Chapter 309
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 309
Chapter Title: Now Comes the Real Problem
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In conclusion.
The Seven Dragon Society meeting had ended peacefully.
...Even though killing intent had flown back and forth several times, a Sword Master had barged in, and the clans had torn into each other.
Still, no war had broken out.
And above all, the condemnation of Li Chingwei had fizzled out inconclusively, which meant the Black Dragon Clan had safely passed a major hurdle.
But they couldn't rest.
If anything, they grew even busier.
Just as traces remain after a typhoon passes.
The princesses of the Seven Dragon Society had gathered and dispersed, leaving ripples in their wake, and cleaning up after them alone piled their tasks mountain-high.
"What a tough day."
But amid all that frantic activity, Li Chingwei was excluded.
It couldn't be helped.
Her stamina was already drained, and attending the Seven Dragon Society meeting had left her in no state to work.
"Tell me about it."
"......"
"Why the look?"
"No, it's just... compared to how exhausted you said you were, you look perfectly fine, Sword Duke."
"Experience makes the difference."
'...It's not just about experience, though.'
The very man who'd worn her out all night long.
Seeing Rimon without a trace of fatigue, unlike herself, Li Chingwei could only manage a wry smile.
She'd known how amazing Sword Masters were, but she hadn't expected to feel it so viscerally like this.
Thank goodness she was a sturdy princess.
If she'd been an ordinary woman, she'd have passed out before dawn and still be unconscious.
'I should consider training in the Seventy-Two Stances Dance... it's effective for building stamina.'
Was it because she'd recalled last night?
Her face flushed for a moment before she shook her head to clear the stray thoughts.
Li Chingwei calmly opened her mouth.
"Anyway, it's a relief. I thought in the worst case, war might break out right there."
"I told you it'd be fine."
"Sorry for not believing you."
"No need to apologize."
Preparing for the worst was only natural.
Li Chingwei stared at the nonchalant Rimon before suddenly asking,
"Sword Duke, may I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"Why were you so sure this reckless plan would work?"
It had only succeeded thanks to luck.
The plan was practically a gamble.
If even one more princess had sided with Charlotte,
and she'd secured a majority stake, they'd have had to accept her as the Sword Duke's fiancée on the spot.
Yet not only had he devised such a plan, he'd watched it unfold with the composure of someone who knew the outcome in advance.
Unable to fathom why, Li Chingwei asked tentatively,
"Did you have a hunch it'd turn out this way?"
"You think I'm a fortune-teller? That I'd sense something like this?"
"Then...?"
Rimon grinned innocently at her puzzled expression.
"I just trusted."
"That Aynsha, Rose, and Maya wouldn't turn their backs on you?"
"No, I trusted the draconic nature you all possess."
Rimon chuckled.
And said mischievously,
"Your ancestors couldn't even stick together, so after nearly a millennium of division, there's no way you'd suddenly unite so easily."
"That's a sharp observation."
Li Chingwei could only wryly smile.
Dragons had possessive instincts.
Even against fellow dragons...
No, especially against kin, leading to clashes over coveted prizes.
That was why the seven dragons who ruled the Bronze Age had strictly divided their territories.
In that light, Rimon's claim that expecting the Seven Dragon Society to unite overnight was laughable rang true.
'A gamble I could never have made.'
But Li Chingwei understood.
Underpinning Rimon's plan was trust.
Trust in Aynsha's pure affection.
In Rose's nobility and convictions.
In Maya's passion and tenacity.
If he hadn't known them better than they knew themselves,
or trusted their choices even a little, he couldn't have made such an absurd proposal and remained so relaxed.
For Li Chingwei, who trusted no one, it was impossible—even if she'd known.
"A bit mean-spirited, too. You knew it was an impossible task for us."
"Grumpiness comes with age."
He shrugged once.
Then, unlike before, Rimon grew serious.
"Above all, if you truly want to revive the dragons, you must pass this test."
"...Proving your worth, literally."
"Exactly. I can understand wanting to revive dragons, but I can't tolerate restoring the Age of Dragons."
"......"
"Feeling slighted?"
"No, I'm grateful, actually."
As the Sword Emperor's disciple,
or as humanity's guardian deity,
it was natural Rimon wouldn't accept the Seven Dragon Society's wish.
If he were the type to yield easily, he wouldn't have fought them for centuries.
So Li Chingwei smiled faintly.
"Testing our worth like this means you're at least giving us a chance."
"Don't get too happy. I gave you the chance; whether it's a blessing or a curse is up to you."
"I know."
Li Chingwei nodded.
The chance Rimon offered was a double-edged sword.
Prove her worth, become his bride, revive the dragons, and perhaps even fulfill the society's long-cherished wish.
