Chapter 50
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Reunion with the Duke
In the annex of the cafe.
Once the cafe staff brought out the ordered tea and cake and left, Duke Parkro, who had been sitting quietly, rose to his feet.
He approached Celia and bowed politely.
"It's been a long time, Lady Celia."
"Twenty years, Daid. I never dreamed we'd meet like this."
Celia smiled in response to Duke Parkro, who treated her with such deference.
It was an astonishing sight—the nation's highest noble, whom even the royal family couldn't treat lightly, showing such courtesy—but it wasn't so strange when the other party was the founding hero of the kingdom.
"I never imagined I'd see you again either."
Who could have imagined it?
The founding hero of the nation getting into an altercation with some immature noble girls at his favorite cafe.
"No, I never thought the day would come when I'd see you again. You haven't changed a bit."
Duke Parkro examined Celia's appearance closely as he spoke.
Celia merely smiled at the sight.
"That said, I owe you one this time. Thank you."
"It was only natural."
Duke Parkro shook his head and grew serious.
Their appearances were those of a young girl and an old man, but their relationship was the complete opposite—an odd situation.
As Eirana watched the scene with amused fascination, Celia spoke up.
"No, truly, thank you. Eirana's face earlier was downright terrifying. I was worried she might actually lay hands on those kids in her anger."
Eirana denied it with an innocent expression at Celia's words, which sounded genuinely concerned.
"No way."
'Though I was planning to visit their homes later and burn them down.'
Of course, that plan was still very much in motion.
As Eirana harbored her vicious thoughts inwardly, Duke Parkro looked at her and trailed off.
"And this young lady is...?"
Celia hesitated, unsure how to explain her relationship with Eirana.
Duke Parkro knew that Celia was a half-dragon.
Even so, she couldn't just come right out and say Eirana was a dragon.
As Celia felt a touch of embarrassment, Duke Parkro continued.
"The first time I saw her, I was startled by how much she resembled you, Lady Celia. I even wondered if it was you in disguise with magic."
Though she had changed her hair and eye color with magic, Celia's silver hair unmistakably resembled Eirana's.
When silver dragons polymorphed, their mana influence turned their hair silver. There were slight individual differences, and the same held true for other dragon clans.
Thus, Eirana and Celia's hair colors were similar as blood relatives.
'What should I say?'
Eirana was pondering inwardly as well.
She didn't want to openly reveal to humans that she was a dragon.
Most dragons kept their true identities hidden during their escapades.
As Eirana wrestled with her thoughts, Celia spoke.
"Eirana is..."
Eirana looked at her, assuming Celia had come up with a good excuse.
Their eyes met, and after a brief hesitation, Celia finished.
"My daughter."
Eirana's mouth fell open slightly.
Celia gave her a slightly apologetic look.
"Your... daughter?"
Duke Parkro looked shocked as well.
But he soon nodded as if it made sense.
"I see. So she is your daughter, Lady Celia."
He muttered, then wore an apologetic expression again.
"The daughters of this kingdom's nobles have committed a grave rudeness. I apologize on their behalf."
Eirana replied with a blank expression.
"It's fine."
And added inwardly.
'I'll burn their houses down anyway.'
They had already suffered just from being marked by House Parkro, but Eirana was the type who needed to exact revenge with her own hands to feel satisfied.
"Daid."
Celia called softly to Duke Parkro.
"If you, a duke, spend this long talking with Eirana, rumors might start."
Celia judged that getting further entangled in the incident wouldn't be good.
Duke Parkro paused at her words, then let out a bitter sigh.
He clearly wanted to talk more with Celia.
But understanding her position, he gave a wry smile and stood.
"I'll visit soon."
Duke Parkro bowed politely at her words.
"Then I'll await your visit."
And he departed.
Once the two were alone, Eirana asked Celia.
"Daughter?"
Celia clapped her palms together apologetically.
"Sorry. In that situation, I thought it was the most appropriate response."
Duke Parkro had likely easily surmised that Eirana was closely connected to Celia just from seeing them together.
Introducing her as Celia's daughter was indeed the best excuse to hide that Eirana was a dragon.
She could have simply altered Duke Parkro's memory, but Celia didn't want to go that far.
As Celia looked apologetic, she glanced at Eirana cautiously and asked.
"Did it... bother you?"
"No, not really."
Eirana shook her head.
She too thought it was the most fitting excuse for the situation.
'Though if Mom heard, she'd make a fuss.'
Erannis, who had a peculiar possessiveness and greatly emphasized that Eirana was her daughter, might have gone berserk.
When Eirana returned to Parkro Castle, the interior was quite chaotic.
The most noticeable thing was members of certain noble houses bustling about.
Among them were the girls from the cafe earlier, being dragged around by their parents with tearful faces—not an uncommon sight.
There had been about twenty such girls at the cafe.
