The news that Duke Lennox Hesmann and Sheria Babyloa were returning from across the sea shook the entire empire. People were excitedly talking about whether they would come back hand in hand and what bad luck the affair rumors would have on their business. Of course, the atmosphere inside my stationery store was as quiet as the eye of a typhoon. This was because the coronation ceremony was scheduled to be postponed by a week, and Dominic had returned.
Dominic returned in a dusty suit and opened the stationery store door roughly. "Mel! I stopped by the Marquis's estate and finished processing the paperwork clearly."
"…Mel, did that man go to the Kinnoa family's estate on your behalf?"
"Yes? Oh, yes, that's right."
Dominic looked at him once, then at me, and smiled at the corner of his mouth. "That's right. My closest aide."
Strange. I felt like they were fighting with each other.
Why do they hate each other? There was no time for that, but the two of them…
Dominic didn't seem to be the same Isaac who always showed the composure of an adult.
"Let's drop it for now." I pointed at my temples and gave a light congratulatory gesture to Isaac.
"Isaac, can you take the holy water and even investigate it at the Mage Tower?" The holy water's identity was still unknown. In my memory, no matter how much I thought about it, the holy water and holy relics sold in the dark auction house were not fake. There must be some hidden secret.
Isaac nodded with a regained composure. "That's right."
Dominic, who was looking at the holy water Isaac was holding, soon lost interest. He strode up to me and started speaking. "I'll be here. Because this is my home."
"…Why are you talking about that all of a sudden?" Why did he say that while looking at Isaac?
But Isaac simply ignored Dominic's words, smiled at me, shook his head, and left. It was a simple and clear exit.
"Hmph." Dominic sat by the window with a grumpy face, stretched his legs, and muttered. "Oh, there's an important problem."
"Hmm."
"I think we will soon be able to capture your family's blood relatives. I marked it. But it's a bit strange."
"Why?"
"I'm trying to chase after you like this, but I can't catch a single collateral blood relative of your family."
"That's definitely weird." I also thought that with Dominic's ability, finding a blood relative of the Marquis Kinnoa would be a piece of cake.
As I shook my head, Dominic spoke carefully. "Well, I think I'm going to kill you."
Dominic frowned and scratched his brow. It looked like it bothered him.
"Then, after the Marquis's coronation, I will officially summon my collateral blood relatives." I shook a letter about the coronation sent by the Eighth Prince Cassian himself. "After this week, let's start with the nobles to invite to my coronation. Then we will definitely meet you."
The coronation of the nobility is held directly in the Imperial Palace. Although it is the Emperor who hosts it, it is an act of forming and showing off its power when it comes to the title of Marquis.
Sheria has chosen the Pope as her backing, so it is enough for me to show off my power too.
If I were to ask where the faction is, Dominic would answer yes! I forgot, but Dominic was a heroic sword. Considering that Duke Hesmann, who succeeded in signing a contract with Dominic in the original work, received full support from the entire nation, I also had a chance of winning.
Fortunately, few people had guessed about Dominic's identity yet. I have heard that the Duke of Hesmann has come and gone to the grave, but he probably has no idea that I have made a contract with Dominic. In this situation, if Dominic's identity is revealed at the coronation ceremony, it will have a significant impact.
"Dominic, I'm going to reveal your identity at the coronation, and now I'll make you an official identity."
"Okay. Let me do that." Dominic nodded with pride. However, when I saw his proud face, I felt a sense of unease. I coughed and asked, "What is it? Will you make him your supreme vassal?"
"Butler."
"…?"
"The butler looks good."
Are you serious? This hero…
"I realized it while working part-time at a stationery store. I love decorating the interior of my home." The past years were passing through my head. As a result, Dominic was clearly full of ambition to conquer the empire at first. However, as I ran a stationery store, something gradually began to change. I wasn't good at life magic, but I was definitely the best part-time stationery store worker. After realizing my aptitude for the first time in a thousand years, I had to nod my head in front of the boy hero.
Dominic lifted his chin and smiled proudly. "Also, Mirisa told me the other day that the most popular man is the most popular these days."
…Mirisa, what the hell did you brainwash Dominic?
I nodded tremblingly. "Okay. I'll give you a butler, or rather, a butler-like position soon." Still, I swallowed the words that I didn't think like a butler.
I should think about whether there is some kind of butler-like position.
"Oh, by the way."
"Huh?"
Dominic glanced outside the door as if he felt a sense of crisis. "He doesn't want to say the name he gave earlier, does he know my identity?" The one who doesn't want to say his name is probably Isaac?
"No. I haven't said it properly yet. If you two meet, you can tell me directly, right?" I shook my head and replied.
Dominic grumbled as if he didn't like it. It would be nice if we were a little closer. "Well, we'll find out after the coronation. I don't want to talk to him much."
"Can't you two be friendly?"
"If you want to, I'll try. But for some reason, I feel like I'm taking you away."
"Don't worry, we're connected. Like family." Only then did Dominic let go of his expression and nodded.
It's strange to be a family.
"So, Mel, who are you going to invite to the coronation?"
"Hmm…" Dominic's question made me think deeply. Coronation of a high-ranking nobleman. This was a kind of opportunity to take a new step. The biggest factor was how influential people were invited. I checked the statements of the nobles and relaxed to guess who to invite.
A week passed like that. So for the past week, I've been busy without blinking an eye. Isaac, who left for the Mage Tower, said that he had almost identified the identity of the holy water. I practiced with him from time to time and prepared for the coronation ceremony to become Marquis of Kinnoa. I made efforts such as visiting several balls in person to invite various guests to the coronation. Some nobles of the Imperial faction, including Lady Moodsela, little nobles, and the president and faculty of the academy were all invited. The nobles at the ball I attended also showed curiosity about my situation and expressed their willingness to participate.
The situation seemed to be going too smoothly.
Until Sheria, who secretly returned to the Empire, announced the date of her engagement to Lennox. The date of Lennox's engagement proclaimed by her coincided perfectly with the day of my Marquis's coronation. Sheria must have made a plan to confront me.
"I plan to prevent nobles who have influence on my coronation from attending." It was the same as the child's trick that had been obvious for a long time.
But Sheria. What should I do?
I have too many weapons to deal with you and the Duke of Hesmann.
"You can look forward to it." I grinned as I sorted out the list of nobles who would participate in my title ceremony.
There was only one week left until the coronation ceremony to be awarded the title of Marquis. A week. There was too much time to play all the games and make a perfect plan.