Chapter 37
“I also have a daughter who just entered the Academy, young lord. As fathers of daughters, we must have a lot in common.”
“Is that so?”
Pernore looked interested.
“Yes, the Academy is safe, of course, but I still worry endlessly.”
“There are always eyes trying to latch onto them from everywhere.”
“Exactly. I’m terrified she’ll bring home a boyfriend someday…”
The nobleman, who had been venting his emotions while sympathizing, flinched. Pernore had narrowed his brows in displeasure.
“…A boyfriend?”
Pernore let out a crooked smile.
“My daughter would never do that.”
“…….”
“How dare anyone.”
The nobles, flustered, forced awkward smiles.
“H-ha… It seems the young lord cares for his daughter very much.”
“Yes indeed. The older they grow, the more it breaks a father’s heart…”
As those nobles spoke, they glanced toward Liersha, who stood there blankly, and thought:
‘He must have kept her existence a secret and fled to the border to avoid drawing imperial attention.’
But then—how were they supposed to explain Lysideon Aracrenne?
The Aracrenne family’s branch line suddenly moving independently?
‘…Is it to make the imperial family lower its guard?’
The nobles tilted their heads.
The logic was absurd, practically a stretch.
Who in their right mind would gamble their entire family like that?
…but if it was the Aracrenne ducal family, it was a different matter.
They possessed power so overwhelming that even impossible things could become possible.
The nobles’ minds raced.
There were still puzzling parts, but one thing was certain—
“Congratulations on returning safely from the border, young lord.”
“Yes, indeed. Isn’t the Empire peaceful thanks to House Aracrenne?”
Contrary to rumors saying the Aracrenne family was faltering, they seemed to be very much intact.
Seeing their transparent intentions, Pernore snorted.
A few vague remarks were all it took before they quickly changed to a flattering attitude. Their thoughts were clear as day.
“Thank you for saying so. But House Aracrenne can’t remain blocked from central politics forever.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“His Majesty disapproves of us, so the family is considering various options.”
Pernore smiled pleasantly.
“Are you saying you’re willing to give up the military forces owned by your house?”
someone carefully asked.
“I’ve grown tired of war anyway.”
If a noble house owned military forces, they were obligated to fight when war broke out.
And now Pernore was implying he might discard that obligation.
The nobles thought:
If the Aracrenne house, which has opposed the imperial family for generations, abandons its military duty…
What happens next?
A noble family without mandatory conscription had the right to refuse participation in war.
The nobles who knew the Empire’s safety had been practically dependent on House Aracrenne turned pale.
“I am human too. Sometimes, I want to run the family in peace.”
Pernore’s red eyes flickered sharply.
The nobles swallowed dryly.
He was threatening them.
If they sided with the Emperor and continued blocking Aracrenne’s return to central politics, he would abandon all duties—war obligations included.
“Fortunately, His Majesty and I share the same sentiment, so I’m considering it positively.”
Watching Pernore, Liersha secretly admired him.
He had overturned the entire situation in an instant.
* * *
Adrian’s mood plummeted—unlike when he had triumphantly entered the ballroom earlier.
What?
The attention that should have been focused on him was dispersed.
He was surrounded by nobles, yet it felt like their interest kept slipping away elsewhere.
What is everyone looking at?
Adrian sharply followed their gazes.
There stood the young lord of Aracrenne.
And beside him—
“Who is that girl?”
A young girl stood by his side.
“Duke Marcella, do you know?”
The duke, who had approached to formally congratulate the Crown Prince, made a troubled expression.
So Lysideon must not have told him anything.
Seeing that the Crown Prince didn’t know of Liersha’s existence, it seemed Lysideon had kept the secret.
If the Crown Prince realized that everyone knew something he alone didn’t, his pride would explode.
And that anger would go straight back to Lysideon.
Knowing the Crown Prince’s temper—violent when upset—Duke Marcella hesitated to answer.
“…She is the youngest daughter of House Aracrenne.”
But he could not keep the Crown Prince waiting.
Adrian’s expression hardened for a split second, then relaxed.
“All the other nobles also learned about her for the first time today.”
Duke Marcella quickly added, but Adrian didn’t seem to hear.
“What are you doing, Lysideon?”
The Crown Prince smiled gently but wore a hurt expression.
“If you had told me, I would’ve at least brought a gift.”
“I apologize.”
“Let’s step aside for a moment. As the younger sibling of my personal guard, I can’t greet her empty-handed. I trust you all understand.”
Adrian led Lysideon away.
Duke Marcella’s eyes narrowed as he watched them go.
* * *
Slap—!
Lysideon’s face was whipped to the side.
As if that weren’t enough, more sharp slapping sounds followed.
His cheeks reddened, yet he simply stood with his body bent to match the Crown Prince’s hand height.
“My sister?”
“…….”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Adrian glared, breathing heavily.
“I apologize.”
Lysideon only repeated the same answer.
The punishment would continue until the Crown Prince’s anger cooled.
Today is an important day, so it should end quickly, Lysideon thought blankly.
This was merely one of the things he had endured for the past two years.
He remembered the first time the Crown Prince struck him—the blue eyes had gleamed with ecstatic thrill.
Ever since, whenever Adrian was displeased, he summoned Lysideon for punishment.
The methods were varied.
Sometimes it ended with slaps like today.
When truly furious, he would lock him in the underground cell.
“That half-wit your mother mentioned earlier—that’s her, right?”
“…….”
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Mocking Liersha as a half-wit, Adrian’s smile vanished when he saw the steady red eyes staring back at him.
“Such an insolent look.”
“…….”
“From a dog like you.”
“…….”
“My mother said you have nowhere to go, so you’ll always come crawling back. You’re not a well-trained dog, but at least you’re useful.”
Adrian raised his hand again.
Just as he was about to strike down—
“Crown Prince.”
“…Mother?”
Adrian jerked his head around.
The Empress stood there.
“You left the banquet.”
“…I apologize.”
The Empress briefly looked at Lysideon.
His reddened cheeks meant he couldn’t return to the ballroom with them.
If he went back like that, the nobles would suspect Adrian’s behavior.
“Come back later, once you’ve composed yourself.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Choose the proper time and place, Crown Prince. Can’t you understand what is more important? How could you leave on such an important night?”
She sighed, scolding him.
Adrian bit his lip, head bowed.
He had been punishing Lysideon a moment ago, yet now he was being reprimanded instead.
Humiliation washed over him.
And Lysideon’s calm expression only grated on his nerves further.
Damn Aracrenne.
Adrian clenched his fist.
Lysideon was nothing more than a dog he had brought in.
Lysideon never dared to do anything in front of him anyway.
When I become Emperor, I won’t let you run around freely.
He recalled seeing the Aracrenne young lord at a previous imperial banquet.
The young lord had not even acknowledged him—who would become Emperor.
A blatant insult.
Even Duke Marcella had walked over to introduce himself, yet a mere young lord…
“Let’s return, Crown Prince.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Adrian followed the Empress, grinding his teeth inwardly.
Why is everyone so afraid of some stupid magical awakening?
He couldn’t understand it.
“When the banquet ends, go wait in the underground cell, Lysideon.”
Unable to contain his anger, Adrian muttered as he followed the Empress.
Carla frowned at the remark but didn’t stop him.
Punishing a dog he kept wasn’t something worth interfering with.
—If only that voice hadn’t been heard.
