At that moment, Naban was meeting his future father-in-law and his soon-to-be wife.

"I am Naban Bacchus."

"I am Quadrak Ceres, and this is my daughter, Lily Ceres. You may introduce yourselves."

"Pleasure to meet you," Naban said with a slight nod toward Lily, though it was more dismissive than polite. His behavior was borderline insolent.

The bodyguard behind Naban flushed red with anger. If Quadrak hadn’t been present, he might have shouted in protest.

However…

"Hmm."

Lily didn’t appear offended; instead, she seemed to be appraising Naban, looking him over with a peculiar expression.

"…?"

Naban raised an eyebrow, puzzled by her reaction. He had not encountered this type of response before.

"You look decent… for a bastard. Or perhaps that’s what makes you intriguing? I thought someone nine years older than me would be quite the deviant. But for now, you pass."

The bodyguard clenched his fists tightly.

‘A merchant’s daughter dares…!’

Only someone from the Bacchus family could speak about Naban’s birth status, and it was considered an insult for anyone else to bring it up. For Lily to do so diminished the value of this marriage alliance, and the bodyguard was about to speak up.

But—

"Hahaha!"

Naban let out a loud, irreverent laugh, catching everyone off guard, including Quadrak and the bodyguard.

Lily looked at him curiously.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because it’s refreshing not to be called a pervert by my fiancée."

"…You’re not angry?"

"Angry? Why would I be?"

"You were called a bastard."

"That’s the truth, isn’t it?"

Naban gave a casual shrug, and Lily’s interest in him only grew.

"You lack pride?"

"Is there any point in putting up a fuss when I’m being sold off? Stirring things up would only lead to this marriage falling through and throwing the family into chaos. Think what you will."

"So you know your place."

"Knowing one’s place is the key to surviving, even for just one more day."

It was a cryptic answer.

Lily smiled slyly, while the bodyguard’s face twisted with rage.

‘These two are unbearable!’

The spoiled merchant girl and the family’s bastard were playing their own strange tune, and the bodyguard could hardly stomach it. It felt as though they were both mocking him.

But he knew his family’s precarious situation. If this alliance failed, the Bacchus name would be doomed.

‘One day, we’ll repay this humiliation…!’

If the family regained its former glory, they would crush the Ceres Company without consequence.

*Clap!*

Quadrak clapped his hands, interrupting the tense atmosphere.

"It seems the two who are to be married are getting along well, which is fortunate. To spend one’s life alongside someone you dislike would be tragic, indeed. Haha."

The bodyguard shivered at the implication behind Quadrak’s words.

‘Could he know about Naban’s terminal condition…?’

But he dared not say anything.

Quadrak continued, turning to his daughter.

"Lily, there are many esteemed guests outside who have come from all over the North to celebrate your engagement. Truly, we are blessed."

"Yes, we’re very fortunate," Lily replied, a smirk forming on her lips.

"And before we proceed with the main ceremony, is there anything you wish to say to your future husband? May I call you ‘son-in-law’?"

"Please, go ahead," Naban replied nonchalantly.

"And do you have any words for my daughter?"

"Not particularly. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to talk in the five years before our marriage."

Five years—the time Naban had left, if his condition held.

Lily glanced at him, her gaze filled with disdain.

"Will you love me?"

Naban nearly chuckled to himself. The young girl, barely fifteen, was attempting a seductive charm with her heavy makeup, but to him, it was almost comical.

"I’ll try. But for now, it’s difficult. It's not easy to feel romantic feelings toward someone so young."

"So you’re saying it’s possible in the future?"

"Possibly."

"Then I’d like a show of proof. Can you do that?"

"Proof? What sort of proof?"

Naban was intrigued by his fiancée’s icy, calculating demeanor. It wasn’t often he met someone even more cynical than himself.

Lily’s expression darkened as she clutched her poorly functioning right arm.

"Bring me the head of the one who did this to my arm."

"His head?"

Naban rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He had heard about the incident a few months back—a major event involving the Dragon Society that had caused quite a stir across the North. And he knew the culprit had recently made a name for himself in the Opening Ceremony.

‘Didn’t Thorkel take an interest in him as well?’

Naban recalled the prodigy in his own year and laughed.

"My daughter."

"Hmm?"

Quadrak, clearly not expecting this demand, looked shocked, while the bodyguard’s face turned as hard as stone.

But Lily’s fierce gaze showed no sign of softening.

"I’ve heard that he’s the most promising genius in Ragnar right now, with the interest of several of the Nine Dragons. Are you suggesting I make my short life even shorter?"

"Of course not."

"Or are you hoping that losing his life will somehow benefit the family?"

"I won’t let that happen. I promise you."

"So you have something to fall back on."

Lily just smiled without a word.

After pretending to think for a moment, Naban nodded.

"Fine. I’ll prove it to you. If my future wife desires it, I’ll bring his head as a dowry."

"Excellent."

Lily’s lips twisted into a sinister smile.

Just then—

"Master! We have an emergency!"

