The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　This was even with most of the students from St. Marian College absent.

　Those who know nothing about him probably can't imagine how this once-lone wolf-like playboy managed to achieve this.

　But Dark himself had no such intention at all; he even found these people...a bit annoying.

　He had only intended to sit in a quiet corner and get through the banquet. But this small plan was completely thwarted after the three of them gathered together.

　He has undoubtedly become one of the many focal points once again.

　Being stared at by so many people is not a pleasant experience.

　……

　The banquet officially began half an hour later.

　There were no assigned seats at this banquet.

　The people who come to the banquet are not there for the royal cuisine. The main purpose of the banquet is to socialize with people they would not normally have the opportunity to meet, to curry favor with those they want something from, or to continue to strengthen relationships with those they are already close to.

　Of course, on the surface, they would all congratulate the two little princesses on their enrollment in school.

　Anna and Angie were both dressed up tonight, although their little faces were full of "reluctance." But they still followed their mother's wishes and walked around the stage for a bit, their pouting little mouths making them look adorable.

　After they stepped down from the stage, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Charles went up to give their blessings to their two younger sisters.

　The king's speech followed immediately.

　This was certainly not the first time Dak had seen this aging king.

　In fact, he would meet with him several times almost every year before he enrolled.

　The king is sixty-three years old this year, and should not look so old. However, he personally led troops into battle during the war and was seriously wounded. The treatment of his wounds consumed a great deal of his life force, which shortened his lifespan.

　However, after gradually delegating his busy political affairs to his children and ministers, the burden on his shoulders was lightened considerably, and he had more leisure time to participate in the matchmaking of his eldest son and daughter, and his energy was much better.

　He had indeed considered stepping down, but in his view, neither the eldest princess nor the eldest prince were mature enough.

　As the ruler of a country, he could not simply abdicate the throne to an immature successor because he was exhausted.

　He hoped that Elizabeth and Charles could grow quickly through competition, and then establish a structure where one was the main figure and the other the secondary.

　The old king already had a plan in mind.

　After ascending the stage accompanied by the Queen, the King paused briefly before displaying the demeanor of a ruler.

　The voices from the audience vanished instantly.

　He then slowly surveyed everyone in the room, congratulating the two princesses on their enrollment in school with an authoritative tone and expressing his expectations.

　Finally, he casually remarked, "Becoming the chief shouldn't be too difficult."

　The two little princesses were suddenly under immense pressure!

　……

　After the king stepped down, he whispered something to Anna and Angie for a while before leaving the banquet hall.

　The atmosphere in the banquet hall then became noticeably more lively.

　Sociable noblemen and ladies mingled in the hall, while more aloof nobles drank alone, and some even discussed serious matters directly.

　Regardless of the pretext of the banquet, it will generally look like this after the middle of the event.

　Dak declined Joshua Middleton's invitation to drink and instead tried to sell him milk tea.

　Since Ollie successfully recreated various flavors of milk tea, this trendy drink has quietly become popular among the nobility. Now it has even been served at royal banquets.

　Brown Eugénie, on the other hand, had her sights set on bubble tea from the start and had already downed several large cups.

　Dak originally wanted to remind him that drinking too much milk tea would make him fat. But after glancing at his ball-like belly, he decided to give up.

　Phyllis moved into a small circle of noble ladies shortly after the banquet began.

　When Dak occasionally glanced over, he always felt that those noble ladies were secretly glancing in his direction.

　He took a deep breath, put on his meticulous smile again, and dealt with the unfamiliar nobleman who came to talk to him.

　bother.

　……

　It's already this annoying.

　In a few years, it will probably be even more troublesome.

　……

　The only thing that made Dak feel fortunate was that the two little princesses were clearly kept in check by the princess and did not come to cause him any trouble.

　When they stared at him with wide eyes, Dak seized the opportunity to wink at them to relieve his frustration.

　As for whether the two little princesses will feel even more annoyed because of this?

　That's absolutely certain and confirmed.

　In the latter half of the banquet, Dark finally found an opportunity and successfully slipped out of the banquet hall.

　But when he tried to leave, Phyllis blocked him at the door.

　"Hey, Dark, are you leaving already?"

　Phyllis seemed to have had a little to drink, as her cheeks were slightly flushed.

　Dak frankly admitted, "I don't really like these noisy occasions."

　“I can see that,” Phyllis nodded. “But it seems you still owe me dinner.”

　Dark blinked, wanting to say that it was just a polite remark.

　Phyllis then said, "Speaking of which, you'll be starting school soon, right?"

