrying a husband she had no feelings for and living that way. Even if she became independent, she would not be completely free from Ingrave’s pressure, but at least she would not have to worry about a husband or her husband’s family.
“All right. Then I will proceed with granting you a title as you wish. But I cannot give you a very high title. Probably the title of Baron—”
“……!”
Rachel suddenly raised her head and stared at the Emperor. The Emperor paused for a moment before slowly continuing.
“You will probably receive the title of Baron. Would that be acceptable?”
“Yes. Thank you very much, Your Majesty. Truly.”
It was one rank lower than the title Aisha Labelyn had in 「Record」.
Still, Rachel was satisfied. It was an inheritable title, and in any case, her independence from Ingrave was now certain.
Unlike Aisha Labelyn, who had been a Great Mage at that time, Rachel had not been able to distinguish herself in battle, and she had been worried about what would happen since she had shared the credit with Nathan Valencia.
This was enough to achieve her goal.
Rachel smiled brightly. For a moment, the Emperor’s face went blank.
“……I see. No wonder I wondered why the Duke didn’t react at all to the Duke’s daughter.”
“Pardon?”
“No. It’s nothing.”
The Emperor rested his chin on his hand and stared at her thoughtfully before smiling.
“All right. I understand your wishes. Along with the title, I will grant you a mansion in the capital and an estate as well. I will give you a list soon, so choose whichever place you like from among them. Will that be enough?”
“Yes. Thank you very much, Your Majesty!”
Then, since she had already brought all the people she wanted to take with her and all the belongings she used, there would be no need to visit the Ingrave mansion at all.
Once the mansion was decided, she could have it repaired and move in. Rachel could not hide her excited expression.
“……”
The Emperor stared blankly at her again before coming to his senses when the chief chamberlain called him.
“Your Majesty. The delegation that went to the Borza Kingdom has arrived.”
“……I see. I suppose I should go.”
War, or peace.
The decision would be made today. Of course, for Rachel, whose title had already been decided, it was already a matter beyond her control. Rachel stood up and paid her respects.
“Goodbye, Your Majesty.”
“……”
The Emperor stared at her for a moment before turning around. As he left the Violet Palace just like that, the Emperor, Terrius Rogdan di Olsher, suddenly thought that he had been dismissed.
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