Chapter 75
“Aigoo, our dear Lord.”
“To think my lady was the protagonist of a legend! I had no idea.”
As soon as I stepped into the mansion with a dazed face, Baratheon and Shishe greeted me with exaggerated bows.
Their playful tones made me feel as though my scattered thoughts had finally returned home.
“You two were watching everything?”
“Of course. We had the best view from up there.”
Baratheon pointed up toward the terrace with a sly grin. From that vantage point, the commotion at the gate would’ve been perfectly visible.
“Then why didn’t you stop me…?”
“There was no need to stop you.”
At my resentful tone, Shishe shrugged as if nothing was wrong.
“If it had been something bad, we would’ve stepped in. But it was a good thing. Thanks to you, even the tainted land was purified.”
Well, that was true.
‘For them, it turned out well!’
I was the only one who secretly wanted to ruin the territory. None of these people would ever understand that sentiment.
Swallowing my tears, I sighed deeply in resignation.
“They said they’ll send priests to purify the land within a few days.”
“What? The Sea Priests?”
At my words, Shishe’s eyes widened.
“They’re sending those precious people? The King of the Eastern Sea must really cherish his daughter.”
“Really? Are the Sea Priests that rare?”
“Their duty is to keep the seas pure. No one can match their purification powers.”
“Then why didn’t we ask them for help before?”
“They don’t like humans. This time’s a special case.”
Shishe let out a deflated laugh, roughly ruffling my hair—then frowned when he noticed the cat quietly sitting in my arms.
“What’s this?”
“Oh, a cat I found in the garden. I was going to at least feed it.”
“Throw it out.”
Shishe said firmly, grabbing the scruff of Ska’s neck.
Ska looked up at him indignantly, and I quickly snatched the cat out of his grasp.
“Throw it out? Why? It’s such a cute one!”
It really was cute, so I wasn’t exactly lying.
Ska seemed slightly mollified by my words.
“I don’t know where this thing’s been rolling around, but it’s covered in strange energy. Nothing good will come from keeping it close!”
“But…”
“You forgot what happened last time you got exposed to magic? You’re sensitive to it.”
“But I’ve got the doctor, right? He’ll fix me again, somehow—ow!”
Before I could finish my carefree remark, Baratheon gave me a sharp flick on the forehead.
The blow from his big hand made my head throb, but when I saw his pained expression, I couldn’t bring myself to complain.
‘Hey, why do you look like you’re about to cry?’
“Don’t even say things like that. You know how panicked we all were back then…”
“Ah, sorry.”
When I tugged nervously at his sleeve, Baratheon sighed deeply and patted my cheek.
“If you’re sorry, then stop doing things that’ll hurt you. Got it?”
“Yes. I’m really fine now. I promise.”
‘I could probably spar with you now and not lose easily.’
I kept that part to myself. Then, right on cue, Shishe cut in again and grabbed at Ska’s scruff.
“So, let’s just get rid of it.”
“If you’re that worried, I’ll leave it with the doctor. Remember the bluebird? It turned out fine, didn’t it? How about that?”
“…”
At my suggestion, Ska’s eyes sparkled while Shishe frowned, clearly displeased.
“You’re not going to forbid that too, right? Hmm?”
“…Fine. I won’t stop you from that.”
At Shishe’s reluctant approval, Ska wagged his tail happily.
I carried Ska and headed toward Lien’s room.
He was always the one who came to me for checkups, so it was the first time I’d ever gone to his quarters.
‘Though I already knew where it was.’
Lien’s room wasn’t far from mine—just one floor below, in a similar location.
It might sound distant, but since there was a staircase connecting the two floors right outside, it only took about five minutes to reach each other’s rooms.
It seemed Dane had arranged the rooms that way on purpose, to prepare for emergencies.
The hallway in front of Lien’s room was quiet.
I knocked softly, but there was no answer. Yet when I heightened my senses, I could feel someone inside.
I hesitantly pressed the door handle—and the heavy door opened easily.
‘Am I… allowed to go in?’
While I was still debating it, Ska leapt from my arms and slipped through the small opening before I could stop him.
“Ska!”
Startled, I pushed the door open wide and scooped him back up.
“Ska, you can’t just enter someone’s room without permission!”
Ska swished his tail and retorted lazily,
<And yet you’re in here without permission, human.>
“Huh?”
<We’re already inside, you cunning creature.>
At his words, I hurriedly looked up—and realized I really was inside Lien’s room.
It was small enough to take in at a glance.
Of course, compared to my own suite, which had a study, sitting room, dressing room, and bath, it was modest.
But it carried the faint scent of medicine, befitting a doctor’s quarters.
The desk was cluttered with books, herbs, mysterious potions, and medical instruments.
Lien lay there, slumped uncomfortably over the desk, eyes closed.
‘Is he asleep?’
I tiptoed closer and leaned in. His steady breathing confirmed it.
‘Asleep, definitely.’
Relieved, the pounding in my chest began to calm.
<Why are you being so cautious? It’s not like you two are strangers.>
“I’m being cautious because we are.”
With a sigh, I set Ska down on the desk.
“He let you stay by his side, so now it’s your turn to help him, Ska.”
<We didn’t sign a contract, though.>
Ska turned his head away haughtily. I smiled serenely and grabbed him by the scruff.
“Then should I scream that this cat bit me and have you thrown out?”
<…You really are a devious human.>
Grumbling, Ska reached out his soft paw and tapped Lien’s head.
<Do you know the dragons’ rules?>
“How would I know? I barely even know much about dragons themselves.”
All I knew was that dragons possessed power no one could defy.
<Dragons are immortal.>
“They can’t die?”
<That’s right. Unless under very special circumstances.>
“But my master—Lien—he died. Right in front of me.”
<Did you actually see him die?>
“Of course I…”
I began confidently—but faltered. My memories were strangely unclear, as if covered in dust.
I knew my teacher had died from illness—that much was certain.
‘But… did I actually see him die?’
Ska tilted his head, his ears twitching.
<Your memory was tampered with. For dragons, that’s an easy thing to do.>
“What?”
So he’d altered my memories?!
Now that I thought about it, the night I entered the lake searching for traces of my master—something similar had happened then too.
That must’ve been Lien manipulating my memory as well.
As I glared at the back of his head, anger bubbling up, Ska continued:
<When they end a “game,” they usually erase or rewrite the surrounding memories before leaving. It’s the simplest way.>
“‘Game’? What’s that supposed to mean?”
<When you live forever, life gets boring. Sometimes they want a change, so they blend in among humans—becoming heroes, scholars, magicians. It’s a kind of… pastime.>
“Then Lien’s life as my teacher was…”
<A pastime.>
“…Just a game.”
<Once a pastime ends, that life disappears completely. That’s the rule of dragons.>
“…So the time he spent with me was just play to him?”
And that’s why he’s acting like he doesn’t know me now?
Something hot welled up inside.
<Hmm… who can say?>
Ska drawled teasingly, and my eyes began to sting.
Everything I knew—everything I’d learned—came from my master. I’d treasured every lesson.
‘And to him, it was all just a game?’
Looking at the familiar back of Lien’s head, I suddenly felt I might really cry.
“…I’m leaving. Stay here if you want.”
I stood up abruptly and turned to go.
But before I could step out of the room, a sleepy voice called from behind me.
“Danae?”
