At that moment, in the southwestern border fortress—

The boys of the Sun Society, faces pale as death, hurried toward the infirmary.

Just as they were about to enter Erilot’s room, the lord of the fortress, Count Kilops, appeared.

“You are not allowed to enter!”

At Count Kilops’s words, Prince Salvatore frowned.

“Step aside.”

“Your Highness, Countess Astra’s condition is unstable. Any provocation could make the dragon even more ferocious.”

“I’m just going to check on her condition.”

As Salvatore grabbed the doorknob, someone roughly grabbed his shoulder.

It was Adin.

With a furious expression, he glared at Salvatore.

“Don’t cause any more trouble here; just stay put.”

“Isn’t it pathetic, Adin, for you to be so tangled up over a girl in this situation?”

“Pathetic? Me? Not you, who pushed the situation into this mess out of your petty pride?”

“Adin.”

“What are you going to do now?”

Adin shouted sharply.

Those who had witnessed the Western Royal Battle knew the danger of the dragon.

Salvatore answered with a harsh tone.

“The palace will send people with the blessing of movement. You all return to your countries—”

Then Prince Cezare let out a cold sneer.

“Right, that’s the safe option. Though it’ll look ridiculous for us.”

Cezare mocked, and Adin nodded in agreement.

“Isn’t it truly pathetic for us, royalty, to run away scared of a dragon owned by a noble?”

“Now I’m thinking the empire just used us to advertise how powerful Astra’s dragon really is.”

Prince Mercedes of the Eastern Empire Laontra also frowned.

Laontra, like Kalsoye, is a dual monarchy.

No Eastern Empire prince could show himself fleeing from a Western Empire noble’s dragon.

“We have to bring our troops inside the border.”

“Are you insane?!”

Salvatore shouted sharply.

The former emperor’s anger was already reaching its peak.

The mere presence of the dragon made the situation uncontrollable, and now allowing foreign troops into the empire?

The palace and nobles would be thrown into chaos.

But Prince Mercedes was stubborn.

“We can’t allow them to run. Even if we have to exterminate Erilot Astra’s dragon.”

“Exterminate... don’t talk nonsense, Mercedes.”

If the Eastern Empire Laontra tries to slay the dragon, there will be those praising their military power.

They cannot allow a foreign country to rise.

Then Adin shouted.

“Why are you all making this situation worse?”

“You all agreed to pressure the Astra family!”

If Astra rises up, everyone will unite to crush them.

Until they hand over Erilot Astra from the exhausted Astra estate.

So that everyone can use that tremendous dragon!

The usually calm Prince Mercedes’s expression twisted.

“I never said to bring the dragon here! If the original plan is disrupted, you should have stayed quiet. Why threaten Astra’s bloodline repeatedly?”

“......”

“Because your petty pride was hurt, you threatened her so much that a ten-year-old girl couldn’t help but be anxious...!”

“I judged that girl wouldn’t be the type to get anxious over such threats.”

“Your judgment was wrong. Now you must pay the price for that error.”

“So I just want to check. Is her magic really unstable, causing her to bring a dragon, or is it—”

If that, too, is a lie.

‘If it were truly Erilot Astra’s nature, she wouldn’t be so anxious over something like this.’

Then the other boys quieted down.

“A lie?”

“Not that the magic was unstable and called the dragon, but that she threatened us falsely?”

The boys murmured.

Watching the situation quietly, Prince Christopher clicked his tongue.

“You don’t have to do anything.”

“What’s that supposed to mean...?”

“You just stay quiet and don’t mediate.”

“Until the Sun Society collapses, huh.”

‘They said we don’t have to do anything.’

That’s why I held their hands... but I couldn’t help but say a word.

Christopher sighed lightly.

“Can you take responsibility for that, Salvatore?”

“......”

“If this wasn’t an accident but an act of personal malice, we will hold Erilot Astra accountable.”

“......”

“You threatened the heirs of each country. Of course, it means death.”

“......”

Salvatore gritted his teeth.

‘Death sentence is impossible.’

The fact that a noble child in the empire owns a dragon alone stopped the war.

A child with endless future utility.

‘I don’t know His Majesty’s will, but I can’t allow death sentences to be mentioned.’

Salvatore fell silent, and Christopher sighed.

“Let’s return and prepare for repatriation.”

“No, we can’t return.”

Other boys shouted sharply.

“Is there a way? What are we supposed to do if we can’t return without a plan? Are we supposed to just stand by until the Eastern Empire’s troops arrive? But they can cross into the Western Empire?”

“Adin!”

“Stop fighting~ It seems everyone’s lost their minds with this nonsense.”

“Cezare, you shut up.”

As the boys started arguing, Christopher raised his hands.

“Now, now. I’m not saying we should return immediately. There should be some time before the dragon arrives, so maybe Kalsoye will take some action.”

