Reincarnated as the fourth son of a noble and tamed an SS-rank dragon-Chapter 25: The Day Darius Danced

The light was dim and the room seemed stuffy, the Duke was sweating, he got up and opened one of the windows.

"Sorry about that, I’ve run out of mana from the cooling stones," he said, returning to one of the sofas in the room. Lucian was on another sofa facing the Duke, the meeting was supposed to be lighter so he chose to be closer to the people.

"All right, don’t worry about it."

"I’ll be brief, I see your son is talented, I’ve tested his invention and it’s really fantastic. So..." he paused. "I think you might want to back out, I won’t object to that, so I ask you to decide calmly."

"Refuse?"

"Am I wrong?" he sat down.

"A little, I understand that he’s talented and strong, but I see no reason to back down. Even knowing the risks if it all goes wrong."

"So I can count on your army?"

"Yes."

In the ballroom Kaly and Darius were talking to Shiva, he looked different, he was clean and tidy.

"What are you doing here?" Darius asked.

"I was invited, I’m a noble. Not from this Kingdom, but from Drakonia, but specifically from the Archduchy of Darfog."

"Drakonia?" Darius asked confused.

"The Empire of Drakonia is made up of three archduchies. Let me explain," Kaly paused. "A long time ago Drakonia was just a Kingdom, at one point a neighboring country wanted to attack and started a war that lasted a few weeks, but the dragons won and annexed the territory, the country was the Sacred Kingdom of Lunareth. When Drakonia was annexed, the King of the time thought of dividing the management, he granted the title of Archduke to the son of the former King of the lands, he could rule freely, and he was only below the Royal Family and a few ministers. It stayed that way for a few years. The Kingdom of the Elves was unhappy to see that the country with which they had negotiations was annexed to another. They had some kind of mutual aid agreement. It took a few years for the elves to decide to attack, and when they did, another war broke out, this one lasting longer. But Drakonia won. 20 years later, the King of the Dwarves asked to join the Empire, which was not yet called that. The King accepted and changed the title, he then formed the Great Empire of Drakonia, which is divided into the central part, originally composed of the Kingdom of Drakonia, around which there are 3 Archduchies, Lunareth, home of the beast people, Elflod, home of the elves, Drafog, home of the dwarves. Each commanded by the family of the former rulers, they are almost independent countries, where the Archduke has the same status as a King, being able to grant titles of nobility."

"Why would the dwarves ask to be annexed?"

"Very simple, imagine a war, it’s much better to be in a more powerful nation to protect yourself. This guarantees us a better chance in the event of war."

"That’s officially what they say, whether it’s true or not is something we’ll never know," Kaly said.

"So the Emperor has more power than a King?"

"Yes, Empires are Kingdoms that have been conquered, they are very large and end up accumulating more power as they grow. Drakonia has only defended itself twice and that’s why it decided to keep the culture of the countries unchanged."

"You know a lot," said the dwarf, looking at the gauntlet.

Kaly noticed the look.

"Yes, I’m a noble, I’m from the central part."

"Interesting, if I’d known that before I might have charged more."

Kaly stared at Shiva.

"Just kidding, I’d never do anything like that."

"But wouldn’t it be easier to enter into an agreement with another dwarf country?" Darius asked.

"In the Central Continent there is currently a multi-race empire, a human empire, three human kingdoms, a dwarf kingdom, two beast people kingdoms, and an elf kingdom. Although this is not a form of division, because in these countries you will find people of various races. There is only a division by the people who originated the country. The kingdom of the dwarves is very far away, negotiating with them would be complicated and help would take time, so it’s better to choose a neighboring country."

"That makes a lot of sense."

"Shiva, I have a question, but not here. Let’s go over there."

They went out onto the balcony, closed the door and Kaly asked: "You know what this is about, don’t you?"

"Yes, I know and I agree to collaborate."

"Wouldn’t that be bad for your position?"

