Ah! I think they dropped something earlier. 

 I turned around and walked to where the knights had been. 

 “Your Highness. Did you forget something?” 

 “I’m sure I saw them drop something golden earlier.” 

 “I think I saw it too.” 

 Finding a lost item was nearly impossible in the snow-covered landscape stretching in all directions. 

 “Kyu?” (What are you looking for?) 

 The rabbit approached and tilted its head. I slowly nodded and described the appearance of the item I vaguely remembered. 

 “Kyu!” (I’ll tell my friends too.) 

 “Thank you.” 

 I gently stroked the rabbit and focused on finding the item. Soon after, a crow came flying, circling in the sky above. 

 “Caw!” (Looking for something shiny?) 

 “Yes. I’m looking for something shiny. The kind of shiny things you like.” 

 “Caw! Caaaw!” (That’s my specialty! Trust me!) 

 The crow hopped around on the snow, wagging its tail. Its black eyes gleamed intelligently as it moved here and there searching for something shiny. 

 “Caw!” (I’ll find it. Will you give it to me then?) 

 “Hmm, that would be difficult. I’ll give you something else shiny instead.” 

 “Caaaw!” (Alright. Promise?) 

 I nodded slightly. Alita, having grown accustomed to my conversations with animals, focused on searching for the golden item. 

 “I’m sure it was around here.” 

 Alita and the animals had already begun thoroughly searching through the snow for the item I mentioned. 

 “Kyu!” (I think it’s here!) 

 The rabbit jumped up and down excitedly. It dug through the snow with its hind legs. 

 The crow swiftly flew over and pecked at the snow with its beak. When it lifted its head, there was a golden bracelet in its beak. 

 “Caw!” (It’s shiny!) 

 “Kyu! Kyuu!” (Give it here. That’s Claire’s.) 

 “Caw!” (Technically, it’s not Claire’s.) 

 The rabbit jumped toward the crow flying in the sky. But it couldn’t reach. 

 I gestured to the rabbit that it was okay and reached out toward the crow. 

 “You promised to give that to me.” 

 The crow landed on a tree branch. It hopped backward, shaking its head as if reluctant to give it to me. 

 Looking at the golden bracelet in its beak, I saw my father’s initials engraved on it. 

 ‘A knight had Father’s possession?’ 

 Even if they had been sent with the divine beasts, he wasn’t someone who would give away his belongings. 

 Then it must be something essential…… 

 ‘Is it something needed when someone other than Father handles the divine beasts?’ 

 The divine beasts only obey Father. I needed to get it from the crow to examine it, but it didn’t seem likely to give it up now. 

 “Caaaw!” (Bring me something shiny and we’ll trade! Humans are cunning!) 

 Though I thought you were the cunning one, I nodded readily since it wouldn’t go far with it anyway. 

 “Alright. Let’s go to the Grand Duke’s residence together.” 

 The crow flew straight to the mansion with the bracelet in its beak. Alita watched the crow flying away in the distance and said. 

 “Your Highness. Will this really be alright?” 

 “The crow likes shiny things, but my jewels will shine brighter than that, so won’t it trade?” 

 “But……” 

 “It’s fine. We just need to get it back anyway.” 

 It was all in my hands anyway. It wouldn’t be difficult to find the crow’s nest, and since the crow acted unfairly first, it couldn’t complain even if I took back what I gave. 

 “But we should hurry before His Highness returns.” 

 If that bracelet was related to the divine beasts, I needed to have it in my possession before he arrived. 

 ‘The divine beasts trust me. I need to give them trust in return.’ 

 My steps toward the mansion quickened slightly. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 With a scream, Cedric and the knights who had been lying in wait walked toward the trap. 

 The polar bear and leopard, having finished their tasks, immediately disappeared into the forest. 

 Cedric looked down at the knight caught in the trap. The divine beast was quietly lying beside them with its eyes closed. 

 ‘I saw it land gracefully.’ 

 It felt like it was pretending to be unconscious. 

 Though he didn’t know much about animals or divine beasts, after spending time with wolves, he could somewhat guess what they were thinking. 

 ‘Claire must have persuaded them well.’ 

 At Cedric’s gesture, the knights all pulled on the ropes together. 

 Their shouts of effort filled the Codran Forest. 

 The net that had been set in the trap gradually gathered, and the knight along with the divine beast was slowly lifted up, trapped inside. 

 “Aiden, separate the divine beast from the net.” 

 “……Is that alright?” 

 Even in the net, it remained still. The slight opening of its eyes showed a hopeless look. 

 “Just bind the knights and head to the mansion.” 

 “Understood.” 

 Aiden immediately went to the knights to relay Cedric’s words. They tore the net to help the dragon get out. 

 In the distance, Sir Kaven came running and reported Claire’s situation to him. 

 “Your Highness. The Grand Duchess has entered the mansion.” 

 “Let’s head to the mansion as well. But before that, I’d like to send one gift to the Emperor.” 

 “Should we capture one of the scouts?” 

 “No, I’ve changed my mind.” 

 If no news arrived, the Emperor would be more anxious. Cedric thought that would be a better gift. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 “How about this?” 

 “Your Highness, is it really alright to give this to the crow?” 

 I nodded at Rien’s words. What mattered now was whether the jewel would please the crow. Getting it back was a problem for later. 

 “Don’t worry. I’ll explain it well to His Highness.” 

 “……Then, how about the one next to it?” 

 Rien seemed to have an eye for expensive jewels. Following her suggestion, I took out the red ruby next to the jewel I had chosen. 

 “Would this tempt the crow enough?” 

 “Yes, it couldn’t possibly ignore this.” 

 When the blood-red ruby caught the light, it displayed its fire like a burning flame. I walked toward the garden trees where the crow’s nest would be, holding the ruby. 

 “Caw!” (Did you bring something shiny?) 

 “How’s this? Isn’t it shinier than that?” 

 The crow, discovering the red ruby in my hand, bounced excitedly and immediately landed on my shoulder. 

 “Caw! Caw!” (I like it! Let’s trade.) 

 I received the bracelet from the crow and handed over the ruby. The crow excitedly took the ruby in its beak and flew to its nest. 

 “Wife?” 

 And ran right into Cedric entering the mansion with the bound knights. The dragon’s form was visible just then. 

 “Your Highness. I see you’ve succeeded.” 

 “Thanks to my wife’s help.” 

 “Your plan was good. But I have something to ask you about.” 

 I glanced at the dragon. Cedric ordered the knights to take Father’s men into the mansion. 

 Only then did I slowly stand before the dragon. Then I showed the golden bracelet in my hand. 

 ‘Hello, we meet again. Did Father make this to control you?’ 

 “Grrrr.” (Yes, that’s the restraint.) 

 The enormous dragon looking down at me felt intimidating. When we met before, it must have been weakened by Father’s presence. 

 I carefully reached out my hand. The dragon lowered its head. As I slowly stroked it while checking its condition, fortunately it was healthy. 

 How anxious must he have been to make restraints on top of forcing obedience? He must have added a double lock due to his anxiety about the binding possibly breaking. 

 ‘……If I destroy this, can you all be free?’ 

 “Grrrr.” (I appreciate your concern, but unfortunately that alone won’t free us.) 

 The dragon showed a skeptical response. But I didn’t understand. Why add restraints on top of binding? 

 Unless there was a reason it had to be that way. 

 Suddenly one thing occurred to me. I immediately asked the dragon. 

 ‘Did you perhaps not make a contract?’