I checked my pocket watch.

There was enough time to explain the party to Alexis.

‘I just suddenly called him to the capital, so he must be confused too.’

“Alexis. The reason I called you to the capital is...”

“You said it’s time to show that I’m still alive.”

“Well, yeah, but...”

I only said that one sentence and called him over, but isn’t he more curious?

Alexis isn’t a little kid anymore. Having grown up a bit, he must be full of questions.

He’s not the age to be locked away in some prison-like training facility and told, “It’s for your own good! That’s how it had to be!”

“I didn’t say much, just called you here. Aren’t you curious about anything?”

Alexis glanced at me.

“Yeah.”

“...Why?”

“Because you wouldn’t do anything to harm me.”

With that, Alexis started walking ahead confidently.

“...”

It was a strange feeling.

‘What is this feeling?’

I had never felt anything like it before.

My family tries to protect me. If I climb on the monster’s back, they’d think the sky was falling.

They judge everything in the world as dangerous for me and build fences around me.

“Don’t go past here.

This is the safe zone.

They ask me everything and only nod once they’re convinced.

Okay, then you’ll be safe. You can go ahead.”

—like that.

But the way Alexis treats me is something else...

‘Boundless trust?’

It was an oddly satisfying feeling.

I ran to Alexis and said,

“That’s right~!”

“...”

“I won’t do anything to hurt you!”

Then I slapped his back lightly, and Alexis frowned.

“Do you know your hand is spicy?”

I chuckled and said,

“But you should know a [N O V E L I G H T] few things. Memorize well.”

“...”

“This place is called the Lily Garden, a party where great noble children gather. You need a partner, and I’m taking you as my partner to get in.”

“...Partner?”

“Yes.”

I nodded.

Alexis narrowed his eyes.

“Can you choose a partner who isn’t a noble?”

“There’s no specific rule.”

“No rule?”

I shrugged and crossed my arms.

“You must never have imagined someone non-noble bringing a partner.”

“If someone at the party asks who you are, what should I say?”

“Don’t.”

“What?”

“Don’t say a word.”

I smiled gently.

“The less information, the hotter the speculation.”

Lately, I’ve been the center of attention in the capital.

And now, I’m bringing an enigmatic dark-haired boy.

People will go crazy trying to dig into Alexis’s background.

‘If there were real-time search keywords, number one would be guaranteed.’

Lily Garden dark-haired handsome boy

Erilot dark-haired boy

Identity of dark-haired boy

Erilot Astra

.

.

10. Dark-haired boy’s jacket.

Something like that.

I grinned.

I thought Alexis’s first appearance was a perfect setup.

...Until then.

Arriving at the Lily Garden’s entrance with Alexis, I froze completely.

I saw three men at the center of the murmuring crowd.

“When is Eril coming? Isn’t it too late?”

“Yeah.”

“Nothing wrong, I hope?”

They were Balzac, Joshua, and Lismond.

Alexis glanced at me.

“Aren’t those guys your older brothers?”

“...Yeah.”

“You said you’d take me as your partner?”

“...That too.”

“But why are they here?”

...I don’t know.

I gritted my teeth.

Balzac waited for Erilot with his arms crossed, standing cocky.

“Why isn’t she coming?”

Should we start looking for her?

Seeing their faces like that, my brothers also looked tense.

Erilot gained immense power through Ragon.

But that made the situation even more dangerous.

Ragon was far away, and her monster couldn’t enter the Lily Garden.

‘If someone targets Erilot, now’s the time.’

If they kidnapped Erilot, they could even own that enormous dragon.

A noble blinded by that power would surely seize this chance.

That was why the three came here, knowing full well they’d get scolded by Erilot.

No one could protect Erilot better than them.

Balzac frowned.

“We need to start searching soon.”

Joshua didn’t look happy either but spoke with concern.

“What if nothing happens? Erilot’s first capital party will be a mess.”

Lismond, still worried, said,

“Let’s communicate.”

Getting scolded was no longer the issue.

Joshua took out a communicator.

Then—

“Why are you here?”

A grim voice sounded from behind.

The three boys stiffened.

Swallowing dry saliva, they turned their heads mechanically with creaks.

What they saw was—

The only person who could make the strongest youths in Astra tremble in fear.

“E-Eril...”

“Erilot.”

“Erilot...”

Erilot scanned the three with an expressionless face.

“I told you to change clothes, but you didn’t.”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“I said I’d get angry if you followed me, yet you followed.”

“I didn’t follow, I came first—!”

“Shut up, clueless fool.”

“Shut your mouth.”

Balzac’s face brightened as he tried to explain, but mouths on both sides shut him up.

Erilot looked at the three with terrifying eyes.

“Go back and wait.”

“B-But!”

Balzac quickly freed Joshua and Lismond’s hands and hurried to explain.

“The capital is dangerous, and it’s even more dangerous for you to be alone at the party—”

“Oh, right. Since it’s dangerous, I should stay with my brothers. ...But until when?”

“What?”

“Is there any guarantee tomorrow won’t be dangerous?”

“...”

“I know what you’re worried about. It must be about my dragon. But won’t I be without my dragon in a year?”

“...”

“In ten years?”

“...”

“Do I have to stay with my brothers forever? Because it’s dangerous?”

This was serious.

I was truly angry.

Erilot usually gave in during conversations.

She’d try to say something but give up if family looked gloomy, usually agreeing.

Joshua and Lismond sensed this, and Balzac sulked.

“You’re right...”

Erilot pointed toward the entrance with her index finger.

“Go home.”

“Okay...”

