“Since Your Majesty has asked me, Veleno, the High Priest, for my opinion, I shall offer it. In my view, more of the blessings of the God Richt are currently residing in the Ortyia Empire than those of the spirits. Therefore, I believe this year’s Founding Festival should have a theme praising the God Richt.”
“I object! It makes no sense to praise the God Richt at a festival celebrating the founding heroes!”
“What are you talking about? We’ve been praising the founding heroes all this time. Wouldn’t it be better to praise the God Richt this time?”
Opposing and supporting opinions clashed from all sides.
Emperor Rasis watched the scene and let out a quiet sigh. His eyes looked rather weary.
But the weariness in his gaze lasted only for a moment, and his expression soon became stern once again.
“After hearing the various opinions regarding this matter and giving them careful consideration, I shall announce my decision. This year’s Founding Festival will have a theme praising the God Richt.”
The heads of the various spirit mage families and a few other nobles objected to the Emperor’s decision.
However, the Emperor did not change the outcome.
The snake-like High Priest Veleno’s lips curled upward in satisfaction.
“Where have you been running around so much lately?”
Roselia ran into Sven in the hallway.
She suppressed the urge to frown at Sven’s provocation and replied,
“Oh my. Aren’t you the capable Sven Oppa? I don’t have any abilities at all, so I have to go around like this. So please don’t concern yourself with me. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
Roselia quickly walked past Sven and entered the dining room first.
“Ha! That little…”
Glaring at Roselia’s retreating back, Sven followed her into the dining room.
When Roselia entered, her father, Count Felis, was already there.
Sven greeted the Count and took his seat, and the dishes were then brought to the table one after another.
Today’s main dishes were savory meat stew and lightly seasoned grilled salmon.
“So. I’ve been rather busy, so it’s been a while since we’ve had a meal together. How have you both been?”
Count Felis asked Roselia and Sven about how they had been while eating.
“I’ve been training frequently to tame spirits.”
He must have been doing that so-called training again.
“I see. Don’t neglect your training, and be diligent with your studies as well. And what about you, Roselia?”
After nodding at Sven’s answer, Count Felis turned his gaze toward Roselia.
“Yes, Father! I didn’t just stay in my room. I did all sorts of things. I went for walks in the garden, went outside to get some fresh air, things like that. Maybe because of that, I think I’m feeling healthier than before.”
“That’s good. It’s always a good thing for you to become healthier.”
Count Felis gave a faint smile after hearing her answer.
Watching him from beside her, the corners of Sven’s mouth twisted slightly.
“I heard that a fever has been spreading throughout various parts of the Empire. It seems that people in this territory have already begun falling ill as well. Be careful.”
With that, the Count merely gave Roselia and Sven a warning, and the dry, brief mealtime came to an end.
After the meal, Roselia went out for a walk in the rear garden.
She was holding the gardening shears in one hand.
I originally ordered these as an excuse to meet Cardian, but they turned out to be surprisingly well made.
She had brought them along both to take a walk and to test the performance of the gardening shears.
After walking for a while, she came across a beautifully arranged flower bed filled with red and yellow tulips blooming as if they were competing with each other.
“Oh~ These tulips look nice. If I take a few, no one will even notice.”
She carefully grasped the stem of a red tulip and snipped it with the shears.
Snip.
The stem was cut incredibly smoothly.
Just then—
Roselia suddenly paused.
Holding the cut tulip in her hand, she looked toward the entrance of the rear garden.
“I felt like someone was watching me just now…”
But there was no one at the entrance.
“Did I imagine it?”
She soon casually snipped a mixture of red and yellow tulips, and before long, she had made a bouquet.
Considering it was her first time cutting flowers, the result was quite good.
“All right, then. Shall I go to Father’s study?”
Roselia headed toward the main building with the bouquet of tulips in her hands.
Her father should not have been in his study at this hour.
When she reached the study, she opened the door and entered.
On the table beside the desk stood an elegant antique vase.
The vase was a keepsake belonging to her late mother, Violetta.
Three years ago, a fire had broken out in the room filled with her mother’s belongings, and only this vase and a few other keepsakes had barely survived.