*Bang!*

The doors to the room swung open, and the steward rushed in frantically.

"We have guests—what is this rudeness?"

"That… it’s…!"

The steward hastily explained the situation outside, and Quadrak’s expression grew stony.

Meanwhile, Lily’s smile widened.

"Looks like I’ll get to witness my future husband’s proof of love sooner than expected."

---

Quadrak, Lily, and Naban quickly made their way outside, with Quadrak’s face set in a grim expression.

‘The Dragon banner…!’

Flying in the breeze was the unmistakable banner of Ragnar—a sight that would make any Northerner bow their head.

Underneath the banner, Theo and his companions stood with haughty expressions, as if they were a conquering army.

The soldiers and mercenaries guarding the Ceres headquarters, as well as the Bacchus family’s swordsmen, surrounded them, but all seemed hesitant, wary of the four figures standing before them.

Despite numbering over a hundred, they were already intimidated.

Naban observed the scene with interest, while Lily scowled upon spotting Theo among the intruders.

Suppressing his irritation, Quadrak spoke in a grave tone.

"To what do we owe the honor of a visit from such a great family? If you've come to celebrate our alliance with the Bacchus family, we can offer you a more fitting reception."

"An honor?" Clébé sneered, his expression twisting with disdain, and the faces of Quadrak and the Ceres members hardened.

Clébé continued, unfazed, as he retrieved something from his coat.

"I’ll keep this brief. Evidence of your connection to an organization that attempted an assassination on a member of our family has been discovered. We’re here to investigate charges of treason, so I expect your full cooperation."

"…!"

"…!"

"…!"

The faces of the Ceres Company members went pale, and even the Bacchus family swordsmen showed signs of shock.

Treason! In the North, Ragnar was as powerful as a king. To defy them was a death sentence.

Everyone instinctively looked to Quadrak and Lily for guidance.

‘Could it be…?’

Quadrak gritted his teeth, realizing that the Season of Serpents had somehow fallen into Ragnar’s hands.

Lily’s eyes trembled with fear.

‘So much for that promise that killing Theo Ragnar wouldn’t cause trouble with Ragnar. What a strange family I’m marrying into.’

The two quickly schooled their expressions, but Naban had already pieced together the situation.

It seemed that the Ceres Company and Ed Troyban had been playing with fire, only to be caught by Ragnar.

"If you understand, clear the way," Clébé said, taking a menacing step forward, his gaze like steel. The soldiers guarding the Ceres Company instinctively took a step back.

However—

"…Stand your ground."

At Quadrak’s quiet command, they stopped retreating.

Clébé narrowed his eyes.

"You refuse to cooperate?"

"I regret this situation deeply. However, as a vassal of Ragnar, I cannot accept these accusations without evidence. Bring forth proper proof, and we’ll discuss."

"You deny the evidence already in our possession?"

"That scrap of paper? Anyone could have forged that to frame us. It seems there’s some conspiracy at play."

"So you claim the Ceres Company is innocent?"

"Absolutely. No ally of Ragnar is more loyal than we are. We’ll investigate these matters thoroughly ourselves and report back to you."

Quadrak folded his arms, a cold smile on his lips.

"But since you’ve come all this way, we’ll see that you’re taken care of. Men, show our guests to their rooms."

Several well-trained soldiers stepped forward, bowing slightly.

 Unlike the more inexperienced guards, these soldiers seemed properly trained.

However, Theo noticed something odd—the faint glint of red in their eyes.

‘Blood Aura.’

It was the same ominous energy he had sensed from the Blood Priest.

If Theo hadn’t personally encountered the **Nameless Lord**, he might not have noticed the taint in their aura.

「Clébé, these men are Blood Priests.」

Clébé’s gaze darkened.

「Are you certain?」

「I sensed the same aura from them as the Blood Priest we encountered.」

「Is there any chance you’re mistaken?」

「None.」

Theo’s confident reply left no room for doubt.

Though it was common knowledge that the Holy Demon Church’s priests could conceal their auras in daily life, Theo had an uncanny ability to sense them.

Clébé didn’t question it; Theo always seemed to find a way.

「Then we strike immediately.」

Just blocking the path of the executor of Ragnar’s decree warranted severe punishment for the Ceres Company.

But uncovering Blood Priests among their ranks would end this discussion altogether.

Conveying her plan telepathically to the others, Clébé swiftly unsheathed her sword.

*Swoosh!*

Her blade flashed toward the nearest Blood Priest’s head, moving with the speed only a high-ranking swordsman could achieve.

With her aura focused, the blade seemed to bear the fangs of a deadly dragon.

"…!"

The Blood Priest attempted to summon his power in response—

But suddenly, a sword descended from the sky, landing directly in Clébé’s path.

*Clang!*

The force of Clébé’s swing was diverted.

Clébé steadied herself and glared at the newcomer.

"What’s the meaning of this?"

"What else?"

The intruder grinned, his face alight with amusement.

"I’m protecting my future home."

It was Naban.