Serval days later.
The skies above Kingdom of Lumeris remained calm beneath the morning sunlight.
Too calm.
Which was exactly why Ebruhan continued patrolling the borders personally.
Today was the royal ball.
Nobles from multiple territories were arriving.
Merchants.
Officials.
Foreign representatives.
A perfect opportunity for trouble.
So while most people inside the capital prepared elegant clothing and polished ballroom floors—
Ebruhan flew across the kingdom borders making sure nothing dangerous slipped through.
High above the forests, the blue dragon's sharp eyes scanned roads and passing caravans below.
Then—
movement.
Smoke.
Shouting.
Ebruhan's gaze narrowed slightly.
Near one of the forest roads, a carriage convoy was under attack.
Bandits.
Several guards defended the carriage while fighting desperately against armed men surrounding them.
And at the center of the chaos—
one man stood out immediately.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Calm despite the battlefield around him.
He wasn't even using the heavy mace strapped to his back nor the sword at his waist.
Yet somehow—
he was overwhelming six bandits barehanded.
CRACK.
One bandit got punched directly across the face.
THUD.
Another folded after a brutal kick to the stomach.
A third rushed him from behind—
only to get thrown directly into a tree.
Efficient.
Experienced.
Military-level combat.
Ebruhan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
The remaining bandits finally noticed the massive shadow descending from above.
FWOOOOOSH.
The blue dragon landed beside the road hard enough to shake the ground.
Silence.
Then immediate panic.
"…I-It's the Blue Dragon!!"
"I KNOW THAT, YOU IDIOT, I'M NOT BLIND!"
"This kingdom is impossible to rob these days!"
"RUN!"
And just like that—
the bandits scattered into the forest in complete terror.
Ebruhan watched them disappear for a second before snorting lightly
"Smart desicion"
The surviving guards immediately raised their weapons toward him nervously despite his assistance.
"Stand down."
The command came instantly from the strong man.
The guards hesitated.
"But Sir Aerys… that's a dragon…"
"I am aware."
The man stepped forward calmly.
Now closer, Ebruhan could properly observe him.
Battle scars.
Steady posture.
The presence of someone who had survived real wars.
Then the name registered fully in Ebruhan's mind.
Aerys.
General Aerys.
Highest-ranking military commander of Kingdom of Norvoss.
A man surrounded by enough military titles to fill entire documents.
Ebruhan remained calm outwardly.
Internally?
His attention sharpened immediately.
Aerys placed one fist against his chest respectfully.
"You have my gratitude."
His sharp eyes met Ebruhan's directly.
"And you are?"
A slight pause followed.
Then—
"Ebruhan."
Recognition immediately flickered across Aerys' expression.
"Ah."
A faint smile appeared.
"The Protector of Lumeris."
Several guards visibly stiffened hearing the title spoken aloud.
Aerys continued calmly.
"Your reputation and combat capability are well known even beyond your kingdom."
Then he bowed his head slightly.
"It is an honor to meet you, Ebruhan-nim."
Before Ebruhan could answer—
the carriage door opened.
And suddenly—
the atmosphere shifted.
A woman stepped gracefully down from the carriage.
Beautiful enough to draw immediate attention.
Elegant posture.
Golden eyes sharp beneath a calm smile.
Every movement controlled.
Dangerously controlled.
The guards and even Aerys immediately bowed.
"Princess Selene."
Princess Selene stepped forward slowly, her gaze settling upon the blue dragon before her.
For a brief moment—
she simply observed him.
Not fearfully.
Not nervously.
Curiously.
Then she smiled faintly.
"Such a majestic presence."
Her voice carried smooth elegance.
"You truly live up to your reputation, Dragon-nim."
Ebruhan remained still.
Selene inclined her head slightly.
"Thank you for assisting us."
Ebruhan finally spoke.
"…You honor me, Princess."
Then his gaze sharpened just slightly.
"Though I admit…"
"…I am curious why Norvoss royalty is traveling within Lumeris territory."
A dangerous question.
Asked politely.
General Aerys subtly watched the interaction carefully.
Selene, meanwhile—
laughed softly.
Lightly.
As though the tension didn't exist at all.
"Oh, nothing serious."
She reached into the carriage before lifting a familiar-looking invitation letter between elegant fingers.
"I merely arrived because the original recipients of this invitation…"
A faint smile formed.
