Chapter 8 - Volume 01; Act 04 – Part 03 (2/2)

“What Miss Elianna says is ideal… But, do you think that reason could convince a kingdom that’s proud of its barbarism?”

I smiled back, “I don’t. But why do we have to respond to their level? We must have our own way. And it’s the role of the government officials to use the wisdom they have to achieve this.”

Sir Glenn looked as if he was sweating cold sweat. Lord Alexei’s icy-blue eyes twinkled sharply.

His Highness Christopher snigger a little, “It’s Alex’s loss. ――― War is certainly an act of murder, no matter what just cause is behind it. Also, this age is different from the civil war age, where winning is lionised. All that remains behind is life which is irretrievably lost, and deep-rooted evil. I cannot lightly cause war as someone who will become King of a kingdom. If we can take measures before this happens, then we should.

Call Uncle and the weather office, and also bring the statistics that Elianna had researched. I will inform His Majesty and the ministers that I would like to hold an emergency meeting first thing in the afternoon,” His Highness immediately gave instructions, and everyone began to move.

I was also responsible for the statistics, so it was decided that I would sit on in the meeting even though it was frightening.

That was the incident about avoiding war with Maldura that the squad leader had mentioned.

I remembered many of my own brazen remarks from that time and became smaller. His Highness stared at me gently.

“Elli has become popular with women from military families since that incident. Nobody likes to send their husbands or sons to war.”

“But, credit for that doesn’t solely belong to me.”

Of course, people opposed this. But, it was His Highness and the centre wing who insisted that we could gain favour from Maldura by supporting them and that the surrounding kingdoms would know Southlynd for their act of humanity.

I was able to forecast the weather damage because I had that memorandum and book, and I was able to achieve that prediction with the help of the others and the weather officials.

“But it started with you,” His Highness was beating the air (it was in the eastern handbook). I somehow managed to come up with a counter-argument.

“But I’m not the one who made Hololeion weaves widely known in high society.”

“But it was Elli who revived and ordered it.”

I was at a loss for words.

I read an old passage written by a continental merchant related to a weather issue, there was a rare description of a type of fabric which was no longer being produced. In the old days, when paper wasn’t as popular as it is now, they had the custom of recording weaving techniques.

I was curious about what the fabric was like, so I discussed the technique with an artisan, and what I got was Hololeion weaves.

But, that’s ―――.

“Well, it was certainly Countess Storrev and her daughter who showed it off in high society,” His Highness said amusingly. I looked even more miserable.

Earl Storrev House is the home of my late mother. My aunt, mother’s younger sister, took in an adopted son-in-law to replace the heir that had died so that he could succeed the House. The other day, it was that aunt who injured her back and made me read endless romance novels to her.

Aunt has three daughters. My cousins are very lively and are engrossed with fashion. My number was up as soon as they saw the Hololeion weaves.

I couldn’t even get a say in before they declared, 『We’re going to make this popular in high society! 』. I was deprived of words by their strange declaration. The Hololeion weaves were a craze in no time, and there were shrieks of protest from the fief where the weaves were made.

His Highness laughed wickedly, “Your family is protecting you. They are protecting your reputation in high society.”

I went silent. Indeed, my aunt and cousins always looked after me after I lost my mother.

“But, I wasn’t the one who discovered that Zelga was a fake. That credit goes to brother,” I tried to argue once again, but His Highness only smiled.

“You were the first to realise that something was wrong with it.”

If I remember correctly, that happened a month ago.

As I entered the office from the archives, I came across a scene where His Highness and Lord Alexei were looking sullenly at a ceramic piece.

When I also stared at the piece, His Highness noticed me and explained, “It seems like they discovered a Zelga piece.”

I was curious and kept staring at the ceramic piece which was also known as the royal family’s treasure… “Oh my!” I tilted my head.

“Did you get it appraised?”

“――― It’s been appraised. Do you find something suspicious?” Lord Alexei’s response caused me to frown. I did have my doubts, but there shouldn’t be anything wrong with it if it has been appraised.

But, I don’t know…

“Elianna?” His Highness urged. I stared back at his blue eyes and understood.

“Isn’t this a fake?”

The two stepped forward in surprise and bent down to look at the ceramic piece. I made an eave in the pottery with the hand which wasn’t holding onto my book and checked in the shadows.

“… Zelga is regarded as the royal treasure because of its prized 『Zelga Blue』which was produced with a mineral and unique composition that doesn’t exist today. ――― Zelga means dawn in the ancient language. In other words, 『Zelga Blue』is the deep colour of dawn… This seems to be a more simple substance.”

“Are you sure?” Lord Alexei asked while a little tensed. I made myself smaller because I wasn’t confident.

“I don’t know anything else about arts and crafts… Brother might know about this.”

Brother Alfred is well versed in the field of art (books). So I told them that he might know more about this, so brother was summoned straight away. He said this as soon as he saw the piece “――― It’s a fake.”

He was completely certain.

He explained it in much more details than I had done and even revealed the differences in patterns and other things.

His Highness leaned against the chair, held his forehead, and sighed while looking mixed.

“It’s fortunate that it was appraised by the appraisers from the royal palace treasury before we made it public. This is Earl Casull’s responsibility.”

One of brother’s eyebrows twitched, but the conversation ended when His Highness said, “Please keep this a secret.”

After that, I wasn’t involved because he was exchanging words with Sir Glenn while looking like he had mixed feelings.

For some reason, this was also linked together like the previous incidents…