Dragon's Awakening: The Duke's Son Is Changing The Plot
Chapter 76 - 75 - Lio Hector.

Chapter 76: Chapter 75 - Lio Hector.

The four-kingdom alliance.

Surrounded by two empires, the four kingdoms, like the stuffing in a burger or sausage in a hotdog, had no choice but to ally.

However, simply allying wouldn’t help them—they knew that for a fact.

Four sticks held together would never be as strong as an equally thick branch.

They needed to bind those sticks together so hard that they wouldn’t be separated.

They needed a strong string to bind those sticks, and they found one.

Knowledge.

Like the Velmoria academy, there were royal academies in every kingdom, and to share knowledge and strengthen their bonding, these kingdoms sent exchange students to each academy.

The exchange students were always influential people. It was a way to grow trust.

These exchange students were always under the care of the royal family of the respective kingdoms. Hence, they could go anywhere they wanted.

Even in Velmoria Royal Academy, there were three such people.

Two of them didn’t stay in the academy most of the time, but there was one who did.

The youngest prince of the Hector Kingdom—the weakest of the four kingdoms.

Despite being one of the highest-ranked people in the Hector Kingdom, the prince had still gone to the Velmoria Royal Academy as an exchange student because, unlike his brothers and sisters, he knew that staying in the kingdom wouldn’t bring prosperity to the kingdom.

If they wanted to make their kingdom better, then they needed external support.

Right then, he had heard about the best genius of the Vaise family—a family known to be the strongest and most talented among the various families in the four kingdoms.

That’s when he decided to go to the Velmoria Royal Academy as an exchange student.

He had thought that if he could get Raven on their side, they might be able to turn their kingdom into something better.

His brothers and sisters had scoffed at him, asking what good it would be. What could one person do, anyway?

But he knew he was going in the right direction.

He didn’t know why, but he knew that Raven could change things. His instincts told him that.

However, when he searched for Raven, he found out that he had gone missing—until the guy returned.

That was the happiest day of his life, as he believed he could finally complete his objective, only to see that guy defeat a layer-six knight like it was nothing.

’Would he even listen to a circle-two mage like me?’

That was the first thought that came to his mind.

After all, he was powerless.

Why would someone that strong even want to associate with him when he had nothing to offer?

That was when—while stalking Raven and his group—he heard something that made an idea appear in his head.

"But we don’t have any justification. And no one would believe us if we told them about a squirrel that can detect demons."

Those were Clara’s words.

’This is my chance!’ He had thought.

He had seen everything.

How Travis, who was excommunicated from his family, appeared and how that disgusting tentacle came out of his back.

He also saw that guy using the teleportation scroll that couldn’t be accessed without the Magic Towers’ knowledge.

’Demon.’

He didn’t know what they were, but he knew they were dangerous.

If they had control over the magic towers as they had thought, then this might be on a scale that could affect the kingdoms.

The prince wanted to stop this, but he didn’t have the power.

However, there were some people before him who had the power that he needed but lacked something he had—influence.

So, he could use them while appearing as a helping angel to them.

That way, he could gain their favor, solve the problem, and get a deeper insight into what these demons were.

—Or so was what he thought when he decided to approach them.

The reality was quite different from his imagination.

...........

The next day.

Raven and his group were headed toward their next destination.

Their carriage rattled over the uneven forest road, creaking with every bump as the horses pulled them deeper into the quiet woods.

Inside, however, the atmosphere was... chaotic, to say the least.

Alex was lying on his back with his legs dangling over the window, singing some off-key ballad about "freedom and back pain."

Above his chest was the squirrel, sleeping peacefully despite the chaos. It seemed to have gotten used to the group.

Rufus sat quietly in the corner, his eyes twitching every time the carriage hit a bump.

Though inwardly, he was at peace.

’Ah, it feels so good to be finally free~,’ he thought.

Siris squatted on the floor like a gremlin, watching everyone like she was taking mental notes on how to be normal.

In the middle of it all, Prince Lio of the Hector Kingdom sat nervously holding a porcelain tea set like his life depended on it.

"Lio," Raven said, not even looking up from the book in his hand, which had information on all recorded beasts. "Tea."

Lio flinched. "R-Right! Of course!"

Inwardly, however, he was pulling his hair. ’Did I make the right decision?!’

He scrambled to pour the tea with trembling hands, his sleeves fluttering like silk curtains in a breeze.

Lio was beautiful in a way that felt almost unfair—like a painting coming to life.

He had soft pink hair, skin that had never seen a day of labor, and eyes so big and shiny you’d think he was perpetually about to cry.

Which, honestly, he kind of was.

In a way, he was the type of guy one would call girly and wussy.

He passed the cup to Raven with both hands, like he was offering his soul.

Raven took a sip, gave a curt nod, and put his feet right onto Lio’s lap.

Lio froze.

"Did I... pass?" He whispered.

