Han Ji-hyuk wore a baffled expression.

“What difference is a hunger strike going to make?”

“You might not understand because you don’t have blessings. Han Ji-hyuk, do you know what parents of nobles under five years old fear most?”

“What is it?”

“A child’s illness and hunger strikes. Do you know why?”

“Because... they love their children?”

“No.”

Han Ji-hyuk frowned, saying “Huh?”

“Then why do they fear those two?”

“If the mind becomes unstable, blessings can’t be controlled.”

Especially children with offensive or dangerous special-type blessings are scary.

For example, kids with blessings like could collapse an entire mansion when unstable.

Only then did Han Ji-hyuk chuckle, “Ah-ha.”

“If a dragon like you becomes mentally unstable due to a hunger strike, it would be a big problem.”

“Exactly.”

At the Sun Society too, they scared everyone with the ‘instability of blessings.’

“Well, we’ll have to see if it really works or not.”

Honestly, how unstable could blessings become just because of a hunger strike?

‘I’m not even under five years old.’

If grandfather got upset thinking, ‘How dare she defy me?’ there could be backlash.

‘I feel sorry for Milan and Aunt Canaria, but I can’t destroy the trust grandfather painstakingly built just because of them.’

I would watch grandfather’s mood first, and give up if it seemed useless.

‘...Or so I thought.’

Duke’s study.

Viscount Debussy asked Conrad.

“She said she won’t eat?”

“Yes.”

The viscount hummed, “Hmm.”

‘Is boldness genetic?’

Meals with the duke were something the 3rd gens, and even 2nd gens, eagerly awaited.

Big family decisions were often made over these meals.

It was well known that eldest son Grimier took charge of the Imperial Capital estate after dining with the duke.

‘Is he not greedy because he’s young? Or does he not realize how important that position is?’

Or maybe he’s aiming even higher.

No matter what, he was truly remarkable.

‘So how will the duke react?’

Viscount Debussy looked at the duke with interest.

His expression was the usual indifferent one.

‘As expected.’

He secretly cared for Erilot but lived a lifetime without showing emotions.

‘He wouldn’t show displeasure.’

Viscount Debussy snickered and said.

“Will you have the meal after the meeting? The palace officials are eagerly awaiting conversation with the duke.”

The duke still hadn’t given the palace an answer regarding ‘Erilot’s dragon.’

The emperor hoped Erilot would get palace permission before using the dragon.

Palace officials wanted to get the answer the emperor desired by any means.

But the duke refused any conditions.

Viscount Debussy said.

“He seems determined not to return without an answer from the duke.”

“......”

“Whether agreeing or opposing, at least grant a chance to talk.”

“Very well.”

Viscount Debussy looked at Conrad.

Conrad bowed and went to inform the palace officials.

The officials came eagerly with happy faces.

The duke and palace officials sat around the meeting table.

Count Montero, the chief negotiator for this deal, had blazing eyes.

‘Must get some kind of agreement.’

The emperor said.

“If the Duke of Astra does not agree, there is no need to return.”

He meant to camp at Astra for a month or two until agreement was reached.

‘Otherwise, I have no place in the palace anymore.’

Count Montero looked at the duke with a smiling face.

“His Majesty the Emperor entrusted the overall responsibility of the technological treaty with the Orléans Continent to the Astra family.”

The tech from Orléans continent would be negotiated with the Astra duke.

Amazing, right?

So let’s agree already. Huh?

Count Montero fixed the duke with a heated gaze.

But something was strange.

Despite this tremendous offer, the duke said nothing.

“Um, Your Grace?”

“......”

Count Montero’s expression fell.

‘So it’s no good after all.’

“I will try to persuade you to send Astra troops as allied forces to the Itarok battle.”

The war is basically won?

They’d just divide the land without fighting.

And share the huge spoils?

...Still, the duke said nothing.

The palace officials shook their heads regretfully.

‘He still isn’t satisfied.’

‘Then what on earth does he want?’

‘Such greed...’

Count Montero, receiving those looks, closed his eyes tightly.

“There is one vacant imperial consort position. If an imperial consort with the Astra surname is created, this country will face a new phase.”

‘You want to make an imperial consort from your family!’

The emperor was wary of Astra.

Though the Astra family had tried several times to produce an imperial consort, they never accepted one with the Astra surname.

If they influenced the throne, the palace would be shaken.

‘We’ve given everything we can. Time to agree—!’

...But the duke still said nothing.

‘No, this old man...! He wants even more?’

How greedy can one be?!

The palace officials, Count Montero, and even Viscount Debussy and Conrad looked pale and dumbfounded.

‘An imperial consort with the Astra surname.’

That was what the duke had long wished for.

Count Montero grumbled and slammed the table.

“I recommend Lady Vasile as imperial consort!”

“What?”

“What?!”

The retainers, including Viscount Debussy, all gaped.

The duke had once pushed his eldest daughter Vasile as imperial consort.

But...

‘It failed, and Lady Vasile never married!’

She even had a daughter named Dionera.

Viscount Debussy chuckled dryly.

“Is that even possible...?”

“His Majesty Emperor Remus the 13th took Persinanta, who had divorced, as an imperial consort. If Lady Vasile divorces, a ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ recommendation can be made.”

This was from Count Montero, the emperor’s envoy.

It was practically a definite promise to make her imperial consort.

‘If a consort comes from Astra’s direct line...’

Currently, Imperial Consort Ocelia controlled the palace.

The ailing empress stayed in the inner chambers.

‘Ocelia’s family is practically wiped out.’

If Vasile, from Astra’s main house, gained influence, Ocelia could easily be overthrown.

