"However, apparently the Dragonkin is already pledged to marry another. Now the Dragonkin are ordering his return to their homeland."
Dante burst into laughter the moment he heard this.
His sister was naturally his ears and eyes whenever he needed information. She was resourceful, intelligent, and somehow capable of gathering information through channels he wasn't even sure existed.
Chuckling, he looked at Emerald.
"And what exactly does this have to do with you?"
Emerald let out a sigh.
"I wished to acquire my own subordinates. However, I can't exactly leave the estate unattended, so I asked eldest sister and oldest brother to recruit one each for me. One had to be a Dragonkin, the other a Fairy."
Dante burst into laughter again. "So she went and fell in love while on the job?"
Emerald nodded, shaking her head in annoyance.
"Yes. Neither of them questioned me when I said I wanted two capable subordinates around my own age for when I eventually entered the academy. After all, Father's subordinates are Father's subordinates. Besides, Father has recently begun launching an offensive against the Dark Elves. Apparently there's a mana-rich resource within the Josten Empire, a kingdom north of the Dark Elf Empire, so most of his forces are occupied. They can't simply wander around handling personal errands."
Dante nodded in understanding.
His father really was far too liberal with deploying his subordinates. Then again, Dante had never even met all of them himself. He had no idea how many there actually were or how powerful they might be.
Not that he particularly cared. "I understand about eldest sister. I honestly didn't expect her to fall in love so quickly, but whatever." He shrugged. "What about oldest brother? What's his situation?"
Even as he asked, he already had a rough idea of the answer.
Emerald confirmed his suspicion almost immediately.
"That idiot is demanding the Dragonkin fight him in a duel to prove he deserves her by defeating him."
Dante completely lost it. Laughter echoed through the garden as tears formed in the corners of his eyes. "That's my goat you know..."
He wiped his face while trying—and failing—to compose himself.
"I swear he only knows how to solve problems with his fists."
Emerald could only giggle, shaking her head helplessly. Not far away, Vexion approached alongside Lexa. Seeing Dante laugh so freely caused her heart to swell with warmth. It was a laugh...
A smile...
A carefree expression...
One only a handful of people in the entire world were fortunate enough to witness. A faint blush spread across her face. Without thinking, her eyes drifted down toward her own body.
One day...
One day she wished to stand beside him properly. To serve him. To ease his burdens and make him laugh like this. To become someone he could always rely upon.
And perhaps...Her cheeks became even redder.
The maids had taught her a few... other ways she could serve her master. Her heart beat a little faster.
....
Three years ago, she had been nothing more than a slave.
Or worse...A fugitive constantly running for her life. The people who had mocked her for being a Half-Elf, especially one with Demon blood, had become nothing more than unpleasant memories. Master had given her a home.
No...
Master had become her home. Vexion finally snapped out of her thoughts when Lexa looked at her with obvious confusion. She coughed lightly to hide her embarrassment before the two of them continued walking toward Dante and Emerald.
Dante barely acknowledged their arrival as they quietly sat opposite him. Still smiling after laughing his heart out, he looked back at Emerald. "So... he abandoned his work too?" Emerald nodded.
"I'm only joining you at the academy in another two years. Like you, I intend to eventually build my own life and my own group of subordinates. For that, I need capable people." Dante nodded thoughtfully.
He couldn't help but wonder whether that unfortunate Dragonkin actually stood a chance against Kaien.
Probably not. Still...
He almost felt sorry for the poor guy. Almost. Smiling, Dante nodded. "I'll prepare a few candidates for you. Will that do?" Emerald released a quiet sigh of relief. "Yes. I already have my eye on someone within the Empire. Fortunately, he isn't affiliated with any major power, so serving a princess like me would actually benefit him."
Dante nodded. "How old is he?" Emerald smirked. "Worried someone might steal your little sister away?" Dante scoffed. "Somewhat." He leaned back. "Now answer the question." Watching the siblings bicker, both Lexa and Vexion smiled.
Lexa, in particular, found the scene strangely amusing. It was difficult to believe these two terrifying monsters were still children. Especially considering she and Vexion were both two or three years older than them. Emerald answered calmly.
"He's fourteen. The son of two Earls with no deep backing themselves. One of the lucky few born with an Epic-tier skill." Dante nodded. "There should be a decent number of Epic-tier skill holders."
He looked at her curiously."So why him?" Emerald chuckled. "Because it's exactly what you're thinking. He possesses a stacked skill and a good one. A really good one"
Dante gave another small nod. Stacked skills were almost always exceptional. Even at the Epic tier, they were leagues above ordinary skills of the same rank. "I'll keep an eye out for two suitable candidates then." He glanced toward her.
"In return..."
"Tell me your full plan."