Chapter 29
A contract with a demon tribe was something strictly forbidden under imperial law.
Even for a child of a grand ducal house, it was a grave crime that could lead to execution, so the Emperor’s faction fiercely opposed it.
That alone was already troublesome enough — but now, a few nobles from the aristocratic faction were making suspicious moves, seemingly intent on enthroning Lucian to keep Michael in check.
‘These pests… every last one of them is a headache.’
Michael’s eyes sank into the depths as his thoughts grew heavy.
He truly cared for Lucian, who had followed him like a real younger brother.
However, since Lucian couldn’t even control his own body, he posed a major threat to the safety of imperial citizens. Michael had intended to restrain his magic, confine him, and give him a fair chance to explain himself.
But now that Lucian had disappeared…
Even the grand ducal house would not be able to avoid responsibility.
‘Tsk. As if the Emperor’s nobles weren’t already sharpening their knives for us.’
Immense power, refined intellect, benevolent nature—
Back during the reign of the previous emperor, there had even been an attempt to make Duke Fenrister emperor because of those very traits. That failure only made the Emperor’s faction more determined to keep the grand ducal house in check.
Finally shaking off his thoughts, Michael let out a faint sigh and gave Alex an order.
“Tell the knights of Belnoir to capture Lucian by any means necessary.”
“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. As you command.”
After bowing deeply, Alex moved swiftly to carry out his lord’s will.
“I suppose I’ll have to go to Belnoir myself.”
Michael murmured as he watched Alex’s retreating figure, then took a heavy step forward.
“Kyuuuu… Zoe, I’m so tired…”
By the time they reached the village, it was already the middle of the night.
Even for Ruby, who had great stamina, running the equivalent of a three-day carriage journey in one go had been brutal. She flopped down on the ground with a thud.
“Oh, my poor Ruby. You worked so hard. Luan, could you take out some snacks and feed Ruby for me?”
I asked as I looked at Ruby yawning wide with sleepy eyes.
“Understood.”
“Kyu!! I only want food from Zoe! I won’t eat anything that human gives me!”
“Open your mouth.”
Luan took a snack from his satchel and held it in front of Ruby, but she stubbornly clamped her mouth shut.
“Aren’t you hungry? Open up.”
With a frown, Luan tried again to push the food toward her mouth.
“I said I don’t want it, kyu!! Go away!”
“If you won’t open it, I’ll just force it in.”
“I said no, you idiot! Kyu!!”
Ruby smacked Luan across the face with her paw. The blow landed cleanly, and Luan muttered under his breath,
“It seems it’s impossible to completely tame a beast. We should subjugate it before it evolves any further.”
Ugh… I was exhausted already, and now they were at it again.
Watching the two bicker, I let out a deep sigh.
“Ruby, if you don’t eat now, you’ll have to go hungry until morning. Just this once, let Luan feed you, okay? Please?”
“Kyu… tch, just this once.”
When I spoke in a pleading, coaxing tone—like calming a child—Ruby finally opened her mouth slightly.
“She really doesn’t have any cute side to her,” Luan muttered, though he still carefully fed her the snack.
“Thanks, Luan. Because of my condition…”
“It’s fine. Still, you must be tired too, Zoe. We should get to the inn quickly.”
“Yeah… yawn… I’m at my limit anyway.”
It truly had been a grueling journey. With my small body, even a gust of wind nearly sent me flying several times, and Luan had saved me more than once.
Ah, I just wanted to bathe in warm water and collapse into bed…
“Zoe, shall I carry you?”
Perhaps I looked as tired as I felt—Luan’s tone was gentle.
“I’m fine. I can walk on my own—eeek!”
“This way’s faster.”
Before I could take a step, Luan suddenly lifted me into his arms.
“W-what are you doing?! Put me down! I can still walk!”
Damn it, now I really felt like a foal being carried!
Even though my body was that of a foal, I was still human. Wanting to preserve at least a shred of dignity, I wriggled to escape, but Luan only tightened his hold.
“It’s safer this way. Don’t move.”
Ugh… My sense of human dignity took a heavy hit, but walking on my tiny legs would take forever, so I just let him carry me quietly.
“Honestly, I’m not that weak of a foal, you know?”
I grumbled, then looked toward Ruby, who was still sprawled out.
“Ruby, let’s go and get some sleep.”
“Mm… okay…”
Poof!
With a weak reply, Ruby suddenly turned back into a puppy.
“R-Ruby! Why are you a puppy again?!”
She hadn’t… devolved, had she?
It wouldn’t matter much to me, but Ruby had been so happy when she evolved…
I looked at her tiny form, worried.
“This way, I use less magic… kyu… I’m okay, Zoe…”
Thank goodness—she could still talk. It seemed she had simply reverted to her smaller form to conserve magic due to fatigue.
“Luan, it looks like Ruby’s worn out and turned back into a pup. Could you—”
“Understood.”
Before I could even finish, Luan immediately grasped what I meant and gently scooped Ruby up with one arm.
This time, Ruby didn’t resist and nestled into his hold.
So there we were—Luan with me on his left side, Ruby on his right, and a huge satchel on his back.
Looking at him, the perfect picture of a caretaker, I suddenly felt guilty.
“Sorry… you must be tired too.”
“It’s fine. Shall we go?”
He walked on steadily, as if it were nothing.
‘I’ll cut your damage compensation in half,’ I thought silently, without saying it aloud.
“Luan, why don’t you just sleep on the bed?”
“I’m fine on the floor.”
Luan spread a blanket on the floor and lay down.
As luck would have it, the innkeeper had told us only one room was left. Luan offered to find another inn, but it was too late, and to everyone else, Ruby and I just looked like his pets anyway. Getting separate rooms would only look strange, so I said we’d stay together.
I stroked Ruby’s sleeping head and glanced at Luan again.
“I really don’t mind sharing the bed with you, you know…”
“It’s a single bed. I’ll be fine—please rest.”
“But… won’t your back hurt sleeping on the floor? Are you sure?”
“I’ve camped outdoors before. This is luxury in comparison.”
I sighed at his unyielding, almost old-fashioned manner.
He was trying to be considerate, sure—but come on, I was a foal right now. It wasn’t like we had to maintain propriety or anything…
As I looked at my tiny body perfectly nestled on the fluffy pillow, I let out a short sigh.
“Hey, Luan. Can I ask you something?”
“Depends on what it is.”
He paused before answering.
So he’d listen first and then decide whether to reply? How stingy.
“Fine. Um… how old are you, Luan?”
Until now, I hadn’t pried into his background—he clearly wanted to keep it private. But after all this time together, we were close enough that I felt it was okay to ask.
“I turned eighteen.”
“E-eighteen?!”
I gawked at him.
Sure, he looked young—but his maturity, his attitude, his aura—everything screamed older man. I’d thought he was way older.
Eighteen?! Are you kidding me?!
Back in my old world, I was twenty-six—that made me eight years older!
Luan, you little brat… the ink on your ID isn’t even dry, and you’re talking like you’re above me?!
I trembled as memories of his bossy behavior in the dungeon came flooding back.
“And you, Zoe?”
He asked simply, in that calm tone of his.
“I’m… um, one year younger than you.”
“Hmm? Really?”
“Why? Did you think I was older?”
“Not exactly, but…”
He clearly looked startled by my supposed age.
Well, of course—he thought I was some innocent seventeen-year-old girl. But in truth, I was a twenty-six-year-old who’d seen the world and then some.
I forced myself to ignore the pang of guilt in my conscience.
And to think—you’re the surprising one here, Luan.
