Soon, the Senior General directly under the Emperor appeared as the judge.

He bowed deeply before the Emperor and glanced around the audience.

“Greetings to the honored guests attending the Imperial Guard’s public combat training. I am Wolfgang.”

Wolfgang?

I tilted my head.

‘A familiar face.’

Platinum blonde hair slicked with rose oil.

Soft fur on the back of his hand.

Two dots aligned on his left cheek.

Thick lips like salted pollock roe.

‘A face hard to forget, but where did I see him?’

As I squinted, Sebastia sister spoke.

“Don’t you know? He’s the likely candidate for the next Senior General. Second-in-command of the Emperor’s direct army.”

“Ah, second-in-command... second-in-command?”

Startled, I sharply lifted my head and stared at Wolfgang.

‘That’s the guy who beat Jeanne when she was in the Emperor’s direct knights!’

The sexual harasser who imprisoned Jeanne.

I frowned deeply, and Sebastia nodded.

“Looks like you remembered. Yes, the one who chased away your nanny.”

“He’s incredibly arrogant, isn’t he? I doubt he cares about judging. Why is he here?”

“He’s desperate to show his face at any imperial public event.”

As I nodded, he explained the rules.

“The team that first defeats the opponent’s ‘number five’ wins.”

In other words, the winner continues to compete.

For example, the matches proceed like this:

First match – Team A’s number 1 (win) vs. Team B’s number 1 (loss)

Second match – Team A’s number 1 (win) vs. Team B’s number 2 (loss)

.

.

Fifth match – Team A’s number 1 (win) vs. Team B’s number 5 (loss)

This way, a single player number one can finish the match.

The nobles whispered among themselves.

“This will be fun. We can clearly see the difference in armies.”

“Indeed. But didn’t the Wonhwa themselves say they would participate directly in battle?”

Then Judge Wolfgang smiled slyly.

“Wonhwa can enter the arena only once during the entire match, through a ‘player substitution.’”

Meaning if it looks dangerous, the Wonhwa will fight instead of a knight.

The Southern Army Wonhwa glanced at Sebastia sister.

“Which match will you enter? Western Army? Central Army?”

“Who knows. I haven’t decided yet, and even if I had, I’m not foolish enough to say.”

The Wonhwa stared sharply at each other.

“The first match is East Army versus North Army!”

The East and North Wonhwa stood and walked down to the arena.

The nobles watched the arena with excited faces.

‘Of course it will be entertaining.’

There’s practically no sports in this world.

No World Cup, no Olympics.

So when the Imperial Guard’s public combat training takes place, it heats up like the World Cup or Olympics.

‘And the gambling rings heat up too.’

A young noble held a betting slip and prayed.

“Please, please. I bet on the North Army. Goddess Halle, God Plato, North Wonhwa... I pray, I pray.”

Magical recording devices floated in the air.

They were set to record the combat for the Imperial Guard’s archives.

But surely nobles across the continent are watching secretly.

They’ve been doing this for nearly a hundred years, so the palace overlooks it.

‘It’s perfect to showcase the imperial power to foreign nobles and Kalsoi.’

Of course, the idol Wonhwa of the Imperial Guard and the direct knights and regional armies undergo secret training strictly.

Then—

Dum, dum, dum—!

A drum announced the start of the match.

People’s eyes sparkled.

“Will the East Army win? North Army’s pride is their magic soldiers, right? But magic soldiers are weak in one-on-one fights.”

“Yes, if just a weapon flies during casting, it’s over.”

“Who knows. But North Army has Rius.”

“Ah, the huge mage nearly three meters tall...”

“Yes, if Rius is used well, the East Army’s spearmen will be wiped out.”

Still, it should be a close match.

They’ve been sharpening their teeth in the North since their disgrace at the year-end festival.

They must have sent some excellent knights.

I looked at the arena expectantly.

Did I say “expect”?

Cancel that.

I chuckled incredulously.

‘What kind of match ends in thirty minutes?’

Montague Count, father of the North Wonhwa in the audience, looked like he was about to die from anger.

“That stupid...!”

“Father, this is in front of others.”

“But Katya! Don’t you think your brother is pathetic?”

“Yes. Father’s second daughter is truly pitiful.”

“Your brother!”

“Father’s daughter... no, is that important now?!”

“Ugh! I’m going back to the North!”