"…may no longer be capable of attending."
Silence.
Ebruhan understood immediately.
A conquered kingdom.
The invitation had changed hands after war.
How very Norvoss.
But despite that realization—
his expression barely shifted.
Selene tilted her head slightly.
"…What is wrong?"
Her golden eyes narrowed just a little.
"Is our presence unwelcome?"
The air suddenly felt heavier.
Not openly hostile.
But sharp.
Measured.
Like two predators quietly testing one another.
Ebruhan remained silent for a brief moment.
Then—
"…Nothing at all."
Polite.
Controlled.
Careful.
He lowered his head slightly afterward.
"Please."
"Allow me to escort you safely to the capital."
Selene smiled beautifully at that answer.
"How kind of you, Dragon-nim."
But behind that smile—
both sides already understood something important.
This meeting?
Was not accidental.
Inside the estate of Vinson,
absolute chaos was unfolding.
Not battlefield chaos.
Worse.
Noble event preparation chaos.
"You moved!"
"I did not!"
"Lady Mia, please stop turning your head!"
"I'm literally standing still!"
Mia sat surrounded by maids while suffering through what she now considered one of humanity's cruelest inventions:
formal preparation.
Her dark hair had been carefully brushed smooth, falling neatly past her shoulders while several estate maids adjusted the elegant black dress prepared for tonight's royal ball.
The dress itself matched her perfectly.
Dark. Elegant. Refined.
Silver details traced along the fabric like faint dragon scales beneath moonlight.
Even the obsidian necklace from Nythera rested naturally against the outfit, making her appearance somehow even more striking.
Eventually—
after endless adjustments, complaints, and at least three arguments about posture—
the maids finally stepped back.
Silence filled the room.
Then one maid whispered softly:
"…Beautiful."
Another nodded immediately.
"She looks like royalty…"
Even Miss Korbi looked genuinely proud.
Mia slowly turned toward the mirror.
And paused.
For a moment—
even she stared quietly.
The girl reflected in the mirror looked graceful enough to belong among high nobility.
Clear blue eyes.
Dark hair.
Elegant black dress.
No cosmetics.
No jewelry beyond the obsidian necklace and bracelet she always wore.
Yet somehow—
she still looked stunning.
Mia blinked once.
Then inwardly thought:
"…Yeah.
This kind of beauty would absolutely become a celebrity in my old world."
Which somehow felt surreal considering she used to sleep in a barn and threaten people with dragon bites.
The door suddenly opened.
Leo stepped inside wearing formal noble attire for the first time in a while.
And immediately froze.
"…Wow."
Silence.
"…Wow."
Another pause.
"…Wow."
Mia slowly looked toward him.
"…You done?"
Leo pointed dramatically at her like he'd just witnessed a divine revelation.
"MIA."
"What?"
"You're terrifying."
"…Excuse me?"
"I mean BEAUTIFUL."
"That recovery almost failed."
Leo circled around her once, still visibly stunned.
"No seriously."
"You actually look like some mysterious noble lady from legends."
Mia crossed her arms immediately.
"I am mysterious."
Leo grinned shamelessly.
Then his expression softened slightly.
"…You really look amazing though."
That compliment landed more honestly.
And somehow—
that made Mia awkwardly look away first.
"…Tch."
"Stop staring."
Leo immediately laughed.
"Still the same dragon."
Back at the royal palace of Lumeris,
the atmosphere near the entrance had become noticeably tense.
Because the moment the carriage approached—
the guards recognized the emblem immediately.
A crimson banner.
A golden crowned tiger.
The symbol of Kingdom of Norvoss.
Several knights subtly tightened their grips on their weapons.
Others exchanged uneasy looks.
Even nearby servants hurried out of the way instinctively.
The massive palace gates slowly opened as the carriage rolled forward under heavy watch.
Then—
FWOOOOSH.
A powerful gust swept across the courtyard as Ebruhan descended from the skies and landed beside the arriving convoy.
The tension somehow increased instead of decreasing.
Ebruhan glanced toward the palace guards calmly.
"They are here under royal invitation."
His voice remained composed.
"For the royal ball."
The guards hesitated briefly before nodding respectfully.
"…Understood, Sir Ebruhan."
Then several guards carefully approached the convoy.
Cautiously.
Respectfully.
Nervously.
