Archaik Oken, who had begun to spread his wings with a dragon at his back, was no longer the oppressed young prince. He had become likely the most powerful young ruler in the empire.

Viscount Paipers lost himself in reminiscence as he thought.

‘The nobles oppose him without knowing his true power… but they’ll all know soon. I look forward to the crown prince’s investiture.’

***

After the special trial ended, talk of the war between roses and lilies died down in the Kingdom of Peiren. The new topics proved simply too fascinating.

Ruyan Piert became a Swordmaster, Baron Durford was imprisoned in the secret club’s backhouse, investigating Count Trow would reveal lots of dirty business… The topics seemed endless.

But the most talked-about remained Peirlily Leah Piert’s achievements.

“…So then Lady Piert stood there with perfect poise, looked around at everyone, and declared proudly: I don’t regret it! As a senior who experienced similar things, protecting my junior was the right thing to do!”

“So cool!”

“I’m completely smitten. I thought she was just pure based on her looks, but her reverse charm is just… amazing!”

Lady Yuria Seigan especially led the praise for Leah. As the fur muffler incident and her dress comments at the tea party became known, Leah became an idol for unmarried young ladies.

“Hoho… At this rate, they might create a new fan club.”

“Indeed they might.”

Even the noble ladies who had been displeased when she became famous as Peirlily began to view Leah favorably after this incident. They admired how she saved Lady Yuria Seigan, who nearly became prey to social predators without a mother, and how she worked to restore not just her own but also her brother’s honor.

Duke Seigan and Peirose also became hot topics. The Seigan Ducal Family had nearly lost face in this trial, but the Duke’s swordsmanship displayed in the duel with Lord Trow instead elevated their reputation and inspired fear.

Moreover, after Duke Seigan half-pummeled Lord Trow, those who used to talk about Peirose’s chest all shut their mouths. The occasional thoughtless ones received cold stares.

“The old Peirose dress style was better. Women’s dresses are for showing off anyway, right? Should show some chest, make it worth looking at.”

Someone elbowed that tactless person.

“Hey, watch your mouth. Don’t you know you can’t talk like that these days?”

“Why not? Can’t even say this much?”

Someone listening nearby whispered quietly.

“Keep that up and you’ll end up like Baron Durford.”

“Gasp… Isn’t that too harsh?”

Baron Durford had become synonymous with disgrace – the man who nearly died chasing pretty girls.

***

Satisfying events also occurred at the Seigan mansion. Duke Seigan fired all the maids introduced by the Trow family.

“The salary you’ve received until now, money from Count Trow, gifts extorted from Baron Durford. You must return it all.”

Baroness Whipft and her gang, pale as sheets, begged for mercy. Duke Seigan had servants drive them out.

“Drag them out. These women sold my daughter when they were supposed to protect her.”

Lady Yuria Seigan’s face, which had appeared somehow shadowed and timid since coming to the capital, bloomed brightly. Seeing his daughter like this made the Duke’s heart ache.

‘I didn’t know she was suffering so much.’

He shouldn’t have entrusted her to that damned Trow family. He shouldn’t have just frowned from afar watching Baron Durford chase her with bouquets.

‘I should have done this earlier.’

After half-pummeling Lord Trow in the duel, rumors spread that those who openly talked about Peirose’s chest all kept their mouths shut. Duke Seigan blamed himself anew. He only now learned such talk had been circulating about his daughter.

Looking at his daughter’s bright face, he realized. What were the capital’s trends, what was society’s reputation?

‘No need to mind those capital bastards.’

They were the kind who would shut up when he drew his sword, rather than trying to awkwardly stay in their good graces. He made a vow.

“Yuria, just trust your father.”

Following Ruyan Piert, another reckless doting parent was born.

***

On a rare clear day, a crown prince’s investiture was held at the Oken Empire’s imperial capital.

A platform stood erected in the vast square before the Imperial Palace. Countless nobles and citizens packed the space.

From the platform, Archaik looked down at the endless crowd.

“Do you see?”

The Emperor spoke.

“These are all your subjects.”

He smiled benevolently.

‘Born as a member of the imperial family, you must prove your worth.’

Archaik, who was first dragged away when they said the dragon’s egg needed blood.

Those were the Emperor’s words to him.

‘Repay the imperial grace with your mana.’

The dragon hatchling, stabbed near the heart with needles as soon as it broke from its shell.

Those were the Emperor’s words to it.

The Emperor’s subjects.

The Emperor’s empire.

What did that have to do with them?

‘No, perhaps it does matter.’

Archaik hid his true thoughts and smiled. The Emperor gazed at that face with satisfaction before turning toward the platform’s edge.