“I’ll go see Benya. But where did I put my war hammer?”

Yes.

The match was a complete defeat for the North Army.

People chuckled and mocked the North Army.

“Why did they place magic soldiers so early?”

“The East Army’s heavy armored soldiers were at their freshest and crushed the magic soldiers before they could even cast... no, they were completely beaten, brother!”

“They stupidly thought to put the strongest knight last.”

“Ugh, the order of knights is also strategy.”

True enough.

I glanced at the Emperor’s direct knights’ seats.

‘Wow, that cockroach look on their faces...’

One knight stood up saying he needed to wash his eyes.

Another looked at the North Army and said with a scowl, “That’s supposed to be a junior?”

My shoulders sagged as I bowed silently toward the North Wonhwa leaving the arena.

“Hang in there.”

Your sister will probably half-kill or completely kill you.

Then Deputy Senior General Koo approached.

“After a 20-minute break, the next match will begin.”

It was now our Western Army’s turn.

I nodded.

“Go check on the Western Army participants’ conditions in the waiting room.”

“Yes.”

After Koo headed to the waiting room, I glanced around.

‘Duke Isiron...’

He was just talking with Duke Germo but was no longer there.

I pretended to greet my grandfather and approached the dukes.

“Grandfather, I’m glad to see you often.”

“Indeed.”

My grandfather cleared his throat, and Duke Germo spoke to me.

“Oh, this is the first time I see you. The Rose of Astra?”

“A shameful nickname. I should have greeted you first but was thoughtless. Forgive me, Designer of Germo.”

I smiled as I said Duke Germo’s nickname, and the dukes laughed.

Duke Germo laughed heartily and said to grandfather.

“As I’ve heard, she is incredibly smart. I think I’m losing at rhetoric.”

Grandfather pretended to be gruff.

“She’s still lacking. Don’t praise her too much.”

Sebastia’s grandfather, Duke Biferi, chuckled.

“Only believe half of what your grandfather says. He’s probably secretly proud.”

“Just hearing that pleases me.”

“Sebastia praised you like that.”

“I told my father I was glad to have such a talented special friend. Seems similar to what sister said.”

“Haha, yes. Connections are wealth. You and Sebastia already have a warehouse full of riches.”

Sebastia’s brilliance at the year-end festival was partly thanks to me.

I had attached the thriving Western Army to her side.

So Duke Biferi treated me very kindly.

I bowed to the other dukes.

“Duke Isiron didn’t come to the palace today. I wanted to greet him, but it’s a shame.”

Duke Germo put down his champagne glass on the tea table and waved.

“We all came together from the Central Tower. Duke Isiron is resting in the lounge.”

That was a polite way to say ‘He’s in the bathroom.’

I nodded.

“I should greet him on my way down.”

“Your manners are impeccable.”

“I will strive even more.”

Duke Germo’s eyes widened.

He gladly accepted the compliment.

Meaning ‘I know I’m great, and I will act even greater from now on.’

Normally in this situation, one bows shyly.

Children of the Imperial Capital regard humility before elders as a virtue.

Duke Germo laughed while tapping his knee.

“Ha ha ha! Yes, it’s not good to see someone your age being too modest.”

Though praising, his eyes shone sharply.

Duke Germo was unparalleled in connections.

He was the youngest son of the previous generation and became a duke at a young age—how impressive.

His voice softened.

“Yes, making a strong impression on your opponent is the start of relationships.”

“...”

“You know what actions will be memorable to those in front °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° of you.”

For a moment, his kindly face seemed to flash a cold bare face.

‘That’s his true self.’

He trusted me enough to show that.

I smiled softly and bowed my head.

Duke Germo raised an eyebrow and said,

“I wonder if I should ask for the secret to your family’s education, Lady Astra.”

“If needed, I’ll send my son.”

“Haha, I’m starting to want that for real... truly.”

The other dukes’ eyes sharpened.

They noticed Duke Germo coveted not the Astra family’s education but me.

I ignored it with a smile and bowed.

“Please enjoy the reading.”

Just as I was about to leave, Duke Châteaubriand spoke in a terrifying voice.

“May we have high expectations?”

I slightly tilted my head and looked at him.

“Since our great head of family, Chronos Astra, took full authority, the word ‘defeat’ has never been attached to a battle involving the Astra name... Today will be no different.”