‘And if the empress who beat Ocelia is brought down, the empress position isn’t just a dream.’

‘During Emperor Remus’s reign, Persinanta, who was divorced, became empress!’

If Vasile just bore a child, she could control the palace.

“Y-Your Grace...”

“Your Grace!”

Everyone waited for the duke’s words.

Count Montero, palace officials, and Astra retainers all watched tensely.

‘Yes. This much should be enough for agreement!’

‘Even if not formalized, hasn’t the palace always monitored dragon usage?’

‘If we receive all these, we can’t lose!’

The duke, who had been staring at the table deeply in thought, finally spoke.

“‘From today,’ not just ‘today’?”

Conrad relayed Erilot’s words.

“She said, ‘From today, I will not eat—.’”

‘That means it’s not just skipping one day, but refusing to eat from today onward.’

There was no way such a smart child made a slip of the tongue.

Everyone in the hall widened their eyes at the duke’s grim words.

“......?”

“......?”

“......?”

‘What is he even saying?’

No one had said ‘today’ or ‘from today’ before.

Count Montero blinked in confusion, then gasped.

“Ah, are you worried she’ll fool Astra today with such words, then deny it tomorrow?”

“......”

“If so, bring a written pledge from Her Majesty!”

“......”

“Ha ha, a marriage alliance between Astra and the royal family. The continent will tremble.”

“......Why?”

“Eh? It’s a powerful alliance, even foreign countries will be scared—”

“Why refuse to eat?”

“Excuse me?”

‘What is he talking about?’

While everyone else looked baffled, only Conrad and Viscount Debussy noticed.

‘Ah, it’s about Erilot’s hunger strike.’

‘That man is always a step slow in emotions.’

Viscount Debussy chuckled.

“You seem to have quite the twisted mind.”

“Why! What did I do!”

“Well... but the lady’s stubbornness is no joke; she might really starve herself.”

The duke pictured a frail, starving granddaughter curled up.

Her stomach growled, and she looked at him with resentful eyes.

“I’m hungry, grandfather...”

‘Then why insist on not eating?’

“Because I hate you.”

Hate.

Hate.

Hate.

Grandfather, I hate you~!

The duke slammed the table and stood.

“The meeting is adjourned.”

“Eh? You don’t like this condition either? Your Grace! Your Grace!”

The duke left without looking back.

The palace officials looked at each other pale.

“From today, today too? What the heck is this?”

“Ah, is it a code?”

“Maybe a verse from an ancient scripture. Something displeasing...”

“Starving to death? What’s that about?”

“Should we call a code expert?!”

The palace officials were very confused, and the retainers were baffled.

Meanwhile, only Viscount Debussy...

“Uahaha ha ha ha ha ha! Uha ha ha ha!”

—burst into maniacal laughter.

Even the fearsome old man finally found something to fear.

‘Ah, this is fun. Fun!’

Grand Education Hall.

The 3rd gens gathered again for Madok toxin testing.

I sat quietly, with Dionera and Liantin clinging to me, asking.

“Are you really not going to eat? I heard you skipped lunch too.”

Dionera worried, seeing I said I wouldn’t eat dinner either.

Since her blessing is , Dionera loved eating a lot.

For her, missing even one meal, let alone two, was unimaginable.

Liantin rested her chin on her hand.

“Why don’t you eat a snack or something?”

“No.”

“It’s your favorite clotted scone.”

“I’m fine.”

Actually, I was a bit hungry.

But I wasn’t the type to have an enormous appetite, so I could endure.

‘If I get really hungry, I’ll sneak a snack in my room.’

While thinking that, servants from the main house began entering the hall in a stream.

They carried silver trays and meal carts.

Loreina, reading a book, glanced at them.

“What’s that?”

“They sent this from the main house for the 3rd gens.”

Food was quickly arranged in the hall.

“Wow! Chocolate fondue!”

“What’s going on? They always just give us herbs said to be good for blessings.”

Due to Madok, recently kids had only eaten detoxifying herb dishes, so they were excited.

Chocolate.

Cheese finger foods.

Fruit.

Various sandwiches and soups.

All were easy to eat and among my favorite foods.

Dionera smiled brightly and rushed to the food.

“Erilot, you really won’t eat?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s really delicious! I think the duke’s personal chef made this. The chocolate is like velvet...!”

I shook my head and stood.

‘I’d get hungrier if I stayed here, so I should go to the infirmary.’

Leaving the hall behind, where kids happily enjoyed delicious snacks, I walked away.

My three older brothers were still hospitalized.

Balzac nearly had his abdomen torn open; Joshua and Richmond were quarantined after exposure to Madok.

The weather had been gloomy lately, but today the sun shone brightly.

Swamp fairies fluttered out from my sleeves, flying above my head.

I chuckled.

“You really like sunlight, don’t you.”

Tink, tink.

Whenever the kids flew, the clear sound of glass beads colliding rang.

“All right. Before we go to the infirmary, I’ll let you play outside a bit.”

I smiled and settled in the shade of a tree.

‘While the kids play, maybe I’ll pick some flowers.’

Since I was visiting my brothers.

That’s when—

“Long time no see.”

A familiar voice sounded.

‘Vincent.’

I frowned at him, who smiled as warmly as sunshine.

He said,

“Do you... dislike me?”

At that time, in the duke’s study.

The duke’s face stiffened.

“Only Erilot isn’t eating?”

“Yes... that’s right.”

In the duke’s mind appeared a thin, starving granddaughter curled up.

‘She’s nothing but skin and bones and might die like this!’