They had acted immaturely as usual, but the price they would pay this time seemed rather harsh.
"Back?"
Ross approached with a relaxed expression.
"It's a total uproar."
He spoke cheerfully, as if he'd found an entertaining spectacle.
Rumors spread fast; he already knew Eirana had been caught up in the daytime incident.
"The fallout is quite significant."
"Of course. It's House Parkro."
Ross shrugged and asked curiously.
"By the way, it turned out this way because Duke Parkro happened to be there, but what would you have done if he hadn't been?"
Having seen Eirana use violence even on the princess before, Ross couldn't help but be curious about her retaliation.
"Burned their houses down."
Ross clicked his tongue at Eirana's casual response.
'As expected of Erannis's daughter. Or maybe that's the milder option.'
If it had been Erannis, she might have tried to completely dismantle their entire houses.
"That said, the duke's birthday is only two days away, and all these incidents keep popping up."
Ross placed a hand on his hip and tsked.
"What else could happen?"
Eirana replied indifferently, prompting Ross to chuckle.
"True enough."
Gatherings of nobles always led to mishaps.
Thinking that, Ross laughed lightly and patted Eirana's shoulder.
"By the way."
"...?"
"Winzers has been bothering me lately because of you."
"My condolences."
Eirana headed to her room as if she had no interest in hearing more.
"At least hear me out, huh?"
Ross followed behind, trying to persuade her in a pitiful tone, but Eirana ignored him.
In Second Prince Cloberro's quarters at Parkro Castle.
Archduke faction nobles visited, engaging in various conversations.
The Archduke faction was practically led by the Archduke, but the highest figure was Second Prince Cloberro.
Moreover, many Archduke faction nobles visited his quarters daily to cater to the strong sense of authority he held as direct royalty.
After the noble guests left, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Cloberro tossed out the words curtly.
The door opened, and Chelia appeared.
"Same as always."
"You seem quite busy."
"Ah, work and all."
Cloberro replied tiredly to Chelia's question.
It was merely nobles flattering him, but it seemed taxing enough for him.
One might pity Cloberro, but Chelia sat before him without showing it.
Cloberro ground his teeth inwardly at Chelia sitting across from him.
'That damn bitch.'
In their relationship, Chelia had been the one to approach first.
For Cloberro, that encounter had been the worst.
Chelia was a beauty.
Cloberro, fond of women, had openly shown his lust upon first meeting her, as usual.
Though the daughter of a large merchant group, he saw her as a commoner woman and thus easy prey.
But as payment, his arm broke right there.
Despite his guards being present, they had their throats slit by Chelia's escorts in the blink of an eye.
The scene had instilled deep fear in Cloberro.
Even more shocking was Chelia using unknown magic to revive his guards.
Then she made an offer.
'How about a deal? I'll make you king.'
Cloberro accepted the innocently smiling proposal.
Winzers and Archduke Albesro had hidden blades unknown to the public.
He had them too.
They were Chelia's escorts.
He didn't know what Chelia wanted from him, but for now, he saw it as a mutual exploitation.
He didn't believe he could fully seize power even after becoming king with his uncle Archduke Albesro's help.
Thus, he planned to borrow the Archduke's power to ascend the throne first.
Then, once king, deal with the Archduke using Chelia's power.
That was Cloberro's current scheme.
"So, will you handle the crown prince on the way back this time?"
Cloberro nodded at Chelia's tilted-head question.
"Naturally. This moment when his guard is down is the perfect chance to kill him."
"Won't acting rashly now make you suspicious?"
Cloberro chuckled wickedly at her puzzled query.
"Killing him now benefits my uncle the most, not me."
The public knew the second prince as powerless.
Thus, even if Winzers were dealt with here, no one would suspect Cloberro.
Of course, as the Archduke faction's figurehead, he couldn't become crown prince immediately.
But among direct royals eligible for the throne, he was the only one left.
'Lea? She's of marriageable age soon, so marry her off abroad.'
A few years after fully clearing suspicion over Winzers's death, the throne would naturally fall to him.
It was a simplistic plan, but Cloberro believed Chelia had the power to make it work.
"Ah, but there's one personal favor I'd like."
"What?"
"Lea's tutor—that woman. Could you capture her for me?"
"..."
Chelia made a subtle expression for a moment, glanced sideways, then looked away.
She spoke to Cloberro, who had revealed his filthy desire.
"Personally, I'd prefer you not touch her."
"Why?"
As he showed displeasure, Chelia smiled.
"Because I rather like her."
"What? You're into that?"
Cloberro sneered, fearing Chelia but harboring resentment.
Chelia tilted her head at his words.
"I said we're equals in this deal... but do you want to die?"
Cloberro flinched at her calm yet sincere tone.
"J-Joking. Forget the favor."
He desperately hid his terror as he spoke.