Character Page

A Gift from God

A Gift from God

BASILEIA, Kratos’s royal capital, was a city protected by hills lush with vibrant verdure and a dense forest with a limpid stream. The beautiful city, akin to a crown of flowers, was decorated with seasonal flowers year-round—indeed, even in winter, a lovely coat of flowers beautified the city. The chocolate-colored bricks used for the buildings’ walls, coupled with plaster of a deliciously creamy hue, only accentuated the yellow and light-blue rooftops. It was a picturesque sight. Flowers adorned the amber-colored window frames, and the entire city looked like a scrumptious box of sweet treats. The people dotting the streets also wore fashionable, bright colors.

Today was a very special day. Kratos was celebrating the fifteenth birthday of Crown Prince Gerald, their pride and joy. And so, the royal capital was especially dressed up in flowers like a young lady off to a gorgeous ball. A flurry of petals blew through the city, carrying balloons high into the air. No doubt they were released to celebrate the crown prince. Blue, orange, yellow, green, and pink danced in the skies of the royal capital, forming a breathtaking rainbow.

Hmph, everywhere I look, it’s like I’m gazing into a garden of flowers, Hadis thought. The sunny rays were gentle, and it wasn’t so cold that his breath would freeze. Was it due to the difference in elevation, or perhaps because of the blessing from a God? No matter the case, this was the perfect nation for a Goddess. Hadis let out a low chuckle as he turned back to the guest room he was given.

After all, he had been invited to this event and knew he wouldn’t be thrown into prison, but he was surprised to find such a lavish room prepared for him. His bed and furniture were all the finest that Kratos could offer, and he had an unlimited water supply for his bathroom. Beyond the living room were two additional bedrooms, and the space was large enough for an entire family to live in. Was this gesture one of irony? People alienated him because they feared his curse, and he couldn’t find a woman to marry—his life was hardly one of luxury.

Just yesterday, he arrived at the Kratos royal capital from Rave. There was even a fireplace and a jug of water prepared for his personal use. Kratos had gone out of their way to ensure his stay would be comfortable. Hadis couldn’t get comfortable, but there were no signs of any traps. He was vigilant for long enough to assume he wouldn’t get attacked. He couldn’t sense Goddess Kratos either. And I’ve gone through all the trouble to become the Rave emperor, just as she wished, and visited this kingdom.

“Rave, you all right?” Hadis called. “Can you come on out?”

The emperor’s adoptive father had vanished the moment they’d crossed the border. In lieu of a response, the lithe body of a silver dragon appeared from within Hadis. The silver magic that trickled out of the dragon’s scales shimmered brightly and vibrantly.

“Oh, you look well,” Hadis remarked.

“Like hell,” Rave snapped. “I haven’t eaten or drunk a single thing.”

“That’s not an issue for you, is it? Despite your appearance, you’re still a God.”

“What do you mean by that?!”

Rave angrily used his long tail to slap Hadis’s back. The Dragon God was smaller than the average dragon, but his silver scales—a symbol that he was a deity—were tough and could dish out pain. All the while, he glanced at the fruits on the table. What a gluttonous god.

Hadis wearily opened one of the bags he’d brought to his room. He tossed a few raisins he’d brought from his empire, and Rave skillfully caught them all with his mouth as he chewed with delight.

“Oooh, that’s good!” Rave hummed. “Gimme more!”

“No, we don’t have much left,” Hadis replied. “Just eat the stuff on the table.”

“The fruits and water of Kratos taste awful.”

Hadis was at a loss for words at the Dragon God’s defiant response. Dragons hated the crops grown from Kratos’s land—in fact, they were poisonous to low-ranking dragons. That was the primary reason for dragons being unable to survive in Kratos. Yet, for Dragon God Rave, it simply tasted unpalatable to him. Could dragons be foodies or picky eaters?

“And you know, better to be safe than sorry,” Rave added. “You should be able to use the Heavenly Sword at its maximum power.” The deity lacked persuasion as he stole the fruits from atop the table.

“Wouldn’t I use the sword once I return to the Rave Empire?” Hadis asked.

“Hmm, well, it’s possible you might use it in either scenario,” Rave replied. “Why did you suddenly want to come to Kratos anyway? Wasn’t your crown prince scheduled to go? Why the change of heart?”

“Just on a whim.”

“You’re not the type to approach the Goddess on a whim. Is your older brother connected to Kratos in some way?”

“He probably is. Though I’m not sure if he’s a double agent.” Hadis sat on his bed and removed his shoes. “I’m not hearing any of your complaints. I was the one who received the invitation to attend Crown Prince Gerald’s birthday party.”

“Still, I’m not sure if you made the right call. You’ve got no guards or servants with you despite being emperor, and you came by teleporting yourself, your small boat, and all. I pity the people who were sent to welcome you. And as I thought, they began to mutter rumors and doubt your identity.”

“The prince, the host of the party, vouched for my identity. That was a relief.”

“And his cheeks were twitching the entire time.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have told him to send my regards to the Goddess.” Hadis smiled as he faced the ceiling.

Rave peered down at the emperor. “Don’t provoke them. And don’t let your guard down.”

“I won’t. If they come at me, I’ll go all out and kill them.”

“I’m not talking about just the Goddess. You’ll have to face that crown prince along with the Kratos king. It’s been three centuries, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Parrying Dagger still exists. Though, I don’t think that prince is its wielder.”

“I heard that the king won’t attend the birthday party. The crown prince has his fair share of troubles.”

“But if he asks for help, the king can arrive at the royal capital in a few days. I’ve heard that Kratos has teleporting devices at major points, all throughout the kingdom.”

Hadis was a little tired of being told to be so cautious. “The Parrying Dagger is an item created to copy the Heavenly Sword, isn’t it?” he asked. “Do you think the real deal would lose to it?”

