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(Lurelia’s Birthday Bonus – Update 3/4 🎉)

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Then the Elementalist Association Chairman answered.

“I’m from a noble family, so they just put me there as a figurehead. My acquaintance with the legendary Elementalist Marquis Mylar probably played a part too.”

“Ah….”

So that means the key positions in the Elementalist Association are occupied by the so-called stagnant waters, and this grandfather before me, who is just the titular Chairman, has no real authority.

Well, no matter how hard a figurehead CEO tries, the company moves according to the will of those who hold real power.

The Association Chairman opened his mouth with a worried expression.

“If the Elemental Palace Lord visits the Elementalist Association, they will immediately present all sorts of documents. This old man came in advance to tell you not to sign them.”

“What kind of documents are you talking about?”

Felix answered instead.

“Donation pledges, sponsorship applications, and various others…. Documents meant to extort money from the young lady- I mean, the Elemental Palace Lord.”

My brows immediately furrowed.

Felix continued.

“And if the Elemental Palace Lord requests recommendations for talented individuals, they’ll only recommend Elementalists who suit their taste. Without any consideration for actual qualifications. They’ve probably already prepared a list.”

Association, stagnation, corruption, deep-rooted evils…

I used to hear about these often in the media when I lived in the modern world, and now I’m facing them here too.

The bad aspects of human society are similar everywhere.

“There was already much talk in the Association when I entered your service. They’re just looking for an excuse to replace me with their own people.”

Felix said with a bitter expression.

If even Felix says this much, there’s no reason to doubt the Association Head’s words.

“So, Elemental Palace Lord. When dealing with the Association people, you must stay sharp,”

“You mean I need to establish dominance from the start?”

When I spoke brightly and cheerfully, Felix’s shoulders twitched in surprise.

And he slowly nodded.

“…That would be best.”

The Association Head’s gaze was fixed on me.

If he came to warn me about water that’s beyond stagnant and starting to rot…

“I must do it.”

Their expressions brightened.

“Though I may be young, I’m not the type to let myself be taken advantage of. However….”

I looked at the Association Head with somewhat sharp eyes.

“If you came to find me despite turning your back on the Association, you must be prepared, right?”

I saw the Association Head flinch at my words.

I slapped my small palm on the table and said, “Prepared to overturn everything.”

***

“Hey, sort through them carefully. Will this one do?”

At the Elementalist Association.

The Elementalists participating in the document review to select talent for the Elemental Palace were busy examining the incoming applications.

There’s no place in this country with a larger pool of Elementalists than the Association, so the Elemental Palace Lord will surely visit here to request talent recommendations.

“But this person is a high-ranking Elementalist with extremely high proficiency in wind spirits. They seem like a suitable candidate for the Elemental Palace.”

“No, that’s not it. Look at their contributions here.”

Indeed, the contributions paid to the Association by the high-ranking Elementalist were less than those of other applicants.

“Ah….”

“This would just make fools of those who’ve been diligently paying their contributions. Mindset is more important than qualifications, understand?”

“Yes. Then how about this Elementalist? Their contributions are good, and though their proficiency with earth and fire is a bit low, they have an affinity with two types of spirits….”

“Hmm….”

The senior examiner narrowed his eyes at the application, then shook his head and quickly flipped past it.

“That’s from a different faction.”

“Pardon?”

“Why are you so slow to understand? We should pick people from our faction to increase our influence within the Association.”

Just as the junior examiner was nodding with a bewildered expression at the senior examiner’s words…

“The Elemental Palace Lord has arrived.”

“The Elemental Palace Lord? That Arinel Mylar girl?”

“Yeah. Marquis Mylar’s daughter.”

People from the Association hurriedly stood up here and there.

“It’s troublesome, but I can smell money. Heheh.”

***

I recalled the conversation I had while walking with Briton on my birthday, on his way to drop me off.

“By the way… my lady.”

 “…Yes?”

 “About that day when I invited you to the hot springs…”

At those words, I froze like a stone.

