Duke Pendragon

"Ah, no, Irene…"

Raven's sister had been a young girl last he saw her, but she was now a mature lady. As such, he felt taken aback by her unchanged behavior. However, he soon patted her head, realizing that she just wanted to be his younger sister in the moment.

"I'm sorry it took so long. How have you been?"

"I don't know! Uhnngg! Huwaaaahh!"

The empress returned to her younger self and shook her head in the arms of her brother.

"It will not do for the empress to continue acting like this, hmm? I won't be going anywhere."

"Yes. Heugh…"

Raven spoke with a gentle smile, and Irene returned the smile after slowly parting from her brother. However, she continued to hold his hand tightly, not risking the chance that he would suddenly vanish into thin air.

"Oh my…"

Ian shook his head, dumbfounded at her actions and demeanor. However, he knew how deeply she cared for her brother. A smile was caught on his lips.

"Anyways, how did you know it was me even though I have a different face?"

"What? Of course I knew. I am also Pendragon."

"Ah…"

Raven nodded.

Even though she was now the mistress of the empire, she was also a direct descendent of Pendragon. There was no way she would be ignorant to Raven's Spirit of the Dragon.

"Sister."

"Auntie! I, I mean, Your Majesty!"

Mia and Raymond called out, and Irene's expression instantly brightened, though her eyes were still teary.

"Mia! Ray!"

Irene tightly held her sister's hands, then took her nephew into her embrace. It had been truly long since she last saw them.

"I am so glad to see you both."

"Hehe!"

Although they did not meet very often, Raymond was fond of Irene. His aunt greatly resembled his grandmother, and she always doted on him whenever she visited the Pendragon Kingdom. In addition, she always told him stories about his father – especially stories about his father's childhood that even the royal knights and his mother were unaware of.

"Ehem! I greet Your Majesty."

Isla bowed after clearing his throat. He knew how great Irene's love for her brother was, but he never expected her to behave exactly the same as before even though she weas now the empress and they were in the presence of her husband, the emperor.

"Oh my! Your Majesty Isla was here as well. Please excuse me. I forgot myself…"

Irene greeted him as if feeling a little embarrassed.

"Okay, let's go in."

Ian cleared the atmosphere with a clap of his hands. The brief, but intense commotion caused by the empress came to an end. It was evident that she was still a fool for her brother even after all this time.

***

Ian did not hold a grand banquet despite welcoming his friend and savior, King Pendragon, to the castle. Of course, he had the desire to be hospitable to Raven in any way possible, but he was well aware of Raven's dislike for bustling activities.

Instead, Ian hosted a dinner with a small group of friends.

"Try this too, brother."

"We prepared the roast pig that you like, brother. I had the imperial chef pay extra attention to it."

"Ah! This sauce is…"

Irene never left Raven's side even during the meal.

"Hmm, thank you."

It felt a little burdensome, but Raven knew how she would be feeling. He responded by smiling awkwardly and tasting each dish she offered one by one.

The food tasted great.

Indeed, it would have been strange for the food to be mediocre, since it was served for the emperor himself.

"Now, now. Empress, we have a lot of time, Will you let me have your brother for a bit?"

Ian spoke with a soft smile.

"Ah! Look at me. I apologize, Your Majesty, and brother."

Irene cared deeply for her brother, but she was smart and quick-witted. She led Mia and Raymond away while smiling.

"We have a lot to talk about, don't we? I prepared some gifts in the castle. Brother, I will see you later."

"Yes."

Raven smiled with a satisfied expression while watching his sister leave with the other two.

"The hurry-scurry became a wise wife after becoming the empress."

"Would a wise wife act so affectionately to her brother and leave her husband in the cold? Haha…!"

"Well, that's…"

Raven licked his lips in vain, and Ian smirked before gesturing to those around the two. At the absolute's signal, the servants and maids quickly stepped out. Soon, only a dozen royal knights remained in the spacious banquet hall, which was capable of housing hundreds.

"Let's get on with it. Something important must have come up, right? I know you don't like to be in the spotlight, and for you to have moved with such noise after finally returning in seven years…"

Ian was quick to catch on even after becoming the emperor. Raven nodded with admiration. Ian was pointing out the core of the situation in the presence of himself, Isla, and Soldrake.

"Well, there were some people who attempted to kidnap Mia and Raymond. Raymond was actually taken, but I saved him after chancing upon him, whether it was coincidence or fate."

"What…?"

Ian's eyes soared in an instant.

Gwuoo…!

The anger of the emperor was mighty. The humongous spirit instantly filled the banquet hall, and royal knights recoiled after feeling the brunt of its strength.

"Who would dare to…"

"Calm down. They are fine now. I should be angrier, anyways."

"Hmm…"

Ian calmed down at Raven's calm words. His anger disappeared, and he spoke with a smile.

"They must be truly desperate to die. So, what kind of people are crazy enough to try to kidnap Alan Pendragon's sister and son?"

Ian's fierce glare represented subtle anger, but at the same time, he sincerely felt sorry for the perpetrators. Sometimes, he still felt grateful that Alan Pendragon was his friend. If Alan Pendragon possessed the same heart as Duke Arangis of the past or if he had been an enemy of the imperial family, Ian was quite certain that his own ascension to the imperial throne would never have happened.