“Look, I don’t know the details, but since the Sacred Spear’s been made, the Parrying Dagger’s a sacred treasure. You sound a little apathetic these days. You’re less careful than you should be.”

“Yeah, because everyone’s so noisy and loud. I didn’t think the imperial capital would be such a pain either.”

Hadis rolled around and turned his back to the Dragon God. Rave must’ve been troubled, but the emperor ignored him. It’d been about two years since Hadis was allowed to return from the frontier. There was no moving reunion with his family, and all he received were flimsy platitudes, fear, and hatred. Only his biological older brother had welcomed him, but recently, the siblings hadn’t clicked.

“Will anyone need you? Will anyone love you?” The Goddess’s laughter echoed in Hadis’s mind as her love was being achieved.

But the emperor didn’t want his adoptive father to catch even an inkling of his thoughts.

“It’d be a different story if you could find the Dragon Consort in Kratos,” Rave muttered.

Hadis instantly perked up and turned back to the Dragon God. “In Kratos?” he asked incredulously.

“It’s possible,” Rave replied. “Kratos is chock-full of people with high amounts of magical energy. I remained out of sight because it’d be a pain if anyone caught a glimpse of me. Imagine finding one at the birthday party, huh?”

Hadis immediately became excited. He sat straight up. “Th-Then I’ve got to be proper, right?!” he cried.

“Yeah. First impressions are important,” Rave replied.

“Then what do I do? I’ve only got a cape that can make my attire look formal. But I’m always ready to welcome a bride!”

“Yeah? I think the mountain of little girls’ clothes would creep anyone out rather than welcome them.”

There was no time to dawdle. The birthday party was tonight. Hadis checked the time, opened his bag, and mentally created a schedule to bathe and doll himself up. He pulled the full-length mirror over to a spot with better light to check his appearance.

“Isn’t the party at night?” Hadis asked. “Will there be any girls younger than fourteen in attendance?”

“Um, personally, I want you to abandon that rule of yours,” Rave replied dryly. “At least don’t publicly state it to others…”

“But it’s such an important detail! Why did the previous Dragon Emperors have wives older than fourteen?! What if the ladies were possessed by the Goddess?! They all lacked vigilance!”

“No, it’s ’cause they’ve got more common sense than you! The older you get, the worse it looks when you want a bride younger than fourteen! At least have some more self-awareness!”

“I’m only nineteen! I’m still a child!”

“Damn it! Did I raise you the wrong way?! Even if the Dragon Consorts were older than fourteen, they’d never been possessed by the Goddess before! Why don’t you listen to my words?!”

“It could happen in the future!”

The two glared at each other, barely a few inches apart, but Rave averted his gaze first.

“You’re oddly stuck on that detail… But I mean, yeah, it’s safer if they’re younger than fourteen, I guess,” Rave muttered.

“Exactly!” Hadis crowed.

“Don’t you dare sound so proud of yourself!”

“I hope I can find my bride. Will she love me?”

Hadis pulled out his best cape and tried to pair it with his outfit. When he checked himself in the mirror, it didn’t look all that bad.

“But I don’t want to try too hard, you know?” Hadis fussed. “The main character’s the prince tonight, so I have to act like an adult.”

“I’m tired of pointing out everything wrong with your words,” Rave grumbled.

“This is my bride we’re talking about. Think about it more seriously.”

“You’ll be fine. You’ve got a fine face, so use that. Utilize your appearance and pray for the best. This is serious advice.”

“You make it sound like I’m no good on the inside.”

“Why do you think you stand a chance with your personality?”

Hadis tried to slap Rave off, but the Dragon God dodged the blow. A tired Hadis would be encouraged when Rave mentioned the Dragon Consort, and the entire exchange would end with some banter. This had become a daily routine for them. The emperor didn’t truly think that he’d find his Dragon Consort, and naturally, Rave didn’t expect much either.

The previous Dragon Emperors had no trouble finding a Dragon Consort. It was a fated union, as if they were always meant to be drawn together. Perhaps it was also fate for Hadis to die without ever meeting his Dragon Consort. Unless I can somehow twist fate with my own hands… Somewhere deep within Hadis’s heart, he’d given up on the search.

🐉🐉🐉

“I’M going to spend the rest of my life making him happy!” a girl shouted.

These miraculous words had changed Hadis’s world. The girl came from none other than House Cervel. She had more than enough magical energy and could probably see Rave. She was only ten, to boot—she fit all of Hadis’s conditions. Furthermore, she chose him.

This situation seemed a bit too ideal for Hadis, but he was happier than he was wary. Maybe he wanted to trust her words, even if it was only for a second. Rave also had his doubts, but internally, he was excited too.

“Don’t let your guard down until you cross the border,” Rave warned. “You can celebrate after that.”

“I know,” Hadis replied.

The emperor was moved to tears when he was proposed to, but his wife had fainted before he could speak with her. He carried her tiny body into the guest room, put her in bed, and pulled the covers over her.

“Can I fit the golden ring on her finger?” Hadis asked. “She’s still so young.”

“Oh, that ring changes based on the wearer’s size,” Rave replied. “Don’t worry about it.”

Hadis was relieved. He smiled as he knelt on the carpet beside the bed, next to his wife’s pillow, and peered into her face. Her cheeks looked squishy, and her golden hair looked soft and silky. Her entire frame, including her head, neck, and hands, was tiny, implying she was a child. Yet, her purple eyes that asked for his hand in marriage glittered like a pair of amethysts.

“What kind of child is she?” Hadis wondered.

“Looks like she has her own reasons,” Rave replied. “She can’t be in her right mind to propose to you—you guys met for the first time today. Is this a trap, or does she just really like your face?”

