The Dragon’s Obsession with Water is Difficult

“It was your birthday a while ago.”

“Yes, Father. It was Sierra’s seventeenth birthday.”

“I didn’t ask you, Serkan.”

My father, knowing that I was afraid of my grandfather, tried to answer in my place, but he could only close his mouth again.

“Sierra, speak for yourself.”

“…Yes, I turned seventeen last time.”

It was unusual for my grandfather, who was famous for not showing interest in his descendants, to show interest in his granddaughter. He observed the situation with a displeased expression.

“Serkan first manifested his abilities at the age of twenty-five. I was thirty years old.”

That didn’t make much sense either.

Abilities had their own realm of talent, but they also required extensive training.

That’s why young individuals with abilities were called prodigies.

What I had briefly forgotten was exactly this.

“You manifested your abilities too early.”

I never intended to draw attention, but I received the result of being called a genius, even receiving a full-course meal.

It made sense, considering Arzen was an ability user of my age, and Ludwig had been dealing with fire abilities since he was ten years old.

The focus was so centered on the main characters that the average was overlooked.

“So Serkan has the same abilities as you and me, being able to manifest water abilities.”

Yes, it seems like the Drenihan genes are very strong.

It’s not easy for all three generations to manifest abilities.

I swallowed the words I wanted to say and quietly nodded my head.

But my grandfather seemed to have a newfound interest, even more than my manifestation of abilities.

“Now you don’t avoid my gaze.”

The wrinkles around his eyes formed a smile.

It was a smile that seemed to say he had found something amusing in the long years, a smile that hadn’t appeared in a long time.

I could see my uncle sitting in front of me trembling.

He wouldn’t be pleased that I was receiving my grandfather’s attention.

Above all, he wouldn’t be happy that his older brother’s child, who made him feel inferior, manifested abilities at such an early age.

Ignoring his intimidating presence, I smiled slyly.

“It’s good to see you after a long time, Grandfather.”

Obtaining points from the most powerful figure within the mansion was something that applied to everyone present in this room.

However it happened, I had seized an opportunity.

“Haha, you’ve changed a lot since we last met. Serkan, she resemble me a lot.”

It must be a compliment. Grandfather seems to like my father quite a bit.

“As a new ability user emerged in Drenihan, it’s only natural to celebrate. Sierra, let’s have a feast in your honor.”

“Father, that’s…”

The response came from my uncle, Orzen.

It was a grand event hosted directly by Duke Tercon Drenihan, and its impact was immense.

In the midst of the intense rivalry between my uncle and father, the focus shifting towards me could naturally lead the external nobles to think that the Duke had made a decision regarding the successor.

“Are you saying that I should just sit back and do nothing while my granddaughter awakens her abilities? Are you waiting for cues from me?”

“N-No, it’s not that…”

Idiot Orzen.

He had recently caused a big incident at a tavern and earned a bad reputation. Yet he dared to talk back.

“Do you want me to scold you like a child? Do as your father wishes.”

Orzen spoke in a submissive voice, without daring to retort.

No one could raise any further objections.

* * *

An unprecedented event occurred in the Drenihan Ducal House.

DukeTercon Drenihan, famously elusive, personally organized a feast for his granddaughter.

The Ducal Palace, already renowned for its beauty in the capital, was splendidly adorned with exquisite flowers from unknown noble families across the country.

It was such a magnificent sight that even those who were not invited sought to attend the Drenihan feast from afar.

The flowers carried the meaning of awakening.

The moment when vibrant sprouts grow and eventually bear fruit.

That is why people in the empire present flowers as gifts and congratulations when someone manifests their swordsmanship or awakens their abilities.

The fact that Duke Tercon Drenihan held an unprecedented large-scale feast could only be associated with this meaning.

Could someone in the Drenihan family have awakened their abilities?

If so, that would mean there are three ability users within the Drenihan Ducal House.

People speculated about who the protagonist of the feast would be.

