What had her maids been doing all this time? Usually, they brought her all sorts of social gossip.

However, the situation in the banquet hall didn’t allow Tatiana to remain lost in questions for long. As the distinguished guests filled their seats, the host tactfully announced the opening. As the party’s organizer, Tatiana had to give a congratulatory speech.

Tatiana Bloom, who once volunteered to be the 53rd stone pillar of the banquet hall—how did she end up standing here, receiving people’s attention? Was this why she got married? 

 Thinking how life never goes as planned, she climbed onto the podium with a hollow laugh. Still, she recited her carefully prepared speech, word by word. 

 All congratulatory speeches are similar anyway. 

 First, pray for the endless glory and peace of the royal family, briefly touch on the purpose of this event, and finally, praise the wonderful, great, and kind people who have gathered here for this good cause with utmost sincerity……. 

 In truth, it means there’s not much content. 

 What Tatiana really considered important wasn’t the congratulatory speech but the introduction of auction items. 

 The distinguished guests had generously donated one or two items from their collections for this event. Jewelry and masterpieces with all sorts of stories behind them arrived at the banquet hall in succession. 

 As the host of the party, Tatiana naturally had to contribute something as well. However, she ran into difficulties from the moment she had to select an item. While she had money, she didn’t have a hobby of collecting rare items. 

 They say you need at least one luxurious or unique hobby to enter high society — perhaps this was why. 

 The only meaningful items Tatiana possessed were the magic books her mother had left behind during her lifetime. 

 Though in her eyes these books were more valuable than any jewel, she was uncertain how much others would appreciate them. 

 ‘What if no one is interested in my item?’ 

 Princess Scarlet responded as if she was making unnecessary worries. 

 ‘Sister-in-law can just explain it well to people in person. What kind of book it is.’ 

 ‘……I’m not confident about that.’ 

 When I was young, I used to explain to the maids how valuable and enjoyable exercise was. I would talk about how charming swordsmanship was, how it could elevate our insignificant selves to extraordinary heights, and how ecstatic those moments were. 

 But no matter how much I explained, it seemed not to resonate with people. 

 That’s when I realized. What’s truly good, what makes your heart flutter, can never be explained. It’s instinct, it’s just natural. 

 When Tatiana fidgeted with the magic book, looking gloomy and worried, Scarlet, either finding her cute or pitiful, said this. 

 ‘Don’t worry. Who wouldn’t bid on the Princess’s collection? If really no one shows interest, I’ll buy it. This sister has lots of money.’ 

 ‘……Really? I’ll sleep soundly until the party day, trusting only Your Highness.’ 

 Promise? We’re friends? No betrayal? 

 ‘But haven’t you betrayed me before, Tatiana? You sold me out to Robert. I trusted you completely.’ 

 ‘……Come on, sold out? Your Highness, really, that’s ancient history.’ 

 When Tatiana played dumb, Princess Scarlet was exasperated. But she promised to be her conspirator anyway. 

 Now that she had someone to rely on, she could leave the rest to the host and borrow his words. However, Tatiana decided to personally introduce her collection, which was the first auction item. 

 It was a kind of event she was hosting as the party organizer. Even those who weren’t hosts sometimes chose this approach if they had deep attachment and pride in their donated items. 

 “Um….. This book is a magic book by my late mother, the late Countess Enya Bloom, who was a mage. It’s an early work written about 3 years after she first began her writing activities. There are only three copies in Valter. One is in the Royal Academy Library, another is kept in the Magic Tower. Those two are transcribed copies, and this is the original handwritten version.” 

 Though the Magic Tower and the royal family treat this book almost like a national treasure, its contents aren’t really novel. It was a basic theory that any mage would know. 

 But Lady Bloom wrote these theories in such simple language that even those who couldn’t sense magic could understand them perfectly. 

 There wasn’t a single term in here that people had considered a barrier to entry. That’s because this book was for children. It was a great mage’s consideration for little mages who had just awakened to magic. 

Tatiana said while turning the worn cover of the book.

