The following day, the guests finally started leaving one by one. Roran hosted one final breakfast for them, before thanking them once more for coming. He did his best to be polite and well-mannered, following the etiquette that was ingrained in his body by the mysterious entity. Leaving a good impression on these people would help spread the news about the new Grand Duke Valtoria.

Earlier that morning, most of the guests had already left. Two requested to stay longer.

The vassals who had harmed Aleron.

Roran took a deep breath, eyes growing colder as he headed back inside. He knew that these two families were going to insist on staying longer to "assist" him in the transitions of his duties. But he would not let them.

He had planned to leave them alone until he finished succeeding the title. But they were just so eager to put their heads inside the dragon's mouth. Today, they would learn not to mess with the Valtoria Family.

The two cores of fire mana in his chest blazed, sending impressions of excitement toward him. He patted his chest. Soon. Just wait.

"Summon the Veleta and Ryzam Families to my office," he told Herard. "Prepare tea. Only for me."

The old steward looked confused but turned to give the orders to the butler and head maid.

-----

Silence filled his freshly cleaned office, as he drank his tea. Standing before his office table were the noble couples of the Veleta County and Ryzam Viscounty. Three of them looked to be in their 30s, while Count Veleta was around his 50s. At first, the four looked absolutely delighted at being summoned to his office.

However, when the maid came with only refreshments for Roran, their faces started to change.

He said nothing for the next few minutes, silently enjoying his tea and gazing at the large old painting hanging on the left wall of his office. A big majestic dragon resembling the statue in the castle lobby stood over one of the mountains of Heaven Mountain Range. Behind its form stood a silhouette of a woman and two children. All of them were bathed in the light of the rising sun. On the plaque at the bottom was the name of the painting.

For my home. For my family.

From the knowledge in his head, it was a painting done by their dragon ancestor, Valtarion. Using his magic, Valtarion had cast a preservation spell on it. If it was lost or stolen, it would magically return to its place in the office of the Grand Duke. It was one of the most famous magic items, which was believed to hold magical secrets.

But Roran knew that without the magic, it was just a regular painting. It was Valtarion's painting of his love for his family and home. It was placed there to remind every Valtoria what mattered most.

He let the silence stretch for a minute more. Roran enjoyed the sight of their unease at his continued disregard. Since when did he enjoin tormenting people like this?

A memory of his teacher appeared in his head. "You're not called the Demon King just because of Hellfire, you bastard."

Opting to ignore it, he ended the four's silent treatment. "Do you know that painting? What does it say?" He gestured at Valtarion's painting.

They all looked at each other, eyes shaking from nervous. It was Count Veleta who came forward and answered. "It's your great ancestor's painting of his family, Your Grace. It tells his descendants to value their home and family."

Roran nodded, eyes still on the painting. "Correct," he said. "I admire my ancestor so much, that I strongly agree with his values. I want to destroy anyone who dares to threaten the safety and well-being of my home and family."

Turning his head slowly, his dragon eyes settled on the four of them. They all flinched and then started shaking. "Which is why," he said. "Confess your crimes against my family and I'll be merciful. As per the laws of North, lies spoken before Valtoria's dragon eyes will have dire consequences."

A shaky laugh escaped both couples before Count Veleta spoke once more. "Your...Your Grace, what do you...mean?"

Before he could pretend to be ignorant, Viscount and Viscountess Ryzam fell to their knees. Immediately, they began yelling out their crimes. "The maids that work...for the Aler...young master Aleron...were ordered by us to give..."

Roran listened to the list of deeds the Ryzams had done to Aleron. He already knew everything and was looking at the pitiful couple who had been scared into confessing. When they finished, they were breathing hard and unable to raise their heads.

He focused his gaze on Count and Countess Veleta. The two had gone completely pale the entire time the Ryzams spoke. They had their heads down and refused to meet their eyes. "What about you two? Are you not going to speak?"

They shrank further, instinctively trying to look smaller as if it would hide them from his eyes. Roran sighed. "As your lord the Grand Duke, I order you to speak your crimes."

With his commanding tone, the Count seemed to have snapped. "YOU ARE NOT OUR LORD! YOU'RE JUST A RECLUSIVE FLAMELESS LIZARD BRAT HIDING BEHIND THOSE EYES AND FAMILY NAME! THIS DYING FAMILY IS NOTHING WITHOUT OUR SUPPORT!"

A deep silence followed his outbursts, his wife and Viscount and Viscountess Ryzam looked at him in horror.

Roran smirked. Blue flames erupted from his feet, surging through the carpet towards the old man. A shout of surprise was followed by a scream of terror as the blue fire engulfed Count Veleta's entire body. He kept it for a few more seconds, releasing only a small amount of heat. With a snap of his fingers, the flames disappeared, leaving only marks of black char on the old man's clothes and only his clothes. His wrinkled skin remained unharmed. Experience from years of handling Hellfire had kept the new carpet from being changed again.

The old man's eyes widened, his eyes blank as he stared into Roran's eyes. Tears had run down his face, and there was a wet patch between his pants. Roran hoped it did not run down to his carpet. The control he put into not charring it would go to waste.

"Oh dear, I was going to keep your punishment light if you had confessed what you did to Aleron for the last five months," he said. "But you just went and insulted me and the Valtoria Family."

"That—that—..."