　Dark nodded and said, "Two more days."

　Phyllis frowned and said, "In that case, we won't see each other again for nine months. Don't forget your promise."

　Dark was taken aback: "What promise?"

　Phyllis counted on her fingers and said, "First, you still owe me dinner. Second, I won't refuse."

　“Is that all?” Dark replied. “Of course I haven’t forgotten.”

　I was simply invited.

　It's not like it's a tiger's den.

　……

　"That's good."

　Phyllis's tone immediately became cheerful.

　She suddenly moved closer to Dak, and the distance between them instantly closed, filling the air with a fragrant aroma.

　Just as Dark was about to step back, she straightened up again and made way for him: "Goodnight then, don't forget me when you get to the academy."

　"Goodnight." Dark waved gently, but didn't take away a single cloud.

　Phyllis watched him walk away before slowly composed herself.

　A moment later, a blond, fair-skinned, and handsome middle-aged man appeared from behind her.

　Phyllis turned around and said, "Father."

　Count Rex Raman's gaze remained fixed on the direction where Dark Dimon had disappeared.

　Then, in a tone that even he himself doubted, he asked, "Phyllis, do you think Charles would still have a chance if Dark Dimon married Elizabeth after he came of age?"

　Phyllis was startled and asked in confusion, "Father, how could you think such a thing? There's at least a six-year age difference between Dark and Eliza, isn't there?"

　But Count Rex Raman said slowly, "Six years old is just two three-year-olds."

　Phyllis paused, then said angrily, "What you said makes a lot of sense."

　Earl Rex Raman then looked down into his daughter's eyes and smiled gently: "I was just saying. After all, the eldest princess will eventually get married."

　Phyllis crossed her arms and said, "It's about finding a son-in-law!"

　Count Rex Raman said helplessly, "Alright, it's about finding a son-in-law."

　……

　“Oli”.

　Dak walked a little further away and called out softly.

　Ollie then stepped out from behind him and walked alongside him.

　"Is anyone there?" Darke whispered.

　"It's Earl Rex Raman," said Ollie.

　Dark frowned slightly, pondering, "Rex Raman, is he a doting father?"

　After thinking for a moment, Ollie said, "Miss Phyllis is Count Raman's only daughter, and the Count's affection for her is indeed extraordinary."

　"I wonder what they're talking about right now?" Dak said.

　"Should I go and find out?" Ollie said.

　Dark shook his head and said, "No need."

　It doesn't mean much.

　……

　Before the banquet drew to a close, the Duke's distinctive dragon-horned carriage passed through the night and left the palace.

　A sudden thunderstorm swept down in an instant, lightning tore the sky apart, and thunder roared incessantly.

　But the dragon-horned horse pulling the carriage remained as steady as a rock, completely unfazed by the thunder, and the carriage continued at a steady pace, quickly returning to the mansion.

　As Dak got off the vehicle, he glanced at the dragon-horned horse, which was soaking wet but still looked magnificent. Suddenly, something occurred to him, and his eyes shone even brighter.

　It was the night of August 29th, and the departure date was the morning of August 31st.

　In other words, there's still one free day tomorrow.

　On this day, there was something he wanted to do!

　……

　So that evening, after taking a shower, Dak knocked on Claire's bedroom door.

　Although it was late, Claire still had the animals open the door.

　However, she didn't get out of bed. Instead, she moved over to the side, patted the bed next to her, and blinked, saying, "Is there something you need? Why are you looking for me so late?"

　Dark obediently sat down beside the bed and then said, "I would like to ask you a question about riding."

　Clayton immediately understood: "Riding? You mean you want to ride a dragon?"

　Dark nodded and said, "Yes."

　Claire smiled slightly and then waved to him.

　When Dak got close, she suddenly stood up, hugged him, and pulled him onto the bed, then laughed and said, "But your dragon is a little small."

　Dak was somewhat embarrassed.

　Even considering their ages across two lifetimes, he and Claire are roughly the same age.

　But in Claire's presence, he always felt like a real child.

　"Perhaps the difference lies in their experience."

　Dark shook his head and said to Claire, "It can grow bigger."

　Claire gestured with her chin: "It is big, but it can only last for fifteen minutes, right?"

　"Fifteen minutes isn't short if it's just for learning," Dak said.

　Claire smiled and said, "Since you put it that way, I have no problem teaching you. Consider it preparation for becoming a true dragon knight in the future."

　……

　After receiving Claire's permission, Dak went to sleep with a faint sense of anticipation.

　The next morning, the earth, cleansed by the torrential rain, exuded a fresh scent of herbs.