The banquet was more crowded than ever.


    Even the weakdies decided to attend under the aid of their maids.


    Over time, everyones interest in Ariel grew and was at its peak.


    Count Caterbell, who was in charge of the donation for the banquet, picked up an envelope bearing the La Cartes crest.


    This is an item presented by the Grand Duke of La Carte. First, a painting with the handwritten signature of the Grand Duchess*. Next


    (t/n: it is stated before that since the position of the Grand Duchess is vacant, Ariel, being the onlydy of the house automatically became the new one?)


    The Count choked up as he tried to read the letters.


    H-he put out a blue diamond ne called the Sirens tear..!


    Gasp!


    The inside of the hall became quiet in an instant.


    Everyone stopped after making a choking sound.


    The sirens tear


    The blue diamond, the rarest kind of diamond, is a huge thing!


    The Sirens tear is a ne that was so expensive that it couldnt be bought even if they add all the prices of the items presented by the nobles in the banquet.


    There were also nobles who wanted to try it even once in their lifetime.


    People were surprised by the Grand Dukes wealth of throwing these precious things casually at the charity banquet, but they should be shocked at something else.


    Wait a minute. Theorder?


    When presenting such items, it was a principle to state the more precious one first and the less valuable one following it.


    But there was something else in the order before the Sirens tear. Its a painting of the Grand Duchess.


    Does this mean that the p-painting is worth more than the blue diamond?!


    The nobles all gazed in astonishment at the painting in cloth.


    Count Caterbell lowered the cloth with trembling hands.


    Those who gathered in the hall greeted the painting with their eyes squinted with light.


    Ooh.!!


    It was the biggest exchange of charity money in the history of the Empire.


    The aristocrats started bidding and raising its price as if they were hypnotized by it.


    10 million denals!


    15 million denals!


    I cant lose. 15.5 million denals!


    It was just amon [Figure 1] for Ariel, but now the curiosity about her has reached its highest level.


    Moreover, it lookedpletely different from those who believed the painting was worth more than a blue diamond.


    Whatever the painting was, the value of the painting was more than diamond, as long as the Grand Duke dered it more valuable than a blue diamond.


    The nobles set aside the blue diamond ne and began to heat up Ariels painting.


    Ill buy that.


    My Count will double it.


    No, I will!


    The emperor, who was present,ughed at the amusing reaction of the people on the Grand Duke.


    The one who has paid the most for charity will take it.


    On that day, the one who won the bid paid exactly 50 million denals and took the painting.


    Even after the painting disappeared from view, the people did not stop talking about it.


    Ah, the painting seemed to want peace in the world.


    Oh, my. I felt the same way.


    Then the theme of that painting must be world peace!


    Ariel would have been very surprised if she heard this series of thoughts.


    Because her intentions were not as profound.


    Later, the painting became worth 70 million denals after going through the hands of two noble families.


    Then a monthter, when Mathius bought the painting again and returned it to Ariel, it was with a certificate of 80 million denals.


    The intention of the painting was simple.


    This was the name given by the original author, Ariel, to the painting, which was praised for resembling world peace.


    Susans sweetness.


    On top of the whitece table mats, a dazzling porcin tray wasid gently.


    The tray had freshly baked pancakes and syrup pots, dishes topped with small pieces of butter, neatly arranged tes.


    Yum.


    Ariel quickly put the pancake with golden syrup in her small mouth so that it wouldnt drip.


    Ah, its soft.


    She feels stuffed after waking up in the morning and eating a lot of pancakes with sweet maple syrup and butter.


    Im going to meet Allen.


    Ariel loved spending time with the old butler Allen.


    It was pleasant to walk slowly with Allen, who always has a little bit of free time in thete morning.


    No one knew as much about this house and the people here more than Allen.


    Ariel was learning the things she needed to know about the La Carte family one step at a time.


    Allen. When did the La Carte family get founded?


    Yes, about that, mdy.


    A somewhat proud expression always blooms on Allens face whenever she asks such a question.


    So Ariel thought he was a little cute even though he was an old grandfather.


    The La Carte family has existed even before the establishment of this empire. It has a long history. Only direct descendants of the family can know when it originated, so I dont know in detail.


    That means, its that long.!?


    How did they manage to keep their familys blood alive even when its so old?


    What everyone needs doesnt disappear. The La Cartes have traditionally held onto their position as the empires guardians.


    Guardians?


    When Ariel asked with her eyes, Allen continued his exnation.


    The north upies arge part of the entire territory of the empire, but it is not green enough for people to live.


    There was a huge mountain range in the north of the empire.


    The vastnd in the north that followed this mountain range belonged to the La Carte family for a long time.


