Loreina is Joffrey’s older sister and the eldest daughter of Uncle Balderic.
Since Joffrey’s family lost half of the prime territory of Balderic’s domain to us, they have considered me an enemy.
‘Who told anyone to frame me as a thief?’
I don’t want the love of the Joffrey family anyway, but I wonder who started the fight.
‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Don’t you know?’
—Though I did pay them back a bit harshly.
It’s ridiculous that they’re burning with hatred toward me when their own brother framed me, and their father wagered territory in front of my grandfather.
Anyway, Loreina’s gaho is .
You could call it an upgraded version of Joffrey’s skill.
‘He only transforms his lower face.’
When using her gaho, Loreina can turn into a beast. It’s a very threatening ability.
Loreina smirked and granted me some leniency.
“It’ll be tough for you. You can forfeit if you want.”
I answered spiritedly.
“I’m fine, sister!”
Beep!
The whistle blew.
At the start signal, Loreina immediately transformed.
Bright yellow irises with tiny pupils.
Four legs specialized in speed and agility.
Her entire body covered in sharp, patchy, yellowish fur.
‘A leopard!’
The beast Loreina transformed into was a leopard.
“Roar!”
The leopard roared and charged at me.
Balzac and Joshua, watching the match, looked anxious.
When Loreina swung her sharp-clawed front paw, I screamed.
“Forfeit! Forfeit!”
“Erilot!”
‘Cheer for me!’
Forfeiting now? What a letdown.
I dodged vigorously in all directions.
I tried whipping attacks in my own way, but Loreina cleverly dodged with her speed.
Of course, a human body couldn’t match a leopard’s speed.
“Huff, huff...”
I dodged as hard as I could, but had nowhere left to run.
We ended up at the far edge of the training ground, facing off.
Then the leopard chuckled, “Puhuhu.”
The leopard’s legs shifted back into human form—Loreina again.
Lightly, she walked over, still looking like a leopard in her human form.
Her face was full of laughter.
Since the previous match had been Balzac vs. Joffrey, she seemed all the more delighted by her victory.
Loreina asked generously,
“Why don’t you forfeit?”
“...”
“No matter how hard you try, you can’t stand up to an attack-type gaho. Your ancient language reading gaho looks rather pathetic, doesn’t it? Poor thing.”
She said “poor thing” without a trace of sympathy.
One step, two steps.
Loreina slowly approached, her face twisting as she transformed back into a leopard.
“Raaaargh!”
At that moment,
Beeeeep!
𝓯𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶 A loud whistle tore through the air.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Something huge crashed through the forest and ran out.
Crash! Crack!
Leaves collided, branches snapped, making a raucous noise.
Screech!
A flock of birds resting in the trees suddenly flew into the sky in a panic.
And then—
“Huh?”
“Wha, what?!”
“A monster!!!”
What burst out from the forest was a monster.
The training ground instantly turned chaotic.
“Everyone, evacuate!”
Servants and instructors tried to get people to safety.
But since many participants were out for the match, swift evacuation was difficult.
It was absolute mayhem.
“Damn it!”
Loreina, transformed as a leopard, quickly tried to flee.
But—
The large monster resembling a crow flew up and rapidly dived, targeting Loreina.
Screech!
Thud. Thud. Boom!
It struck with its beak and tried to snatch with sharp claws.
‘What? Why only me...?!’
No matter how fast Loreina ran with leopard speed, the monster only chased her.
‘It’s really targeting only me?!’
Even though Erilot was nearby.
‘What? She’s easier to catch. Then why...?!’
Erilot stood watching with her arms crossed, not looking scared at all.
Rather, her face was completely relaxed.
‘What’s going on?’
Crazy?
Why isn’t she dodging?
“Ragon.”
The monster obediently landed on the ground at Erilot’s word.
“...!!”
“Oh, I forgot to mention.”
Erilot smiled brightly and continued.
“My gaho has newly manifested.”
“What, what?!”