First and foremost, Orzen’s niece was prominently mentioned.

Otherwise, it would be Serkan’s weak daughter, which seemed unlikely.

How could the frail and reclusive young lady, with deep illness, use her abilities?

And they realized firsthand that rumors could indeed become a reality.

Sierra, the heiress of the Drenihan Ducal House, known as the treasure trove of the empire, had awakened the power of water.

In an empire built on land imbued with the energy of fire, water ability users were truly rare and highly regarded.

In the empire, where droughts and wildfires were frequent, water ability users were treated with great importance.

Already in the Drenihan Ducal House, with two ability users, news spread throughout the empire of another awakened individual.

And here, that protagonist lay on a bed covered in fragrant flowers.

“It seems like something big has happened.”

***

“There are so many people gathered, Miss. It’s as grand as a debutante ball.”

Nella tidied up my dress with a face full of happiness.

The young ladies here celebrate their debutante ball when they turn fourteen.

But at that time, I hadn’t met Arzen yet, and my health was so fragile that I couldn’t have a debutante ball.

Nella, who had always regretted that, put all her efforts into preparing for today, calling it my debutante ball.

“You look absolutely beautiful, Miss.”

Nella beamed and led me to the mirror.

A voluminous white dress, half of my hair elegantly pinned up, adorned with a pink gem that matched the color of my eyes.

With my appearance no less enviable than the real debutantes, Nella’s delicate touch made me look even more radiant.

“You can do this!”

“…Yes.”

Later, there would be a moment when I would demonstrate my ability in front of others, and on days when I made a mistake, it would give my uncle and Kalik something to tease me about.

Above all, as it was a feast organized directly by Tergon Dranehan, I had to establish my position alongside my father, no matter what it took.

“Okay, I’ll go now.”

“Yes, I’ll ride the carriage that you like later.”

Nella waved her hand, gesturing for me to go first. She even used a handkerchief to lightly wipe the corner of my eye, and I had no choice but to force a smile.

When I opened the door, Arzen was waiting for me.

“Arzen, did you wait long?”

“….”

He looked at me and briefly lost his words before mumbling softly.

“…No, I just arrived.”

What’s gotten into him? I thought he would scold me for being late.

I took a step closer to Arzen and straightened his crooked brooch.

“It’s crooked. There, it’s fixed.”

“Uh, thank you….”

He said while touching his flushed ear.

* * *

As Arzen and I entered the outdoor reception, all eyes turned towards us.

Someone asked those around them if I was the granddaughter favored by Tercon Drenihan, but I wanted to deny it.

Because I still saw this as his scheme.

From the beginning, he didn’t show particular interest in his grandson Kalik or me.

Even his sons saw us merely as candidates to lead the Drenihan family.

So, this reception was an opportunity to give Arzen a sense of urgency and to widely establish the status of Drenihan through my awakening. It was a rational choice for him.

It wasn’t about affection for his granddaughter.

The reception was beautifully decorated on an unimaginable scale, befitting the reputation of being the richest in the empire.

As I strolled through the garden, I suddenly stopped in my tracks when I spotted a person who stood out even from a distance.

Among the outdoor reception where numerous people passed by, I finally found Ludwig.

‘I didn’t expect to see you so soon…’

His jet-black hair and distinct golden eyes.

The ethereal face I saw that day was once again hidden behind a mask.

Numerous noble heirs circled around Ludwig, but naturally, no one dared to approach him.

It was safe to say that it wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but that he couldn’t.

There was an indescribable sense of intimidation coming from Ludwig.

His enigmatic presence felt like a wild beast.

I knew he rarely engaged in external activities, so what brought him here?

“Sierra, are you okay?”

Arzen, who was walking beside me, asked with concern.

“Ah, there are too many people, so I’m a bit nervous.”

As soon as I said that, I noticed Ludwig’s gaze on me.

It felt like a fleeting spark in his vacant eyes.

He spotted us and walked directly towards us.

‘Is he coming this way?’