"No, where I come from they don’t care about that, we’re more open to confrontation than you are."

"All right, that’s very good. But how will you help?"

"Weapons, I’ve been building up a stockpile for a few years now, so I have enough weapons for combat."

"That surprised me, did you foresee something like that?"

"No, I just have a stockpile for emergencies, you never know when you’ll need it. Or just take some time off and sell only what I already have."

"It’s like you say, you’re clever, especially when money is involved."

They went on to talk about each other’s culture, dragons are proud and Shiva was able to unleash a few insults that bordered on the acceptable.

"Isn’t there another dragon country?"

"There is, but not on the Central Continent, we’re the only ones here, which puts us at a disadvantage. But we’re stronger, considering combat and magic we’re the best. The dwarves are also very strong, and with the elves and beast people on our side, I think we’re the strongest on the whole continent."

"And the Military Empire?"

"They’re strong, they’ve been fighting since an early age, but they’d still lose to us. That’s all."

"Yes, they’re strong, but we’re strong and intelligent, strength isn’t measured only in muscles, but in experience and intelligence. Intelligence is what they lack." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Lucian left the Duke’s room, then another nobleman entered, it was as if they knew the order in which to enter. Lucian approached Orphelia and Amanda, Aeris was not at the party due to her age.

Shiva asked Kaly for a duel, and she accepted. But they wouldn’t do it at the party, they would choose a different day and place, it would just be to test their strength, something common among strong people. Some people want the fame and money that strength can bring, others just want more power and don’t care about the attention. Shiva was one of those people, he didn’t even use his title in his store, unlike the other nobles who make a point of flaunting their status.

Kaly and Darius said goodbye and went to Lucian.

The party was busy, with many nobles talking at the same time, Darius was a little uncomfortable due to his improved hearing, but nothing that made it impossible to stay there.

"He liked the present," Lucian said to Darius.

After standing for a while, they sat down at a table that was labeled with the family’s name. The Duke made a short speech and the servants began to serve the food.

They ate and then a dance began, a few girls came up to Darius one by one to ask if he would like to dance, but he refused all the invitations. When they came up to him, he looked at them and noticed how taboo they were, except for a few who had small breasts, but they didn’t compare to his mother’s or Kaly’s. "That’s strange," he said.

"That’s strange, I didn’t understand why you refused the invitations."

"Shouldn’t I be the one doing the inviting?"

Orphelia didn’t react.

"You’re right, but accepting would be kind of you. Remember, they’ll grow up and soon they’ll have full breasts and be able to suckle you," she said, laughing.

"You’re right, but I don’t know how to dance, I was never taught," he changed the subject, but his face was red with embarrassment.

"How?"

"To be honest, I think it was partly my fault," said Lucian.

"Let me sort it out," Kaly said as she held Darius’ head with both hands. She taught him how to dance and went with him and they danced. This time no one else asked to dance with him.

Some parents saw that the Duke was looking at Darius, so they sent their daughters to him, but seeing him refuse their invitations and dance with a noblewoman from the Empire made them give up. Some remembered her from the tournament, others didn’t.

They didn’t know she was his teacher, some remembered Lucian saying that the teacher was talented, but not that she was someone with such an important position as a Countess.

"You’re so cute dancing," Orphelia said louder than Darius would have liked, but he didn’t show that he didn’t like it.

The party continued and one of the girl’s fathers didn’t like having his daughter rejected, but at the same time understood that it was humiliating that she had asked, he stared at Darius, Kaly noticed and stared back, the nobleman pretended it was nothing and stopped watching.

Darius was already tired, but it wasn’t over, he looked for a place to sit and found a chair on a balcony, Kaly stayed in the hall.

He was sitting looking at the garden, somehow the garden seemed different, but he didn’t know why. But somehow it was pleasant, he liked the feeling the garden gave him.

erhaps it was just tiredness and the garden reminded him of the rest he used to get under a tree in the garden of his house.

"You didn’t like my daughter?"