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If she became his direct subordinate, there was a possibility that their relationship would rapidly grow closer.
The Count tugged at his mustache, subtly pressuring Freya.
"I'm telling you this because I think you need to be more alert."
Freya nodded with bloodshot eyes, gnawing on her lower lip.
'I think I understand Rosia's feelings now.'
Until now, Freya had never quite understood Rosia's impatience over her soon-to-be fiancé.
After all, marriages between nobles were decided according to the interests of the Noble house.
Whether Kadin gave his heart to Ayla or not, it was none of her concern.
'In the first place, Kadin isn't the type to settle down with just one woman.'
On the other hand, Darian was handsome, capable, and had a good character.
Moreover, he was currently the most likely candidate to become Emperor.
'And I'm the only Young Lady in the empire who is qualified to be his partner.'
Currently, apart from a few Noble houses, no Noble house had as much influence in the imperial family as the Count Arman Noble house.
Among them, Rosia and she were the only Young Ladies who were the right age for Darian.
'But Rosia is scheduled to marry Kadin.'
So Freya had been waiting leisurely, thinking that he would be hers someday.
She had no doubt that she would soon ascend to the position of Empress of the empire without difficulty.
The Empress would not readily accept Ayla, who was no longer a member of the Blanche Noble house.
But if, after she became Empress, Ayla were to seize the position of Empress Consort...
'No way. I can't give that position to Ayla, not to anyone else.'
She could never tolerate Ayla, no matter who else it was.
She was already tired of dealing with her at the academy, and now she had to keep seeing that annoying face even after entering the imperial palace.
Soon, Freya spoke to Count Arman with a venomous look on her face.
"Don't worry, Father. She's just a commoner. Her Majesty the Empress will see her as a pawn to be used and discarded. You know what she's like."
"That's a relief, but..."
"Trust Her Majesty the Empress, Father."
Of course, regardless of that, Freya had no intention of leaving Ayla alone.
'I'll make her pay the price for daring to touch what's mine.'
If she returned to the academy, Freya had no intention of tolerating Ayla any longer.
Her eyes gleamed coldly.
Around the time the rumor that Ayla had become the owner of a Dragon was spreading.
Felix was nearing the Argenta Dukedom after a long journey.
'Why did he specifically call me to the Dukedom?'
He still couldn't guess the Duke's intentions.
Recently, Duke Argenta had been staying at the townhouse in the capital to teach him, and he had never felt that the facilities there were insufficient for learning.
'But why all the way out here... How special is this guidance going to be?'
At first, Felix expected the journey to the Dukedom to be quite arduous, as the Dukedom was quite far from the academy.
But his expectations were completely wrong.
'This is the most comfortable long-distance travel I've ever had.'
As soon as Felix saw the Argenta Noble house's carriage that had come to pick him up, he pretended to be calm on the outside, but he couldn't help but be very surprised on the inside.
The carriage was so magnificent that it seemed like it was for a direct descendant, rather than a means of transportation to pick up a mere disciple.
'Even if I'm the Duke's only disciple, isn't this too much?'
Moreover, the person who came to pick him up was also a very high-ranking person.
"I am Hamel, the Second Captain of the Kistal Royal Guard. I have come to escort Sir Felix."
"......?"
"And these are the Second Royal Guard."
"Did you all come to escort me?"
"Yes, that's right. We will serve you comfortably."
The carriage was excessively comfortable, as if it had some special Magic on it.
And the entire Second Royal Guard was sticking to him to escort him.
'I expected at most one or two people to follow me... I'm so grateful that I don't know what to do.'
The strange thing didn't end there.
Even after arriving at the Argenta Dukedom, the excessive welcome from the people continued.
"We have arrived, Sir Felix."
Hamel personally opened the door of the carriage.
His courteous kindness was embarrassing, but Felix couldn't help but be even more surprised when he got out of the carriage.
There were so many servants out to greet him.
'At this rate, haven't they called everyone in the Duke's Noble house?'
Felix was frozen in the bewildering situation.
Duke Argenta was seen pushing through the servants and approaching quickly from afar.
His Yetien aide and butler, whom he was somewhat familiar with, were following behind him, as if they had run out together as soon as they heard the news of his arrival.
Soon, the Duke, who had come close, grabbed his hand tightly and shook it.
"Welcome to the Argenta Dukedom, Felix."
His voice somehow felt warm. Felix's eyes trembled with embarrassment.
Of course, the Duke was uniquely kind and gentle to him, unlike other people.
But he had almost never been this friendly to him.
Felix awkwardly looked around.
The expressions of the people who seemed to be the Duke's Noble house's servants were somehow strange.
The aide and butler behind the Duke were wiping away tears with handkerchiefs, and some servants were shaking their shoulders with their heads bowed.
The First Royal Guard of Kistal, who had come out to greet him, was also the same. Their eyes were faintly bloodshot.
'What's going on?'
Felix was bewildered, but he couldn't continue thinking because of Duke Argenta's touch, which was leading him into the mansion.
"I'll introduce you to the Dukedom after you've rested from your journey."
"You're going to introduce me yourself, Duke?"
"Yes."
The Duke was going to introduce him to the Dukedom himself.
Felix had never imagined that he would receive this much hospitality before arriving at the Dukedom.
While he was embarrassed, the butler approached Felix and bowed deeply.
"Sir Felix, I will assist you."
The butler picked up Felix's luggage with the utmost courtesy.
Then, he led him to the room where he would be staying.
After some time, Felix stopped again in front of a classic door with ornate patterns.
"Is this my room?"
The butler opened the door and answered.
"Yes, you can use this room while you stay at the Dukedom. If you have any inconveniences, please feel free to tell me at any time."
"......"
"Perhaps the room... you don't like it."
"Ah, no."
The butler seemed to have mistaken Felix's quiet silence for not liking the room.
Felix shook his head as if to reassure him at his anxious expression, and slowly went inside.
Then, the scenery of the room, which was excessively spacious and luxurious for a room given to a guest, came into view.
Felix quietly swallowed as he saw the appearance of the luxurious room he was staying in for the first time in his life.
The butler bowed politely to Felix and stepped back.
"Please call me anytime if you need anything."
As soon as the butler left, Felix sat blankly on the sofa on one side.
'What is all this? It's too much to simply welcome the Duke's disciple.'
Felix wasn't an idiot.
Everything he was receiving now didn't suit his status.
He had to be careful of favors he didn't know the reason for.
Even as he thought that, his heart was strangely restless.
There was a strange warmth in the eyes of the people towards him.
And within it, there was also an indescribable eagerness.
'Let's watch for now.'
Felix let out a soft sigh and ruffled his hair.
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