Everyone in the room widened their eyes.

The domestic abuser and the second son, Cerian, gaped, and the duchess blinked repeatedly.

Duke Isiron stared at me, stunned.

I snorted, raised my chin, and said,

“Then.”

Grasping Alexis’s hand, I strode out of the house.

Even after Erilot and Alexis left, the room was silent.

The duchess and Cerian only blinked.

Adelric, the eldest son of Isiron, swallowed hard.

‘Must be nonsense.’

A kid ranting out of jealousy.

Of course.

Who was Erilot Astra?

The girl who owned the dragon called the strongest, most terrifying monster.

By sheer force, she could conquer the nation alone.

Not only that?

She was the beloved granddaughter of Duke Astra.

Her father was the leader of the pro-emperor faction, Damon Astra, once called the “Messenger.”

She herself was now the strongest Wonhwa of the Western army.

‘How many matchmakers have come and gone at Astra’s Second Marquisate!’

When noblewomen gathered, they gossiped about who would become Erilot Astra’s fiancé.

Countless families subtly vied for her hand.

Had Damon Astra ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) not ruthlessly cut it off, she’d be buried in marriage proposals by now.

Dukes, marquises, even foreign kingdoms, any parent with a son her age tried to pursue her.

Rumor even said the imperial palace eyed her as a match for Prince Salvatore.

‘Who would marry a bastard?’

No.

That couldn’t be.

Still, Adelric’s face was pale.

‘If that bastard actually became Erilot Astra’s fiancé...’

The succession would instantly be overturned.

The retainers would welcome “Erilot Astra’s husband” with open arms.

If Astra empowers her son-in-law, they could push others aside too.

“F-Father, this wasn’t agreed upon, was it?”

“......”

“Did Astra give any indication?”

“......”

“Is Astra really giving her to Isiron? Speak up!”

“Can’t you shut up?”

“F-Father!”

“I knew you were useless early on, but I never expected you to be this stupid and shameless.”

“Th-That’s...!”

Adelric hurriedly tried to explain.

“I’ll explain everything—”

“More drunken excuses.”

“...!”

“Just because things don’t go your way, you used being drunk as an excuse to beat the child, right?”

“N-No, I was so drunk I couldn’t control myself...”

“Excuse? Ridiculous, Adelric.”

“Yes?”

Adelric glanced at Duke Isiron.

The duke glared fiercely.

“You know how dangerous you are when drunk, yet you still drink so much. How is that a mistake?”

“H-Humans instinctively seek ways to relieve stress. For me, that was alcohol, so—”

“What’s the difference between beasts and humans?!”

“...?”

“Humans are better because they can control their instincts!”

“...”

“But you admit yourself to be on the level of a beast. No longer worthy of being called human.”

“W-What...?”

“Cerian, deal with this beast’s mess.”

Adelric’s face went white.

He quickly clutched his father.

“F-Father, I was wrong. Please forgive me...!”

“Get this beast out of my estate immediately!”

Under Duke Isiron’s order, the servants moved.

Adelric was dragged out screaming.

“M-Mother! Stop Father, please!”

Cerian eyed his father nervously and chased after the servants.

From outside, Cerian’s voice called,

“Brother, shut your mouth if you don’t want worse punishment!”

“Father, father—!”

The duchess frowned and looked at the duke.

“Lord, will you really expel Adelric?”

“Don’t let him enter the manor either.”

“Even though he is your son, I’ve raised him as my own for decades.”

“I’m grateful for that.”

“At least arrange a place for Adelric to sleep.”

“That’s impossible.”

The duchess sighed deeply.

‘Adelric has nowhere to escape now.’

Once a parent turns their back, they become ruthless.

A man like a machine who never melted for parents, siblings, lovers, or children.

‘That’s why I chose him as a political partner.’

Even after decades of partnership, it’s chilling when he lacks humanity.

The duchess shook her head.

“But Lord, now that the prince we just found is being taken by Astra, what will you do?”

“......”

“If they act, we might not have room to intervene.”

“......”

“Please settle this quickly. Then I can decide what to do next—”

“Settle?”

“Do you intend to do nothing? If you let the real eldest son of the imperial family be taken by Astra like this, what then?”

“Why do you think she’s being taken?”

“Huh?”

“This may be our chance to have Erilot Astra as a granddaughter-in-law.”

Duke Isiron smirked.

