WDEDLF-Chapter 138

The emperor, who had lost his mind, worsened as time went on, and showed no signs of recovery.

 

The presence of a dragon that had not appeared in five hundred years was confusing, and Anais was the one responsible for sorting out the situation.

 

She secretly visited Count Lindell’s residence and met Sergey and Elaine.

 

“Greetings to the Black Dragon Rabes.”

 

When Anais slightly bent her knees and bowed her head, Elaine was taken aback, but Sergey calmly nodded and sat down on his seat, offering Anais a seat.

 

However, Anais did not immediately take a seat. Instead, she glanced at Elaine before speaking politely.

 

“If Lady Elaine sits, I will sit too.”

 

Elaine was once again visibly flustered, while Sergey smirked in satisfaction.

 

“You’re a human who understands things. I never liked the emperor from five hundred years ago.”

 

“S-Sergey!”

 

“Elaine. This is how it should be. A dragon’s contractor stands above all humans. You failed to grasp that five hundred years ago, too.”

 

Sergey grabbed Elaine’s hand, who was still hesitant to sit down before Anais, and pulled her to sit next to him.

 

Only then did Anais sit down elegantly and silently on the chair Hubert had prepared for her.

 

“Sergey is right. All humans are powerless before the dragon. Except for one person, the dragon’s contractor.”

 

Elaine, who had been an imperial wizard in her past life as Lancer, was bewildered by that situation.

 

She had always placed the royal family above herself, but she endured the discomfort because she thought that if she lowered herself, Sergey would also be lowered.

 

Anais was glad that Elaine wasn’t an arrogant and rude person, but she still didn’t let her guard down. After all, Elaine was the only human who could use the power of a dragon.

 

Choosing her words carefully, Anais asked,

 

“May I ask about your future plans, Lady Elaine?”

 

She couldn’t ask for more specifics. She could only hope for Elaine’s merciful decision.

 

Elaine also understood Anais’ difficulties.

 

Anais was destined to become the next emperor, but if Elaine stepped forward to become emperor, Anais would become just an ordinary human being, or in the worst-case scenario, she would be killed.

 

Despite the fear she must have felt coming to Count Lindell’s house, Anais remained both respectful and dignified, never losing her elegance. Elaine found herself admiring her.

 

But Elaine had no intention of doing anything that would make Anais afraid.

 

“First of all, I want to live quietly with Sergey. I’d like you to officially announce that the rumors about Sergey being Rabes are false. Rabes only briefly disguised himself as a human named Sergey, but he wasn’t actually Sergey.”

 

“Since too many people have seen me transform into a dragon, it will be difficult to quell the rumor that the Black Dragon Rabes has returned, so I just want you to dispel the rumor that Sergey Lindell is Rabes.”

 

Anais nodded to Elaine and Sergey’s request.

 

“Understood. Then, does that mean you intend to continue living as the heir of Count Lindell’s family, Sir Sergey?”

 

“Yeah. I’ll marry Elaine, pretend to grow old like a human, and then leave when the time is right. Once you become emperor, just treat me as an ordinary noble.”

 

In fact, that couldn’t have been possible.

 

The relationship between the emperor and the nobility was never stable.

 

There were moments of cooperation, but also conflicts—even purges when necessary, so how can she turn the dragon into an enemy?

 

But Anais could only be grateful for the decision Sergey and Elaine had made.

 

“Does this mean you acknowledge my claim to the throne?”

 

“Elaine said that being the emperor sounded troublesome and a headache, so she doesn’t want to bother.”

 

“Sergey!”

 

Elaine, flustered, poked Sergey in the side.

 

Watching how naturally Elaine interacted with the dragon, Anais was reminded that she truly was the dragon’s contractor.

 

“Thank you. If there is anything else you would like to ask for, please let me know.”

 

Hearing Anais’s words, Elaine thought to herself—perhaps she could finally accomplish what she had wanted as Lancer. With that in mind, she spoke quietly.

 

“Please eliminate discrimination against witches. I think we’d better get rid of the word witch itself. Everyone who has magical powers and can perform magic, regardless of whether they are male or female, should be simply called a wizard.”

 

Anais nodded, surprised by the unexpected request.

 

“I will accept that. We’ll start by ensuring an equal gender ratio among the royal magicians.”

 

“And please make sure that no more children are hidden away and abused in their own homes.”

 

It was an understandable request, as Anais had heard that Elaine was called the stain of the Newt family and was mistreated by the family.

 

“Yes. I will do my best.”

 

“And this one… is a personal request.”

 

“Please, feel free to tell me.”

 

At the mention of a personal request, Anais tensed slightly, preparing for something difficult.

 

However, the request that followed was somewhat anticlimactic.

 

“Before I marry Sergey, I want to remove the surname ‘Newt’ from my name. I want to prevent any interference from the Newt family regarding my marriage.”

 

Before Anais could respond, Sergey answered first.

 

“That’s something I can do.”

 

“How?”

 

“Uh… well, for starters, I could just… erase the Newt family from the world—”

 

“Your Highness, please. I just want to be independent from them, nothing more.”

