Chapter 225

Chapter 225 - Family Dinner (Not)

Raymond ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍came personally to the Youngest Son’s room prepared inside his Imperial Palace mansion.

In ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍any case, this was now the only room that had been given to a guest. The rest of the Delegation, except for the Fire Dragon, had already flown away on the Millesdusk Black Ship.

He ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had never imagined that only the direct-line bloodline member would remain behind alone, yet he had. When Raymond had briefly asked why, the answer had been this.

―They ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍are people who came from the family. Keeping them here after their work is done is the same as adding more duties. Is that not the thing a subordinate hates hearing most from a superior?

That ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was true, but the members of the Delegation would likely not think so.

However, ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍it was not a matter he should interfere in, so as a messenger, he stood before the door.

Knock, knock—

“Young Master.”

That voice was very courteous, without the slightest trace of annoyance.

“Yes. I did not run away. I am here.”

“Run away, you say? If there is anywhere you wish to go, please tell me.”

CLATTER—

When Raymond opened the door, the Youngest Son was adjusting his clothes.

“Have you finished all your preparations?”

“Yes. Though nothing has changed much.”

“No. You have changed a great deal.”

“Is it not your eyes looking at me that have changed?”

Raymond laughed before he could hold it back. A person struck too precisely at the heart of the matter laughed first and could not deny it.

However, he could not admit it either, so he simply changed the subject.

“You brought such beautiful clothes with you, so why did you not wear them when meeting His Majesty?”

“To wear them to a seat like today’s. Though it was a seat I had not truly expected to happen.”

A seat like today’s. It was the Crown Prince’s invitation to a family meal.

Unexpectedly, the emperor had been the one to bring it up first. They said the Crown Prince had been very pleased by that, and this part was a little surprising.

“I thought His Highness the Crown Prince might do that, but I did not expect His Majesty to want a meal as well.”

“He is inviting to a meal the one who saved his one and only son and heir. It is entirely possible.”

“Be honest. You also think it is a little strange.”

“…….”

Instead of answering, Raymond only lowered his head slightly. That silence was a wordless affirmation.

“I will recite your thoughts and mine exactly. For the son of another family to attend a ‘family’ meal with only members of the Imperial Family carries another meaning.”

“Surely such a thing will not happen.”

“Do you know the saying that ‘surely’ can get a person killed?”

“This time, that will not happen.”

“I hope so as well.”

He hoped that would not happen? At those words, Raymond’s eyebrows rose slightly instead.

On the way to the carriage prepared to see him off, Raymond asked him.

“If a marriage with Her Highness the Princess is arranged, would that not create an alliance more powerful than any precedent on this continent?”

“Yes. It would be the moment Millesdusk gains the tremendous power called the Empire.”

“Do you dislike that?”

“I dislike it for now. To begin with, during the seven months His Highness the Crown Prince lay ill, did the powerful ministers not all leave the palace and get sent outside the capital?”

At the sudden mention of the powerful ministers, Raymond slowly nodded as though he understood.

“Certainly… Talk of marriage with Her Highness the Princess could never be hidden. From that moment on, you would be dragged into the chaotic political world of the Empire.”

“I have not even seized the small land called the East yet.”

“So a clever serpent does not eat a wild boar even when hungry.”

“By that metaphor, are you saying Her Highness the Princess is a wild boar?”

“Y-Yes? No, I—”

The clever serpent pulled the corners of his mouth up in a long smile.

“I will be sure to convey the will of you, one of the Three Generals, Raymond, to Her Highness and His Majesty.”

“N-No, that is not what I meant…!”

“Where do you think you are climbing in? It is cramped, you bastard.”

The national hero pushed away the member of the Three Generals who had placed a foot on the carriage, and took the seat alone.

The Youngest Son, who did not even open the window, looked at Raymond beyond the transparent glass.

―Guard the house well.

His blank expression at the telepathy made him resemble the Gatekeeper. The work he did seemed to resemble the Gatekeeper’s as well.

