Chapter 81

Astra Manor.

The blood relatives of Astra gathered in the conference room.

Baldric, the fourth son, stood by the window, looking at his father's back.

'Damn it.'

He couldn't figure out what his father was thinking.

On the day of the Harvest Festival, the monster of Erylot turned into a dragon.

A steel crow turning into a dragon. It was something he had never heard of or seen before.

People's opinions on this matter were divided into several categories:

- The transformation of the steel crow into a dragon was a result of chance.

- The mysterious power of the Harvest Festival turned the steel crow into a dragon.

- Erylot Astra can transform monsters into dragons.

The last opinion was the most serious.

Sylvain, the fifth son, as impatient as Baldric, shouted.

"How can you just stand by and watch such a big event, Father!"

Sylvain pounded the table roughly and continued.

"It's a dragon, a dragon!"

What kind of being is a dragon?

A monster that humans cannot defeat.

A being close to the realm of the gods.

A rare life form, of which only three remain in the entire world.

And yet, a new dragon had appeared here. And it was tamed by a human...!

Sylvain frowned.

"What does Damon say? Huh? Why isn't he even showing his face amidst all this chaos?"

Baldric twisted his lips.

"He went to see a house in the Imperial District with his—great—daughter."

"Madness, Father! Damon must be called in immediately. Erylot should not be left alone."

Baldric argued with his brother Sylvain.

"What if a child with such great power as Erylot is taken away?"

"Why is Erylot still with Damon? With such power, he should belong to the family—"

Dione's mother, Basile, frowned.

"How can you treat a person like an object...?"

"That's not the point, sister. I agree with Baldric and Decon. Honestly..."

The youngest son, Hernan, frowned.

"Damon's intentions are suspicious, aren't they? Shouldn't he first bring Erylot to Father and bow, saying, 'Father, such power should be managed by you'?"

Most of the second-generation members shouted that Erylot should be taken from Damon.

What kind of power is this?

While Baldric and Sylvain were grumbling, someone said,

"Wow, Erylot's status has completely changed. Those who have fallen out of his favor must be suffering."

Ha ha ha!

When a joke was made, the second-generation members who had ignored Erylot turned pale.

'Wait a minute...'

What if Erylot harbored resentment?

Baldric, who had accused Erylot of being a thief.

Sylvain, who had criticized Erylot during the former princess incident.

And those who had dismissed him as having dirty blood turned pale.

They all thought the same thing at the same time.

Erylot growing as big as a mountain, roaring, and breathing fire.

'Hic!'

Decon swallowed dryly.

"Erylot got angry when I pushed Lianthin when he was three... but, well, now we're close! He won't do anything to me, right? Right?"

...

The meeting ended, and the second-generation members hurriedly ran off.

Some of them grabbed communication stones and shouted.

"What are you saying, you?"

"That's right, Roneina, are you not close to Erylot? Get close to him. No, send him to the Imperial District now!"

...

Debuty, the baron who stayed in the meeting room, shook his head.

"A dragon. It feels like a dream, Duke. What will you do now—"

He looked at the duke.

However,

"Ha ha ha ha!"

—He was laughing with an expression he had never seen before.

"Duke?"

"I thought he was just a kid who could do nothing! Yes, I see! He is of my blood!"

The duke's communication stone was on fire.

The people who had been weighing the balance between the emperor and the duke were now bowing down.

Of course, with the intention of seeing Erylot at least once.

* * *

Damon's mansion in the Imperial District.

"...So the meeting ended in chaos."

I heard the entire situation of Astra Manor from Conrad.

"Ha!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

I had already expected that the blood relatives would discuss me like this.

Those greedy people wouldn't just let a dragon go.

That's why we fled to the capital.

'Because the blood relatives might try to 'own' me at the family level.'

Han Ji-hyuk, who was listening beside me, frowned in disgust.

"Just sweep them all away with a wave, why don't you?"

That's not possible.

I looked at Han Ji-hyuk with a cloudy gaze.

Conrad, hearing this, sighed from the other side of the communication stone.

"Why, what. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"It's not that easy."

I clicked my tongue.

Waging war against the family with the power of a dragon?

Sure, that's fine.

But then what?

'Everyone in the world will be afraid of me.'

The royal family.

Other noble families.

Fear will subtly make me a public enemy.

'If that happens, the outcome is obvious.'

So, rejected.

I crossed my arms and asked Conrad.

"Who claimed that I should be owned by the family?"

"Baldric, Sylvain, Hernan, and Bastina...!"

Conrad listed the names as if reciting them.

He must have been on the verge of exploding from hearing those claims at the ducal mansion.

'Well, even hearing it secondhand makes my head hurt.'

What must Conrad have felt, having heard it all directly?

"They were shouting like dogs."

"Sure, sure. You must have suffered listening to it."

I comforted Conrad and thought.

'Baldric, Sylvain, Hernan, and Bastina, huh?'

Not a surprising list.

I stored it all in my mind.

How dare they think such things.

'They're all dead.'

"Ah, is there no word from Grandfather's side?"

"Yes."

Okay, that's good for now.

"Understood. Keep me updated on the situation."

"Understood."

With that, I ended the communication.

Han Ji-hyuk, who had been waiting, tapped the table.

The table was piled high with invitations.

"They're all yours."

Ugh.

Nobles must reply to all invitations they receive.

Whether they attend or not, it's a matter of etiquette to respond.

'Usually, this is the role of a governess.'

A noble's governess handles the child's affairs until the age of 17.

But I don't have a governess now.

That means?