 

Ignoring Sergey’s dramatic suggestion of destruction, Elaine turned to Anais and made her plea.

 

To Anais, Elaine was truly fascinating.

 

With a dragon by her side—one that could bring the empire to its knees—she simply wanted her own independence, leaving those who have oppressed her alone.

 

“If you want, I can charge the Newt family for their part in the rebellion and wipe them out. But I don’t think that’s what you want.”

 

“If I wanted that, I would’ve asked Sergey. But I don’t want anyone in the Newt family to get hurt.”

 

Anais couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked.

 

“May I ask why?”

 

“Because I believe that true revenge is proving that they mean nothing to me—by being far happier than they ever could be.”

 

Elaine actually thought her method of revenge was rather petty compared to outright destroying the Newt family.

 

But she was certain this way would make them suffer for much longer.

 

“I’ll live as Sergey’s wife—the Countess of Lindell, who stood by the Crown Princess’s side. Meanwhile, the people of the Newt family, who supported the Marquise of Haberon and will soon fall into ruin, will have to face me in high society.”

 

The former Countess of Newt, who had tried to starve Elaine to death, and Martin and Ellie, who had tormented her since childhood, would find themselves forced to bow their heads to her.

 

Lark, who had obsessed over controlling her, and Lorina, who had even used monsters in an attempt to kill her, would feel the humiliation even more deeply.

 

“I know what they’re like. Those people, so consumed by their superiority and pride in their bloodline, would find bowing to me far more painful than death itself. Your Highness might find me frustrating, but….”

 

“No. I understand. Besides, due to this incident, I intend to demote or strip the titles of those families involved with the Marquise of Haberon. Soon, they won’t even be in a position to speak to you first.”

 

The Newt family, in particular, had been one of Sasha’s closest allies. Even if they hadn’t actively participated in the coup, demotion was inevitable.

 

“That’s exactly why I want to cut ties with them completely.”

 

“Understood. Then… What if I grant you a noble title and surname of your own, recognizing your contributions in this matter?”

 

“Can you do that for me?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Then please grant me only a very low-ranking title. I don’t want to attract unnecessary attention by receiving something beyond my worth.”

 

“Are you sure that will be enough?”

 

“Yes, that’s enough.”

 

Anais found it almost absurd that she was the one offering something to someone who could have anything.

 

But Elaine smiled radiantly, as if genuinely satisfied. Her lack of greed was so striking that it left Anais speechless.

 

“Is there anything else you wish for?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“I have it.”

 

Sergey intervened.

 

“I want the Pavelo Temple to be destroyed.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Sergey’s cold eyes gleamed as he recalled the Pavelo Temple—the one that had deceived people into believing they were safeguarding Lancer’ remains to prevent the return of the evil dragon.

 

* * *

 

As a result of the noble council’s decision, Anais was to ascend the throne earlier than expected.

 

And soon after the coronation, she judged Sasha’s attempted usurpation of the throne and the incident of the descent of the two dragons, and handed out rewards and punishments.

 

“For the crimes of treason and for murdering a member of the royal family, Sasha Haberon, the Marquise of Haberon, is sentenced to death.”

 

“No! No!”

 

Sasha, who had been imprisoned in the underground prison, screamed and struggled with a haggard face.

 

However, the soldiers restraining her swiftly gagged her to silence her outburst.

 

She, who was once said to be the most beautiful woman in the capital, now looked older than her years and no longer beautiful.

 

“However, her son, Abel Charis Aspen, was merely a victim, used by Sasha Haberon. Since his title as prince was granted by the late Empress, it shall remain unchanged.”

 

The rumor that Abel was being manipulated by Malek had already spread widely in the noble society.

 

As a result, no one objected to Anais’s judgment, and Abel was granted the freedom to carve out his own future as both a prince and an independent man.

 

“Nobles who participated in Sasha Haberon’s coup will be stripped of their titles without exception, and families that did not participate but assisted will be demoted in their titles. Compensation will be collected from all families involved to recover the damages.”

 

With that, Count Newt was demoted to Viscount, and Count Dardill was demoted to Baron.

 

The reason why Count Newt’s status only fell by one level was because after Rubaine died, Lark reduced his interactions with Sasha as much as possible and did not even attend the last noble meeting.

 

“For discovering Sasha Haberon’s plot in advance and helping me and Abel, Elaine Newt is granted the title of Baroness and the surname ‘Riel.’”

 

Since Abel and Sasha had once summoned Elaine to the palace, it was easy to fabricate a convincing narrative of her involvement.

 

Elaine was particularly pleased with her new surname, which she had derived from her mother’s name, Mariel.

 

Of course, not everyone was pleased.

 

“Elaine Newt is a heretic, whom I have excommunicated for being a witch! How can you give a title of nobility to a heretic?!”

 

John the High Priest of the Temple of Pavelo was angry that his excommunication had been ignored.

 

However, by doing so, he only brought misfortune upon himself.

 

* * *