Raven didn’t answer, turning a page.

’Was I being hasty?!’ Lio panicked, but seeing Raven calmly sipping the tea, his expression calm, he realized he was out of danger.

Clara sat beside Raven, one leg casually crossed over the other.

She watched the whole thing with a raised eyebrow, then leaned against Raven’s shoulder like she’d done it a thousand times before.

He let her, of course.

"Is this really necessary?" She asked, half-amused. "Making the poor prince your footstool?"

"He offered to serve," Raven said with a shrug. "I’m just testing how far that offer goes."

Lio nodded frantically. "I-it’s fine! I don’t mind! This is perfectly fine!"

’It’s not fine!’ He added inwardly. ’I don’t want this!’

Though, he didn’t dare to say that out loud.

Alex peeked over from his upside-down position. "Lio, blink twice if you need rescuing."

"I-I don’t! I swear!" He stuttered, fearing that Raven might get a bad impression if he delayed the response.

"Damn," Alex muttered. "Was hoping I’d get to be the footrest next."

Clara rolled her eyes. "You’d enjoy it too much."

"Maybe," Alex grinned.

Raven glanced at Lio, recalling how this guy was always bullied because of his low powers and how he had lost his confidence because of that.

In the novel, this guy had offered to serve as he had done with him, but the Raven from the story wasn’t like him and accepted this guy as his friend.

’I won’t do that,’ he said.

Raven wanted Lio to become his slave thoroughly.

Because he knew a way to make this guy stronger, but before doing that, Raven needed to ensure that he wouldn’t move away from him when he grew strong.

After all, in the novel he had left for the Hector Kingdom when he grew stronger.

’He came here to take me to the Hector Kingdom, right?’ Raven grinned. ’Now, he’s gonna be wishing to stay here.’

It was then that Jessy spoke, looking up from her scroll. "It’s kind of impressive, actually. How fast he adapted."

"Desperation is a hell of a motivator," Rufus muttered, knowing full well how it felt.

Turning toward Lio, he sighed in pity, but inwardly, he was grinning ear-to-ear. ’Maybe Raven will stop bullying me now.’

’Hah...’ Jake, sitting next to Rufus, sighed as if reading his thoughts. ’You are never going to be free.’

But he didn’t say it out loud.

He didn’t want to snatch Rufus’s short peace.

Siris, on the other hand, was still watching Raven like he was a nature documentary.

Every time he moved, she mimicked him.

He scratched his head—she scratched hers.

He sipped tea—she pretended to sip from an empty cup.

He shifted his foot—she smacked Lio lightly on the arm.

"Ow!" Lio yelped.

Siris blinked. "He did this. So I did this."

"Do not do what I do," Raven said without looking yet sighing inwardly.

"Yes, Hus—Raven," she said instantly.

The way she was about to call Raven ’Husband’ again made Clara’s brows twitch, but she wasn’t provoked.

Instead, she grinned and leaned closer to Raven, pressing her supple breasts on his arms, almost making him drop the book he held.

Selena sat near the door, sipping her tea with practiced grace, but before Clara could do anything else, she quickly interrupted. "I must admit," she said softly, "traveling like this is... refreshing. Chaotic. But refreshing."

Lio finally worked up the courage to speak. "I... I’m glad to be traveling with all of you."

Everyone paused.

Alex snorted. "Lio, my guy, you’re literally a walking intern right now."

Raven turned a page. "An intern with benefits."

"W-What benefits?" Lio asked nervously.

"Entertainment," Clara offered.

"And tea," Jessy added.

"I’ll take it," Lio mumbled.

The group settled back into a comfortable rhythm.

The laughter, the jabs, and the weird family dynamic—it all felt strangely natural.

Even Lio, despite being the royal among misfits, was starting to blend in, like a cat that had wandered into a dog park and decided to stay.

Clara leaned closer to Raven, brushing her fingers against his.

"You really planning to keep him around?" She asked quietly.

He glanced at Lio, who was now trying to wipe his forehead with a lace handkerchief while balancing Raven’s boot.

"Maybe," Raven said. "He’s surprisingly useful."

"Useful how?"

"He makes Rufus feel normal."

Clara chuckled. "You’re terrible."

"I know."

But then—

BOOM.

The carriage jolted, hard.

Tea spilled.

Alex smacked into the wall, shielding the squirrel in his arms as it woke up in panic.

The poor guy was sleeping comfortably, dreaming about eating nuts all day, but now, it was wondering where it was, as all it could see was darkness while buried in Alex’s arms.

Lio, the weakest, screamed like someone had stepped on a cat, only to find himself held in place by Jake, who had protected him from harm.

"What the hell—?!" Jessy grabbed her sword, already covered in aura.

Outside, something exploded again—this time closer.

Trees cracked.

The horses neighed in panic, the whole carriage rocking dangerously.

Raven stood immediately, his voice sharp. "Everyone out."