As the start time for the ceremony drew near, the Great Hall within the Hydra Kingdom’s royal castle began to fill with the nobility of various nations.
There was little time left before they would be required to move to the venue, but for a noble, even this brief window was a prime opportunity to expand one's social circle. Indeed, throughout the Great Hall, clusters of nobles could be seen engaged in light conversation.
Observing the scene from the corner of her eye, a young woman—the daughter and heir of a Marquis House from the Arclesia Empire—quietly turned her thoughts inward.
Even though I have been entrusted as my father's proxy, I am only a representative, not the Head of House. It would be a breach of etiquette to suddenly address a high-ranking noble. I should avoid the Dukes and Marquises for now and focus on networking with the Counts and Viscounts. I can speak with the high-ranking nobles my father is acquainted with during the party tonight...
During the previous Arclesia Founding Anniversary Festival, this young lady had—by sheer luck—been one of the first to discover Kaito’s market stall. There, she had acquired the Miyama Brand teacups that were currently a secret sensation among the aristocracy.
That acquisition had significantly bolstered her father’s social standing. Consequently, his opinion of her had skyrocketed, leading him to appoint her as his proxy for this festival when his own work made attendance impossible.
In truth, while she was a bit of a tomboy who enjoyed exploring the city incognito, she was also quick-witted and quite excellent by noble standards. Even now, she was calmly surveying the room, identifying individuals who might be beneficial to the Marquis House and preparing to make her move.
At that exact moment, the doors to the Great Hall swung open, and Duchess Lilia Albert entered alongside the Hydra King, Laguna.
That is... Duchess Lilia Albert... To enter alongside the King himself; I can only say it is exactly what I expected. There is no doubt she possesses powerful connections within the Hydra Kingdom as well. Truly, she is a genius—one who expanded her Ducal House in less than a decade to the point where her influence rivals the royal family. Even her posture carries a certain weight.
The name Lilia Albert was legendary in high society. She had renounced her claim to the throne to establish her own Ducal House, and within just a few years, she had achieved staggering growth. Rumors also claimed she was held in high regard by both the Six Kings and the God Realm, where she reportedly possessed strong influence. It was no exaggeration to call her the most powerful high-ranking noble in the Kingdom of Sinfonia.
Her deep ties to the God Realm are especially breathtaking. Not only does she hold the True Blessing of the God of Space-Time, but even the God of Fate is said to frequent her estate. Furthermore, she was granted the unprecedented honor of receiving the Sky Castle directly from Shallow Vernal-sama. She is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in the world.
In reality, Kaito’s presence was the primary driver behind Lilia’s connections, but to those on the outside, the finer details of their private lives remained a mystery.
It was an undeniable fact that Lilia was the only noble to hold the True Blessing of a Supreme God, and she was the only person in history to have been directly gifted something by Shallow Vernal.
While Kaito was widely recognized as a sort of Singularity, he was generally considered an exception to every rule. Thus, strictly speaking, Lilia was viewed as the only person in history, besides Kaito, to have received such a divine gift.
What makes her truly remarkable is that despite obtaining the immense authority that comes with a gift from Shallow Vernal-sama, she did not keep it for her own use. She immediately placed it under the state's management and opened it to the public as a tourist destination. It was a masterstroke. Matters of religion are often irrational, and if she had used the Sky Castle as her personal residence, she would have invited nothing but resentment and envy.
Countless people worshipped Shallow Vernal, the God of the World, with absolute devotion. Had Lilia hoarded the castle, she would have faced intense jealousy from nobles and common believers alike.
However, by opening the Sky Castle as a public landmark, she had instead earned the admiration of the faithful. Consequently, Lilia enjoyed a stellar reputation even within the Church.
I have never liked the word "genius," as it often feels like an excuse people use to justify their own defeat. However, when it comes to her, that word fits perfectly. Her talent for combat is rare enough, but her aptitude as a noble is a true gift from the heavens. To think I was born in the same generation as such a terrifying existence.
This was the general consensus among foreign nobility regarding Lilia Albert; she was regarded as a super-first-class prodigy in both statecraft and the martial arts.
I wonder what she is discussing with His Majesty Laguna? They both look so grim... Are they testing one another's resolve? His Majesty Laguna has ruled for a thousand years and is known for the wily shrewdness that has allowed him to maneuver the monarchs of Sinfonia and Arclesia like pawns. To think she can match his pace and hold her own as an equal... It truly is staggering. I admire her so. If only I could have the chance to speak with her at the party tonight...
The Marquis's daughter watched Lilia from afar with an expression of pure awe and longing, completely unaware that Lilia and Laguna were actually spending every spare second bonding over the agonizing stomach pain caused by Kaito and Shallow Vernal's date.
Serious-senpai: "I see... So while the readers and Kaito see her as a young lady with a trouble-attracting constitution who's constantly writhing in stomach pain... from the outside, she looks like an extraordinary person of the era who managed to eclipse the royal family in a few short years."