The ballroom of Frostbound Coast's Lord's Mansion glittered beneath hundreds of enchanted chandeliers.
Golden mana lamps floated near the ceiling.
Crystal decorations reflected countless lights.
Silver banners bearing the crest of Frostbound Coast hung proudly between the banners of House Rosenfeld.
At the center of the hall stood the largest Mana Crystal extracted from the mine.
The enormous crystal towered above everyone.
Its blue radiance illuminated the entire ballroom.
Like a captured star.
Like proof.
Proof that Frostbound Coast had changed.
Proof that Frostbound Coast was growing.
Proof that the young Count ruling it was no ordinary noble.
The ballroom was already filled.
Nobles from neighboring territories.
Merchant representatives.
Researchers.
Mage Tower delegates.
Guild leaders.
Scholars.
Officials.
Everyone had gathered.
Officially.
To celebrate the reclamation of the Mana Crystal Mine.
Unofficially.
To see with their own eyes just how much Frostbound Coast had developed.
Because rumors had become absurd.
Glowing roads.
Magic streetlights.
Monster domestication projects.
Tourism.
Trade expansion.
Sea development.
Research institutes.
Mana crystal mines.
Most people thought at least half the rumors were exaggerated.
Now they stood inside Frostbound Coast.
And realized reality was somehow more unbelievable.
Then—
The ballroom doors opened.
Silence descended.
Instantly.
Every head turned.
Every conversation stopped.
Every noble paused.
Every merchant froze.
Because the host had arrived.
Kel Rosenfeld entered first.
His formal black attire carried understated elegance.
Silver embroidery reflected the ballroom lights.
The young Count walked calmly.
Confidently.
Without arrogance.
Without nervousness.
And beside him—
A woman.
The entire room froze.
Because nobody knew her.
Not one person.
The nobles immediately entered battle mode.
Information gathering mode.
Gossip mode.
One elderly noble leaned toward another.
"Is Count Kel married?"
The other immediately replied.
"No."
A third noble joined.
"Engaged?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"I investigated before coming."
Another noble looked offended.
"You investigated a fifteen-year-old?"
The man nodded shamelessly.
"Political necessity."
Several nobles silently agreed.
A merchant whispered nearby.
"Then who is that woman?"
A researcher adjusted his glasses.
"Perhaps a foreign noble?"
"No crest."
"A hidden royal?"
"No escort."
"A secret lover?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Many people suddenly found that theory surprisingly possible.
Meanwhile.
Lyra walked beside Kel.
The serpent woman could hear everything.
Again.
Unfortunately.
Every.
Single.
Thing.
The ancient serpent suddenly missed her cave.
At least snakes had the decency to gossip openly.
Humans hid it poorly.
Far beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren laughed.
"You're famous now."
Lyra wanted to return underground.
Immediately.
Kel led her toward the center platform.
The enormous Mana Crystal stood behind them.
Its glow illuminated both figures.
The visual effect was stunning.
Several nobles secretly admitted it looked incredibly impressive.
Then Kel raised one hand.
The room became silent.
Completely silent.
The young Count smiled slightly.
"Thank you, everyone, for attending."
His voice carried across the ballroom.
Clear.
Calm.
Steady.
"I formally invited you here to celebrate Frostbound Coast's successful reclamation of the Mana Crystal Mine."
Immediately.
Applause erupted.
Cheers followed.
Congratulations spread throughout the hall.
Many guests smiled.
Though nearly everyone understood something.
The celebration wasn't truly about the mine.
It was about sending a message.
A political message.
A powerful message.
Frostbound Coast was rising.
Rapidly.
And everyone present was witnessing it.
Kel allowed the applause to settle.
Then continued.
"However."
The room grew quiet again.
"The mine would not have been reclaimed without someone else's help."
Curiosity immediately appeared.
Many guests glanced toward Lyra.
Kel smiled.
"Actually."
A pause.
"She saved my life."
The ballroom exploded.
"What?!"
"Saved Count Kel?"
"Who is she?"
"When did this happen?"
Lyra nearly stumbled.
The serpent woman stared.
Saved his life?
What?
Far beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren immediately started laughing.
"Oh no."
Kel ignored her.
The young Count continued speaking.
"When my knights and I entered the mine..."
Everyone listened attentively.
"We fought monsters continuously."
Another pause.
"One nest after another."
Another.
"We advanced deeper and deeper."
Another.
"Eventually reaching the center."
The guests nodded.
Reasonable.
Makes sense.
Then Kel sighed dramatically.
"Unfortunately."
The atmosphere immediately became tense.
"By that point many knights were injured."
Several guests nodded.
Expected.
