Chapter 90
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
Chapter 90
Crown Prince Kiaros typically called me "Miss Namia Loapi," but referring to me as "you" was equally natural. After all, this wasn't the first time he'd addressed me that way.
Yet suddenly, that form of address felt strangely awkward.
"Jayden is wearing the exact same expression he had back when my special ability first awakened."
Crown Prince Kiaros's slow, leisurely whisper tickled against my ear.
He hadn't mumbled carelessly so that the Imperial Servants could overhear his words about special abilities.
Rather, he was meticulous enough to have orchestrated this entire situation from the start, driving me into a corner by design.
"Do you have anything to say to me about this?"
In that moment, the shimmering silhouette of the Kairo hat that the Empress and Jayden had perfected sparkled in the air.
Through that brilliant light, Crown Prince Kiaros's final whisper continued.
"Namia Loapi."
The "condition" for awakening a special ability—something not even revealed among blood relatives, understood only naturally in hindsight—was trust in one's parents.
The First Emperor had imposed this restriction, judging that without trust in one's parents, emotional instability could render the power of the Imperial Servants harmful to humans.
Consequently, there were indeed cases where individuals never awakened their special abilities throughout their entire lives. Such records, however, were never officially documented.
'That's why Jayden only awakened his special ability upon reaching adulthood. Only after discovering the Empress's diary later, interrogating the Minister of Education who had become an enemy, and learning the truth did he... come to understand Her Majesty's love, and only then, belatedly...'
In Crown Prince Kiaros's case, he had no reason to distrust his mother, who died bearing him, and his father the Emperor gave his love without reservation, so I understood his special ability had awakened early. Though I knew not what that ability was.
'I was certain that through this event, Jayden's special ability would definitely awaken.'
That's why I had planned this event in the first place...
"Ah..."
I turned my head and gazed at the silhouette of the Kairo hat waving in the empty air. The event was now in its final moments.
The form, far larger and more beautiful than what the Empress and Jayden had practiced in the office, sparkled brilliantly before bursting with a pop.
* * *
'Now's the moment!'
The Minister of Education exhaled and crouched low. The final scroll—the massive silhouette of the Kairo hat—would strike the chandelier and cause a tremendous explosion.
'It's going to blow!'
The audience immediately screamed.
"Waaaaaahhhhh!"
"Kyaaaah!"
The sound was so tremendous it seemed to shake the Banquet Hall itself.
'Perfect!'
Just as the Minister of Education bolted forward to dodge, something felt wrong.
'...Huh?'
Something was amiss. He was the only one running for cover. The Minister of Education's eyes, which had been tightly shut, snapped open as he turned back toward the stage.
The final silhouette burst apart, and beautiful sparks rained down like stars.
"Bravo! That was absolutely magnificent!"
"My goodness, I've never seen an opening ceremony like this before!"
What he had mistaken for screams of terror were actually cheers of acclaim.
"This can't be real!"
The Minister of Education clenched his fists and cried out involuntarily. The Finance Minister beside him nodded vigorously and shouted.
"Exactly! Such a magnificent opening ceremony—it's truly unbelievable!"
Everyone chuckled and clapped their hands together.
"Phew, that's the kind of performance that would make the Tower Master nod in approval."
"Hasn't anyone in history ever demonstrated the power of scrolls to such a degree?"
The Minister of Education breathed heavily, his chest heaving.
He still couldn't accept what had happened.
The event had ended successfully without a single incident? That was utterly impossible.
'There should have been sparks flying from the chandelier at the very end, setting the Banquet Hall ablaze and causing chaos! That's what was supposed to happen, I'm certain of it!'
He had definitely switched out the scroll.
Yet he couldn't fathom why everything had gone perfectly smoothly.
'Was there some kind of mix-up in the middle? No, what on earth....'
The Banquet Hall should have descended into pandemonium, with numerous casualties, and I—Namia Loapi, the Minister of Scrolls—should have been immediately dismissed.
'This doesn't make sense, this absolutely doesn't make sense....'
The Minister of Education stared at Namia Loapi in the VIP section, his eyes flickering.
Crown Prince Kiaros, without the slightest hesitation, had openly requested her as his partner at the Banquet Hall and had been whispering in her ear repeatedly.
His eyes had clearly gone mad. It was then.
'...Huh?'
Namia Loapi suddenly turned her body and looked directly at the Minister of Education. At that same moment, their eyes met—and her expression made it clear she knew everything.
* * *
It was a shockingly perfect event that captivated everyone's attention.
Not only had the Scroll Department's reputation skyrocketed, but this opening ceremony would be talked about for years to come.
Despite all the countless efforts I had poured into this day, that fact didn't seem to matter anymore.
"You concluded the opening ceremony quite brilliantly."
As fireworks sparkled and burst behind us, a man more beautiful than the firelight itself smiled, his eyes narrowing gracefully.
"I've attended countless banquets, but I have a feeling today's will remain in my memory for a lifetime. It was truly special in every way."
His face, illuminated by the radiant fireworks at his back, took my breath away.
"This is my first banquet attending as your partner, and I'm grateful you've created such a beautiful, unforgettable memory with me."
Despite how he had quietly demanded an explanation from me earlier, I felt no fear—instead, I found myself utterly captivated by him.
Of course, the reason he wasn't pressing me further now was obvious. He could demand answers from someone like me whenever he wished.
"And thank you again for everything regarding the Empress and Jayden."
His voice was pleasant and measured, his gaze full of goodwill and sincerity. The refreshing scent I had grown accustomed to being near made my body tense. I gripped my champagne glass tightly and held my breath.
"Yes...."
Trying to regain my composure, I searched for Victor and Anastasia with my eyes.
Far away, Anastasia, who had been directing the event on-site, was embracing the other Scroll Department staff members. Her expression was brimming with joy at how smoothly everything had concluded.
Near me, Victor, who had been with the Finance Minister, was boasting to the nobles surrounding him: "You saw it, didn't you? This isn't the old Scroll Management Department anymore." His face was equally joyful.
'Sigh....'
I tried to suppress the complicated feelings welling up inside me.
'I always suspected there was a spy anyway. This wasn't unexpected.'
This time, the Minister of Education had clearly been planning something against me. So I used him to set a trap.
[Y-yes, the Banquet Hall is d-different from the Office in terms of environment.... I-if we accidentally t-touch the chandelier or the surrounding lights, it could cause a serious accident....]
If an office scroll were used for an event scroll, it would hit the chandelier and cause a major accident. Besides, there was no way to distinguish them just by looking at the scrolls.
[I've had all the office scrolls that were in the green boxes moved to the warehouse, so there's no reason for any confusion, right? Still, until just before the event, please continue to check the blue boxes that I've classified for event use. If they get switched, it'll be a real disaster.]
I deliberately placed the office scrolls in a warehouse accessible to anyone. Since I'd designated the event scroll boxes as blue, if the scrolls were ever switched, it wouldn't be an accident—it would be a deliberate swap.
And before the event, I summoned Victor and Anastasia to my office and told them this.
[I've placed the office scroll boxes in Warehouse 113. If the Empress or the Young Prince happen to ask for them, just retrieve them from there.]
After leaving my office, I told the other team members this instead.
[I've placed the office scroll boxes in Warehouse 241. If the Empress or the Young Prince happen to ask for them, just retrieve them from there.]
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------