Duke Châteaubriand muttered silently, “Arrogant...”

My grandfather laughed rarely.

On the way back, I heard Duke Germo mumbling, “I’m really starting to envy her.”

I hummed softly while heading toward the restroom.

‘Scored more points with grandfather again.’

If I just win the match, Daymond jurisdiction is smooth sailing for Astra!

While walking down the hall—

“Isn’t that Lady Countess Astra?”

“Duke Isiron.”

Duke Isiron approached me as if just returning from the restroom.

“Where are you rushing to? The match is soon.”

“I was on my way to greet Your Grace.”

Duke Isiron’s eyes narrowed.

But he soon smiled gently.

“Seems you greeted the dukes. Seeing you care for an old man, Astra Lady has taught her granddaughter proper respect for elders.”

“We don’t learn respect.”

“What?”

“My grandfather said respect is for the weak, and the strong only rule.”

“...So Astra is strong enough to not have to respect even elders?”

Duke Isiron’s eyes darkened.

“A misunderstanding.”

“What do you mean?”

“I heard Duke Isiron was the head of the sixth dukedom.”

“Past tense. Yes, that was before the young ones united and pushed me out.”

“...”

His mouth twisted.

He slowly approached and whispered.

“But as you said, this old body once had powerful claws.”

“...”

“So you mustn’t be arrogant trusting your grandfather. Unless you want to check if even my claws have rusted.”

Actually, he was very hurt.

Pushed out by young dukes.

‘I know best that those claws haven’t rusted.’

Duke Isiron passed me.

His heels echoed loudly down the empty corridor.

I said,

“There were two Empresses in the Empire.”

“...!”

The topic of the Empresses was Duke Isiron’s taboo.

He had been ousted because the first Empress, Anna Maria, died.

I spoke softly like singing.

“One was made in Isiron, and the other was made by Astra, Biferi, and Châteaubriand.”

“You mean the remaining Empress Osellia was made by Astra, Biferi, and Châteaubriand!”

His roar echoed sharply down the corridor.

I stepped lightly toward Duke Isiron and said,

“My father said this.”

“What does your father say to me?”

“The traces of the Empress made in Isiron still remain in this world.”

“...What?”

I smiled gently.

I could tell without looking in the mirror. My smile strongly resembled my grandfather’s.

‘Because it shook.’

Meaning, the Emperor of Astra shines through my face enough to shake others with just a ten-year-old’s words.

Duke Isiron asked with a stern face,

“What does that mean?”

“Empress Anna Maria was said to be a distant relative’s child of Your Grace... but Astra has this rumor.”

“...”

“Anna Maria was actually Isiron’s illegitimate child.”

“...!”

It was a whispered rumor.

‘I heard Duke Isiron was out of his mind at Anna Maria’s funeral.’

He was so stunned by other dukes’ attacks that he was dazed.

Losing a child like that could do that.

Duke Isiron’s eyes sharpened.

“Everyone suspects, but no one has dared say it in front of me.”

“I know.”

“But!”

“I have her.”

“...What?”

I looked Duke Isiron straight in the eyes.

“Anna Maria gave birth to the true eldest son of the imperial family, whom Empress Osellia tried to kill.”

“...!!”

Duke Isiron’s face stiffened.

“That can’t be... can’t be... My foster brother James was definitely...!”

“It was he who, under Empress Osellia’s order, killed Empress Anna Maria. But out of some conscience, he secretly hid and raised the child.”

“W-what...?”

I gently held Duke Isiron’s wrinkled hand and said,

“Your Grace, I will pray for the reconstruction of the Anna Maria Empress Palace with the injuries I received at the year-end festival.”

“And?”

“The palace workers who worked at Anna Maria’s palace will gather. To rebuild, someone must confirm the original plans.”

“Are you saying there’s a palace worker who hid the child with James?”

“That’s my speculation. Then that palace worker will testify for ‘Prince Alexis,’ along with the imperial golden eyes as proof.”

Duke Isiron’s hand trembled.

He splashed cold water on his face and looked at me.

I smiled warmly.

“So please, Your Grace, put my father into the Central Tower.”

I will not let my father become a puppet count who gains merit through his daughter and stays in the Central Tower.

I will make him reign properly through the regular path.

‘The next Duke Astra will be Daymond Astra.’