Having recently arrived from Caletta, Ru thought she must have a lot she didn’t know.

It wasn’t particularly embarrassing. It wasn’t shameful to not know, and it was confident to actively try to find out by jumping around like this.

She would study hard. She would study even harder to stay by Hayden’s side, but Dragonlord said something annoying.

“I thought Her Majesty would tell Young One at least. Surprising.”

Ru pondered over his words.

Is this something to disappoint Hayden?

Reason answered immediately. There was no reason for a knight to be disappointed with their lord. She might be disappointed if her lord betrayed her or showed different actions than the reasons and loyalty he decided on, but otherwise, there was no disappointment.

However, a corner of the feelings that unfolded before Hayden was slightly folded.

She withdrew inwardly. It wasn’t bitter, and if you thought about it, you had to consider it against Melpheus, who spoke so annoyingly. However, regardless of that, her feelings toward Hayden were drying up quietly and sticking to a corner.

“Amusing.”

Ru said to herself. You’re really funny, Rustica Genesis. Why disappoint in here? Why cross the line when you knew the boundaries well in Caletta and acted only on your will? Arrogant and overstepping.

As a habit, she slapped her cheek with her hand.

“If she didn’t tell, she must have had a reason.”

Melpheus had been a Dragonlord who had protected Perseita for a long time, and Ru was now revealed to be a fledgling, not a southern sage. Moreover, she was a fledgling who was heavily cursed.

So there was no reason to be jealous of Dragonlord. There was no reason to hate him. Wasn’t trying to match the incredibly wise dragon without skills itself a stupid thing?

So Ru decided to let her feelings settle somewhat appropriately. It’s better to be relieved. If not, she might have reached out to Hayden recklessly. It was safe to let it dry like this. It was safe.

“You seem very joyful, Your Majesty.”

Melpheus joked to Hayden, who was narrowing his eyes.

“I’m so happy that I could die. How was the shipyard, Young One?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have fully delivered all the attachments to the shipyard, and Imperiale is supervising the management. Anita Tevied expressed her gratitude to Your Majesty, saying she was very pleased. She promised to work hard and do her best.”

Ru, who had been to the shipyard as a messenger conveying the words of the emperor, dutifully finished her report.

“A warship beyond imagination will come out.”
Hayden barely smiled for a short moment. He looked quite annoyed as he received various reports in the midst of the busy preparations for the banquet at the Aeseloth Palace.

Instead of asking why or what made him upset, Ru closed her mouth. There were more things she shouldn’t ask.

It was better to just answer the questions he asked. Especially since he was a sage, she needed to be more careful.

“Why are you so happy, Your Majesty? Please teach us a bit too.”

She asked, and Melpheus asked on her behalf. It was a slightly twisted questioning method, perhaps the Dragonlord’s way.

“Isn’t it familiar to Dragonlords? Nobles making a spectacle.”

“Oh.”

Melpheus replied expressionlessly and sat down on a large, soft chair that could be called a sofa, even though its width was ambiguous.

“I’m so used to it that I don’t even bother anymore. I gave up.”

He said so, and as if he didn’t want to hear any more, he didn’t ask further. The steward who approached this way recommended a chair nearby to Ru as well.

“You should sit too, Young One. We’ll bring you cool drinks.”

“Oh, I’ll have white grape wine.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll take anything other than alcohol.”

“Yes, Young One.”

Even now, amidst this huge drawing room, Hayden, who stood there, had people close to him coming to him and discussing various documents with him. Melpheus, sitting upright, turned his violet eyes to Ru.

“East white grape wine is quite famous. Taste it, Young One.”

“Yes. I’ll try it later.”

“Is it not allowed to drink during working hours?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

As if he had already expected a very knightly answer, Melpheus nodded slowly.

The sunlight pouring through the wide-open windows was warm, and the drinks brought by the steward were very cool and delicious.

However, Hayden was still surrounded by people. He didn’t show any signs of leaving, but somehow, Ru felt that he was irritated.

“This is how it is to take care of the East. It’s excessively ceremonial, and they reject others. There’s probably no other place that scrutinizes your background as severely as there.”

Melpheus, as if knowing what Ru was curious about, slowly explained while sipping his wine.

“Dragonlords are not outsiders.”

“Call me Melpheus. I’m not an outsider, but that doesn’t mean I belong to them. I’m more like a bothersome guardian deity. It’s uncomfortable without one, so they’ll at least show some respect. It’s like saying if a guardian deity said they would send an army to Caletta to maintain it, they would cooperate reluctantly.”