The Red Dragon Just Wants To Do As It Pleases

An event that was bound to shake the entirety of Dewensen, the "King's Decree incident," quietly concluded amidst the unintentional meddling of David and his band of Silver Dragons.

The High Elves, having been needlessly alarmed, reclaimed their pride and laughter, continuing on to the next feast.

Only the unfortunate Yevgeny, due to the morning's audience time restrictions, didn't even get to attend a formal ennoblement ceremony. Instead, with a bewildered expression, she received a Viscount's investiture medal from a servant's hand before being led to the banquet hall.

Of course, the nature of this was entirely different, as Yevgeny originally held the status of a Guardian Knight and the rank of Baron.

She had fought against the Drow for countless years. It was only because David intervened at the earliest opportunity in this battle that she managed to attain this politically significant victory.

This was a promotion from Baron to Viscount.

After all, each new noble title required corresponding lands and rights; without sufficient resources to maintain these titles, newly established ones could become worthless.

Not every Elf—unlike David, this foreign Dragon—was willing to accept a newly established noble title devoid of any lands or corresponding rights, or such an 'empty reward' as the rank of Pioneer Knight.

Moreover, during a period when the country was not expanding, the difficulty a commoner faced in obtaining a noble title compared to a scion of a noble family was akin to playing two entirely different 'game modes.'

The most vivid example was Yevgeny herself, and Ahmed, the commander of the Seventh Fleet whom she had once admired.

For this reason, when Yevgeny held the Viscount family crest and the Patent of Nobility—personally inscribed by Elf King Ailiando—she found herself lacking the excitement and pleasure she had anticipated. Instead, an unreal sensation washed over her.

At the same time, she felt a nameless apprehension about 'certain things' that might happen.

This feeling persisted until she saw her 'Red Dragon' Dragon Lord indulging in Gluttony at the banquet hall.

Even after being forced to follow this Dragon Lord for three years due to her controlled soul, every time Yevgeny saw David, she experienced the same inexplicable panic and fear as she had the first time.

It was a complete subjugation, a ravaging of both body and soul.

The befuddled Yevgeny remained in a daze until she overheard other Nobles discussing the astonishing events that had occurred in the royal palace that day. She heard that her Dragon Lord had saved the Duke of Silver, who had been on the verge of taking her own life. She also heard that the Duke of Silver promised to publicly reveal the truth about the Seventh Fleet's demise and was prepared to re-establish the Dewensen Seventh Fleet. Only then did Yevgeny, who had felt like a puppet on strings for the past three years, seem to hear her own heart pound as her vision blurred.

Somewhat at a loss, Yevgeny raised her hand, only to find the Patent of Nobility already dampened by her falling tears.

At that moment, she truly felt it: she, who had been plunging into an endless, dark fate, had been redeemed.

It wasn't just her; it was also the hundred or so surviving comrades-in-arms from the Seventh Fleet who had endured three years of trials and tribulations.

Their fates had been rewritten as well.

She no longer had to incite them into becoming political sacrifices.

These wanderers, who had been away from Dewensen for three long years, could finally return home.

And those who had perished on the New Continent would also be vindicated.

No matter what the future held, at least in this moment, Yevgeny felt the once-grim world had become vibrant and colorful again.

And so, as some lower-ranking Nobles raised their glasses to congratulate her, Yevgeny strode assertively towards the Duke of Silver. The Duke was standing shoulder to shoulder with Attilicia, watching David and his sister perform their 'Dragon Feast.' Then, amidst the astonished gazes of the Elves, Yevgeny knelt on one knee before Mirillian, the Duke of Silver.

The female knight looked up at the Duchess, whose expression showed slight astonishment. Yevgeny gently took the Duchess's fair, delicate hand, kissed it, then pressed it to her own forehead and swore her loyalty:

"My lady, thank you for everything you have done for us, the officers and soldiers of the Seventh Fleet.

"With all my heart, I thank you!

"Thank you..."

Hearing these words of gratitude, the eyes of the Duke of Silver, who had initially felt somewhat uncertain about the future, suddenly sparkled with light. She turned to look at Attilicia, her Dragon Dad, who had been trying to comfort her, revealing a radiant smile:

"Attilicia, you see, everything I have done is not completely in vain."

With that, her gaze returned to Yevgeny, and she said with a slight smile,

"Don't thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank David Uthos and Tania for giving me the chance to reassess myself and make a choice.

"Besides, all this was my responsibility to bear, and this is the true honor and duty that comes with nobility, isn't it?"

These words, so befitting a true Noble, immediately drew applause from the surrounding crowd.

These Nobles were eager to establish a good relationship with the soon-to-be-appointed 'Inspector of Dewensen.'

"To our newly-appointed Pioneer Knight, Viscount David Uthos!"

Indifferent, David continued his Gluttony. He couldn't be bothered with these Elf Nobles. With his looming hibernation, he needed to stockpile a vast amount of food. Since it was free for the taking here, why not feast to his heart's content?

"To our lovely Miss Tania."

Tania thought her brother's indifferent demeanor was as cool as ice, so she mimicked David, ignoring everyone around her and continuing to GLUG GLUG GLUG down a can of juice.

The Nobles, rebuffed twice in their attempts at ingratiation, were unfazed. They simply dismissed these great Dragons as 'barbaric and ill-mannered,' and refocused their attention, raising their glasses to Mirillian:

"Lastly, to our beloved Duke of the Silver Wheel, Her Highness Mirillian! What you did today has truly shown us what a real noble role model is like."

Having experienced life-and-death situations herself, Mirillian also had little regard for the Nobles' insincere flattery. However, due to the aristocratic upbringing she had received since childhood, she still smiled and returned the gesture. Then, she gently placed her hand on Yevgeny's head, saying,

"Rise, Yevgeny, my knight."

"Yes, my master!" Yevgeny, feeling 'some sort of encouragement' from the touch on her head, reflexively displayed a completely submissive, intoxicated demeanor. She then stuck out her bottom, clung tightly to Mirillian's enticingly fair thighs, and rubbed her face against the Duke of Silver's thighs like a docile, obedient puppy.

"Yevgeny... what are you doing..." Even Mirillian, who had faced life and death, was suddenly at a loss.

Yevgeny, suddenly realizing what she had done, also stiffened.

It was over!!!

She had instinctively acted that way due to the constant training and conditioning from the Drow, Hiatt, day and night.

Her own honor and disgrace were trivial, but how would the other Elves view Her Highness Mirillian now?

'Master...?' A group of Elf Nobles, including Mirillian's Dragon Dad, Attilicia, watched this suggestive scene that filled them with wild thoughts, and fell into silence.

Some of the young Nobles who had always secretly adored the Duke of Silver felt their hearts shatter instantly.

Could this be the real reason the Duke of Silver had remained divorced for so many years without any romantic rumors?

Even some female Nobles, who had previously harbored envy and jealousy towards Mirillian, suddenly blushed. They licked their lips, their minds racing with fantasies as they gazed at the Duke of Silver.

It was as if an entirely different, quicker path had just opened up before them.

Even David paused his Gluttony. Holding a beef skewer and chewing on it, he watched the drama unfold, thoroughly enjoying the chaos. He then sent a commendation to Hiatt—who was stationed outside the city looking utterly bewildered—via the Soul Prism:

"Continue, why have you stopped?

"More, I love watching."

Lust

Greed