Dad stiffened, so I gathered my strength and asked again. “Am I a burden to you...?” “That can’t be!” His expression clearly said, What kind of nonsense is that? My brothers were also flustered and stumbled. I was soon surrounded by the four men. Seeing Dad’s gentle gaze, I choked up and clenched my skirt tightly. “We could have tried other ways.” “...” “I’m not going to see Princess Anatoly just because it’s only hard for you, Dad.” “...” “The way you protect me is so sad.” As tears started to fall, Dad hugged me tightly. “Yes. I know, Erilot.” “...” “I’m sorry for making you watch such things. I’ll be a wiser father.” “...” “I’ll try harder.” I cried my eyes and nose all over Dad’s shirt. It felt like I was back to when I was little. When I was three, I cried looking for Dad, but now Dad is here comforting me. The three brothers smiled seeing me cry, snot and all. Balzac gently stroked my hair. “That’s right. You could have thought of other measures... but how come you speak so smartly?” I flinched as I was crying, my shoulders rising automatically. Then I stopped crying, rolling my eyes. And my excuse was— “—that’s what Michelan said.” I didn’t forget to sniffle like a child. “Ah.” “Ah ah.” My silly four men believed my clumsy excuse without question. ‘They never suspected me from the start.’ Even Joshua, the smartest cousin, was clueless to me. I felt relieved inside. I’m really lucky those silly four men are my family. I sniffled one more time and looked at Dad. “So, about that...” Three days later. Daymond jurisdiction. For the Fertility Festival, the Astra bloodline, royal family, and court officials gathered at the altar. Many commoners came to watch the festival. Trokan Square, where the altar was set up, could hold about 3,000 people. The priest preparing the altar greeted Queen Ocelia. “May you enjoy radiant glory.” “You must have worked hard preparing the festival.” “Only the noble guests who have traveled from afar to wish for Astra’s prosperity would be here.” Queen Ocelia smiled kindly at the flattering priest. “Has the first prince been well?” “He suffered a fever all through his stay at Astra. Perhaps his faith was lacking.” “The blessing of the god dwelling in his small body must have been tremendous. How great must the blessing have been to cause fever?” Pleased by the priest’s words, Queen Ocelia nodded once with a smile. After greeting Queen Ocelia, the priest turned to greet Anatoly. But Anatoly looked like she was chewing dirt. Her eyebrows twitched nervously, her face tense. Her blazing gaze was fixed solely on Daymond and me at the foot of the altar stairs. The priest was flustered at Anatoly’s expression, and Queen Ocelia glanced at her disapprovingly. “This is an event praying for the nation’s prosperity. You should at least manage your expression.” “Sister!” Unable to hold back her anger, Anatoly shouted. Daymond hadn’t shown up at all since I dragged him away from the garden. Even if the emperor was angry because of me, Daymond didn’t budge. ‘It’s like going back to the old days.’ Anatoly bit her lips tightly, trembling with clenched fists. ‘That cunning woman.’ How did she get close to Daymond, and now she’s trying to block me? I won’t let it slide. Anatoly stepped aside from the royal family and called a maid. “Are preparations ready?” “Well....” “I asked if they were ready.” Anatoly urged the maid with a fierce expression. “Yes....” The maid bowed her head nervously to Anatoly, looking worried. ‘If this gets found out, it’ll be a huge problem....’ But since the princess was fussing and pressing her, the maid had no choice. She quietly approached the sacred brazier. It was the brazier to be lit at the start of the ritual. She cleared out the straw inside and hid herbs among it. The very herbs that had made Ragon go wild last time. Anatoly watched from behind, smiling satisfied. ‘Glad I could get them in time.’ It was worth bribing the factory worker. After dealing with the steel raven last time, the herbs had been discarded. They had to get more herbs, but the bribed worker was quite skilled. Though rare herbs, they found them within a few days. ‘Because it’s Astra jurisdiction.’ The center of distribution made rare herbs easy to obtain. Of course, the bribe wasn’t only for herbs. She got information about me from the factory worker. The bribe was a sum that would shock even nobles, so it was natural that the worker spilled information easily. “Are you talking about Miss Erilot?” “Yes. Is there any information related to monsters?” “Um... besides Ragon, I heard there’s one more monster allowed to enter the castle.” “Really? Where is it?” “It’s a special monster living hidden in the shadows. I heard Miss never lets that monster leave her body.” What would happen if not one but two monsters ran wild? And this time, at a huge event like the Fertility Festival. Anatoly’s mouth twitched upward. Not long after, The Fertility Festival began. Balzac yawned wide. “How long do we have to watch this? It’s killing me with boredom.” Joshua looked at Balzac with a disdainful expression. “Please think of the reputation of Daymond’s jurisdiction when you speak.” Richmond sighed. “Whatever, just stop fighting already, you two.” The three brothers endured the festival with bored expressions. They had been pouring wine, discarding it, pouring it again, discarding again for over two hours. Now I understand why that silver cup shining so brightly is. ‘If it were just plating, it would have all peeled off by now.’ Doing the same thing repeatedly for three hours would make anyone bored to death. I’d rather listen to a three-hour sermon. Other direct family members also ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) wore similarly tired expressions. But not me! Ah, how long do I have to watch Anatoly? Even if it’s a novel, it lacks realism. Where is a crazy person like that, especially a princess of a nation? ‘Right!’ I wasn’t bored at all because I could read the comments. After Dad became the protagonist, the novel blew up. There were tons of comments. I was carefully reading them all from episode 1. ‘But that’s strange.’ The activation was up to episode 30, but there were no comments in episode 30. It was like the page was completely deleted. ‘I think today’s event is in episode 30.’ While thinking this, a familiar voice came from behind. “Ah, finally lighting the brazier.” Liangtin stretched and said in a horrified voice. Once the fire started and the straw burned out, the festival would finally end. Just then, A strange sound of wind came. It was a strong tearing sound, as if the air was being ripped apart. “Wind sound?” “Uh, wait. This is—!” When the three direct heirs looked up with stern faces, “Kyaaaa─!!!” A scream burst out. “Monster!!” The Astra bloodline quickly turned their heads. Monsters were flying roughly, flapping their wings overhead. At least three. “They’re flying right toward us!” The monsters charged straight for the altar. Only three royals and one priest were on the altar steps. “Kyaa! Prince!” “Ahh! Help...!” “Queen mother!” “Ahhhhh!” To reach the altar, one had to run for five to seven minutes up the stairs—it was very far. It wasn’t a distance you could reach immediately. “Richmond!” At Dad’s call, Richmond hurriedly activated his Gaho. He , but... Bang! He was stopped before reaching the altar. “The altar’s barrier prevents special class Gaho from passing.” Special class Gaho refers to powers like , , with unique traits. Events like the Fertility Festival, where royals appear before all the people, have assassination risks. Assassination Gaho is guarded against by nobles, but special class Gaho cannot be blocked. That’s why the strong barrier was made. Of course, Astra has people with powerful Gaho who can handle those monsters at once. ‘But it’s too powerful and problematic!’ Using such powerful Gaho here would be reckless. There’s a risk the royals could be hit. Even Dad’s would turn the first prince to dust if not carefully controlled. ‘This is serious.’ For now, the bloodline all hurried up the stairs. Loreina, the beast transformed one, was the fastest. She became a leopard and charged at the monsters. “Kyaaang─!” The problem was the monsters were too strong for the teenage Loreina to handle. I bit my lip hard. ‘There’s no other way.’ Whooosh─!! I took out the flute from my pocket and blew it with all my strength. Nearby, wings flapped. “Ragon!!!” Ragon flew to me. Everyone around was in chaos, but I didn’t care and jumped on his back. Riding Ragon, I swiftly passed the direct family. “Ra, Ragon?!” “What, you’re not dead?!” Yes, Ragon wasn’t dead. There’s no way I would have let him be killed. “Uncle Deconz must have—!” At the far end, I met eyes with Liangtin. Liangtin wore a proud expression. ‘Deconz’s daughter, who he loves madly, is close with me!’ That’s why connections are important. Ragon flew up and bit the monsters’ necks. Kieeek! The flying monster Karuathon screamed as it retreated. I’d seen Karuathon as a child on Hadix Mountain. Karuathon is strong, but no match for steel ravens. Besides, our Ragon is much stronger than the other steel ravens. After defeating the monsters, I jumped off Ragon’s back. “Are you okay, Queen?” “Y-Yes... what on earth happened...” Helping Queen Ocelia up, I felt someone’s gaze nearby. It was Anatoly. She was pale as a sheet. She seemed shocked that Ragon was alive. “Can you stand alone? I must help you up... Sorry, it’s a matter of status.” Then she smiled smugly, curling one corner of her mouth. Seeing my sneer, Anatoly’s expression twisted violently. “You...” She clenched her teeth and let out a bitter laugh. Then suddenly shouted, “What on earth is the meaning of this!” Anatoly pointed at Erilot and shouted. “I tried everything I could to help you because of General Daymond. But how could you do such a thing...!” Anatoly gently grabbed Erilot’s shoulder, as if trying to awaken her. “Apologize. If you beg for forgiveness, maybe we can help you.” “What?” Erilot’s eyes widened. “How could you bring monsters to the Fertility Festival?!” Anatoly was on the verge of tears. The crowd murmured loudly. “...!” “...!” “...!” Even Astra Manor’s nobles began whispering with confused expressions. “Could it be that Erilot Astra summoned those monsters?” “I heard Erilot Astra’s Gaho is .” As the altar grew uproarious, Erilot’s expression hardened coldly. “I didn’t do such a thing.” “If not you, then who would? Is it possible monsters would attack without your Gaho? Ah, I really...!” Anatoly staggered. The crowd’s whispers grew louder. Then Astra’s people arrived beside them. Erilot frowned and said, “Princess Anatoly, I really didn’t do that.” “Stop lying now!” “You push me around without seeing the full situation. Shouldn’t you be the one apologizing?” “What?” Anatoly frowned at Erilot’s bold words. ‘That shameless woman...!’ Anatoly glared at Erilot. “If not you, then who did this?” “Well, wouldn’t you know better, Princess?” “What?” Anatoly shouted, forgetting her purpose. “It was you! You called those monsters!” 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮 “I really didn’t call the monsters. Accusing me without proof is absurd.” Erilot tilted her head and continued. “Are you trying to pin this on me because of Dad?” Anatoly opened her mouth, flustered and unsure what to say. People have gaps in such moments. Erilot blinked and asked, “Will you swear?” “Yes, if not you, I’ll give up my royal status!” At that, Erilot’s eyes gleamed. “Are you really sure? Enough to stake something?” “Yes! I swear on the honor of the royal palace!” Anatoly screamed, and Erilot smiled fully. Erilot rolled up her sleeve. On her wrist was a ruby bracelet. ‘That bracelet...?’ It looked familiar. Erilot gracefully walked over and stood beside her grandfather. “Grandfather said he’d let me be investigated in the capital. He trusts me. But if I’m going as a suspect, I need this, right?” Those watching the bracelet suddenly shouted, “It’s a gag order bracelet!” “A gag order bracelet!” A magical device to suppress Gaho. Without it, you cannot use Gaho at all. You become unable to summon monsters. ‘Of course, it’s fake.’ Wearing the gag order for about a day nearly killed me, so I swapped it with a fake. ‘But Grandfather definitely forged the records.’ This was the first time I stubbornly stood up to my grandfather. “I want to wear the gag order bracelet.” “That’s not allowed.” “That’s dangerous for a child. It forcibly twists the body’s flow and blocks mana generation.” “But...” “A fragile child would be in danger just by wearing it. Isn’t that why your father desperately stopped you?” “...” “But we can forge it as if you’re wearing it.” Marquis Debussy and Conrad, the best at handling information, forged it with all their might. And Michelan, who shook the Empress Dowager clean without a trace, helped. There was no way anything suspicious could be found. Anatoly turned pale and collapsed. “Th-That’s nonsense! Then how could you have flown riding that steel raven?” “My Gaho is ‘Taming.’ Once tamed, a child can use it without Gaho.” Upon hearing this, some blood relatives gasped. “Come to think of it, Erilot was hanging around monsters even on nights of red moons!” Foolish Joffrey said that. He chased me trying to find my weakness, so it helped now. Erilot stepped toward Anatoly. And whispered, “Did you think I bought information about me from a maid?” “What?” “Do you know that maid’s name?” “W-What...?” “Hilda. She’s a very loyal maid to me.” Anatoly’s expression twisted in disbelief as she shouted, “N-No, no... That can’t be! Such nonsense...!” Erilot smiled faintly. But then— Beeeep─! A ringing in her ears. Erilot covered her ears. Her vision blurred, and her heart pounded. ‘Huh?’ Flash─! The sky lit up, and the steel raven in the sky was surrounded by light. Thud-thud-thud!! With the sound of something falling, the light cleared. Only then did focus return. And what appeared before the child’s eyes was...