The Great Seal had been recovered, the emperor and the king were present. The Saber family was greatly troubled because the Dragon Empress had demanded they sign the engagement agreement right away. Members of the Rave imperial family were also there.

What’s more, they had yet to tend to any of the post battle and the military exercise clean up. Their reputation was in shambles.

“With this, everything is okay right!?”

“Yes.”

Jill, who was threatening everyone in the venue by hitting the floor with her whip, showed Prince Listeard the contract that had just been signed. She didn’t even ask them.

‘What a righteous figure,’ Andy said, looking at them from a distance. Their sister—the Dragon Empress, didn’t trust them.

Even though she was standing before them, there was nothing they could do about her. Andy left the venue without saying a word, and Rick followed.

“I doubt Sister Jill even read the contract.”

Rick let out an extremely cheerful voice. Andy responded as casually as possible.

“Isn’t that fine? Her most important role is to serve as the Dragon Emperor’s shield.”

“Unexpected, isn’t it? I’m sure Sister Jill—wait, we can no longer call her that, right? Her Majesty the Dragon Emperess.”

“—Stay strong, Brother. Here, water.”

They both halted when they heard a voice at the corner of the hallway. On closer inspection, they saw a figure on the sofa in the large hall near the entrance.

It was the figure of the emperor who had collapsed in the venue earlier. Along with him were Princess Elynsia and Princess Natalie. Although the emperor did leave the venue while being carried by Princess Elynsia and accompanied by Princess Natalie, he ended up in such a place. A room hadn’t yet been arranged for them because the signing ceremony was of utmost priority.

Leaning on the sofa, the blue-faced Dragon Emperor was groaning.

“Heavy… The costume is too heavy…”

“Here, give me your arm. I’ll help remove your cloak… It’s really heavy.”

“Don’t drop it on the floor, Sister! This is expensive—ah.”

Princess Natalie spotted them and smiled.

“I’m sorry, but may I leave this cloak here? If you send a message to my brother, Prince Listeard, he’ll know where to put it.”

“Okay, understood. Is he alright? Should I call someone?”

Rick cheerfully stepped forward to accept the garment. Elynsia turned around and smiled bitterly.

“That’s unnecessary. Just having a room prepared for him is more than enough. We can transport it.”

“You siblings seem to get along well.”

When Andy frankly expressed his thoughts, the two princesses stared at each other and laughed while their brother groaned on the sofa.

“Well, only recently, we finally have.”

“What do you think? How does it feel to have torn a rift between another family’s siblings?”

Even though he said it as a joke, the smiles on the faces of the two princesses twitched.

It was terrible and unpleasant.

It probably never occurred to them. Or is their happiness all that matters?

As expected of the family protected by the Dragon God of Reason, they know no love.

“Are you satisfied that Sister Jill chose your side?”

“—Andy, stop.”

His twin, who was the exact opposite of him, was no longer smiling. Rick tried to stop him, but Andy knew. Rick kept laughing, but his fist had been clenched and shaking the entire signing ceremony.

“Are you happy that you were able to separate Sister Jill from her family just to use as a shield for the Dragon Emperor? That you were protected? Congratulations are in order! Most likely, the next time we meet, Sister Jill will be our enemy.”

As he took a step closer, Princess Elynsia raised her chin in alarm. Beside her, Princess Natalie was biting her lips.

“I asked you, how do you feel, so tell me.”

But he couldn’t see their faces clearly. He was gritting his teeth, but his vision was blurry from what was overflowing.

“Answer me! Are you satisfied, happy, or relieved? Answer me!”

“It feels great.”

He suddenly heard someone scoff, as if dousing cold water on him. Before he knew it, he was looking down. Andy looked up at the owner of the voice.

A pair of golden eyes.

“If you don’t stop, even I will start feeling uncomfortable. Oh, but your malice does feel good.”

The Dragon Emperor laughed as he lifted the towel that was placed on his forehead.

“I stole your precious sister away from you. I tore your family apart. In some cases, we would even kill each other. I feel sorry for you, but I’m very happy to be with my dear wife.”

“You—…”

“—Because I won, and you guys lost. If you lose, you get robbed. It’s the natural conclusion.”

That’s right, I’m just speaking the words of a loser.

He clenched his fists.

The Dragon Emperor raised his upper body and smiled gently.

“A defeat without loss is just romantic nonsense. This is justice.”

“—Based on that logic, if we win, you’d be the ones to lose.”

Rick stepped forward and spoke with his usual bright smile. But his eyes weren’t smiling.

Seeing the two lined up, the Dragon Emperor lowered his gaze.

“Precisely. So just come and reclaim her.”

The Dragon Emperor, protected by reason, spoke with compassion, which was the privilege of the victor.

“Don’t you excel at combat? Why don’t you attack me in order to restore the broken family ties and reclaim your sister? I stand in the face of the hostility directed at me by you. It is the role of the Dragon Emperor to correct mistakes.”

Aah, Andy silently gritted his teeth. No matter how much he ranted, his sister chose that man. If her sister truly mattered, then disposing of that man would just be self-serving on his part.

However, the Dragon Emperor judged mistakes fairly, so he accepted it.

Rick patted him on the shoulder. So, Andy took a deep breath and smiled.

“—I was just kidding. I’m sorry, I startled you.”

“That’s right, Andy. Sorry, ladies.”

Rick playfully put his hands together. Princess Elynsia pursed her lips and shook her head.

“No… You are pretty strong for your age. I’m scared for the future.”

“I’ll take the cloak with me. I’m sorry, but please step aside.”

Princess Natalie smiled as if her command was natural. He could tell that Princess Elynsia was also wary. He didn’t dislike their attitude.

Those obnoxious Rave royals…

“Then we’ll settle down her. That’s right, make some more curry, Brother Hades.”

“That’s impossible… right now…”

“Brother Hades! …He’s out cold.”

“It can’t be helped, I’ll carry him.”

“Take care, Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor.”

After saying that, they left. As they walked down the hallway side by side, Rick let out a playful voice.

“Sister Jill sure got caught up in something troublesome.”

“I know right? She’s one troublesome sister. I wish she could understand what it’s like to be the one rescuing her.”

“—Rick, Andy.”

It wasn’t until they were called out to that they realized their mother was standing there.

Did she overhear everything? No one knew.

However, her arms were wide open, allowing her to hug both Rick and Andy.

“Well done.”

It must be difficult for mother, too.

She ended up making an enemy of her daughter, whom she cherished. Even her husband was almost killed, yet she had to keep smiling.

While they understood the reason, they were those in charge of protecting the kingdom of love.

“…Dammit.”

“When will you stop crying, Rick?”

“You cried first!”

A defender of reason. An arbiter of justice.

However, that man still didn’t understand in the slightest.

No matter what happened from then on, their sister, who taught them how to skip stones all the way to the other side of the river, would never return.

—Sister Jill has made her choice. She betrayed us.

I should stop being naïve.

Let’s just cry in mother’s arm for a little while and start afresh.

Then, I’ll destroy that man’s theory and prove him wrong.

---

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