Afterward, she had heard from the butler Jaden that her father had brought the vase into his study.
Roselia placed the bouquet she had brought down and carefully filled the vase with water.
She lovingly arranged the tulips inside it and placed the vase back on the table.
Just looking at it made her feel happy.
“I hope it makes Father feel better too.”
Roselia left the study and returned to her room.
As she sat on the sofa, Mary entered carrying tea and fruit.
“What happened with what I asked you to do?”
“I did exactly as you instructed.”
Roselia nodded and took a sip of the lemon tea Mary had brought.
Its refreshing flavor lingered in her mouth.
Just then, an urgent knock sounded from outside.
When Mary opened the door, the butler Jaden was standing there with a pale expression.
“What happened?”
“The head of the household asks you to come to his study immediately.”
“All right.”
Roselia straightened her clothes and headed toward the study.
When she arrived and followed Jaden inside, Count Felis was standing there with Sven beside him.
But the looks they were giving her were anything but ordinary.
“Why did you call for me…?”
Before Roselia could finish her sentence, her eyes widened.
“W-what on earth…”
The vase that had held the bouquet of tulips was shattered on the floor, with broken pieces scattered everywhere.
“Roselia. Did you put this bouquet of tulips in the vase?”
Count Felis looked at her coldly.
“Ah, yes. I did.”
“Then were you also the one who left the vase in this state?”
“No. I didn’t do it.”
Roselia answered Count Felis’s sharp question.
“She’s lying. I saw it with my own eyes. I clearly saw Roselia enter the study carrying the bouquet of tulips and then hurriedly leave.”
“Is what Sven says true?”
“I did enter the study carrying the tulips and then leave. But, as I said, I did not break the vase.”
Count Felis stared at her coldly.
He clearly did not believe her.
Count Felis Haillen was a man who believed only what he saw with his own eyes and valued the family above the individual.
Wasn’t that why, despite Roselia being his only daughter, he had adopted his younger sibling’s son simply because she was physically weak and had failed to manifest any spirit abilities?
And even today, despite the circumstances clearly putting Roselia at a disadvantage, Count Felis did not believe his own daughter’s words at all.
Roselia looked at Sven.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he met her gaze, then lowered again.
“No matter how many times I say I didn’t do it, you won’t believe me.”
“I’m only asking you to tell me the truth.”
“Then I’ll bring someone who can prove that I’m not the culprit.”
“A witness?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. Bring this witness of yours.”
When Count Felis accepted Roselia’s request, she gave Mary, who was standing behind her, a signal.
Mary quietly slipped out of the room.
Less than a minute later, she returned with a young maid.
“I’ve brought her, Lady Roselia.”
The maid who entered with Mary lowered her head slightly, folded her hands neatly in front of her, and stood beside Roselia.
“She’s my witness, Father.”
Count Felis looked the maid over suspiciously.
“Who are you?”
“I-I’m Mona, a maid responsible for cleaning the rooms in the main building.”
“All right. You said you’re a witness, so tell me what you saw.”
“Yes. I had just finished cleaning the rooms upstairs and was passing through the hallway outside the study. That was when Lady Roselia had just left the study. But immediately afterward…”
“Afterward?”
Mona raised her head slightly and continued.
“Lord Sven… entered the study. And shortly afterward, I heard the sound of something crashing and breaking, and Lord Sven hurriedly left the study.”
“Hey! You! What are you talking about?! When did I ever do that?! It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it!”
As soon as Mona finished her testimony, Sven shouted, veins bulging in his neck.
“Enough! Be quiet, Sven. Mona, was it? If there is even the slightest lie in what you just said, dismissal will be the least of your problems.”
“I-I swear. I’m absolutely telling the truth.”
Bang!
After hearing Mona’s words, Count Felis slammed his fist down on the study desk.
His fist was trembling violently.
![Welcome to the Aide’s Obsession [Completed]](https://i1.wp.com/novexanovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/resource-53.jpg?resize=151,215 "Welcome to the Aide’s Obsession [Completed]")
