The Female Lead Takes Care of Everything - Chapter 91

Each small but determined step carried her across the banquet hall.

A golden cushion held a mana stone that glowed with a soft blue light.

Nivellia carefully supported it with both hands. She walked forward, flanked closely by Soles and Aref, who stood protectively on either side of her.

“You’re doing great, Nini. Just keep looking straight ahead.”

“We’re already halfway there. We’re almost there now.”

Soles and Aref shielded her as much as they could, making sure she didn’t get distracted by the people around them.

Thanks to them, Nivellia was able to keep her promise to her parents and stay strong, without even a moment of hesitation.

I’m not scared at all!

The truth was, she was a little scared.

Large crowds were frightening.

Someone among them might be hiding a weapon. What if they suddenly attacked her?

But Nivellia gathered her courage and slowly began to free herself from the fear that had haunted her in her past life.

With every brave step through the audience chamber, that fear grew smaller.

“You’ve arrived.”

The Emperor greeted Nivellia warmly when she reached the front.

She gave a confident nod, her expression full of strength, as if to say, I’m here.

The chamberlain stepped toward the children.

Just as they had practiced, Soles and Aref dropped to one knee. Nivellia handed the cushion to the chamberlain, then followed her brothers and lowered herself respectfully.

“Your Majesty.”

The chamberlain took the mana stone and presented it to the Emperor.

The Emperor held the glowing blue mana stone high for all to see.

The sunlight streaming through the windows passed through the crystal, making it shine even brighter.

Cheers erupted like thunder throughout the hall.

Nivellia flinched at the sudden noise, but Soles and Aref quickly reached out and held her hands tightly.

“Today, these children who have presented this mana stone to me,”

The Emperor’s powerful voice filled the room, and the once-noisy crowd immediately fell silent.

“These young and extraordinary heroes have shown us something truly meaningful. They have helped pull the Empire out of danger.”

Their actions reflected selfless purity and strong character.

They showed courage by giving without hesitation.

“To uphold and live by such values may seem simple, but it is incredibly difficult. That is why it is so noble. I have learned this lesson once again.”

The Emperor gently helped the children rise to their feet.

“And so, I offer my gratitude to the heroes who saved the Empire today.”

Attendants stepped out from behind the curtain.

Each carried a silver tray. On each tray were three silver medals decorated with red and blue ribbons, along with three rolled appointment scrolls.

The Emperor picked up one of the medals.

“Soles Deiamor.”

Soles stood as his name was called.

The Emperor personally pinned the medal on Soles’s clothes. It sat beside the brooch he wore with his siblings, gleaming with a smooth, silver shine.

Then the chamberlain unrolled a scroll and read aloud.

“On this day, in the name of Emperor Ferrator Vikarius Dramenor, sovereign ruler of the Dramenor Empire, the title of Honorary Knight is hereby granted to Soles Deiamor.”

The same title was given to the other two children as well.

After the Ceremony

As the nobles left Sekun Palace, they talked among themselves about what they had just seen.

“Honestly, I think they deserved it. That mana stone was clearly top quality. It lit up the entire audience hall.”

“Without that mana stone mine, the Empire would have been in serious trouble.”

“Just look at the Petra family. They lost their bank in the end. I heard none of them even came to the ceremony today.”

“Were they the only ones missing? I didn’t see anyone who invested in the Prok Kingdom either. And to think they used to look down on me for not investing there.”

Most of the nobles agreed with the Emperor’s decision.

The mana stone’s quality and the mine’s abundance were undeniable.

There was nothing lacking in the discovery. Even the Archmage of the Tower had announced that this vein of mana stones was the finest ever found.

For the Imperial Family and the Empire, it was a blessing beyond words.

“As expected of House Deiamor.”

Someone’s quiet comment earned several nods.

“After all this time, it seems the divine favor they were denied is finally shining through.”

“In any case, this medal today,”

“Yes, it must have been meant for that child.”

The title of Honorary Knight is a single-rank honor, given to individuals who make great contributions in their field.

Even if the title was not hereditary, it was still personally granted by the Emperor.

That made it official. Aref was now a noble, and the title carried the meaning of serving the nation.

“Wasn’t that child said to be a student personally raised by the former Marquis Deiamor?”

“He must be very talented.”

“Maybe that child was the one who found the mine.”

“Since going alone would attract too much attention, the young lord and lady probably went along too.”

With this, Aref had officially entered the noble class.

No one could casually call him a lucky orphan anymore.

Even if people whispered about him behind his back, they would still have to treat him as a noble in public.