“God, I’m so lucky I’ve got a handsome face!” Hadis chirped.

“You’re awfully optimistic today.”

“I mean, this feels like a dream! I’ve got a bride—a Dragon Consort.” He was tempted to reach out to her, but he stopped himself. “This feels so convenient that I’m scared,” Hadis mumbled.

“I don’t sense the Goddess from her at all,” Rave replied. “At least, for now. Couldn’t ask for better if Missy really is in her right mind and meant her proposal. Even if your marriage with her doesn’t go well, her personality and thoughts don’t really matter in the long run.”

She just needed to become bait for the Goddess.

She just needed to become a shield for the Dragon Emperor.

Hadis looked away from her sleeping face. The more guilt he felt, the more painfully aware he became of his own lack of integrity.

“I…shouldn’t call out her name,” Hadis said. “The Goddess might notice her.”

“It was a flashy proposal, I’ll give her that,” Rave replied. “And she’s from Kratos. Her identity is already out there, but I can’t figure out her connection to the Kratos royal family and the Goddess yet. Besides, the citizens of Kratos won’t allow the Goddess to go to Rave by herself.”

The royal capital and the guardian of the Goddess were causes for concern—the moment the king was absent, something was clearly afoot in Kratos. The deity didn’t even make her appearance. Perhaps there were some issues with the Goddess’s vessel and the royal family that was supposed to serve the Goddess.

“In any case, names are important,” Rave said. “Why don’t you think it over carefully and seduce Missy properly?”

“S-Seduce?! Me?!” Hadis yelped.

“Yeah. You don’t want her to leave you, do you? Why not have a happy, married life?”

Rave was right. Hadis tended to assume things would take a turn for the worse, but there was a chance that things might go well with his bride. W-Wow! Whoa! His body grew warm as he placed his hands on his cheeks and nodded solemnly.

“I-I’ll do my best!” Hadis said. “Hmm, why don’t I call her, ‘my amethyst?’ How does that sound? Her eyes were so pretty!”

“Bwahahaha!” Rave guffawed. “What a lame name!”

“I’ll grill you!”

“Yeah, yeah, I get that you’re doing your best. Why don’t you sleep for now? I reckon that Missy’ll be fast asleep until morning.”

“Huh? W-Wait, do I sleep with her? Isn’t it a bit too early for that?!”

Rave used his tail to slap Hadis.

“Sleep in separate rooms!” the Dragon God roared. “I told you not to let your guard down! Only be together when we know that she truly meant her proposal!”

“R-Right. You’re right,” Hadis stammered.

If the girl meant her words, he could sleep with her someday. Hadis nodded and swiftly stood up. He took one more look at his bride. Was she having a nightmare? She furrowed her brows, but even so, she looked adorable. Hadis was reluctant to part ways with her, but he practically skipped to a different bedroom to get some rest.

“I want to treat her really well,” Hadis said.

“Yeah,” Rave replied.

“And I want to enact my Happy Family Plan!”

Hadis clenched his fist. Rave sighed, then chuckled.

“Sure, why not?” Rave said. “As long as you can be happy.”

“What’s with you?” Hadis snarked. “You’re acting haughty all of a sudden.”

“If only I were able to defeat the Goddess…”

Hadis blinked back. “What’re you on about? You’ve always said that logic can’t defeat the Goddess. That’s why you need a Dragon Consort, right?”

“Yeah. You’re right. But…I just feel like logic…didn’t save you.”

Before Hadis could think, his chest began to thud anxiously. He stopped walking and took a few deep breaths. This wasn’t a dream. He did his best to confirm that this was reality.

“…This is not like you,” Hadis said after a long pause. “You can’t provide love. If you bend logic and drown in love, you’d lose your divinity. You’ve told me that so many times.”

“Yeah,” Rave agreed. “Sorry. Guess I’m just a little too excited because you’ve got a bride.”

When Hadis turned around, Rave smiled brightly as he always did. The dragon was far too small to be called one, and his body had some odd proportions; his eyes were large and adorable, and he didn’t show even a shred of his dignity as a god. Rave was his usual self—he hadn’t lost a thing. The mystical, silver scales weren’t as cold as they seemed and emanated warmth as they stayed by Hadis’s side.

“You can become happy,” Rave said. “I’m sure of it this time.”

It was unusual for the cautious Dragon God to speak of the future as if it were a done deal. But Hadis didn’t trust the instability of love. He had faith in logic. The emperor turned back to the bed and spotted a miracle sleeping within. This miracle could awaken by tomorrow and solidify her words into reality.

She was an offering bestowed from logic—this wasn’t love. Within the gentle gaze of the adoptive father, the child nodded back and received the gift from God. This was where it would all begin.

This was the start of a fate that had gone against logic, drowning in love.

Never Again, This Time for Sure

Never Again, This Time for Sure

IF he were to obey the orders of others, he swore that it would be for a strong person. But every now and then, she looked like a breathtaking lady.

“A match? Sure thing. Why don’t we head for the training grounds?” the ten-year-old girl replied.

She smiled at Zeke’s invitation to spar. The little girl was clearly a child, yet she always stood tall with her back ramrod straight and replied without hesitation. Hence, Zeke naturally ended up calling her his “Captain.”

“We should use training swords so we don’t get injured,” she said.

“And don’t attack using magic,” Zeke added. “I can’t use any spells.”

“Got it.”

The clack of wooden swords clashing echoed throughout the training ground that had once been reserved for Marquess Beil’s personal army. First, they did some very light sparring to gauge the other’s movements, but little by little, every blow became heavier and nimbler as they attacked as easily as they breathed. Damn it, Zeke cursed in his mind. She’s too agile!

