Chapter 24
Kai was a straightforward child. Though he hesitated, he didn’t avoid the question.
“Two nights ago, I saw him in my dream. He said if I wanted to go to the banquet, he’d help me.”
“Him?”
“You know the painting in the chapel at the marquisate? The red-haired, red-eyed pilgrim.”
“…Don’t tell me you mean the Cardinal Dragon?”
The Cardinal Dragon. A dragon with crimson scales, just like its name. According to legend, the protector of the Marquisate of Lafrande.
…Yes, a being that should only exist in legend.
The Marquis hoped Kai would deny it. That this little troublemaker had simply hidden in the luggage compartment of a carriage. That the dream story was just a joke.
But Kai nodded.
“Yes, he said he was the Cardinal Dragon.”
“…Hah…”
“He told me he’d send a red-maned horse at dawn, and if I rode it, I could get to the banquet. Did I… do something wrong?”
“…No, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
The Marquis clenched his teeth.
Dragons were beings of overwhelming power, protectors of the world.
Especially lands blessed with a dragon’s power—like the Lafrande territory—enjoyed richer, more prosperous lives than other regions.
But if that power were directed not to the land, but to a single human being…
“Kai.”
“Yes?”
“Did he say anything else in your dream? Like… that he wanted to reside in you?”
When a person is imbued with a dragon’s power, they gain abilities that transcend humanity—but at the cost of gradually losing their humanity and succumbing to madness and destruction.
There was only one exception: the Duchy of Schlayger, whose bloodline had learned to control the power over generations. But even then—were they truly happy? The Duke and his children never looked happy, at least not in the Marquis’s eyes.
He felt his hands start to tremble. What if his grandson also fell to madness…?
“Ah, no! He didn’t say anything like that!”
“Really?”
The Marquis let out a sigh of relief. And followed up with a stern warning.
“That’s good. But you must never covet a dragon’s power! It’s incredibly dangerous. Even the mighty Duke of Schlayger—”
“Oh, the dragon said something about that, too.”
“…What?”
“He said the Duke of Schlayger was originally destined to fall.”
The Marquis’s brows furrowed deeply. Kai’s eyes sparkled as he continued.
“He said the Duke was supposed to collapse in a few years, but a ‘variable’ appeared that could preserve his sanity. So he sent me to check.”
“…What are you talking about…”
Kai smiled innocently, but behind that naive smile, the Marquis sensed a strange ambition.
“If we could find that same variable, maybe we could use the Cardinal Dragon’s power too—”
“Kai! What exactly did the dragon ask you to do?!”
The Marquis’s voice rose sharply. At last, Kai’s voice softened.
“Ah… He just told me to go to the banquet and have fun. Meet lots of people.”
“That’s really all?”
“Yes… Did I do something wrong?”
“…”
“I didn’t think the Cardinal Dragon would ever do anything bad to our family…”
Kai’s green eyes welled up with tears. The Marquis couldn’t bring himself to be harsher. Ever since his son and daughter-in-law died in an accident, Kai’s smiling face was the only way he could still feel close to his beloved child.
‘Yes, the Cardinal Dragon has always protected our family.’
The Marquis calmed himself and gently patted Kai’s head.
“You’re right. But next time you see him in a dream, promise you’ll tell Grandpa right away, okay?”
“Of course!”
“Good. Then let’s think about what kind of letter we should send to Sol.”
“Okay!”
Kai beamed brightly.
The Marquis smiled back at his grandson. But in his heart, a chilling thought floated to the surface like an ominous buoy.
Could there truly be a “variable” that could suppress someone who’s been consumed by a dragon’s power? And if that variable was at the banquet…
His eyes fell to a name written in elegant calligraphy on a piece of paper.
Sol Schlayger
“…No way…”
* * *
When the Duke and I returned home, Benen’s face twisted the moment he saw us. He hurriedly checked the Duke’s head and legs.
“Father, are you hurt anywhere?!”
“My head and legs are just fine. Why do you ask, Benen?”
Well, I could guess why he was so shocked.
Yesterday, when we left for the Marquisate, the Duke and I looked like a butcher and a calf on their way to slaughter.
But now, returning from Godell Marquisate, the Duke was gently resting his hand on my shoulder.
Did they think I was the one supporting him?
“Benen, control your expression.”
“Ah… yes, sir.”
Just as Benen forced a fake smile, the Duke bent down and gently embraced me from behind. Benen’s eyes widened to the point of popping.
“Father…! W-what is going on?!”
“Benen. Your face.”
“B-but…”
“Even Elber is staying composed. Must I tell you to learn from your younger brother?”
True to the Duke’s words, Elber—standing behind Benen—wore a blank expression.
…Well, more like he had nothing to say.
As Benen struggled to keep it together, the Duke declared he would explain what had happened at the banquet and summoned the entire family to the tea room.
