Chapter 95: The Final Snow Festival

Officially, the Emperor has three children.

First Prince, Kain Barba.

Second Princess, Serena Barba.

Third Princess, Yulia Barba.

The relationship between the First Prince and the Princesses is known to be fairly smooth.

There’s a considerable age gap, and the Crown Prince is known for his calm, forgiving nature. In a way, it was only natural.

However, when it came to the Second and Third Princesses…

Anyone even remotely interested in the royal family was aware of the dynamic between Serena and Yulia.

-“Oh, you mean Her Highness the Second Princess and Her Highness the Third Princess? Yeah, they don’t get along at all.”

Though they both maintained a polished public image, the facade crumbled after an incident where they stepped on each other’s feet at an official event. Now, they don’t even bother to hide it.

The gossipers have a nickname for them:

- “The Rival Amethyst and Platinum.”

“Oh, aren’t you lucky? Count Ascal Erindale is at the very peak of influence in the Empire right now. He’s practically a golden rope to hang onto. So, when did you set your sights on him, my opportunistic little sister?”

Serena tilted her head, giving a cold smile.

Interpretation: You went after Ascal for his political value, didn’t you?

Hidden meaning: Unlike you, I love Ascal with an artistic connection, so my love is purer.

“That sounds like something you’d think. I, however, have been by Ascal’s side since he held no power. Yes, even back when he was just a simple rope instead of a golden one. He was rather adorable back then.”

Yulia responded with a polite smile.

Interpretation: Jealous? We’ve been together since we had nothing. Ever heard of platonic love?

Hidden meaning: Yes, I raised Ascal. I know all his sides, even the ones you’ve never seen. Ever watched him sleep? He’s cute.

A vein bulged on Serena’s temple.

It was a losing battle from the beginning.

Because Yulia was already dating Ascal.

No matter what Serena said, that fact would not change.

“I wonder if he knows about your nasty personality. You’re clingy, paranoid… I bet he won’t last a week with you.”

Yulia chuckled.

“Are you talking about yourself?”

“Ugh…”

Yes, it was true.

The women of the Barba family didn’t have the best personalities.

In the end, all their insults were like spitting in the wind.

Current record of the sisters’ battles:

127 matches, 64 wins, 63 losses.

Serena held a slight edge.

But this battle was on a whole different level.

If their previous clashes were the regular season, this was the World Cup.

If she lost here…

Serena would forever bear the title “The Sister Who Lost Her Love to Her Younger Sister,” haunting her every night, soaking her pillow with tears.

“Ascal loves holding my hand. He says he likes the cool touch, and with his warm, dependable hands, he always holds mine tightly.”

Yulia went in for another strike.

Serena’s HP dropped significantly.

Each blow landed with a heavy, unyielding force.

Still, Serena couldn’t back down.

At this point, the throne didn’t matter. But her first love? No way.

He was the first person to understand her art, to understand her.

She would not let go.

Never.

Since when did they start dating?

Why did it happen so soon?

‘Did I not notice?’

‘Even though I was here… my darling…’

“Hic… haa…”

Watching Serena start to cry, Yulia looked a little taken aback.

Serena, who had always worn the mask of the mature older sister, had never shown such vulnerability in front of her.

It was the first time Serena had shown weakness in Yulia’s presence.

“Why… I… I expressed my love so clearly… so why won’t he accept it? We’re the same blood. Why is it okay for you and not for me?”

Yulia considered her options.

1. Finish this once and for all.

2. Show a bit of compassion.

In the past, she would’ve undoubtedly chosen the first option. But after her experiences in the North, Yulia had changed a little.

“Serena, I just happened to be a bit faster this time. Someone good will come for you too.”

​

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“Even if you just stay still, divine power will be copied, you know?”

-“Recently… another… presence… sensed… eyeing… our position.”

The Empire had a long history.

Ancient mythical beings and legends had been buried throughout its lands. Among them, some were once worshipped by the people of the Empire, but most were forgotten with time. Only a few remnants remained.

“The official religion of the Empire is now the Church of the Star!”

After the current emperor declared this, these beings were forced into a kind of slumber, leaving behind only a few words of farewell.

“The emperor, that bastard.”