The difference was that this was his own house, but that was none of his concern.

.

.

.

“Fifth Son. Thank you for coming.”

“Thanks to the carriage you sent, I came comfortably.”

The Youngest Son, who had arrived in none other than a rose carriage sent by the Imperial Family, had, in other words, become an unofficial state guest.

When he had first entered the Empire’s airspace, he had been only slightly better than an intruder.

He could not tell how many levels his status had risen.

“Sit here.”

The empty seat was beside the Princess. It would have been enough for the members of the Imperial Family to sit in the same row. It was a strange seating arrangement.

“There is not much prepared, but if there is a dish that suits your taste while you eat, I will have that served more, so speak comfortably.”

“It seems I am eating more lavishly than I do in my own family.”

At the highest praise a child of a Great Family could give, the emperor’s expression turned satisfied. The Crown Prince also smiled brightly and said,

“The place is what it is, and it must be uncomfortable to eat among only members of the Imperial Family, but eat comfortably.”

The members of the Imperial Family repeatedly emphasized “comfortably” on their own.

However, comfort for an ordinary person and comfort for the Imperial Family were different.

In other words, even if they told him to eat comfortably, he could not savagely tear off that turkey drumstick over there and chew on it like a bandit.

This gathering had not been held because they were hungry in the first place. Of course, the Crown Prince did look extremely hungry.

At a family meal like this, the main dish could never be the food.

That was because, at this ten-person table, the main dish was inevitably the invited guest.

“Now. Let us begin.”

The emperor lightly struck the glass placed near his hand with a fork. That was the official signal to begin the meal.

Only then could the young members of the Imperial Family and the guest pick up their utensils.

As if the Crown Prince’s claim of having a good appetite had not been a lie, he moved as quickly as possible within the bounds of etiquette.

He placed as much food as possible on his plate and ate as quickly as possible. Even with his thin body, he ate in a truly hearty and pleasing way.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Watching the Crown Prince eat, the Youngest Son also moved his utensils.

On the long banquet table, four identical dishes were set out to match the number of people. Those four dishes had been arranged so each person could eat from their own place.

In that manner, dozens of large and small plates stretched across the table.

The Youngest Son cut a piece of appetizing scarlet meat and moved it to his plate.

He had never specifically learned etiquette, but with his keen eye, he observed the Princess and the Crown Prince and imitated them appropriately.

[You, who used to make noise while eating every kind of noodle. This time, you are eating quietly.]

―I am not alone here. I choose my behavior according to the place.

While answering through telepathy, the Youngest Son put the meat into his mouth. It was truly a flavor that delighted the tongue.

However, this was not a seat to which he had been called simply to eat and fill his stomach. If only the Crown Prince had been here, perhaps it would have been, but the emperor was also present.

Had he taken about three bites? The mouth that had briefly been used for eating was once again used for speech.

“Fifth Son.”

“…Yes.”

The Youngest Son, who had been waiting already, cleansed his mouth with wine and smiled.

“Is there a separately arranged engagement in Millesdusk or the Vampire Royal Family?”

“As far as I know, there is none.”

“Hmm. I see.”

The question ended there. So when he had put two more pieces of meat into his mouth.

“The Imperial Family has none either.”

“…Pardon?”

“I am saying the Imperial Family also has no arranged engagement or plan.”

“I see.”

For now, he nodded in acknowledgment. As he briefly glanced to the side, the Princess had her head lowered deeply.

RUMMMBLE—

The door of the banquet hall, which was becoming uncomfortable in real time, opened.

At such a seat, merely seeing the face of someone one knew was enough to put the heart at ease.

“Kairos.”

“Master. So you were here.”

“Advisor, what brings you here?”

“They said it was a family meal, so I joined shamelessly. It was also about time I was growing tired of staying only in the Land of the Ancient Dragon.”

“I will prepare seats.”

Two chairs quickly appeared at the table. Alicious sat beside the Crown Prince, and Kairos sat beside the Youngest Son.

“What were you discussing?”

