Chapter 126
“……You can’t use a knife for slaughtering cattle to kill a chicken. Sending White Shadow after Young Lady Erzébet feels a bit excessive.”
The fact that White Shadow had already been sent to Asil was a secret that had to remain hidden.
If it were discovered that he had abused the authority of the family head without permission and failed, it would cause serious trouble.
Sebastian rolled his eyes, searching for words for a moment, then skillfully flattered her.
“Moreover, if we lay a hand on the young lady now, unfavorable rumors could spread.”
“Unfavorable rumors?”
“By now, the discord between the princess and the young lady must have become known in society. If something unfortunate happens to the young lady in such a situation, there will be those who suspect.”
“……Yes, that makes sense.”
Princess Sunrise, persuaded by Sebastian, nodded quietly.
But only for a moment—then she flared up again.
“So you’re saying we should just sit back and watch?!”
“No. No matter how great the young lady’s connections are, there are limits.”
Sebastian soothed the hot-tempered Princess Sunrise with practiced ease.
“Even if the saintess and Her Highness the princess favor her, in the end, her interactions will mainly be with nobles, and the current center of high society is you, Princess. So who would side with her?”
Princess Sunrise, who had been fuming, tightly shut her mouth.
Upon hearing it, it made sense.
Moreover, among the nobles, there were many who envied Young Lady Erzébet for receiving the undivided favor of the most influential figures.
If they used their followers to subtly ostracize the young lady, she would eventually be unable to endure the harassment and would apologize for her own arrogance while begging for help.
“And the fact that Young Lady Erzébet has become the center of the thanksgiving festival might actually be a good thing.”
“A good thing?”
“How much does Her Majesty the Empress dislike this thanksgiving festival being held? If even the slightest thing goes wrong, Young Lady Erzébet will bear the full brunt of Her Majesty’s hatred.”
“Hmm…….”
Indeed, imagining Young Lady Erzébet failing and receiving the empress’s hatred made her feel good.
With her lips curling up, Princess Sunrise praised Sebastian.
“Good, that was a decent idea.”
“Um, Sister…….”
At that moment, Leon, who had been quiet, interjected.
Though one might feel pity for the younger brother who had lost his parents at a young age, Princess Sunrise looked at him as if he were an annoying burden.
“What.”
“What about Duke Monlepe……?”
“That’s something you, as the next family head, should take care of. Do I, who am busy, really need to worry about that too?”
“Ah, sorry.”
Leon bowed his head timidly and looked up at Sebastian.
“Um, Sebastian.”
“We cannot mobilize White Shadow for something so trivial. You should handle that much yourself, Young Master.”
Sebastian replied as if it were bothersome.
Originally, he should have treated the next family head, Leon, with utmost care, but Leon’s timidity combined with Sebastian’s insolence had made disregard a daily occurrence.
“Yes…….”
Leon, dejected, lowered his head again.
But soon he rallied, clenched his small fist tightly, and shouted.
“Then give me the authority to manage White Shadow! It’s originally a right that the family head should have…….”
“We will naturally hand it over once you have fully grown up, Young Master.”
“But…….”
“There is no group that would pledge loyalty to such a small family head.”
Leon looked up at Sebastian with hurt eyes.
He glanced toward Princess Sunrise , hoping she would take his side, but she was too busy imagining Asil’s humiliation to pay attention.
“I should soon visit Her Majesty the Empress in person with some pretty jewel…… Hehehe…….”
With no choice, he sought the only ally in this household.
“Where is Sol?”
“She was taken to the Great Temple because there was something to check. You won’t see her for a while, so if you miss her, go visit her yourself.”
“Yes…….”
In the end, unable to find anyone to rely on, Leon drooped his shoulders heavily.
No matter the situation, Sol had always taken his side…….
He regretted belatedly entrusting Sol to his sister.
* * *
‘What was that bead?’
After returning from the temple, Asil occasionally had one thought.
That red bead Sol had been wearing around her neck.
The more she thought about it, the worse she felt. It was like seeing a disgusting bug.
‘It’s definitely not an ordinary bead; it feels like some kind of magic is cast on it.’