One finally spoke toward General Aerys.
"With all due respect, sir…"
His eyes flickered toward the mace and sword carried by the Norvoss general.
"…Weapons must remain outside the palace."
The surrounding guards visibly prepared themselves for possible conflict.
Because asking a man like Aerys to surrender weapons?
That was dangerous territory.
But Aerys didn't react aggressively at all.
Instead—
he simply nodded once.
"Acceptable."
Silence followed.
The guards themselves almost looked surprised.
Without complaint, Aerys calmly removed the heavy mace from his back first.
The sheer weight of it became obvious the moment a guard nearly failed catching it properly.
THUD.
The weapon hit the holding rack heavily enough to make the wood creak.
Several guards immediately stared.
"…How was he carrying that so casually?'
Aerys then removed the sword at his waist as well before handing it over calmly.
"No hidden blades," he added flatly before the guards could even ask.
That somehow made him feel MORE dangerous.
Nearby knights visibly relaxed slightly afterward.
Ebruhan quietly observed the exchange the entire time.
Watching.
Evaluating.
Meanwhile the carriage door finally opened once more.
Princess Selene stepped out gracefully as though the tension surrounding her didn't exist at all.
Elegant.
Calm.
Perfectly composed.
Her golden eyes briefly scanned the palace entrance before a faint smile appeared.
"How cautious."
Ebruhan answered smoothly.
"Today's gathering is important."
Selene looked toward him again.
"And valuable things attract danger."
A small pause followed.
Ebruhan understood immediately.
That sentence carried more than one meaning.
Then, with palace guards escorting them carefully—
the delegation of Norvoss entered the royal palace of Lumeris.
And almost everyone watching felt the same thought silently creeping into their minds:
This royal ball just became far more dangerous.
Night fell across the royal palace of Kingdom of Lumeris, and the grand ballroom transformed into a sea of gold, music, and noble conversation.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated the massive hall with warm light while elegant orchestral music drifted softly through the air.
Nobles from multiple kingdoms filled the room in luxurious attire, exchanging greetings, political smiles, and carefully disguised intentions.
Servants moved gracefully between guests carrying silver trays filled with wine and expensive dishes.
To outsiders—
it looked peaceful.
Elegant.
Refined.
But beneath the surface?
The atmosphere carried tension sharp enough to cut skin.
Especially tonight.
Because among the gathered guests stood representatives of Kingdom of Norvoss.
A kingdom currently swallowing nations one by one.
Near one side of the ballroom, General Aerys stood calmly with a glass of wine in hand.
Even without weapons—
he still looked dangerous.
Several nobles occasionally glanced toward him nervously before quickly looking away again.
Aerys himself seemed entirely unbothered.
Quiet.
Observant.
The kind of man who looked like he belonged more on battlefields than inside luxurious halls.
Meanwhile across the ballroom—
Princess Selene spoke elegantly with representatives from various kingdoms.
And somehow—
that made everything more unsettling.
Because despite:
Norvoss's terrifying reputation
recent conquests
growing military power
Selene behaved perfectly.
Friendly.
Graceful.
Even charming.
She laughed lightly during conversations.
Complimented noble attire.
Spoke diplomatically.
Smiled beautifully.
As though she weren't the princess of a kingdom currently redrawing the continent map through war.
Which honestly made several experienced nobles even more nervous.
Because monsters that smiled calmly were often the most dangerous kind.
High above the ballroom near the royal platform—
Ebruhan stood quietly behind the king's seat.
Arms crossed.
Golden eyes scanning the hall continuously.
Watching movements.
Expressions.
Behavior.
Not relaxed for even a second.
The King of Lumeris sat calmly upon his throne-like chair, though his gaze occasionally drifted toward the Norvoss delegation.
Then finally—
he spoke quietly enough that only Ebruhan could hear.
"…Ebruhan."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
A brief silence followed.
Then the king exhaled slowly.
"…Please keep your eyes on them."
No names needed.
Both understood immediately who "them" meant.
Ebruhan's gaze shifted toward Selene and Aerys across the ballroom.
"…Understood."
The king's expression hardened slightly afterward.
"You know why."
Ebruhan nodded once.
Of course he knew.
Because kingdoms seeking friendship did not usually arrive carrying the shadow of conquered nations behind them.
And dragons?
Dragons were very good at sensing predators.