Igor stroked his chin at Hades’s affirmation.

“I see.  In that case, I want to say, ‘That’s a relief,’ but Kratos was quick to determine we’d have a bad harvest and came to offer aid.  Apparently, they will graciously be allowing us to purchase food at half the usual price.  Quite the generous way to undermine our country.  Arrangements have also been made for an envoy to come in the near future.”
“What was that?  That was the intention behind their offer…?!  I rejected their considerate offer with a few words since it left me with a bad taste, and it’s been bothering me ever since.”
“Before anything else, shall me vote to remove Duke Noitral from the Three Dukes and become the Two Dukes.”
“We can deal with it this time.  However, some with faulty judgement will reach out for Kratos’ aid.  If that happens, people will revere the goddess’ mercy, doubt the Dragon Emperor, and be partial to Kratos.  Even if we insist this was the goddess’ doing, our basis is weak.  They are trying to put pressure on us.  This method of darkening the prestige of His Majesty the Dragon Emperor isn’t a scheme of the Southern King’s but seems to be of the brilliant mind belonging to the Queen’s attendant.”

No one raised an objection to Igor as he readily laid out his reasoning.  Morgan, as if he had been waiting for the moment, added a supplement.

“The Queen’s brain is a boy called Lawrence Merton who apparently is still 15 years old.  How enviable, to be young, clever, and the Queen’s right hand.  It makes a man jealous.”
“Is his strength at arm-wrestling certain?”
“I don’t know. Right, he apparently has a lovely and kind onee-sama.  He himself has almost no magical power, and he originally served Crown Prince Gerald.  Everyone, ensure you remember this even if I die someday.”
“Rather than digging up the weak points of our opponent, we should first shut down His Majesty’s weakness.”

A suggestive glance was directed at Hades.  With a cold gaze, he responds with a question.

“My weakness?  Surely you are not going to bring up the Dragon Consort?”
“This matter will go quick if you already understand.  —No, no, with all due respect, could you refrain from glaring at a frail elder like myself?  Even though this concerns your beloved consort, is forcing the wedding through like this truly the best option?  Surely you would not claim to be unaware of the rumors being circled by the public.”

Morgan deliberately criticized Igor for his instigation.

“Speaking in such a way isn’t admirable, Duke Leilsatz.  At eleven years of age, it’s only natural for her abilities to be lacking.  She’s taking advantage of the Dragon Emperor’s favor to do as she pleases and is too incompetent to perform her public duties.  Is she a witch in the form of a little girl, or is she’s manipulating the imperial military through sorcery?  Despite barely making any appearances, isn’t having this sort of reputation one of the better outcomes?  The story where she ate an entire provision’s worth of food and grew to a size too big for the door is the one I find most amusing.  Its name, ‘The Gluttonous Dragon Consort’ is quite impressive.”

Although Hades’ cheek looked ready to twitch, he still gave an appropriate response.

“…She has achievements in Radea and Laica.”
“Shall I present to you the ratio of distribution regarding the Rave Empire’s population?”

What the chipper Morgan wanted to convey was understood.  Radea, due to being a special place known as the Dragon Consort’s domain, was nothing more than a countryside territory that served as a passage between Leilsatz and Noitral.  A proper governance there has never endured.  The Grand Duchy of Laica, meanwhile, was a vassal state of the Rave Empire.  Even if such places were saved, the reality was that the imperial citizens of Rave wouldn’t understand the significance.

Above all, Jill had never even once publicly stood before the residents of the Imperial Capital, Raelm.  She set aside the foundation that supports the Rave Empire to instead curry favor in some unknown and remote regions— It wouldn’t be strange if her actions were interpreted like this.

“Furthermore, due to the young Dragon Consort monopolizing Your Highness the Dragon Emperor, there are doubts regarding the generational succession of the inner palace.”

As Igor cheerfully presented another problem, Morgan gave Hades a meaningful gaze.

“Regarding this matter, Your Majesty, by taking in several imperial consorts and entrusting them with its management, wouldn’t this be resolved without imposing a burden on Her Highness the Dragon Consort?”
“Do you intend to push in girls under your influence?  Quit joking around.”

Morgan, all of a sudden, laughed.

“I thought you might say that.  In that case, Her Highness the Dragon Consort will need to handle the inner palace well so that she can set an example.  That place is the dark side of the Rave Empire.  There’s no knowing what will happen if it were to be prodded.”
“Wouldn’t that be too heavy of a burden for an eleven-year-old girl?  Moreover, I have heard that the Dragon Consort is different from ordinary imperial consorts.  Above all else, her duty is to protect the Dragon Emperor.”

Bruno’s statement probably stemmed from goodwill, but the remaining two gave overexaggerated nods to each other, as if they had gotten exactly what they wanted.

