The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

Ever since visiting the Duke of Silver's fortress and being slightly shocked by the exotic views, David felt his threshold for architectural aesthetics had been irrevocably raised.

That feeling was much like a young person from a third- or fourth-tier city experiencing the prosperity of a first-tier city for the first time, or visiting a national scenic area. After that, when visiting other big cities or tourist sites, even though the experiences might vary, the impact would never be as intense as the first time.

So when David entered the Dewensen Royal Palace with the ceremonial guard this time, he felt it was just so-so.

Even having transformed into a Dragon, his talent in aesthetics was entirely focused on appreciating the beauty of creatures rather than that of art. And because of a Dragon's innate ability to appraise 'valuables,' when he looked at the statue of the current Elf King Ailiando in front of the palace, he always felt it looked like it had been hastily refurbished, with no sense of 'age.'

David's inquisitive gaze naturally attracted the attention of the Dragon Father behind him, who, due to the presence of many Elves, refrained from rolling his eyes and suppressed the desire to speak out.

He feared that if his unrestrained Red Dragon son laughed out loud at his own masterpiece and then decided to examine it more closely, the situation would become hugely embarrassing. The Court Mages who had stayed up all night repairing the superficial damage to Dewensen City from the sewer explosion were probably exhausted and cursing their misfortune by now.

As the current ambassador from Dragon Island, Shalaina was not visiting for the first time either. However, David's younger sister Tania, perched on her brother's head, was experiencing this for the first time, her eyes gleaming as she let out bursts of amazement.

But David, who knew his sister Tania best, would bet that this Dragoness born of the same Dragon Mother as him likely didn't possess a much higher sense of aesthetics either. Ever since stepping into the palace, he guessed she was likely translating every item that caught her eye directly into the equivalent value of Dragon treasures. Perhaps she was even harboring crazier ideas than her Red Dragon older brother.

As a result, especially after the Duke of Silver's ceremonial guard stopped outside the palace, David and his family of Dragons looked like tourists from Dragon Island. They seemed to have come to the New Continent merely to sightsee, treating the Elven royalty with such apparent indifference. This naturally drew sideways glances and dissatisfaction from the surrounding High Elf guards.

But after all, they were the King's guests, one of whom was a Silver Dragon, a hero who had assisted on the border coast. Since the leading court attendant didn't stop them, the guards felt it was even less their place to say anything.

However, as David and the others continued further inside, the atmosphere gradually became more serious and tense, until even Tania seemed to sense something and clung to the back of David's neck, silently watching.

Soon, upon nearing the innermost part of the Elven King's palace, as the lone Duke of Silver entered, David's entourage of Silver Dragons were stopped just a short distance behind.

"Lord David Uthos, Miss Shalaina, please rest in the side hall for a moment and await an audience with His Majesty the Elf King," a court attendant informed them.

Even though this was the first time in his two lives that David was to meet a 'national leader,' he knew the general procedures were largely the same. Yet all the Dragons were keenly aware that the scene inside the Elven King's palace was certainly not going to be as idyllic as the peaceful display outside. What awaited the Duke of Silver was likely a situation no less perilous than a banquet set as a trap.

The Duke of Silver's personal arrival meant that the truth, finally, could no longer be contained. The High Elves were probably planning to use this opportunity to lay all the Elven Kingdom's internal conflicts out on the table. Under such circumstances, it was naturally inappropriate to air this dirty laundry in front of the Silver Dragons from Dragon Island.

What surprised David was that, upon arriving at the side hall, even Yevgeny was led by court attendants to a separate chamber.

Only Tania, carefree—or perhaps, completely indifferent even if she sensed the tension—transformed into her Silver Dragon form and pounced on the banquet spread the moment she saw it.

"Wow, there's so much food! I wouldn't have had breakfast if I'd known!"

"Save some room, the main feast is at noon," David called out to his dragon sister.

Poor Tania, born in a Red Dragon Nest on the Old Continent, had never witnessed such luxury. She ate with greasy satisfaction, her face a mask of conflict as she mumbled, "MMF! I'll just eat a little, just a little."

Seeing his father appearing somewhat worried, David couldn't help but speak up. "Why are you so anxious? Eat if you should eat, drink if you should drink. Mirillian is a Legend, after all."

"That's true," Attilicia replied, though the words felt hollow, as he still couldn't bring himself to eat.

Mirillian was indeed a Legend, but ultimately, she was just a brave and skilled Elven Sword Dancer. What if that old scoundrel, Elf King Ailiando, had set a trap for Mirillian? What if there was poison in the wine? This tactic was not uncommon in the history of the High Elves. Especially after the Dark Elves split away and degenerated into Drow, all sorts of elaborate poisons had been secretly mastered by the ostensibly virtuous High Elf nobles. Thinking this, the worried Attilicia gulped down a large glass of wine to calm his nerves.

Only then did he belatedly realize and say, "You little rascal, you should address her as the Duchess of the Silver Wheel. Mirillian isn't a name you can just use! If you were in Saeolus City, you'd probably be beaten up by the Elves in the street for such disrespect."

