Duke Biferi looked at the emperor with a cold glare.

‘What a despicable man.’

A noble sitting beside him whispered,

“Is the grandson of Duke Astra going to participate in the match this time?”

“Probably. Why else would so many nobles be brought to watch the Colosseum match?”

They were using the Sun Society to boast the strength of the alliances among the imperial and royal families of each country.

The Duke of Biferi asked,

“Who from Astra is entering the match?”

“Not Erilot Astra, surely. Like a few years ago.”

Just as it was not Sebastia but some mediocre child who had to participate in the Colosseum match.

A place meant to humiliate.

No child with outstanding abilities would be placed in the Colosseum.

“The name of the child going with her... ah, Liantin Astra.”

“Liantin Astra?”

“She’s a child who can’t even enter Astra’s ranking.”

“She’s going to be properly humiliated.”

“I wonder if Duke Astra will just stand by.”

The surrounding nobles glanced at Duke Astra.

Each wore a mocking smile.

“Won’t he try to use the dragon of his granddaughter?”

“Haha, wouldn’t that be rebellion?”

“Yes. Would one of the many grandchildren suffering humiliation dare to start a rebellion?”

“Well, that person values the family’s honor like life itself.”

“I don’t know, but this will get interesting.”

This was a matter involving the great Astra family.

There was no way the emperor hadn’t prepared anything.

‘Surely, there was prior alliance made with the Sun Society’s member nations.’

So that if Duke Astra protests and creates a pretext, pressure can be applied immediately.

‘No matter how great Astra is, can they withstand the attacks of other nations?’

Even the formidable Biferi had retreated.

As they smirked, a voice from the magic realm broadcast began.

[The first match is starting. Players, please enter.]

[Liantin Astra vs Colodios Macfin!]

The furrow between Duke Astra’s brows twitched.

Liantin’s defeat was as good as certain.

She had struggled to win even training battles against the much younger Armand.

In other words, humiliation was inevitable.

‘I won’t be played according to the emperor’s will.’

He nodded to Conrad standing at the door.

As Conrad approached, Duke Astra murmured,

“Prepare the elders’ assembly.”

Conrad was about to leave for the meeting hall when

[The match begins!]

The magic realm announcer’s voice sounded.

But it was strange.

As soon as the match started...

[Defeat.]

[Defeat!]

The children facing each other declared defeat and immediately bowed their heads.

‘What?’

‘What did you say?’

‘What...?’

The nobles watching via magic realm widened their eyes.

Declaring defeat without even fighting!

One noble jumped up.

“Are you insane—!”

Many children had been forced into the Colosseum matches unwillingly before.

Did they think those children wouldn’t surrender?

Though afraid of injury, they had to fight by force.

Especially since these were fights against nobles of other nations.

‘They can’t show that they ran away with tails between their legs.’

An elderly noble shouted.

“Declaring surrender in a match against other nations! Nobles of all countries are watching the match through the magic realm...!”

Other nobles looked confused.

They glanced at Duke Astra.

Declaring surrender.

In over fifty years since the Sun Society began, no one had ever surrendered in a match.

The faces of the Sun Society children reflected on the magic realm were confused.

[In the Kalsoye Empire, they teach to surrender to opponents they cannot beat, right?]

[By that logic, Shueliz seems to teach surrender too. Liantin Astra wasn’t the only one who surrendered.]

Prince Salvatore of the Kalsoye Empire, Liantin’s homeland, twisted his mouth.

[Interesting, really.]

Prince Cezare of Shueliz Kingdom, the opposing child’s homeland, chuckled.

[How will they handle the aftermath~]

The atmosphere froze as the announcer declared the end of the first match.

[Since both players ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) declared defeat, the first match is invalidated.]

[The second match begins.]

[Players enter.]

[Katie Thompson vs Andersen Shoitz!]

The nobles watched the emperor and Duke Astra carefully.

Duke Biferi also glanced at the emperor.

The emperor showed no particular expression, but his eyes were cold and dark.

“A pity. It was a chance to see the ability of Astra’s proud 3rd generation.”

At those words, Duke Astra answered flatly.

“Isn’t this enough entertainment? Let us return to the meeting.”