“Being the original manuscript, its condition isn’t as good as the other two copies, but there are several differences from the transcribed versions. The prologue of this book reads like this.”

“……”

“To my daughter Tatiana Bloom. And to the young friends of Valter.”

With my support and love. 

 The distinguished guests suddenly lowered their heads. It was to write amounts on their bidding papers. 

 Tatiana had thought that what’s truly good, what makes people’s hearts flutter, isn’t in the realm of explanation or persuasion. It’s somewhat correct. However, in cases like today, there’s one more fact to keep in mind. When you’re famous, people get excited about anything you do. 

 A magic book written by a great mage as if dedicating it to her daughter? And that daughter became the princess consort? Though they didn’t know the contents, they had to buy this. 

 Tatiana was momentarily flustered seeing people suddenly become busy. 

 ‘No, I’m not finished speaking! Respected distinguished guests, noble aristocrats of Valter, I still have mountains of things to boast about!’ 

 I haven’t even told you what’s written on pages nineteen, thirty-three, and forty-six……. 

 Tatiana hurriedly continued speaking while turning pages, afraid she might not get another chance. 

 But that wasn’t what was important to the distinguished guests now. The moment the great mage was mentioned and it was said there were only three copies of this book in Valter, everything was already decided. 

 The distinguished guests hastily scribbled on their bidding papers and handed them to nearby maids. 

 When Tatiana laughed helplessly, Scarlet, whose eyes met hers, winked. While doing so, she too very primly handed a twice-folded paper to the maid beside her. 

* * *

 The charity party was successful. Through the auction, Tatiana raised an amount far exceeding her private fund budget. 

 There were even nobles who, perhaps out of face, left separate donations after failing to win the bid. 

 ‘I didn’t know Valter had so many wealthy people.’ 

 Even after people left, Tatiana remained in the empty banquet hall with Scarlet, chatting quietly. 

 Usually, after holding a big event, the lingering feelings make it hard to leave quickly. However, unlike Tatiana with her dreamy expression, Scarlet seemed to be forming another plan in her head. 

 ‘Now we engrave these people’s names on copper plates. And hang them big in the school. No. Let’s just carve them into the wall so they can’t be removed. Those who nobly shared their intentions in establishing this school……’ 

 ‘……’ 

 ‘Tatiana. This is how you get people to board the same ship in a moment of weakness.’ 

 Scarlet continued with an evil smile and eyes filled with madness. 

 ‘There is no door to get off.’ 

 ‘……Stop talking, Your Highness, you’re scaring me.’ 

 Tatiana shivered as if feeling cold, but inside she was proud. She was just trying to suppress her excitement, afraid of looking childish if she showed too much. 

 But when she returned home late, Gideon was waiting for her in the bedroom with eyes wide open. 

 Tatiana asked in puzzlement. 

 “Why aren’t you sleeping when it’s so late?” 

 Gideon seemed to find that question even stranger. He stroked his chin, tilted his head, and said this. 

 “When the woman I live with doesn’t come home…… don’t you think I’d wait?” 

 “Why? Were you worried?” 

 He nodded readily. 

 “Of course I’m worried. I worry that you might eat something poisoned when I’m not around.” 

 “……” 

 “Every day I worried about my wife’s life and death. I hoped…… she was doing well.” 

 His words strangely became past tense at the end. 

 Tatiana frowned, thinking ‘what’s this about.’ However, she could understand why he occasionally made random comments about avoiding poisoned food. 

 Gideon and his sister’s birth mother died suddenly when they were young. The royal family announced it was due to a chronic illness she had been suffering from, but among people, the theory of poisoning was strong. Perhaps Gideon thought so too. 

 But Tatiana was immune to most poisons. 

 When she was young, imagining she would become a very great knight performing dangerous missions, she didn’t hesitate to build immunity by consuming small amounts of poison. 

 For that purpose, she snuck into her mage mother’s storage room like a mouse, showing just how prepared this young sprout was. Later, this caused a huge uproar at the Count’s residence, but it was already too late by then. This must be why they say you shouldn’t take your eyes off children while raising them.