I have to write all the replies to these invitations myself.

"When will I ever finish this..."

"Cheer up."

Han Ji-hyuk's lips curled up, as if finding it amusing.

'That guy.'

I pouted and rested my cheek on the table.

'I need someone to help with this kind of work.'

It's not an important task, just simple labor, and it's a waste of my time.

And the invitations will only increase, not decrease.

'Right, I need to find a governess.'

I lifted my head.

* * *

I couldn't find a governess immediately, and the replies to the invitations had to be sent quickly.

By the time I finished all the replies, it was pitch dark outside.

It was already night.

Father and the older brothers returned to the mansion, looking exhausted.

They had been harassed by the nobles as soon as they arrived in the Imperial District.

Of course, the nobles wouldn't leave them alone.

It's like a golden carrot walking around; they would try to catch it somehow.

"The manor was more comfortable."

Balk, sitting on the sofa, sighed.

When we were at Astra Manor, we rarely received invitations.

After all, which collateral branch would invite the main branch?

It would be like Lianthin inviting the empress to her party.

'The main branches only exchanged invitations among themselves... We didn't fit into that category.'

The people in Damon's territory didn't invite us to parties, considering us rude.

So, it was really peaceful.

"What, so many club invitations? Do the nobles of the Imperial District only eat and go to clubs?"

Balk, annoyed, lifted the stack of invitations he had reluctantly accepted.

Girls usually socialized in salons, while boys played in clubs.

He started reading the names of the clubs written on the invitation envelopes.

"Riding club, billiards club, poker club, fencing club... a club for watching rabbits warmly? Are they crazy?"

Balk threw the invitations in a fit of rage.

Joshua's situation was not much different.

"Reading club, calligraphy club, magic research club... a club for promoting the rights of second sons?"

Joshua's face twisted.

"I'm not even a second son, so why am I getting this kind of invitation?"

His muttering made me laugh.

And Richmond...

Richmond, who met my eyes, quickly hid the invitation behind his back.

Balk didn't miss this.

"What? Is there some weird club?"

He snatched the invitation from Richmond's hand.

And quickly read the text on the envelope.

"Catherine J, who wants to be your baby cat?"

"..."

"It's not a club invitation?"

"Give it back."

Richmond frowned, warning him, but Balk grinned.

"No way~?"

Balk started running.

"Hey!"

Richmond chased after Balk, but Joshua subtly obstructed him.

Meanwhile, Balk started reading the letter.

"When I saw you near Everett Street, I felt a destiny. Oh, those ruby eyes. I knew it the moment I saw you."

"Shut up!"

"A world-weary person with a closed heart... with a fragile heart like a baby cat—Brother, a baby cat?"

Balk chuckled.

"Give it back!"

Swoosh, pop!

In an instant, Richmond's figure disappeared and reappeared in front of Balk.

"Huh?"

Richmond snatched the letter from Balk.

And then.

Rip, rip!

He tore it into pieces and threw it into the fireplace.

The letter turned to ashes in an instant.

Joshua chuckled.

"Baby cat."

Richmond glared at Balk, the instigator of this incident.

Balk smiled sheepishly and shrugged.

"Come to the training ground with me."

"Oh, how scary. A scary baby cat~."

"…Do you want to die?"

Richmond and Balk started bickering.

Since they have incredible strength, it's a real mess.

Father, sitting in the main seat, frowned.

"Stop being so rowdy and sit down."

Balk shrugged and sat down.

Father spoke to Richmond.

"You too. Baby cat."

"..."

Grinding his teeth.

'Wow... his teeth are going to fall out.'

The sound was so intense that I was worried about Richmond's dental health.

'Anyway, this is the first time I've seen Richmond like this.'

Everyone else seemed to feel the same way, as Michel, who was serving, chuckled.

Glancing around, I saw that the other servants Michel had hired were also quietly laughing.

Richmond, aware of this, had red ears.

I clapped to defuse the situation.

"Don't tease your brother, Balk, Joshua."

"It's not teasing... "

Balk, flustered, started to make excuses.

"If it's not teasing, then what is it?"

"Um, it's just playing, playing."

Unlike Balk, Joshua looked remorseful and smiled softly.

"Sure. Sorry."

The twins, known as the mad calves of Astra Manor, were always well-behaved around me.

I nodded at Joshua's apology.

Then I looked at Father.

"Father too."

"Sorry, Richmond."

Father apologized to Richmond without hesitation.

Finally, Richmond sat down, looking resigned.

He smiled at me, a very gentle and warm smile.

"Thanks, Erylot."

"For this? Baby cat."

"..."

Ha, ha, ha!

Laughter erupted sporadically from all around.

Richmond sighed, looking resigned.

Sorry.

But it's just too funny!

Richmond, thinking it was better to change the subject, spoke to Father.

"Doesn't Erylot need a governess?"

"Governess?"

"Yes. Now that he's starting social activities, and we don't have a hostess."

I had also thought about needing a governess today.

'I don't want to spend all day writing replies.'

My wrist still hurt from writing so much.

Father seemed to agree, nodding.

"Hmm... Michel, see if there's a suitable governess for Erylot."

Michel bowed.

"I was going to report this, but the Duke recommended a governess for the young lady."

"The Duke?"

"Yes. She is a former palace maid and is well-known among the nobles."

Oh, such a person would definitely be helpful.

She would know about the royal family and the factions among the nobles, and her etiquette would be top-notch.

Father nodded, thinking the same.

"Good. Meet her once."

"Yes."

"Her name?"

"Mrs. Asha."

"What?!"