The Great Audience Hall erupted into chaos.

Almost simultaneously with the Duke of Astra, the heirs sprang up like springs.

Balderic shouted,

“What do you mean by that?!”

No one else but Isiron!

Who was the Duke Isiron?

A man who once ruled at the pinnacle of power.

Even after being pushed out as head of the dukes’ alliance, he still held a significant share of authority.

Not only that, as the guardian of the late Empress Anna Maria, he was the powerful backer of the pro-Imperial faction.

‘Now that the pro-Imperial faction has been absorbed, if a marriage alliance is made with Duke Isiron......!’

The face of the fourth son, Balderic, turned pale.

The other heirs also looked tense.

‘If the Emperor and Duke Isiron both support Brother Daymond, it’s like giving him wings.’

Bastina, the second daughter.

‘Even now, the vassals’ gazes toward Brother Daymond have changed...!’

Gustav, the sixth son.

‘Brother even has Erilot. That dragon, with power rivaling a national army, is already in his hands.’

Decons, the third son.

They were all at a loss.

This meant Daymond would gain power equal to, or even surpassing, the eldest son Grimier.

In other words, the chance of becoming the next duke increased exponentially.

“No─!!”

Flames sparked in Decons’ eyes.

“What kind of announcement is this without Father’s permission?!”

“I, as your father, gave consent to my child’s marriage. What is the problem?”

“An engagement isn’t a personal matter. It’s a union of families.”

“Isiron is a founding family, whose history and honor are beyond reproach.”

“But still......!”

“Are you opposing because you fear my power will grow?”

“......!”

Balderic was left speechless.

Then Bastina crossed her arms and said,

“There are concerns. Astra’s iron rule is that all power must go to the house head, isn’t it?”

“Then why did you all vehemently oppose disbanding the jurisdiction’s army?”

“Th-that was to resist external enemies......!”

“At that time, Father said he would double the number of direct troops and strengthen the guard, instead of controlling all forces from the manor.”

Bastina swallowed dryly.

Daymond continued with an indifferent face.

“Yet you all shouted against it with everything you had.”

“D-don’t nitpick. We had no choice then......!”

“If all power must belong to the house head, Bastina, you must also give up your share of the port.”

“......!”

Daymond looked at the other siblings.

“Balderic, you must give up your loan sharking business.”

“......!”

“Decons must quit the monster core distribution business he secretly runs with his in-laws, the Florante viscounts.”

“.......”

“Gustav must withdraw from the magic iron business, and Basile must step down from the Magic Tower alliance chief.”

“.......”

“.......”

Daymond’s eyes turned icy cold.

“Now that everyone is building their own factions, who can say I am wrong?”

The heirs averted their eyes and furrowed their brows.

Decons poked the sixth son Gustav’s side and whispered,

“Shouldn’t we block this even if it means giving up our businesses?”

Gustav frowned and lowered his voice.

“Make sense of what you say! Have you ever conducted your business cleanly?”

“That’s......”

Everyone embezzled administrative funds and manipulated taxes to build capital.

Many have colluded with other houses—the thing the Duke of Astra hates most.

Handing all those businesses to the duke is tantamount to exposing one’s corruption.

Besides, no one wanted to hand over the gems in their hands.

Balderic gritted his teeth.

“How can Astra trust you, Brother?”

“What did you say?”

“What guarantee is there that you, having allied with the Emperor and Isiron, will not harm the family?!”

The other brothers nodded in agreement.

“Yes! Our precious daughter would become Isiron’s daughter-in-law, and he might hand over the family’s navigation to her!”

“That cannot be! This marriage is......”

While Bastina shouted, Daymond looked at the Duke with a sharp expression.

“So he will be a son-in-law in name only, Father.”

“......What?”

“Prince Isiron will be placed under the Second Viscountship. His education will be handled exclusively at the manor.”

The hall was in uproar.

Isn’t that a hostage?!

The vassals’ eyes widened in shock.

‘Even if illegitimate, they hand over such a powerful son to Lord Daymond?!’

How on earth was Duke Isiron persuaded...!

The vassals stared at the duke excitedly.

“Well, this is good for us.”

“The power structure is shifting. What could be better than gaining Isiron’s alliance?”

“Yes, Duke! Lord Daymond has given us the best gift!”

“Allow it.”

“Allow it!”

“Allow......!!”

The vassals openly glowed with anticipation.

At that moment, Alexis stepped forward.

He bowed deeply to the Duke of Astra and said,

“I will live for Erilot and die for Erilot.”

One of the vassals burst out laughing.

“Isn’t that the best attitude above all?”

“Yes, yes! Indeed!”

While the vassals were grinning broadly, the Duke of Astra slowly spoke.

“Daymond.”

“Yes.”

“You have no conscience.”

“......What?”

“How can you think to use a toddler as a tool for a marriage alliance─!!”

......What did you say?

People looked at the duke in disbelief.

The average engagement age for nobles in this country is 7 to 8 years.

It is common to arrange engagements even before birth.

Moreover, the duke himself was engaged as an infant, and most of his children were engaged before Erilot’s current age; many of the third generation were engaged long ago.

Besides......

“Lady Erilot reportedly began walking at six months old, did she not?”

The vassals nodded cautiously, watching the duke.

There had even been an incident recently.

“My son was a bit delayed compared to others, so my husband worried.”

“How old was he?”

“Already three years old, but could only say words like ‘Father’ or ‘Nanny’.”

“Did the blessing manifest?”

“Fortunately, it did before the Great Gate closed......”

“Some children develop late, so don’t worry and wait.”