The content was straightforward.
“From now on, during public appearances, Sol and I will present ourselves as a close father and daughter. In particular, I will continue the persona of a ‘father weak to his daughter.’ You two will act as if it’s normal and support it.”
“…How did you come up with such a bizarre— I mean, unusual idea?”
“It was Sol’s suggestion. We already tested it once. It was effective.”
We’d destroyed the garden to steal the Mana Pearl Detector, but pretending to be a doting dad got us out of suspicion.
Now it was my turn to speak. Ugh, I’m nervous—but I can do this! I mimicked the tone of a swindler I met while working in a factory.
“Oppas! What’s the Duke of Schlayger’s current reputation? In his youth, he led troops to every battlefield and devastated them so thoroughly that grass wouldn’t grow again. His nickname? The Grim Reaper on Horseback!”
“…True.”
“Even nowadays, in times of peace, anyone who gets in his way—boom!—he crushes them socially and financially. Everyone says he’s dangerous!”
“And you’re aware that this dangerous man is listening to you right now?”
“Of course! I already called him a man with a blown-out conscience yesterday. I have nowhere left to retreat.”
“…”
Benen was at a loss for words.
Well, it was a slip of the tongue from being emotional. But the Duke heard it and still let me live. I bet even he knows his conscience is toast.
“Being feared by everyone is a convenient short-term strategy. But long term? It’s dangerous. The enemies you’ve made will unite and rise against you.”
“Logical enough…”
The Duke curled up one side of his mouth and asked,
“And if I have the power to crush them all?”
That wasn’t an exaggeration or a bluff—he meant it. But I didn’t falter.
“Crushing is easy. Ruling is hard and annoying.”
“…”
“If you want to be the king of a wasteland, go ahead. But I don’t want to be standing next to you in that wasteland.”
“Hah.”
The Duke smiled. He seemed to like that answer.
Anyway, I wasn’t trying to persuade the Duke—I needed to convince the two sons. The Duke was just backing me up.
I beamed at the two brothers.
“Therefore! The Duke will act like usual in every other way, but show affection for me like a doting fool. Get used to it quickly!”
Elber looked confused at first, but when I smiled, he smiled back and nodded. The problem was moody teenage Benen, who rubbed his forehead.
“This is incredibly embarrassing… But if Father says it worked, there’s no point arguing.”
“Exactly!”
“…I wasn’t talking to you.”
Benen’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t get cocky just because Father accepted your suggestion. Giving advice doesn’t end it—you have to execute it too.”
“No worries! But shouldn’t you worry about yourself first?”
“Huh? Wait… you mean me too—?”
Smart boy.
“Yep! You guys need to change your attitudes too. If Benen-oppa keeps acting all prickly to me, people will start whispering about family discord.”
“…”
“I mean, people might already be saying things like ‘that guy’s a mini version of the Duke—cold and calculating.’ Take this opportunity to change your image!”
Benen’s blue eyes trembled. Hit a nerve, did I? You better appreciate this PR work I’m doing for you, punk.
“So, from now on, both of you need to adore me!”
“Okay!”
Elber nodded immediately, a wide smile blooming on his face. Maybe he’s just happy to have an excuse to show affection. …Or maybe I’m imagining things.
On the other hand, Benen’s lip twitched in frustration. He clearly wasn’t thrilled. What happened to that nice oppa vibe from our first meeting? What gives?
“If it’s too hard to show affection, Benen-oppa, then at least do this.”
“What.”
“Act cold and grumpy when I’m nearby. But when I walk away, just watch my back with a faint, wistful smile.”
“…That’s even weirder.”
Benen grumbled.
“What am I, a kid with a secret crush?”
“I’m just suggesting something easy.”
“I’ll handle it.”
His response was a little grumpy. Can I trust him? The Duke seemed to think so and concluded the family meeting.
“Go rest in your rooms. If you have questions, come to my office.”
He left first. Benen followed, looking emotionally conflicted.
That left just Elber. He made no move to leave, still smiling sweetly in my direction.
But honestly… I could understand Benen’s reaction better.
The Duke had neglected all his children, and now suddenly he wants them to care for their stepsister?
“Um, Elber-oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you…”
How do I ask this? Don’t you want to be loved? Doesn’t this hurt?
But asking might only hurt him more. I’m not a saint or a heroine—I can’t save Elber.
In the end, what slipped out was—
“…Are you okay?”
What a weak, awkward question. What am I even asking?
But even that lame question, Elber answered perfectly.
“Yep! When will I get another chance like this!”
“A chance?”
“Well, I used to get scolded by Father whenever I showed I liked something—whether it was puppies or cake. He told me not to act like a child.”
“Oh…”
“But you get to like things as much as you want, right?”
As he said that, I could almost see a puppy tail wagging behind him.
