I Raised A Black Dragon (Web Novel)
chapter-269

Muell tugged on the hems of Noah’s dress. “Noah, his eyes are the same color as Mister Leonard’s”

“Oh… yep. That’s because he is Mister Leonard’s older brother.”

For Leonard’s brother, they didn’t really look alike. Unlike his cold and cool-headed younger brother, the duke was a handsome man with elegant dignity. Contrary to Kyle, who had no unnecessary movements, he had a light smile as he walked inside the observation room, and dignity flowed even in his subtle nodding as he received greetings from the nobles who were rushing towards him.

Even worse, he was much younger than Noah had thought. What was he, about thirty? The age difference between them isn’t even that noticeable.

The duke scanned the entire room. It was Noah’s first time to see a great noble so up-close, boasting a rank in Laurent's status system just below the emperor.

She looked interestedly at his face, making eye contact with him.

A sparkling excitement splashed in his bright purple eyes just like his younger brother. Noah thought he was giving her a playful look that didn't match his elegant figure, but she was mistaken.

After quietly lifting Muell, she stood up from the golden chair. Somehow that’s when it seemed like it would happen. As soon as Noah saw the duke flash a bright smile, showing his teeth, the doubt became certain.

“Dragon master! Oh, wait. Miss Noah Leonard!”

Goosebumps appeared on Noah’s entire body when her name was called. The name he had called was the name she had stolen at will. How did he know?

Oh… Actually, it’s quite obvious. The work in which she had written Leonard's last name would have been first reported to the duke before being handed over to Kyle. Noah was filled with anxiety, recalling her past and records as pure as snow. Don’t tell me he caught me stealing.

The duke, who had quickly removed the dignity of a great noble, smiled and held out his right hand to her. “I knew I could see you if I came to watch Minister Rosinell’s trial. May I sit next to you, Miss Noah?”

“Oh, hello… Huh?”

“It’s nice to meet you like this. I have so many stories that I want to hear from you!”

“Huh…? Oh, ha-ha…”

Her right hand was forcibly caught in his hand, and she did a rough handshake. What kind of stories does he want to hear from me…? The Leonard family was not listed on the list of nobles on Adrian's side nor on the list of families who had sent Noah a greeting invitation.

The moment she thought up until there, the words Kyle had said two days ago passed by in her head.

“You can ask my older brother about that time. Since Duke Leonard has been begging for me to get into a relationship for over fifteen years.”

No way Laurent's great noble would pay attention to such personal matters… but it looked like he would. Duke Leonard sat very friendly on Noah’s left and held out his right hand to Muell.

“Hello, dragon. Your name’s Muell Leonard, right?”

Even Muell must have stolen the Leonard surname from the Angelic. Why hadn’t Noah remembered that…?

She fixed her eyes on the back of the black head of hair that ordered the investigators to the left entrance of the courtroom which could be seen below. Sir, I can feel the air of a very tired fool from your brother; please tell me I am mistaken.

To make matters worse, the emperor had entered the observation hall, so not only did Noah and Muell go down closer to where the trial was being held, they had ended up in VVVVIP seats front and center, right between the emperor and the duke.

Today, as soon as the emperor, wrapped in a velvet cape like a red carpet with a heavy crown pressed down on his head, sat next to Noah he started a conversation.

“Unlike the dragon master before you, you are a calm, elegant lady. In the dragon master’s seat, a talent like you, Miss Noah, is better suited than an unruly woman like Baroness Asil.”

Noah had never met the man before, so what was the best response for a first meeting? She would have never thought in her wildest dream that the emperor of Laurent would say “unruly woman like Baroness Asil.”

The emperor talked to her for a long time, then slightly changed the subject.

“From what I heard, you’re an immigrant. Can I ask what country you are from?”

“Uh… I came from a tiny peninsula far over the mountains and across the water.”

“My goodness! If you’ve come that far it must be a long way to go back. Since you’ve already gotten your citizenship you’re planning to stay in Laurent, right?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

“Splendid! It's such a waste to ruin your talent like this. As the master of Laurent, I won't spare any support to a dragon master, so won't you work hard for Laurent's development and endless glory?”

Desperation permeated the emperor’s voice. Eleonora Asil’s magic history had lost its star, and now the head of the Ministry of Magic was a criminal, so he must be very worried. It had been less than 20 years since a wizard of Laurent had emerged as the strongest person on the continent.