In the dead of night, near the Imperial Palace, stood an oriental-style mansion.

It was the mansion of the Riumin family, one of the seven prestigious families of the Empire, a member of the Seven Stars.

The servants of the mansion welcomed their master.

“Lord Odell, you’ve arrived.”

“Yes.”

Odell, having returned home, headed straight to a certain place.

He thought she might still be there at this hour.

And his guess was correct.

As Odell opened the door, an artificial garden in the center of the mansion came into view.

In the garden bathed in moonlight, there was a small spring.

A woman standing in front of the spring spotted Odell and called out.

“Papa!”

Odell’s eyes caught the sight of flowing black hair.

His daughter, Sia, who wouldn’t hurt even if put in his eye.

She ran into his arms.

“Sweetie, were you waiting up for me?”

“Papa, really! Sia is an adult now!”

Sia, who had just entered university this year, puffed her cheeks and looked at Odell.

Odell knew.

She was his only daughter, born after he turned fifty. He had spoiled her so much that she grew up to be a bit of a brat.

Yet, Odell couldn’t help but indulge her whims today as well.

“That’s right… Sia is an adult now. So, how’s school life? Made many friends?”

“Yes! I’ve already made two friends! I’ll introduce them to you later, Papa.”

“That’s something to look forward to.”

As Odell sat on the bench in the garden, Sia promptly sat right next to him.

Due to their busy schedules, this was the only time the father and daughter could spend together.

“Yes! But Papa, how was the Union meeting today?”

“Hmm… same as usual.”

“Papa.”

“Yes?”

“Tell me honestly. Did something happen today?”

Oh no.

Couldn’t hide it after all.

Sia looked up at Odell with worried eyes.

Even the Empire’s Chancellor found it hard to hide his true feelings in front of his precious daughter.

After all, the truth would come out tomorrow morning.

Odell finally opened his mouth.

“Well… actually, I met with Count Ruelberta today.”

“What?!”

Sia was startled and began examining Odell’s body.

“Are you okay? What did that man do to you!?”

“I’m fine. I didn’t meet him alone; I was with the members of the Seven Stars.”

“With the Seven Stars? So, you’re saying Count Ruelberta came to the Seven Stars Union?”

“Yes. Izakhel recommended Ruelberta to join the Seven Stars, and we even held a vote. And… Ruelberta is now a member of our Seven Stars.”

“What??”

The relationship between the Empire’s Seven Stars and Ruelberta was extremely hostile.

So, it was natural for Sia to be in disbelief that they had joined hands.

“It’ll probably be in the newspapers tomorrow morning. There will be quite a stir.”

“How could Ruelberta join the Seven Stars? Did you try to stop it but failed?”

“No. I agreed.”

“Papa…?”

Odell cleared his throat.

“It’s complicated to explain… but I thought it was for the best. If Ruelberta becomes a member of the Seven Stars, we can expect many things.”

The Ruelberta family holds immense power.

Once a powerful group, the Seven Stars had now become a mere social gathering. But with this, their former glory might be revived.

After a moment of thought, Sia nodded.

“If Papa judged it that way, then I’ll believe it. Papa has never been wrong before. But… I’m a bit worried. Even if you say so, isn’t Count Ruelberta too dangerous?”

A shadow fell over Sia’s face.

“Papa, I’m scared. I’m afraid the Count might be a threat to you…”

Sia had every reason to worry.

Ruelberta was too powerful.

Even if all the families of the Seven Stars combined their strength, they couldn’t match him.

That kind of power shouldn’t belong to a mere count’s family.

“Sweetie, you’re right. Ruelberta is an extremely dangerous being. I don’t trust Count Tristan either.”

Above all, the head of Ruelberta, Tristan, was known as a genius of evil deeds.

With this event, he might seize even greater power in ways no one could anticipate.

But perhaps it was better to have him within the Seven Stars.

“However, if Tristan becomes a member of the Seven Stars supporting this country, he won’t be able to act as recklessly as before. More importantly, I won’t let him.”

“Papa…”

Though he said so, Odell was inwardly concerned.

If, by any chance, the country fell into chaos as Tristan predicted…

Could they restrain Ruelberta?

Sia slowly opened her mouth.

“I believe in you, Papa. If you judged it that way, it must have been the best decision.”

“Thank you…”

Odell patted Sia’s head.

To him, she was an irreplaceable treasure.