None of her attacks were too powerful, but she utilized her momentum to precisely aim for spots that would make him lose his balance. Her movements were difficult to predict, too. Zeke wielded a greatsword, a large weapon that boasted a hefty weight—it put him at a disadvantage when he fought against the nimble Jill.

When she vanished from view again, she’d snuck into his blind spot. There was a sharp crack as Zeke’s wooden blade flew high into the air. His sword whirled in the air before it rolled onto the stone tiles with a deafening clatter. Left with no other choice, he sank to the ground with a loud thud.

“You beat me,” he said.

“You’re a good sport,” Jill replied.

“A loss is a loss, you know?”

Jill smiled victoriously and stared at Zeke on the ground. The two were practically at the same eye level. She’s clearly abnormal.

Zeke could understand if the Dragon Emperor bested him. The emperor was always smiling and baking snacks as he spoke about Jill, making a fuss every day, but he had been trained in combat. Sure, he softened around Jill, but that was all; he merely relaxed a bit around her, but even while he was whipping up cream, he showed no opening that one could take advantage of. The Dragon Emperor was a cautious man worthy of his title.

But the little girl in front of Zeke’s eyes—Jill—should be a normal ten-year-old girl with a bit more magical energy than her peers. If told to envision a person who could use magic, Zeke imagined a mage wearing a hood to hide their face while supporting soldiers from the rear, or perhaps one who had the power of a cannon. Mages suited for combat were typically referred to as a magus in Kratos. At the very least, a magus wasn’t meant to challenge people to a one-on-one duel. And yet, this little girl fought like a seasoned mercenary, a veteran who had experienced many wars. She was trained far too well in combat.

“Why are you so strong?” Zeke asked.

“If you’re referring to my physical capabilities, it’s been enhanced with magical energy,” Jill replied. “For example, if I jump without putting magic into it, I can only go up this high.”

She did a little hop and jumped only as high as a girl her age was capable of.

“But I leaped onto the roof when I grabbed you and Camila, didn’t I?” Jill continued. “That’s thanks to magic.”

“But you didn’t use magic when we just fought,” Zeke pointed out.

“Well, I can’t definitively say that I wasn’t using some magic subconsciously. But there’s nothing I can do about that. That’s how I’ve been raised and educated by my family.” She flashed a wry smile, one that held a confidence that rubbed Zeke wrong.

“All right,” he said. “Then use your magic this time.”

“Huh?” Jill cocked an eyebrow at him. “Um, but… I don’t think it’ll be much of a fight then…”

“I don’t care! You think the crown prince of Kratos will play nice and fight without using magic?!”

Zeke fixated his gaze on the gaps between the stone tiles—he couldn’t meet Jill’s eyes. But he had no idea why he averted his gaze from her. What gripped his body was fear that made the blood drain from his face, coupled with rage that tore away at his heart. Had the Dragon Emperor not arrived to help back then, Jill would’ve been abducted. Both Zeke and Camila would’ve been tossed away like trash.

Zeke was up against the crown prince, but the royal was still a boy. Zeke had later learned that Gerald was only fifteen. A loss was a loss—the knight had no qualms in admitting that, but that didn’t eliminate his humiliation. All he did was watch the young girl—the Goddess of War—fight against the Goddess’s spear in the sky. In fact, he couldn’t even catch Jill, who fell after the battle.

Don’t tell me that I did the best I could. Don’t tell me not to worry about it. Don’t try to console me. I never again want to… Want to… What? Never again?

“All right,” Jill relented.

Her words snapped Zeke out of his thoughts. He raised his head to face reality and was met with the malicious grin of his captain.

“I did want to train you to use magic sooner or later,” Jill’s grin widened. “But maybe it’s best if you get used to facing magic first.”

“S-Sure…” Zeke stammered.

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll hold back just enough so that you won’t die.”

There was a crackle as Zeke saw magical energy coursing through Jill’s hands. The only thought that ran through his mind was death, and he completely forgot about what he’d been agonizing over just moments earlier.

🐉🐉🐉

“IS tonight’s dinner grilled Zeke?” the emperor asked.

“Your Majesty!” Jill cried.

She looked up happily to face her beloved while Zeke lay face down on the ground, almost burned to a crisp by magic. He was grateful that his captain advised him not to forget this feeling of magic before she jogged away brightly. All the while, he heard another set of footsteps approach him.

“Ugh, Zeke, what are you doing?” a familiar, feminine voice asked.

“Shut up! I’m training!” Zeke snapped back.

“Training? You were broiled by magic. What kind of training is this?”

Zeke wanted to punch Camila, but he didn’t have the strength left in him. He barely managed to put some weight into his arms so that he could turn over to gaze upward. When he turned his neck to the side, he spotted the profile of a little girl excitedly chattering with the Dragon Emperor. That sight alone was wholesome; they resembled a close pair of siblings. They didn’t look like a married couple, but Zeke knew it was wise to keep those thoughts to himself.

Camila crouched down to cut off his view. “Your bad habit reared its head again, didn’t it?” she asked.

“What do you mean by that?” Zeke replied.

“You know, the part where you’re oddly fixated on making some matters black or white. You’re an idiot, so stop trying to overthink things.”

She had a point, but Zeke didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of agreeing with her. He used some momentum to sit up and spotted Jill, scooped up in Hadis’s arms. When his captain was with the Dragon Emperor, she looked like a normal girl with a decent head on her shoulders.

“Don’t laugh, okay?” Zeke said.

“I think I will,” Camila replied.

“Why aren’t we having a coherent conversation?” He paused for a few moments before he went on, “Anyway, the other day, Captain looked like a young lady who was sixteen or seventeen to me. She didn’t resemble a child at all.”

“Isn’t that because she soared through the air to fight against the Goddess’s spear?”

