Chapter 35
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How to Survive as the Villain's Younger Sister
Episode 35
I had expected Alexis to behave more stiffly and coldly toward the Emperor.
But he was gentler than I anticipated.
"Duke Parkision, approach me. In recognition of your meritorious service in safeguarding the Empire's welfare, I bestow upon you the 'Imperial Phoenix Medal.'"
The Phoenix Medal!
It was the highest rank of commendation.
I had thought he would simply give a gift and send him away.
The Emperor might have impulsively altered the reward based on his temperament.
After all, his mood had improved.
Perhaps the Emperor's capricious nature was advantageous in moments like these.
With the highest medal secured, Alexis's standing as Duke had become even more fortified.
Roel's bitter expression was proof of that.
What happened next was even more astonishing.
"Cyrilia, you too shall approach me."
The Emperor had called upon me.
I approached the Emperor with a bewildered expression.
He stroked my head with his large, thick hand and spoke.
"You too have distinguished yourself in apprehending the criminal who disturbed the Empire. I shall grant you a reward. Is there anything you desire?"
This was my opportunity.
"Actually, there is something I wish for..."
I covered my cheeks with both hands, feigning embarrassment.
Then I gazed up at the Emperor with shy, glistening eyes.
"Your Majesty, I would like to give you a gift. Would you accept it?"
"What? You wish to give a gift to me instead?"
"Yes!"
My eyes sparkled as I implored him to accept.
The Emperor laughed heartily once more and nodded.
"How thoughtful of you. Let me see what you wish to present."
That was when it happened.
"Your Majesty, that is inadvisable."
Roel, who had been standing rigid as a wooden post, interjected.
The Emperor's brow furrowed.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"It may be a dangerous object. You must not accept it carelessly."
A dangerous object?
Was he suggesting I intended to assassinate the Emperor?
No matter how desperate the situation, his reckless accusation was absurd.
I could not remain silent in the face of this.
I gazed up at the Emperor with an expression as though tears might spill forth at any moment.
"I just thought His Majesty was so wonderful and kind, and I wanted to give him a gift...."
My voice trembled with tears, my round cheeks quivered, and my lips pouted.
The Emperor then erupted at Roel in anger.
"We conduct thorough searches of everyone who enters this place. You know this, don't you?"
"But someone could still sneak something in...."
"Does this tiny little child have some magical pouch to sneak weapons inside?"
Actually, I did have a magical pouch—an inventory.
Alexis, observing the scene, spoke lightly as if throwing out a joke.
"You said you came to help us, Administrator, yet you keep saying frightening things. Are you our ally or our enemy?"
Though delivered as a jest, her words had teeth.
The Emperor nodded at her remark.
"Indeed. Hasn't the atmosphere become strange?"
"Your Majesty, I merely...."
"Enough. You will leave the Audience Chamber. We shall speak among ourselves."
In the end, Roel was expelled from the Audience Chamber by the Emperor's command.
Serves him right.
"The troublemaker has withdrawn. Now all that remains is for me to receive my gift?"
The Emperor spoke with a playful expression.
His face suggested he expected some childish, trivial present.
"My gift isn't actually an object—it's a person!"
"A person?"
Bewilderment spread across the Emperor's face.
"Yes! I want to introduce you to my dear friend as a gift. That friend actually helped me a lot in catching the con artist."
At the mention of introducing a friend, the Emperor's expression stiffened slightly.
The Emperor was not someone who could meet just anyone.
"So it's a friend worth keeping close. However, for an imperial citizen to meet the Emperor, one must arrange an appointment beforehand. Unless, of course, one is the Crown Prince."
It was at that moment.
"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience."
"Now? Is it urgent?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Let him enter."
The doors of the Audience Chamber opened.
The exception the Emperor had just mentioned.
Crown Prince Kailson appeared.
"I haven't seen you in ages, gallivanting about who knows where. What is this urgent matter?"
The Emperor asked in a lukewarm tone.
Watching this, I bounced lightly and smiled brightly.
"Your Majesty, the friend who helped me is right there."
"What? Then the friend you were introducing...."
"Yes, that's right! The Crown Prince helped me catch the con artist."
"The Crown Prince?"
