For once, since they arrived, snow clouds did not cover the brilliant orange light of dawn. The sun had just finished emerging from beyond the mountains when Aryssa decided that it was a good idea to go for a short walk in the garden near their rooms. He expected it to be cold, but thankfully a series of magic heaters had been placed around areas of the garden. With their personal guards trailing behind them, the imperial siblings began to enjoy their last day in Valtoria Castle.

However, as they got closer to a large domed building they spotted several servants gathering near the entrance. Through the open door, they could hear sounds of breaking wood, clanging of metals, and explosions could be heard.

Nysander met eyes with Aryssa's curious one. With a silent agreement, they headed for the building, quickly spotting the elderly steward of the Valtoria Family. The old man noticed them at once and organized the others into a bow of greeting.

"Greetings to Your Royal Highness the Imperial Crown Prince, and Your Highness the Second Princess," Herard said. "May the light of dawn bless your day."

"Good morning, as well," Nysander asked. "My sister and I were just curious about what is inside the building."

The older man's solemn face soon morphed into one filled with joy and excitement. The same expression appeared on the rest of the staff and Nysander's curiosity only grew.

"This is the indoor training ground of the Grand Duke, Your Royal Highness," Herard answered. "His Grace is inside practicing...his Dragon Flame."

At the mention of the famous Dragon Flame, memories of the previous Grand Duke's white-yellow flames appeared in his mind. Years ago, he had the opportunity to witness a spar between the Grand Duke and one of the Imperial Knights. Said Imperial Knight also happened to be one of the two people behind him.

Nysander turned to look at the Imperial Knight and his personal guard, Count Alegio. The middle-aged man had a pure look of interest and curiosity as he looked towards the entrance.

"Is it okay for us to watch?" Aryssa asked Herard.

The elderly man smiled brighter and nodded. "Of course, Your Highness."

Without any more hesitation, they entered. The noises had quietened for a moment, and he spotted the reason why.

On the dirt-covered grounds surrounded by stone amphitheater seats, a tall man with bright red hair stood in the center. His dragon eyes were focused on the new targets being set up by the servants. He gave no indication that he noticed their presence, but maybe he had. It was hard to read Roran Valtoria.

He and Aryssa sat down on the highest seats at the insistence of their personal guards. It would not be good for them to get hit with flying projectiles and debris. Even with a magic barrier, it was better to be safe than sorry.

It didn't take long for the new targets to be set up. With a shout from one of the leaving servants, the magic barrier was activated over the dirt training ground with a light shimmer.

Blue flames with white tendrils roared to life from Lord Roran's hands before Nysander could blink.

With a flick of his wrists, three fireballs manifested in front of him. The fireballs flew toward three wooden dummies, obliterating two torsos and one head. Wood and splinters scattered in the air with a loud crack.

Before the wooden debris settled down, Lord Roran shifted his stance and summoned a cluster of fiery arrows. With a wave of his hand, they hurled towards the iron targets. They clanged and sizzled as the arrows struck, leaving behind nothing but glowing, molten punctures.

Constructs flew from devices on the edge of the training grounds. The Grand Duke extended his arms to the side, and a small tornado of fire began to swirl around him. With a push of his hands, he sent the fiery whirlwind tearing through the constructs, incinerating them before they even reached 10 feet of him. Targets popped up from behind barrels. Blades of thin blue fire cut through each within the second they appeared.

Nysander and Aryssa were both holding their breath then exclaimed in awe as they watched their new friend.

Unlike the previous Grand Duke's Dragon Flame, Lord Roran's were blue. From a distance away, and even with the magic barrier in between, he could still feel the heat they exuded as they burned through the targets.

It was both a scary and beautiful sight.

He quickly shook himself out of his trance and turned towards Count Alegio. "What do you think?" he asked his personal guard.

"His Grace is only two years older than His Royal Highness if I remember correctly?" Count Alegio asked Herard.

"His Grace had turned twenty-five last spring," was the old man's reply.

"Then...all I have to say is that he is incredible. He's even better than the late Grand Duke when he was his age," Count Alegio said. "How long has he been training with Dragon Flame? He has amazing control."

Herard's happy face became subdued, before reluctantly answering. "It has not been long."

They all raised a brow at the vague answer but did not pry. The old steward was probably asked not to reveal that information.

This was actually the first time they knew that the new Grand Duke had manifested Dragon Flame. They always assumed that he did not, as they constantly heard how he was stuck in his room because of sickness.

To Nysander, nothing about Lord Roran indicated being a long-term patient. He was in perfect health.

What really happened in this family?

He was starting to suspect that the problem had been the late Grand Duke.

A loud explosion broke him away from his thoughts. Smoke filled the area inside the barrier for a moment, before the magic was taken down. When the smoke cleared, a six-foot diameter crater appeared on the ground.

The Grand Duke was strong. His own hands itched for his sword and he wanted to go down there and ask for a spar. But he held back. If he was here for a personal visit as a friend, it would have been fine. But he was here on official duty, so he reluctantly squashed his urge to fight.

Nysander then silently laughed at the nobles down south who kept spreading news about the downfall of the Valtoria Family. If this news spread, they would all surely shut their mouths.

He smirked. It would also be good to use the information to help his new friend gain a better impression on the people of the capital city of Cryos. Lord Roran's succession ceremony was a month away and he deserved a little warm welcome when he arrived at the capital.

The buzzing flies should go away.

One of the older staff came forward with a wooden piece the same size as a great sword. The Grand Duke took one look at the object before he shook his head and said something. The old man looked a bit disappointed before nodding his head and backing off.

