Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem

Under the weight of her granddaughter's judging eyes, the Empress Dowager soon calmed down. An SSS-rank familiar wasn't that big of a deal in the first place. Zach wasn't the first or only summoner to summon one.

He might be the first to do it as his fourth familiar in a long while, though. It was cause for celebration, but there was no need for the Empress Dowager to embarrass herself any further. So, she fixed her posture and smoothed out the nonexistent wrinkles on her dress before nodding toward the training hall.

"What do you say about getting an understanding of your latest familiar?" She suggested, hinting for Zach to let loose Mandra on the training ground.

"Really? I would love to." Zach turned to Mandra, hoping she would agree and take this chance to familiarize herself with her current strength, even if it meant showing part of it to an outsider. He also hoped she didn't take it like him just testing her or something like she was nothing more than a weapon.

Mandra nodded and took a step out of the summoning chamber, Zach and the others eagerly following her.

"Hmm, it seems you might have to do it another time." However, the Empress Dowager stopped Zach and Mandra before they could do anything. She pointed upward.

"You have someone looking for you."

Zach's shoulders slumped in disappointment. He was curious about how strong Mandra was. After all, her rank was the same as Soara's original. Due to having just been summoned and Zach's level, she wouldn't be able to bring out strength equal to that of Soara's prime, but she would still be extremely powerful. Or so he hoped.

Zach bowed toward the Empress Dowager and Princess Rienne.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, thank you both for today. Your help, hospitality, and kindness will not be forgotten, nor will it go unreturned." Zach gave them a proper and formal farewell along with his bow. It was a little too late for appearances, but the minimum etiquette should still be followed.

"I only did what I was supposed to," the princess answered with a simple shrug, not taking part in the charade. What was the point of formalities after what he and her grandmother had shown?

"My name is Ursula ju Kiantier," the Empress Dowager said.

"Okay?" Zach's eyebrows rose in confusion. She hadn't said that he could call her that. She had just told him her name, which, to be fair, he hadn't known until now.

Ursula nodded.

Zach glanced at Rienne for assistance, but she just shrugged. Neither of the two royalties said anything as they waited for Zach to leave. Eventually, he got the hint and turned to leave the basement.

Ursula watched the backs of Zach and his five maids.

"He's the youngest Evandiel, right?" She asked her granddaughter.

"That's right. Why do you ask?"

"No reason," Ursula answered with a light shrug. That meant he wouldn't inherit the title of duke in the future.

It wouldn't be so bad with another summoner in the imperial family.

***

Outside the Empress Dowager's palace, Zach looked at Derot in confusion.

"How did you…?" Zach had barely gotten inside the palace grounds even when he used his status as the son of a Duke. If it hadn't been for the princess overhearing his argument with the guard, he would have been turned away at the gates.

Granted, Derot didn't have as much of a bad reputation as Zach, but he was, in the Imperial Palace's eyes, just the son of a merchant. The Gaville House might be skilled and famous in the South, but other than merchants and people who kept track of all the noteworthy names in the business in the Empire, most people outside the South didn't know about them.

He was far from prestigious enough to be granted access to the Imperial Palace on such short notice, much less guided to the Empress Dowager's annex.

Derot understood Zach's confusion. He was in a similar state, after all. He shrugged.

"I don't know. I came here to wait for you. Then, the guard outside asked what I was doing. I told him I was waiting for someone. He even asked me if I was waiting for you. I said yes and asked if he could have a message delivered. Instead, he had me delivered. It was strange. As soon as I said I was your buddy, the guard hurried me into the palace."

Derot shook his head like he couldn't believe it. He hadn't imagined that the status of a Duke's son was that incredible. It was better than he thought to be born with a diamond spoon. Even the Imperial Palace's guards were Zach's errand boys.

"Yeah…Very strange…" Zach avoided Derot's gaze.

It had nothing to do with his status. It had everything to do with how he had gotten a guard fired, the princess looking after him, and the Empress Dowager personally guiding him into her annex. Your next chapter is on empire

His reputation aside, it was undeniable that the Imperial Family looked after him. Naturally, Zach's friends could stand in his shadow and share part of that privilege.

The guard had been worried about making the same mistake as the first one, and he did not dare refuse Derot's entry. He could have had a message delivered while Derot waited, but this was his chance to make sure that the real Sam had done no wrong.

"Setting that aside, what was so important you had to come all the way here?" Zach asked, changing topics.

"Ah!" Derot hurriedly realized that that was more important than how easily he had entered the palace grounds. He quickly retrieved a letter from his shirt. A black envelope with a golden stamp seal.

"I think we have our final test before we're allowed to take over the capital's potion market."

Zach broke the seal and fished out a pure white paper with writing made with direct and powerful strokes. He read the paper.

"...It's an invitation."