“My subjects.”

Countless eyes turned to the Emperor. His voice, enhanced by mana extracted from the dragon, boomed out.

“Among my children, the most excellent prince, Archaik, has been revealed as the dragon’s covenant bearer.”

“Ohhh.”

The people unconsciously held their breath. Surprise and dismay flashed across the nobles’ faces.

‘We wondered why His Majesty was holding the crown prince’s investiture so early when he’s still healthy…’

‘Not just communicating with the dragon but a covenant bearer? What should our family do, having supported the princess?’

The Emperor continued speaking while looking down at those reactions.

“Therefore, I hereby invest Prince Archaik as crown prince, to be the future center of the Oken Empire.”

Archaik knelt before the Emperor.

The Emperor anointed his head with holy water from the temple, raised him by the shoulders, and pinned a small brooch to his chest.

A golden dragon-shaped brooch. The mark of the Oken Empire’s crown prince.

“Long live Crown Prince Archaik!”

“Long live!”

The crowd cheered.

The Emperor looked at the crowd before turning to Crown Prince Archaik. Satisfaction gleamed in his eyes.

“With the crown prince leading these subjects… the empire’s future is bright.”

Crown Prince Archaik smiled.

His eyes changed to golden ones. Everyone, the Emperor and the crowd, startled at those golden pupils so similar to a dragon’s eyes.

“Truly the dragon’s covenant bearer!”

“Long live the Oken Imperial Family!”

Whispered voices, voices drunk with emotion, intertwined and filled the square.

But in the crown prince’s golden eyes, he saw a different square.

Dazzling flames that could blind. The sight of the Imperial Palace burning within them.

‘The empire’s future is bright.’

Crown Prince Archaik’s smile deepened as he recalled the Emperor’s words.

‘The future will indeed be bright.’

***

After the crown prince’s investiture ended, a group of knights moved urgently.

***

Once her honor was restored, society in Peiren began seeking out Leah again.

The invitations that started pouring in right after the trial grew too numerous to count. Helix, who had come to Leah’s reception room, asked with a shocked expression.

“This mountain… these are all invitations?”

“It seems so…”

She shook her head and held it in her hands.

“I was planning to rest since the trial ended successfully. What is this.”

“Can’t we ignore them?”

“But you need to make your society debut now too, Helix. What if you get snubbed later because we ignored these now?”

Who’s worrying about whom here?

Helix thought to himself but kept his mouth shut. He felt strange when she worried about him. It felt like being submerged in warm water with clouds blooming inside him.

It was an odd feeling but not at all unpleasant. Helix spoke.

“I’ll help too. What should we do with these invitations?”

“Really? I was feeling overwhelmed, this is great.”

They put their heads together and began sorting the invitations.

“Let’s put the must-attend ones here, and the ones good for us to go together over here.”

“What about the ones that seem no good?”

“You’ve already found one that seems no good? Who is it?”

Leah glanced at the invitation in Helix’s hand and scrunched up her face.

“Baroness Whipft? Ha, she really has some nerve. How could she even think of sending me an invitation?”

“Isn’t Baroness Whipft the one who worked with Count Trow to torment Lady Seigan?”

“That’s right. I heard she intercepted jewelry while pretending to push Lady Seigan toward Baron Durford. And now she has the nerve to send me an invitation.”

She clicked her tongue and waved her hand dismissively.

“Helix, that one’s trash, trash. Throw it away. Looks like she’s trying to latch onto someone else since the Trow family is about to fall.”

Helix looked down at the invitation in his hand for a moment. He asked.

“Leah, is this enough?”

“What is?”

“The Trow family, I mean.”

Helix’s grey eyes turned cold as ice.

“Considering what they did to you, it doesn’t seem right to end it here.”

“Mm. That’s true.”

Leah nodded.

“But I heard Grand Duke Calosi has abandoned the Trow family. They say he even cut off their merchant funding.”

“Quick retaliation.”

“Yeah. That old man isn’t the type to let insubordination slide. Well, that works out.”

She dusted off her hands and continued.

“Anyway, the Trow family is steadily heading toward ruin. Does busy me need to step in?”

“You’re busy?”

“Of course. I need to debut Helix, go to parties with Helix, quickly become an archmage to be Helix’s reliable ally and help punish the dragons together.”

Looking at Leah’s grinning face, Helix smiled slightly, suggesting she was hopeless. He said softly.

“You’re already a reliable contractor, Leah.”

“I want to be as dependable as you are to me.”

“That’s impossible with the difference in years of experience.”

“Wow, playing the experience card here, that’s unfair.”

Pong.