“Ancient Dragon. You already heard everything, did you not?”

“…Kairos. There is not much good in boasting to humans that our ears are sharp.”

“I see. I have learned one more thing.”

It seemed he was learning many things beside the Ancient Dragon.

“Kairos. How was the training?”

“It was uncomfortable and difficult.”

“Then you did it properly.”

If a dragon felt the hardship that a human might feel, then that truly was training.

Alicious nodded and gestured with his chin toward the Fire Dragon sitting before him. At the same time, his eyes were looking at the bloodshot eyes.

“Are you the master of this young Fire Dragon?”

“That is correct.”

“You are a direct-line bloodline member of Millesdusk, and the other half of your blood comes from the Vampire Queen, I hear.”

“That is correct.”

“Hah. Today, I finally see a bloodline more difficult to encounter than dragon blood.”

When one thought of vampires, what first came to mind were the blood-mad bloodsuckers, but those were monsters in the literal sense.

They were absolutely not Blood Nobles. They were even less Blood Royalty, and the Queen had stood in the position of monarch for a long time from an exceedingly high place.

“Have you met your mother?”

“I have.”

“I envy you.”

Alicious did not hide his feelings as he spoke. The Youngest Son had suddenly become a human envied by an Ancient Dragon, but that human did not think much of it.

She might be a remarkable person to others, but in the end, she was his mother.

“What kind of person was she?”

“Advisor, forgive me, but I also have many things to ask the Fifth Son right now.”

“Did the marriage talk not end earlier?”

The emperor immediately shook his head.

“It has not ended yet. The Fifth Son is a Blood Noble, and you are an Ancient Dragon, so you will have many chances to meet in the future. At least more than I will.”

“You are still quite healthy, are you not?”

“How would you know that, Advisor?”

“I can tell at a glance.”

With that mutter as his last, Alicious held back his questions. Even afterward, however, he grumbled something to himself. For a dragon, it was patience exercised to a considerable degree.

After clearing his throat and regaining the right to ask questions, the emperor turned to the Youngest Son.

“Fifth Son. You intend to become the Family Head of the East, do you not?”

“That is correct.”

“I wish to help you.”

Aid came in all at once, without any particular timing. It made him put down his utensils of his own accord.

“…The Imperial Family will help me?”

“The expression Empire would be more fitting than the Imperial Family.”

Since the emperor had gone this far, even the Crown Prince, who had been focused on eating, stopped chewing.

Then he looked once into his younger sister’s eyes and once into his father’s eyes. At least in his father’s eyes, there was not the slightest trace of falsehood.

The emperor of the Empire spoke.

“So I wish to confirm it. Fifth Son. Do you want to become the Family Head of Millesdusk? If you only nod here, the Empire will help you with all its might.”

“The same goes for me.”

The Crown Prince, whose one cheek was stuffed full of food, also joined in. The Princess handed a napkin to her older brother.

“What is that in front of a guest?”

“O-Oh dear. I am sorry, Dante. Ah. May I call you Dante?”

“Please call me as you wish.”

“Good. If Dante becomes the Family Head of Millesdusk, then the East among the four directions of the continent will become stable. Father, that is what you are thinking as well, is it not?”

“No.”

At the unexpected denial, the Crown Prince’s golden eyes widened. However, to the Youngest Son, it was not a particularly surprising denial. The emperor continued.

“Crown Prince. I am sorry, but the world in which you will become emperor will be troubled times itself.”

“…I expect that as well.”

“No. You do not expect it. Unless one sees it directly, one cannot imagine such a state. Even I cannot imagine it perfectly. I merely guess.”

The emperor’s eyes slowly turned toward Alicious. The Ancient Dragon’s eyes, which had been full of curiosity moments ago, now held a complicated heaviness.

Perhaps the Ancient Dragon was the only one in this place who could accurately foresee the horrors of troubled times. That was the emperor’s thought, and purely his own thought.

The Youngest Son slowly opened his mouth.

“So you have chosen me as a hero of troubled times.”