There was a strange silence that stretched for at least one full minute, and during this time, a conversation unfolded between the King and his dragon summon, Beilong.

Their exchange was entirely mental, carried through the bond that linked summoner and spirit.

From the outside, it appeared as though Carson was simply staring at Ethan, his expression unreadable while Beilong remained motionless beside the throne.

But within that silence, words were being spoken.

’Are you absolutely certain, Beilong?’ Carson asked within his thoughts.

Her reply came in an authoritative feminine tone. ’I have lived far too long not to know the scent of a dragon. What stands before you is not just any dragon. He carries the blood of one of the most powerful lineages.’

Carson let out a slow breath, then broke the silence. "Come with me," he said to Ethan in a calm tone.

He rose from his seat and turned toward the left corner of the throne room. Without waiting for a response, he walked beneath an archway and kept moving, expecting Ethan to follow.

Mr. Stark stared at the King’s retreating figure for a second, then sighed and followed.

The archway led directly to a door, which the King pushed open without ceremony. Beyond it was a private study, so large you could probably fit two more rooms within its walls.

The space was lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes. There was grand desk at the center, and on its surface were maps, letters, and official seals.

Heavy curtains framed tall windows that overlooked the palace gardens, and a fireplace crackled softly on the wall.

The King sat into a cushioned chair and gestured toward an opposite one for Ethan to sit at.

"The walls have ears," Carson said simply, without elaborating.

He was being literal, though to a certain extent. Back in the throne room, hidden among the pillars and along the edges of the high ceiling, were small runic sigils carved into the stone.

Each one was linked to a corresponding artifact kept outside the palace, carried by specific individuals.

These artifacts allowed their holders to listen in on conversations that took place within the throne room. Some of these holders included the high-ranking officers of the Imperial Guard, and of course, the first prince, Alistair.

It was a precaution the King had put in place long ago. A way to ensure that if something ever happened to him in that room, there would be witnesses and a fast response.

But here, in this study, there were no such sigils. This was a space where the King could speak freely.

Ethan remained quiet as Carson leaned back in his chair, with his eyes fixed on the young man before him.

Then, with an expression that bordered on genuine surprise, he spoke. "A hybrid whose dragon bloodline remains untainted by demon genes. How have you even come to be?"

Ethan exhaled slowly. "Would you prefer I answer that, or should I first explain how often I visit the dragon continent?"

The sarcasm in his tone..

Carson let out a scoff, with some hint of amusement in his eyes. "You certainly have a sharp mouth. I can see now why you were not fazed by Beilong’s presence. And why you could not bring your head to a bow."

Ethan said nothing to that, choosing instead to listen as the King continued.

"I also have it on good authority," Carson said, "that for a demon, you are high-ranking."

’Mr. Kieran!’ Ethan cursed furiously in his thoughts.

"Any high-ranking demon at your age, and in this part of the world, can only be a demon noble." Carson’s gaze bore into him. "Do you even understand what that means?"

Ethan sighed. In fact, he was certain that being a hybrid had only increased the King’s paranoia. So he decided to get ahead of it.

"Alright, Your Majesty," Ethan said, meeting his eyes. "I’d like to get this out of the way. I may be a demon-dragon hybrid, and I understand the level of influence I hold as head of the Stark family. But the role of king does not catch my fancy..."

He paused briefly and added, "Dare I say, it is far too small."

’Hm?’ Carson’s expression changed, and his gaze grew stern

Ethan continued. "My one true goal is to usher this world into a new era of advancement through the innovations of Stark Industries."

He leaned forward, just enough to emphasize his words. "Imagine a world where every modern development, every piece of essential equipment, every advancement in travel, communication, and defense is credited to the Stark name. A world where that dependency is built into everyday life."

He paused.

"A world where every king and every ruler will beg to have a branch of Stark Industries on their soil. Because without us, they fall behind."

Then he smiled. "Your Majesty, would you not say then that I have taken the world itself?"

Carson stared at him for a long moment. Then, to Ethan’s mild surprise, the King let out a genuine laugh.

After a moment, Carson shook his head. "I have always known the Stark family to be ambitious. And I must admit, I summoned you to my palace to ensure that your ambition remained focused on your business."

Ethan, still wearing that cocky smile, replied, "Well, I believe you have your answer now."

"More than that, Mr. Stark." Carson’s tone shifted again, becoming serious. "My reason for calling you here changed the moment Beilong revealed that you were also a dragon."

’Hm.’ Ethan muttered, now staying quiet and waiting for him to continue.

Carson leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "A pure-blooded dragon and a demon noble. There has only been one other recorded case of such a rare birth."

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The hybrid, Mikael."

Ethan’s expression remained neutral, waiting for the King to reach the real point of everything he seemed to be building up to.

"And I will be honest," Carson continued. "I had always wanted to meet this Mikael. When I became King, I sought after him myself. But it seemed he had been lost with the decades."

"Why?" Ethan asked, genuinely curious. He wanted to know what the King wanted with his butler, who was parked right outside.

Carson let out a short laugh. "Why, you ask me?" He shook his head. "That one man made every vampire and werewolf leader quake with fear. Five of them had even died by his hand. If I had a man like that by my side, the authority of the Tudor house would never be questioned."

Ethan tilted his head slightly. "But the authority of the Tudor family has never been challenged. Especially not now, when it is being led by a High Invoker."

"Not openly," Carson said, then began an explanation. "As of this time, there are only twelve known persons of the Grand Class."

Then the King raised four fingers. "Gritnia alone has four."

He began folding the fingers one by one to emphasize his point.

"The hybrid Mikael is inactive, or has gone missing. So that leaves us with three."

He folded another finger. "The second one, Anton Reeds, is still too much of a child to take anything seriously. The last time he was seen was in a partying club, five countries away."

Another finger went down. "The third one is me."

He folded the final finger. "And the last one is the Matriarch, Lady Audrey of House Desdemona."