Chosen Mate Of The Beastmen Empire

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He seemed to be thinking, slowing his speech, causing the courtiers to hold their

breath. "I plan to give her a rare treasure."

With those words, the dust finally settled.

No noble title was given, but any minister with a sharp mind understood-Aurelius

was not willing to let go; he had made up his mind to claim Nyx.

For a moment, everyone's expression varied, their feelings quite complex.

Aurelius seemed unaware of this, continuing, "Since she contributed a treasure to me, I will give her a rare treasure in return."noveldrama

He raised his hand, and several attendants, bowing and half-asleep, carried an item forward, carefully presenting it.

When the silk covering was removed, the dazzling light shone brightly.

"This, this..." The ministers' eyes widened in disbelief. Forget about noble titles, schemes, and power struggles-all their minds were consumed by the stunning sight before them.

It was a crystal ornament in the shape of an orchid, set upon a lotus bowl.

The orchid was crystal-clear and flawless, with petals as thin as cicada wings, slightly curled, and the stamen delicate and beautiful. What was most remarkable were the leaves-they were meticulously carved with intricate veins, appearing elegant and expansive, as if full of resilience and life.

The light shone down, and the ornament reflected a dazzling, dreamlike glow, something not of this world.

"Gulp..." Someone couldn't help but swallow.

Setting aside the craftsmanship, the sheer size of the flawless white crystal alone was enough to fetch a sky-high price.

The "rare treasure" Aurelius spoke of was truly rare; it was unlikely that anything like it could be found in the world. To give it away as a reward was too much.

As if seeing through the ministers' thoughts, Aurelius smiled and said, "This glass ornament is the treasure I am giving to Nyx."

Of course, this was not the treasure he truly intended for Nyx. What he truly wanted to give her was the highest honor-the title of marquis and a position as a minister, so the world would sing her praises.

But the timing wasn't right. Even if he used his imperial power to do so, the fame falling upon Nyx wouldn't be a good one.

There was nothing he could do. He had to follow Nyx's plan, rewarding her publicly for what she had contributed, making sure she garnered attention and influence.

The ministers didn't know what was in Aurelius's heart; they only focused on the important word. "Glass?"

They thought, 'Isn't this crystal?'

Aurelius clearly had no intention of clearing up their confusion.

After mentioning a few official matters, he announced the court session was over.

The crystal orchid ornament was taken away and sent to Duke's Mansion, under the gaze of ministers who were either in shock or greedily eyeing it.

A brief glimpse in the court had whetted their appetites, and murmurs of discussion began, ceaseless and eager.

Nyx left the palace and patiently stayed at home, waiting for the flood of invitations, which, as expected, came pouring in like snowflakes.

The officials, curious about the glass ornament, were eager to get a closer look and admire it, but since both Matay and Erik were away from the estate, it would be inappropriate for them to visit Nyx themselves. Instead, they sent their female relatives to represent them.

With so many invitations, it became quite exhausting to entertain them all. Nyx had already made preparations, so she decided to hold a flower appreciation party, inviting the ladies of the capital to join her for a feast.

Since it was a flower appreciation party, there had to be a variety of fresh flowers to decorate.

Jinx and Jules were still working in the estate's greenhouse. Nyx had once casually suggested they build a warm shelter for flowers, and though she hadn't expected much, they turned out to be quite clever, making it incredibly successful. The flowers they grew in winter were just as beautiful as those in summer.

Before the banquet, many of the invited ladies secretly looked forward to the spectacle.

They thought, With such cold weather, where could they find fresh flowers? Even if they were brought from the south, they would lose their freshness, and who knows how much money it would cost?'

After all, Nyx came from humble beginnings. Even if she had somehow secured a good marriage, she would never truly belong to the upper echelons of society.

After waiting for three days, the women arrived as scheduled, eager to see how Nyx would try to bluff her way through.

However, as soon as they stepped into Duke's Mansion, their eyes widened, and they were stunned by the vibrant, colorful

scene.

The peonies were as red as fire and pink like the morning sky, while various orchids bloomed quietly. Though they weren't the most eye-catching, their fragrance filled the air. The climbing roses covered the trellises, decorating the pavilions and

towers.

But no matter how lively the other flowers bloomed, they couldn't overshadow the peony, the queen of flowers. Even those who weren't familiar with flowers could tell that these had an air of nobility.

Of course, the women present knew much more, and with a single glance, they could recognize several varieties from the palace. They became more cautious and respectful, hiding any disdain they had.

No matter what, Nyx was now the lady of Duke's Mansion and had Aurelius's favor. Her humble origins no longer mattered, as they were a thing of the past.

When Nyx appeared to greet the guests, all she saw were smiling faces, and the compliments and praises filling her ears were endless.

Socializing among the noble families was often full of insincerity.

Nyx didn't like it, but she didn't flinch either.

Having been in high positions in the star system for so many years, she was no stranger to formal occasions. She was well-versed in how to handle them.

This was the first time Nyx had mingled with the ladies of other families since marrying into Duke's Mansion. Before this, even tasks like sending New Year gifts were handled by Enzo on her behalf.

To avoid any mistakes, she had studied thoroughly these past few days, getting

the details of everyone attending the banquet.

14:02 Sat, 15 Mar 0

After some casual exchanges, the women began to look at Nyx very differently than before.

They had underestimated Nyx.

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The compliments grew even more enthusiastic, and when someone mentioned Nyx's contribution to Kellingtown's suppression, the conversation turned toward the telescope.

Nyx smiled, nodding occasionally in response, but remained vague, skillfully deflecting all their probing questions. Then she brought up the main event. "His Majesty has gifted us a glass ornament, and I'd like to share it with all of you today."

It was about admiring flowers, but the glass flower was the main attraction for today. The guests nodded in agreement.

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The telescope, such a military piece, was something they couldn't get information about, and that was perfectly normal. The glass ornament, however, was the real reason they had come to the banquet.

Though they had heard much about the grandeur of imperial gifts, when Nyx revealed the silk covering and let the sunlight hit the glass ornament, the courtyard was filled with gasps of awe.

Seeing the poised noblewomen lose their composure, staring in shock with wide eyes, Nyx was sure of her success.

The business was secured.

"May I come closer to take a look?" after a while, one woman carefully asked.

She examined the ornament closely, and it seemed different from crystal, though she wasn't entirely sure and wanted to get even closer to inspect it.

If Nyx hadn't allowed it, they would have understood, since precious items could be fragile and easily damaged.

But Nyx was far more generous than they expected, waving her hand. "Please

feel free."

These noblewomen, who were always taught to maintain proper etiquette, would hardly handle the ornament carelessly, even if given free rein to inspect it.

*****

The flower-viewing banquet lasted for several hours, and by the time it ended, the sky had darkened.

Aron quietly escorted Nyx back to the palace. Seeing her in a cheerful mood, he asked, "Was everything smooth, Your Grace?"

Nyx smiled and nodded.

If all went as expected, these noble families would soon start probing into what "glass" really was, and the information they discovered would, of course, be the fabricated details she had already planted, hoping they would uncover it.