Ereka looked at me with a haughty expression.

“Go ahead.”

“Common sense might be lacking a bit, but advertising your lack of it isn’t a very good idea.”

“......What did you say?”

“As long as Conrad works as grandfather’s aide, talking about him becoming yours is just advertising your own foolishness.”

Ereka’s face instantly twisted in displeasure.

I had already made Conrad my man.

I also knew that this year he would stop being grandfather’s aide.

Why wouldn’t I try to call Conrad to the Daymond jurisdiction?

‘No one can casually recommend a next job for someone still serving as grandfather’s aide.’

Anyone would try to secure connections at the next workplace rather than the soon-to-be-former one.

If Conrad, who accesses first-class information, became “someone else’s,” would grandfather let him work comfortably?

“What you just said is troublesome for both grandfather and Conrad.”

“That’s none of your concern.”

Ereka spoke sharply, and I widened my eyes.

“Why is it none of my concern?”

“Because you’re neither the Duke nor Sir Conrad Marcial.”

“But I’m grandfather’s granddaughter. If he suffers damage, I can’t just stand by.”

“I...”

“Ereka, it’d be better if you learned to think before you speak.”

Ereka’s face flushed deeply, as if about to burst.

I met Conrad’s gaze and lightly nodded.

“Go ahead, Sir Marcial.”

“Yes.”

Conrad quickly bowed to me and left.

I glanced once at the trembling Ereka before walking away.

Han Ji-hyuk hurried after me, chatting.

“She couldn’t say a word?”

“Because she had nothing to say.”

“More importantly, why are you bothering with other people’s business?”

Usually, I don’t step forward when some idiot makes a fuss.

But today, I forced her to shut up, so it must look strange.

“It’s fine if she acts out alone, but it’s troublesome if Conrad suffers because of it.”

“Oh, you care that much for Conrad?”

“Of course. Conrad’s my precious search window!”

If Korea has Naver, Daum, or Google, I have Conrad in this world.

He even does surveillance on my boss (grandfather), which Naver doesn’t.

“Too precious, Conrad.”

I nodded seriously, and Han Ji-hyuk shook his head.

“Conrad looked moved just now.”

“......?”

“No, never mind...”

Of course, Conrad himself is precious.

He was the one who reached out to a young me with no guarantees.

‘Well, I did help Conrad a lot.’

Still, repaying a favor doesn’t necessarily mean making someone your man.

Conrad, who has been loyal holding my hand for a long time, is important to me.

But...

“Isn’t it even better if someone precious is also helpful?”

“That’s true.”

“Exactly.”

We chatted quietly and soon left the manor.

As I entered the corridor connected to the education room, Han Ji-hyuk asked,

“Why aren’t you going to your room? Why here?”

“I need to identify the traitor. The exam matters too.”

“Huh?”

Han Ji-hyuk frowned.

“Would the traitor be in the classroom? Your cousins will all be digging for who it is.”

“That’s why it would be in the classroom.”

“Why?”

“If someone’s alone while everyone’s digging for each other, it looks suspicious.”

The more afraid they are, the more they try to act like others to avoid being found out.

“Keep watching Ereka Gilarr. She’s been provoked today; who knows what she might do next.”

“Got it.”

After sending Han Ji-hyuk off, I entered the classroom.

Most students from the intermediate and advanced rooms were gathered in the main classroom.

‘Even branches.’

“Ayla, why did you leave the manor on the third?”

Ayla, daughter of Uncle Sylvain, frowned.

“Why would a branch ask about the direct line’s schedule?”

“I need to find the traitor. If you don’t answer, I’ll have to suspect you, Ayla.”

Ayla’s face turned bright red, and she bit her lip.

She couldn’t get angrier but clenched her teeth and answered.

“I was called by my maternal family!”

She had no choice but to answer, even if it hurt her pride.

If marked a traitor, who knows what the main family would do to her?

Not only her, but also her parents would be in danger.

“What did your maternal family want? Were they asking about Astra’s affairs?”

“You...”

Ayla glared at me angrily, but the branches only smiled slyly.

Milan, leaning on his chin, snorted.

