HRNGDS 91

~Chapter 91~

At Delphina’s words, Elcayan fell silent. The Pepper he knew had been smaller than an ordinary bird.

It wasn’t without reason that Kassen had called it useless and scolded it.

And yet, now Pepper had become a giant bird? Elcayan’s face turned grave.

“Even Lord Calix’s body keeps getting bigger…”

Delphina answered firmly.

“That’s because he’s getting fat.”

“You’re right, he has been eating well lately.”

“Don’t worry. Pepper is a special case. Just because he eats my food doesn’t mean other birds will grow like this. If Pepper had met the right master, he was always meant to be this size.”

Delphina sighed. Elcayan looked calm, but her own heart was racing.

“Why did you jump? You could have been badly hurt.”

“Because you were about to be in danger.”

“But without Pepper, you could have been seriously injured.”

“I might have only been hurt, but you could have died. Truly… it could have been disastrous. If there had been the slightest mistake…”

Elcayan frowned, unwilling to imagine it.

That was when Delphina realized—his hand, gripping her arm, was trembling.

‘He was really scared.’

Elcayan was usually like a calm lake, a man who never wavered easily. Seeing him shaken felt strange to her.

‘He was frightened because I almost got hurt.’

Pepper muttered,

‘I’d like to drop that man, but I’ll hold back because of you, Delphina. I’ll descend now.’

Delphina’s face flushed in surprise—Elcayan’s strong arm was wrapped tightly around her waist.

Elcayan pressed his face to her shoulder.
“Forgive me. Just bear with it for a moment. The bird seems to be descending.”

Pepper began to dive downward quickly. Delphina squeezed her eyes shut.

‘So I really was scared too…’

Even when Ivelina had pushed her from the tower, Delphina hadn’t felt the reality of it. Only now, feeling Elcayan’s trembling, did she understand how close to death she had been.

Recognizing her own fear left her blank, her mind paralyzed.

But because Elcayan was holding her so firmly, a sense of security slowly spread.

<The god Frad takes pity on his confused apostle. The god Frad blesses his apostle.>

Delphina gripped Elcayan’s arm tightly.

‘Something like this… it feels like it’s happened before…’

She knew how absurd it was to fall asleep in such a situation, but she couldn’t resist. Drowsiness overwhelmed her.

Delphina closed her eyes in Elcayan’s arms.

Elcayan looked at her. Her eyes were shut.

For a moment, his heart lurched, but her steady breathing showed she was simply asleep on Pepper’s head.

Fearing she might wake, Elcayan gently brushed the windblown strands of her hair behind her ear.

He used aura to block out surrounding noise. Then, he whispered softly in her ear,

“Delphina, everything else is fine. Do whatever you want. But I don’t ever want you to be hurt.”

When Ivelina had pushed her, jumping after her had been instinct. From the moment Delphina became his fiancée, Elcayan had sworn to protect her.

But as the Northern Grand Duke, his duty was to think of the North first. To risk himself was reckless.

Yet when Delphina was in danger, nothing else mattered.

He couldn’t control his emotions when it came to her.

And he knew—

if she faced danger again, he would act the same way.

Pepper landed on the ground with an easy beat of his wings. Elcayan leapt down, still holding Delphina.

The crowd’s eyes widened in shock.

“Good heavens, that bird…”
“Isn’t that a phoenix?”
“I heard the phoenix is the sacred beast of House Fuat.”
“Then the phoenix just saved Lady Delphina?”

Elcayan glanced aside. Pepper puffed up proudly under the stares.

‘This great being is the mighty Phoenix Pepper!’

Of course, no one but Delphina could understand him.

People rushed down from the tower. Kassen and Ivelina looked the most stunned. Ivelina collapsed as her legs gave out.

Kassen pointed at Pepper.
“W-wait… Pepper? You’re the one who saved Delphina?”

Kassen’s face brightened. Because of Ivelina’s crime, his position had nearly collapsed. But if his bird had saved Delphina, he might escape blame.

‘Maybe I can even claim that the sacred beast of House Fuat chose me.’

But Pepper only flapped his wings and ignored him.

“K-Pepper, I’m your master!”

‘What nonsense.’

Kassen was knocked flat by the gust of Pepper’s wings.

Pepper flew to Jerian’s side. Everyone stared as Pepper bowed to him, declaring him its true master.

Delphina woke not long after. Blinking in confusion, she realized what had happened.

‘How could I fall asleep up there!’

Looking around, she saw Elcayan beside her.

“Elcayan? Did I really fall asleep? What happened to the ceremony?”

Elcayan calmed her.
“The ceremony ended well. By that I mean—it ended in complete chaos.”

Delphina sighed in relief.

“At least things didn’t go the way Kassen planned. Ivelina has been thrown into the dungeon.”

“And the others?”

“They all fought to stay by your side, so I drove them out. Only I remained in the room. They’re probably still loitering outside even now.”

Elcayan cupped her cheek, scanning her face carefully.

‘Calm down, calm down.’

Even though she knew he was just checking her condition, Delphina’s heart pounded.

‘To be cared for so seriously like this…’

His large, steady hand made her feel shamelessly flustered.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Delphina shook her head.
“No, I actually feel better after resting.”

Elcayan let out a relieved sigh.

“Ivelina is in the dungeon, and the Duke of Fuat said her punishment is yours to decide.”

Delphina nodded.
“Then let’s go right away and deal with it.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. I have a lot to settle. Ah, but I need to bring something first.”

She took a handkerchief from a drawer.

Elcayan’s eyes caught on it.
“Delphina, use this one.”

He offered a handkerchief from his pocket, embroidered with delicate stitches—clearly expensive.

“I didn’t realize you lacked one. Whoever got you this—it doesn’t look like good craftsmanship. The embroidery is clumsy.”

Since most of her belongings were managed by the Grand Duke’s servants, Elcayan wondered if they had given her something poor.

Delphina hurried to explain.
“I embroidered it myself. It’s a little rough, but I made it for the Grand Madam and you. This one was left over, so I kept it to use.”

Elcayan smiled.

“I meant it as a compliment. Even the roughness feels like part of a wonderful design. You truly have skill, Delphina.”

He quickly took the handkerchief from her hands.