She cried for a long time.

Her father, along with Richmond, Balzac, and Joshua, silently watched her as she wept.

At dusk.

The exhausted Erilot had been sent upstairs, and Daymond and the three brothers gathered in the study.

Daymond was silently staring out the window.

Balzac, watching his father’s back, clenched his wrist tightly.

“I’m sorry......”

Balzac muttered in a barely audible voice.

Daymond glanced at his son.

“For what?”

“For Erilot, I mean, the first Erilot. We didn’t protect her, but rather tormented her.”

“.......”

“Erilot is a foolish girl to the family, so even if they couldn’t speak up.......”

They must have caused tremendous pain.

Not only did they ignore the torment from other relatives, but also reproached her as a disgrace to the family.

A stain on Astra.

Vermin who tormented kind Dahlia.

If you have any conscience left, just disappear.

......They said those words countless times.

‘But how could you reach out your hand?’

Why did you offer your hand to such a wicked self?

How could you reach out to the foolish brother who only hurt you in your first and third lives?

Balzac bowed his head deeply and said,

“I’m sorry.”

“......Balzac.”

“I’m sorry......”

“Balzac Astra!”

At the thunderous shout, Balzac flinched and looked up.

Daymond was frowning, staring at him.

“Yes, Father......”

“I don’t fail to understand your feelings. But......”

Daymond bent one knee before Balzac.

Then gently cupped his son’s cheek, which looked as if it might collapse at any moment.

“You now are a different person than you were then. Isn’t that right?”

“......Yes.”

“Erilot has given us the chance to live a different life. She pulled me from the battlefield so that this life could continue, and gave you and your brothers a safe space called family.”

“.......”

“In doing so, she prevented you from becoming the fool that first-life Erilot was. So, you have no regrets.”

“.......”

“All you need now is to swear that the present ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) you will not repeat the foolish acts of the past.”

“Yes......”

“Do not lower your head. I have never taught my children to bow without cause.”

“Yes...... Yes, Father......”

Balzac clenched his teeth, holding back tears.

Joshua, sitting next to his older brother, suddenly turned his head away. It was clear he was trying to hold back rising emotions.

Richmond smiled faintly, watching his brothers.

“Blitzen, no, Brother Richmond always treated me well. Back then, I was afraid and doubted his intentions, but now I understand.”

“What do you mean......?”

“That he’s a good person. I’ve stopped doubting goodwill a little now.”

“.......”

“Thanks to Father, you brothers, Han Ji-hyuk, Mikelan, Conrad, and also Jeanne.”

Erilot, you said you were our blessing, but in truth, we were the ones who received your help.

“I thought a lot last year.”

“Thought?”

“Yeah. I realized I was very afraid of relationships.”

“......That’s understandable, given what happened.”

“I don’t mention what I went through just because I want support for my engagement to Alexis.”

“.......”

“Because I believe that even if I tell everything, Father and my brothers won’t think I’m strange, or doubt my intentions.”

“.......”

“So I was able to make a decision.”

You were the strongest among us.

You raised us—the scared and wounded—even though you yourself were most hurt.

You were that much in pain, yet you still trusted people.

Though scared and suffering, you never ran away.

Because of that, we gained a trustworthy father and brothers who would never abandon each other.

Thanks to you.

Because you exist.

Richmond said,

“There are still villains who haven’t changed, both in her first life and now.”

Balzac’s expression turned cold.

“Grimier.”

“Yes.”

Joshua, rarely showing expression and speaking flatly, murmured,

“I will never forgive that scum.”

Richmond and Daymond nodded.

Daymond spoke to Mikelan, the chief steward seated in a corner of the room.

“We leave for the jurisdiction tonight.”

“Yes. ......But, Master.”

Daymond glanced at him.

Mikelan asked cautiously,

“Do you believe the lady’s words?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is there not a possibility that the lady lied about her engagement to Prince Isiron?”

“.......”

“Sometimes children dream of tragic yet special lives. The lady may have made up stories out of childish curiosity.”

Balzac frowned sharply.

“Erilot is not the kind to tell such foolish lies!”

Richmond nodded.

“She’s not the kind of child who would deceive us like that.”

Joshua stood.

“Even if we are deceived, it’s fine.”

The clever girl knows well the consequences of lies.

Knowing those consequences, if she seeks our help, we will gladly offer it.

Daymond stared steadily into Mikelan’s eyes and said,

“That is why.”

“.......”

“You and Conrad Marcial have known everything for eight years and became her people.”

“That’s correct.”

“Why did you believe her?”

Mikelan smiled softly.

“Because, Master, and the young masters feel the same.”

Because we believed in the child who saved me.

Even if deceived, it’s okay if it’s her.

I want Erilot to know this.

Look, Lady.

Everything you have done so far has had meaning.

There are so many who trust you, and even if deceived, are okay with it.

Daymond stood up.

“Tonight, summon every vassal in the jurisdiction without exception.”

The sharp edge appeared in the eyes of the man who had never known defeat on any battlefield.

“This Astra, I shall have in my hands.”

The sun fully hid itself, and the darkness spread over the world like a curtain.

A few crows flapped their wings and took flight.

The full-scale battle for the house headship began.

The next day.

Early in the morning, I came down to the first floor and frowned upon hearing the second steward.

“Father and Mikelan went down to the jurisdiction?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t they inform me separately?”

“No.”

What could be going on?

I didn’t even know they left for the jurisdiction because I went to bed early after crying so much yesterday.

“When will they be back......”

Before I could finish, a chin was lifted onto my shoulder with a soft thump.

