This time, even Estevan was surprised.
He hadn’t expected Liliana to demand adamantium.
Baron Mille, who had been watching the deal from the side, wore a subtle smile.
“What are you planning to use adamantium for?”
“Is there a need to explain that?”
Ricardo looked at Liliana with an uneasy expression.
“You are not planning to make weapons, are you? That’s ridiculous.”
There was a reason Ricardo asked this. Adamantium was the hardest metal in the world, and almost no one could handle it.
Only the craftsmen in the Magic Kingdom could make armor and weapons from adamantium.
Because of that, even though the Magic Kingdom was small, it couldn’t be treated carelessly.
“Adamantium is not a metal just anyone can handle.”
“Of course. I know that well. But that is something I will take care of.”
Liliana knew of one person capable of refining adamantium.
‘Does she have some method? But that shouldn’t be possible.’
Ricardo was surprised by Liliana’s reaction, but he believed she wouldn’t be able to handle adamantium.
“If you give us adamantium, we will lower the price of the magic stones.”
Liliana revised the amount written in the contract.
“This seems like an excellent deal.”
“Adamantium is not something I can decide on alone.”
“Then discuss it with His Majesty the King and contact us again. Until then, we will put the contract on hold.”
With a gentle smile, Liliana held out the small box of magic stones to Ricardo.
“This is a gift for today’s meeting.”
“I will accept it with gratitude.”
“I will gladly wait for Your Highness’s reply.”
“Very well.”
After leaving the building, Liliana immediately got into the carriage. Then, as if he had been waiting, Estevan asked,
“Did you even know what adamantium was when you said that?”
“Of course.”
“What are you thinking?”
Liliana’s eyes shone as she spoke.
“I am going to make armor and weapons.”
At her words, Estevan narrowed his brows.
“There is no blacksmith who can refine adamantium. Even if there were, what do you plan to do by making weapons?”
“Why wouldn’t there be someone to refine it? I said it because there is. And if we make weapons, we should use them.”
Liliana looked at Estevan.
“It is to invest in the knight order Your Highness will raise.”
“What?”
“Unlike other equipment, adamantium can hold multiple enchantments.”
Enchanting equipment with magic was a way to increase survival rates. But it didn’t work on just any metal.
Usually, only mithril or adamantium could be enchanted. Other metals couldn’t withstand the infused magic.
Adamantium was produced only in the Magic Kingdom, Baharus. That was because the one who created adamantium was Baharus, the founding Great Mage of the Magic Kingdom.
Baharus passed down that secret to blacksmiths, and the blacksmiths handed it down to their descendants for generations.
Despite any temptations from foreign nations, they remained loyal only to Baharus and protected the secret.
That was what Liliana was demanding.
“You have some nerve.”
“But they will have no choice but to give it.”
“Why is that?”
“The life of their Prince is at stake.”
“So the rumor that the Magic Kingdom’s Prince is dying was true.”
“Your Highness knew as well?”
“I always keep track of the continent’s situation. But when did you secure a craftsman capable of making adamantium equipment?”
“I will find one from now.”
“What?”
“I have a plan. Just trust me.”
Estevan looked at Liliana with a dumbfounded expression.
***
Founding Festival, third day.
The May Fairy selection competition, considered the highlight of the Founding Festival, was held.
The competition took place in the Diamond Hall inside the Imperial Palace.
The ten candidates who had made the shortlist arrived at the Diamond Hall with flushed faces.
Cecil, the Young Lady of House Valentier, looked over the candidates with a confident expression.
At that moment, a lovely woman with green hair walked over to her.
“Hello, Lady Valentier. We meet here as well.”
Recognizing her, Cecil’s expression stiffened. Melissa Ashran was known for being very close to Lady Kropel, the previous Fairy. That was why Cecil found her uncomfortable.
“So you are a candidate too, Lady Ashran.”
“Yes, I was lucky enough to make the list.”
“You must be quite lucky.”
“Actually, someone luckier than me is over there.”
