Chapter 16: Evaluation
Emilia did not rush to a decision.
She wanted to meet this famous Duke face-to-face first, to see what kind of man he was and what his true intentions might be.
If Duke Lukas turned out to be unsuitable, she could always fall back on Caesar or even Dyan as her partner; neither would be a bad option.
Taking a sheet of fine stationery from Helena, Emilia picked up her pen and began writing a letter in reply.
Three days later, beneath the soft glow of a pleasant morning—
"One strawberry shortcake, please. Thank you."
After ordering, Emilia watched the server walk away, then turned her gaze toward the window.
Outside, the street was alive: nobles riding in elegant carriages, commoners strolling along the cobblestones, the faint sound of a street violin weaving through the air.
It was a peaceful scene, so peaceful that Emilia couldn't help but think:
There won't be many quiet days like this left.
As a qualified Astrologer, she could see the faint threads of fate shimmering in the air, chaotic, tangled lines twisting around the people passing by.
Whether noble or commoner, their destinies were shifting, colliding, lives about to end or begin anew, fortunes rising or crumbling into ruin.
A storm of possibilities, endless and uncontrollable.
But none of it had anything to do with her.
The [Karma] that once bound Emilia to the Velarent Kingdom had already been severed, cut cleanly by that old emperor himself the day he cast her out from the heart of royal power.
Now, she remained only to witness the kingdom's downfall with her own eyes.
And when that day comes, she will muse with a cruel smile.
"If that old fool of an emperor must kneel before me, begging for salvation… then perhaps, if I'm in a good mood, I might consider it…"
The smile that curved her lips was sharp and wicked, the smile of a predator who already knew how the story would end.
"It seems like someone's having rather dangerous thoughts."
A deep, masculine voice murmured behind her ear.
Dyan immediately bristled, the Beastman's golden eyes flaring, his posture tense like a guard dog ready to strike.
Emilia didn't move at first. Then, with deliberate slowness, she turned her head toward the newcomer.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, his hair and eyes a deep shade of blue-black. His features were sharp, sculpted like carved stone, not the polished handsomeness of Caesar, but something older, stronger, charged with the aura of a man who commanded more than he asked.
"So if I remember correctly," Emilia said coolly, "this is the first time we've met, isn't it?"
She didn't bother returning his polite tone.
"Duke Premirer," she continued, voice light but cutting, "I'm curious, what made you want to be my companion at the debut ball? Surely you don't mean to abandon Caesar and pledge your loyalty to me?"
Lukas didn't answer immediately.
He ordered a cup of black coffee, then leaned back slightly, taking his time to observe the princess seated before him.
She truly looked nothing like her supposed siblings, Milim or Caesar, neither in features nor in bearing.
Are Emperor Arthur's genes really that weak? he wondered absently.
Then again, high-ranking magicians had often said that magical affinity shaped one's appearance.
Black hair, black eyes, the perfect signs of one born with a strong affinity for dark magic.
"I never said I was Caesar's supporter," Lukas finally replied, his voice steady. "We're close on a personal level, yes. And I do acknowledge his capabilities as a rightful heir."
It was an honest answer.
Every noble had their own view of who deserved to inherit the throne, and for now, Caesar stood uncontested.
With Milim having already given up her claim, Caesar had no real rivals. As long as he didn't make any foolish mistakes, no noble would dare stand against the future emperor.
But even in her weakened position, Emilia was still a variable, a potential disruption in the grand game of power.
Although Caesar might currently be weaker in personal strength, everyone knew that the royal family possessed secret rites, forbidden methods to enhance the new emperor's power after coronation.
In the end, whether it was Caesar or Emilia who ascended, either could easily reach the level of a Rank 8 class holder.
"So," Emilia said, a trace of amusement curling in her voice, "you mean to evaluate me, then?"
The tines of her silver fork sank neatly into a ripe strawberry.
She lifted it, the red fruit glistening under the light, then brushed it lightly against her lips.
Her tongue flicked out, slow, deliberate, drawing the sweetness from the surface.
For a split second, Lukas found it difficult to tear his eyes away.
"Well, I suppose I don't mind," she said, smiling faintly. "Though I must say, being evaluated like an object isn't my favorite feeling."
Emilia was not a kind woman, and she never pretended to be.
She delighted in taking what others desired most, in watching their composure crumble when stripped of it.
To steal Lukas's support away from Caesar, oh… that thought alone sent a delicious thrill through her.
A little discomfort was a small price to pay.
"Just don't make me feel like I'm wasting my time, Mr. Duke," she added with a sly, dangerous smile.
"I'm not as forgiving as Milim… or Caesar."
Finishing the last bite of her strawberry cake, Emilia dabbed her lips with a lace handkerchief, and dropped it carelessly onto the table.
"For the ball," she said without looking back, "wear the outfit I will send you later."
Lukas's eyes flickered — that could only mean one thing.
She had accepted.
As Emilia stood to leave, his voice stopped her.
"Your Highness… you won't do anything to harm the kingdom, will you?"
Emilia paused, then glanced over her shoulder, lips curling into a darkly playful grin.
"If I'm in a good mood, nothing will happen. If not… Well, I can't promise anything."
Of course, that was a lie, a small, wicked game she played for her own amusement.
The fate of this kingdom was already sealed.
Not even she nor her master, the Rank 9 Astrologer could alter what destiny had written.
She simply enjoyed teasing the proud Duke.
And when his eyes sharpened with sudden caution, Emilia's smile widened.
So easy to fool, she thought, barely suppressing a laugh.
How delightful.