Milan is a direct third-generation cousin with the blessing who helped me in the Western Reserve Infantry Drill.

“I didn’t expect branches to be so clueless and reckless.”

Liantin, entering nearby, retorted with irritation.

“It’s an opportunity to crush the direct line.”

“But won’t they regret it later?”

Indeed.

After this traitor hunt, who knows how the direct line will react?

Surely some resentful direct third gens remain.

‘Even if they worry about the future, their actions mean they have someone to ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) rely on.’

Liantin snorted and said,

“Who do you think will lead the atmosphere? They think Ereka Gilarr, the ‘beloved granddaughter,’ will shield them.”

“True. That rumor spread far and wide in just a day. Even my maternal family contacted me.”

“She’s causing such a fuss; it could be intentional to spread rumors.”

“Hmm... not fun.”

Milan looked up at a branch boy approaching and raised an eyebrow.

The branch boy grinned and asked,

“Why did you leave the manor last week, ugh...!”

Light chains of light shot from Milan’s hand and wrapped around the branch boy.

“Sorry. I don’t tolerate ugly people.”

“Ugh, ugh...”

“Why doesn’t someone else ask? Anyone besides this guy?”

Milan’s cold words made the branches flinch.

The cousins, including Liantin, curled their lips into sneers.

Loreina crossed her arms and looked around at the branches.

“Even if branches get the same education as us, don’t delude yourselves into thinking you’ll make the ranks.”

“.......”

“.......”

“.......”

As the branches quieted, the direct descendants’ expressions grew arrogant.

‘Right.’

The direct third gens are children who make even other houses cluck their tongues.

They have trained in practical combat since very young.

They received highly advanced education concentrated with knowledge.

Plus, they possess tremendous blessings worthy of being the duke’s grandchildren.

Starting points are different—how could the branches win?

Then—

“I’d like to learn a thing or two!”

Ereka Gilarr entered the room.

Only then did the branches’ expressions brighten.

“E-Ereka...”

“Oh my, how pitiful, everyone looks scared.”

Then she glanced at the direct descendants and furrowed her brows.

“I hope you show the generosity befitting your status. So you can be proud to belong to the ‘Great Astra family.’”

Ayla, who had just been investigated by the branches, had her eyes flare with murderous intent.

“How dare you...!”

“If you don’t mind, would you teach me?”

Ayla’s eyes flashed with hostility.

For a few seconds, the ground seemed to ripple like paper, and Ereka was suddenly pulled into Ayla’s territory.

That was Ayla’s blessing .

The ability to fold the ground and pull opponents into one’s domain.

Ayla quickly drew the dagger at her waist.

‘Ayla is the best with weapons among us.’

Just as Ayla’s spinning blade was about to touch Ereka’s shoulder—

Clang!

With a sharp crack, the sword shattered.

“......!”

“......!”

“What the—!”

As the direct descendants were shocked, the branches snickered.

Looking closely, a small light moved near Ereka’s shoulder.

“That’s a swamp fairy.”

Milan said, and the direct descendants flinched.

“Did she really tame a swamp fairy?”

“Is the blessing real...?”

Just then, the light flashed and a mud-like humanoid monster appeared.

Kyaaak!

It opened its mouth wide, showing countless teeth.

The swamp fairy lunged at Ayla.

“Ayla!”

Ayla’s older brother Elmen shouted.

The swamp fairy was a fierce monster despite its small size.

Its teeth dripped with deadly poison.

Ayla hurriedly blocked the attack with the sword on her other side.

But it was only momentary.

The sword shattered, so she wouldn’t withstand a second strike.

“Ereka Gilarr, stop!”

Liantin shouted, but Ereka only looked troubled.

“That creature loses reason when it sees an attacker... If you want to block it, better bring soldiers.”

“You—!”

Just as the swamp fairy lunged at Ayla again—

Shuruk!

With a strange sound, something blocked between Ayla and the swamp fairy.

“Swallow, Ombre!”

Someone said, and the swamp fairy was instantly swallowed by smoke-like substance.

Kzzzzzt.

The swamp fairy screamed an unearthly cry, struggling.

“......!”

“......!”

“......!”

