William Grant, the imperial commander called the dragon’s eye who’d been silently listening to his superior throughout, spoke in a heavy tone. William Grant with golden hair and blue eyes resembled Dion enough to be called brothers from a distance.

William looked straight at Dion with eyes full of doubt. He had no intention of hiding his suspicion. He endlessly questioned Dion and demanded answers. Then when the moment came for him to accept, he followed orders without a shred of hesitation.

“What do you mean, Commander?”

“The reason you want to go to Diahart Island.”

“……”

“I’m right, aren’t I? I thought something was strange. I couldn’t understand why you wanted to go there, Duke.”

William Grant stood up abruptly. Then he bowed deeply toward the Emperor.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. As of today, I intend to resign from the position of imperial commander.”

“What?”

The Emperor, who trusted William no less than Dion, was quite displeased by this unexpected bombshell.

“Does this mean you don’t like going to Diahart Island, William?”

Dion rarely called his name in such settings. Since protecting the imperial family, he’d always been respectful in treating him as commander.

William Grant turned and bowed to Dion again.

“As of today, I request to return to the Gold Dragon Order, Commander Dion Aeskis.”

“You’re already part of the Gold Dragon Order.”

“Don’t you know what I mean?”

“No, no. How can the imperial family function without you? No!”

The Emperor suddenly stood up and waved his hands.

“Please permit it, Your Majesty.”

“This isn’t the time for this, Your Majesty. We must move up the schedule for going to Diahart Island.”

Count Jacob Bass of the magic department advised heavily.

“I’m opposed. I object. What do you know for you to go there? The trip to Diahart Island should be canceled.”

But Count George Winter the chief chamberlain threw a vehement opposing vote.

“That’s why we must go. If it’s a monster from Diahart Island, there may be more like it.”

“Ugh!”

Count George Winter, knowing Count Jacob Bass was right, tore at his hair.

He really, truly hated the idea of seeing more monsters like earlier. His head already ached from the freeloader his only daughter, raised as precious as jade, had brought home—now he had to worry about mutated dragons too.

Count George Winter’s daughter Emily Winter had picked up an old man near Lunaren River by Kentlen Palace. More precisely, someone who’d collapsed while desperately gulping river water. His ribs showed clearly, and his yellowed teeth—what few remained—suggested he hadn’t properly chewed anything in a long time.

Emily brought him into the estate and called a physician for treatment. She assigned servants to nurse him. The old man was covered in ash and hadn’t washed in so long that just cleaning his body required dozens of water buckets.

Emily stayed by his side, checking whether the old man’s breath had stopped and whether he was eating properly. Though she was her father’s worry as a child, his daughter was such a kind girl.

The image of his family floated through Count George Winter’s mind. He stopped tearing at his hair and slowly raised his head to look at the Duke of Drasia.

“Su-surely it won’t invade all the way to Setia?”

Dion had no answer. Even the Duke of Drasia couldn’t be certain. Count George Winter had to do his utmost to help the Diahart Island expedition.

Clementina’s hands trembled. She plunged her hands into cold water and kept them submerged until they turned red.

“It was a dragon……”

Until now, the dragons Clementina had seen were animals that protected people. She’d never once seen a dragon die before her eyes. Though it looked like a demonic beast and wasn’t easy to recognize, it was a dragon.

It had been howling in pain.

Actually, the demonic beast dragon hadn’t attacked people. It had only approached. Then had they killed an innocent animal?

Clementina shook her head and submerged her face in the cold wash water.

That was nonsense. The demonic beast dragon had definitely approached to attack people.

But how had that enormous animal suddenly appeared from Tarian Gorge?

The gorge was certainly a sheer cliff, but Issiliad summer palace was in an area where one could view Tarian Gorge.

Yet it had appeared truly suddenly. Like it had been hiding somewhere and revealed itself. That monster didn’t seem like it would hide quietly. It was strange unless it had been asleep and someone pushed it.

Clementina patted her face with a soft towel. The cold water had some effect in clearing her mind. Dion hadn’t appeared since bringing Clementina to her room.

He would probably spend all night discussing today’s events with the Emperor and his close associates.

Thanks to baby dragon Leon and Clementina, ripples spread through nobles who’d been indifferent to the Diahart Island expedition. The demonic beast dragon’s appearance shook them briefly, but they’d easily killed and brought it down.

Nobles stepped forward to go to the unknown island to claim the luscious profits they could scoop up. Things seemed to be progressing well, yet somehow the aftertaste was bitter. She couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that she’d forgotten something.

Knock, knock, knock.

Clementina looked at the door with a puzzled expression. Who could be knocking at this late hour when she wore only a thin nightgown?

“Who is it?”

“……It’s me.”

The other person answered in such a small voice that Clementina didn’t hear. But only her sisters would speak so casually to the Duchess of Drasia.

“Hah—”

Clementina guessed who it was but wanted to pretend otherwise. She didn’t want to act superior, but Bella kept crossing the line. This wasn’t simply about their positions as Duchess of Drasia and youngest daughter of Count Sustain.

