Chapter 52
I took a deep breath and approached Kai.
Don’t soften just because he’s smiling. Don’t you dare get attached! There are too many things I need to confront him about.
How much does he know about the Cardinal Dragon? Did he only act friendly with me at the banquet because the dragon ordered him to? Why did he come this time? And so on.
But the Duke spoke first.
“Alkaios LaFrand, what brings you here?”
“I came to celebrate the festival. Have you been well, Your Grace?”
“I was—until I discovered an uninvited guest.”
Ugh, hear those thorns in his voice? Could it be because I said I didn’t want to get closer to Kai, so now he thinks Kai did something wrong?
The Duke’s low voice struck like a warhammer.
“You don’t even have guards. Surely you understand the rumors that might spread if LaFrand’s heir were to suffer misfortune in Flogel.”
“I apologize for the concern, but the guards—”
Kai turned around, only to find no one there. He looked startled. Huh? From afar I thought I saw guards with him.
…Maybe it was the Cardinal Dragon disguised as a guard. Looks like it slipped away.
Lucky for me. If the Cardinal Dragon and the Silver Dragon crossed paths, the Duke might have gone berserk.
Kai scrambled for a weak excuse.
“They went to the restroom for a moment.”
“When they return, it’d be best to dismiss them. Even a second of inattention can bring disaster. Isn’t that so, Sol?”
Why is the arrow pointing at me now? That wasn’t the guards’ fault! More importantly—
“Father, why are you following us when I said I needed to talk with him? Please step aside.”
“What? Have you already forgotten what happened earlier!”
“You can just watch from a distance. Somewhere you can’t hear our conversation.”
“Sol! I am your father! Remember that!”
“Yes! And this is called privacy! Learn it! Pri-va-cy!”
“Sol!”
I shoved at the Duke’s back and whispered.
“Remember what I told you before? There are limits even to being a daughter-fool. A dad who doesn’t respect his daughter’s privacy isn’t cute—he’s creepy.”
“…Yes, you did say that.”
“So wait here quietly. I’ll tell Kai never to come here again.”
That seemed to calm him. Arms crossed, he leaned against a gas lamp and watched me. Ugh, I can feel his stare burning holes in the back of my head.
Kai spread his arms wide as I came closer.
“Finally free? You know, I came in last place in that game earlier… I swear it wasn’t on purpose!”
“Guess your brothers didn’t go easy on you.”
“They couldn’t even accept each other’s losses. Who were you on a date with?”
“…Huh?”
“Why so surprised? Weren’t you gone because you were with one of them?”
Kai looked genuinely clueless. Did he really not know the Cardinal Dragon had endangered me, that I was kidnapped right after separating from it?
No way.
“Kai.”
“Yeah!”
Just calling his name made him beam like a golden retriever. That smile alone could purify souls.
But just because he’s a kind-looking blond boy doesn’t mean I can trust him. It’s always guys like this who turn out to be the secret mastermind!
“You know about the Cardinal Dragon, don’t you?”
“Of course! He’s the guardian of the LaFrand Marquisate!”
“Not as a guardian. I mean as a being with form, who lends power to humans.”
I hated beating around the bush. I asked bluntly.
“Was it the Cardinal Dragon who summoned you here?”
Kai’s lips froze mid-motion. Damn. That’s a yes.
“Did the Cardinal Dragon tell you to approach me at the banquet, to send me letters, even to attend this festival uninvited?”
“…Sol.”
“The questions are done. Just answer freely. I’ll give you as much time as you need.”
Kai touched his forehead. That dazzling smile was gone, replaced with the look of a boy caught playing a dangerous trick. Well, he is a boy.
At last, he answered.
“…Yes.”
Now comes the excuse. He was curious, or the dragon’s orders were absolute, or something like that.
Even if he’s ten years old, he should know you don’t approach someone while hiding your schemes!
I straightened and crossed my arms, determined not to let it slide. But that only backfired—Kai suddenly smiled bashfully.
“So you can look like this too, Sol. I’m glad I came.”
“…I gave you time to explain. Well?”
Please say it. That you had no choice. That you never meant to deceive me.
…That you just wanted to be with me a little longer.
But Kai’s answer was plain.
“I have no excuses. The Cardinal Dragon explained, and I chose to come.”
“…”
Even knowing the danger of hosting a dragon’s power? Even if it means war with the Silver Dragon someday?
I bit back questions like Why did you want that power? It would sound condescending. He’s ten, but even ten-year-olds have worries and conclusions of their own.
So I only said one thing.
“I can’t be with you.”
“…Really? But—”
“I’ve already heard your boasts about LaFrand from that red lizard. But Flogel has plenty of pride of its own!”
“That’s not the point.”
Kai glanced behind me—toward the Duke, probably.
His always-smiling eyes sharpened, like a watchdog spotting its first enemy.