"Yes! He was secretly punishing some wicked men, and he happened to meet us and helped us out."
I embellished the story with details that never happened, singing Kailson's praises.
The Emperor's eyes widened.
"Is that truly so, Kailson?"
"Yes. I was also pursuing Borja Keren, the swindler who insulted Princess Leila. By chance, I encountered the Duke's family, and we decided to cooperate."
The Emperor regarded Kailson with an approving expression.
"I thought you were just wasting time on frivolous matters. So you were doing something like this?"
"Since he was so elusive, I tracked him quietly. I apologize for not informing you in advance."
"No matter. You did well, acting for the honor of the Imperial family."
"And there is one more matter I wish to bring to your attention."
"What is it?"
The Emperor asked as if inviting him to speak freely.
After learning that Kailson had played a role in capturing Borja Keren, he seemed more magnanimous.
"It concerns the purification of Nightmare Valley."
The Emperor's complexion changed.
Nightmare Valley.
A hellish land where monsters ran rampant.
It lay within the Emperor's own territory and was close to the Capital.
The Emperor was a man who valued his own safety above all else.
Therefore, the purification of Nightmare Valley was a matter of utmost importance to him.
"Have you found a way to purify Nightmare Valley?"
The Emperor asked with an expectant expression.
"Yes. I intend to use spirit stones to purify it."
"That is already common knowledge, is it not? It is simply impractical because the effect is negligible."
The Emperor spoke with disappointment.
Kailson answered undeterred.
"If we use night spirit stones instead of ordinary spirit stones, we can achieve results."
"You speak in riddles. Where would you obtain so many night spirit stones to purify Nightmare Valley?"
The Emperor spoke with growing irritation.
'Even ordinary spirit stones are difficult to procure in large quantities.'
Night spirit stones created by fallen spirits, no less.
Yet Kailson merely smiled broadly.
"That is why I have brought the owner of a night spirit stone mine."
"What, what did you say?"
The Emperor cried out in disbelief.
"If that is true, present them before me at once. Quickly!"
"I have already presented them."
Kailson pointed with his hand toward Alexis and me.
Alexis immediately knelt on one knee before the Emperor.
I followed Alexis's lead without hesitation.
"Your Majesty, your servant Alexis Parkision humbly requests to conduct a secret transaction with the Imperial Court regarding the 'Night Spirit Stone.'"
Alexis presented the silvery spirit stone she had prepared beforehand to the Emperor.
It was the Night Spirit Stone.
The Chief Attendant, who had been waiting quietly, received the Night Spirit Stone from Alexis, verified its authenticity, and then handed it to the Emperor.
The Emperor's eyes widened as he took hold of the Night Spirit Stone.
"This... this cannot be! I have never seen a Night Spirit Stone of such exquisite beauty!"
"I shall have the Imperial Court's spirit mage verify its authenticity."
"Surely Duke Parkision would not stake his life on a falsehood to deceive me."
The Emperor spoke with excitement.
Yet even as he said this, he handed the spirit stone back to the Chief Attendant.
It seemed he intended to have the Imperial Court's spirit mage verify its authenticity once we departed.
"Where on earth did you obtain such a precious treasure?"
"We discovered it by chance while undertaking agricultural restoration work in the Parkision Territory."
"Ah, I see."
The Emperor spoke with a hint of disappointment.
It seemed he had been thinking of claiming the entire mine if he could learn where the Night Spirit Stone had been found.
'But if that location lies within another noble's domain—and a duke's at that—such a thing would be impossible.'
"And the discoverer is none other than this child."
Alexis said.
"What did you say?"
The Emperor was taken aback.
I was equally astonished.
There had been no need to mention it.
Alexis could have claimed all the credit for herself, yet she spoke of my involvement instead.
"What a remarkable child you are in many ways."
The Emperor smiled warmly and praised me.
"Not at all, Your Majesty. I am merely grateful to bring you joy."
I replied, concealing my bewilderment.
"Then I must speak with the discoverer directly. What do you desire as compensation?"
The Emperor asked.
He was asking about compensation without even determining the quantity of spirit stones or when the transaction would occur.
And he was asking a twelve-year-old child.
It was half jest, half earnest inquiry.
I pondered for a moment before answering.
"One million Gran."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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