Balzac yawned wide and said,

“They said Brother Richmond will come using the Blessing Stone for movement, so it’ll take a day or two.”

Joshua walked laughing from behind Balzac.

“Good morning, Erilot.”

“Yeah, good morning. But I don’t know why they went down......”

“Maintenance of Daymond’s jurisdiction system, or something like that.”

“System?”

“Yeah, and he told me to give this to you.”

Joshua handed me something.

Looking at his palm, I was surprised, my eyes wide.

“This......!”

“Yes, it’s a seal.”

It was not the raven emblem of Astra.

In the center was a crescent moon, surrounded by three stars, all encased in a circular border.

“This is the new emblem of the Astra Second Viscountship, Daymond’s jurisdiction.”

“A new emblem?”

Joshua smiled faintly and whispered in my ear,

“We can’t use the enemy’s emblem. It causes too much trouble.”

That’s true.

Usually, payments are made with a seal.

If we use Astra’s emblem, Grimier wouldn’t know whether the money came from him or us.

Joshua slipped a ring-shaped seal onto my index finger.

Then showed me a pendant-shaped seal hanging from a gold chain beneath his shirt.

“Both Balzac, Richmond, and I have received it too.”

“That means......”

“That we can form a council and enter manor politics.”

Richmond, descending the stairs, joined the conversation.

“Father sent word that I can skip family education starting today.”

“Huh?”

“And......”

Richmond sighed mid-sentence.

Balzac, who had his chin resting on my shoulder, gritted his teeth.

“They’re going to proceed with your engagement.”

“Really?!”

“They already took Alexis Isiron to the manor. Looks like they want to show him to grandfather.”

I was overjoyed.

‘Thank goodness!’

The relatives will fiercely oppose my engagement to Alexis.

If the Isiron Duke family and Daymond jurisdiction connect by marriage, Father’s prestige will rise even more.

They’ll go mad with excuses that they might lose me—the dragon-bearer—to the Isiron house.

‘Grandfather won’t welcome it either.’

The Isiron Duke was the head of the Sixth Dukedom.

He was even pro-Imperial faction.

Father could be suspected of turning his back on the family and siding with the Emperor.

‘But if my legal guardian Father approves, there’s nothing I can do.’

It’s basically like gaining a thousand troops.

......Though my brothers’ expressions were not good.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let the Isiron Duke stop this.”

I smiled slyly, and my brothers all turned instantly fierce.

Balzac spun me around, grabbed my shoulder, and said,

“Absolutely, absolutely do not stop it. Okay? No matter how much those bastards beg to marry you......”

“Balzac.”

Joshua shot Balzac a glare then smiled at me.

“Erilot, you need to remember this.”

“......What?”

“If anyone dares to touch a single strand of your hair, summon Lagon immediately. Anyone, okay? Anyone.”

It sounded like a warning especially aimed at Alexis.

Richmond said,

“Remember this too, Erilot.”

“......?”

“Just because you’re engaged doesn’t mean you have to marry.”

“.......”

“Even if, by some chance, everything goes wrong and you marry, there is divorce.”

“.......”

When I looked displeased, the three brothers shouted at once,

“Got it?!”

“Right?”

“You know it.”

Balzac shouted, glaring; Joshua asked sweetly; Richmond urged with a blank face.

“......Yeah.”

“Good.”

“Okay.”

“......But let’s not say these things anywhere else.”

The ‘Committee of Morons Who Agree to the Engagement but Will Kill the Groom if It Goes to Marriage’ all grinned broadly.

‘Ugh.’

I shook my head and went upstairs.

I need to get ready for work.

At that moment, in the palace.

Enzo, who had entered the palace, hurried to Daymond’s carriage.

“Prince Isiron’s permission to enter the palace has been granted.”

“The family members?”

“They are waiting with the Duke in the Great Audience Hall.”

Daymond nodded and got out of the carriage.

He looked at Alexis inside the carriage, who wore a luxurious robe and had his hood pulled low.

“We depart.”

“Yes.”

Daymond and Alexis entered the Astra palace together.

At every point they passed, the servants lining the walls bowed their heads.

I didn’t realize this while at the manor, but after passing through other houses, I understood.

‘Their prestige is no ordinary thing.’

Not a single servant or soldier had an ordinary presence.

Daymond, walking ahead, quietly said,

“Lift your chin and look far ahead. Never look down.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Straighten your shoulders and tighten your waist. The Astra palace is a place where you must show that no one can harm you with your presence.”

“Yes.”

When they reached a secluded area, Daymond asked,

“Are you afraid?”

“No.”

Daymond stopped and looked at Alexis.

“Then why do your eyes tremble?”

“My emotions are stirred.”

“Why?”

“Because everything in this empire will become mine. Even this great Astra.”

Daymond’s mouth twisted.

“My daughter has a good eye for people.”

Such was the arrogance of one destined to become emperor.

Daymond stepped aside from the gate and said,

“This place cannot be entered without permission by anyone but Astra family members and the royal family.”

“Yes.”

Daymond’s lips curved crookedly.

“I will welcome the imperial heir.”

Alexis passed through the gate.

The war had begun.

The Astra family members furrowed their brows and scrutinized Alexis.

Balderic asked with a haughty expression,

“What is the Duke’s business with Prince Isiron at the Astra palace, Brother?”

Daymond told the Astra Duke, who was watching Alexis with a bored expression from the seat of honor,

“I have permitted the engagement of Erilot and Prince Isiron, House Head.”

“......What?”

Until that moment, the Astra Duke had worn an annoyed expression, but he suddenly stood up straight.