“Could it be related to black magic?”

“I don’t know. But even if it’s not related to black magic and they’re simply moving for political purposes, isn’t it worth checking out?”

Rigan seemed to agree with my words. However, the displeasure lingering in his eyes was quite obvious.

“Relax your face. It’s just an invitation. We’ll go, eat something delicious, win the power struggle, and come back. Who knows? If we’re lucky, we might gain something even better.”

“Something better?”

“Well, whether they’re testing me or trying to check me, what matters is that I can use it to my advantage either way.”

This was sincere. I placed the invitation I was holding onto the table.

“Reply that I’ll attend. But I won’t go alone.”

“Who… I can’t go. I’m officially the Emperor’s aide.”

“I know. And even if you could come, I wouldn’t take you. The Adler Marquis family is close to the Delmen Duke family. I know exactly how they’d look at you, so how could I bring you?”

“Then who are you planning to take?”

Confusion crossed Rigan’s face. I smiled sweetly and answered.

“Well…”

“…”

“My rather useless brothers?”

* * *

“Are you crazy? Why should we go there?”

“Come on, a garden party. Do we really have to go?”

Hasis and Ilian showed quite negative reactions. While I had already anticipated Hasis’s sharp resistance, I hadn’t expected Ilian to react negatively as well.

“Why, is there some reason you can’t go?”

“Hmm. A garden party… they’ll all be nobles, right?”

“So?”

“I might kill them.”

“…”

Despite being the one who mentioned killing, Ilian looked incredibly awkward. At his reaction, Hasis’s mouth fell open.

‘This guy isn’t normal, is he?’

I ignored Hasis’s judging gaze and smiled kindly at Ilian.

“If you don’t go, will truly no one die?”

I meant that he would die if he didn’t go. Despite my bright smile, my ominous voice made Ilian take a deep breath. Seeing the slight agitation flowing over his smile, I erased my own smile and turned my gaze to Hasis.

“I don’t know why the Adler Marquis family invited me. There could be political reasons, and honestly, I think that’s the biggest factor.”

“Then you can go alone.”

“But the Adler Marquis family is quite close to the Delmen Duke family among the high nobles. And the Delmen Duke family doesn’t have a good relationship with me.”

“Not good? Isn’t your aide from that family?”

“He is, but he’s their disowned son.”

“Why? Not good enough?”

“No, the opposite.”

Hasis clearly didn’t understand what I meant. Since I had no intention of making him understand anyway, I continued.

“Anyway, for that reason, we need to consider the possibility that the Adler Marquis family might be the culprit who put me in this state. I can’t arbitrarily determine their intention for sending an invitation at this point.”

“So?”

“And this guy has had contact with that culprit. If the culprit is in the Adler Marquis family, he’ll recognize them, right?”

“Ah. Well, I don’t know their face for certain, so it’s difficult, but not entirely impossible.”

Ilian responded with a smooth smile.

“And if I discover them, I must report to the young lady.”

“See? You heard him? That’s why I’m doing this. He’s useful.”

“So you want me to monitor this guy?”

“You’re quick. That’s right. Whether it’s really related to black magic or not, I need to deal with those people. How can I have the energy to monitor him too?”

“Sigh.”

Hasis pressed his forehead, his lips tightly sealed. Given his temperament, he didn’t seem like someone who would happily follow along to a garden party.

At least Ilian appeared outwardly sociable, but truthfully, neither of them was particularly reassuring for different reasons.

However, I deliberately tilted my head to the side while flicking the invitation in my hand. That crooked expression and posture strongly implied that if they rejected my request today, I would make them face rejection in their lives.

Finally, Hasis clicked his tongue and said:

“Fine, I’ll go.”

“Don’t act like you’re doing me a favor. You have to go no matter what.”

“But promise there won’t be any trouble.”

“How would my promise change anything?”

“Hey.”

“But the Adler Marquis family invited me, and you two are officially Lerrhagen’s sons, so there shouldn’t be any major issues. I’m the problem.”

“You’re officially the master’s daughter too.”

