HTNSA 32

Chapter 32

“What’s so impressive about standing out a little in potion-making class? I think it’s best not to get too close. I hear other nobles aren’t fond of that commoner either. There’s no benefit in making enemies over someone like her.”

Despite her long explanation, Peony responded to Rona with a half-hearted tone.

“I’ll think about it.”

Rona frowned, displeased by the princess’s lack of enthusiasm.

Peony, though a royal, relied quite a bit on Rona, who was responsible for her health. This reliance occasionally allowed Rona, despite being a mere maid, to overstep her bounds and offer bold advice. And usually, Peony tried her best to listen.

‘Why is she hesitating just because I warned her to stay away from a commoner?’

Rona knew her mistress was planning something with the Blanche family. She wanted to prevent Peony from accidentally getting entangled in it and ruining everything.

‘If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve kept her resting longer… No, she’s still royalty. There’s no way she’d want to associate with someone like Eila.’

Even if Peony was unusually kind for someone of noble birth, she was still a princess.

Though her answer was lukewarm, Rona didn’t believe she would truly keep a commoner like Eila close.

After all, the two of them now belonged to completely different worlds.

‘She’ll distance herself eventually.’

Smiling faintly, Rona said sweetly,

“Ah… I overstepped. I’m sure Her Highness knows best. But you know how I feel, right? I only want what’s best for you.”

“……”

“I only ever think of Your Highness’s happiness. You know how deeply I care about you.”

With a gentle demeanor, Rona handed Peony a small medicine vial.

“It’s time for your remedy, Your Highness.”

Peony accepted it obediently, as always.

Meanwhile, at that moment…

Eila was in her dorm room, staying up late reading books borrowed from the library. She was trying to uncover the truth behind the mysterious egg Felix had given her—an egg that looked entirely out of place even among the Drake’s clutch.

‘Felix said it’s definitely a divine beast’s egg. If I search through these books, I’m bound to find something similar…’

But no matter how much she read, Eila struggled to concentrate.

The image of Felix bravely shielding her during the crisis kept flashing through her mind.

To be honest… he’d looked quite dependable.

Just remembering it made her cheeks burn. The torn clothes revealing his lean muscles, the moment he awakened his aura in desperation…

It was hard to believe he was still the age of a high school student, at least by modern standards.

‘It was just like the male lead of a novel. Well, technically, he’s just a sub-male lead…’

Her thoughts darkened as she remembered Felix’s tragic fate in the original story.

‘Ugh, what am I even thinking? We’re just in a contractual relationship.’

She didn’t want him to suffer alongside her like in the original plot, even if her future was guaranteed to be happy.

‘I have one goal—take down Roshia and the ones behind her. I can’t drag anyone else down with me.’

Steeling her heart, she returned her focus to the book in her hands.

‘What kind of divine beast’s egg is this?’

As she flipped through the pages, her eyes began to tremble.

She had found a passage that closely matched her current situation.

“Occasionally, dragon eggs are discovered within a Drake’s nest. These are typically Black Dragon eggs, misplaced due to the Drake’s diligent brooding habits…”

‘So Drakes have strong maternal instincts. That’s why it attacked me in such a rage.’

Eila felt a pang of guilt. This had all happened because the egg broke under her care.

But still, the Drake had to be dealt with. Leaving it alone would eventually put other students in grave danger.

She read on,

“Black Dragons are one of the most intelligent dragon species. They tend to be solitary and can be remarkably lazy, to the point of abandoning their eggs in a high-tier monster’s nest like a Drake’s.

Unlike other dragons who raise their young to adulthood, Black Dragons leave their eggs to hatch early and ensure they eliminate rival offspring, forcing the host to raise them alone.”

Eila gave a bitter laugh.

They abandoned their eggs, but only in places where they’d still be cared for properly. It sounded eerily similar to how others believed she had been swapped at birth—like some changeling child.

‘To people who don’t know the truth, I must look like a cuckoo’s chick.’

But unlike cuckoos, dragons in this world were revered for their intelligence and power.

For instance, the Blanche Ducal House’s symbol was a Gold Dragon. It was said that the firstborn daughter of the Blanche family inherited magical talent through the dragon’s blessing.

In contrast, Black Dragons were rare and individually powerful. They were considered sacred beasts of the imperial family.

‘There’s even a legend that those chosen by a Black Dragon would become the next emperor.’

Due to their individualistic nature, their population had dwindled and they were nearly extinct.

Eila stared at the egg in her hands, its surface smooth and glowing with a mysterious white light. It bore a strange resemblance to the descriptions in the book.

‘No way… could this really be a dragon?’

She chuckled, brushing off the thought.

But a shadow of doubt crossed her face.

If this truly was a Black Dragon’s egg, things could get dangerously complicated. Everyone would want it.

‘I hate getting caught up in unnecessary trouble…’

She reached out toward the egg, which had been wrapped carefully in a blanket. It felt warm to the touch.

‘Well, nothing’s certain yet. I’ll just try hatching it for now.’

It probably wasn’t a real dragon. But something about it being abandoned struck a chord in her heart.

‘After all, I’ve been cast out of the Blanche family too. We’re not so different.’

Moved by sympathy, she wrapped the egg even more warmly, letting her warmth seep into it.

Meanwhile…

The Headmaster wiped sweat from his brow as he hurried after Duke Azenta, who had suddenly shown up at the academy.

The man known as the Empire’s finest swordsman had arrived without escort or warning.

“May I ask… why you’re looking for Felix?”

“I’d like to test his skill.”

“I… I see.”

Though full of concerns, the Headmaster didn’t dare object to the duke.

Soon, the two reached an empty training ground.

Facing the breeze, Duke Azenta recalled the report his lieutenant had given about the boy named Felix.

“He’s had a very rough life. He grew up in an orphanage where the director was reportedly abusive.”

“And?”

“He eventually fought back, escaped, and wandered the streets until he was sold to a mercenary group and trained as a swordsman.”