Zeke hadn’t stated exactly when he saw Jill look older, but Camila immediately knew when—perhaps she’d thought the same.

“Were my eyes just playing tricks on me?” Zeke wondered.

“Of course they were,” Camila replied. “What would you have done if it were real?”

“If she were older?”

What if she were an older lady who was just about to turn twenty? Zeke thought hard when he turned to the Dragon Emperor. The man always smiled like a child, but his golden eyes pulled others into an endless void.

“Nothing. Captain’s still Captain,” Zeke finally replied.

“Yeah, I think that would be for the best,” Camila agreed.

In surrender, Zeke fell back on the ground and splayed his limbs out. I shouldn’t think about stuff like “never again.” No, this time, I’ll protect her. Isn’t that good enough? He swore to the blue skies, even to the sunny welkin above the land where dragons never soared.

The Duties of a Guard

The Duties of a Guard

“YOUR Majesty,” a little girl said in a young man’s arms. “Will you be working while I learn etiquette from Miss Sphere?”

“Yeah, I have to meet with the chairman of a trading company,” the man replied.

“Then please take Zeke along with you.”

“All right.”

“And don’t forget to take your medicine.”

“Okay. Could you drop by my office when you’re done? I think the pound cake will have cooled off nicely by then.”

“It’s a promise! Let’s pinky swear.”

The two interlocked their pinkies to make an oath—they resembled siblings with that gesture. No one would immediately assume that the young man was the emperor of an empire while the young girl was his beloved wife and consort.

Yeah, it’s a wholesome sight all right, but it only looks like they’re playing house, Camila thought. She sighed as she placed her hands on her cheeks. Besides her, Zeke switched places with the little girl to escort the young emperor, and the girl leaped out of her husband’s arms to approach Camila’s side.

“Sorry for the wait, Camila,” she said. “Let’s go.”

Jill walked to the room where her private etiquette tutor awaited. The young girl was very mature for her age. She didn’t just listen to orders well; at times, she would be the one to give precise orders. Never did she wield her powers for selfish reasons, and she always took responsibility for her actions and commands. Indeed, she fit the sobriquet Zeke had given her: Captain. Jill’s appearance simply didn’t match her maturity. In fact, the conversation she had earlier may have been toned down to match the stride of the actually childish young man. Speaking of which, Zeke mentioned something weird, didn’t he?

He stated that the young girl looked like an adult when she fought against the Goddess. At first, Camila had assumed that it was some sort of illusion provided by the crackles of magic in the air, but she quickly grew uncertain. She began to have foolish thoughts about whether it was actually possible that Jill was an adult trapped in a girl’s body.

If Jill weren’t an adorable little girl, but a proper young lady, then the wholesome scene that Camila had seen earlier quickly turned into a questionable one. The sight was cute precisely because Jill was a child, but Camila soon fretted.

“Um, Jill, what do you like about His Majesty?” she asked.

“It’s quite sudden for you to ask,” Jill replied.

A normal girl would’ve looked shocked and panicked immediately, but Jill responded very maturely.

“I was just a bit curious,” Camila explained as the two walked within the corridor. “I wouldn’t have wanted you to misunderstand your feelings.”

“What do you mean by that?” Jill asked.

“Well, His Majesty is very handsome, but you know, his personality leaves much to be desired.”

“That’s rather impudent for you to say, Camila.”

But there was no other way to describe it. In contrast to his appearance, he had this innocence, cruelty, and bottomless void within him. It was difficult to find a precise word to describe the emperor.

“I know that His Majesty made an impression on you with food, but it’s unwise to decide your marriage from that alone, don’t you think?” Camila said. “You may be mature and have a fine head on your shoulders, but you’re still only ten. I’m worried because you don’t seem to quite know a maiden’s heart and all just yet.”

“Well, I don’t deny that you know more about a maiden’s heart than I do,” Jill admitted.

Not once did she point out that Camila was a man—this trait of Jill’s made Camila favor the girl.

“So, come on,” Camila urged. “Why don’t you spill your feelings to your big sister here? Are you really, really sure that you’re fine with him?”

“What can I say?” Jill replied. “I felt sorry for him.”

As Camila repeated those words, she immediately panicked. “Wait, Jill, are you marrying him out of sympathy?!” she gasped. “Then you don’t love him! Love makes you unable to tear your eyes off the person, and your heart should pound with nervousness and excitement!”

“Yeah, I get nervous all the time. In fact, I can’t look away from him because I don’t know when he’ll faint,” Jill replied.

“That’s not it at all! In fact, you’d be closer to love if you shrieked over how handsome he is!”

“But that man is stronger than me. Yet, I feel sorry for him and can’t help but rush to his side. I think that’s love.”

For a moment, Camila struggled to come up with a response. Jill meaningfully gazed up at her and flashed a mischievous smirk.

“Camila, if something happened to you, I’d feel sorry for you and try to help you,” Jill said. “If people call that sympathy, I can’t deny it. You’re someone who should be protected. But what about His Majesty? He’s not the same as you, is he?”

“Wait, what?” Camila asked. “Are you saying that you feel something different toward him?”

“Sure, his personality may leave much to be desired. But despite it all, His Majesty is strong. He’s far, far stronger than you or me.”

Camila found herself pressing her hand against her chest as she groaned. It felt like something had stabbed her deep in her heart.

“That hurts…” Camila muttered. “Huh… I wonder why.”

“You’re asking me?” Jill asked.

“Oh, I got it now! You think His Majesty is a strong man, and…” It implied that Jill assumed Camila was a weaker man than the emperor. “I’ll stop pondering over this topic,” Camila mumbled.

“Are you sure?” Jill inquired.

“Some things are better left unknown in the world. Even adults want to turn away from reality at times.”

“You’re starting to sound like His Majesty.”