Even when they’d lived together, Bella always crossed the lines Clementina had set. Of course, Clementina had tolerated it.

Because they were sisters.

Why had Mother insisted so much that sisters get along well?

Moreover, Bella had said “me.” Not identified herself as “Bella.” She seemed not to want anyone else to detect her presence.

“It’s me. Stop playing around and open the door.”

Click.

When Clementina opened the door, Bella strode inside and closed it.

“Why did you take so long to open it? Bella waited forever.”

“I was about to sleep.”

Bella glanced at Clementina’s expensive nightgown made of soft silk embroidered with gold thread. Then she rubbed her own linen nightgown with her hands.

Bella bit her lower lip hard and stood hesitantly in the middle of the room. Clementina observed Bella with a strange look. This was the child who used Clementina’s things as her own. Normally she would have sat on the sofa or bed as if it were her own room and poured out complaints, but she was strangely hesitant.

Bella was never a hesitant child. If she wanted to do something, she did it, and if she coveted something of Clementina’s, she boldly took it. Her nerves were already on edge from the demonic beast dragon, and now Bella was acting uncharacteristically, bringing a wave of fatigue.

“What’s wrong? What do you want?”

Clementina walked past Bella with a rarely sharp tone and sat on the sofa. She leaned deeply into the backrest, closed her eyes, and pressed her forehead with her hand. But no matter how long she waited, no words came from Bella.

When Clementina opened her eyes and looked to the side, Bella was glaring at her while gripping her skirt tightly with both hands. Only then did Clementina straighten up.

“Is something wrong?”

“Tina, you really, really only think about yourself.”

“Ha— that again? Think whatever you want now. No matter what I say, you don’t listen.”

“Not content with monopolizing Mother’s love, you monopolized Father’s love too. Claire and I were always second to our parents.”

What nonsense was this? What did she mean by monopolizing Mother’s love, and Father’s love? Love?

Clementina struggled to suppress her rising anger.

“Then you act like you’re the most pitiful person in the world. While seducing all the men and pretending otherwise!”

“Th-that mouth. Please be quiet!”

Clementina’s lips trembled. Why is she doing this to me? She doesn’t even know how hard it’s been, yet she stabs me so well.

Clementina had never left Sustain Castle alone because of Father’s obsession. She’d never set foot in society. Yet she’d seduced men? What absurd talk was this?

“Why? Why be quiet? You’ll get in trouble if the Duke finds out, right? That’s it, isn’t it? You might get kicked out. Isn’t that right?”

“What? Do you even know what you’re saying?”

“That’s why!”

“……?”

“I’ll keep my mouth shut, so help me.”

“Help with what?”

“I told you I like someone!”

“Ah…… Hah.”

Clementina squeezed her eyes shut and let out a long sigh. Only then did Bella approach Clementina and sit beside her.

Bella took Clementina’s hand. This kind of intimacy was a first, so Clementina awkwardly shook off her hand. But Bella persistently grabbed Clementina’s hand.

“Help me. I really like that person. I want to marry him.”

“Do you even know who that person is?”

Bella’s reason snapped. She grimaced and glared at Clementina.

“You really think I’m stupid, don’t you? Of course I know! He’s the brother of the King of Umbarot. Don’t tell me you won’t help because of that? Are you actually jealous?”

Gulp.

Clementina swallowed. She needed a way to control her irritation and anger. She gathered her patience, pressed it down firmly, and slowly steadied her breathing.

“Bella. It’s not jealousy. That person is really bad for you. He doesn’t even like women.”

“Ha! What are you talking about? Well, I know he had a male lover.”

“You know? And you still want to marry that man?”

“He had a male lover—that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like women. Of course he can marry me. And he said he ended things with all his lovers after meeting me.”

“You believe that?”

Bella looked at Clementina strangely instead. Then she shook her head like someone who’d eaten something wrong.

“You don’t know what love is, do you? Well, the Duke chased after you because he liked you—you never did that. So you don’t know love. But seeing that he still likes you, the Duke is a strange man too, really.”

“Wh-what are you saying? Ha! Really, I—”

Had Clementina ever stammered like this? Never in front of Bella. Yet every word Bella uttered left Clementina dumbfounded.

“Hah— what do you want me to do?”

“Meet together.”

“What? Meet who?”

“Let’s meet Duke of Kowan together. Meet and talk directly. Then you’ll know. What a good person he is.”

“……Fine. I will.”

Clementina nodded with difficulty. It seemed things would only end if she gave Bella what she wanted. Even if she couldn’t approve the marriage, she could meet him. She planned to meet him and give him a sharp piece of her mind.

“Really? Great! Then let’s go!”

“What? Where? You want to go meet him now?”

“He’s waiting anyway. Let’s go together.”

“W-wait. Bella. It’s already late.”

“It’s not late. The whole Issiliad Palace is bright. I guarantee not a single person is sleeping right now. Let’s go.”

Bella stood up and pulled Clementina’s hand. She didn’t want to make that man wait even one more moment.