After the Food King Tournament ended, the audience gradually rose from their seats and headed toward the exits of the stands. The contestants also began leaving through the archways.
The judges exchanged farewells and prepared to leave as well, but when I looked at the overcrowded exit, I decided it would be better to wait a while before heading out.
"Karen."
An aged yet powerful voice called my name from the judges' table. When I turned around, I saw the general looking at me.
Then he gestured for me to follow him and said,
"Come home with me. I want to talk with you. You can stay the night too."
"Lord Arakeya?!"
Queen Ainasse was startled by the general's words. I was shocked too. What exactly did the general want to talk about? But even if it was an order, I still intended to refuse.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't come here alone. I can't agree so easily."
"Then bring them all with you. No matter how many there are, there'll be enough room."
As expected of the general—completely unreasonable. No matter what, he intended to make me accept. Still, I didn't really have a reason to refuse. It was just dinner and conversation. Honestly, it didn't sound like a bad deal.
"...Alright then. I'll go bring them over."
With heavy steps, I headed toward the archway where the other four were waiting. After a short while, I saw them coming down, so I waved them over.
"Mr. Karen, congratulations. You actually won first place."
"Mr. Karen was right! Amazing!"
Grace and Alice were genuinely happy about my victory, but I didn't have the luxury to focus on their feelings right now. After casually responding to them, I crouched down and looked at Ethefelis.
"Yeah... Ethefelis, I'm sorry. We won't be staying here long, so insisting on the free-food wish would've just been a waste."
"Eis knows."
"And I'm sorry I chose a different wish without discussing it with you first."
Even though I had proposed my own wish without hesitation, I still felt guilty for not fulfilling Ethefelis's wish. She had really been looking forward to it.
"It's okay..."
Ethefelis's face remained expressionless, but there was a trace of sadness in her voice. She had to be disappointed. All I could do was comfort her with food.
"But we're getting a huge dinner later. The general's treating us."
Surprisingly, the first person to react to that wasn't Ethefelis—it was Jacob.
"What?! Why is the general treating us?!"
Jacob excitedly asked for the reason, so I stood up and explained what had happened.
"What did you do this time?"
"Mr. Karen, you didn't offend the general somehow, did you?"
Both Jacob and Grace assumed I had been rude. Was that really how they saw me? That honestly hurt a little.
But had I? Probably not. The general's attitude toward me seemed pretty friendly.
I shook my head at them.
"I don't think so. The general seemed pretty friendly. I think he just wants to chat. Still, stay alert. Watch your words and attitude. No matter what you hear, don't panic."
After the four of them nodded, we headed toward the general and Queen Ainasse...
Wait, why was Queen Ainasse still here?
Then she asked me,
"Karen, are these your companions?"
"Yes."
"Greetings, Your Majesty and General. I am Jacob Zereil, eldest son of Viscount Zerell of Amebissalon."
"I'm Grace Somart, eldest daughter of Duke Somart of Amebissalon."
"Ethefelis Sugued, second daughter of Marquis Sugued."
"I'm Alice."
All four introduced themselves to Queen Ainasse and the general, but both of them stared at Alice. What was wrong? Even Alice started looking nervous.
After a few seconds, Queen Ainasse suddenly blurted out,
"...Saintess Alice?"
So they suspected her identity. That made sense. As the highest authorities of a nation, they'd naturally seen portraits of the Saintess before. But I had to deny it no matter what.
"No, she's not the Saintess. While her features and even her name resemble the Saintess, she's just an ordinary person. Besides, before meeting the Brave, the Saintess isn't allowed to leave the capital."
As long as my identity as the Brave wasn't exposed, that final statement was basically the ultimate shield.
"True enough. She really does look alike. Lord Arakeya?"
There was confusion in Queen Ainasse's tone when she addressed the general, so I looked over at him. His gaze toward Alice was still filled with suspicion. As expected, it wasn't easy to fool a highly intelligent dragon.
"...Let's go."
The general turned and began walking away, while Queen Ainasse quickly followed after him.
What a relief. We'd probably managed to fool them.
Soon after, we followed the general through the red curtain entrance reserved for the judges. A few steps behind me, Grace was comforting Alice. She had clearly been frightened badly.
But more importantly, I had denied her identity as the Saintess in order to hide the truth. Whether her pride in that title was genuine or not, she was probably hurt by it.
After leaving the arena, we saw a light-purple carriage and a red carriage waiting outside. Even though the sky had already darkened, their elegant decorations and beautiful designs were still clearly visible.
Soon afterward, we boarded the carriages and headed toward the general's home.
The general, Queen Ainasse, and I rode in the light-purple carriage, while Jacob and the others rode in the red one. I had originally wanted to ride with the four of them, but the general specifically called me into the purple carriage instead.
I sat across from the general and Queen Ainasse. It was torture.
On the surface, I looked calm, but my thighs were pressed tightly together, and I didn't dare cross my legs at all. I was terrified of accidentally committing some kind of offense.
But why was Queen Ainasse riding with us too? Was she also going to the general's home? The thought kept bothering me, so I kept sneaking glances between her and the general.
Then the general seemed to notice my gaze and said,
"Karen, I lives in the royal castle."
Finally, I had my answer.
"I see."
I nodded repeatedly while responding to him.
"I thought you lived somewhere else."
"As long as there's good food, it doesn't matter where I live."
What a wandering-soul kind of answer. No permanent home at all.
But it also meant that if better food appeared somewhere else, the general would probably leave this country.
Since the conversation had already started, I decided to directly ask the question I wanted answered most.
"I see. Then, General, may I ask if you're a modern dragon species or an ancient dragon species?"
"How rude! Watch your manners!"
Queen Ainasse suddenly pointed at me and scolded me for being disrespectful, startling me badly. Why did she feel more like the general's attendant than a queen?
The general, however, seemed completely unconcerned. He gently lowered her hand and calmed her down.
"Kejellari, it's fine. Karen, why do you ask?"
Even as a dragon, the general was still cautious. Fortunately, I had a proper reason.
"Because there's a five-month-old baby dragon in my family named Lanivia Dokamir. I want to learn everything I can about modern dragons for her sake."
"So that's the dragon King Leo mentioned in his letter. But Lina didn't come with you? Weren't the rumors saying the two of you are inseparable?"
Queen Ainasse's interruption irritated me. Not only had she referred to Lani as "that dragon," she also casually changed the topic as if she wasn't interested. I needed to warn her.
"I came here because I accepted a merchant escort request, while Lina stayed behind to take care of Lani. Also, please don't refer to Lani like an animal. She is a citizen acknowledged by King Leo, and she is my younger sister."
"Kejellari, be careful. That's a serious issue."
Even the general seemed slightly angry as he reprimanded Queen Ainasse. Perhaps he simply disliked seeing his own kind looked down upon.
"I-I understand... I'm sorry..."
Queen Ainasse lowered her head and apologized with tears nearly forming in her eyes, like a child who had been scolded. What exactly was her relationship with the general?
But that wasn't important. Learning information useful for Lani mattered more.
"So, General, will you tell me?"
"I will. I am a modern dragon species."
"That's great! I have so many questions to—"
"Your Majesty, we've arrived at Violet Palace."
Before I could continue, the coachman's announcement interrupted me.
But seriously, that was way too fast. Was the royal castle right next to the arena?!