Chapter 51: Chapter: 49

"You may go now"

Rex said with his usual dignified manner to dismiss the maids who helped him to get ready for the engagement party, now he is alone in his chamber looking at his reflection in front of the huge mirror, the thought of him having a paired-look with his soon-to-be official fiancee is exciting that he unconsciously let out a huge grin.

'In a few hours, Grizel will become mine, I'll let the whole world know who is she belongs to, My one and only Princess'

Rex said inwardly as he took a glimpse at the Azure Empire's emblem majestically hanging on the wall above his bed, the roaring blue dragon that can be found anywhere within this Empire.

He sifted his gaze to the pendant decorated with the very same emblem gave by his Princess through Nine who immediately excuses himself after delivering the gift with a pale blue face.

'I'm sure that unfortunate guy is witnessing something again'

Rex puts the gift around his neck, it looks attractive when he unbuttoned his tight collar, the blue mana stone warped beautifully by the emblem and decorated with extra blue sapphires on 3 layers of silver chains.

The combination of silver and oceanic blue perfectly resembles his heavenly beautiful fiancee.

'It's kind of suspicious that calculating egocentric fiance is giving me this precious blue mana stone with this fancy necklace, somehow it doesn't feel right...'

Mana stones are rare, and the rarity is divided based on the strength of the monsters, green for the lowest class since it only needs 1-2 awakeners to defeat the monster, blue is the intermediate class that requires a professional subjugation party of awakeners only to take down a single monster and this is the rarest mana stones can be bought in the market, and lastly, the highest red mana stones which belong to the strongest monsters that live in the deepest part of the Forest of Demise, even the Azure Empire only have 3 of it in the Imperial Treasury.

'Is she perhaps started to fall in lo-'

"Rex"

The huge grin on the Prince's face vanished as he got startled hearing his fiancee's voice in his chamber right after he puts on the pendant.

"Grizel?"

He holds the pendant's blue Dragon ornament near his left ear to make sure the voice comes from it.

"Good, it's connected perfectly"

Grizel's voice was heard once again as Rex suddenly recalled the content of the contract between his father and fiancee, the incomplete blueprint that was written in their contract and madly admired by the skillful Imperial Craftsman.

"Oh! Is it the finished product of the long-distance communication magic tool you've designed?"

He suddenly realized that pendant is the finalized magic item designed by Grizel herself, though, in the blueprint the design was simpler with a small teardrop-shaped bead of pendant supported with only green mana stone and wasn't as fancy as his blue dragon ornament that was made of the blue mana stone.

Rex smiled genuinely when he realized that his pendant is special.

"Yes, I named it after my soon-to-create company, The Fortuna's Pendant"

Grizel said it soon-to-create company even though the preparation of the company is mostly done, it because this incomplete company won't fully start before she recruited the greedy genius merchant, who'll be the next elite member of the Tartarus Organization in charge of the business department.

'Tough not one of the guest, tonight, I'll fish him out to find me himself since that greedy rat will sniff the smell of gold faster than anyone else'

She smirked looking at the 4 jewelry boxes contain the lowest grade of Fortuna's pendants with green mana stone attached that she prepared as the promotional materials, even if it was trash compared to the ones used by Grizel and her comrades since the higher mana stones have the more features, it was still a valuable miraculous item for others.

"Congratulations, your business carrier as a merchant is finally getting started"

Rex added knowing the next plans of his future Empress.

"Well, it was also thanks to the Emperor's wise decision"

Grizel was planning to start a business and build a merchant company, one of this company's main business is focus on research and development of magic items then selling it, and this magic pendant is one of her designs that was successfully created with the help of her newly-recruited vassal, Asmodeus.

But...

Selling that kind of advanced magic items is not a simple matter, her company will surely be targeted by other nations, not to mention the greedy people who want to monopolize her creations, even if she was strong enough to defend her company but brute force is not the answer to never-ending business assault, moreover, she doesn't have time to play with them, instead of the muscle, its time for the brain to shine, that's why Grizel offered a win-win contract with the Emperor.

The agreement was...

For the Azure Empire to be her sole business patron.

The price of the information she gave to the Emperor is to be her business patron while hiding her identity as the owner of the company.

In other words, the Azure Empire is protecting her.

Of course, as her business patron, the Azure Empire will have exclusive benefits and will be treated as the main priority over any other country for business trading.

Seeing the magnificent prospect of her blueprints, the Emperor has no other choice but to sign the contract.

That is how Grizel turned this whole nation into her strong and sturdy business shield.

Rex chuckled inwardly when he remembered his petty intention to make Grizel as his shield to cast away those annoying nobles who always talk about marriage and the candidates for his crown Princess.

Yet, Grizel smartly turned the table on him thousandfold harder.

"It faster than I thought thanks to Deus, he is a genius Craftsman indeed"

Grizel chirped proudly like a mother who brags about her genius son but got an irritated reply from Rex instead.

"Are you just praising another man?"

"Rex?"