“But more officially, I’m the emperor’s only daughter. Well, it’s problematic that I’m both the emperor and the daughter, but from their perspective, the biggest issue is that I’m the daughter born between the emperor and the Dragon Lord.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s troublesome. Until now, humans and other species have lived almost without interfering with each other. But this time, that rule has been broken. A massive power that humans can’t control has entered.”

“Shouldn’t they be more afraid then?”

“Normally they should, but the problem is that Lord has made such a big deal out of it… it actually provoked their wariness. Everything should be done in moderation.”

I felt unjustly wronged. I initially summoned him to prevent nobles from approaching me freely, but I didn’t expect him to cause such a commotion that would make nobles cling to me more.

‘Well, thanks to him, I now have a natural excuse to approach the nobles.’

Let’s call it a blessing in disguise. I was starting to learn what mental victory meant.

But then, Ilian, who had been quietly listening all this time, made a strange face.

“But, young lady.”

“Really, that ‘young lady’ thing.”

“You’re the emperor.”

“…So?”

“If you’re the emperor, aren’t you the head of the nobles? Why are you trying to have power struggles with them?”

His face showed not the slightest malice as he spoke. However, that face without even a hint of malice actually strongly disturbed my mood.

I slightly chewed my lip.

“I wonder about that too. What can I do? They keep picking fights with me.”

“I heard rumors that you’re a tyrant.”

“Exactly. They talk about what a tyrant is among themselves, but they don’t understand.”

Ilian made a subtle expression at my answer. Since there was no need to explain in detail how I was treated in my childhood and how I ended up in this situation, I simply turned around.

“Anyway, it’s in three days. I’ll tell Sela to make preparations, so just keep your schedules clear.”

“Sigh. What a bother.”

“But what if I really end up killing nobles when I go there, young lady? That would be a big problem, right?”

“I don’t know about anything else, but you’d certainly have a big problem with me.”

I frowned at Ilian’s words. Come to think of it, it seemed like his claim about entering Death Gorge for harming nobles wasn’t entirely false.

‘Does he have some history with them?’

But that wasn’t my concern. I immediately lost interest.

* * *

When I told Lerrhagen about receiving an invitation from the Adler Marquis family and wanting to borrow Hasis, he simply said I could do as I pleased.

Hasis made a face that suggested he hadn’t expected Lerrhagen to take his side anyway.

“Where is the Adler Marquis family located?”

“In the southeast of the empire. We’ll warp to that area and then move by carriage.”

“Why bother?”

“Even for imperial family members, it’s impolite to appear directly in another noble’s territory. If I were the emperor, all land would be mine, but a princess shouldn’t do that.”

“Humans are troublesome.”

“It’s not humans who are troublesome, it’s nobles.”

To Lerrhagen, whose legs seemed to exist solely to make him look taller, it certainly would feel that way.

“For now, I plan to make use of Ilian. Since he’s seen the person at least once, he might notice something. Perhaps they might notice him too.”

Of course, I didn’t fully trust Ilian. But the power of the covenant was stronger than expected, and even if Ilian cleverly evaded it, Hasis would notice.

‘From what I saw last time, he can handle black magic to some extent. I guess that’s what being the Dragon Lord’s disciple means.’

Anyway, three days later on the day of the garden party, I finished my preparations and stood in front of the mirror.

This was my first outing since becoming a child. I need to stay sharp.

As I was thinking this, Sela approached and wrapped a gray cape around me.

“Take it off later if you get hot. …I should have gone with you.”

“No need. My brothers will be there, and there will be attendants at the garden party.”

That was natural. Having Sela around would make my activities more uncomfortable. Although I had recently become somewhat accustomed to her attending to me, having her stick close to me was burdensome.

Sela gave my hair a final touch. The black ribbon attached to my high ponytail fluttered. Below it was a white outdoor dress that extended slightly past my knees, with a light gray cape.

Looking at my shiny black patent leather shoes, I suddenly realized how skilled Sela had become at matching my preferences.

“Your two brothers are waiting.”

“Already?”

I recalled Hasis’s deeply frowning face and Ilian’s strange expression when they were brought their formal attire last night.

No one was asking them to engage in social activities; I had merely told them to accompany me. But seeing them like that even the day before departure made me a bit worried.

‘That’s unexpected. I thought they would make a fuss about not going until the end.’

I muttered to myself as I left the room.