“I believed that Duke Astra’s pride was the greatest in the empire. Seems the grandchild didn’t inherit the grandfather’s strengths.”

Translated: they had raised a weak grandchild.

“Descendants don’t always go as one wishes. Prince Salvatore doesn’t have the emperor’s vision either.”

Raising children badly and talking?

“Is that how it looks to you? Haha, I guess I was too lenient. From my eyes, he seemed to be doing well.”

How dare one say such nonsense to a prince of a nation?

“It’s not easy to have the emperor’s strategic skills.”

In the end, afraid, they tried to borrow the power of other nations.

The nobles swallowed dryly and watched the argument.

The emperor clicked his tongue and raised his hand.

“Let’s resume the meeting. Clear the magic realm—”

Then,

[Defeat!]

[Defeat.......]

Another defeat declaration echoed from the magic realm.

The emperor’s hand faltered.

Other nobles furrowed brows and watched the magic realm.

“What on earth...”

The third match was the same.

[Defeat!]

[Defeated.]

The fourth too.

[Defeat.]

[Defeat.......]

Even the fifth match.

The nobles watched the magic realm with curious expressions.

‘What on earth is happening at the Sun Society?’

All the Colosseum matches had been invalidated.

The stiff faces of the Sun Society children appeared on the magic realm.

[What trick are they pulling?]

Prince Christopher of the German Kingdom rarely looked angry as he watched the arena.

[...How dare.]

Prince Cezare, usually wearing a cute expression, also.

[What to do? Didn’t expect them to act like this.]

Prince Mercedes had a stiff face as well.

From below the arena, Liantin waved her arms toward the seats.

“Erilot!”

The magic realm showed Erilot.

The casually smiling child nodded.

As if she had expected this.

“Wait. Who’s that child?”

“What? That’s not Erilot Astra.”

Someone answered as if someone had asked something absurd. The noble shook their head and pointed to the magic realm.

Erilot’s hair ribbon.

“Wait, Lady Biferi also has that ribbon...”

“Not only Lady Biferi.”

The nobles in the stands—and even the noble children in the arena—all wore the same ribbon.

The girls tied their hair with the same ribbon, and the boys tied it around their wrists.

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

They had united.

The nobles invited to the Sun Society had united!

The children in the magic realm understood the situation.

[They united? How dare children of the imperial and royal families gathered in the Sun Society!]

The nobles watched the emperor cautiously.

‘What... what is going on?’

Even Duke Astra’s eyes widened.

Conrad whispered to the duke,

“That ribbon, isn’t it from the lady’s dress?”

It was the ribbon from the dress ordered by the duke from Sebastia Biferi.

They had cut the hem of that dress and used it as ribbons.

This meant Erilot led this situation.

Duke Astra’s mouth curled into a crooked smile.

‘Well done...!’

What made the Sun Society afraid was that they had united.

One family alone could not defeat their union, but if they united too, it was different.

‘If they unite and target the imperial and royal families?’

Just that thought alone meant the Sun Society would never command nobles like before.

Look.

Even the emperor of the Kalsoye Empire was furious.

Bang—!!

The emperor slammed his fist on the table.

Duke Astra smiled faintly and asked,

“Why, Your Majesty?”

“How dare those insolent children defy whom!”

They had defied the heirs of all nations.

The symbols of the imperial and royal families...!

Duke Astra scoffed.

“You’re too excited over children’s matters.”

“You’re too excited over children’s matters, Duke Biferi.”

This was what the emperor said when Duke Biferi protested about the Sun Society.

The emperor had turned pale with anger.

“Duke...!”

Then Duke Biferi spoke.

“Duke Astra’s words are not wrong, Your Majesty.”

“Duke Biferi!”

“It’s just children’s matters. At most, entertainment.”

Duke Biferi also couldn’t hide his sneer.

With the two powerhouses united, the nobles said nothing.

‘Your Majesty, you are the one embarrassed.’

Duke Biferi laughed.

“Since the match is over, how about a short break before the meeting?”

“...”

“Ah, Duke Astra. Send your granddaughter to our estate later. She and our Sebastia might become good friends.”

“Very well.”

While the two dukes smiled, the emperor clenched his fists tightly.

‘Salvatore, that stupid fool...!’

It was no surprise the Colosseum matches ended in chaos.