“Got it...”

“Yeah...”

People staring at the three handsome boys with admiration were left speechless.

Before that girl appeared, some had been drawn to the three brothers’ beauty.

“Hello, I’m Siora from the Marquis of Antuie’s family. I don’t think we’ve met before... May I ask who you are?”

“Are you perhaps the young masters of the Astra Count family? Oh! Yes, you are. I’m Lilyrose Longtre.”

“I’m Chloe Meriata. May I ask your names?”

Each time, the handsome boys looked back with eyes as cold as the northern frost.

Annoying.

Don’t talk to me.

Go away.

Their gaze radiated a chilling intimidation.

But now...

‘Oh my, they look like frightened puppies.’

‘So cute...’

‘What, they’re so cute!’

The girls saw an illusion of drooping tails behind the three.

Balzac, walking in a line toward the entrance, glanced at Erilot.

“Can’t you just wait in front?”

“No.”

“That feels weird...”

“Go quickly!”

Erilot shouted, and Balzac groaned, sulking again.

The three boys left the entrance looking dejected.

Joshua scolded Balzac sharply.

“That’s why I told you not to come.”

Lismond looked displeased too.

“Don’t say things like, I told you not to come, so just leave when I said don’t follow me.”

Balzac felt wronged.

They all said it was fine!

‘I had a bad feeling.’

A strange feeling as if a thief was about to approach Erilot.

The three sighed as they left.

A dark-haired boy with blue eyes, just as beautiful as them, brushed past.

‘Huh?’

‘What?’

‘What is that?’

The dark-haired boy passed by, making me feel strangely uneasy.

He glanced at them briefly.

The Astra Count brothers and the dark-haired boy’s gazes met in midair.

Then the dark-haired boy entered, and the brothers furrowed their brows.

“That guy gives me a weird vibe.”

“Something’s off...”

“Yeah.”

Somehow it felt like a filthy enemy destined to be a lifelong rival.

After confirming my brothers had left, I breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Good thing I pretended to be really angry.’

If I had tried to persuade them, it would have taken hours.

‘And I had no convincing words anyway.’

My brothers sometimes act like fools when it comes to matters involving me.

A ten-year-old with such overwhelming power should obviously refrain from going out!

At least until the idea “If you target Erilot Astra, you die” is deeply ingrained in the capital.

‘But from my point of view, I can’t just stay in all the time.’

I have too much to do.

I looked sadly at my brothers leaving.

‘Sorry, brothers.’

...Today I had to save Alexis.

“Miss...?”

Just then, Heidi returned with the entry pass.

“May I come over?”

“Huh?”

Heidi said with tearful eyes.

“You seem really angry...”

Apparently, I’m not the only one who becomes a fool over matters related to me.

Heidi and the coachman couldn’t come close, looking helpless as if thinking, ‘Our Miss must be angry!’

“Yeah, give me the pass. And... Alexis.”

I called out, and Alexis, who had been watching the situation, came over.

“Can you look after this kid?”

“That person is...”

I smiled lightly and looked around.

“He’s my partner.”

“Oh my...!”

People started murmuring.

‘With my brothers drawing attention, interest focused quickly.’

Alexis had no verifiable identity.

Like before, Heidi wouldn’t be able to bring an entry pass with only a servant badge.

“I’ll get the entry pass, so please take good care of him. Can you do that?”

“Yes, Miss!”

Heidi wore a raven brooch, signifying she was an Astra employee.

If Alexis stays with Heidi, other nobles won’t easily notice or approach him.

I met Alexis’s eyes and nodded.

Then we entered the party.

Showing the entry pass, a guard loudly announced,

“Lady Erilot of the Astra Count family, entering!”

The massive doors opened, revealing a splendid hall.

The Lily Garden Party had begun.

Everyone’s eyes focused on me.

I walked lightly into the hall, and those chatting with juice glasses cautiously approached.

“Hello, Lady Erilot of the Astra Counts?”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Melody of the Creisol family.”

“You’re even more stunning than I heard.”

Heh heh, their gazes were sharp as they smiled and approached.

They were clearly scouting me out.

‘Oh...’

The kind of thrilling social scrutiny I hadn’t felt in Astra.

Since Astra was mostly kin, everyone already knew each other well, so such scouting was unnecessary.

I smiled broadly.

“Hello, everyone. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Then, among the children gathered on the opposite side, a red-haired girl appeared.

“Nonsense. It’s our honor to meet the Astra Count’s daughter, the dragon’s master.”

“That is...”

“Rumelisa Paante. She’s the host of this Lily Garden Party.”

The Lily Garden Party was hosted by children in turns.

The venue was limited to the Lily Garden.

‘Rumelisa Paante, huh... aha.’

She was the Empress Dowager’s maternal cousin.

Daughter of the Marchioness Paante, who ruled the social circle—a princess in the children’s society.

Other children giggled and spoke.

“This party is really magnificent.”

“That’s natural with the Paante lady’s touch.”

“I heard the invited adults are also impressive?”

Paante looked at me with a proud smile and a challenging gaze.

Then she chuckled and said,

“Yes. We invited royalty.”

“Royalty? Oh my...!”

As the children blinked in surprise, Paante said,

“Oh, Lady Erilot of the Astra Counts might not know the royals well? Don’t worry. I’ll introduce them soon.”

Then—

A loud voice came from outside the door.

“Her Highness Princess Anatoli enters!”

‘Finally.’

I knew she’d come.

That was another reason I sent my brothers away early.

Princess Anatoli entered through the door.

And when our eyes met...