Everyone was surprised, looking at Erilot.

Liantin shouted,

“Ombre! Erilot’s shadow monster!”

The shadow monster, as rare as the swamp fairy, really engulfed the swamp fairy.

Ereka’s face darkened.

‘That girl...!’

Always so annoying, and now interfering again.

‘She could’ve humiliated the direct descendants.’

Since they attacked first, the timing was perfect.

‘So annoying.’

Among all the irritating direct descendants, Ereka was the worst.

Raising her eyebrow, Ereka approached Erilot.

“You really are the greatest among the 7th rank, aren’t you? It would be a great honor to learn from you, young lady. What do you say? Will you teach me?”

“.......”

“Having a hard time?”

“.......”

“I understand. If we really fight, the result might be delicate.”

Ereka burst out laughing and scanned Erilot from head to toe.

Anyone could see that look was mocking, like ‘You’ll lose.’

The branches laughed along with Ereka.

‘Ereka’s right. The direct descendants aren’t much.’

‘Once one of the second gens inherits the dukedom, the ties are cut.’

‘You only need to be close to the one who will be the new duke.’

Ereka said,

“Why bother trying to impress the direct descendants?”

“Because they are the duke’s own children and grandchildren...”

“Think about it. When a new duke is born in Astra, what’s the first thing he does?”

“That is...”

“He gets rid of brothers and nephews. Only those stuck in the corner survive.”

“.......”

“Look, are there any old direct descendants left among those leaving now?”

“Come to think of it... not one.”

“See? Eventually, capable branches will outdo direct descendants.”

Ereka was right.

‘Only a few of them will survive anyway.’

They live hiding in corners to avoid falling out of favor with the new duke.

‘Besides... maybe Ereka’s father will be the new duke.’

The child born from true love is naturally more precious.

Grandfather secretly hid and supported Ereka and her mother for that reason.

‘Who is more loved is obvious.’

Erilot?

She was the best among those unloved.

Erilot and her mother have fought desperately in the most dangerous places, building reputation.

But Ereka and her mother have lived in luxury in safety.

The branches sneered, and the direct descendants were furious.

“Those bastards...”

Loreina shouted.

“Show them, Erilot!”

“......Yes?”

“Show them how great your dragon is!”

Liantin shouted.

“Don’t think only dragons are great! Erilot’s a genius! She crushed cousins years older at age three! Right, Joffrey?!”

Other cousins nodded.

I rolled my eyes lightly.

‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend...’

They used to try to kill me, and now they’re praising me as a genius.

Milan stood up.

Smiling, he said to the branches,

“Shall we bet?”

“What...?”

“We bet on Erilot. You bet on that annoying girl?”

“That, that’s...”

A branch kid stammered.

‘Erilot Astra is really amazing.’

Not even Selene Astra, the strongest among those with Divine blessings, could match her.

‘But... only if the dragon is present...’

Ereka was a remarkable girl in terms of ability too.

She was always the best at the 12th Tower.

Now she even had the blessing.

Moreover...

“Erilot, you’re really amazing, right? Especially that dragon...!”

“Really? I think I could tame it too.”

“You too?!”

“If I tamed with that ability, maybe I could too. Think about fighting without the blessing.”

“That’s...”

“I have the blessing to read ancient texts. My magic is far superior.”

The branch kid clenched his fist tightly and shouted,

“Fine! I bet on Ereka. If that dragon appears, Ereka might tame it.”

“What? Hah...!”

Liantin ground her teeth.

Everyone went wild.

Suddenly forced into a match, I rubbed my neck.

‘Well, it can’t be helped.’

I had already influenced public opinion to the point where I had to fight when I challenged.

Ereka said,

“Shall we start?”

“I’m fine with the match. But there’s a condition.”

“Anything you want. If you don’t have confidence—”

“It will be in front of grandfather.”

“......What?”

“A match with branches holds no merit for me. But in front of grandfather, it’s different.”

“T-The duke wouldn’t watch such a match...!”

“Why don’t you ask him?”

“W-What—!”

“They say you might be the beloved granddaughter of grandfather.”

“......!!”

“If you’re that beloved, it might be possible.”