Even though she was still in her growth phase, as a black dragon beastman excellent in magic, Asil could sense the unusual mana flowing around the bead.
She was even more concerned because she had heard that Sol had been abused by Princess Sunrise all this time.
‘When we first met on the deck, she apologized on behalf of someone, so she seems like a really kind divine beast.’
Just in case, when she asked Jet who had given her that red bead, he replied that it was from the Sunrise young master.
She wondered if it had been given with the intention of tormenting Sol, but Jet did not seem to suspect the young master.
“Lady Sol is not someone who would be abused, so it’s probably not strange.”
Well.
Even so, the feeling was far too unpleasant.
She decided she should visit her soon for a sickbed visit and check it herself—while she was lost in such thoughts.
“Asil~”
“…….”
“Asil!”
“Hm?”
Only after her soft cheek was poked repeatedly did Asil snap back to reality.
Count Arcian was waving a small dress adorned with plenty of jewels in front of her.
“You have to try on the dress Daddy made~ Daddy made it himself years ago! Just for Asil!”
Asil tilted her head.
It probably wouldn’t fit. It looked like the size she would have worn in her infancy.
Still, just in case, she tried putting it on.
But.
“It doesn’t go in. This is too small.”
As expected, it didn’t fit.
“My daughter has grown so much while we weren’t looking. Since your true form stayed the same, I thought your human form would be the same too…… We’ll have to make a new one for the empress’s tea party.”
A few days earlier, Asil had received an invitation from the empress.
It was because Asil had been selected as the central figure for the Divine Beast Thanksgiving Festival.
Normally, a noble with a close relationship to a divine beast would be chosen, so most had assumed it would be one of the three great ducal houses.
But Asil had been selected, and in response to this unexpected person’s appearance, the empress had invited Asil to the tea party, saying she wanted to see what kind of child she was.
Count Arcian, looking dejected that what he had prepared no longer fit, gathered up the dress.
Asil rolled her eyes at the sight, then transformed into her baby dragon form and slipped right into the dress.
“Piya! Piiya!” (Look! I can wear it in my original form!)
But perhaps because she moved too hastily, she stepped wrong, slipped on the dress, and slid straight forward.
“Piyat!”
Rip.
The dress tore.
Th-This isn’t what I meant! Flustered, Asil froze.
Seeing the scene, Count Arcian smiled faintly.
“You didn’t have to confirm it so decisively.”
“Pii…….”
At that moment, Briana, who was passing nearby, saw the torn dress and came running with a bright expression.
“Our Asil must have hated it so much that she tore the dress completely! Mommy will make you something even prettier than Daddy’s!”
Briana, like Count Arcian, was quite interested in fashion.
Everything she wore in human form was personally designed and made by her.
“Pi, piyatpi, piya!” (Ah, no, it was torn by accident! I really liked Daddy’s a lot!)
“Arcian, go away for a bit. Asil is lying because she’s worried you’ll be hurt.”
“That can’t be. She must truly like it. I’ll remake it with a bigger size and an even prettier design!”
“Asil, aren’t you more excited about what Mommy will make new than Daddy’s?”
“Asil, you don’t need to mind Mommy. Just tell the truth—that you like Daddy’s better.”
Crackle crackle crackle.
Sparks flew between the two beastmen.
Ugh, here they go again. Why do they always fight whenever they meet, even though they’re adults!
Shaking her head inwardly, Asil returned to her human form and stopped her mom and dad’s fight.
“Mom and Dad make it together.”
“…….”
“Mom makes the top part, and Dad makes the bottom part.”
This way, they won’t fight and can make it nicely, right? As expected, I’m a smart black dragon.
But.
After a moment of silence while thinking, Briana shouted triumphantly.
“See. As expected, Asil likes my design better. Mine is on the top, isn’t it?”
“No, since the hem of the skirt is more voluminous, it’s clear our daughter chose mine. Yours was just tucked in there out of the kindness of her heart.”
“Yours must be the one tucked in as an extra! Asil, Mom’s is prettier, right?!”
“Dad’s is cuter and more adorable, right?!”
“I’m just going to buy a dress to wear.”
“No!”
“No!”
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