At a table large enough to seat hundreds, only three people moved their utensils.In the silent dining hall, the meal continued in near-complete silence.Figures of palace servants drifted through the darkness, noiseless and without trace. Their shapes looked strangely eerie in the shadows.And then,

“Pahahahaha!”

A sudden burst of loud laughter shattered the eerie quiet of the hall. It was strange. It was just laughter. Yet the servants and eunuchs who had been moving all stopped at once.

The shadows that cloaked them rippled in unison, swaying unnaturally.

“Power.”

Even the faint trace of force contained in that voice held the power to shake the space. Unleashing power in the Emperor’s residence was forbidden. The guards stationed around the palace narrowed their eyes toward the source of the force. Then, at the head of the table, a pale white hand belonging to the Empress rose gracefully. The pressure and killing intent that had been bursting out vanished in an instant.

“Your laughter is excessive. It’s improper.”

Rather than accusing him of breaking a taboo, the Empress calmly remarked on the volume of his laugh.

“Ah, my apologies, Mother. I couldn’t help it, it was just too funny.”

The man chuckled, trying to suppress the remaining laughter bubbling out.Beneath his ash-gray hair, his eyes shimmered like water.A long scar ran down from his eye, across broad shoulders and well-developed pectorals that rendered the scar insignificant.

He was the “First Prince” and first in line to inherit the throne,”Dekaron Ironia”, the “Iron Lion”.

He was also the current Commander of the Seventh Imperial Knights, known as the “Iron Lion Knights”, a supreme knight.

Despite his usual ferocity akin to a wild beast, he couldn’t hide a boyish grin in front of his mother.

“‘Mad Dragon,’ really? I know the eunuchs tend to talk nonsense, but this is so absurd it’s actually hilarious.”

The meal, shared with his mother and younger sister after a long time, was centered on the recent rumors surrounding the so-called “Mad Prince.”

Of course, none of them at the table considered the Eleventh Prince to be true blood.

“Dozens of White-Faced Centipedes and White-Faced Ghosts. I’ll admit, that’s surprising.”

“You think so too?”

“But that’s all it is. It’s not especially remarkable.”

“Hmm, the mighty Iron Lion thinks so?”

“Compared to what I’ve heard of his usual behavior, yes.”

Dekaron then turned his gaze toward his sister, “Seventh Princess Serinne”, who was grumpily chewing her food.

“You still look upset. I heard you got quite the beating recently?”

“Hmph, who got beaten?”

“From what I hear, you couldn’t even get a word in?”

“Wh—who said that?! Who dares spread such nonsense…?!”

“Serinne.”

The Seventh Princess, who had been loudly protesting, flinched as her brother’s cold gaze locked onto her.

He usually smiled warmly, but he was always strict with Serinne.

“You’ve gone too far with your pranks. Borrowing my name to get your way only works temporarily. Many of our siblings have wanted to discipline you.”

“I’m not scared!”

“They probably would’ve gone even harder than he did. Honestly, it could’ve been much worse.”

“So you’re just going to watch? You’re really going to leave your sister in misery?”

“That servant tried to manipulate you using childhood memories. It worked out for the best. Now you have a chance to grow.”

Her playful pleas had no effect. Seeing Serinne’s sullen expression, Dekaron finally offered a slight smile.

“Once your coming-of-age ceremony is done, things will change. You’ll get a chance for personal revenge too.”

“Tch, not like you’d ever think of punishing him. You’re not going to help me, are you?”

“There’s no need to brawl with someone that far beneath you. But…”

His cold eyes shifted from his sister to his mother.In their matching eyes, a shadowy gleam flickered.

“I do plan to assign him something entertaining soon.”

Before being a knight bearing great honor, he was the Empress’s son.

“Dekaron the Iron Lion” knew well how to remove nuisances without dirtying his own claws.

Of course, it might all be just rumour. But if the boy truly was a dragon,no, if there was even the slimmest chance.

“Let’s watch for a while. Let him run wild as he pleases.”

He would lie in the tall grass, waiting for the right moment to sink his fangs into the boy’s throat. Understanding her son’s intent, the Empress curled her lips into a thin smile.

“As you wish, my son.”

Dekaron bit into a chunk of nearly raw meat, grinning savagely. Between the two, the Princess shivered quietly in fear.

“Days after completing the Empress’s trial.”

[Misfortune has activated. Shadows gather even more densely around you. Fortunately, you are able to devour them.]   

[Strengthening lower fate “Shadow.” The fate of flame devours the shadows and burns brighter.]  

[Darkness lurking beneath the flame grows deeper.]   

[Devouring lower fates: Sloth, Average Stamina, Ordinary Constitution. Transformation points acquired.]  

[Activating Luck. Additional fates devoured. Extra transformation points and stat boosts acquired.]  

[Lower fate “Persistence” and “Willpower” are enhanced.]

He started his mornings with endurance training. In the afternoons, he practiced basic swordsmanship and other combat techniques. By evening, he would quiet his mind and head to the “Forest of Spirits”.

After gorging on shadows, he would take a short nap. Before dawn, he digested the shadows he had consumed, strengthening the Red Flame and raising its temperature.

He trained in the “Heart Scripture of the Flame Emperor”, then returned to his morning physical routine.

“Did you cough, my lord?”

“Alfred. How long has it been since I started living diligently?”

“It has been half a month since the last trial, sir.”

“Already? That’s quick.”

Alfred smiled in a greasy sort of way as he watched me eat my breakfast calmly.

“Congratulations.”

“Huh? What are you congratulating me for?”

“Each day brings new achievements. Isn’t that worth congratulating?”

“Hmph. You’re making my skin crawl. Enough.”

Even at my gruff tone, Alfred only offered a calm smile. Come to think of it, the palace atmosphere has been strange lately.

“You’re up, Your Highness. I’ll prepare fresh water.”

“The training yard has already been cleaned.”

“Would you like a snack before you go?”

On the way to the training grounds, the staff greeted him cheerfully.Though some hesitation remained, it was clear that they were less afraid than before.

“These guys…”

The more The prince  thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. Why “weren’t” they scared?

He’d shed blood recently, even taken down a terrifying White-Faced Ghost. Shouldn’t they be “more” afraid? Were they all going crazy? 

With that half-sensible explanation in mind, He stepped into the training yard.

“You’ve arrived, Your Highness!”

“We’ve been waiting, Your Highness!”

Andre and the other knights stationed at the Prince’s Palace were already in training gear, standing at attention. They were strange too. They used to avoid Him and treat Him coldly. But lately, they lingered around Him, wanting to train together which was Annoying.

“Shall we focus on lower-body training today?”

Andre smiled and asked about today’s routine.

“Don’t butt in. I’ll decide.”

“Yes, sir! Understood!”

Even The prince’s  curt response seemed to excite him. He hurried to prepare for training.

“Of course. The Prince goes straight to training.”

“Truly admirable.”

“Feels like I’ve improved more here than I did in the official knights’ corps.”