The current Noel was a centralized kingdom. However, even a kingdom as prosperous and powerful as Noel had been split into many small states long ago, with feudal lords occupying territories and constant warfare between them.
Much like the Warring States Period, there was a time when one could seize a city-state, declare themselves its ruler, and claim the title of king. This era had persisted for quite a long time.
Leones, the ruler of Borza, the Golden City in the western desert, was one of those examples. The family also governed the vast lands within Noel’s borders as the Lion King lineage.
It was said that when the strongest warrior on the continent, Leones, swung his arm just once, mountains would crumble, rivers would change course, and stars would shift their positions. A descendant of that heroic Leones was currently sitting at the table.
“Hmph!”
The large girl seemed dissatisfied with the wide table, tapping her fingertips rhythmically against the surface. *Tap, tap, tap.* She sounded extremely irritable and impatient.
The heroic young lady with blonde hair and blue eyes stared coldly at another royal descendant sitting to her right—a member of the Dreko family, the Dragon King bloodline. They controlled countless cliffs, deep canyons, rugged peaks, and lost castles in the eastern part of the continent.
It was said that the Dreko family had once driven the corpses of Ancient Giant Dragons to slaughter everyone on the battlefield with overwhelming might.
“Please be quiet, Miss Leones. Don’t you think you’re being quite noisy?” The Dreko descendant sat elegantly at the table, sipping the milk tea in front of her. *Gulp.*
Sitting between them, in the center, was the family of witches who wisely ruled the northern forests and plains — Callista.
Evelyn spoke up, “It seems the lady of the Polbeck family does not intend to come. The appointed time has passed, yet she still hasn’t taken her seat. This is a slight against my authority and cannot be tolerated.”
Evelyn looked at the empty southern side of the table, her slender brows furrowing in dissatisfaction. At that moment, the young lady of the Dreko family, Miona Dreko, gently set down her teacup and replied:
“It seems that for the free-spirited Polbecks, this web is ultimately too small? After all, a spider is nothing more than a wingless, featherless creature that can only survive by clinging to its web. Oh, that’s right. Lions also only know how to crawl and grovel on the ground, don’t they?”
“…” Evelyn merely arched an eye, seemingly choosing not to delve into the meaning behind those words.
‘Contempt and mockery, yet no retaliation?’
Erica stood by the table, quietly listening to their conversation, blending perfectly into the background.
…
Evelyn’s authority wasn’t enough to restrain the reckless Polbeck family, and right in front of her was a defiant Miona Dreko. Even the Leones family had been targeted with sarcasm. One could say this blanket insult had hit everyone right in the face.
Before Evelyn could argue back— *Bang!* Emile slammed the table heavily, taking the initiative to lash out. As a result, a tiny crack appeared near the western city of Borza on the finely drawn map of the Kingdom of Noel spread across the table.
“Miona Dreko, you’d better keep your mouth shut and behave today. Just looking at your face makes me sick!” Emile stared at her nemesis, Miona, unable to suppress her rage. After all, they had come to blows the last time they met, and that duel had ended without a clear victor. Her resentment had clearly not faded.
“Hmph!” Miona’s lips curled into a cold, elegant arc as she glared back without showing any weakness. The atmosphere at the table shifted instantly from superficial harmony to blatant hostility.
The city map of Noel was drawn on this large round table, making it feel as if they were standing over a tactical battlefield layout.
In fact, the history of Noel was largely like this. Leones and Dreko were opposed in everything, while Callista in the north watched from the sidelines, their thoughts unknown. Meanwhile, the Grand Chief Polbeck in the south remained indifferent.
Truly a gathering of greats… oh, wait, not everyone was here. One was missing in action.
One had to admit, the people sitting around this table were truly a microcosm of the kingdom.
Erica looked toward the closed wooden doors of the Great Cathedral’s spacious meeting room. This banquet was hoped to resolve conflicts before incidents could occur. The original intention was for everyone to sit down and talk so they could still be good friends after leaving the room.
Who among those present supported this, and who opposed it?
“Then, I, Erica Angelina, shall preside over the first session of the Regtaya General Council. First, the agenda for this meeting is—”
“Wait a moment.”
Erica, who was determined to be a silent tool merely reading from a script, was interrupted while recalling her prepared lines. It was Miona Dreko.
The ‘Dragon Maiden’ with silver hair and red eyes pointed a neatly folded fan at the girl and said coldly, “Erica Angelina, you are nothing but an insignificant commoner. How dare you think you are qualified to preside over a meeting of the kingdom’s founding families?”
“Hmm?”
“Exactly what right do you have to be here? Having a commoner in this position is a great insult to me.”
‘Then why don’t you host it and I’ll take your seat?’
Miona Dreko seemed dissatisfied with Erica, perhaps because she also harbored resentment toward Evelyn for using the girl. Hearing this, Evelyn, who had been silently enduring the noisy farce, frowned once again.
“Do not insult the Court Secretary I personally appointed.”
“Secretary? Wasn’t she a gardener?” Miona Dreko raised an eyebrow as if she couldn’t understand. However, she wasn’t the only one who didn’t understand.
‘When did I become a Court Secretary?’
At this, Evelyn wore a slightly proud expression, puffing out her decently sized chest. “I promoted her a short while ago.”
“Did the position of Court Secretary even exist originally? On what grounds are you undermining the long-standing laws of Noel?”
“I am the Queen. If I say it exists, it exists.”
It seemed that although the situation was confusing, she had indeed been promoted.
Yes, a promotion that existed regardless of her subjective will.
She had suddenly been promoted from a court gardener to a secretary. Even though the job description wouldn’t change, the salary depended entirely on Evelyn’s mood, and the position was unstable—she might end up in prison at any moment—Erica was still in a good mood because her rank had increased.
‘Easy-to-please girls don’t have bad luck.’
Evelyn continued, “An insult to Erica will be viewed as an insult to me, Evelyn. As the Queen, I suggest you think carefully, Miona Dreko. Otherwise, I will withdraw the little respect I have for your father and grandfather.”
Facing the undercurrents surging within that calm tone, Miona Dreko seemed to have nothing left to say. With a *swish*, she unfolded her black lace fan, covered half her face, and fell silent.
No matter what, Evelyn was currently the Queen, the top figure in the kingdom. Even as the young lady of a great noble family, Miona had no choice but to observe the duties of a subject.
Although Miona, whose face was hidden by the fan, faintly revealed a look of regret and annoyance—as if asking ‘Why did I even come here to be mistreated?’—Erica had to push the process forward before this brief peace was shattered.
“Then, everyone, please eat first. Tonight’s banquet specifically uses specialty ingredients from Regtaya.”
*Clap!*
She struck her small, white-gloved hands together.
As arranged beforehand, dishes served on silver trays with domed lids came into view. *Rumble, rumble.*
The wheels of the dining carts rolled as maids neatly arranged various foods until they covered the entire table.
Only then did Erica finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Despite their attitudes, they were all young ladies of great nobility; they maintained elegance and nobility while dining.
If anyone dared to start a row, Erica would just snap back with, “Can’t even the food shut your mouth?”
Whether she actually dared to say it was another matter.