That cunning Kronos Astra’s most beloved granddaughter would become Isiron’s granddaughter-in-law.

He chuckled darkly, and the duchess let out a bitter laugh.

The duchess, a partner who had endured decades of covert political strife with Duke Isiron, sensed something.

‘A war is about to begin.’

Over Erilot Astra.

But the duchess didn’t know.

This war wasn’t just between Isiron and Astra.

At Astra Manor.

Balzac, who was eating, rubbed his ear.

“Maybe because I haven’t cleaned my ears lately, I’m hearing nonsense.”

I calmly said,

“If you heard that Alexis and I will be engaged, then you heard correctly.”

“......”

“......”

“......”

My three older brothers glanced at my hand.

To be exact, my right hand holding Alexis’s wrist.

Balzac blinked.

Then slowly stood with a creak.

Joshua kept his gaze fixed on my hand holding Alexis’s wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“To get my hammer.”

Rishmond glanced between my hand and Alexis’s face, then said,

“Bring my sword next to it.”

Balzac, looking dazed, started to walk away.

I quietly said,

“Sit down, Balzac.”

“......”

“Sit.”

Clank—!

The fork slipped from Dad’s hand that had been stiff as if broken until then.

“What... are you going to do?”

“Engagement.”

“...With whom?”

“With Alexis.”

“...Why?”

“It’s about time I got engaged.”

“...Why?”

“I’m getting older. Nobles make marriage ties before birth, you know?”

“...Why?”

“‘Why’ is second, Father.”

“...Why?”

“......”

With a creak, Dad stood and strode toward Alexis.

Immediately, Dad’s pale aide Enzo shouted,

“Stop him! Duke Isiron is going to die—!!”

The guards in the restaurant and soldiers waiting outside rushed in.

Enzo desperately held Dad back.

“Let go!”

“Master, if Duke Isiron’s son dies in the manor, there’ll be war! A local war!”

While the soldiers barely held Dad, Balzac barged in.

Mikellan flinched and spoke to the servants.

“The young lord!”

“Y-Young lord!”

“Ugh, young lord!”

“Let go! I’ll kill you!”

It was chaos.

One side yelling to kill, the other shouting they’d murder.

In the middle of the chaos, I calmly said,

“If you hit him, I’ll hate you.”

“What?”

“W-What did you say?”

Dad and Balzac flinched and looked at me.

“Hate.”

“...!”

“...!!”

My family stared at me as if struck by lightning.

Balzac looked at me as if seeing a husband scolding his wife for yelling at the government.

“How could you...! I was just trying to cripple him a bit!”

That’s the problem, that’s it.

“Don’t touch a single finger.”

“Then can I kick him?”

“Do you think so? If Dad or brothers even touch a single hair on Alexis’s head, I’ll—!”

I narrowed my eyes and stared at my family.

“I’ll just hold Alexis’s hand and sleep!”

“Th-That’s...!”

Balzac staggered in shock.

Dad broke down again.

“Why?”

“......”

I quickly looked away and said to the frozen Joshua and Rishmond,

“No assassins. If you bother him behind my back, it won’t be engagement, it’ll be marriage.”

“...Minority marriage requires guardian consent.”

“Shall we try finding my maternal grandparents?”

“......”

That should be enough to protect Alexis.

If anyone tries, I’m not easily moved.

I told Alexis,

“Let’s go upstairs now.”

“...Okay.”

Balzac shouted, “What?! Using informal speech now!?” but when I glared at him, he closed his mouth again.

I organized my family and left the restaurant.

Han Jihyeok, who had been watching, quickly followed me.

“What were you thinking?”

“You just heard. I’m engaged.”

Han Jihyeok grabbed his forehead.

“This is crazy.”

“Prepare a room for Alexis. Next to mine would be good.”

“...You want me to do that?”

“If not me, then who?”

“If my father hears I arranged a room, I’m dead immediately...”

“Tch!”

I glared at Han Jihyeok begging for mercy.

But soon sighed.

‘He’d have a hard time if the fallout spreads.’

In the end, I had no choice but to do it myself.

I left Han Jihyeok on the first floor and took Alexis to the room next to mine.

Opening the door, piles of documents and magical tools were stacked inside.

“It used to be my storage, but if we tidy up, it’ll be usable. I put curtains to protect the papers, so it’s a bit dark, but the lighting’s not bad...”

