The banquet began. After the hunting competition ended, everyone gathered to share drinks and food.

I sipped my beverage without touching any alcohol.

‘I can’t let Father catch me.’

I hadn’t looked into the imperial palace’s physicians. It wouldn’t change the outcome anyway.

“Have you lost your appetite?”

“No. It’s delicious. I’m just glad we have a day to rest.”

If the mounted lance competition had proceeded immediately without rest, it would have been physically draining. In truth, Cedric hadn’t exerted much effort since the animals had come to him on their own.

Physical exertion was tiring, but having to be constantly vigilant here was exhausting, so fatigue must have accumulated.

Cedric placed food on my plate. With so much on my mind, my mouth felt dry, as if I had sand in it.

“Claire, your complexion has improved since you went to the North.”

At father’s words, I immediately put on a smile. I couldn’t show any discomfort with all eyes suddenly on me.

“I guess the North suits me better than Belodna. I thought it would be cold with the snow, but it’s warm, perhaps because His Grace is there.”

“It’s fortunate that you went to the North instead of Isabelle. This delicate child would have fled, unable to endure it.”

Isabelle paused while cutting her meat and looked at father.

“Oh my. Father, you still see me as a child. Now that I have someone I love, I should step out from under your shadow.”

Her golden hair was tucked behind her ear by her snow-white fingers. Though Isabelle resembled father, she was no longer like him.

The nobles who had thought she would always remain by his side, acting spoiled, widened their eyes at her appearance.

‘They probably just thought it strange when the marriage talks with the king of Narankas fell through.’

Through this Harvest Festival, they would have noticed that the relationship between Isabelle and father had soured.

“Yes, when I went to the North before. It seems they use a lot of magic stones…… I wonder if the empire is running short of magic stones because the North is being so extravagant.”

“Oh my! Don’t say such things. The magic stones from the North have nothing to do with those from the imperial mines.”

I put down my fork and wiped my mouth.

“By the way, we’re planning to establish a technology academy in the North. It’s already in progress, but I thought I should inform you, Father.”

“……A technology academy?”

Father looked dazed, as if he’d been hit on the back of the head. He was probably dumbfounded.

Now, after everything else, I was notifying him that we were building an academy without his permission.

Marquis Kellindano, who had been quietly participating in the banquet, interjected in the conversation.

“Excuse me for interrupting, Your Highness. You must know that this is impossible without His Majesty’s permission.”

Marquis Kellindano’s face wrinkled. He even raised his voice, asking if we intended to establish an academy illegally.

As the nobles began to murmur, Cedric, who had been quietly transferring food to my plate, stopped and looked at the marquis.

“We don’t do anything without the empire’s permission. I am also His Majesty’s subject.”

Cedric pulled out a contract from inside his coat. Isabelle, recognizing what the contract was, pretended not to notice and tilted her wine glass.

“Please check this. I prepared these documents to avoid misunderstandings. Marquis Kellindano, to be precise, it’s not His Majesty’s permission that’s required, but the imperial family’s permission.”

A servant standing by the wall took the contract. When he brought it to the emperor, father checked it and immediately turned his gaze to Isabelle.

“Isabelle, I think an explanation is needed.”

“Huh? Father, don’t you remember?”

Rather brazenly, Isabelle questioned father back. I watched their conversation with amusement.

‘Isabelle will recall the story of when she disappeared.’

Father would have read her mind.

The fact that Isabelle had run away to avoid marrying the king of Narankas, and that I had promised not to force Isabelle into marriage as a condition for sending her back.

‘He’ll be thinking of the airship.’

He couldn’t reveal what he had obtained from me here. How could he admit that he had been scammed while trying to import magic stones in bulk?

Most of the nobles didn’t even know that the divine beasts had escaped.

‘If he keeps looking like that, Isabelle might start thinking other thoughts.’

When thoughts lead to more thoughts, one might recall things best left forgotten.

I spoke with a gloomy expression.

“You were busy, Father, so you asked Isabelle, saying it was a wedding gift for me. I’d be hurt if you say you don’t remember.”

