The Dragon Lair was a place said to have been inhabited by dragons.

Even in mountainous areas known for their many demonic beasts, no traces of them were found near Dragon Lairs. Only dragons possessed such overwhelming power that demonic beasts would avoid them. There was also the common characteristic of unusually quiet air flowing through these places.

Places suspected to be Lairs were discovered throughout the continent, but all of them had impenetrable barriers that humans couldn’t solve, so until now, no one had been able to breach them.

People thought dragons were sleeping inside those lairs. That they were sleeping for a long time in deep, high mountains where no one could enter because they hated humans.

“Sister, would you like dragons to exist?”

Since they had become like legends now, merely mentioning their existence would get one treated like an ignorant child.

“As long as you don’t go to deep mountains or dangerous areas, you won’t encounter them, so don’t worry. And what’s there to worry about when I’m here?”

“That’s right. Royan will protect me.”

Reibella praised Royan and giggled.

“So on that day, will Royan and I go looking for eggs containing treasures too?”

“No? I have to go hunt real demonic beasts.”

“……What?”

“The heir of Vicheravali must go to kill demonic beasts on that day. That’s why I’ve been increasing my training intensity lately.”

Good heavens.

“You’re saying you’re going to hunt demonic beasts that even ten adults would struggle to catch? You, Royan?”

“It’s nothing special. I just need to catch it.”

He was answering nonchalantly as if demonic beasts were animals like tigers, lions, or elephants.

While thinking anew that demonic beasts were treated quite poorly in this world, she also thought how amazing Royan was for having no worries whatsoever.

Perhaps it was because he was the male protagonist.

“Can you really catch one? Royan, you haven’t been learning swordsmanship for very long.”

“Dear sister, are you worried about me? Wouldn’t it be better to worry about yourself?”

“Me? Don’t tell me I have to catch demonic beasts too?”

I can’t catch them.

When Reibella fluttered her eyelashes and stared at Royan, he smiled and gently pinched her cheek.

“How could that be? You just need to find eggs containing treasures with the other children.”

“……You were teasing me?”

“You’re cute, sister.”

After repeatedly saying “sister, sister,” he seemed to have become natural with the title. Royan smiled, seemingly amused, and gulped down cool water. As she looked at him with narrowed eyes, Charlotte, who had been quietly standing beside her, added:

“But the young master didn’t say anything wrong. Miss needs to be the first to find an egg.”

“Me?”

“Because if Miss finds one first, then the other children will find them too.”

In other words, the noble person had to perform the ceremony first so that other children could enjoy it comfortably.

“Then I should know the location in advance.”

“I will make sure to find out for you.”

Charlotte clenched her fist with determination, saying she would find out no matter what. Reibella smiled again, seeing her like this.

While they were exchanging such trivial jokes back and forth, a voice calling Reibella was heard from a distance.

When she turned her head, Henan was running toward her.

He approached Reibella with a flushed face.

And said:

“Miss! I found it. The mana stone mine!”

It was news that the information she had passed on earlier had finally hit the jackpot.

* * *

“I’ll give it to you.”

The Duke of Vicheravali declared casually in his office, which she visited immediately after hearing about the discovery of the mana stone mine.

The owner of the mine would be Reibella, her.

Reibella immediately shook her head.

“I already received money for it. You don’t need to give it to me.”

She had already sold that information for 1,000 gold to fund her escape. So that mana stone mine belonged to the Duke of Vicheravali, not her.

When she firmly refused, the Duke of Vicheravali gave a hollow laugh.

“You surely don’t think that information was worth only 1,000 gold, do you?”

“That’s right, Reibella. I know too that the value of that mana stone mine isn’t just 1,000 gold.”

Royan chimed in with the Duke of Vicheravali’s words.

“How many mana stone mines do you think exist on the continent? I heard the deposit is so enormous it surpasses all currently discovered mana stone mines combined! And you’re going to hand it over for just 1,000 gold?”

As the two said, the value of mana stones was tremendous. Even a small mana stone the size of a pebble was worth 100 million gold. So if they were piled up like mountains, it would truly guarantee immense wealth.

