The Imperial Palace.
The Emperor's Study.
The heavy redwood doors slowly opened, and a chilling sensation swept in.
The Sacred Empire, located in the north of the Southern Continent, had already entered deep autumn in September, with temperatures dropping to just a few degrees.
Inside the study, a roaring fireplace fought against the outdoor cold, its warm golden light reflecting off the thousands of books on the shelves.
Gold-edged tomes lay quietly, their covers etched with the marks of time. Like his predecessors, Ogulas loved to study historical texts.
Above the fireplace hung a portrait of Ogulas being crowned.
In one corner of the room, an exquisitely carved peach wood desk occupied a prominent position. Scattered across it were quills and ink bottles, with a bunch of goose quills dipped in ink.
Outside the window, autumn leaves covered the entire royal city. Occasionally, squirrels leaped through the branches, disturbing the quiet air.
Maps hung on the walls, illuminated by candlelight, with the empire's borders and neighboring countries marked in fine gold lines. The air was filled with the scent of leather, paper, ink, and a faint perfume.
Ogulas paced in the study, his gaze sliding over the rows of bookshelves as his fingers lightly brushed against the silent scrolls. He found a scroll about the ancient True Dragon legends and handed it to the Grand Duke of Moriya.
After reading the scroll, the Grand Duke silently passed it to Li En.
Li En's gaze fell on the description of the evil dragon, Elysium, which bore some resemblance to his own daughter, Gia Alexandry. They might even belong to the same species.
The description of Elysium read: a flame dragon capable of spewing magma and fiery flames, its body covered in black scales that even the sharpest blades or strongest cannons could not pierce, making it immune to physical damage.
A single strike from Elysium could kill a Seventh-Star Order Knight, and no one could defeat it unless they were a Legendary Knight.
Elysium could also manipulate the magical fluctuations of witches, causing them to lose control during battle. Its flight speed was incredibly fast, capable of traveling thousands of miles in a day, surpassing even the fastest airships.
In its youth, Elysium was 10 to 30 meters long, the size of a building, and upon reaching adulthood, it grew as large as a city-state, a gigantic dragon.
It was bloodthirsty, violent, and hateful toward humans, even devouring its own kind and preying on medium-sized dragons.
Even among dragonkind, it was a notorious existence.
"The dragon brought back by Paula could very well be a descendant of the extinct Elysium, perhaps a hybrid. Regardless, it is the only dragon in the Sacred Empire."
A glimmer of excitement flickered in Ogulas' eyes.
Paula always brought him surprises, but those surprises often came with challenges.
Firstly, as Paula's childhood friend, he could not force her to do something against her will.
Secondly, as a Legendary Witch, her power was formidable, and she seemed unwilling to hand over the black dragon to the empire, choosing instead to keep it as a pet. This made Ogulas feel it was a waste of its potential.
Lastly, since returning to the capital, Paula had not visited the palace once, as if intentionally distancing herself from him.
Ogulas even wondered if his affair with his cousin had been discovered.
But he thought it unlikely.
First, the palace staff were tight-lipped about such matters.
Second, Paula had been at sea and would not know what was happening in the palace.
Ogulas wanted Paula to surrender the giant dragon but could not consult with Duke Holle, so he turned to the Grand Duke of Moriya and Li En.
He believed the Grand Duke could see the dragon's value as clearly as he did.
If the dragon were to aid them in war, victory would be within their grasp.
Then, Ogulas would not honor the agreement. He would simply borrow the Dragon King's Whip to trample the Dragon King's Court, seize all its treasures, and tear up the alliance. Such actions were standard for the Sacred Empire, which always prioritized its own interests above all else. It was a nation that could justify breaking agreements in the name of divine will, calming the public with noble rhetoric. After all, it was a nation that left no room for outsiders—whether they were other species or even fellow humans—no one could escape the empire's iron heel.
Ogulas was merely following in the footsteps of his predecessors, upholding the empire's glorious traditions.
"This is indeed something to rejoice about."
The Grand Duke of Moriya spoke without revealing his thoughts. As the empire's prime minister, he naturally understood what Ogulas was thinking. Such a powerful weapon could not be left in anyone else's hands; it was the emperor's duty to seize it. Yet, even though Paula and Ogulas shared a long-standing relationship, they were still two separate individuals with different minds.