If anyone was caught slandering him openly, they would not escape punishment.

But the Deiamor family was focused on something else.

They were focused on giving praise.

“Kids!”

Right after the ceremony ended, Caleo and Celletina came looking for the children who were resting in the lounge.

Caleo pulled them into his arms, one by one, telling each of them how proud he was.

His eyes filled with tears as his heart overflowed with pride.

“You were the most wonderful ones there today.”

“Come here. Will you let your mother have the honor of hugging you too?”

Celletina also embraced them and kissed their cheeks with affection.

“I did it. I wasn’t scared at all.”

With little lipstick marks on both cheeks, Nivellia excitedly shared her success.

Caleo laughed with joy.

“That’s right. Our Nini was the bravest of all.”

“She is not even shy anymore.”

As they looked at their daughter, Caleo and Celletina were filled with emotion.

She was the child who had caused them so much worry even before she was born. And now, she had grown up and shown her strength to the world.

“I did well, didn’t I?”

“You did more than well. You were amazing.”

“Then give me more praise.”

Her bold confidence was still the same.

While they were proud of her growth, they also felt a sense of relief. There was still plenty left to teach her.

“You can all go home now.”

“From here on, the adults will have a small reception. We will return before dinner, so go and rest.”

“Are Grandma and Grandpa coming too?”

Nivellia asked.

“They went to the Tertius Palace.”

“They left without telling me?”

“They can leave without telling you sometimes.”

“That’s true.”

Nivellia nodded in agreement.

Since so many guests were gathered, the Emperor invited them to a simple gathering and opened the greenhouse attached to the third palace.

Muniel and Ardores headed there immediately.

Due to the mana stone mine and the bank issue, the Deiamor family had slightly shifted from neutrality toward the Emperor’s side.

So Muniel and Ardores went ahead to quietly show that the Deiamor family still claimed to remain neutral.

Caleo, holding Nivellia in his arms, thought to himself.

Even so, what difference would it make now?

The world already considered the Deiamor family to be part of the Emperor’s faction. That was unavoidable, since the founder of their house had earned great merit for the Empire.

Even though Muniel had once personally killed the Emperor’s father.

Despite that, both the late and current Emperor held genuine respect for her.

Muniel had even briefly taught the current Emperor when he was young.

Still, the Deiamor family had always stood as neutral.

In the past, when they had neither wealth nor power, that position had not caused any problems. But now things were different.

Now they held unprecedented wealth and influence, and people no longer understood why they insisted on staying neutral.

Some had even started testing them, wondering if they were secretly loyal to the Emperor after all.

The Emperor also seemed to quietly hope for their public support.

Even today’s ceremony made that intention so clear it almost felt amusing.

And yet, the Deiamor family continued to declare neutrality.

“I wonder how much this costs. Do you think it’s expensive?”

Nivellia mumbled as she touched the medal pinned to her clothes.

“I don’t like it. It’s ugly.”

“Why? I think it looks good on you.”

“My hair is white, and this medal is white too. That makes them friends. So it doesn’t match. You’re disqualified.”

She rambled playfully, like she was pretending to judge a contest. Caleo watched her with a soft smile.

A brief, complicated emotion showed on his face.

“Dear.”

Celletina called him.

Her gentle voice carried quiet concern. Only then did Caleo quickly adjust his expression and smile as if nothing was wrong.

They could now see the exit ahead.

Standing near the open doorway, where the sunlight spilled in, Celletina spoke again.

“Should we ask Deter to look after the children now?”

“That sounds good. We need to stop by the Tertius Palace to greet the others anyway. Deter, can you take Nini for us?”

Nivellia was passed into Deter’s arms without resistance.

Like a calm little puppy, she quietly settled into his hold and waved at her parents.

“Bye bye.”

“See you soon.”

“Take care.”

Soles and Aref also waved, watching as their parents stepped into the carriage.

Soon, another carriage arrived for the children.

“Alright, let’s help the young lady in first.”

“Wait!”

Stop right there.

Just as they were about to board, someone suddenly called out in a rush.

Deter, however, acted as if he hadn’t heard anything and gently helped Nivellia into the carriage.

He quickly lifted Aref and Soles inside as if loading bags, not children.

“Was that meant for us?”

Soles asked while sitting down and looking toward the running servant.

But Deter climbed into the carriage and blocked his view.

“I don’t think so. Why would a royal servant call for us? And the lady of the house clearly told us to return home after the ceremony.”

“Her Majesty the Empress has summoned the children.”

“She did say to go home, but this was definitely unexpected.”

In the end, they had no choice but to get out of the carriage again.

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