The nobles returned to the border city looking excited.

“Did you see Prince Cezare’s face? I swear, all my old grudges vanished!”

A young lady who had to fight because of bad service shouted brightly.

The young lady of Laontra Kingdom chuckled grimly.

“Prince Mercedes’ expression... chuckle, chuckle...”

She must have had a lot bottled up.

“Erilot Astra, thank you. Thanks to you, my younger brother didn’t get hurt...”

“Thank you too! Thanks to you, my fiancée wasn’t humiliated!”

The nobles flocked to me, chatting excitedly.

“It’s all thanks to your unity. I couldn’t have done it alone.”

Sebastia, folding her arms beside me, chuckled.

“Erilot, if you hadn’t led, who else would have agreed to such a bold plan?”

Liantin nodded eagerly.

“Yeah! Everyone agreed because it was you.”

That was true.

Having a dragon and holding the line behind gave us courage.

Liantin being in the first match helped too.

Once Astra took the first step, the nobles united more easily.

‘But the biggest credit for this...’

I glanced at the boys getting off the carriage.

The faces of the Sun Society boys were filled with hostility.

They glared coldly at us.

‘It’s you guys.’

They had been so rowdy that everyone quickly grabbed my hand.

I didn’t avoid their eyes.

Especially Prince Salvatore’s frozen gaze.

I smiled faintly at the emperor glaring at me.

“Then, everyone, see you at dinner.”

“Y-you’re leaving?”

“I’d like you to stay....”

Though we had caused a scene, the nobles still feared the Sun Society, so the children looked uneasy.

“Let Erilot rest.”

“Will Sister Sebastia stay with the others?”

“Yes.”

Sebastia was Duke Biferi’s most beloved granddaughter.

Besides, she was the Eastern Army’s First Division Commander of the Kalsoye Empire, the continent’s largest country.

Even the Sun Society wouldn’t dare oppose her.

I greeted the noble children and entered the castle.

‘I must report to grandfather and plan how to resist the emperor’s wrath—’

That was when—

“Ah!”

Someone grabbed my wrist roughly.

I bumped against the wall and groaned.

I frowned and glared at the person.

“What are you doing, Prince Salvatore?”

I said, and Salvatore ground his teeth.

“I want to ask. What on earth have you done, Lady?”

“Oh, finally that hateful smile is gone.”

“What?”

“Pretending to be deadly was really annoying.”

“How dare you speak like that to the empire’s prince?”

I burst out a clear laugh.

“Then why don’t you hit me?”

“How dare...”

“But can you handle it? His Majesty the Emperor must be furious to the ends of his hair. If you cause more trouble here, it’ll be unbearable.”

I smiled brightly and messed up the prince’s attire.

The sound of his teeth grinding came out.

“It’s best you stop while I’m still being lenient.”

“Cute? How cute?”

“...What?”

“Am I cute enough to deserve a slap? I wish you’d see it that way!”

“This is really...”

“If we both back down a step here, we can make peace. If you apologize to me and Sister Liantin, I won’t push further.”

Prince Salvatore’s mouth twisted.

“If you can’t do that?”

“Then I’ll take it all the way.”

“I wonder how you plan to handle the aftermath. If I become emperor, neither you nor Astra will be left alone.”

I chuckled.

‘If you were afraid, you would have bowed down from the start.’

“Last chance. Let go of my hand and apologize.”

“No.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And I’ll never let you off.”

“What a shame.”

I sighed as if truly disappointed.

At that moment, footsteps sounded.

And I—

“Ahhh!”

—screamed.

Salvatore frowned.

“What trick is this again...?”

Then—

“What are you doing!”

“Salvatore, you!”

Sharp shouts rang out.

Prince Adin of Palasa and Prince Avino of Aligiosa glared harshly this way.

‘Do you think I would only unite the nobles?’

If the Sun Society worked together to attack, the damage would be great.

‘I must break the Sun Society too.’

Only then would the noble alliance be solid.

I looked fearfully at Adin and Avino.

“Your Highness...”

“Hmm?”

Salvatore looked at me with disbelief.

‘Ah, I forgot to tell him.’

I was the final villain in my previous life.

Scheming and sowing discord are essential villain traits.