Chapter 37
Bezriche’s former companion had also been Diarmid’s former companion.
Princess Ellia had fought alongside them until the moment the Demon King was defeated, and she had always felt deep regret over the fact that the two lovers had been torn apart.
She would constantly tell Diarmid that Bezriche’s case must have been a misunderstanding, that he should take responsibility for Jayna.
But as her meddling grew excessive, Diarmid ended up killing Princess Ellia — and her death drove the once carefree Logian to become a vengeful swordsman.
“Princess Ellia… she really was the starting point of everything.”
The royal princess’s palace to which Jayna had been invited was beautifully decorated. Roses she had never seen before formed a tunnel overhead, like a floral festival.
“I came early, so I can take my time.”
Jayna decided to leisurely enjoy the scenery on her way to the meeting spot.
But strangely, the closer she got to the princess’s palace, the weaker her body began to feel.
“Huh? That’s odd… My tail shouldn’t appear unless I completely relax.”
Yet the strange sensation didn’t fade — it only intensified.
Now her head, hands, arms, and entire body all began to feel strange.
“My transformation is coming undone!”
Jayna tightly shut her large eyes. Somewhere in the palace, there must have been a magic circle that restricted magical power.
“If I turn into a dragon here in the royal palace, I’ll end up as a specimen — or a holy sword.”
She quickly forced herself to control her inner mana, barely managing to stop her transformation from fully reverting.
But she couldn’t stop her tail from slipping out.
Swoosh!
A black tail shot out from beneath Jayna’s skirt.
Swoosh!
Next, small horns suddenly sprouted from her head.
“If my wings come out next, people will notice immediately…”
If not for the fact that the princess’s palace wasn’t a place of frequent visitors, her draconic nature would’ve already been discovered.
“Get in there!”
Jayna rubbed her newly sprouted horns with her small hands.
But even though they were part of her body, they wouldn’t obey her.
“What should I do…?”
Izren, who was with her, stared wide-eyed.
But he too had changed into a form unlike his usual self.
“A cat…?”
“Meow.”
The difference between them was that instead of horns and a dragon’s tail, Izren had cat ears and a tail.
“So the rumors were true — Sir Izren’s true form is feline.”
Izren, flustered, pulled Jayna toward him and quickly threw his cloak over both of them.
Jayna was momentarily surprised — a knight of Diarmid helping her? — but this wasn’t the time to question it.
“We have to run.”
Whether dragon or beastkin, revealing their true forms was dangerous.
“But where should we go?”
“Ugh!”
While Jayna hesitated, Izren’s knees buckled.
Because Jayna’s magic was depleted, she had failed to adjust her weight properly.
At that dire moment—
“Ah!”
Jayna let out a small scream as a hand reached out to her silently from behind.
“To think you’d only be that surprised when someone grabs you from behind.”
“Princess Ellia?”
“Impressive. That’s a compliment.”
A beautiful woman with blonde hair tied high and crimson eyes gleaming looked Jayna up and down.
Under that gaze, Jayna’s pupils trembled.
Horns, tail, mixed blood— having been persecuted all her life for being different, Jayna instinctively flinched.
“I have to pull myself together.”
She tried to move her frozen legs.
“I’ve heard plenty about you from my nephew and son.”
Contrary to her expectation, the woman before her spoke softly.
“I am Ellia El Izni Delaide, princess of the Empire. May I ask your proper introduction as well?”
Then she extended her hand.
With sunlight shining behind her, her face looked dazzling. Jayna hastily placed her small hand in the princess’s.
“My name is Jayna. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
Once Jayna was seated, the table quickly filled with raspberry scones, fruit sandwiches stuffed with whipped cream, and orange-peel cookies. The tea was a sweetly flavored milk tea, perhaps chosen for her.
It was the perfect afternoon tea for a warm day.
“Eat as much as you like. The royal chef specializes in desserts, but since I don’t have a sweet tooth, it’s been a while since he’s gotten to show off his skills. I hope they suit your taste.”
Jayna picked up an orange-peel cookie rich in buttery aroma.
Its nutty flavor mixed beautifully with the citrus zest, and she finished one in no time.
“If you like them, I’ll have some wrapped up for you to take home.”