As they chatted, clearing their throats and coughing, someone interjected gently.

“Lady Erilot started walking at six months and was reading the crest by age three.”

—That is what was said.

Daymond let out a bitter laugh.

‘Where is conscience in Astra?’

He himself had to return alone to the castle in a vast forest just after learning to walk.

Daymond said with displeasure,

“That child has been walking for a long time.”

“She’s only ten years old.”

“She’s not being used as a tool for marriage.”

“Forcing marriage on a child who knows nothing is......”

“Erilot asked first.”

“That can’t be─!!”

A thunderous shout shook the Great Audience Hall.

It can’t be.

Erilot clearly said,

“Habugi joa. Habugi-rang kkessokkkessok gachi saggeoya. (I love grandfather. I will always live together with grandfather.)”

And,

“Grandfather is the best!”

“......The best?”

“Yeah, the best in the world!”

Also,

“I want to marry someone like grandfather.”

“Say what?”

“Really. I love grandfather the most.”

There’s no way a child like that would like a jerk like that.

Because that parasitic older brother is tall and lanky, unlike the reliable me.

That sparrow-like jerk is only good for a shabby face, not experience!

While the Duke of Astra was thinking this, Daymond gritted his teeth.

He was equally upset inside.

Erilot said clearly,

“Abammi joa. Abammi-rang maennya maennya gachi saggeoya. (I love father. I will live every day with father.)”

And,

“Father is the best!”

“Me too, Erilot.”

“Yeah, the best in the world!”

Also,

“I want to marry someone like father.”

“Say what?”

“Really. I love father the most.”

—In that regard, she chose someone similar.

......Face aside.

Probably no one in the family looks like her, so it’s certain she chose someone very handsome.

But there’s no need to marry necessarily.

At that time, Conrad, standing behind the duke, also looked at the void with a face as if the sky was collapsing.

“Marriage?”

What on earth is happening in the Imperial Capital?

Watching his lady secretly growing up, he heard her say,

“Konradu joa. Konradu-rang hangsanghangsang gachi isseulkkoya. (I like Conrad. I will always be with Conrad.)”

—And so forth—

Though Conrad was absent, he felt as if a strange saber-toothed horse was taking her away.

At that moment, Daymond said,

“It is true that Erilot requested marriage first.”

“......Even so, I cannot allow it.”

“Please give a convincing reason.”

“.......”

“What is the reason?”

“.......”

“Please tell us the reason.”

“......Listen.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t like his looks! No matter where he’s brought from, he looks like a sparrow......”

Right beside the duke, Viscount Debussy, who was nearly sobbing, said,

“Would it be better if he were ugly~?”

“That’s nonsense. What kind of guy is that.”

“Then what are you saying?”

Debussy chuckled, and the duke’s gaze sharpened.

But lacking a retort, Debussy changed the subject.

“......That boy is too young.”

“Would it have been better if he were an adult? Quite a few of those who sent marriage proposals were adults.”

“If he, at that age, targets an eleven-year-old granddaughter, that’s a disgrace to Astra. Raise the army!”

“That prince’s age fits exactly, right? Four years difference is a suitable age gap.”

“The family......!”

“The Isiron dukedom. The oldest among the six dukedoms. What about the Germo dukedom?”

“You talk big, but who do you think you are to want someone as a daughter-in-law!”

Viscount Debussy spread his hands and shrugged, as if to say ‘See?’

The Duke of Astra’s eyes turned fierce.

“Someone pull that bastard down─!!”

Debussy couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

Daymond murmured quietly,

“What a mess.”

Alexis nodded in agreement.

The next morning.

While eating, I tilted my head.

“Brother Richmond went to the manor at dawn?”

Betty and Heidi, returning from vacation, nodded simultaneously.

“Yes. We got an urgent call from the manor early this morning.”

“I thought the communication stone was on fire!”

I blinked.

What urgent matter could have called my brother away suddenly?

‘Did someone plot a military move nearby?’

So unless someone needed to move war equipment, why suddenly call someone in the Imperial Capital?

I put down my fork and hummed,

“How long ago did Brother leave for the manor?”

“Um, he left at six, so about three hours ago.”

‘If someone plotted military action, the emergency alert should have sounded by now......’

Worried, I gestured to Han Ji-hyuk.

“Yes, Lady.”

He, normally polite, bowed his head.

“Contact Conrad and find out what’s going on at the manor─”

At that moment,

Second steward Sam, pale-faced, rushed into the dining room.

Heidi frowned.

“How rude to come in front of the lady like this......!”

“Emergency alert!”

Someone must be plotting military action after all.

I quickly stood up.

“Who’s at the forefront?”

“House head, my lady!”

“......What?”

“They say Duke Astra has stormed into the Isiron dukedom......!”

What?!

My mouth nearly dropped open.

I wasn’t the only one.

Everyone focused tensely on Second steward Sam.

I held my forehead with one hand and asked,

“What for......?”

“It seems related to your marriage......”

Good heavens.

They called Richmond to the manor to come to the Imperial Capital in a single leap!

Everyone froze and panicked.

“Is this war?”

“B-barrier! We must raise the barrier!”

“Call the mages?!”

I clapped my hands sharply.

“Calm down, everyone.”

But I was ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) just as nervous, so I cautiously asked with a stiff face,

“Grandfather...... did you bring the sword to the Isiron dukedom......?”

“They took out the heirloom Dragon Blood Sword......”

I screamed.

“Han Ji-hyuk, bring the Blessing Stone for movement from Brother Joshua!”

This is really serious.

I dashed out in a hurry.