Ogulas wanted to take the black dragon for himself but was hesitant because Paula was a Legendary Witch and a member of the Franck family, closely tied to the Holle family.
He sought the advice of the prime minister and the empire's rising star, believing they owed him a favor after the expedition.
Ogulas nodded slightly. "Yes, this is the blessing of the God of Tigre. The black dragon is here to aid us, but Paula does not know this."
"I think Your Majesty should consult with Duke Holle. After all, she is his daughter."
The Grand Duke replied.
He did not wish to get involved in this matter, especially since Alexandry was his great-grandchild, though this was a secret that could not be revealed for now.
Li En wanted to marry Paula, but unless Ogulas had an empress or the Moriya family gained enough power to challenge the Franck family for the throne, such a union would violate imperial law.
Otherwise, the marriage between the Moriya and Holle families, two of the Five Great Creed Families, would spark an imperial civil war.
The Grand Duke of Moriya did not want to see the empire torn apart.
Moreover, the Holle family had sworn an eternal oath of loyalty to the Franck family, a soul-binding contract. Unless Duke Holle became a Legendary Knight or an Eight-Star Glory Knight, he could not break this oath.
If Li En truly wanted to be with Paula, the path ahead would be long and arduous.
Unless he abandoned his Moriya identity and married into the Holle family.
The Grand Duke would never allow that.
Even if it meant ruining Li En's future, he would not let him leave the family.
"I understand, but Duke Holle is busy preparing for the next expedition, overseeing the fleet and supplies. He is extremely occupied. As the smartest man in the empire, Prime Minister, give me some reasonable advice."
Ogulas looked at the Grand Duke of Moriya.
The Grand Duke humbly replied, "Your Majesty, I am not the smartest person in the empire. The empire's Sage is the wisest. Perhaps you should seek their opinion."
"They suggested I marry Paula."
Ogulas said.
The suspicious young emperor's gaze shifted to Li En. "Simon, what do you think?"
Li En feigned surprise and naively asked, "From what I know, Miss Paula Holle is a witch. Isn't it against imperial law for witches to marry?"
Ogulas slightly raised an eyebrow, thinking Li En had made a mistake typical of a country bumpkin.
But considering he had spent most of his time in Green Shade Territory, it was only natural he would have such limited knowledge.
He explained, "Paula is different from other witches. She is a noble, and the empire cannot deny a noble's right to marriage. Moreover, she will not be confined to a tower or misuse her magic. She is stable and not on the verge of losing control."
This last part revealed Ogulas' ignorance of the real Paula. She loved challenging the limits of magic.
But compared to artificial witches, she was indeed far more stable.
"I see. This is the first time I've heard of such a perspective."
Li En intentionally said, "In Green Shade Territory, or many parts of the south, most people believe that the law prohibiting witches from marrying is sacred and unbreakable. They think witches are holy guardians chosen by the God of Tigre. They do not know about the special status of Imperial Rose Miss Paula, for a witch's reputation surpasses even a noble's title. If Your Majesty proceeds with this, most people like me might consider you a heretic. Even the Archbishop of Landell might oppose you."
Ogulas' eyebrows furrowed again. "Simon, do you mean I cannot marry Paula?"
"No, my meaning is that if Your Majesty truly wishes to marry Miss Paula Holle, there must be some effort and groundwork laid first. Otherwise, most ignorant people like myself will not understand Your Majesty's actions."
"What kind of groundwork?"
Ogulas asked.
"Repeal the law that prohibits witches from marrying. Allow witches to love and marry freely."
Li En said seriously. "Let the people of the empire know that witches are not just guardians but also citizens of the Sacred Empire, entitled to love and marriage. You cannot single out Paula from the group of witches, for ignorant people cannot tell the difference. To them, a witch is just a witch, with no distinction between noble and commoner."
"Allow all witches to marry?"
Ogulas was slightly surprised. He propped his chin with one hand and thought deeply about Li En's words.
The Guardian Witches are actually artificial witches and can't compare to Taurus, but this secret is kept hidden and will never be revealed. The public might really think, as Lee En does, that Taurus is a witch and the Guardian Witches are also witches, so why should they be treated differently? Is it just because Taurus is from the Creed family? But every Guardian Witch holds a noble social status.
