"I glanced at my cousins.

Their expressions were as if trying somehow to look good.

Even the cousins who mocked me before the competition started were awkwardly smiling, heh heh.

‘Ugh.’

I looked at them with a displeased expression and moved on.

The place Conrad and I arrived at was grandfather’s study.

Knock, knock — Marquis Debussy opened the door.

Entering the study, I bowed my head to grandfather.

“Good evening, Grandfather.”

“Hmm.”

Grandfather, checking some documents, glanced at me.

“So, how is your body?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, any injuries?”

“Yes!”

I replied cheerfully, and grandfather cleared his throat.

Then Marquis Debussy shook his head.

“You’re just delaying, though you intend to praise her anyway.”

“Quiet.”

Marquis Debussy smirked and looked at me.

“The Duke was very pleased with the lady’s victory.”

That must have been true.

The third generation kids were acting cute around me because of the Sun Society invitation, but others’ gazes were filled with flattery too.

The estate’s employees, cadet branches, even some second generation.

‘Grandfather must have been extremely pleased.’

I chuckled inside.

How much effort was put into staging those scenes.

I used the hidden ‘Igritz Mercenary Squad’ and ‘Alexis’ chance cards so I wouldn’t lose even a bit.

‘Also brought in Ragon, whom I had kept away because of the royal court’s watchfulness.’

When I told Han Ji-hyuk to bring Ragon, I had no idea how much he grumbled.

“You want me to fetch your Ragon from the nest? That guy tried to devour anyone who approached even back in the Steel Crow days!”

“You’ve known him since he hatched, so it’s fine. You even made the nest and relocated him last time.”

“Ragon only plays coy in front of you. If I come near, he opens his jaws wide to eat me!”

“That’s why I keep playing my voice through the communication stone.”

“Just Ragon glaring at me gives me heart failure...”

Listening to his complaints made my ears ache.

‘After all that trouble, I should at least gain something.’

I smiled like a good granddaughter.

“Grandfather’s joy is my joy. I will work harder to make him happy!”

Marquis Debussy laughed heartily and looked at grandfather.

“Anyway, the Duke must be blessed to have such a granddaughter.”

“Quiet.”

Though he said so, grandfather’s mouth twitched.

Grandfather cleared his throat again and handed me something.

A fancy envelope.

“The Sun Society invited you.”

“Why would they invite me...?”

Grandfather muttered, twisting his lips.

“Those little brats were among the transmission thieves.”

He looked displeased about the Sun Society invitation.

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

‘No way.’

I wanted to go badly.

As I said, the Sun Society was an organization made up of princes, crown princes, and royal descendants of various countries.

In Yoo Hyemin’s world, it was an opportunity to build connections with the top 0.1% of the political and financial world — who would refuse?

“I will prepare thoroughly so as not to disgrace the Astra name.”

“.......”

But grandfather’s expression was strange.

‘I’m the only third generation invited so far, but he doesn’t look very happy?’

The invitees from the empire were almost fixed.

Among the empire’s children, only Sebastian Viferi, the youngest original artist currently in charge of the Eastern Army, was invited.

‘I thought grandfather would be pleased when he heard about my invitation since it would cause an uproar in the Viferi Duke family?’

Grandfather had many enemies, but among them, he had the worst relations with the Viferi Duke.

They were rivals in a way.

They were powerful, same age, and had similar temperaments, so whenever they met, they fought viciously.

Grandfather frowned and glanced at me.

“Kiddies your age tend to go crazy over what they see.”

“Huh?”

“So, you take after me and are quite pretty...!”

“......?”

“.......”

Grandfather suddenly shut his mouth. After a while, he got angry.

“Anyway! If some crazy kid tries to tempt you with nonsense, behead them! Got it?!”

“.......”

“Sun Society kids are famous for not knowing heaven from earth.”

“Yes.”

When I answered, grandfather continued with a displeased look.

“You may return.”

“Have a good evening...?”

I tried to greet him, but our eyes met Marquis Debussy’s.

Marquis Debussy puffed his cheeks and covered his mouth with his knuckles.

“......Pfft!”

“Oberic Debussy.”

Grandfather called in a gloomy voice, but Marquis Debussy was too busy chuckling.

Having seen this scene since I was three, I awkwardly smiled and finished my greeting.

“I’ll be going.”

As soon as I left the room, I heard grandfather throw something at Marquis Debussy.

