"Enough about that topic. Do you even know why those Imperial scoundrels targeted your family?" Camillia asked sharply.
Aurelius seemed hesitant but slowly raised one finger.
"What does that mean?" Camillia inquired, intrigued.
"There's one reason the Ryunan Empire came after us," Aurelius replied. "The Ancient Dragon Sword."
Camillia furrowed her brows, puzzled. "What kind of weapon is that?"
"The Ancient Dragon Sword," Aurelius began, his voice low, "is a blade that grants its wielder the power to transform into a true dragon. Once activated, the user becomes a dragon in every sense of the word."
Camillia's expression turned grim. "If that's true, wouldn't it disrupt the balance of power across the continent?"
Aurelius shook his head. "No. The sword can only be activated by a direct descendant of the Draco bloodline. With my family gone, I'm the only one left. The empire won't be able to use it without me."
Hearing this, Camillia let out a relieved sigh. "That's... reassuring."
She then instructed Aurelius to rest, as their journey to the Corando Palace continued.
Corando Ice and Fire Palace
The Corando Ice and Fire Palace stood as the seat of power for the illustrious Corando family. Only those with absolute authority or direct qualifications were allowed to occupy even an inch of this sacred estate.
As their carriage approached the outer gates, the grandeur of the palace loomed into view. But Camillia's confident demeanor gave way to confusion as she noticed an unusual commotion—dozens of formally dressed nobles and rows of knights standing in impeccable formation.
"Evelyn," Camillia asked her maid sharply, "why is it so crowded today?"
Evelyn's face turned pale as she hesitated. "M-my lady... did you forget? Today is the Knight's Oath Ceremony."
Camillia's eyes widened in realization. "EVE! Why didn't you remind me of something this important?!"
As she groaned in frustration, she started to step out of the carriage in a hurry, her mind already on how to find something appropriate to wear. But just as her feet touched the ground, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"My Lady Camillia," a young man with a spear in hand called out. "Surely you haven't forgotten the significance of today? And yet, here you are, dressed so… informally."
The man's smug tone and condescending smile immediately irked Camillia.
"And who are you supposed to be?" she asked coldly, her gaze sharp as ice.
The man puffed out his chest. "I am Bernard Kostra, of the Corando family's branch line. Unlike you, I uphold the honor and discipline of our house."
The murmurs of the crowd grew louder as Bernard raised his voice, clearly trying to gather attention.
"I, Bernard Kostra, publicly denounce the lack of decorum displayed by Lady Camillia of the main bloodline!"
Camillia stared at him, unimpressed, before a sly smile spread across her lips. "And? What exactly do you plan to do about it? Are you part of the disciplinary division?"
Bernard smirked confidently. "Perhaps not. But as someone who values discipline and tradition, I cannot stand idly by while you tarnish the reputation of our family. Your incompetence as a member of the main bloodline is appalling. You're nothing compared to Islat Corando, the rightful contender for the throne."
The crowd gasped at Bernard's audacious claim.
He took a step forward, pointing his spear at Camillia. "I challenge you to a duel, here and now, before the eyes of the Corando people!"
Camillia's gaze darkened, her playful demeanor vanishing in an instant. "Very well," she said coldly. "Let's begin."
With a single, smooth motion, Camillia unsheathed her sword. A dense, radiant aura enveloped the blade, its presence so overwhelming that the air itself seemed to hum.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
"Five-star aura?!" someone whispered in disbelief.
"Impossible! She's only 19 years old!"
"This is beyond extraordinary. A five-star swordsman at her age… she's a monster!"
Even Bernard, who had been brimming with arrogance moments ago, felt his confidence crumble as beads of sweat rolled down his face. He instinctively stepped back, his body trembling under the weight of her aura.
Before he could react, Camillia was already in front of him.
SLASH!
The crowd fell silent as Bernard's arm flew into the air, severed cleanly from his body.
The once-proud knight fell to the ground, clutching his bleeding stump and shaking uncontrollably. His once-defiant eyes were now filled with nothing but terror.
Camillia towered over him, her sword glinting with menace. Her voice was colder than ice as she spoke.
"You're lucky today is a sacred day for our family. Otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate to stain this ground with your blood."
Tears streamed down Bernard's face as he grovelled at her feet. "P-please forgive me! I was wrong! I beg you!"
Camillia didn't even glance at him as she sheathed her sword. Turning to the crowd, she announced, "Let this serve as a reminder. The main bloodline does not tolerate insolence from those who forget their place."
Without another word, she strode confidently toward the palace, leaving Bernard and the horrified crowd in stunned silence. Evelyn and Aurelius exchanged uneasy glances before quickly following their mistress.