Does he not know how to wield a sword?

Training done, the Grand Duke reached for the water and towels prepared by his people. He then made his way down towards them. Those intense sky-blue inhuman eyes settled on them, revealing nothing of his thoughts or feelings inside.

It was still intimidating. But having witnessed the warmth and softness behind that sharp gaze, Nysander wasn't as unsettled as when they first met.

It also did not hurt to know that Grand Duke Roran Valtoria was a good man who would protect someone he did not even know, at the cost of his own reputation.

They had called their mother yesterday evening regarding the matter of Lord Roran's engagement. The Empress Consort had been so intrigued by the situation, and more importantly by the Grand Duke, that she agreed to handle it all on her own. The engagement was only a month old, and it since one of the parties involved did not even know they were engaged, it would pose no problem to dissolve it.

From what he heard, the previous Grand Duke Valtoria had set up some kind of deal with Duchess Rosenetta. The latter was willing to allow the breakup if the deal could still be fulfilled. Nysander now just had to pass on the message.

In exchange for all the work, Lord Roran had to attend the Empress Consort's tea party when he visited the capital for the succession ceremony.

Nysander was excited to tell Kassie about the dissolution of her engagement. The Second Young Lady of Rosenetta had thrown a massive protest at the arrangement. She had almost sent a letter filled with her "flaws" to her marriage partner, in the hopes that they would change their mind about her. She did not want to live in the cold and icy North. She had even threatened to run away from home and give up all her privileges as a noble. Knowing Kassie, she would have gone through with it.

He admittedly kind of wanted to tell her all about what Lord Ronan was really like just to see how she would react.

He was willing to bet that she would immediately want to befriend the Grand Duke and ask for a sparring match. Kassie was...a worse battle maniac than Nysander.

A sharp hit on his side broke him out of his musings. He glared down at Aryssa for hitting him with her elbow, but quickly faced Lord Roran who had arrived before them. At some point, he had climbed the stairs to reach their spot.

"Greetings to Your Highnesses," he said. "May the light of dawn bless your day."

"You as well, Your Grace," they answered at the same time.

After their exchange, Aryssa could not contain herself.

"That was amazing, Your Grace! It was my first time seeing the power of the Dragon Flames. It is as powerful as I've heard."

"Thank you, Your Highness. But I still have a long way to go before I completely master these flames."

"Don't be so humble. Count Alegio even said that you were better than the previous Grand Duke when he was your age."

Lord Roran's gaze went to the middle-aged knight standing behind him. Count Alegio placed a hand on his chest and gave a short bow, while the Grand Duke nodded in return. "Thank you for the praise. It means a lot coming from one of the strongest people in the Empire."

"You will soon be one of those people as well, Your Grace. There is no need for thanks."

Small talk began in their group as they made their way out of the indoor training grounds. They talked about the sight of the rare dawn of the North and the flowers that survived in the cold. They eventually began to talk about some details regarding the succession ceremony.

By the time they returned to the main castle, rows of servants were waiting for them.

Next to them, however, was a little boy in pajamas, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes but failing. A yawn escaped his lips as Aleron gave his morning greetings.

A small chuckle came from Lord Roran's mouth. They all watched the precious sight of him smiling as he approached the child.

"Aleron, you're up early," he said. The next moment, he picked up the boy and settled him on his hip.

The two maids accompanying the child immediately bowed their heads. "We apologize, Your Grace," one of them said. "He insisted on coming here to greet you before we managed to change his attire."

Lord Roran waved a hand at their bow. "It's fine. I was about to go clean up before having breakfast," he said. "He can just join me."

At his words, the little guy perked up. "Bath time with brother?"

The older brother nodded. Aleron smiled wide at him before his gaze looked at the charred sleeves of his brother's clothes. "Brother, why are your sleeves burned?"

"It's because of this Dragon Flame." At his words, a small blue flame appeared at the tip of the Grand Duke's finger. "I was practicing to use properly. Once I get good enough, it won't burn my clothes anymore."

Nysander had expected Aleron to recoil from the flame. As small as it was, he could feel how much power it contained. However, the little child clapped in excitement without any sign of apprehension. Maybe it was a Valtoria thing to not be scared of Dragon Flames. Or was it because he trusted his older brother to never hurt him?

"Will I have that too someday?" Aleron asked.

At the innocent question, Nysander noticed how the staff had stiffened. While he did not experience fighting for the Crown Prince position with his siblings (they all ran away when the title was mentioned), he still knew about fierce successor battles in noble families.

It would appear that the Valtoria Family, or at least the people in their surroundings, had other ideas about the Grand Duke's position.

The current Grand Duke must have noticed the behavior of his staff, but he ignored it all and gave his full attention to his younger brother. "Of course, Aleron. I have no doubt that you will manifest Dragon Flames soon enough."

"Really? Why does brother think so?"

Lord Roran grinned and ruffled the child's red hair. "Because our Aleron is more talented than Father and I." The Grand Duke's dragon eyes finally settled on the servants looking their way. As always, they all flinched and shied away from his sharp gaze. "You will soar higher than both of us. I will make sure of it."

At first, Nysander thought that Lord Roran was only making such a claim to make the child happy. But the way he looked at the people around him...he resembled a beast protecting its young.

To be specific, a great dragon curling protectively around its hatchling.

Nysander felt a small grin forming on his face.

How interesting.

He was looking forward to getting to know more about the Valtoria Family.