“Wait, please don’t say that. You’re sticking the knife in my heart and twisting it.”

“Oh, but I know you’re way more mature than His Majesty.”

Jill chuckled. Her gestures were mature, but she was still a child—even her strides were small. Yeah, huh. I think I get it now, Camila thought. This child’s undoubtedly a grown woman. Hence, Jill couldn’t understand a man’s feelings.

“Of course I’m an adult,” Camila said. “Shall I carry you in my arms, Jill?”

“Don’t you start with that, too,” Jill replied. “I’m fine.”

“You’re right. It was silly of me to ask.”

Camila gave a strained smile, exhausted with herself. Jill didn’t show any openings except to Hadis. The emperor easily scooped the girl in his arms, a privilege granted only to him. Women were strict when it came to boundaries like these.

“That’s when I should’ve noticed it,” Camila said.

“Noticed what?” Jill asked.

“Hm? Oh, nothing.”

But even Camila would be allowed to carry Jill around during emergencies. In fact, that’s one of my duties as a guard, isn’t it?

“Ah-ha,” Camila chuckled with realization.

“What now?” Jill asked.

“I think I noticed something. Jill, you actually like to be carried around by His Majesty, don’t you?”

Shock was riddled all over Jill’s face.

But only emergencies? That’s frustrating to learn. At the very least, I hope she won’t grow into a woman who’s just my type. I’ll blame everything else on Zeke, I suppose. With that, Camila was hard at work today, too, fulfilling her duties as a guard.

The Tiny Dragon Consort

The Tiny Dragon Consort

“YOU want me to be your dance partner, Your Majesty?!” the young woman gasped.

“Yeah, could I ask you to do that for me?” Hadis asked. “I thought it’d be the perfect opportunity to publicly present you as the representative for Marquess Beil as well.”

“Um, are you all right with that, Lady Jill?”

Sphere turned to the petite girl who stood beside Hadis. Before he left Beilburg, Hadis wanted to host a ball at Castle Beil and gather powerful nobles and people in the region. The host would be Hadis, who was left to take care of Beilburg until the next marquess was found. Naturally, his partner should be his Dragon Consort, Jill. But the little girl only smiled back at Sphere.

“We wanted you for the role, Miss Sphere, and no one else,” Jill said. “Isn’t that right, Your Majesty?”

“That’s right,” Hadis agreed. “It also gives us a chance to announce that I’d be backing you, Miss Sphere.”

“Th-That may be so, but…” Sphere trailed off. “If Lady Jill were unable to attend, perhaps it would make sense, but why don’t you choose her as your partner, Your Majesty? Ack! Lady Jill, are you perhaps not good at dancing as well?!”

“Our issue is far more fundamental,” Jill replied. “His Majesty is way too tall for me, and we can’t even dance together.”

Sphere’s eyes went wide with shock as she compared the two. If she placed her hand at the top of Jill’s head, the little girl would only reach Hadis’s stomach. The height difference was so vast that it didn’t matter how high Jill’s heels were—the couple couldn’t possibly dance together with the same stride.

“But it’d be weird if I hosted a ball and didn’t dance,” Hadis explained. “That’s why I’d like to ask you to take that role.”

“But what will Lady Jill do on that day?” Sphere asked.

The smiling emperor was bright but dense when it came to love. It was likely that he didn’t understand how Jill would feel when he danced with another lady. If Sphere wasn’t clear on that bit, she’d be too scared to accept the role. Jill eagerly responded to the question with a prepared answer.

“I’ll be secretly guarding His Majesty!” she cried.

“I said no to that yesterday, didn’t I?” Hadis replied. “You’ll be waiting at home. If people see you at the ball, they’ll needlessly become suspicious about why Miss Sphere was chosen as my partner instead.”

“Maybe so, but who else will protect you, Your Majesty?!”

“You just want to eat the food there, don’t you?”

Jill jolted with shock and averted her gaze, proving the point.

“Th-That’s not true at all,” she muttered.

“The chefs at Beilburg will be in charge of the food for the ball, so if you stay quiet and behave, I might have some time to bake a chocolate cake, but hmm…” Hadis said.

“I’ll stay at home!” Jill promptly declared.

“So, could I ask you to accept my request, Miss Sphere?”

Sphere could only force a strained smile as Hadis swiftly silenced Jill. When it came to food, the couple acted their age. Lady Jill’s usually so mature… Sphere thought.

To a child like Jill, perhaps the chocolate cake was of utmost importance; above all, she wouldn’t have to watch Sphere and Hadis dancing at the ball. Sphere breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

“Very well,” she said. “I shall take on your request.”

“You’re a lifesaver,” Hadis replied. “When we return to the imperial capital, there’ll be more evening banquets, so I might ask you to dance with me again. Of course, if you find yourself a new marquess, I’ll refrain from these requests.”

“That’s fine by me. I hope to be of use to you until then.”

Sphere bowed, knowing she’d be a safer bet than the other ladies. She felt a touch lonely knowing she was simply a stand-in for the Dragon Consort, but those feelings would wane as time went on. At the very least, Sphere was genuinely happy to see Jill so blissful with Hadis. My only worry is that Lady Jill acts her age during times like these.

The young girl planned to be the emperor’s wife. She wouldn’t be able to avoid the battle between women; she seemed dense when it came to topics aside from military and physical matters. It only made Sphere worry.

But internally, she hoped Jill would stay as she was for a bit longer—a little girl who could easily be baited by chocolate cake. As Sphere raised her head from a bow and snuck a glance at Jill, she did a double take; the Dragon Consort wasn’t smiling. The little girl pinched her unkempt hair and gazed down at her small frame. But she quickly shook herself free from those thoughts and smiled as she grabbed the hem of Hadis’s cape beside her.

