Duke Pendragon

"I'll be back, mom!"

"Yes. Make sure you listen well to the words of Her Majesty and don't make any trouble."

"Hehe! Don't worry!"

Lindsay's eyes bent into a gentle curl as she saw off her daughter. Although Elsia quite resembled her beloved, her personality was completely different. Come to think of it, she had been just like Elsia when she was but a girl, when the Pendragon family was still a duchy.

She had been a young, cheerful girl who was curious and naïve to the world.

"Please take good care of them, Sir Killian."

"There is no need to worry at all, Baroness Conrad!"

Killian thumped his metal armor while shouting bravely, He had been appointed as the captain of Elena and Elsia's escorting knights. Killian felt as if he were soaring through the air.

It wasn't just because he was going on a trip after such a long time. Rather, it was because his lord had returned safely.

In addition to his lord's safe return, someone else had returned after several years. This figure was one of the few beings that Killian feared.

Karuta.

Killian felt overjoyed at the return of his lord, but the return of the latter caused him to lose sleep at night due to fear.

However, he was able to avoid Karuta for a short time by escorting the two ladies. It was only natural for him to jump with joy.

"Sir Killian."

"Ah! Regent Ron."

Vincent scoured his surroundings while calling out in a soft voice.

"Please take special care during this journey."

"Hmm?"

Although Killan was rather simple, he was not a fool. Since Vincent was asking him to be extra careful, it must have meant there was something deeper.

"All right. I will carry out my task."

"Yes, I will trust you, sir."

Vincent felt relieved after hearing Killian's response. He knew Kilian to have maintained his place even when they duchy was in decline. Mark Killian was a man who kept his words to death.

***

Seven years passed since all threats to the state disappeared. The Aragon Empire was enjoying an unprecedented period of stability. As if to prove the empire's peace, the gate to the imperial castle was bustling with people despite the cold season.

Clop. Clop.

The entrance for nobles was separated from the general gate, and it was somewhat calm compared to the bustling crowd of the commoner's entrance. The guards approached as a group of horsemen and a carriage neared the gate.

"Where are your esteemed selves coming from?"

The knight asked politely towards Isla, who looked unusual at a glance, rather than Raven, who was dressed like an ordinary mercenary or a free knight.

"I am Elkin Isla of Valvas, and this is His Majesty Alan Pendragon, the king of the Pendragon Kingdom, an allied nation of the Aragon Empire, and the empress' elder brother."

"Sir!"

The guard captain became alert as soon as he heard Isla's name. He saluted and cried out in a brave voice after hearing of Raven's identity.

"Your Majesty Pendragon and Your Majesty Isla! I warmly welcome you into the imperial castle!"

At the sound of the guard captain's roar, the nearby soldiers straightened their polearms and stood at attention. They were deeply moved, but unsurprised. They were already told about the procession of King Pendragon's group from the imperial castle.

Rather, the commoners waiting in front of the large gate were greatly surprised.

"His Majesty Pendragon!"

"Uwooooh!"

The appearance of the empire's former duke caused a great stir in front of the gate. They were greatly startled to see a legend right in front of their eyes.

Hundreds of people flocked to see Raen and Isla, and the guards became busy trying to calm the crowd in the sudden disturbance.

"His Majesty the Emperor is waiting for your two majesties in the imperial castle. Please enter."

"Hmm. Keep up the good work."

Raven quickly entered through the gate, concerned about the growing disturbance.

Soon, they arrived at the imperial castle.

"Honor!"

The royal guards stood in a long line in front of the palace and welcomed the group with a boisterous shout.

Seven long years had passed, but all of the royal guards deeply admired Alan Pendragon and Elkin Isla. It wasn't simply because the two were kings of allied nations.

Rather, they were the culmination of knights and great heroes who defended the empire. The royal guards were men who lived and died by their swords. They regarded the two men as their goal, as well as their motivation and dream. Their hearts would beat faster when they thought of the two men, even though they knew they could never reach such heights.

"It's a cold day…"

Raven smiled bitterly as he rode past the hundreds of swords. It appeared to have been Ian's orders. It was certain that his friend and brother-in-law, Ian, still possessed a wild personality even after becoming the emperor.

"I didn't order them. I only listened to their suggestion."

Someone suddenly appeared from the midst of the knights and blocked the group's path.

"…..!"

Raven and Isla pulled the reins of their steeds with surprise.

He was being escorted by royal knights in silver and white armor, and dozens of nobles stood behind him. He had his arms spread wide with a bright smile.

He was Ian Aragon, the great emperor of the empire.

"I greet Your Majesty the Emperor!"

Isla jumped off his horse and shouted. However, Raven slowly dismounted the horse before staring at his old friend – the emperor.

The gaze of the two men met in the air.

As if promised, a smile came to their lips at the same time.

"You've gotten older."

"Is that how you talk to the emperor?"