And one day, she would succeed him as the head of the Riumin family.

Sia was a child overflowing with talent and exceptional intelligence.

Even if she weren’t his daughter, Odell was confident she was destined to lead the country.

But… for now, she was just a child who had just entered university.

So, Odell couldn’t tell her about Tristan’s mention of the hero.

Whether it was true or not, it was a matter that could determine the fate of the nation.

At least until the day Tristan spoke of arrived, Odell wished for Sia to live as an ordinary student.

“From tomorrow, I’ll be very busy. I have to go to the Imperial Palace and discuss many things with the ministers…”

“I believe you’ll do well, Papa.”

“Yes. With you here, I must stay strong.”

“Hehe…”

Sia smiled brightly.

A child is best when they smile like a child.

It naturally brings a tender smile to one’s face.

Then, a thought suddenly crossed Odell’s mind.

“But… sweetie. You’ve been coming home late recently. Is something going on?”

“Huh…?”

Odell didn’t miss Sia’s brief hesitation.

“Well… I was playing with friends… and lost track of time…”

“Oh…? With friends, you say?”

Odell’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Sia waved her hands, denying any suspicion.

“No, no! There’s nothing for you to worry about!”

“If there really was nothing to worry about, you wouldn’t react like this…?”

“…!”

Suspicion turned into certainty.

To the speechless Sia, Odell spoke in a quiet voice.

“Sweetie… I don’t care who you befriend. Even if they aren’t suitable for the Riumin family, it doesn’t matter. If you judged them worthy, then that’s enough.”

“Yes…”

“But no boys…”

“Papa?!”

Sia jumped up in surprise.

“Papa! It’s not like that! I don’t have a boyfriend!”

“Friends are fine, but only girls. There’s no such thing as friendship between boys and girls.”

“Ugh! I said it’s not like that!”

Odell sighed.

“It’s only natural that boys would be after my precious daughter. It’s my fault for not anticipating this. I should have sent you to an all-girls boarding school on the outskirts…”

“What?!”

“No, it’s not too late. I should talk to Chancellor Mondri tomorrow about transferring.”

As Odell went that far, Sia panicked.

“Papa! How many times do I have to say it! I don’t have a boyfriend! Besides, I’m an adult now! Even if I had one…”

“Absolutely not. I won’t allow it.”

“Papa! Are you serious?”

“Yes. I won’t allow it even if dirt gets in my eyes!”

“Then how about water?!”

“Gasp?!”

A stream of water shot by Sia’s magic hit Odell right in the eyes.

“My, my eyes!”

“Papa! I really hate you!”

Furious, Sia stomped back to her room.

“Cough…! Ah, sweetie! Don’t leave me!”

Clearly, she was a daughter who wouldn’t hurt even if put in his eye, but why were tears streaming down his face?

Only the pitiful cries of the old man clutching his eyes and rolling on the floor could be heard.

*

The next morning.

The news of my becoming a member of the Seven Stars seemed to spread faster than expected.

By the time the carriage I was in arrived at the school, unusual scenes began to appear outside the window.

The first to catch my eye were the magicians with press armbands.

They seemed ready to use even the expensive photo magic.

They must all be here to interview me.

Some were already taking pictures of the carriage.

And it wasn’t just reporters.

There were groups of students holding signs.

[Give us back our student cafeteria!]

[The school belongs to the students! Chairman, stop your tyranny!]

The interesting part was that they were all wearing masks, the kind you’d see at a masquerade ball.

They must be afraid of my retaliation.

I didn’t expect the children of nobles to actively come out and voice their opinions.

Perhaps, being nobles, they couldn’t stand injustice.

Some reporters were interviewing them.

I could already guess tomorrow’s headlines.

“This is dreadful…”

My bodyguard knight, Helga Wolfbert, muttered as she looked at them.

“Thinking that such riff-raff might harm Your Excellency sends shivers down my spine.”

Honestly, you’re the one giving me shivers…

“But don’t worry, Your Excellency. I have a plan.”

“What is it?”

Did she have some trick up her sleeve?

Helga, who until recently was the deputy commander of Aslan.

There’s a reason she rose through the ranks to become deputy commander.

At my question, Helga confidently thumped her chest and said.

“Yes. If we execute a few as examples, they won’t dare harm Your Excellency.”

“……”

I take back what I thought earlier.

This girl just has no brains.