The reason this law was enacted in the first place is because of the instability of artificial witches. They will eventually lose control, and many can't even survive to adulthood, so there's no need or demand for marriage. If they were to busy themselves with love, it could shake their inner beliefs as Guardians, and having attachments would prevent them from dying in peace.
But in reality, as long as the wise still possess the blessed artifact, the witches won't forget their duty as Guardians, for they've undergone the ritual since childhood.
In a way, this law is unnecessary.
Why bind oneself because of it?
Augustus found himself carefully considering the feasibility of Lee En's proposal and felt a sense of relief. For Sophie, this was a necessary step to take, and it was a good opportunity to bring it up using Taurus's situation.
Sorry, Taurus, for using you again. I'll make it up to you later.
Lee En thought to himself.
In fact, Lee En was grateful that Taurus had held back during her battle with Sophie and didn't kill her directly. Sophie is strong now, but she still can't surpass the limits of a witch. If Taurus hadn't eased up at the last moment and given Sophie the final blow, Sophie wouldn't have been able to kill Taurus.
And if Sophie had died instead of Taurus, he wouldn't have been able to revive Sophie.
Does Augustus want to marry Taurus? Sorry, but even before considering Taurus's wishes, Lee En wouldn't agree to throw such a good-natured girl into the fire.
Moreover, Augustus only wants to marry Taurus because of Alexander. That's even more unacceptable.
You want to marry my wife and force my child to go to war? What a joke.
Lee En sneered inwardly, his expression calm and his emotions perfectly controlled.
"Yes, let all witches be able to marry."
"Is this for your own selfish desires?" Augustus asked.
Augustus had heard that Lee En had recently been with Sophie, the Guardian Witch of the Green Shade Territory, and that they had been inseparable. He had even introduced Sophie to the members of the Molya family and moved her into Alex Castle.
Regarding this, Augustus could only say that the men of the Molya family were indeed born to be charming, not even sparing the Guardian Witches.
"Yes, it's for my own selfish desires," Lee En replied without hesitation. "I promised a witch that I would let her experience everything a normal woman should, including the freedom to love and marry."
Hearing this, Augustus once again confirmed that Lee En was doing this for Sophie. This made him feel as though he had seen through Lee En, giving him a sense of accomplishment. He also dismissed his concerns about Lee En being close to Taurus, thinking that Zenovia was just being overly suspicious. His empire's rising nobleman wouldn't have a relationship with a legendary witch.
Taurus went to sea not because of Lee En, but because of Count Holle and himself.
Augustus regained his confidence, believing that Taurus would surely become his empress.
As for Zenovia, she seemed to still have feelings for Lee En, the empire's most handsome man.
Since that was the case, he would grant her wish. After all, she pleased him.
"Changing a law isn't so simple, especially one that has existed for over 500 years. Even if I am the emperor, I can't easily alter a law recognized by the Inquisition."
Augustus looked at Lee En.
"For Your Majesty, I will act as the representative and present a special decree to the Supreme Inquisition Court, persuading those noble scholars who created the law to obtain the approval of the Imperial Supreme Court."
Lee En said with a sense of mission. "However, please allow me to prepare first. It may take about a month."
"Do you need me to arrange a clerk to help you?" Augustus asked.
"No, I'll go to High Priestess Fia for advice. She has enough experience in this area."
Lee En replied.
Augustus nodded slightly. "Speaking of High Priestess Fia, she seems to have fallen out with the Inquisition and is said to be leaving. Why not take this opportunity to persuade her to join the Imperial Law Department?"
Augustus admired High Priestess Fia. She was the second woman, after Taurus, to catch his attention.
As for Zenovia, she was purely for carnal desires.
Lee En knew that Augustus wanted to poach Fia from the Inquisition to work for him.
"High Priestess Fia is a very stubborn person, but for Your Majesty, I'm willing to try and persuade her to become a secular law enforcement officer."
"Very well."
Augustus was very satisfied with Lee En's cooperation. He liked people who had their own desires but could still be used by him.
Truly selfless saints were harder to control.
Molya, the Duke, watched his grandson's performance from the side and felt that his acting skills surpassed even his own. The old fox felt a sense of pride. Perhaps he had truly aged, and the stage should be left to the young.