“I truly had no idea. That you had accomplished such an amazing feat…”

“Ugh…”

“Given your modest nature, you must have declined because of that. I wanted to apologize for making such a thoughtless suggestion.”

It seemed that as Parmes learned about the secret of the hot springs, Briton had also been informed about it.

I could feel my ears growing hot with embarrassment.

“No, that hot spring… I didn’t do it on purpose, it just happened accidentally…”

“Is that really true? To accomplish such an amazing thing without even intending to…! Your abilities are truly remarkable, my lady. I understand now why I must seem inadequate to you.”

Briton, who had been rejected when trying to gift me a necklace, responded somewhat dejectedly with an understanding tone.

“That’s not what I meant. I’m just saying it was an accident. That’s why I declined His Highness the Crown Prince’s proposal out of embarrassment.”

I spoke calmly, suppressing my embarrassment.

“The whole thing about blowing up a hot spring, it kind of suggests superhuman strength. Anyway, I was just embarrassed about it.”

After a long silence, Briton nodded as if he understood.

“Duke Guermont sometimes gets embarrassed when he accidentally shatters diamonds just by standing up from sitting on them, so I suppose your situation is similar.”

Though Briton’s voice was filled with gentle understanding, it pierced my heart repeatedly.

‘That’s not it at all!’

If I hadn’t known Briton’s usual self, I would have thought he was deliberately teasing me.

“But my lady… do you intend to keep this matter private? It’s quite an achievement.”

“Yes. I’d prefer it if it remained a secret known only to a few. I don’t want to receive the same kind of looks from people that Duke Guermont does.”

Uncle Famel, that is, Duke Guermont, is certainly a good person, but people look at him like he’s a monster, becoming dizzy and staggering just from making eye contact.

“Well… I understand your reluctance. However, the hot springs are gaining much popularity, and I think this could benefit House Mylar.”

I tilted my head at these unexpected words.

“Benefit House Mylar?”

“You may already know this, but imperial law includes provisions about the rights that hot spring developers can claim.”

***

Though Elementalists aren’t typically well-versed in worldly affairs, since the Association is staffed mainly by those sharp about profit, Arinel Mylar’s name was well-known among them.

The fact that the Elemental Palace was being rebuilt because of Arinel Mylar and that the Emperor greatly favored her and made her the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

They even knew that she received the exclusive affection of various ministers.

‘Power is more important than an Elementalist’s qualifications.’

None of the Association’s executives expected anything from eleven-year-old Arinel Mylar’s elemental qualities.

The only one who had such expectations was the old-fashioned Association Head who couldn’t keep up with the times.

‘She’s just a child after all, we just need to butter her up.’

“Hey. Are the documents ready? Prepare the contribution application at the highest level.”

“Yes. The Association membership application, Elementalist development fund, Association maintenance fund, Association sports day fund…”

The junior Elementalists carefully prepared the documents and arranged them neatly on the desk.

Shortly after, Arinel Mylar entered the Association with a knight following behind her, along with Felix.

The Association executives who had been waiting greeted Arinel with awkward smiles plastered on their faces.

Arinel, dressed in a cute dress, was barely half their size and was a young girl with a bright, smiling face.

“We welcome the Elemental Palace Lord.”

“The glory born of the Elementalist Association! The pride of the Elementalist Association! You are truly adorable.”

As the executives tried to shake hands with Arinel while flattering her, the knight standing by her side blocked them.

The executives lowered their hands with a start at the knight’s cold gaze.

Well, even if she is the Elemental Palace Lord, it’s natural for a noble young lady to dislike shaking hands with grim-looking old men.

“Now then, first to the drawing room…”

The executives first tried to lead Arinel to the drawing room. There, they could discuss various Association donation programs and recommendations for talent for the Elemental Palace.

They had even prepared candies and cookies to please the child.

If possible, they hoped to gain her favor by treating her pleasantly like a child, so that in the future, they might get even a small taste of power…

“No.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m not here as a guest.”

Arinel spoke to them with an un-childlike sharp and clear gaze.

“I came here today to take over this place.”