Shalaina, standing nearby, felt a pang of jealousy. After all, on Dragon Island, plenty of mischievous young Silver Dragons called her by her given name, yet this fellow had never once stepped in to defend her dignity.

David, even more unconcerned, flicked his tail. "Mirillian asked me to call her that. Honestly, Father, you meddle too much. You regard her as a friend, so I can't be friends with her? If it's such a big deal, we can just establish our own terms. I'll call you Father, and I'll call her Mirillian. When the three of us are together, we might as well all use first names, right?"

"...I'll be..." Attilicia nearly spat out the wine he had just swallowed.

Is that any way to determine seniority? he thought. He recalled how Elizabeth, who was older than him, had initially been confused about whether to call him 'Uncle' or use his name. A wave of guilt washed over him, and he fell silent.

After all, 'like father, like son,' or as they say, 'a crooked beam makes for a crooked shadow.' He really had no grounds to reprimand his son on this matter.

But a moment later, another realization struck him with belated surprise. Wait, when did his son get so friendly with Mirillian?

But before Attilicia could press David further, faint sounds of a commotion drifted from the main hall. Aside from Tania, who was engrossed in her food, the ear frills of the other three Silver Dragons—David, Attilicia, and Shalaina—twitched and perked up simultaneously.

However, the design of the Elven King's palace was quite ingenious. Even if the Elves in the main hall—usually renowned for their 'cultured and haughty' demeanor—were raising a ruckus, the architectural soundproofing and some form of magical interference prevented anyone from clearly hearing what was being said next door.

This didn't stump David. If he couldn't hear from a distance, then getting closer was the obvious solution.

So, under the astonished gazes of Attilicia and Shalaina, the two envoys from Dragon Island, David pressed his large head against the grand doors. Soon, his eyes widened, naturally piquing his father's curiosity.

"What exactly are those Elves arguing about?"

"There's magical interference; it's still not very clear. I can only make out something about 'enfeoffing a king' or something? Why don't you listen for yourself?"

"'Enfeoffing a king'?! What's going on?" Attilicia, already concerned about Mirillian's safety, was entirely shocked. And, reminding himself that he was no longer an envoy from Dragon Island but merely 'Mrs. Antonella,' a lover of gossip, he too began to eavesdrop without reservation.

"You all... this, isn't quite right, is it?" Shalaina, still an official envoy from Dragon Island, was momentarily speechless.

After what felt like an eternity, Tania, having sampled a bit of everything while prudently saving room, turned around with a satisfied look. Her jaw then dropped, and the mousse cake she held in her claw fell silently to the floor.

Her brother, her father, and even Shalaina—three Silver Dragons—were all pressed against the grand doors leading to the Royal Audience Hall, rumps in the air, tails wagging, occasionally whispering to each other with a "CLICK, CLICK."

Tania craned her neck, her ear frills twitching, utterly consumed by curiosity. "What are you doing? I want to listen, too!"

Hearing the commotion, David and his father felt a sense of foreboding and whipped their heads around. They saw Tania bounding towards them like an oversized calico cat.

"No, no, no! Don't come over here!"

***

「Before the Elven King's Royal Hall.」

The arrival of the Duke of Silver, guardian of the kingdom's southern border, prompted many border Nobles to rush over on their griffins. Eager to pick sides or merely to gauge the situation, they had come as soon as they received word. The Royal Audience Hall was more packed with Nobles than at any other time during Elf King Ailiando's reign; it was an unprecedented assembly. The last time so many Elven Nobles had gathered in one place was for Elf King Ailiando's coronation by the previous king.

According to their calculations, this meeting was likely another of His Majesty Ailiando's attempts to test the waters, using recent events as a pretext. They saw it as a prelude to a formal confrontation between the Elven King's authority and that of the regional Nobles who held true power.

However, contrary to all the Elves' expectations, His Majesty Ailiando—who had always been meticulous about procedure and highly respected the opinions of the Elder Council—did not follow convention this time.

Before they could even voice their pre-discussed requests—such as reinstating the Seventh Fleet in light of its recent merits, recalling naval forces to defend against further Barbarian incursions, or petitioning for a reduction in local taxes to bolster coastal defenses—their Elf King Ailiando dropped a bombshell:

"Given Duchess Mirillian Elizabeth Scallia of the Silver Wheel's meritorious service in defending the frontier and her resounding fame," he declared.

"And in consideration of the long-term welfare of the High Elven Kingdom, I hereby propose Duchess of the Silver Wheel to be King of Saeolus! She shall govern the southern territories, bordered by the Songsei River.

"She will, for generations, be a bulwark for Dewensen, safeguarding the High Elven Kingdom and its people."

This King's Decree stunned everyone. Not only did the Duke of Silver stare in disbelief at the expressionless Elf King Ailiando on the throne, but all the Nobles in the Royal Court, each with their own schemes, were utterly dumbfounded. A cacophony of protests erupted.

This time, however, Elf King Ailiando seemed resolute and unmoved. He simply watched the Duke of Silver quietly, awaiting her acceptance of the title.

Mirillian, the Duke of Silver, her face a mask of profound pain and disappointment, almost roared her question at the Elf King on the throne, "Do you realize what you are doing, Ailiando?!"