    And in the ancient forests and rugged rocky mountains forming the northern mountains, the beast appeared frequently


    This was the reason why people could not easily ess the mountain range even though there were many valuable mines.


    The La Carte family defended the empire from the beast by owning this barrennd, which allowed the empire to build a mine and revived it with the minerals that came out of it and made it to the present day.


    Uwaa, what apletely meritorious family.


    Ariel pondered and asked again.


    Then can the royal family leave the guardians position to another family? The higher the name of La Carte, the more troubled the royal family will be, right?


    Allens eyes widened a little.


    I cant believe such a young girl can think of such a thing


    Youre so clever,


    Then he continued politely.


    But there is no one who can substitute for the La Carte. If you leave your northern enemy to another family, theyll all be wiped out.


    Then.


    Yes. The men who carry the blood of La Carte are stronger than normal. One person does 1,000 or 10,000 per day. Even when defeating the monsters, only the Blue Lion Knights are taken.


    From the perspective of the emperor, La Carte was an objectionable entity, but without a guardian, he had no choice but to admit that his countrys existence itself was in danger.


    The present emperor also chose to keep the La Carte under the imperial family, recognizing his contribution.


    La Carte is a pro-Emperor and maintains neutrality. He was awarded the honor of the Grand Duke in exchange for maintaining neutrality without threatening the Imperial Family.


    The Grand Dukes family was the only aristocrat to have family autonomy. The Grand Duke is like a king of a small country because it is equivalent to the kingdoms that belong to the Empire.


    What kind of family autonomy is it?


    The right to keep family secrets, and the right to keep the imperial family from interfering in their own family affairs.


    Ariel was in awe.


    She knew in the past that the La Carte family was great, but it was even more amazing to know it properly.


    The presence of the Grand Duke in the Empire was greater than I imagined.


    Hey, Allen.


    Yes, Mdy.


    Whats the secret of the family?


    When Ariel asked, Allens face suddenly hardened.


    Ariel quickly added a word.


    Im sorry, it was a difficult question.


    She is currently a member of the Grand Dukes family right now but shes also in a position to divorce Lucian and leave this ce once she bes an adult.


    So it was presumptuous to ask for a secret that even the imperial family couldnt dig out.


    I didnt want to embarrass Mathius or Lucian after learning the secret.


    Ariel spoke clearly and calmly.


    Its better if you dont tell me, Allen. Im going to get going. Thank you again today.


    Yes. Take a look and go back. Mdy.


    Ariel, who said goodbye with Allen, returned to her room.


    She wasnt very curious about the secrets of the La Carte family.


    Ariel herself has a big secret ofing back from the future.


    It would be strange if there were no secrets from such an old family.


    And La Carte was a family notorious for madness.


    If thats whats revealed, whats hidden will surely be worst.


    There are a ton of things to be hidden from the time of the ancestors.


    Haaaaam


    Im sleepy after walking too much.


    Ariel fell t on her nap bed and leaned her head in a fluffy, round pink cushion.


    The little girl quickly sank into the dreand.


    Its been two months since Ariel entered the mansion.


    And something she was worried about had happened.


    Ariel sighed slightly.


    With a small sigh, Ariels red hair fluttered like a ribbon.


    Im lost.


    Today, she was on the way back from the balcony at the end of the East Building that she went with Allen.


    At the end of the building, there was a room where the former imperial princess stayed as a guest, and there was a marble birdbath on the balcony connected to the room.


    When Ariel, who is not familiar with luxury goods, asks about the concave and elegant stonework with water, Allen politely exined it.


    The princess who stayed here liked the birds, so there is a birdbath where she can feed the birds or y with the water while they drink water.


    Wow. Will we be able to see birds bathing water here in the spring?


    Ariel blushed with anticipation.


    Then she dipped my finger in the water and quickly pulled it out because it was cold.


    An innocent smile filled her cheeks.


    The old butler Allen saw the appearance and felt an emotion poked in his heart.


    He was working hard to crack down on the frivolous words and actions of the other servants in the mansion who said that he was cute when hes with thedy


    Really, the youngdy was so lovely. Its as if they turned a sweet colored ruby into a human.


    It was the first time he was loyal to anyone other than his masters, Mathius and Lucian.


    On her way back from looking around the princess room, which is preserved in its original form.


    Ariel decided to go back alone in consideration of the busy Allen.


    The East Wing has been renovated after a long time, so Ill take you there, madam.


    No. I almost memorized my way now. I want to practice by myself.


    Ariel, who had gone on her way alone, could not return to her room in the South Hall and was circling around a strange ce.