Giant Dragon Lord: Starting from Daily Intelligence-Chapter 114 - 109: Lillian Arrives

A Pegasus Knight dismounted, dropping to one knee.

"My lord, while patrolling the territory, we discovered a party entering from the east. After inquiring, they identified themselves as Baron Amber’s retinue, heading for Black Stone Castle."

The Pegasus Knight reported.

’Baron Amber?’

Raylo understood.

’Considering the timing, it’s about when my sister Lillian is due to arrive.’

"Relay the order. Prepare a welcome."

「Two hours later.」

A procession of two hundred Knights and a dozen carriages, kicking up a trail of dust, appeared on the horizon and slowly approached Black Stone Castle.

Raylo stood before the castle gate, with Ed, Thor, and some of the Knights garrisoned at Black Stone Castle behind him.

They stood in neat formation, their postures ramrod straight, exuding an invisible aura of iron and blood.

Before the convoy had even come to a complete stop, a petite figure eagerly leaped from the most ornate carriage at the front, darting toward Raylo like a nimble lark.

"Raylo!"

Her clear, pleasant voice rang out.

A gentle smile appeared on Raylo’s face as he opened his arms and steadily caught the figure that lunged at him.

The young woman in his arms wore a light blue Magic Robe suited for travel, which outlined her budding, delicate curves. Her soft, long golden hair traced a beautiful arc in the air with her movement.

"Lillian, slow down. You’re a grown woman now, yet you’re still so reckless."

Raylo’s tone held a hint of helpless indulgence as he gently patted her back.

But Lillian paid him no mind, hugging Raylo’s waist tightly and burying her head in his sturdy chest, her voice muffled.

"I don’t care! I just missed my brother so much!"

Warmth spread through Raylo’s heart.

The two siblings had been extremely close since childhood.

Duke Aiden had spent his life on the battlefield and had four sons and one daughter.

The eldest son was Eliot. His mother was a princess from the southern Holy Violet Empire, but unfortunately, she passed away from illness shortly after Eliot’s birth.

Raylo himself was born to the Duke and a Singing Girl from his household, a status that was once somewhat awkward.

The current Duchess, Anna, was the Eldest Princess of the neighboring Blazing Flame Kingdom and was deeply favored by her father, the king.

After Lady Anna married into the Thunder Dragon Family, she gave birth to a son and a daughter: Lillian and their youngest brother, Arthur.

At the time, many had assumed that Raylo would have a difficult life.

But surprisingly, Lady Anna was not a narrow-minded person. She took good care of Raylo, who was not her own son, and never treated him harshly.

Perhaps influenced by her mother, Lillian had loved to stick close to Raylo since she was little, and their relationship was even closer than the one between Arthur and Raylo.

"Alright, alright. So many people are watching."

Feeling the gazes of the surrounding Knights, Raylo ruffled Lillian’s hair, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Only then did Lillian reluctantly let go.

"Let’s go inside first. It must have been a long journey."

Raylo took Lillian’s hand and led her into the castle.

Ed, Thor, and the others bowed and cleared a path.

As they walked, Lillian chattered away, telling him about everything she had seen on the road and sharing interesting stories from the Royal Capital.

"Brother, Father and Mother miss you very much. Mother even had me bring you lots of things—all your favorite snacks and some commonly used Potions."

"That rascal Arthur is turning eighteen next year. I bet he’ll want to come here and keep us company too!"

"That kid slacks off every day. His Knight instructor is always chasing him around to give him a beating!"

Raylo listened quietly, a smile never leaving his face.

This care from his family was a rare comfort after arriving in the borderlands of the Northern Territory.

Outside the castle, Ed was methodically arranging for Lillian’s Knights to rest and have dinner.

Everything was in order.

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the side hall, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow.

Lillian held a cup of steaming fruit tea, taking small sips.

"Brother, did you know? When I heard I was coming here, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep for days!"

"I finally get to leave that giant birdcage, Thunder Dragon City."

"Mother was sighing all day, every day, and even fought with Father several times. I really don’t understand what she’s so worried about."

Lillian chattered on thoughtlessly, then asked Raylo for interesting stories about the Northern Territory.

"Brother, I heard all about it back in Thunder Dragon City! You tamed a powerful Griffin and even defeated that guy Eliot’s Thunder Dragon."

"Brother, where is the Griffin that beat the Thunder Dragon!"

Raylo shook his head. ’Lillian probably thinks she’s here on vacation.’

"Baofeng went to the Stone Forest to find its companions. When it gets back, I’ll take you for a ride!"

Hearing this, Lillian’s eyes lit up.

"That’s great! Can I come visit you often from now on?"

"Of course you can, as long as you don’t find it boring here."

"Not boring, not boring at all! As long as you’re here, Brother, it’s not boring at all!"

Lillian shook her head repeatedly, then, as if remembering something, she took an exquisite brocade box from her small satchel and handed it to Raylo.

"Oh, right, Brother! Mother asked me to give this to you personally. She said you’d definitely like it."

Raylo took the brocade box. It felt slightly heavy in his hand. He opened it to find a badge engraved with complex Magic Patterns lying quietly inside. A pigeon’s-blood red Gemstone was set in its center, from which faint fluctuations of Magic Power emanated.

"Is this... a Magic Guardian Badge?"

Raylo was slightly surprised.

Anna was a Tier Four Great Mage and also an Alchemist. He just hadn’t expected Lady Anna to give him such a precious item.

Lillian raised her chin proudly.

"Mother said that you’re bound to face many dangers out here, Brother. With this badge to protect you, she can rest a little easier."

"This Magic Badge activates automatically when you’re attacked, creating a Magic Shield that lasts for five minutes. No enemy below Tier Four can break through its defense."

She puffed out her chest, revealing an identical Magic Badge on her left breast.

"See, Brother? I have one too."

A warm current flowed through Raylo’s heart.

He put the badge away solemnly, his gaze toward Lillian growing even gentler.

"Thank Mother for me. I like it very much."

"Hee hee, Mother also said she’ll prepare even better ones for us next time!"

Lillian smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

Reunited after a long separation, the two siblings naturally had endless things to talk about.

Lillian vividly described all the changes in the Royal Capital, the amusing anecdotes about the nobility, and the mischievous antics of their younger brother, Arthur, for Raylo.

She told him how their mother, Anna, had locked their father out of their room, making him sleep in the study for a week because he wanted to send her to the Northern Territory to pioneer a domain.

She spoke of how their younger brother, Arthur, had secretly snuck into her carriage as she was leaving, saying he wanted to go with his big sister and protect her.

As she spoke, tears began to stream down Lillian’s face.

Raylo comforted her with kind words, telling her interesting stories about taming the flock of Pegasus and the Storm Griffin. As expected, Lillian’s attention was diverted. She forgot the sadness of leaving home, letting out a gasp of amazement from time to time.