“Hahahahaha! Haha!”

As always, Marquis Debussy’s laugh that could kill with humor followed.

“Anyway, the Duke said he’s upset that engagement talks might start already... or something like that... ugh!”

“Today, I will definitely nail your coffin.”

I shook my head.

The next morning.

I sighed looking at my family’s displeased faces.

“Go and sleep there today, and come back tomorrow.”

Balzac °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° stared at me with a very dark expression.

“It’s been less than 24 hours since the match ended, why go without rest?”

“It’s not ‘there,’ it’s the Sun Society.”

Joshua also looked very displeased.

“It’s suspicious that the Sun Society invited you.”

“They usually invite noble kids, don’t they?”

“Sebastian Viferi had engagement talks the first year he was invited to the Sun Society.”

“Nobles start engagement talks around my age.”

Sometimes families arrange marriage before birth.

Rishimond’s expression darkened too.

“Are you sure you don’t have to go together?”

“Only one noble can accompany the invitee.”

“At least as a guard.”

“Someone else will go as the guard.”

“Kali?”

They do go from the Igritz side.

‘Not Kali though.’

“Well...”

I diverted my gaze.

But at the end of my glance was Dad’s very fierce expression.

“If the Sun Society guys pull any tricks...”

Since I said I’d attend, Dad and my older brothers have been drilling me hard.

“Got it? If anyone says ‘You are truly beautiful’ or something, just stab their stomach!”

“If anyone says ‘Can I get the communication stone’s code?’ stab their throat, Erilot.”

“If some young noble says ‘I want to have a private meal with you,’ just teleport him far away.”

“Bring! The dragon!”

If I bring Ragon to the Sun Society, the hall will be destroyed...

“Take the carriage. Don’t ever be alone.”

I nodded to Joshua’s words.

“Okay. Don’t worry, I won’t be alone.”

‘Even if I wanted to be alone, that would be impossible.’

I glanced back.

“Erilot, hurry! Hurry, let’s go!”

Inside the opened carriage, Liantin was wriggling.

Around the carriage stood a huge number of employees under Deconz’s jurisdiction (Liantin’s father).

Uncle Deconz feared Dad a lot but still came after Daymond’s jurisdiction to take care of Liantin.

“Did you bring the blanket piece? Liantin can’t sleep without it!”

“Liantin, remember to bow 15 degrees more than usual when greeting the Sun Society members.”

...Even my aunt.

‘Anyone would think we’re emigrating.’

Liantin’s luggage alone filled three carriages.

Completely different from me, who loaded everything in one carriage.

‘Was it really the right decision to bring Liantin...?’

Yes.

I chose Liantin as the one to bring.

‘Someone had to be brought, and Liantin was perfect.’

My three older brothers, whose hobby is breaking balls, can’t go.

If anything happens at the Sun Society, it would be a real disaster.

I couldn’t give the chance to the bad cousins to build connections at the Sun Society either.

The only close cousins were Dionera and Liantin, but Dionera...

“Greeting method? Uh, um, say ‘May the light prevail’...”

“Rejected.”

The proper greeting is ‘May you enjoy the radiance.’

It’s the continental lingua franca, and very hard to pronounce... but still.

If you can’t even greet properly, the snake-like heirs of other countries will make a fool of Astra.

So Liantin was chosen.

I waved to my family and climbed into the carriage.

“Liantin! If anything happens, go straight to Father─”

Bang!

Liantin closed the door before Uncle Deconz finished speaking.

“......”

Then knocking on the driver’s seat, she shouted.

“Go! Hurry!”

Liantin was extremely excited.

Liantin, who had been unable to assert herself against cousins, was finally going to the Sun Society. No wonder she was excited.

I smirked and lifted the documents.

Liantin asked.

“What’s that?”

“The attendee roster for the Sun Society.”

Michelan and Conrad investigated it.

Liantin’s eyes grew wide as she looked at me.

“What is it...”

“Why?”

“I thought you were lucky and good at everything, but you actually prepare.”

“Of course.”

Being thorough with preparation has been a habit since my first life.

Back then, I was truly Astra’s disgrace.

How could a disgrace get into the top 7 rankings?

‘If I lacked strength, I bit with my teeth. If I lacked people, I did double or triple the work alone.’

This life was no different.

I studied like crazy, over and over.

To the point Dad and brothers said I’d get hurt if I kept going.

Then I would cover myself with a blanket and read by lantern light.