“......”

“If things get really dangerous, then we’ll talk about returning.”

“......”

“Of course, ‘if things get really dangerous’ means allowing other countries a chance to hunt the dragon.”

The boys finally calmed down.

Even in this, Salvatore wasn’t stupid enough to say ‘no foreign troops’ outright.

The boys who glared at Prince Salvatore each turned and left.

Christopher glanced at the infirmary.

‘A proper mess.’

Really, what a remarkable kid.

Han Ji-hyuk pressed his ear to the door and nodded.

“Pose is hilarious.”

I, sitting on the bed, said, “What was it like?”

“Just a brawl.”

Han Ji-hyuk chuckled as he approached.

“They’re too proud to run, but scared too. It’s funny watching those annoying fools act all flustered.”

“You hate the Sun Society too?”

“I always hated rich people. And the rich who are handsome are even more annoying.”

“...Well, aren’t you something.”

Han Ji-hyuk sat down with a pleased expression.

“So, what now?”

“What?”

“About Lagon. Will you really call him?”

“No. Just let him fly in the upper skies. The more people see him, the better.”

Other people’s fear becomes my power.

Now, nobility and royalty won’t be able to touch me easily.

If I get unstable and call the dragon, what can they do?

I smiled darkly, and Han Ji-hyuk shook his head.

Then he held out his hand.

“Give it here.”

“What?”

“The movement blessing stone.”

“Why?”

“You said to go to Lagon’s nest, right?”

I slapped Han Ji-hyuk’s palm.

“Ah!”

“It’s only a 30-minute ride, why do you need the blessing stone! Do you think you can use this unlimited times?”

The uses are limited.

I already travel long distances a lot; I don’t know when it’ll break.

“So stingy, really.”

Han Ji-hyuk rubbed his forehead.

“It’s not just once or twice. You even want to use the blessing stone to go to the marketplace these days.”

Even when I’m not busy, I’m practically on the carriage all day.

After a few times, I started using the blessing stones like crazy.

“Tch...”

Han Ji-hyuk grumbled and stood up.

I lay back quietly on the bed and said,

“If the guards ask why you’re leaving, tell them you’re delivering a letter to Astra.”

“Yes, yes.”

After Han Ji-hyuk left, Alexis, leaning against the window frame, stared at me.

I glanced back at him.

“Why?”

“You two look really close.”

“Yeah, we’ve known each other since we were young.”

“I heard you brought that trickster Han Ji-hyuk with you. Still, isn’t that a bit too casual?”

“Well...”

Han Ji-hyuk and I share a comradeship as ‘Seoul people.’

‘We’re both dimension travelers, and both in our twenties, so we’re really comfortable with each other...’

That’s also why Han Ji-hyuk cares about me.

Thanks to that comradeship, we don’t feel like we’re stranded on a lonely island.

But I hadn’t told Alexis that far, so I rolled my eyes.

“Maybe it’s because we never met as mistress and servant from the start, so it’s more comfortable.”

“......”

“Like you and me.”

Alexis ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) stared at me intently.

I quietly turned my eyes away.

Alexis said, “Well, whatever.” and dropped from the window frame.

He seemed to be guarding the door.

As he grabbed the doorknob, he glanced back at me.

“I don’t know what you’re hiding, but if you ever want to talk, just say so.”

Then he stepped outside.

“Ghost, really.”

Nobody could match the sharp perception of the male lead from Ice.Dark.Hand.

‘Can I really tell him?’

Pulling the blanket up, I thought,

‘Probably not.’

I know I’m clever.

And overly cautious about safety.

‘I could reveal Alexis’s identity to Christopher only because I personally experienced Christopher’s temperament in my first life.’

If there’s even a 1% chance Alexis loves Dalia, I can never reveal it.

Dalia might be on his side, and above all...

‘Someone around Dalia tried to drag me to hell.’

Thinking so, I groaned softly.

Several hours later.

My Lagon appeared in the border skies.

Of course, the citizens, nobles, and even the Sun Society boys were thrown into chaos.

The fear of the people was beyond imagination.

When Lagon was kept in a nearby cave, he moved on storm clouds.

So the people wouldn’t be frightened by seeing the dragon.

But now, seeing a dragon for the first time, how scared must they be?

In the end, the emperor used his last resort.

‘He sent Grandfather to the border fortress!’

The appearance of Duke Astra made the Sun Society boys and foreign nobles invited here tense.

Grandfather ignored them and went straight to my room.

“You’re here!”

It seemed the lord of the border fortress was guiding him.

“Go outside.”

“Y-yes...”

Count Kilops, who was delighted to see this as a chance to make connections with Grandfather, looked very disappointed.

His footsteps slowly faded away.

I peeked out from under the blanket.

