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“Congratulations, Miss Ayla. To gain His Majesty’s trust at such a young age, it’s truly remarkable, isn’t it?”
“I heard you’re also close with Princess Peony. After graduating from the academy, are you planning to enter the Imperial Palace?”
Ayla smiled, looking troubled.
Beside her, Piyo was tugging at her clothes and twisting his body.
It seemed his patience was wearing thin.
However, she was surrounded by countless people and couldn’t move.
Suddenly, a commotion arose some distance away.
Turning her head, she saw the Empress walking towards them with her entourage.
Ayla’s eyes narrowed.
‘Why now……’
But she couldn’t avoid it just because she didn’t want to, so Ayla hurriedly patted Piyo’s back.
Piyo straightened up from his staggering posture.
In the meantime, the Empress pushed through the crowd and came right up to them.
“It’s been a while, Miss Ayla.”
“Have you been well, Your Majesty the Empress?”
While Ayla politely greeted her, the Empress’s gaze remained fixed on the black-haired boy.
“So, this child is the Black Dragon? Can he speak at all?”
“Communication isn’t a problem…… but he hasn’t learned human etiquette yet.”
Ayla trailed off, looking at the Empress. The Empress nodded as if to say it was alright.
“It’s only natural since he’s a different race from humans. Would it be alright if I had a brief conversation with him?”
Something felt uneasy, but Ayla slowly nodded.
Soon, the Empress bent her knees and looked into Piyo’s yellow eyes. Then, she reached out and stroked the boy’s head.
“Do you remember who I am? You must have seen me a few times in the Imperial Palace before.”
“……”
The boy stared at the woman with a blank expression for a moment, then nodded very slightly.
The Empress smiled even more deeply at the sight.
Suddenly, the boy opened his mouth.
“……There was a time when red blood stained the land and rivers, and gray ashes scattered in the sky.”
As he continued to speak, the boy’s voice began to crack in an alien way.
“I smell it from you too. The smell of ash that scattered back then, the smell of blood and betrayal…….”
The boy’s pupils gradually became elongated vertically.
Before long, the smile that had been on the Empress’s face was nowhere to be found.
Belatedly realizing the situation, Ayla hurriedly looked around.
However, instead of being embarrassed, people were busy looking at each other with curious faces.
They were laughing and chatting as if they had seen a very interesting sight.
“Did you hear that just now? It’s a language I’ve never heard before.”
“Oh my, I’ve never heard such bizarre pronunciation.”
“Is that the Dragon’s Language I’ve only heard about?”
Judging from their reactions, it seemed that no one had understood what Piyo had said earlier.
The Empress pursed her lips and remained silent for a while, then narrowed her eyes and stood up.
“Even if he’s still young, a Dragon is still a Dragon. He has very mysterious powers.”
Ayla paused inwardly at her calm demeanor.
Was she really the only one who had heard the story from earlier?
If not, the Empress’s eyes seemed strangely colder than before. As if she had understood everything Piyo had said.
“Well, Miss Ayla. So, where are you planning to go after graduation?”
The Empress, who had regained her composure in an instant, raised the corners of her lips again.
“Like His Majesty, I also have very high expectations for you. And that’s…….”
The Empress turned around as if to show off and gazed at the front of the platform as she continued to speak.
“My son, Prince Darian, feels the same way. If you come to the Imperial Family and give us your strength, it would be a great help.”
As soon as her words ended, a stir arose among the people.
This was because the Empress, although benevolent, was not the type to praise just any human.
To catch the eye of the Emperor, the Empress, and even Prince Darian, who was likely to be the next Emperor.
The gazes towards Ayla began to change.
Soon, the Empress’s aides began to chime in as if they had been waiting for it.
“Indeed, as Your Majesty the Empress said, if such a talented person as this were to work under the Prince…….”
“We would feel much more secure. It would certainly be a great help to the future of the country.”
“The Prince’s future is even more anticipated.”
The Empress, who was satisfied with the reaction, added.
“I remember when it was first revealed that Miss Ayla was the owner of the Black Dragon. At that time, I asked you if you had any intention of working under Darian.”
Ayla took a short breath and answered quietly.
“Yes, I remember.”
“Although you refused at the time, saying you lacked the qualifications. I thought it was a shame…….”
The Empress let out a soft sigh and placed a hand on her cheek.
“But the situation is different now, isn’t it? You not only graduated from the academy early with excellent skills, but you are also a talented person who has been awarded the Imperial Order. I think you are now qualified to stand by our Darian’s side.”
“……You flatter me.”
She hadn’t expected the other party to come out so blatantly in such a public place.
Ayla narrowed her brow as if troubled.
“Haha, everyone acknowledges Miss Ayla’s abilities. There’s no reason to be humble anymore.”
“Of course, you’re fully qualified.”
From the beginning, the Empress’s aides were already talking around her as if it were a foregone conclusion that Ayla would become part of Darian’s faction.
Even though she had just received the Imperial Order from His Majesty, if she were to firmly reject the Empress’s proposal in this atmosphere…….
‘People will harbor ill feelings towards me and spread bad rumors.’
That’s why she should have quickly joined Felix or Duke Argenta before being surrounded by these people.
Ayla bit her lip as if troubled and gazed desperately at the crowd.
“Everyone’s gathered here.”
An imposing physique befitting a heavy footstep, a dignified voice.
Ayla’s eyes widened with joy.
‘Duke Argenta……!’
“It’s been a while, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“……Duke Argenta.”
The Empress slowly turned around.
“Indeed. It’s been a very long time since I’ve seen your face. Is this the son who was said to have gone missing? He’s grown up very well.”
“Haha, the rumors have spread so far that they’ve reached Your Majesty the Empress’s ears. I don’t know how grateful I am that he grew up well on his own without a father.”
The Duke chuckled softly and lightly patted Felix’s shoulder next to him.
After that, a light conversation about each other’s well-being took place between the two for a while.
Ayla was relieved that the topic had moved away from her for a moment.
“……Ah, by the way. I have an important conversation I was having with Miss Ayla right now.”
The Empress smiled faintly and briefly explained the conversation they had had earlier.
The Duke’s eyes widened, and he stroked the beard on his chin in admiration.
“Indeed, I understand Your Majesty the Empress’s feelings. Even I think Miss Ayla is a talent that anyone would covet.”
“Hoho, come to think of it, the Duke must know her well too. Since your son is dating Miss Ayla, you must have had many opportunities to interact.”
“Ahaha, I’m just quietly watching to see what kind of future the two of them will build. So, Your Majesty the Empress…….”
Duke Argenta stepped forward.
“I apologize for being presumptuous, but I hope you won’t push Miss Ayla too hard in this place.”
The Empress’s smile froze for a moment at his unexpected intervention.
Her eyes flickered sharply for a moment, but soon she put on a kind smile on her face again as if nothing had happened.
“Push her?”
“Miss Ayla has already promised to work together with Princess Peony for a long time.”
“…….”
“So, I hope you will withdraw your proposal to come under Prince Darian.”
In an instant, a strange silence flowed through the banquet hall.
The Empress’s fingertips, which were holding a fan, trembled slightly. She raised the corners of her lips with difficulty and muttered lowly.
“……Is that true?”
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