“Indeed, it is just as Duke Noitral says.  The Dragon Consort is the Dragon Emperor’s shield.  Considering that role, neither her reputation among the people nor trust from your vassals is important.  Let us set aside such trivial rumors.”
“In other words, the wedding is nothing more than a formality, a parting gift, in a sense.  As expected of His Majesty the Dragon Emperor, such insight would have never occurred to this old fossil.  That you truly and without doubt intend to show favor solely to Her Highness the Dragon Consort was my misunderstanding.  My, what a naïve thought for someone my age, how embarrassing.”
“—What is it you want done from Jill?”

Hades, in a voice so low it was almost a growl, asked.  Rising to their provocation was irritating, but if the circumstances continued as they were, the future might end up exactly as the Three Dukes hinted.

The Three Dukes grinned as if to say, “well done.”

“Nothing difficult.  Fortunately, Her Highness the Dragon Consort has a well-timed legend.  According to it, she created a magical shield in the Laika mountain range and repelled the goddess’ curse on crop failure.  What do you think?  Could we not ask Her Highness the Dragon Consort to recreate the legend?”
“Recreate the legend?  You mean for her to actually create a magic shield on the Laika mountain range?”
“What is necessary now for Your Highness the Dragon Emperor and Her Highness the Dragon Consort is a visible legend that displays your majesty.  For example— I heard that when that shield was created, The Dragon Consort celebrated by holding a festival.  At present, it is called the Dragon’s Flower Crown Festival.”

The Dragon’s Flower Crown Festival was held in the imperial capital in early spring.  It wasn’t large, but as it was started by the first Dragon Consort, it did have a long history.  Even when the Dragon Consort was absent, the imperial consorts of the inner palace managed it in her place.  The festival was simply that popular.

According to legend, the Dragon Emperor fell in love with his Dragon Consort at first sight and gifted her with a flower crown.  This was adopted into a custom of parents and men giving flower crowns to girls.  It was believed that girls who receive a flower crown obtained the protection of the Dragon God.  Flower crowns and flowers were also sold at stalls at the festival.  In short, it became a profitable event.

“Is this agreeable?  How about allowing Her Highness the Dragon Consort to host the Dragon’s Flower Crown Festival?”
“I agree with Duke Leilsatz’s proposal.  It wasn’t held last year due to the false emperor disturbance, and it would be a fitting event for the unveiling of our first Dragon Consort in three hundred years.  It would also provide a good opportunity for Her Highness the Dragon Consort’s prestige to be demonstrated to the inner palace.  And it could also act as a rehearsal for your wedding?”
“A festival… in other words, alcohol.  Alright, I’ll help too.”
“Should this allow for the birth of new legend to be witnessed, then we, the Three Dukes, shall at that time become the hands and feet of Your Majesty the Dragon Emperor and Her Highness the Dragon Consort.  Our loyalty shall be devoted to you until our lives are exhausted.”

The moment Igor stood up, Morgan and Bruno followed suit one after the other.  The three then dropped to their knees and bowed their heads as one.

“Please, provide guidance for us ordinary men.”

He laughed at their brazen way of speaking.  They apparently did not call themselves the Three Dukes for no reason.  The Three Dukes were the descendants of those who, when Rave descended to the earth, were the first to swear loyalty and offer their daughters in marriage.  However, unlike the descendants of the Dragon God, the Rave Imperial Family, they were unable to produce a second Dragon Emperor.  That was where they differed.

Controlling the Three Dukes was a great barrier for the Rave Emperor.  In fact, it was said that the late emperor had his power taken from him after they attacked the royal capital of Kratos without his permission.  Their treating Hades, the Dragon Emperor, with doubt was an extension of that.  After all, Hades took Jill, who hailed from Kratos, as his Dragon Consort and was trying to create peace.

“Rave, what do you think?  Is there a way for the shield to be made once more?”
“Doubtful, I’ve also lost quite a lot of my power…  In the first place, with the goddess having stolen the power of the Dragon Consorts, it’s a miracle that the shield even remained… For it to become visible is impossible.

Regardless, humans had expectations, because Hades was the Dragon Emperor.

“—the wishes of Her Highness the Dragon Consort.  Might there be something we could reach a conclusion on right now?”
“A new legend that can be witnessed?  Certainly, that’s an interesting farce.  Very well, I’ll play along.”

Hades stood up, interrupting Vissel who was trying to sweep the conversation aside.

Being tested was unpleasant.  However, it was consistent with reason.  As the Dragon God Rave residing within his body couldn’t be seen, it was his role to demonstrate his prestige.

“We will carry out the Dragon’s Flower Crown Festival.  For the first time in three hundred years, the festival will be conducted by a genuine Dragon Consort. —Make sure you don’t miss your few remaining turns to act, you stubborn fossils.”

—This unseeable foster parent, never, I won’t let anyone treat him like he doesn’t exist.

Each of the three who prided themselves as being descendants of the Dragon God, before the Dragon Emperor who looked at them with contempt, laugh in response.

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