Chapter 68
Once the situation was under control, Kaiden didn’t hold back his scolding.
“What were you thinking, coming to a place like this so recklessly? What if you got hurt?”
He was clearly upset. Reina, her bravado deflated, mumbled, “I found out the village chief’s granddaughter wasn’t on the list. I was worried about you.”
“You came because you were worried about me?”
“Yes. I really don’t want you to get hurt.”
Her honest answer made him pause. The fact that her reckless action was for his sake sent his lips twitching upward.
Forcing a stern expression, he said gruffly, “You’re probably the only one in the North who worries about me.”
But his half-raised smile betrayed that his anger had already melted.
Michael watched the scene silently.
When the Medusa lunged at Reina, a violet aura had enveloped her, Kaiden’s power, unmistakably tied to his draconic lineage.
Even seeing it with my own eyes, it’s hard to believe.
Neutralizing a variant demonic beast’s attack was no small feat.
It explained how Crensia had protected the North.
Moreover, Kaiden handled the beast’s core barehanded without a hint of corruption, when most would’ve had their skin blackened by its dark energy.
That must be why the Emperor was so wary of him.
Kaiden only relaxed after confirming Reina was unscathed.
To remain so calm before a beast was remarkable.
Reina was no less astonishing, wielding that fearsome magical restraint as if she’d anticipated this.
I need to keep a closer eye on her.
Michael fidgeted with the ring on his pinky.
The Emperor had ordered him to monitor their every move in the North, especially the depth of their relationship.
He seemed less interested in Reina herself.
Michael had felt the same, but today changed his mind.
Reina was far from simple, and her power was equally complex.
His gaze shifted to Ritsi on her shoulder.
She might not realize it, but her divine beast was extraordinary.
What kind of divine beast manifested like a loyal guard dog?
Until Ritsi acted, he hadn’t even sensed its presence.
Its energy seemed to fade at times, likely to ease the burden on its master.
Summoning a divine beast consumed immense energy, and arrogant ones rarely obeyed without a price.
Yet Reina and Ritsi’s bond was unique.
The red bird protected her without hesitation.
Had Kaiden not shielded her, Ritsi would have.
It was proof the beast recognized her as its true master.
If the Emperor had seen this, he’d likely regret sending her to the North.
Catching Kaiden’s eye, Michael noted his protective glare, as if shielding Reina from him.
He smirked—it wasn’t just the divine beast guarding her.
His curiosity about Reina deepened. She might just do something extraordinary.
* * *
Jane, regaining consciousness, remembered nothing—a common trait in humans freed from beast possession.
Kaiden decided to protect her, given the tragic events that led to her becoming a target.
The incident was officially attributed to an isolated Medusa.
Only those present knew it was a variant.
With the Medusa dealt with, the delegation prepared to return to the capital.
The day before leaving, Michael requested a private meeting with Reina.
Suggesting a casual walk, he led her to the greenhouse.
During their awkward stroll, he glanced at Ritsi and said, “If you ever visit the capital, you’d be wise to hide your divine beast.”
“What?”
His sudden advice startled her. He continued, “I noticed early on that you haven’t revealed the full extent of Ritsi’s power.”
“!”
Reina’s hand trembled. She thought she’d fooled him completely.
How much does he know?
It could be a probe, but she couldn’t stop shaking.
Seeing her fear, Michael spoke calmly. “No need to be so guarded. I’m just warning you to be cautious, especially around His Majesty.”
“…What do you mean?”
His mention of the Emperor heightened her wariness. She had to tread carefully.
Feigning ignorance, she prompted Michael to continue.
“Let me ask you something. Doesn’t summoning Ritsi strain your body?”
“What?”
“Do you understand the significance of Ritsi protecting you from the Medusa?”
His cryptic questions left her at a loss.
When she didn’t respond, he explained, as if expecting her silence.
“Most divine beasts don’t recognize royals as masters. They don’t lend power without a price. Even the most powerful royals can’t fully control them. I, too, face restrictions when using mine.”
“It’s the same for me…”
“Is it? To me, your divine beast seems special. It acts like it truly recognizes you as its master.”
His gaze fixed on Ritsi. Though its aura seemed weak, he recalled its wingbeats against the Medusa.
It was clearly hiding its power—perhaps its current form wasn’t even its true one.
The Emperor would notice this quickly if he saw Ritsi multiple times.
Michael briefly wondered if Reina had fled to the North knowing her power, but dismissed it.
Awakening a divine beast’s full potential before one’s twentieth birthday was impossible.
“Coming to the North before your powers manifested was a smart move. If your birthday had passed, His Majesty wouldn’t have let you go.”
He meant her escape was remarkably fortunate, but Reina’s heart sank.
Though he couldn’t know the truth, she couldn’t calm down.
Her silence grew noticeable, and Michael pressed on. “What did His Majesty ask of you?”
“Just a letter of concern.”
He laughed. “The Emperor only cares about himself. He wouldn’t send me a secret letter for mere pleasantries.”
“I have no obligation to tell you.”
Her curt response made him smile smoothly. “Good attitude. If you’d revealed His Majesty’s orders, I’d have been disappointed.”
His blatant admission of testing her left her stunned.
Michael was the Emperor’s man, so why offer her this advice?
His behavior, as if he wanted to help, confused her.
“Will you report this to His Majesty?”
“Report what?”
“What you’ve seen in the North.”
Specifically, her hidden power.
•♡━━━━━━•♡•━━━━━━♡•
I created a Telegram channel to make it easier for us to communicate and post updates [https://t.me/OpheliasUpdates] 🌷