"Your Royal Highness, I am sorry for tainting your ears with dirty things. But would you please be my witness for today's incident?"

With his words, the four nobles turned towards the open door. A man with black hair and emerald eyes stood there, an amused tilt to his lips as he looked at Roran. Behind him stood Herard and a bunch of the castle staff.

"I've seen and heard far dirtier things in the capital, Your Grace," Prince Nysander said. "I'll be happy to help."

Roran turned his attention to Countess Veleta, who was still looking in horror at her husband. "What do you have to say, Countess?"

The woman took a deep breath, before meeting him in the eyes. A look of resignation filled her face as she bowed.

Moments later, the four nobles were dragged off by the guards. As he promised, he took mercy on the three people who openly confessed. They would spend five months inside the dark prisons of Valtoria Castle. As for Count Veleta, he should be stuck there for two more years.

Roran was happy. Count Veleta was his main target, having been the one behind Aleron's attempted poisoning. He also happened to be the leading figure among the vassals that sought to take control of Valtoria by turning him into a puppet.

Now, he just had to see how the others who sent their spies would react to this move.

If revealing knowledge of his Dragon Flame wasn't enough, he'll be more than happy to personally give each one of them a demonstration.

-----

The same day near dusk, the imperial siblings were ready to leave.

"Once more, my family expresses their gratitude for the presence of the imperial family in my late father's final journey," Roran said as he bowed. "Thank you as well for helping me punish the people behind my younger brother's treatment." In front of him were Prince Nysander and Princess Aryssa, who stood before a resplendent carriage emblazoned with the image of a small four-winged fairy over a blue crystal. It was the emblem of the Thalassia Family.

"Do you have to be so stiff, Lord Roran?" Prince Nysander asked.

"Pardon me, but what do you mean by that, Your Royal Highness?"

The Crown Prince sighed while his sister only laughed at him. "Just give up for now, brother," Princess Aryssa said to her brother. She then turned to look at Roran. "Our condolences once more, Your Grace. Thank you for your hospitality."

Prince Nysander finally quit his pouting and reached out for a handshake. "It was wonderful to meet you and Aleron, Your Grace," he said. "I am looking forward to seeing you again at the succession ceremony in Cryos City."

"It is our honor."

After they shook hands, Prince Nysander motioned for one of the royal maids. She came forward, carrying a tray with a sealed letter inside. The seal had the Thalassia Imperial Family's emblem, with a silver wreath on the bottom.

Roran recognized it from the knowledge inside his head.

"The Empress Consort sent a message yesterday," Prince Nysander said. "Everything you need to know and do is written inside."

"Thank you for this, Your Royal Highness."

Princess Aryssa stepped in, giving her brother a knowing and teasing glance. "We would like to thank you too. Lady Kassiana is a good friend of ours, and she had expressed great reluctance at the unexpected arrangement. She would have done something drastic—"

Prince Nysander coughed to cut her off.

If Roran remembered correctly, Lady Kassiana in the novel had tried to run away the day before she departed for the North. But she was caught ahead of time. She had a talk with her mother the Duchess, where she demanded to know the truth of their arrangement.

The Rosenetta Family had wanted something from the treasury of the Valtorias. Something important enough, that even Lady Kassiana gave up and endured the torment of being the previous Roran's thumb. The late Grand Duke Roano had decided to use it as an opportunity to secure a bride and heir for Roran, to save the "dying" Valtoria line.

If Roran was being honest, the item was completely useless to the previous Grand Duke and now him. It was not a pain to give up. Also, since it should have belonged to the Rosenetta Family in the first place, giving it up freely would earn him a better impression in the Duchy of Rosenetta.

Duchess Kayana Rosenetta of House Everglade was a powerful ally in the social world that could help ease the way for his debut in High Society and a lot of other things. Young Lord Roran should have had his societal debut years ago, but with the excuse of his poor health, the previous Grand Duke had delayed it over the years. He had to finally step into the world to build connections that would help the North survive.

"We better go," Prince Nysander said. "The teleporter is waiting."

"Until we meet you again, Your Highnesses."

With a wave from both siblings, they turned and entered the carriage. The driver flicked the reigns, and with the clip-clop of the horses' hooves, they were off.

Roran stood there for a few more moments, watching the carriage slowly disappear behind the large castle gates. The sound of little running feet caught his ears, and he turned just in time to see Aleron running towards him. Two of his temporary maids were frantically running not far behind.

"Brother!" Aleron shouted. "Did the pretty sister and handsome brother leave?"

Like always, Roran bent and carried him on his hip. "They already left, little hatchling," he said. "And you must address them as Your Highness and Your Royal Highness, remember?"

"They told me that I could call them that."

"But only if it's just us. In public, don't ever call them that."

"Why?"

Roran sighed and ruffled his hair. "I think we should start finding you tutors."

Aleron's dragon eyes shined under the light of the dusk. "I get to start learning?"

He nodded at his younger brother.

The little boy smiled wide and gave him a tight hug. Roran smiled and tightened his embrace.

The more time he spent with Aleron, the deeper his feelings got. It was not the feelings that were assimilated earlier. Rhett truly adored this child, and he found it hard to leave him. If the entity had planned to get him attached to the child to make him willingly stay in this world, then it was working.

Besides, he had no one on Earth anymore.

He had lost his purpose.

Maybe, in this world...

He remembered Valtarion's painting.

For my home. For my family.