“Your Majesty, I’ll grow up in no time,” Jill declared.

When Hadis gazed down at the girl, all he noticed was her smile instead of her worries. He happily scooped her up in his arms and raised her to match his eye level. As they stared at each other, they resembled baby chicks huddling together.

“I’ll be waiting,” Hadis said. “But if you grow up too quickly, I won’t be able to carry you in my arms like this. That’ll make me feel lonely.”

“Y-You have to bear with that,” Jill replied.

“Lady Jill,” Sphere interjected.

Jill turned to her. Hadis was an adult, and clever Jill was bright enough to know that a child like her was unbefitting for him. And so, in a show of consideration, she smiled and acted like she was fine. She was a calm and mature girl. Surely, Camila and Zeke thought so, and Hadis may have assumed the same. But Sphere changed her mind about the girl. I’m sure it was Lady Jill who recommended me to be His Majesty’s partner. She knows that I’m no longer a threat or an interloper.

The little girl, who’d fallen in love with the Dragon Emperor, was no longer a normal, adorable child—she was the Dragon Consort. Sphere smiled, knowing that Jill could grasp the meaning behind her expression.

“Let’s work hard on our needlework and reciting poems together,” Sphere said. “Dancing is essential as well.”

Jill frowned, but she glanced at Hadis and softly voiced her agreement. She was doing her best so that he wouldn’t be taken by anyone else. The battle has just begun for the tiny Dragon Consort. One day, she wanted to proudly assert that she was the best match in the world for the Dragon Emperor.

The Secret Tale of the Sudden Appearance of a Staff Officer

The Secret Tale of the Sudden Appearance of a Staff Officer

“YOUR Majesty! Could I please take care of this little one?!” Jill cried.

Hadis’s cute wife ran up to him, and he crouched down to meet her gaze. She preciously clutched something in her hands and showed it to him.

It was a baby chick. An adorable, yellow creature chirped within Jill’s tiny hands. Today, a merchant arrived at Castle Beil. Hadis wanted to buy new dresses and accessories for Jill, but she fixated on this bird. It was a bit childish, but par for the course for her. Hadis let out a forced chuckle.

“Jill, that bird will get larger,” Camila pointed out.

“You can’t bring that back to the imperial capital,” Zeke added.

The two knights, who chased after Jill, scolded her with strained smiles. The Dragon Consort shook her head.

“I’ll raise this bird properly!” Jill insisted. “I won’t give up on it or get tired of it!”

“But still…” Camila said.

“If His Majesty says it’s okay, then it’s okay, right? Please, Your Majesty! I’ve always wanted to raise a pet like a dog or a cat or some other creature!”

Her face was filled with anxiety and hope as she closed the distance with Hadis. She was so cute that Hadis grew dizzy. How could he say no to her? And to that face? Jill was always mature and rarely made any selfish requests—in fact, this was the first time she actually begged for something. Jill’s knights were aware of that, and they wearily waited for Hadis to make the final call.

“All right, fine,” Hadis relented. “Raising an animal could be a learning experience.”

“Really?!” Jill cried with excitement in her eyes. “You can’t take it back later!”

“But you have to take good care of it. If you don’t uphold your end of the promise, you can’t keep that bird.”

“I know! Thank you so much, Your Majesty! I love you!”

It was rare to see her squeal so happily as she jumped in the air. Ugh, she’s so cute.

“Good grief,” Rave chuckled from inside Hadis’s body. “Guess you don’t stand a chance against your wife either, huh?”

Shut up, Rave. She’s just so cute, it’s fine. And she told me that she loves me!

Both Jill and the baby chick were adorable. The cuteness overload only warmed Hadis’s heart. The world’s shining today, too.

“Oi, taking care of this pet won’t be part of our knight duties, will it?” Zeke asked. “That’s just a bird. A chicken.”

“Good luck to you,” Camila replied.

“You’re planning on pushing it all on me, aren’t ya?”

“Ack! I have to find a book on how to raise it!” Jill cried. “I’ll head to the library!”

“Why don’t you think of a name first?” Hadis suggested.

Wide-eyed, Jill intently gazed down at the chick before she broke into a broad grin.

“All right, your name’s Steak!” she declared.

The entire room froze for a moment.

“J-Jill, come on, that just sounds like food,” Camila said. “That’s a bit…”

“Is it too simple? Okay then, Stew!” Jill shouted.

“Nah, you’re missing the point, Captain,” Zeke chimed in. “Why don’t we move away from food names?”

“Hmm, maybe Sauté could work…” Jill mumbled.

As she moved onto cooking methods, Hadis felt the entire room grow cold. It even looked like the yellow, chirping chick in her hands was trembling with fear.

“I hope you grow big soon!” Jill exclaimed. She was the only one who innocently smiled. “Thank you, Your Majesty! I’ll take good care of Sauté!”

“Y-Yeah? Okay… Are we going with Sauté?” Hadis asked.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to raise animals! I’d love to raise a cow and a pig one day, too!”

For what reason? But none of the adults in the room could vocalize their question, and Jill turned on her heel to leave with the chick preciously tucked in her hands. Did their ears deceive them, or did that chick just chirp for help?

Jill left, and everyone fell silent, unable to utter a word that could stop the Dragon Consort.

Zeke scratched the back of his head and broke the silence. “Uh, okay. Why don’t we come up with a story like the bird snuck out and fled or something?”

“Y-Yeah, let’s do that!” Camila agreed. “We can’t raise a chicken in the imperial castle, can we? And cows and pigs are out of the question. We aren’t a farm.”

“U-Uh…” Hadis started.

If he nodded, it meant that the emperor personally gave his approval. Camila and Zeke could undoubtedly let the chick escape skillfully.