While I explained, I felt a sharp gaze on my cheek.

I threw the papers aside and glanced at him.

Alexis was staring intently.

“Why?”

“Are you really going to get engaged?”

“Of course.”

So that was the engagement declaration to my family.

“Why?”

“Are you broken too?”

“Why would I get engaged to you?”

Because I can’t trust Isiron anymore.

The eldest son beats the kid, how could I send him back there?

That idiot would just take it even if hit by the eldest son again.

‘His name is already on the registry, so I can’t bring him back.’

But if engaged, under the guise of educating the fiancé, I can keep him by my side.

Yet Alexis’s expression was ambiguous.

I tilted my head.

“This won’t be bad for you.”

I counted on my fingers.

First, I can use Astra as a shield.

Second, if I become the fiancé, Alexis will gain a faction in Isiron, so I can control Isiron.

Third, having both Isiron and Astra behind me makes advancing to the central tower easier.

“Fourth, even if the Empress finds out your identity, she can’t touch you. Also...”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what advantage do you have?”

I widened my eyes and answered.

“Well, I have a few as well. I’m currying favor with the future Emperor.”

“And.”

“You’re also Isiron’s weak point, so I can control your maternal grandfather.”

“So you benefit as much as I do.”

“Exactly.”

That’s a win-win.

Good for you, good for me.

I smiled and patted his shoulder.

“I’m not just calculating, okay? It’s all friendship, friendship.”

“Friendship?”

“Yes, friendship. I’ll step down before you become Emperor, so don’t worry!”

“......”

“If I find a good person, I’ll push her hard to become Empress. That’s a huge benefit too. You know how hard it is for people like us to marry someone we like, right?”

“......”

“It’s good for you, so just get engaged with me for a while—”

“You’re joking.”

Alexis’s lips twisted.

‘Huh?’

He strode toward me.

‘Has he grown this tall?’

Now that I think about it, Alexis is four years older than me.

That makes him fifteen this year.

He’s still growing.

‘Still, he’s grown a lot, easily 175 cm...’

Alexis came close.

“Erilot, you’re sharp.”

“Uh? Y-Yeah...”

“Guess why.”

“...What?”

His hand touched the tips of my hair.

Gently untangling strands I hadn’t noticed were tangled, he said between clenched teeth,

“Why I’m angry.”

...What?

He briefly stared at my eyes, then turned away.

Before he left the room, I asked urgently,

“Why are you angry? What did I do wrong? Alexis! Hey!”

But he didn’t answer and left.

Thud.

The door closed with a dull scrape.

Through the crack, I heard Erilot’s voice calling, “Alexis! Hey!”

But he didn’t open it again.

‘Who’s the real fool?’

I was about to turn a corner when someone blocked my way.

It was Balzac Astra.

Joshua Astra leaned against the wall beside him.

Joshua said,

“Erilot wants to be engaged to the prince because she feels sorry for him.”

“......”

“He’s softhearted, even if he doesn’t show it. So lovable, but also worrying. He tends to carry burdens alone.”

“......”

When Alexis didn’t answer, Balzac growled,

“It’s better to refuse the engagement while you can.”

“......”

“I’ve seen plenty like you at Astra.”

“What kind of person?”

“Eyes like a starving dog. Such people never make their family happy.”

Balzac narrowed his eyes and warned Alexis.

“So stay away.”

Alexis sneered.

“I’m going crazy.”

“What?”

Seeing the twins frown, Alexis rubbed his neck.

“These people judge others like fortune tellers.”

“You...!”

“How do you know me so well when you don’t even know yourself?”

Balzac suddenly reached out.

Alexis lightly dodged and grabbed Balzac’s arm.

“Have you ever seen a starving dog miss its prey?”

“You... you bastard...!”

Erilot is sharp.

Everyone around recognized it, and he himself knew himself well.

He couldn’t fail to notice Alexis’s feelings.

‘He just doesn’t want to.’

Someone he can share everything with that he can’t tell his family.

A comrade who shares the same pain.

A friend who is sincere.

He was so satisfied with this relationship that he didn’t want to go beyond it.

You might have called all those feelings friendship.

But from the start until now, I’ve seen you with a different feeling.

“I’ll step down before you become Emperor, so don’t worry!”

Do you think I’d just step down?

Ridiculous.

You willingly fell into my hands; I’ll never let go.