“That brat—did he get paid off by the Church of the Star?”

“My body… my body… is fading away… aaaaaah!”

But even for them, an opportunity came.

They had thought they would be forgotten forever and fade away, but the Church of the Star collapsed. Furthermore, as the Sacred Tree grew, it began to distribute free divine power everywhere, like a sample corner at a market.

As a result, even minor deities of a lower rank began to awaken.

And naturally, they were drawn to areas with concentrated divine power—straight to the Department of Evaluation, where the Sacred Tree resided.

- “In my heyday, I’d get ten sacrifices at a time, you know?”

The spirit of an ancient mantis god swaggered into the Department of Evaluation.

- “Those sacrifices were raised by me, you know. Kid.”

The Cloud Dragon gulped, swallowing the spirit of the mantis god.

The mantis god was no more.

The Cloud Dragon’s divine power grew, albeit slightly.

- “It was supposed to be my turn today, Cloud Dragon. That’s so unfair.”

- “The young one got cocky. Next time, you can have it.”

Yes.

The White Dragon, Cloud Dragon, and the Thousand-Year Tortoise were not simply lazing around in the Department of Evaluation—they were actually safeguarding the place, keeping out unwanted visitors.

“It’s a shame to think this lifestyle might end soon.”

“So, they’re after the Ancient Dragon, Karnax—the first dragon, is it?”

“What do you think? Do you think the contractor can defeat Karnax?”

“In his weakened state, not at his prime, he’s bound to fall to a mortal.”

“So, in this age of humans, it’s only fitting he loses to one… is that it?”

The Cloud Dragon set a somber tone.

The plan was to forcibly awaken the sleeping Karnax and ambush him. Not a bad idea.

“Wait a minute, doesn’t the dormant Karnax absorb the surrounding energy?”

“Yeah. In about two years, he’ll have gathered enough to start minimal activity.”

“Is that based on the time before the Sacred Tree, or after?”

“…Before.”

The Ancient Dragon Karnax, sleeping in the Windwall Plains, was expected to awaken soon, in a state of great hunger.

And if events unfolded according to history, he would be provoked by the battles between the Empire’s forces and the rebels, awakening much earlier than anticipated.

Deprived of sleep, starving, and exhausted, Karnax would be driven mad by the disturbances and, eventually, subdued by humans.

“Now, here’s a question about history: where in the Empire can you find the most minor deities and ancient relics?”

“Windwall Plains.”

“And where does the Ancient Dragon sleep?”

“Windwall Plains…”

The White Dragon, too, realized it.

The benefits of the Sacred Tree were not exclusive to them.

“Did you not consider that a restored Karnax wasn’t part of your plan, Cloud Dragon?”

“Planning to run away?”

“And you?”

The Cloud Dragon clicked his tongue in mock disbelief.

“Say my name, White Dragon.”

🝲🝪🝨🝠.

“Yes, I am the one who brings rain and clouds, 🝲🝪🝨🝠, the guardian dragon of this Empire.”

The scales of the serpent shimmered like clouds. Legs began to form as the serpent transformed into a dragon.

“If I don’t protect the Empire, who will?”

“The imperial family, Ascal, the Lion Tribe, the allies, the knights, the soldiers, and…”

“Let’s skip the minor details.”

Clouds began to gather in the sky.

Though he wasn’t fully restored, there was no time to waste. The Cloud Dragon was preparing to reveal himself as the Empire’s guardian dragon.

“Perhaps we have… three days of respite left.”

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Windwall Plains.

Kane and Devon, division heads in the Evaluation Department, were on an important mission.

“Checking if a dragon is sleeping here? This mission is absurd, Staff of Night.”

“If they order it, we do it. Stop complaining, Watcher of Night.”

It was an imperial prince’s secret decree.

After hearing Ascal’s story, the prince trusted him yet wanted clear evidence. Such evidence would make it easier to mobilize the army.

“But even if they want confirmation, how are we supposed to do it? Knock and say, ‘Hello, dragon, are you there?’”

“Our job is to ‘evaluate,’ after all. We need to assess the probability of a dragon being asleep in the Windwall Plains.”

“So far, the odds are zero.”