Despite knowing this, the reason she had passed on the information was that if news of someone possessing a mana stone mine spread, their life would easily be targeted. It was too much wealth for a powerless child to have, so she hadn’t even thought of coveting it from the beginning.

She didn’t want to hand it over to the princess either, so it was information she had shared hoping that Vicheravali would take it.

Since she never intended to have it in the first place, she didn’t even feel regret.

Excessive wealth was worse than having none at all.

“I don’t need it. Please think of it as repayment for taking me in.”

The Duke of Vicheravali let out a small sigh.

“For now, alright. I understand. I’ll keep it for now. But I will definitely return it. You might need it someday.”

“I really……”

“Reibella.”

The Duke of Vicheravali cut her off and met Reibella’s eyes. At his firm response, Reibella drooped her shoulders and nodded.

“Then please develop the mine at the Vicheravali duchy until I take it back. And please sell the mana stones through your merchant group, Duke.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Even as he answered like that, the Duke of Vicheravali somehow looked displeased. He also seemed a bit hurt.

“With so little greed…… Is there nothing more I can do for you?”

It seemed that wanting too little also evoked feelings of disappointment. After being lost in thought for a moment at the Duke’s words, Reibella carefully parted her lips.

“……Then could you find a person for me?”

“A person?”

When Reibella nodded, the Duke gestured for her to tell him who it was.

“His name is Calyx Benya Trishein. He’s the son of the former Crown Prince.”

* * *

News that the Duke of Vicheravali had found a mana stone mine spread quickly throughout the Empire.

Naturally, every gathering of nobles was abuzz with talk of Vicheravali’s mana stone mine.

In fact, until now, the topics in which the Duke of Vicheravali was mentioned were all about war or news that he was having verbal battles with the Emperor over newly incorporated territories.

Moreover, recently he had been branded as someone who dared to oppose the imperial family, so honestly, no one viewed him favorably. Furthermore, because he had spent seven years going back and forth to battlefields, his influence on the nobles within the Empire had considerably diminished, to the point where some people openly expressed their dissatisfaction.

Even though they knew he was a major pillar of the Empire who controlled the underground economy, there were even those who guessed he would soon decline.

His recent actions had been extremely radical.

Not content with exterminating a marquis family overnight, now a mana stone mine? And not just that, but this mana stone mine was reportedly larger than any other mana stone mine discovered so far!

As this rumor spread, quick-moving nobles began flocking to Louvindisi.

It was to receive mana stones—which had been restricted in import and export—quickly, cheaply, and in large quantities.

Among them were people showing different behaviors, namely the elder council nobles of Vicheravali who gathered in a small, ornate room.

“To think he would hand over the mine to Felicity!”

Viscount Hartford’s loud voice reverberated off the walls.

“This is absurd. How could he give that to Felicity? We must persuade the Duke.”

To this, Baron Cumberland nodded his head.

“It makes absolutely no sense. A mine of that scale would be comparable to the combined profits from most of Vicheravali’s businesses.”

“It’s even better. Wealth would roll in just by sitting still. Mana stones are a business that will never fail.”

“But persuasion won’t work on the Duke. When has he ever listened to us?”

Viscount Dupaget’s bitter remark was correct.

Since Cassius Vicheravali ascended to the title of Duke at 18, he had never once heeded the elder council’s words.

Marriage, matters concerning war, even adoption—he proceeded with everything as he pleased, to the extent that there were jokes asking if “elder council” simply meant a place where only old people gathered.

“Then what are you suggesting? That we just let everything be handed over to that little girl? The way things are going, he’s about to hand over even his direct family assets!”

“That’s why we need to take action.”

When Viscount Dupaget cautiously uttered those words, Viscount Hartford and Baron Cumberland’s eyes widened.

“D-Does that mean……”

“I heard at the ducal palace earlier. That damned little brat will be participating in the demonic beast egg gathering.”

“Then……”

Gulp.

Viscount Dupaget nodded firmly at Baron Cumberland’s tense question. At that response, Viscount Hartford and Baron Cumberland, who seemed to be pondering for a moment, resolutely moved their heads.

Thus, everyone pledged with one heart.

To get rid of that damn little girl.