She replied in surprise, can't believe that the mighty Prince who was well known for his maturity in front of his people did say such a childish thing.

"What? Not fond of a jealous future husband?"

Rex teases his nonchalant fiancee, a peaceful and beneficial marriage is enough for the past him before he met Grizel, love isn't crucial, though he didn't care about the lovely marriage, his future wife is even worse because she doesn't even see him as a love interest...yet.

"Hhhmm, I don't particularly hate it, but the more you show it the more I want to tease you, Rex dear~"

Sigh...

Rex sighed as he was familiar with Grizel's implicit way of warning, in other words, she was telling him that his jealousy over such a petty thing would become more and more severe as he complained.

"Alright you win, I won't grumble over it ever again"

"Boo! No fun~"

Teasing him, Grizel answered back with a sulking voice as if disappointed that Rex chooses to end it here than having all his heart burned with jealousy in the future.

"Haaa, what did I do wrong in life to deserve such a fiancee. Anyway, are you sure about the matter of mass-producing this world-changing item and sell it worldwide even to the Westerners? If worse come to worst, this thing can become our advantage in the war against them"

Instead of hiding her creation, Grizel is planning to spread this item and sell it worldwide even to their enemies, of course, Rex was confused about the actions that are so out of her character, even if selling it to the whole world would become a huge benefit for Grizel's company, she won't choose wealth over victory.

'She won't, will she? though rapacious, Grizel is not a fool who will choose a temporal gain, but...'

Rex thought inwardly as he has a little doubt that Grizel would choose wealth over victory or vice versa since the real Grizel that he knew...

Would definitely choose both wealth and victory.

"Just consider it as a charity to change the world for the better future"

Indifferently saying thing that is very dubious for her, Grizel is twirling in front of the mirror wearing the dress sent by Rex, the one they choose for this engagement party.

'Master, it can not be considered as charity when you are planning on installing transmitter and tracker in each of your product for illegal wiretapping, recording, monitoring and tracking the owners of the pendants you are selling to, it's a violation of privacy'

Athena blurted out saying as if a rule-abiding citizen with her usual annoying manner.

'Tch! It's good that I am the only one who can hear your loose mouth blabbering about my plan, a wrong step and this will be a huge International issue'

Grizel replied in an irritating tone, this thing called Athena can be the source of her doom if she was a human being, her illegal business can be leaked through her bigmouth, fortunately, Athena's voice won't reach anyone except Grizel.

"Don't underestimate this future husband of yours! I know you're planning something behind this so-called charity"

Rex added as he doubts that Grizel is voluntarily selling her precious creations to the enemies without doing anything.

'Gosh! The growth of this boy is freaking me out! Master, he is getting really sharp'

Athena is amazed at the Prince who always right guessing about the thought of the devil ever since their first meeting. Along with the increase of his interaction with Grizel, he is getting more professional in handling the devil girl.

'Of course, he won't be any use if he was a mere brainless charming Prince'

'If only he has the same knowledge of those vicious things installed on your creations, he might have guessed your plan behind selling it worldwide is...'

Athena stopped a moment, this knowledge is the gap between the 2 worlds apart, the undeniable advantage for the one who had lived in both worlds, and Grizel uses it to the fullest.

'...to monitor the whole world from the shadows through the magic pendants'

Like her former life as Angela Samael, she was the ringleader of this kind of illegal stuff since for the Samael Family, information is the sharpest nonphysical weapon.

With this, instead of having disadvantages by selling her precious items to the enemies, the sly little girl is gaining more wealth and power at the same time.

Furthermore, The Intelligence division can not depend on the spies alone, after all, they are still human who do mistakes and have limits, it's not strange for spies to bring back only a little part of the information since they couldn't access the whole details, but with the help of the magic pendants, the games of gathering the information puzzles can be completed sooner and more accurate.

"Well, it's not like you were obliged to tell me all of your schemes, just..."

Rex stopped for a while sighed in desperation.

"Please learn how to do things moderately since Dion is on the verge of his sanity cleaning up your mess"

The prince added as he remembered how much Grizel affected Dion's perfect life, graduated as the top scholar, he was recruited as the Crown Prince's Aide, prideful with the bright future awaits the successful young man...

But everything is changing ever since his tragic fate entangled with this mischief-maker, Rex doesn't even want to think about how unlucky Dion is.

"Oh my! He's alive? Dion is tougher than I thought"

'Yes, for now. He'll die with a heart attack as soon as he heard about your illegal business, Master'

Ignoring Athena, Grizel added to reassure Rex.

"This time the scale of the plan is quite big, I can't do it while play- Ahem! I mean training you like usual since the mess caused by it can be considered as a disaster, that's why I had taken the precautions to prevent the mess"

Grizel is talking about the seal put on each pendant, if someone is forcefully trying to break the seal, the mana infused into the stone of the pendant will increase the heat from within and causes its self-destruction, burning all the evidence of her illegal deeds.

Furthermore, ...

Even if they somehow managed to open the seal safely, they wouldn't know what is tracker and transmitter anyway.