His whisper came out almost like a growl.
“Sol, Latiger Olt Schlaeger is a very dangerous man.”
“Huh?”
“The elders in our domain all fear his name. Even during the war, even when he received his dukedom—they say he was ruthless.”
“…”
“If you ever feel unsafe, write to me. Or to the temple if you don’t want me. You don’t even need the address—just write ‘Great Temple’ and it will arrive. The temple is obliged to protect orphans.”
His face was so serious that my anger at him faded into guilt.
The Duke is a villain. Even in [Rank 99], countless atrocities of his were recorded. How much land he burned, how much he froze. A man who never loved his children.
No, I don’t trust him.
But I’ve already chosen him.
“Thank you for the warning, Kai. Especially about being able to report domestic violence to the temple—that’s life-saving information.”
“…So you’re staying.”
“Yes.”
I said it firmly. Kai couldn’t argue further. He only looked between me and the Duke, then lowered his head.
“I see. Sorry for making you uneasy, Sol.”
“It’s fine. But don’t ever come to the Flogel Duchy again.”
“…Understood.”
He lifted his head. His green eyes wavered beneath his golden hair, shining even at night.
“Someday, we’ll definitely meet again.”
“…Yes. I hope when we do, you’ve grown straight and true.”
Specifically, eight years later, when the heroes of [Rank 99] gather. I hope he’ll be righteous enough to support the protagonist then.
There was nothing more to say.
Kai bit his lip, bowed once to me, then again to the Duke in the distance. I suppressed the urge to call after him as he walked away.
No more variables…
Kai departed—back to the LaFrand Marquisate, where he would grow into a kind and upright young man.
And I remained in Flogel.
…Of course, I did hesitate. The Duke is dangerous, and how much can an extra change the future anyway?
But earlier, Latiger Olt Schlaeger had said this:
“What wish did I make? Bold question.”
“I’m curious! I already told you mine!”
“Judging from how you’re pressing me, I’m supposed to say it was a wish about my daughter, right?”
“Correct! That’s what being a daughter-fool means, isn’t it?”
“…Very well. My wish was—”
I was prepared to accept a lie. But the Duke didn’t seem like someone who would lie.
I expected some brazen nonsense.
And I was right.
“That you would stay just the way you are.”
…Brazen nonsense, indeed.
“…What does that even mean.”
“Exactly that. I need someone who won’t cower, who won’t twist my words into their own fearful interpretations. Everyone else just drops to their knees the moment I speak.”
“Then you should’ve wished for such a person.”
“Why wish for what I already have? And besides…”
With white petals scattering in the starlit breeze, the Duke, so unused to smiling, lifted the corner of his lips with a finger—
“You’re someone who won’t run from me, nor remain trapped by me. You’ll stay by my side solely of your own will.”
…Those words, with that rare smile, struck my heart harder than anything.
Someone who neither flees nor is bound—who stays only because they want to. In its own way, isn’t that the best kind of relationship?
Lie or truth, that sentence made me want to remain in his mansion a little longer.
When Kai disappeared into the crowd, I climbed the hill back to the Duke. He asked:
“If you need interrogation, abduction, political maneuvering—say the word.”
“Calm down. The talk went fine.”
“Whatever was said—”
“Privacy.”
“…But another lord’s heir entered my territory unannounced. At least his purpose—”
“Privacy.”
Faced with the ultimate excuse, the Duke shut his mouth. At least he was decent enough not to press when I said “privacy.”
The festival was winding down. People drifted away, either home or to the taverns.
For us, there was only one place to go.
“Shall we head in?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Back home.
Even at home, my body still buzzed with heat and excitement.
When Linda freed me from the dress and hair ornaments, the sight in the mirror finally grounded me.
Just a plain girl in a white nightgown. And yet I had represented the Flogel domain at a grand event, even danced.
Wow… I was really swept up in the festival mood. The old me would never have done that!
From tomorrow, no more recklessness. I even got kidnapped today! Sure, it was the most half-hearted kidnapping ever, but still—being noticeable does no good.
Flustered, I banged my head lightly against the mirror. That’s when someone knocked at the door. At this late hour?
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Elber.”
“Huh? What brings you here?”
“I have something to tell you.”
Without asking further, I opened the door. Elber’s shoulders jumped, startled by how quickly it swung open.
“You should knock before opening!”
“Not really your place to say that. Anyway, come in.”
“You’re letting me in without asking what it’s about?”
“Elber, you’re not the type to spout nonsense… Oh? Bennen?”
Only then did I notice Bennen standing beside him, puffing his cheeks slightly.
“What, you think I’d spout nonsense?”
“No, of course not. You don’t either.”
“Smart girl.”
“But when the two of you are together, nonsense somehow gets created.”
“…”
“Anyway, come in.”