“. It’s my new gaho.”
Ragon licked his lips while looking at Loreina, who collapsed to the ground.
Erilot’s mischievous face was so cute it was almost annoying.
The duke’s castle was in an uproar.
“Have you heard about Miss Erilot?”
“They say she manifested a new gaho.”
“Why is the young lady so lucky?”
“To manifest a second gaho after the fontanelle closed!”
Whispers spread among servants and retainers.
The direct descendants also gathered in the hall.
The duke’s youngest son, seventh-born Hernan, burst into the hall with a bang.
“Is it true that Erilot manifested a new gaho?!”
Grimy smiled gently.
“It’s called . It’s a skill never seen or heard of.”
His face showed kindness as he shared his nephew’s fortune.
“What’s so good about that smile? Loreina nearly died because of that monster!”
Balderic complained angrily.
“Balzac made Joffrey get carried off, Erilot tried to kill Loreina. Has Daymond’s side become enemies with us?!”
He turned his arrows at Daymond.
Daymond responded calmly despite Balderic’s fierce accusations.
“What do you want if my children are outstanding?”
The height of shamelessness.
Yet he never missed a chance to brag about his children.
Balderic’s face turned bright red like boiled octopus.
He looked like he might collapse from anger.
Marquis Debussy, standing behind the duke, glanced at Duke Astra.
‘He’s trying hard.’
Duke Astra pretended not to care, but if you looked closely, his mouth twitched.
As the duke who deeply cared for Erilot, this was a welcome matter.
“Hm. Erilot has been exceptional since she was three.”
“That’s right.”
When Duke Astra summed it up like that, Balderic couldn’t protest further.
Though, it was already settled at Daymond’s level.
The topic soon shifted to other matters.
“Oh, what’s the status of Grimy’s official position?”
Duke Astra was beginning to consider pushing his children into central politics.
The first target was naturally Grimy Astra, the eldest son of the second generation.
Grimy scratched his cheek and answered,
“Well, I haven’t heard from the royal palace yet.”
Knock knock.
At that moment, Conrad opened the hall door.
“What’s the matter?”
He bowed politely to Duke Astra’s question.
“It’s a message from the royal palace. An imperial decree has been issued to appoint Grimy Astra as the foreign ambassador.”
“Oh!”
Seventh-born Hernan jumped up and clapped.
“Congratulations, brother!”
“Foreign ambassador? Isn’t that a good thing?”
Knowing the duke aimed for central power, the second generation all congratulated Grimy’s appointment.
“...”
However,
Among the warm atmosphere, no one noticed one thing.
Duke Astra’s expression was as cold as midwinter frost.
A congratulatory feast was held for Grimy’s foreign ambassador inauguration.
In the duke’s mansion banquet hall.
With many second-generation present and countless third-generation children, the atmosphere was lively.
Hernan raised a champagne glass high on a silver tray.
“Let’s toast to Grimy’s appointment as foreign ambassador!”
“Toasting!”
“Toasting!”
Clink!
The high champagne glasses rang clearly.
Golden champagne spilled over the rims, spreading a fragrant scent in the air.
“Thank you all.”
Grimy drank champagne with a kind expression as he accepted congratulations.
“...”
Erilot quietly watched him.
Grimy smiled kindly when our eyes met.
“Erilot keeps /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ growing every time I see her. Her fame has spread even to the capital. She manifested a second gaho?”
“Yes. Luckily.”
“The first head also had three gaho.”
Grimy praised Erilot with a gentle smile.
Only Balderic frowned deeply.
He was still bitter about losing half of his domain’s prime land.
Not only that.
‘Why are my children...?!’
Balderic was angry that Joffrey, whom he supported too much, couldn’t surpass Erilot’s rank.
Though his own son, Joffrey seemed to be getting dumber as he grew.
While gulping champagne like water, a rumor came to mind.
Balderic’s lips curled sideways.
“I heard a rumor that if you can control monsters, you’re cursed.”