“Grandfather, you came?”

The Dubuis Marquis and his retainers were wide-eyed at seeing me well.

“L-Lady?”

“Are you all right?”

Grandfather twitched his lips as soon as he saw me.

Then...

“Khahaha!”

He burst out laughing, a rare sight.

“Yes, I knew you’d be fine. Even when younger, you managed your emotions well.”

“Yes! I sent her away because I thought the Sun Society was targeting Astra!”

“Thanks to that, the emperor, that damn fool, had to beg me.”

I felt great; seems the emperor’s pride was shattered.

I got out of the blanket and looked at Grandfather.

My eyes sparkled as I asked,

“Are you happy? If grandfather is happy, then I’m happy too!”

Grandfather cleared his throat.

The Dubuis Marquis chuckled lightly and shook his head.

“If you’re that pretty, just hug her already.”

“Shut up. ...So, was there anything else from the Sun Society?”

Grandfather asked quietly, and I deliberately sighed deeply.

“They were really annoying, kept bothering me... and targeted me and Liantin!”

As I explained, Grandfather’s eyes narrowed.

“So that’s how it was.”

“Yes!”

“For all the trouble you caused, I’ll return it a hundredfold.”

Grandfather never changed his mind.

‘The Sun Society bastards will have a hard time when they return to their countries.’

I chuckled inwardly.

But outwardly, I raised my arm with a “Wow!”

“Grandfather is definitely the coolest, right?”

“......What?”

“Everyone at the Sun Society thinks they’re the coolest. But no, you’re the coolest in the world, right?”

My sparkling eyes made Grandfather’s eyes widen.

The Dubuis Marquis muttered with a displeased expression,

“Blessed with luck, that one...”

Grandfather cleared his throat several times.

“Well, is that how it looks to you......”

“Yes!”

“Good grief, you have such high standards, how will you get married?”

Then he muttered softly.

“I worry if you’ll have to carry that your whole life.”

Grandfather’s mouth twitched up.

Hmm, he must find me quite adorable.

That’s what you call the art of blazing social skills.

I secretly smiled to myself.

‘Now only the finishing touches remain.’

Thirty minutes after Grandfather arrived in the infirmary,

Lagon appeared at the border fortress.

Along with him, the royal guards arrived.

I hurried out toward the castle gate before they could begin the dragon’s subjugation.

‘The whole place is filled with transmission magic tools.’

If this were Earth, it would be like a drone show.

Well, a dragon appeared where the heirs gather, so every nation must have been terrified.

They must have quickly launched transmission magic tools to confirm the situation.

At that moment, Lagon, who hates people, roared,

“Kraaaak!”

‘Oh no, he’s really getting excited now.’

Sebastia approached the royal guards.

“Wait.”

“Eastern royal battle mages! But if things go on like this—!”

“Trust me and wait. Countess Astra has calmed down, so the dragon will too. If you act rashly, the situation will worsen.”

Sebastia calmed the royal guards as we had planned.

‘Good.’

“Lagon!”

I stretched out both arms wide.

Lagon, who looked like he might swallow humans whole, hesitated and turned to me.

“Sorry. I was scared and got startled, huh?”

Rumble...

Rumble...

Lagon flew toward me much calmer than before.

I patted Lagon’s huge head.

“Good boy.”

The fierce dragon whimpered almost like a pet, and everyone gasped.

I hugged Lagon’s face.

Of course, his nose didn’t even fit fully in my arms.

“No one threatened me. You don’t have to get excited, Lagon.”

In other words, if someone threatens me, this huge dragon will get excited.

The arrogant boys of the Sun Society swallowed dryly.

“......”

“......”

“......”

I glanced at them and pulled my lips into a smile.

Sebastia also looked very satisfied seeing the pale-faced Sun Society boys.

We nodded at each other.

‘Ah, this is sweet.’

I rubbed my face against Lagon and giggled.

The Sun Society incident was resolved for the time being.

Grandfather used my recovery as an excuse to send Liantin and me back first.

While preparing to leave, the hallway outside was noisy.

“Miss Astra must rest...”

“So you’re going to block me?”

“Really, such bad manners~. Do they teach that to servants in the empire?”

“Out of the way!”

“I must see Countess Astra.”

“Step aside.”

Voices of the Sun Society bastards.

I clicked my tongue.

‘Those idiots still haven’t come to their senses.’

Of course, they weren’t trying to provoke me like before.

Rather, they seemed to want to become friends. They sent gifts before I left.

‘Maybe they came because I didn’t react.’

I sighed and slightly opened the door.

Then—

“Who dares disturb my granddaughter’s rest?”

A cold, intimidating voice rang out.

It was Grandfather’s arrival.

‘Now you’re about to get crushed.’

Grandfather is even scarier when angry than I am.