A moment later, Calliphe led Lucilia onto the griffin’s back.

“Let’s go, Griffin.”

“…Is this griffin’s name Griffin?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“……”

“Hiyah!”

It was time to show the results of all the training she had pushed not only herself but also the griffin and Lynen through.

Calliphe lightly tapped the griffin with her foot and shook the reins.

“Screech!”

The griffin kicked the ground lightly.

Its massive wings spread wide on both sides and flapped with powerful, heavy movements.

With each wingbeat, a heavy whoosh of wind lifted Calliphe’s party upward.

The refreshing breeze.

Calliphe’s annex and the people looking up at them appeared very small.

The marquis’s vast estate, which bordered a forest, looked like a miniature.

Flap!

As they smoothly cut through the wind, their clothes and hair fluttered like flags. The cool air that couldn’t be felt on the ground was now palpable throughout their bodies.

Lucilia’s head moved frantically from side to side as she looked at the scenery below.

When she finally noticed the clouds that had suddenly come close above her head, an awestruck exclamation escaped her lips.

“…Impossible.”

Her face sparkled with wonder at the world, resembling a child riding an airplane for the first time.

‘I’m really riding a griffin. I’m flying!’

The reality was far more impressive than anything she had imagined countless times.

‘If only I could fly like this with Yvonne II.’

Especially since she had given it such a cherished name.

Yvonne was an imperial female knight whom Lucilia admired. She was now a countess guarding the northern border.

Yvonne had also tamed a griffin in her youth, they said.

It was to become the first griffin knight, combining the griffin’s attack power and tremendous mobility.

In the end, Yvonne succeeded.

In just 3 days.

Immediately after taming the griffin, Yvonne went into battle and suffered a severe leg injury.

Then the griffin stopped obeying her and instead attacked her when she was weakened.

Eventually, Yvonne had to execute the griffin she had worked so hard to tame.

‘Her strength and decisiveness are admirable. But.’

Lucilia admired Yvonne. However, there was another reason she had named the griffin after Yvonne.

‘Because I want to surpass Yvonne.’

From Lucilia’s perspective, the griffin had not completely submitted to Yvonne. That’s why it had attacked her.

‘If I can control a griffin perfectly.’

Perhaps she would be a little closer to her goal of surpassing Yvonne.

If only she could see with her own eyes that she had become stronger than the person she admired, that she truly was an exceptional person.

Then she might be able to believe that she was worthy of being the Crown Princess.

It was a belief she had never shared with anyone.

‘…Will I ever be able to fly like this on my own? No, I must!’

Calliphe carefully observed Lucilia’s growing determination.

‘Good. Everything is going according to plan.’

Then it was time to move on to the next phase.

“Your Highness.”

“…Huh?”

“How about you try holding the reins this time?”

“Isn’t this supposed to be a demonstration of your skills? Are you trying to pass the responsibility to me?”

Calliphe smiled brightly at the suspicious Lucilia.

“Don’t worry. This is also part of my skill.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I’m by your side, Your Highness can also handle the griffin.”

“…!”

This was why Calliphe had developed and practiced magical infiltration, even coughing up blood due to magical incompatibility.

‘Because I need to make it possible for the Crown Princess, who can’t use special abilities like me, to tame a griffin.’

“I-is that true? Can I really handle a griffin like this?”

“Of course. It’s something I don’t usually reveal, but I’ll share it specially with Your Highness.”

She had already given her a griffin ride to let her directly experience that ‘you can be like this too!’

If she now gives her a taste of this premium secret technique.

‘She’ll have no choice but to seek me out like a thirsty person looking for a well!’

Of course, it would take a few days for the Crown Princess to swallow her pride and start making overtures.

A week? Ten days?

‘Maybe even two weeks.’

Until then, Calliphe had no idea.

That from today, her relationship with Lucilia would be completely reversed.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Crown Princess’s palace.

Court Mage Evans sighed deeply as he headed toward Yvonne II’s cage.

“Does Her Highness really intend to tame that monster?”

Even lower-level magical beasts were rarely tamed by humans, let alone a powerful magical beast like a griffin.

No matter how he thought about it, it seemed impossible. Especially in such a time-constrained situation.

“Besides, I can’t shake the feeling that the griffin seemed to target Her Highness last time. I should strengthen the security… Huh?!”

Upon arriving at the cage, Evans rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Yvonne II was nowhere to be found, with only broken shackles remaining.

“T-this is terrible! The griffin has escaped!”

It wasn’t just a monkey that had escaped. A ferocious magical beast that could cause human casualties had escaped.

Knights and mages were immediately dispatched to find the griffin.

Some of them quickly headed to the Offensa mansion.

There was a high possibility that the griffin would target the Crown Princess.

Meanwhile, one person was watching this commotion in dismay.

“…Hah.”

Lynen let out a sigh.

He had learned about the griffin’s escape just as he was turning back after unsuccessfully checking the dungeon in the imperial palace.

If the beast was chasing the Crown Princess, then naturally Calliphe would also be in danger.

‘Getting involved in a dangerous incident during the brief moment I’m away? Is this also a talent?’

He really couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Leaving the imperial palace, Lynen jumped across building rooftops and took out a magical tool. It was the tracker “Hide and Seek Hair Finder” that he had received from Dovion earlier.

“Calliphe Offensa.”

There was no response for a few minutes.

After a while, when the target came within a certain distance, a red dot appeared on the screen.

The speed and movement were not normal.

With a terrifyingly stern face, Lynen immediately kicked the ground. His figure disappeared in an instant.

* * *

“Now, place your hand on the griffin’s wing joint. Yes, right there. And slowly send your magic power.”

“Hmm……”

Lucilia really disliked following my instructions but diligently complied nonetheless.

Her appearance was quite amusing, but her perseverance in not losing focus despite repeated failures was quite useful.

“Good… while sending magic power… Griffin! Turn right!”

“Grunt?”

The griffin glanced at Lucilia with a look that conveyed ‘Who do you think you are?’ Then, after checking my reaction and sighing.

It turned, a beat late.

About 10 degrees.

Lucilia cheered.

“I-I did it! I succeeded!”

“Yes, just barely. Well done.”

Success was success, even if it was clumsy. After all, the griffin had obeyed.

When I praised her, Lucilia’s expression soured.

[Lucilia: ♥ -33/100]

Well, I’ve already given up on this Filial Piety quest anyway.

‘By the way, we’ve come quite far while practicing.’

My annex was no longer visible.

Below, I could see a busy shopping street with many people coming and going.

That’s when it happened.

“Screeeeech!”

A huge griffin was rapidly charging toward us.

Lucilia was startled.

“Y-Yvonne II!?”