Fail to prove it, and he'd never allow the dragons' revival.
But that alone was extraordinary.
A concession he'd never have made without her plea—his maximum yield.
Seeing her express gratitude, Rimon muttered,
"Well, anyway, this generation's Golden Dragon Princess is pretty impressive."
"You mean how she grasped your true intent right away?"
"That too, but securing support from two princesses on the spot. Even for the Golden Dragon Princess, not an easy feat."
Rimon scratched his cheek.
The Golden Dragon Clan had effectively led the Seven Dragon Society, but the seven clans were ultimately independent.
So he'd thought even she would struggle more to gain other clans' stakes.
Charlotte immediately winning over the Silver Dragon and Red Dragon Clans had caught him off guard.
Li Chingwei wryly smiled at him.
"Times have changed."
"This is because the society's gone mainstream?"
"The Golden Dragon Clan's wealth is overwhelming among us."
"...Tch, so it's money after all."
Rimon clicked his tongue.
She'd warned him last night, when discussing the plan, to watch Charlotte.
The society controlled the world's riches, but the Golden Dragon Clan's funds dwarfed the others.
In this era where money and power mattered,
especially in their mainstreamed society, their influence was bound to grow.
Even accounting for that, Charlotte's judgment and boldness stood out among past Golden Dragon Princesses.
"Threw the plan a bit off course."
"From my view, this is already beyond expectations."
"But we've got less breathing room than planned."
Originally, swaying other clans would have taken her more time.
He could've prepared in that gap.
But with Red and Silver Dragons already in her pocket, Charlotte wouldn't give Li Chingwei that time.
She'd press her advantage to secure the remaining stakes.
He furrowed his brow in thought for a moment.
Then Rimon suddenly asked,
"What do you think happens next?"
"Hard to say for sure, but..."
As Li Chingwei pondered and calmly began to speak,
Poof.
[Team leader! I'm back!]
Yuna Kyung, who'd been at the temporary lodging with the orphanage kids, barged into the penthouse.
Rimon, his conversation interrupted, clicked his tongue.
"Tch, why do you always butt in at times like this?"
[Eek! Isn't that a cold welcome? You should greet your cute pet more warmly when she returns!]
"Welcome back. Everything alright?"
[See! At least the princess asks about... Huh?]
Chattering excitedly for a bit,
Yuna Kyung pointed at Li Chingwei with her wing, then tilted her head.
[Princess sis, something happen?]
"As you know, the Seven Dragon Society meeting."
[Not that. You seem... different somehow.]
"Different how?"
[Dunno...?]
She looked weary, yet oddly languid like a satiated cat.
Her dress clung tightly, unusually so.
She sat close on the same sofa, not across from Rimon as usual.
Everything screamed 'something's off... what?' but she couldn't pinpoint why, tilting her head repeatedly.
Suddenly, Yuna Kyung clapped her wings together.
[Oh, right! You redecorated?]
"Sharp eye."
[Of course. Back in the day, I was a PAB agent—this is child's play.]
Preening for a moment,
she belatedly frowned.
[But why the sudden redecorating?]
"Some furniture broke. Replaced them with sturdier ones while we were at it."
[Whoa... Furniture breaking here? Must've been some incident.]
"...Yeah. A real big one."
For some reason,
Li Chingwei averted her eyes, hiding behind her teacup.
But Yuna Kyung, busy eyeing the changes, missed her slightly flushed ears and continued casually.
[Anyway, glad you're safe. You looked so grave, I was worried.]
"It is fortunate. But now comes the problem."
[What problem?]
"War's probably about to break out."
[Huh?]
Asking lightly as usual, Yuna Kyung blinked at the absurd reply.
Then her beak gaped wide as she squawked,
[Wait, hold on! Didn't the meeting end peacefully? War?!]
So flustered,
she flapped her wings bird-like as she demanded answers.
Li Chingwei calmly explained,
"The meeting ended peacefully. It just sparked a competition for who becomes the Sword Duke's bride."
[Huh?]
"Thankfully, Aynsha backed me, so we cleared the immediate hurdle. But she's still gunning for the top spot."
[...Top spot?]
"Rose declared neutrality, so that's fine, but the others will target me hard."
[...???]
Regardless of Yuna Kyung's eyes turning to question marks,
Rimon, arms crossed and listening, narrowed his eyes.
"And their way of checking you is war?"
"Yes."
"The Count won't sit idly by if it turns to armed conflict."
"Of course."
Li Chingwei nodded.
With the need to rally more clans for a majority,
even Yekaterina wouldn't rashly antagonize the Azure Dragon Clan.
"But even Rose can't stop every kind of war."
Thinking of Charlotte's likely moves, Li Chingwei continued with a wry smile,
"If I were Charlotte..."