Living as a Butler to the Northern Duke chapter 75

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‘The deputy chamberlain bustling around the grand banquet hall likely means the Emperor is about to enter.’

Ed sighed inwardly, swallowing dryly.

The Duke noticed Ed’s tense demeanor and summoned an attendant, handing Ed a glass.

As Ed gratefully drank, the Duke concluded his conversation with the deputy chamberlain.

“Until next time, Deputy Chamberlain.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Please enjoy the banquet!”

Suddenly, a loud voice resounded throughout the hall.

“His Majesty the Emperor is arriving! Show your respect, everyone!”

The nobles in the hall bowed in greeting to the Emperor.

Ed, too, lowered his head, silently praying the evening would pass without incident.

“Everyone, raise your heads.”

As people lifted their heads, the Emperor, standing on the platform, smiled and addressed them.

“It brings me great joy that we can celebrate the hunt safely and enjoy this banquet.”

Beside the Emperor stood the young boy Ed had seen before—the boy with black hair and red eyes, resembling the Duke.

Ed’s eyes narrowed.

“But before we enjoy the banquet, there’s something we must address first. Isn’t that right, Duke Asnel?”

The Duke, meeting the Emperor’s gaze from the platform, inclined his head slightly.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Regarding that matter, I have a request.”

“What is it, Duke?”

“Please grant me permission to use my power here, just this once.”

The Emperor stroked his chin, humming thoughtfully.

“Will that be enough?”

In response to the Emperor’s question, asking if that would confirm that Ronen was indeed his brother, the Duke answered firmly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Only once, then…”

The Emperor muttered quietly, then nodded.

“Very well, Duke Asnel. I grant you permission to use your power. But you must show us clear results—reveal who your true blood sibling is.”

The Duke bowed, expressing his gratitude.

“I shall, Your Majesty.”

Simultaneously, he extended his right hand, and a golden light began to emanate from the back of his hand.

The light from the mark on the Duke’s hand rose into the air, expanding rapidly.

Initially the size of a small ball, the light grew larger and brighter until it seemed as though a sun had risen in the banquet hall.

“Oh my, what… what is that?”

“Isn’t that the Duke’s magic we’ve only heard of? They say he’s skilled in summoning magic—what could he be summoning?”

Everyone’s attention turned to the brilliant light, which suddenly condensed and exploded outward, stirring a strong wind.

Startled, the attendees shielded their eyes against the dazzling brightness.

Ed brushed back his wind-tousled hair and looked up.

The sun-like orb floating in the air shifted from gold to a deep red.

He glanced at the Duke beside him, who grimaced as the light intensified.

The veins bulged in the Duke’s forearm, as if on the verge of bursting.

“……”

“……”

Ronen, gripping the Duke’s hand tightly, bit his lip.

Ed took hold of Ronen’s other hand, watching the glowing sphere above.

The Duke’s vision blurred, his blood pounding as his veins expanded.

Yet, he knew that faltering now might cause an uncontrolled surge of power that could endanger Ronen and Ed beside him.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Though the immense mana drain was agonizing, the Duke’s resolve never wavered.

Even as the unbearable force threatened to blacken his vision, he held firm.

Then, with a crack, clouds began to form around the glowing sphere.

The dark clouds shrouded the light and spread like mist, obscuring the view.

The entire scene was so grand and mysterious that everyone in the hall fell silent, gazing up in awe.

Only the Emperor clenched his teeth, twisting his lips.

‘So this summoned creature is no more than a dog-like wolf and a bird that can’t even wield fire? Was there something else I didn’t know about?’

The Emperor clicked his tongue, eyeing the Duke with narrowed eyes.

‘But whatever he summons, it won’t make resolving this situation any easier.’

A sudden rumble, as if from a lightning strike, echoed through the hall.

The shrouding clouds turned vibrant, radiating colors as light burst through, spilling downwards.

Startled by the brilliant gleam, attendees reflexively opened their eyes wide, blinking in amazement.

[It has been a while, contractor Asnel Linden.]

The voice reverberated in their minds, not their ears, leaving the banquet hall in stunned silence.

“Oh my… what am I even seeing?”

“That’s… is that a dragon… a real dragon?!”

“Not just any dragon… that’s a golden dragon—the one said to guard the Empire!”

Where the light had been moments ago, now stood a dragon, majestic in golden radiance.

The dragon’s gaze met the Duke’s, its golden scales and fierce eyes mirroring descriptions from history books.

Its feet, concealed in mist, were barely visible, yet the gnarled, bark-like skin and razor-sharp claws exuded an undeniable sense of majesty.

Unable to believe what they were seeing, some people pinched their cheeks, whispering in awe.

“So… the dragon from the old tales really exists?”

“Of course it does! Why else has our Empire remained glorious through ages of history?”

“But doesn’t it seem… smaller than how it’s described?”

“Look at its eyes, though! They’re so bold and piercing, as if they hold the wisdom of the entire world!”

Amidst the awed murmurs, the Duke steadied his ragged breathing from the intense mana drain, gazing up at the dragon.

The dragon, meeting the Duke’s eyes, spoke.

[So, you have finally found your true sibling, Asnel Linden? You’ve struggled, hindered at every turn, but I am glad you have succeeded now.]

The golden dragon exhaled deeply, shifting its gaze from the Duke to scan the banquet hall.

Detecting something strange, it fixed its gaze on the child standing next to the Emperor on the platform.

[You bear Asnel Linden’s energy, yet… you are not his brother.]

The cold edge in Luan’s voice reverberated in the nobles’ minds.

Startled, they clutched their heads, collapsing to their knees under the sudden shock.

Ronen and Ed felt a faint echo in their minds, but it wasn’t painful.

Glancing around, they realized that the Duke had shielded them.

As the wrath of the Golden Dragon descended, a thin crack spread from the child’s face down to his feet, and he began to slowly crumble.

The Golden Dragon looked down at the sight and beat his wings gently, stirring a breeze.

By the time people gathered their senses and stood, the child who had been beside the Emperor was gone, leaving only a necklace and the corpse of a large snake.

Luan scanned the now silent hall, striding towards Ronen with a fierce, almost pouncing energy.

Ed flinched, trying to pull Ronen back, but the Golden Dragon, standing before him, playfully tapped Ronen’s forehead with his tail.

In that instant, Ronen’s gray hair turned black, and his violet eyes shifted to a striking red.

“Huh?”

Ronen blinked in surprise, meeting Luan’s gaze as the dragon lightly fluttered its wings.

This was undeniable proof that he was truly the Duke’s younger brother, a symbol of the Northern Duchy of Linden.

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Lying in bed, Ronen couldn’t calm his racing heart.

The events in the grand hall felt like an illusion he couldn’t believe.

He pinched his cheek several times, but it still hurt.

“It wasn’t a dream.”

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