"A group of assassins known as the Shadow Brotherhood, and… Margrave Mirin."

"What?"

Ian jumped out of his seat in surprise. Raven's words were truly shocking.

"Are you certain? Margrave Mirin…"

Ian knew Raven would never speak mere speculations. However, he was so shocked by Raven's answer that he had to ask once again.

"The girl you saw earlier is a member of the Shadow Brotherhood."

"That bitch dares…"

Ian expressed his anger, and Raven continued.

"She told me her True Name after Sol and I overpowered her. It seems she has to be absolutely obedient to the person who knows her True Name. In addition, we captured two people known as Number 2 and Number 3. We got them to spill everything with Sol's power. Margrave Mirin commissioned them to kidnap Raymond and Mia."

"How could this be…"

Ian slumped back into his seat while biting his lips. Raven asked.

"What kind of a person is Margrave Mirin?"

"I do not know very well either. He has been ruling over Mirin as an independent lord from the days of my predecessor. He never caused any problems, and he has been doing well to stop the invasion of the northeastern barbarians."

"I see. Then, why did you recommend his daughter as one of Elkin's bride candidates…?"

"He asked for it."

Ian turned towards Isla.

"I am so sorry this happened, Elkin. But from my point of view, it was a very good suggestion. Although he is the only margrave of the empire, he had no connection with the imperial family. I thought it might be easier to control Mirin if you and Margrave Mirin's daughter happened to wed through this opportunity."

"I fully understand, Your Majesty."

Isla nodded his head with understanding. He had assumed as such after seeing the list of candidates recommended by Ian.

Count Elven, the governor-general of Edenfield, the Lindegor Duchy, which remained the most powerful family after the elevation of the Pendragon Duchy into a kingdom, and the most influential family of the northeast, a place where the imperial family held little influence.

Regardless of which of the three families Isla made a connection with, it would benefit Ian as the head of the empire in ruling over the vast lands.

"How dare they try to hurt my sister-in-law and nephew? I will immediately call the imperial army and…"

"Please do me a favor."

Raven cut off Ian's words. He knew very well that Ian would want to immediately utilize the imperial army and bulldoze over Mirin. Although it would be considered extremely disrespectful to cut off the emperor's words, Ian did not mind it. He narrowed his eyes and asked.

"What is it?"

"I want you to leave it to me. They are your sister-in-law and nephew, but my sister and son."

Raven spoke with a calm, composed voice. However, Ian stiffened after seeing the spirit contained in Raven's eyes. It was similar to a volcano on the verge of eruption.

He had forgotten during the seven years.

What kind of person was Alan Pendragon, his only friend and the empress' brother?

"Moreover, it might quickly devolve into a civil war if you take action on the level of the imperial castle. Even if we hold the justification, Mirin has been treated similarly to an independent land for a long time, right? Do you think the people there will believe our claim? Even if we subdue them, it's obvious that the damage will be great."

"Hmm…"

Ian's expression stiffened further, and he remained silent at Raven's words. After his ascension to the throne, the empire had gradually stabilized to an unprecedented era of peace. If the imperial army were to be mobilized at such a time to strike against a force within the empire, the public sentiment would certainly fluctuate greatly and the nobles, including the high lords, would be thrown into turmoil.

In addition, at least three imperial regions had to be deployed to subdue a large, remote area like Mirin. It was almost certain that such actions would strain the hard-gained peace of the empire.

"Do you have a plan?"

Ian was slightly hot-headed and hasty in the past. However, after ascending the thrown, he had gained a cool-head as the absolute monarch of the empire. Raven nodded in response.

"Well, firstly, I will head to Mirin with Elkin as originally planned. It would be best for Mia and Raymond to stay here. This place would be the second safest place in the world for them."

"Huh? Did you forget where this is? I am the emperor. Why would this place be the second when I'm… Ah!"

Ian started speaking as if finding Raven's words absurd, then suddenly burst into a low exclamation.

The cold, deep gaze of his only friend was still and calm.

He had forgotten once more.

The safest place for those born with the veins of Pendragon was by the side of Alan Pendragon.

"Ha. I should be quite flattered. To think this place would be considered the safest after the side of almighty Alan Pendragon…"

Ian smirked, and Raven returned the smile with a reply.

"Would you not say that's how deep my trust for Your Majesty is?"

"Kuha! Stop it, I'm getting goosebumps. Anyways, so only the two of you will go?"

"Along with Sol and the vampire from earlier."

"I understand that you would be going along with the Dragon Queen, but why the dirty wench?"

Ian's eyebrows wriggled. He felt slightly disturbed.

"I already got all the information I need from her, but the vampire is quite useful. Besides, Sol and me are the only ones who can control her."

"Hmm, well, if you say so, do as you please. Will you be setting off right away?"

Ian knew Raven as well as the Pendragons did.

He knew Raven would act as soon as he made a plan.

"No."

"What?"

The emperor became wide-eyed after hearing an unexpected answer, and Raven continued.

"I've come to a place where I can most certainly and splendidly announce the return of King pendragon. I should take advantage of it."

"What? Ha! Don't tell me…"

"We are family, are we not? And family should help each other now. So please take good care of me, Your Majesty."

A rare, mischievous smile came to Raven's lips.