The Western Army Marshal’s face stiffened.

She wasn’t the only one taken aback.

Everyone else stared at her in shock.

“Demanded Astra’s fortune be handed over?”

“Who? His Majesty the Emperor?”

“No, the Western Army Marshal...”

“That must be a misunderstanding.”

Otherwise, it was nonsense.

The Delpre Marquis family was indeed a noble house in District 1 of the capital.

But there was a huge gap between Astra and Delpre.

Wealth.

Military strength.

The number of nobles under their sway.

Even the family history showed the difference—Astra was one of the eleven representative houses of the empire.

So Delpre could never openly oppose Astra without Chateau Briand’s help.

Marquis Delpre forced an awkward smile.

“Duke Astra, I’m not sure what you mean by that...”

“My newly appointed marshal granddaughter was inexperienced, so I told her to entrust her dragon to the Central Army Marshal.”

“What?!”

The Western Army Marshal looked pale as she stared at the Duke of Astra.

“U-um, I...”

“Yes, say it yourself. It’s just a misunderstanding of Duke Astra’s, isn’t it?”

“Th-that... that is...”

Her hands trembled violently.

‘Erilot Astra told my grandfather everything?’

How could she?

Running off like a child to confess a joke.

And even dragging the family head here to bring such shame.

‘She’s insane. That girl is definitely crazy!’

When the daughter couldn’t answer, Marquis Delpre’s face hardened.

“Why aren’t you speaking?”

The Duke of Astra’s gaze fell upon the Western Army Marshal.

She looked away from her father, then flinched as their eyes met.

‘Yikes—!’

What a terrifying gaze that was.

Those red eyes reminded her of the monster-slaying expedition.

The terror when all the soldiers were down and she faced the mighty monster alone...

The Western Army Marshal spoke with a pale face.

“I-I think there’s been some misunderstanding—”

“The Central Army Marshal is trusted by His Majesty the Emperor, so the talk about entrusting the dragon to her is a misunderstanding.”

“Let me explain. I can explain! The reason those words came out—”

“Think of His Majesty the Emperor first.”

“Still, we all think of His Majesty as the highest priority...!”

“Y-Your Grace...!”

“When I asked if my granddaughter’s loyalty to His Majesty was the same, you said otherwise.”

“That’s, that’s...”

“You called her shameless for not even handing over her dragon.”

“...!”

“...!”

“...!”

Not only the Western Army Marshal and Marquis Delpre but everyone stiffened.

As Erilot had expected, the impact was enormous.

“A blessings is the family’s property.”

“To not offer the hard-earned ability of a family member to the royal family is not loyalty!”

The party hall buzzed loudly.

The Western Army Marshal’s face turned pale as a sheet.

Marquis Delpre nervously parted his lips.

“That can’t be... Is that so, Rika?”

“Um, Father, I...”

His daughter only stammered with a corpse-like pale face.

“Rika?”

“...”

“Rika!”

Realizing from his daughter’s attitude that the Duke’s words were true, Marquis Delpre was greatly shaken.

‘That girl...!’

Crazy.

Surely she was insane.

Who else would speak words to turn half the nobles against themselves so easily?

Though foolish, she was usually clever.

But seeing her unable to respond, there must be witnesses.

‘And not just any witnesses—marshals level witnesses.’

Since the marshals present at the party didn’t seem surprised by the words, the suspicion seemed correct.

‘What on earth has she been up to!’

Marquis Delpre glared sharply at his daughter.

But now, damage control was more important than blaming.

“I don’t know what she meant by those words, but I’m sure there was no ill intent. Isn’t that right, Rika?”

“Huh? Ah, yes...!”

“She’s loyal to His Majesty, so it must have been a mistake. Also, she is still young...”

Marquis Delpre spoke with an awkward face.

The Duke of Astra’s gaze slowly turned toward the marquis.

“If you say so, what could a young girl know?”

At that, Marquis Delpre and the Western Army Marshal’s faces brightened.

‘Looks like he’s inclined to be lenient.’

The Western Army Marshal’s expression gradually softened.

‘I heard the Duke of Astra is a terrifying man, but he can actually be reasonable.’

After all, at his age, he could afford to be lenient with a child.

Then, Duke Astra continued.

“It was an adult’s will.”

“...Yes?”

“If the family had never spoken like that, would that young girl dare to doubt my family’s loyalty?”

“D-Duke Astra! That can’t be.”

“If so—!!”

A sharp shout cut across the party hall.

Chronos Astra was a man who had ruled the pinnacle of power for over half a century.

His seasoned authority silenced even the great nobles of District 1.

“Is this your daughter’s wish alone?”

“Yes?”

“I asked if it was solely your daughter’s foolishness and that Delpre bears no responsibility.”

“Th-that is...”

The Western Army Marshal turned pale and looked at her father.

If she agreed to that, she would take all the blame alone.

It was as if her father wouldn’t protect her.

‘Then, in the worst case...’

The southern nobles would turn their backs on her.

She would be stripped of her marshal rank.

‘No!’

She couldn’t imagine herself without the marshal title.

She needed it to shine.

Without it, countless noble children would attack her.

The Western Army Marshal hurriedly grabbed her father’s sleeve.

“F-Father.”

“...”

Marquis Delpre said nothing with a stern face.

She quickly glanced at Silin Chateau Briand.

“Central Army Marshal, please say something. Those words weren’t meant so seriously.”

“...”

Silin remained silent.

Even Duke Chateau Briand...

‘What? Who made me do this?!’

It was all Silin’s fault.

Because Silin disliked that girl...

‘You gave the hint! You signaled to suppress the new Western Army Marshal, Erilot Astra!’