​

Devon continued to operate the magic detector, letting out a sigh. This unexpected mountain hike was grueling; a desk worker’s stamina wasn’t built for climbing.

“A dragon is supposedly a master of magic, isn’t it? In that case, the magic should be overflowing. Even a neighborhood monster would have more magic than this.”

“It is strange, isn’t it?”

There was no way a magic detector made by Bernstein himself would be faulty. So, was there truly no dragon here in the Windwall Plains?

But they were mistaken.

When Bernstein had given them the magic detector, he’d said:

“Different magical energies coexist in one place. This detector reads the flow of those intertwined forces and points to where the strongest magic flows. However…”

“However?”

“If, by a rare chance, there exists only a single type of magic in the area, this detector won’t function. Such cases might only occur in the laboratory at the Mage Tower, though.”

“Hmm. I’ll keep that in mind.”

It was an exceptionally rare exception.

For a vast area like this to contain only one type of magic was absurd—unless the dragon had awakened and devoured everything.

A chill ran down his spine.

“…What’s wrong, Devon?”

“Slowly, start descending the mountain, Kane. Then report to the Crown Prince, or rather, to Minister Ascal as quickly as possible.”

“Devon?”

“There is an active dragon here in Windwall.”

But it was already too late.

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-‘This is a good feeling.’

From some point, a massive dragon with red scales was looming over them.

As if watching a mouse run on a wheel, it had been observing them for quite some time.

Windwall was already his domain.

And had been, for a very long time.

-‘I feel like enjoying a brief moment of amusement.’

Dragon’s gaze.

Yellow eyes gleamed eerily.

Kane thought of it.

It was a common tale.

When one encounters an overwhelming being, one freezes, just like a mouse in front of a cat.

Each time he’d heard such stories, Kane would inwardly scoff.

‘Isn’t it enough to just move your mouth?’

It was difficult.

“Uh, ugh… Greetings… great one…”

Just moving his mouth a bit drained all his energy. His head reacted instinctively. This wasn’t looking good for survival.

’I enjoy stories and riddles greatly.’

Kane bit his lip hard.

The taste of blood brought him back to his senses.

“That’s fortunate. I’m best at riddles and tales.”

How long could he last?

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On the day of the Winter Festival.

Everyone headed to the festival grounds with their own resolve.

“What do you mean, Seri? You’re quitting acting?”

“Thank you for everything until now, sir.”

“The theater will fall apart without you! Wait, Seri!”

Her heart was as heavy as a mountain, and her feet felt hard to move.

But Selena had made up her mind.

The lone earring on her ear swayed in the wind.

“I-I don’t know. Somehow, things will work out, right? Everything will go smoothly.”

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Sushia braced her shoulders confidently.

“Ah, it’s cold!”

But as soon as the cold wind blew, she shrank back.

“The wind is chilly, young lady.”

The butler covered her with a coat. Thanking him, Sushia looked up at the sky. It was clear, yet somehow…

“Today feels like something’s going to happen…”

The highlight of this Winter Festival was that Saintess Eileen would be giving the congratulatory speech.

To celebrate the birth of Hero Ascal—and the Golden Pegasus.

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.

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Eileen nervously looked down at her speech, worn thin from being read dozens of times.

“I mustn’t make a mistake. No mistakes.”

Huff.

Eileen took a deep breath.

In such moments, it was always Ascal who came to mind.

What if you make a mistake? So what?

“…You’re right. Not everything has to be perfect.”

Eileen regained her composure.

Incidentally, Ascal had never actually said that.

​

​****

​

-Release me.

“I refuse.”

-It’s all a misunderstanding. You must believe me.

“Silence.”

Ascal Erindale, the Empire’s hidden dragon and Count, Minister of the Department of Evaluation and soon-to-be an official Hero.

The main attraction of this year’s Winter Festival was currently…

“I’ll release you when the time is right.”

…imprisoned in a necklace.

Yulia ran her fingers over the obsidian necklace, stroking it as if it were something dearly beloved.

Wait. Maybe being in this necklace isn’t so bad after all.

No work to do.

Food was brought right on time.

Could this possibly be… heaven?

Ascal thought.

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A dragon soared through the sky.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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