Toward evening, Rio finally flew to the mountain range where Long-Yam Castle stood.
The towering, magnificent Long-Yam Castle had once been adorned with colorful flowers and flags. Now the flowers had been removed, and black-and-white banners hung from its outer walls.
Quite a few carriages were parked in the square before Long-Yam Castle, likely belonging to Marquis Merlin's followers.
"Oho!"
Little Fire Dragon Rio let out a clear, profound dragon roar, announcing its and Liszt's arrival to Long-Yam Castle. Though every dragon's voice was different, the majesty contained within their tones always made people realize at once that this was a dragon. Thus, after the roar, a great number of nobles poured out of Long-Yam Castle.
"Dragon!"
"It's a fire dragon!"
"His Highness Liszt has arrived!"
"His Highness the Dragon Knight has come to attend Marquis Merlin's funeral."
Messiro and his wife stood among the crowd with Meiopal and his wife. At the sight of the fire dragon, the grief that had weighed on them these past days could not help but lift somewhat. "It's Liszt!"
Roland Pinecone and Melinda, standing behind Messiro and his wife, revealed smiles they could scarcely suppress. "Liszt came so quickly!"
"The news of Grandfather's death must have reached him, and Liszt must have set out at once," Meiopal said, clenching his fist. His cousin's arrival made the burden on his shoulders feel much lighter. Marquis Merlin had been the unshakable pillar of the Long-Yam Family, and his fall had left the family deeply uneasy.
Now, the arrival of the fire dragon showed Liszt's attitude—he would honor his promise and become the Long-Yam Family's support.
That was enough!
With Liszt's backing, the Long-Yam Family's position in the Sapphire Grand Duchy would not waver with Marquis Merlin's death; it would remain secure. The Sapphire Family would