"I was exhausted."
Several people nearly laughed.
Nobody believed that.
Yet they remained silent.
Kel continued.
"And we decided to rest."
A pause.
"Then a monster appeared."
The ballroom quieted.
"A powerful monster."
Another.
"A terrifying monster."
Another.
"A monster strong enough to wipe us out."
Now everyone was invested.
Completely invested.
Kel's storytelling ability was surprisingly good.
The guests leaned forward.
"What happened next?"
"Then?"
"Continue!"
Even merchants looked fascinated.
Kel smiled slightly.
"Then."
A dramatic pause.
"Another monster appeared."
Confusion spread.
Another monster?
What?
Kel pointed toward Lyra.
"A giant python."
The room became silent.
"The python attacked the monster."
More silence.
"It fought ferociously."
Another.
"It protected us."
Another.
"It saved our lives."
Lyra stared.
The serpent woman's mind was slowly breaking.
Because technically...
Parts of the story were true.
Technically.
Just not the important parts.
Far beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren was laughing uncontrollably.
"He's rewriting history."
Lyra silently agreed.
Kel continued.
"Together."
A pause.
"My knights."
Another.
"The python."
Another.
"And I."
Another.
"Defeated the monster."
Applause erupted.
Several guests even cheered.
Because now it sounded heroic.
A shared battle.
A desperate struggle.
A miraculous alliance.
The nobles loved it.
The merchants loved it.
The researchers loved it.
The story was perfect.
Then Kel continued.
"Afterward."
A pause.
"I asked why she saved us."
The ballroom became quiet.
Everyone wanted the answer.
Kel smiled.
"She replied."
Another pause.
"That the other monster disturbed her meditation."
The room exploded with laughter.
Even Lyra almost laughed.
Because that part was actually true.
Kel nodded seriously.
"I was equally surprised."
The guests laughed harder.
Then Kel continued.
"Eventually she transformed into a human."
Gasps spread.
Several researchers nearly dropped their drinks.
Transformation?
Human form?
An intelligent monster?
The story suddenly became much more significant.
Kel continued.
"We spoke."
Another.
"Negotiated."
Another.
"And reached an agreement."
The guests waited.
Then Kel smiled.
"She agreed to work with Frostbound Coast."
The ballroom became silent.
Then—
Thunderous applause.
Because everyone understood the implication.
An intelligent high-level monster.
Working for Frostbound Coast.
That was enormous.
Politically.
Militarily.
Economically.
Everything.
Then questions erupted.
"Where is she now?"
"Who is she?"
"Can we meet her?"
"What happened afterward?"
Kel raised his hand.
The room became quiet.
Then he slowly turned toward Lyra.
The serpent woman suddenly felt very nervous.
Something was coming.
She could feel it.
Kel extended one arm toward her.
Then spoke clearly.
"Ladies and gentlemen."
The room became completely silent.
"This is the woman I have been speaking about."
Every eye focused on Lyra.
The pressure was immense.
The ancient serpent had fought monsters without fear.
Yet being observed by hundreds of people was somehow worse.
Kel continued.
"Lyra."
A pause.
"The Great Serpent."
Gasps echoed.
The title alone carried weight.
Then came the final sentence.
"Guardian of Frostbound Coast."
Another pause.
"And holder of authority equal to my own."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Many guests forgot to breathe.
Equal authority?
Equal?
The implications were staggering.
Then applause erupted.
Louder than before.
Much louder.
Meanwhile.
Lyra simply stood there.
Completely confused.
Because what Kel had told everyone...
Was not what happened.
Not even close.
He entered her mine.
Killed serpents.
Attacked her.
Negotiated.
Threatened her occasionally.
Annoyed her repeatedly.
Yet somehow...
The story he told transformed everything.
In his version...
She was a protector.
A guardian.
A savior.
Someone who stood beside Frostbound Coast.
Not a monster defeated and recruited.
Not a creature forced into submission.
Not an enemy.
An ally.
The realization slowly dawned upon her.
Kel wasn't lying for himself.
He was protecting her.
Protecting how others viewed her.
Protecting her future.
Protecting her place in this city.
If he told the truth.
People would fear her.
Distrust her.
Treat her as a monster.
Instead...
He introduced her as a hero.
A guardian.
Someone worthy of respect.
The realization struck harder than any sword.
Lyra slowly turned her head.
Looking toward Kel.
The young Count simply smiled politely at the guests.
As though none of this was important.
As though changing someone's entire future was normal.
The serpent woman stared.
Confused.
Bewildered.
Speechless.
And for perhaps the hundredth time since meeting him...
She found herself completely unable to understand Kel Rosenfeld.