In his chamber, Rex is facepalming, speechless knowing she was skilled enough to put precautions to minimalize the mess of her schemes yet purposely creating troubles everywhere and increase his works.

Though because of her, the efficiency of the work of Rex and his Vassals increased significantly since then.

"Sigh... Anyway, thank you for the engagement gift. I've prepared one for you as well"

"You don't have to, the dresses you sent to me were more than enough, especially the one for tonight as it perfectly matches my plan, but when did you realize my intention?"

Grizel asked Rex since she never talks about her plan at the party with him.

"When you asked them who have a lower nobility status to be your chaperones for the party instead of manipulating your high-esteemed parents"

Rex replied, normally, people want to show off their power and wealth at the party hosted by the Imperial Family, Grizel has everything like power, wealth, status, and beauty. She just need to manipulate her parents to attend the party showing that she had their support.

But...

If Grizel is not using her parents to be her chaperones at this party then it means she has another plan, and he guessed it right after hearing that she is asking their help instead.

"As expected of my beloved fiance. Yes, they are the perfect ones to smoothen my plan tonight since they have a moderate status of nobility yet no one dares to offend them directly"

Clapping her hand, Grizel praised her quick-witted fiance.

"Seems like my dear Princess is using her social circle wisely"

Flip-flop!

Neighhh...

The sound of the horses' neigh echoed loudly in front of the main entrance of the mansion as the coachman stopped the carriage.

"Oh, seems like they arrived sooner than expected. I don't want to make my honorable chaperones wait for me, bye~ I'll see you at the ball"

"See you, I can't wait to give you my gift and lock the bonds of our destiny"

Rex mumbling, for a moment there was a chilling hunch that sent a shiver down Grizel's spine.

"Pardon?"

Grizel tried to confirm by tapping her silver earring that is hanging beautifully on her right ear, the combination of the extremely valuable red mana stone and the devilish emblem of a certain secret organization makes it looks elegant yet vicious.

'Tch, it's disconnected, that Prince is running away'

Grizel grumbled as she walks towards the front door to greet her guests who came to pick her up. Her vicious earring is slowly fading away before completely vanished from sight covered by illusion.

To differentiate from others, every member of the Tartarus Organization is using the communication magic item in the shape of a single earring decorated with the organization's emblem that is similar to their tattoo, all members have the same design except for the mana stone used since the higher grade stones only for the elite members.

"Good evening, please let me thank you for accepting my request, Marquess and Marchioness Bé-"

Seeing her guests who are standing next to the carriage smiling warmly, Grizel bowed with a graceful curtsy yet was cut off.

"I remember to ask you not to talk formally to us, sweetheart. It makes me sad"

The old woman said in a dejected tone, sulking like a toddler while her husband is chuckling.

Grizel smiled innocently like a normal 10 years old girl and repeat her greeting once again.

"Good evening Mr. and Mrs.-"

To be continued...

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬  ஜ۩۞۩ஜ  ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Author's Corner:

Hello, my dear readers!

I...

Can't believe this novel reached 100k reads already.

°ʚ(*'꒳'*)ɞ°

It's all thanks to you guys, you are awesome, your supports are really mean a lot to me, I feel so blessed.

(⸝⸝>ᴗ(>ᴗ<⸝⸝)ｷﾞｭｳ♡♡

To celebrate the 100k reads, I've prepared some fun facts about...

Tartarus Emblem

Athena once said :

"This image symbolizes Grizel's soul"

This symbol appears almost everywhere like hidden in the background of some images or as an important part of the story as the tattoo.

Even in my profile lmao (˵¯̴͒ꇴ¯̴͒˵)

Most of you might think the first appearance of this symbol is in the chapter 2 in this image.

But nope, it already exists on the page of Disclaimer before the story begins as the page cover.

Can you see it hiding mostly becomes transparent? (〜￣▽￣)〜

Now, what is this symbol?

*Drumrolls*

Well, I won't spoil anything about what is that mysterious symbol or why did she has it.

✌✌(˵¯̴͒ꇴ¯̴͒˵)✌✌

but...

I'll tell you what that symbol is made of, it was the combination of 4 symbols that resembles Angela Samael.

Like I said in the Prologue,

she is like a twisted version of Yin and Yang.

For some people, she is a Chaos Star.

Yet the others see her as a Harmony.

For her people, she is a Pheonix who gives life to them.

Yet for her enemies, she is worse than Hades.

And for us, she is the Villainess in the Heroine's coat.

Her whole life was a contradiction.

That's how is it supposed to be but...

I did combine those 4 symbols myself to represent her in one image, but instead of representing her contradictory life, it turned out like a symbol of a demonic cult.

Which is not a contradiction anymore since this evil-like symbol represents her wholly.

(Ｔ▽Ｔ)

But I thought it was a successful failure.

(〜￣▽￣)〜

By the way,

The next update will be my 50th chapter, I want to celebrate it somehow, but I don't know what should I do.

(￣∀￣")