Now, I still sleep about 5 hours a day for around 300 days a year.

I gave my best. To survive.

‘So this life, I will definitely get a peaceful life.’

I will smash everything that stands in my way.

In Kalsoi, the southwestern border region of the empire and the Sun Society’s host location.

At a table in the garden of the southwestern border fortress, three boys sat.

“There’s never anything special, why do we gather every year?”

A blue-haired boy with one eye covered muttered boredly.

Then a silver-haired boy smiled while flipping pages.

“Because just gathering lets us show off to the royal families of various countries?”

“I’m bored to death.”

The boy with cute caramel-colored hair held a cookie and said.

“Why not just hang out with the ladies? My brother’s queen mother is still worried that he has no fiancée~.”

The blue-haired boy, Adin, crown prince of the Palasa Kingdom, frowned.

“If I so much as say one word, they’d go crazy saying, ‘Oh my, Prince Adin seems interested in me!’ What a pain.”

The caramel-haired boy smiled sweetly and rested his chin on his hand.

“That’s one of their cute points — their delusions~.”

“Where?”

“That their brains are all flowers~.”

“Can’t you stop dragging the conversation out? That’s why you’re called disgusting, Cesare.”

“Adin’s why they call me ignorant~.”

A noblewoman from Count Mo’s family serving the princes swallowed dryly.

Those three were little tyrants.

Arrogant, fierce, and brutal.

Any knight who made even a small mistake to them ended up bloodied and dragged out by the hair.

Outside of the Sun Society members, only the Viferi Duke’s noblewoman was treated like a person.

But not politely.

It was just ‘since your bloodline’s that good, I’ll treat you somewhat’ attitude.

“Lady.”

Cesare smiled and spoke, making the lady’s shoulders jump.

“Y-yes, Your Highness...”

“Your mother is a noble of the Kalsoi empire, right?”

“Y-yes.”

“What kind of person is the granddaughter of Duke Astra, who has a dragon?”

“Ah, Astra is a closed family. Not much is known.”

“Is that so?”

Cesare hummed and took a sip of tea.

‘Did it go smoothly...?’

At that moment, Cesare’s mouth curled up.

“I don’t think the lady is much help to us.”

“What?!”

“I don’t like people who aren’t helpful. Adin doesn’t either~.”

The lady looked stiff and stared at Adin.

Adin’s eyes sharpened.

The lady stammered with a corpse-like expression.

“Ah, Astra, well, Miss Erilot Astra... ah! Recently attended the Lily Garden party and seems to be close with Lady Paangte...”

Adin frowned and waved lightly.

“Useless talk. Take her away.”

Then knights grabbed the lady.

Cesare smiled again.

“Escort the lady to the ‘Colosseum.’”

The Colosseum.

That was how these little tyrants survived the boring Sun Society.

They forced nobles to fight to the death.

Winners could keep attending; losers suffered terrible fates.

“Prince! Prince! Please give me a chance...! I’ll find out, Prince!”

The count’s noblewoman screamed as she was dragged away.

Adin yawned and stood up.

“I can’t stay bored. Call me when the Colosseum battle begins.”

The silver-haired handsome boy closed his book and looked at him.

“Where are you going?”

“To sleep.”

Cesare followed Adin and stood up.

“Come with me~.”

The silver-haired boy shook his head.

“You guys...”

Adin and Cesare left the garden together.

Cesare asked Adin.

“Is Erilot Astra a lady worth the others’ attention?”

“You saw her too.”

“I didn’t watch the transmission yesterday. I rested in my room~.”

“Oh, really? Well, her skills are definite... Christopher said she’s pretty too.”

“The transmission was stolen, so her face probably wasn’t seen clearly?”

“Would a guy crazy about women fail to recognize her?”

Cesare chuckled.

At that moment, a strange voice was heard nearby.

“Liantin, you’ll fall if you keep running like that.”

“Come quickly, hurry!”

A blonde girl with long curly hair sighed watching a girl running far away.

“How excited she must be...”

The girl lightly brushed her hair back.

Looking around...

Adin and Cesare froze as their eyes met the girl’s.

‘W-what is that?’

‘Wow...’

Her long eyelashes fluttered up and down, and her jewel-like red eyes shone clearly.

Even at the Sun Society gathering of all the beautiful people, no one had seen such looks.

An overwhelming absolute beauty.

A girl with unrealistic looks tilted her head.

“......?”