“……Yes, I remember now.”

“The academy in the North won’t be as good as the one in the imperial capital, will it? Are you perhaps worried?”

“How could that be? The imperial capital is full of skilled technicians.”

How upset would he be if he knew those technicians were inferior to those in the North?

I nodded and agreed with  father’s words.

“The North doesn’t have as many good technicians as the imperial capital, which is always troublesome. So we’re trying to teach them, so please don’t worry too much.”

“You’re stating the obvious. If you really need technicians, tell your father. I’ll show mercy and bestow my grace on the North’s territory residents.”

“I’m grateful for Father’s vast generosity.”

I clapped my hands in joy.

“I’ll definitely request it if needed. But you must be too busy to send them now.”

Very few people would know about the airship being built. So only those close to us would understand the meaning behind my words.

“By the way, Father, could I request a healing priest? As you can see, His Grace was injured during the hunt.”

“A healing priest for such a small wound is excessive.”

“If it leaves a scar, I will never forget what happened today.”

Of course, I could heal his face myself, but that would raise suspicion, so this was the only option.

I couldn’t accept that Cedric’s handsome face had been wounded.

“Even so, I cannot permit a healing priest. Ask again after the mounted lance competition is over.”

That sounded like he was saying that even if it was treated, Cedric would be injured again.

“That would be best. By then, healing priests will be standing by.”

I took a step back. Cedric probably wouldn’t get hurt, but father’s unpleasant smile bothered me.

‘I should check the equipment when we return to the encampment.’

The banquet had provided enough time, even with the pranks I had played.

❖ ❖ ❖

I made an excuse about indigestion and left the banquet hall early.

I was supposed to check the horses and equipment at the encampment, but my steps led me elsewhere.

‘Who is it?’

It was because of a presence I felt in the darkness near the encampment. Judging by the tall stature, it seemed to be a man.

‘Is it Young Lord Dominic?’

I clenched my fist. If I walked a little further, Sir Kaven and Alita would come out to meet me.

As I slowly walked toward the encampment, a hand suddenly emerged from the darkness, causing me to scream.

“Mmph!”

My scream wasn’t properly released as the hand firmly covered my mouth.

“Shh, shh! Don’t scream. It’s me!”

‘……Zeno?’

I mumbled with my mouth covered, thinking to myself.

“Master, you couldn’t have forgotten me already.”

“……What are you doing appearing suddenly like that!”

At least give some signal or indication of your identity!

When a man’s figure is hiding in the darkness, not in the form of a wolf, of course I’d mistake him for someone targeting my neck.

“There’s not much to see. It’s because I have many enemies. But you should have received word, so why did you appear so dangerously?”

“Because the airship has been completed.”

“……And?”

Zeno pulled out a branch from inside his coat.

“There’s a reason for everything. Do you think I would cause trouble without thinking? Hurry up and praise me.”

Seeing Zeno smiling broadly as if asking for praise, I clenched my fist and trembled.

“Uh, uh! Master, relax your hand! Don’t try to pull my hair!”

Zeno quickly moved away from me. Even though the airship was completed, there were still 5 days left until the end of the Harvest Festival.

“What if the emperor notices something wrong with the holy power tree within 5 days after you broke it off! The tree loses power when broken.”

“That’s only when someone who isn’t a divine beast breaks it. I’m different. If I stay locked up there, my power will drain rapidly.”

Zeno slumped his shoulders, pretending to be pitiful. I ran my hand through my hair, suppressing my anger.

“There won’t be any problems, right?”

“Of course. The other divine beasts said they gained strength thanks to it. More importantly, let’s go with me quickly now.”

“……Where?”

“To contract with a divine beast.”

“But guards will be watching, right? Come to think of it, how did you get out?”

Zeno didn’t answer and just grinned. That’s the expression he makes when he’s at a disadvantage…

“You didn’t cause trouble again, did you?”

“Just, slightly. I very slightly put them to sleep.”

Zeno looked extremely pleased as he said he had “slightly” put them to sleep.