But now she acted as if she didn’t know...

The Western Army Marshal, choking on tears, shouted.

“Silin!”

She rushed toward the Central Army Marshal, yelling, and Silin glanced at her.

Their eyes met, and the Western Army Marshal’s expression brightened slightly.

“You will say something, won’t you?”

“Truly...”

“Yes, Silin. Please say something.”

“I was trying to stop Miss Delpre that day as well.”

“...What?”

The Central Army Marshal bowed lightly to Duke Astra.

“It is all my fault, Duke. I am unworthy.”

She patted the Western Army Marshal’s arm and looked around.

As if to shield her.

“I apologize for the rudeness to Astra in advance, and for the awkward scene caused by the Western Army Marshal’s outburst.”

“Silin?”

The Western Army Marshal called to her, bewildered.

“I was greatly surprised by what happened that day and could not fathom what intention was behind those words...”

“Listen, Silin.”

“So please consider this all my fault. I was unaware of the Western Army Marshal’s dangerous thoughts in advance. Kindly think of it as my fault.”

“Ha...!”

“I will make sure it does not happen again—”

“Silin, about the dragon—!”

You brought it up first!

You said that if she had the dragon, the country would flourish.

That she would use such power for the nation.

‘You blamed Erilot Astra and pushed me until I said those things!’

The Western Army Marshal was about to say something, but the Central Army Marshal was quicker.

“Western Army Marshal, go home and lay low.”

“What did you say?”

“This matter will be discussed among the marshals later and disciplinary action decided.”

“Unbelievable. Because of whom—”

“Western Army Marshal, do you not hear me?”

Before she could speak, Marquis Delpre roughly pulled her arm.

“Go home.”

“Father!”

“Hurry—!!”

“...”

The Western Army Marshal finally burst into tears.

Clutching her skirt, she glared at Silin.

But she could say no more and ran out of the party crying.

Silin sighed and looked at Duke Astra.

“I am truly sorry. But I want to make clear that this was never the will of the other marshals.”

“Only the will of Delpre’s daughter?”

“Yes. It was also my fault for not properly soothing her.”

“Well understood.”

“Had Central properly done its role, such words would never have come out of the palace.”

Silin bit her lip, then lowered her head.

“I apologize.”

Duke Astra glanced at her.

At that moment, Richmond and Joshua stepped forward.

“Grandfather.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

The three brothers had all °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° come to this troublesome year-end party at Erilot’s request.

To act as their grandfather’s safeguard.

‘Erilot hoped it would end here.’

‘If it went any further, even if victorious at the year-end festival, people would say it was because of grandfather’s power.’

“Since the party has become disorderly, how about we leave?”

Richmond spoke, and Joshua agreed.

“Also, we should prepare to lodge a complaint against Delpre for this incident.”

The Duke of Astra narrowed his brows at his grandsons.

But surprisingly, he stepped back quietly.

He had been warned several times by Erilot.

“Grandfather, I will prove Astra’s power at this year-end festival. So please make sure it doesn’t affect the festival.”

“...”

“Yes? Yes?”

He recalled how his granddaughter tightly held her hands, her eyebrows drooped.

He clicked his tongue in his heart and said,

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes.”

The three brothers bowed and followed their grandfather.

Only then did the party noise return.

The nobles gathered in small groups, talking about the incident.

“The Western Army Marshal is audacious.”

“Is it audacity? Or thoughtlessness?”

“Hmph, whatever it is, the Delpre Marquis looks interesting. She put her daughter in the marshal position and now acts arrogantly.”

“Look, she’s already clinging to Chateau Briand, begging for help.”

As one noble said, Marquis Delpre was attached to Chateau Briand.

Duke Chateau Briand wore a very displeased expression.

Silin bowed to the crowd many times.

One could imagine how unpleasant it was for Duke Chateau Briand to be proud of his daughter.

The young nobles also gathered, whispering.

“My goodness... I’m so surprised.”

“I expected this would happen. How much has the Western Army Marshal rampaged trusting her position?”

“But even to do that to Miss Astra...”

Rumelisa Paante said with a displeased look.

“She probably tried to put her down by words because she lacks family rank and skill.”

“Yes, it seems so.”

“I feel sorry for Erilot!”

The Western Army Marshal is unlucky.

‘Of all people, she had to say those things at our family’s party.’

The Paante Marchioness and her husband said nothing, but their expressions were inwardly displeased.

Erilot was their daughter’s friend who had created the opportunity for a good party, so all blame was aimed at the Western Army Marshal.

Adults and children alike were noisy about the incident.

“But the Central Army Marshal was surprising.”

“Yes. So those words must have come from the marshals’ meeting, right? I didn’t expect them to manage the marshals this way.”

“How could you not know? The marshals this term are a mess.”

“To be honest, if the Central Army Marshal had done her job properly...”

“Yes.”

The adults glanced at Silin with slight disdain.

And the children...

“But really, was this all just the Western Army Marshal acting alone?”

“Or what?”

“You know who she has relied on to act so recklessly until now?”

“That’s a bit of a leap... She apologized on someone else’s behalf this time.”

“Is that so?”

Silin pretended not to hear and talked to other nobles.

But her eyes were cold and dark.

‘Erilot Astra.’

The girl gripping the juice glass tightened her grip.

Astra Second Viscountcy.

“...So that’s how it happened.”

“I see.”

Erilot smiled while stirring her glass with a straw.

‘The Central and Western Army Marshals are properly divided now.’

If so, it was time to take the second step.

To bring all the knights eyed by the Central and Western armies into her grasp.

‘Since I’ve started, I will win no matter what.’