~Chapter 110~
That really was the end.
The dragon spread its enormous wings and rose. Instinctively, Calix and I stepped back.
Until now, I had only seen it sitting or lying down. Standing on all fours, it was far larger than I had ever imagined.
The dragon’s gaze turned to us one last time. Our eyes met, and without thinking, I whispered my final farewell.
“…Goodbye.”
For a brief moment, it felt like I heard the same laughter I once heard in my past life.
Light began to glow from its colossal body, filling half the cavern. The brightness swelled and then—burst apart like fireworks. Countless tiny lights scattered like dandelion seeds, like fireflies. It was breathtakingly beautiful.
Some of the drifting lights wriggled with purpose, as if alive, and floated toward me.
Drawn in, I stretched out my hand. The lights brushed against my fingertips and trembled shyly.
Warmth spread through me. The light felt gentle and kind. My tension melted, and I let it flow into me.
Then, at last, the connection between the dragon and me was released.
Calix, who had been watching quietly, spoke.
“You’ve just gained the greatest magic in the world. How does it feel?”
“Hmm… let’s see.”
I closed my eyes and focused inward. I felt the lights moving, becoming magic, gathering in my heart, then pulsing out through my veins, spreading across my entire body.
I knew instinctively—this was the dragon’s heart, now absorbed into me.
Smiling, I said:
“It’s amazing. I feel like I could conquer the world.”
Calix smiled in satisfaction.
“That’s good.”
Hand in hand, we stayed together until every last mote of light had vanished and darkness returned to the cavern.
Neither of us spoke for a long time, still lingering in the awe of what we had just witnessed.
Finally, Calix broke the silence.
“Seeing the dragon leave with our own eyes—others would be jealous if they knew.”
“…Yeah.”
The dragon left.
That meant it was truly over. The end of the story.
Calix spun to face me with a light smile.
“Shall we go?”
“Alright.”
But our story wasn’t quite finished yet. The wedding still remained.
The return journey was smooth.
When we emerged from the long staircase, Calix’s knights and Tan were waiting.
“Welcome back. We’ve been waiting,” said Sir Waret, bowing. Others followed with greetings.
I spotted Tan at the side and exchanged a silent nod. Strangely, there were two people standing with him whom I didn’t recognize. I’ll have to ask later, I thought.
“Where is the prince?” Calix asked.
“Prince Adrian returned with His Majesty,” Waret replied.
“And the surviving knights?”
He meant the ones who had lived through Frenia’s attack. Some had died, but most had only suffered minor wounds.
“Prince Adrian and his men took care of them. There should be no issue,” answered Sir Rodrigo.
Calix questioned further, confirming details—whether anyone had seen us, what the emperor looked like when he came out of the basement, how many knights survived, and so on.
“After you descended, Tan arrived. Thanks to that, suspicion was eased.”
I frowned unconsciously. What did Tan’s arrival have to do with it?
The explanation stunned me.
After we entered the basement, Tan and his two companions had appeared and pretended to attack Calix’s knights in front of the imperial knights. Tan—pretending! I could hardly believe it.
Apparently, because of that, the imperial knights assumed Tan and the others were the culprits who had attacked them in the forest. Since Prince Adrian returned from the basement soon after, they left without pressing further.
I glanced at Tan in disbelief, but quickly shut my mouth.
In any case, it had worked. I even healed Sir Martin’s broken arm—he had unfortunately mistimed things and been injured in Tan’s “act.”
I rode with Calix back to the capital, and the moment we reached the mansion, I collapsed into bed and slept for an entire day.
Later, I learned the emperor’s state had shocked everyone. Some thought it was an assassination attempt. But in truth, the emperor hadn’t been harmed—he had simply gone mad.
Those who knew he had entered the basement searching for “something” concluded it was punishment for coveting power. To avoid scandal, the imperial family buried the whole matter.
Even though rumors spread about a “suspicious woman” seen entering after the emperor, or strange attacks, most witnesses were purged for failing their duties.
Prince Adrian had orchestrated everything.
So that was the emperor’s end—pathetic, almost anticlimactic. But wasn’t that the best kind of ending for a villain?
I only hoped he remained trapped in his own madness, suffering until the end of his life.
We spent peaceful days in the capital.
I asked if Calix shouldn’t visit the palace, but he replied calmly that there was no need. The blade is in our hands, he said, kissing my cheek.
Rumors said Prince Adrian—now Regent Emperor—was busier than ever. Calix predicted he would officially ascend the throne within three years.
I thought three years was long, but he said it was short—if unlucky, Adrian could remain regent until the emperor’s death.
So while he worked on estate affairs, I enjoyed myself: sleigh rides, shopping, snowball fights, board games, dances, new clothes, even theater shows.
Then, as the snow began to melt, we were summoned to the palace.
“Please wait here,” the prince’s attendant said before disappearing through a shining door.
While waiting, I reviewed once more my carefully prepared List of 101 Demands.
Calix chuckled. “Don’t worry. If he refuses, I’ll just overturn the palace.”
“This is the imperial palace. Can you really say that so casually?”
“You always win.”
“…True.”
Soon we were guided to a reception room—not the prince’s, but the emperor’s. Adrian had already moved his office into the imperial palace.
When we entered, Adrian greeted us with a confident smile.
“Welcome, Duke Hertrio. Lady Rena.”
‘Shameless.’
We bowed politely.
After tea was served and the servants left, I secretly scanned the room with magic. No spies, no devices. Good.
“Let’s get to the point,” Adrian said, ignoring the tea. Calix did the same.
I placed my cup down and spoke first.
“First, regarding Lania’s punishment.”
The smile froze on Adrian’s face. He hid his mouth behind the untouched teacup.
“…Speaking of someone we’ll never see again is a waste of time.”
He averted his eyes. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to bring up Lania first.
Staring down at my teacup, I replied softly:
“People always meet again, someday.”
“What do you mean by that?” Adrian’s voice sharpened.