“What?”
Melissa pointed somewhere with her hand.
“Over there.”
Where she pointed stood a woman with orange-colored hair.
“Lady Lennox is also a candidate.”
“Exactly. Is she not luckier than me?”
“Well, that is true.”
After a moment, the doors of the Diamond Hall opened and Liliana walked in with her maids.
The candidates looked at her as she entered, their faces tense.
Liliana checked the candidates one by one. When their names were called, the candidates indicated their attendance.
“Congratulations to all of you for passing the paper screening and attending this place.”
At her congratulations, the young ladies looked pleased. But one person alone, Claire of House Lennox, had a stiff expression.
“Now, we will begin the first test.”
Liliana had the maids bring in a frame covered with cloth.
When the cloth was removed, a painting appeared.
It was a very simple picture depicting vegetables and fruits placed in a basket.
“The subject of the first test is to determine what this painting represents.”
The ladies’ gazes turned to the painting. No matter how they looked at it, it was simply a picture of vegetables and fruits.
“The time limit is two hours. During those two hours, observe the painting and write down your answer.”
At Liliana’s gesture, attendants brought in tables and chairs, and placed writing tools on them.
Each young lady took a seat and observed the painting.
Claire looked at the painting briefly and immediately wrote her answer.
When Claire submitted her answer sheet first, the other young ladies also grew anxious and wrote down their answers before submitting them.
“You answered faster than expected. Then I will check the answers.”
The young ladies watched Liliana, who was reviewing the answer sheets, with anxious expressions.
At the same time, they kept a wary eye on Claire, who had submitted her answer first.
The young ladies had given very unique answers.
Liliana picked up the first answer sheet and looked at Cecil.
“Lady Valentier, why did you write ‘The Empire’s golden age’ as your answer?”
Cecil answered confidently.
“The ripe fruits and vegetables shining like gold seemed to represent the Empire’s golden age, so I wrote that.”
“I see.”
Looking at the next answer sheet, Liliana spoke.
“Lady Ashran, you wrote ‘Abundance.’ Is there a reason?”
“Seeing the ripe fruits and vegetables, I felt a sense of abundance.”
“Alright.”
Liliana asked the other young ladies about their answers as well.
The others also gave ordinary answers.
Lastly, Liliana looked at Claire Lennox.
“Lady Lennox, is there a reason you wrote this answer?”
With a small smile, Claire approached the frame.
“May I?”
“Go ahead.”
Claire grabbed the frame and flipped it over.
“This painting is meant to be viewed upside down.”
When the painting was flipped, surprisingly, the figure of a young girl appeared.
“This painting depicts a girl.”
“So that is why you wrote ‘Girl’ as the answer.”
Liliana applauded Claire.
“The only person who recognized the true nature of the painting is Lady Lennox. Congratulations, full marks on the first test.”
“Thank you.”
Claire smiled and looked at the other young ladies.
Among them, Cecil trembled.
“The other ladies also gave excellent answers. Based on a full score of 100 points, I will assign scores accordingly.”
Claire received 100 points, Cecil 80 points, Melissa 70 points, and three others received 60 points.
Participants who scored below that were eliminated.
“I am sorry, but four of you have been eliminated. Thank you for your hard work.”
The eliminated young ladies turned away with regretful expressions.
“Then after a ten-minute break, we will move straight to the second test.”
When Liliana left her seat, Cecil approached Claire as if she had been waiting.
“You were lucky in the first round, but the second one will not be easy.”
“Is that not something we cannot know?”
“Hmph.”
Cecil snorted, and Claire lightly ignored her.
***
Liliana entered the lounge and received letters from the two Imperial Consorts.
Consort Isabella praised Cecil Valentier, and Consort Diena praised Melissa Ashran.
The letters subtly emphasized that the two young ladies had special relationships with the two Imperial Consorts.
“If I don’t favor them, it might make things difficult for me, something like that.”
Liliana found the letters sent by the two quite ridiculous.