Daymond, Balzac, and Joshua were sensitive to curses.
Daymond lost his twin brother to a curse, and Balzac almost lost Joshua to a curse too.
The three men’s faces twisted fiercely with anger.
Daymond glared at Balderic and said coldly,
“Are you still swayed by others? You lost half your territory because of your son’s words?”
Balderic blushed and protested,
“Brother! I was just trying to help by telling you to check if it’s a curse...!”
Just as an argument seemed about to break out, Dionera’s mother Basile intervened.
“What a fuss in such a good place. Since father is here, stop it.”
Balderic sneaked a glance at the duke.
‘Eek!’
Though it was a celebration of the eldest son becoming foreign ambassador, the duke’s gaze was colder than usual.
Conrad, standing next to Duke Astra, exchanged glances with Erilot.
‘As expected. You noticed.’
It was natural that Duke Astra felt bad.
The position he wanted was the central tower, the heart of power.
But the seat the emperor gave to Duke Astra’s eldest son was just the foreign ambassador.
‘It’s a check on Astra.’
Duke Astra’s anger was justified.
The emperor’s attitude of checking Astra was so blatant.
Yet his children held a congratulatory party without noticing.
Seeing his clueless children made him furious.
Most of the second generation just leaned on Astra, not thinking to do anything themselves.
They had only one goal:
To aim for Duke Astra’s position.
‘There isn’t a single one I’m satisfied with.’
Duke Astra’s inner frustration was obvious to Erilot.
At that moment, the communication stone in my pocket flashed.
Recognizing the faint light leaking out, I cautiously stood.
“I’ll be right back.”
I asked for understanding and left the banquet hall.
I went somewhere without people and connected the communication.
The one who contacted me was Michelan.
[Miss.]
“What is it?”
[I found out who recently met with the emperor.]
‘As expected, Michelan!’
So capable.
I asked in admiration.
“Who is it?”
[Count Talos.]
“How is Count Talos these days?”
[He’s excited.]
“Not surprising.”
I could see it clearly.
Count Talos is about to enter the central tower.
[Yes.]
“Dig deeper into Count Talos. Something will definitely come up.”
[How far should I dig?]
“All of it.”
[Yes. And a gift has arrived from the royal palace.]
“A gift?”
[The Empress Dowager sent a card to the capital tea salon in your name.]
‘What?’
I almost screamed.
‘The capital tea salon is directly overseen by the Empress Dowager.’
It’s held in winter, inviting the most outstanding ladies of the year.
Only the top socialites attend.
In other words, it’s a networking field!
This must be the gift the Empress Dowager promised as the master painter’s reward.
‘But I can’t show Michelan I’m happy.’
Michelan’s beloved late Empress and the Empress Dowager were rivals.
The Empress Dowager even tried not to keep the late Empress’s remains in the royal tomb.
“Keep up the good work.”
[Yes.]
After ending the communication, I thought to myself.
‘Count Talos, huh...’
Why him?
Count Talos isn’t a powerful family like Astra.
Not long ago, many people didn’t even know his name.
It felt strange.
Logically, the emperor wouldn’t treat Astra so coldly.
‘Treating him coldly while knowing how grandfather will react?’
No one but a brave person would dare.
Grandfather would surely come out to pressure the emperor.
‘Also...’
After hearing about Grimy’s appointment, I immediately asked Lady Gonallong.
“How’s the atmosphere in the royal palace?”
She said it was utter chaos.
‘Meaning, it’s not a coordinated action.’
Not everyone in the royal palace agrees with the emperor’s wishes.
Each supports various factions, receiving favors.
Then.
‘I’ll dig everything up.’
Why the emperor had to give the central tower seat to Count Talos.
‘I’ll find out and take back the seat.’
Take it back and give it to Uncle Grimy?
‘No. Take it back and give it to my father.’
Both the foreign ambassador and central tower seat will be ours.
I covered my mouth with both hands and chuckled quietly.