At that moment, Jayna’s fondness for Princess Ellia grew considerably.
“The reason your appearance changed like that is because there’s a barrier here that scatters mana.”
Ellia explained clearly why her transformation had started to unravel.
“I didn’t think it was much of a spell…”
“It catches even the tiniest traces of magic.”
Jayna’s curiosity was piqued.
“I’ve never heard of such a delicate barrier before. Not even in the Magic Tower.”
“The Magic Tower studies magic, remember. Dispersing mana there would be disastrous.”
Ellia remarked casually.
“Well, it’s a barrier Diarmid created. You can ask him to show you someday.”
She shrugged lightly.
“So she already knew who I am.”
When Jayna heard Diarmid’s name, she was startled, but also began to understand why Ellia treated her so kindly.
“I was once comrades with your mother Bezriche and your father Diarmid. We fought back-to-back to protect one another…”
Her eyes softened as she recalled the past. Clearly, her memories of Bezriche were warm ones.
But soon her gaze clouded with sorrow. Jayna kept silent, giving her time to collect herself.
After a long pause, Ellia spoke again.
“You look just like her.”
— Yes. You do resemble your mother.
Those words were exactly what Diarmid had once said to her when she first arrived at the Magic Tower.
Jayna lowered her gaze quietly.
“I don’t remember my mother’s face.”
Ellia tilted her head.
“You don’t? I assumed you’d seen her portrait.”
“Portraits are a human custom. My mother was a dragon.”
“True, but she loved human culture. I’m sure her portrait still exists somewhere — one of our friends was a talented artist and painted her often.”
Ellia opened a jeweled case and took out a pendant. Inside the locket was a painted portrait of a woman.
Jayna couldn’t take her eyes off it.
The woman looked exactly like how Jayna imagined herself ten years older.
“She’s your mother.”
“Mother…”
The only difference was the color of their eyes.
Now Jayna finally understood why Diarmid refused to acknowledge her as his daughter — she bore no resemblance to him at all.
“I think this belongs to you.”
“But Your Highness, it’s precious to you.”
“If it weren’t precious, I wouldn’t give it as a gift.”
Ellia clasped Jayna’s hand and pressed the necklace into it.
“To think a daughter has lived all this time not knowing her mother’s face…”
The warmth from the princess’s hand felt like her affection for Bezriche, and Jayna’s heart tightened.
“What kind of person was my mother?”
“She never frowned even in hard times. Her words were light and cheerful. But… I always felt like she might just fly away someday.”
Ellia’s expression turned wistful.
“For a dragon said to live a thousand years, to be the first among us to die…”
Covering her face with her hand, she continued.
“Still, I’m glad you exist. Bezriche must have been happy to have you. She once said she wanted to leave nothing behind — yet she had a child. I never thought Diarmid could change her that way.”
At the mention of Diarmid, Jayna flinched slightly, but Ellia went on.
“I’ve heard Diarmid treats you coldly, refusing to recognize you as his daughter. I try not to meddle in family matters, but… the fact that you’ve never even seen your mother’s portrait is unacceptable. I’ll speak to him myself.”
“Please don’t.”
“He’s mistaken. Bezriche never betrayed him — how could she, when she even bore his child…”
“The Tower Master believes I’m another man’s daughter.”
“That’s impossible. Bezriche wasn’t that kind of person. I know her.”
Letting out a sigh, Ellia’s expression hardened with resolve.
“I must see you take the name Bellafanian. Otherwise, I’ll never be able to face Bezriche in the afterlife.”
But Jayna shook her head.
“Please don’t tell anyone about my mother. Especially not the Tower Master.”
When Ellia looked puzzled, Jayna continued.
“As you know, I’m a dragon. Dragons don’t have fathers. And I’ve never once thought of him as my father, nor do I expect anything from him. So I don’t want to stir up old feelings by pretending to be his daughter.”
Jayna opened her palm.
“I just want to live quietly in the Magic Tower with Lord Mikael. Lady Hilvenzia also cares for me there. That’s all I want.”
“But…”
“Even if someday I’m meant to acknowledge him as my father, now is not the time.”
Jayna shook her head firmly, and Princess Ellia stepped back, respecting her wish.
