Along with the letters, expensive accessories had been sent as gifts, but Liliana returned the accessories and kept only the letters.
She had been specifically asked by the Emperor to conduct a fair evaluation, so improper solicitation was unacceptable.
After a short break, Liliana returned to the hall and proceeded with the second test.
“The second test will examine your hearts. Now, I will give the instruction.”
The young ladies waited for Liliana’s words with tense expressions.
“Bring me what you think is the most precious thing in this world. I will give you three hours. If you fail to return within the time limit, you will be disqualified.”
As soon as the test began, the six young ladies hurried out of the hall.
After leaving the hall, Cecil quickly had a maid deliver the test contents to Consort Isabella.
Consort Isabella then chose a precious item she owned and gave it to Cecil.
“This is a water-colored diamond, the only one in the world.”
It was a one-of-a-kind diamond created by the famous alchemist Riche.
Seeing the precious diamond, Cecil was confident of victory.
“Please convey my thanks to Her Highness. I will definitely win.”
Melissa also received help from Consort Diena.
Consort Diena gave her a painting.
It was said to be the only work left by a deceased artist, a one-of-a-kind painting in the world.
The other young ladies looked at Cecil and Melissa with displeasure.
“They really have good backing. Everything gets solved without them even trying.”
“Exactly. It is hard living without connections.”
“Do you not think so, Lady Claire?”
Claire shrugged.
“I am not sure having a good backing is that important. It cannot protect you forever.”
“That is true. I should hurry and find something.”
The young ladies scattered one by one, and Claire, without much thought, went into the kitchen.
Three hours later, the young ladies returned, each carrying an item.
Cecil was the first to submit hers.
“I brought a one-of-a-kind jewel.”
When the box was opened, a mysterious water-colored diamond was inside.
“It is a work by the alchemist Riche, so precious that it cannot be valued.”
Answering with a gentle smile, Cecil looked as if she were certain of full marks.
“Indeed, it is a precious jewel.”
Next was Melissa’s turn.
“I brought a painting. It is the only remaining work in the world by Goren.”
Melissa squared her shoulders and looked at Cecil. The two stared at each other, sparks flying in their eyes.
The other three young ladies also brought fairly convincing items.
Finally, it was Claire’s turn.
She took a water bottle out from her arms.
“Your Highness told us to bring the most precious thing in this world, so I brought water.”
Liliana asked Claire for her reason as well.
“It is because we cannot live without water. Water is the source that sustains life. Without water, none of us would be able to live. Therefore, I believe water is the indispensable and most precious thing in this world.”
“B-But is water not too common? The question was to bring the most precious thing in the world.”
When Cecil protested, Melissa agreed.
“That is right. What Lady Lennox brought is far from the answer.”
Liliana smiled gently and spoke.
“You usually enjoy tea or beverages. But all of those begin with water. Without water, no matter how expensive the tea is, it would not produce its flavor, would it?”
The young ladies couldn’t refute her.
“Lady Lennox’s answer was excellent. I cannot help but give her the highest score. The other young ladies also did well.”
Liliana assigned scores to the six young ladies.
She gave Claire 100 points, Cecil 80 points, Melissa 75 points, and the remaining young ladies received 70 points.
“With this, the final round will be between Lady Lennox and Lady Valentier. The other four, you have worked hard.”
Melissa looked at Liliana with an expression as if she were about to burst from injustice.
“Your Highness, I have something to say.”
“Go ahead.”
“Why is my score lower than Lady Valentier’s?”
“That is because the painting you brought is not complete. Of course, the one you brought is still a sufficiently valuable painting.”
“Not complete?”
Melissa looked at Liliana with confusion.
“The painting by Goren that you brought originally comes as a set of two. But since you brought only one, it is not complete.”
“That makes no sense. I have never heard that Goren’s paintings come as a set of two.”
Liliana looked at Melissa with a surprised expression.
“Oh my, it seems you really did not know.”
“Yes, I cannot believe it.”
Cecil looked at Melissa with an unpleasant expression.
“Understood. To verify the truth, I will call the Court painter.”
Liliana had a maid summon the Court painter and showed him the painting.
“This painting of Goren comes as a set of two. This is a fact that was revealed recently. I am surprised Your Highness knew.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I have had paint on my hands for over thirty years. It would not be an exaggeration to say there is no painting I do not know.”
Liliana looked at Melissa.
“Do you accept it now?”
Melissa tightly clenched her skirt. Since the Court painter had spoken, it seemed useless to argue.
“I-I acknowledge it.”
Melissa left the hall with reluctant steps.
Liliana looked back and forth between Claire and Cecil.
“Congratulations on advancing to the final round.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
The two young ladies bowed politely.
“The third test will be for the two of you to personally serve food and drinks to the distinguished guests who will come to the hall tomorrow morning. The one who receives the most favorable response will win.”
Cecil nodded with a confident expression, while Claire remained calm.
“Take these. This is the list of the distinguished guests you will be serving tomorrow.”
Liliana handed the list of guests to the two of them.
“For reference, the guests you will serve tomorrow are very special people I personally selected, so you must not make any mistakes.”
When the two young ladies nodded, she approached them with a smile.
“You worked hard today, so get plenty of rest.”
Liliana left the hall, leaving the two behind.
Then Jennifer asked curiously.
“Your Highness, will it be alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“You want Lady Lennox to win, do you not? It seems tomorrow’s test might be more advantageous for Lady Valentier.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Is it not?”
Liliana gave a faint smile.
“If Lady Lennox is truly smart, she will have realized something after seeing the list. Tomorrow’s test depends on which of the two realizes it first.”
Liliana trusted Claire’s ability. If she truly had talent, she would notice something.
And above all, she had performed very well in today’s tests.
If she was that capable, she would also handle tomorrow’s test well.
When she returned to the detached Palace, Anna handed her a letter from Consort Diena.
It was a letter expressing regret about today’s events. It seemed Melissa had run to complain.
‘She must have thought I wouldn’t recognize the value of the painting she sent.’
But that was a mistake. Liliana was also very knowledgeable about art.
Since childhood, she had loved learning and mastering things. The field of art was no exception.
She had no talent for art, but her knowledge of art was extremely vast.
***
The Garnet Palace.
Consort Diena opened the cage and took out a parrot. Stroking the parrot’s head with her index finger, she looked at her head maid, Peggy.
“It’s truly regrettable that Lady Ashran failed the third test.”
Her expression was bright for someone claiming regret.
“I hear Viscount Ashran is displeased?”
“That is what I was told.”
“What can be done? Lady Ashran’s ability is only at that level.”
Peggy knew that Consort Diena had deliberately given her the painting by Goren.
“Lady Ashran is too spoiled. Since she has always been indulged, she knows too little about the ways of the world. She needs to learn more.”
After putting the parrot back into the cage, Consort Diena held out her hand to a maid.
The maid approached as if waiting and wiped her hands with a damp towel.
“I hear the finalists are the daughter of Count Valentier and the daughter of Count Lennox?”
“That is correct.”
“Lady Valentier is expected, but Lady Lennox is surprising.”
“If we judge by ability, would House Lennox not actually rank higher?”
“True, they are a family that has produced many capable scholars over a long period.”
Looking at her freshly cleaned hands, Consort Diena spoke.
“Find out more about Lady Lennox. She might become a useful card for us.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Consort Diena smiled meaningfully and gestured to a maid.
“I should take a rose bath. Prepare it.”
She had always liked cleanliness, and she was so fastidious that she bathed several times a day.
Thanks to her personality, the Garnet Palace was so clean and tidy that not a speck of dust could be found.