Or maybe Augustus was just too young. If it had been the old emperor, he might have seen through the act.
As for Lee En, the month he wanted to prepare wasn't for gathering documents but to go to the Azure Dragon Court and bring Catherine back.
Things needed to be done one at a time, not all at once.
Like how he couldn't have Catherine, Taurus, Anna, Nancy, and Fia all in his bedroom together.
Even as a Six-Star Blood Knight, he couldn't handle it.
Especially with Nancy, Anna, and Taurus. The three of them could drain him dry.
Having too many intimate friends wasn't a good thing. As a man, it was better to be devoted.
Lee En thought, envying Count Holle.
How did he manage to remain faithful?
Augustus chatted with his grandfather for a while longer before saying to the Prime Minister, "Dinner is almost ready. Please go back soon, don't keep your family waiting. As for Simon, stay and dine with me."
The Prime Minister understood that the emperor wanted to make use of Lee En and didn't refuse. He took his leave.
"Very well, Your Majesty."
Lee En couldn't refuse the emperor's invitation.
The grand hall was filled with the soft glow of candles and the sparkle of silverware. The exquisite dishes included roasted suckling pig with crispy skin, fresh shellfish steamed to perfection with herb butter, rare pearl powder desserts, and wine made from select grapes, all showcasing the empire's prosperity and opulence.
The servants, dressed in uniform silk robes, moved quietly through the hall, serving dish after dish. Their faces wore well-timed smiles, but their eyes hid a hint of reverence and worry.
Outside, the distant clock struck, each chime seeming to sing the praises of this luxurious feast.
Seated with Augustus and Lee En was 18-year-old Zenovia. Her outfit was particularly provocative, a bold and revealing gown adorned with gems, shining like stars. Her hair seemed to still be damp, as if she had just bathed, and her enchanting eyes sparkled with allure, making the servants blush and tremble.
Augustus smiled and introduced, "Zenovia, Simon, you've met."
"Your Highness."
Lee En nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Zenovia. He thought her dress would look better on Anna. He couldn't forget Anna's performance the night before and wondered where she was now. He'd write her a letter later to express his longing.
The hall was filled with the aroma of food and the faint crackle of candles. Augustus waved his hand, and the servants retreated, leaving only the musicians.
The music was soft and languid, adding to the intimacy of the private dinner.
"Viscount, good evening."
Zenovia smiled and said, lifting her skirt and curtsying slightly, revealing her snowy-white complexion.
Normally, Zenovia, as a princess, didn't need to curtsy to Lee En. But she did so intentionally.
She extended her hand, and Lee En lightly kissed the back of it, a basic gesture.
Zenovia's cheeks turned red as she withdrew her hand and returned to her seat.
Although he saw through Augustus's intentions, Lee En had no desire to get involved with a woman from the Frank family. He planned to eat a little and leave early.
In any case, he had no appetite and no interest in the food.
Zenovia, to stir up interest, had even brought in women from the most famous red theater in Dragon City.
The women, dressed in elegant silk gowns, danced lightly, their skirts swaying like flowers in the night breeze. Their laughter was like crystal droplets sparkling in the air.
Their arms were soft and supple, moving gracefully or quickly in time with the music, blending charm with feminine beauty.
Zenovia seemed to notice Lee En's lack of interest and wondered if the dancers weren't good enough. She slowly stood up, removed her shoes, and joined them barefoot.
Her dress sparkled like stars, her hair still damp, and her enchanting eyes captivating.
Her footsteps were light and precise, as if keeping time with a rhythm. They carried an uncontrollable passion, yet hinted at a secret known only to her.
It must be said that Zenobia danced more beautifully than even the professional ladies, captivating every man with her enchanting movements.
As she twirled, the layers of tulle around her shimmered like blooming flowers, and she, at the center, shone as the most dazzling gem among them.
Zenobia's face, illuminated by the candlelight, grew increasingly mysterious and enchanting, like a painting created through dance. It made one wish to linger in this moment forever, basking in the beauty and passion of the passionate princess of Miro.
Even Augustus noticed how much effort Zenobia had put in for Leon.
Yet Leon remained courteous as always, focusing solely on the exquisite dishes before him.