"Ah, that's right. I made a big mistake. King Pendragon greets Your Majesty."

Raven scratched his head and started kneeling on the ground. However, Ian grabbed him by the shoulder and dissuaded him.

"Should I not be the one giving my greetings? The empire survived thanks to you, and I was able to safely ascend the throne. And…"

The emperor took his only friend into embrace.

"To you, and you only, I am not the emperor, but a friend. Is that not so, brother-in-law?"

"Haha…!"

Raven patted Ian's back. The emperor was unchanged.

He felt happy and proud.

It was a different emotion than when he met Raymond, Mia, and Isla.

He felt glad and happy without other intense emotions.

He felt glad to see Ian, who remained unchanged even after becoming the emperor. In the past, Raven would have felt challenged to even stare at the emperor directly. It appeared that the emotions were contagious. The royal knights stared at the two figures with touched expression, even though they would have prevented anyone from approaching the emperor within a 5-meter radius in normal circumstances.

The royal knights were always by the emperor's side. They guarded him and assisted him in even closer proximity than the empress.

The man who stood at the apex, the absolute of the empire always longed and talked about the man named Alan Pendragon.

In a way, the emperor was the loneliest job in the world.

And Alan Pendragon was the only figure whom he considered a friend. The royal knights and nobles of the imperial castle were touched, envious, and even a little jealous.

In the first place, it was unprecedented for the emperor to come out to meet and embrace anyone.

"Mia of Pendragon sees Your Majesty."

"Raymond of Pendragon greets Your Majesty."

Mia and Raymond also exited the carriage in the meantime. They showed respect towards Ian.

"Ohh! Mia! You have become even more beautiful! Wow! Raymond, when did you grow to be so big?"

Ian's candid attitude disappeared, and he burst into laughter while raising Mia and Raymond from their postures.

"Hahaha! Welcome! Welcome!"

"Thank you very much."

They were the only ones in the world who would receive so much hospitality from the emperor himself, and Ian did not regard Pendragon as he did any others. Others were well aware of this fact as well. As such, they watched the interaction with smiles on their faces. In this moment, Ian was not the emperor, but a friend and family.

Two others exited the carriage.

One dared to face the emperor in a nonchalant matter, while the other kowtowed and trembled like a fig tree with their heads touching the ground.

"Hooh…."

Ian narrowed his eyes as he saw the two. To be exactly, his gaze was headed towards the indifferent figure.

"It has been a while. Master of Aragon, Ian, gives his greetings."

The royal knights and nobles were astonished to see the emperor taking the initiative to bow his head to someone. But soon, they came to an understanding.

"Queen of All Dragons, Soldrake. You are still strong and beautiful."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Heuk…!"

"S, Soldrake!"

They realized why the emperor had to bow his head. In the face of the strongest creature on earth and an olden brother of the gods, even the emperor was only a human.

"What is this?"

Ian asked while pointing at the figure trembling on the ground, and Raven responded with a bitter smile.

"I picked it up on the way here."

"I, I, I greet Your Majesty the Emperor!"

Berna banged her head against the floor while clenching her teeth.

"Hmm? It doesn't convey the feeling of a human."

'Guah!'

She kept her eyes glued to the ground while trembling, not daring to make a sound. It was said that the direct descendants of the Aragon family were born with an unparalleled sprit. It appeared the rumors were true.

It would have been impossible for him to recognize her identity otherwise.

"It's a long story. There is no need for you to care about it right now. I will fill you in the details later."

"I see."

Ian glanced a Berna, then turned around with a smile.

"Now! Let's go in. Elkin, stand up. What's with such formalities between us?"

Although it wasn't as deep as with Raven, Ian shared a good relationship with Isla. He grabbed Isla by the forearm and raised him up.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, Your blah-blah-blah. Let's hurry up and go. It's cold and I'm hungry."

Ian wrapped his arms around the shoulders of Raven and Isla, then waddled away.

"Y, your Majesty…"

"Huh…"

Isla was taken aback by Ian's attitude, and Raven simply shook his head. Anyone who saw Ian might have assumed him to be a regular, neighborhood hoodlum rather than the emperor.

It was good to remain unchanged, but in a sense, this was a little, no, quite severe.

***

"B-r-o-ther!"

As soon as the party entered the spacious, colorful inner palace, a beautiful woman wearing a colorful silver dress and white fur around her neck came running.

"Y, Your Majesty!"

"P, please…! You must not forget your dignity! Your Majesty!"

"N, no…!"

A horde of imperial maids came chasing after her, and Ian watched the situation unfold with a ridiculous expression. Even more absurdly, the empress completely ignored her husband the emperor and jumped into the arms of the man next to him.

"Whaaaaaaaaa! Brother! Hunggg!"

The emperor's companion wailed and jumped into her brother's arm. It was the first time she was seeing him in seven years.