Unfortunately, things weren’t so easy—Jill treated her pet dearly as though it were her child, and she used her combat and defensive prowess to crush every one of Camila and Zeke’s plans to separate her from Sauté. The Dragon Consort even defeated Rave, so Sauté was no longer allowed to escape.

I won’t be the one sautéing the chick, right? Hadis fretted. Unable to voice his concern, the emperor could only tremble in dread as he watched the chick mature into a fully-fledged bird.

As for the tale of Sauté becoming Jill’s staff officer—that’s for another story.

The God of War’s Daughter Searches for Ways of Love

The God of War’s Daughter Searches for Ways of Love

ONE evening, Hadis was walking home from an errand. He’d just purchased some more sugar to cook with when he noticed that his hand that gripped Jill’s was about to slide out of her grasp. He stopped and turned to his wife.

“Jill?” he asked.

“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry,” Jill replied.

She’d been staring at a display window but hastily turned back to the emperor. Hadis, on the other hand, looked at the display that had caught Jill’s attention. A plush bear sat cutely atop a cushion, adorably greeting passersby. It had round ears, black eyes, and dark brown fur that looked soft and fluffy. The toy looked very cute.

“Do you want that bear?” Hadis asked.

“N-No,” Jill insisted.

Yet, she couldn’t hide that she was anxiously glancing at the toy. Hadis peered through the display window to check the toy’s price. Jill began to panic.

“I-I don’t want it!” she cried. “I’ve got no right to have a stuffed animal!”

“No right?” Hadis asked. “That seems a bit much.”

“But it’s true! My parents bought me a stuffed animal before. But one day, bandits infiltrated our house, and I used the toy as my shield. I-I thought I could fix it back up in no time and…”

It was quite clear where this story was headed. Jill clenched her fists and cast her gaze to the ground.

“I did what I could, but it suffered from a series of compound fractures,” Jill admitted. “And that plush bear was a martyr to protect me.”

“A martyr?” Hadis parroted.

Jill solemnly nodded. “So, I decided to never have a plush again.”

Hadis didn’t quite know what to say. “Uh… My condolences on your loss?” he said gingerly.

“Thank you for your kind words,” Jill replied. She sounded like a corporal who’d lost one of her subordinates. “I no longer have the right to own a plushie,” she muttered.

Jill plodded ahead, her face filled with pain and grief.

“Hey,” Rave said from within Hadis. “You know what to do, right? You better buy her that plush later.”

Hadis fully intended to do so, but just buying the plush alone didn’t seem interesting enough. Rave, Hadis mentally replied. Help me out later, will you?

If I’m gonna give her something, why not make it a wonderful present? Hadis began to make some plans as he chased after his wife.

🐉🐉🐉

THE bed with a canopy was lavish and large enough for two fully grown adults to sleep on while stretching their limbs out, but the pillow and sheets were white, making the room seem a touch too simple and drab.

If only I had a plush or two to spruce up the place, Jill thought with a sigh. That plush bear was so cute.

The bear’s limbs and ears were small. Coupled with its round, snuggly body, the plush seemed perfect. Jill recalled that the Rave Empire had a famous brand known for producing lovely, huggable plush bears, and Jill had bought a bear of that brand many years ago. Every single plush was famously handmade by a craftsman, and no two plushes were alike—the one she spotted in that display window didn’t look like the one she used to have, but it was close. Jill shook her head.

If she pondered too long on the toy, she’d recall the wretched sight of her first stuffed bear that had thrown its life away for her sake. Her memories had blotted out exactly how mangled her bear was, but this fuzzy memory only pained her more. It was normal for a girl her age to want a stuffed animal. Perhaps she could forget that horrific scene and give herself another chance at owning one. Even so, not once did she ask for a plush when she’d been engaged to Gerald. When the crown prince had heard of her grieving tale, he stated that toys weren’t a necessity, and thus, her trauma posed little issue. He didn’t send her any stuffed toys. Gerald only bought Jill a gift when shopping for his little sister. The Dragon Consort shook those sad thoughts out of her mind.

It’s true. Toys aren’t necessities. Yeah. Even if Jill had gone back in time, there were just some things that she didn’t wish to do over.

“Jill,” Hadis called.

He had changed clothes in a different room and entered the bedroom. Jill had her back turned to the door, and when she whirled around, a soft, plush fabric blocked her view. She’d failed to react quicker since she didn’t sense any murderous intent and caught a face full of fluffiness.

“Wh-What’s going on, Your Majesty?!” Jill cried.

“It’s finally done,” Hadis said.

He outstretched the plush’s arms and sat atop the bed with a smile. In his hands was that stuffed bear that Jill had seen at the shop, but for some reason, the toy was now proudly dressed in a cape and a crown. Still, there was no mistaking this bear, and Jill couldn’t hide her shock.

“Did you make this plush, Your Majesty?” she gasped.

“Just the cape and the crown,” he replied. “It’s a matching pair with mine.”

Hadis couldn’t sew the whole bear, but he added some accessories.

“I’ve named it Hadis Bear!” he declared.

“H-His Majesty Bear?!” Jill gasped.

“You really don’t want to call my name, do you?”

“That’s not my intention, but…”

“Well, whatever. We’ll return to the imperial capital soon, won’t we? Then we won’t be able to spend as much time together, and we might not be able to sleep at the same time anymore.”

The emperor quietly offered her the bear wearing a crown and a cape. Jill acted unusually anxious.

“Y-Your Majesty, I…” Jill started.

“Think of this bear as me,” Hadis said.

His affection is a bit…too much for me. He’s a bit too clingy. As Jill was lost in her thoughts, the bear was placed on her lap. Its black eyes gazed up at her adorably. She gulped, enticed by the cuteness, but she closed her eyes and raised the bear in the air to return it to her husband.

“I-I’m grateful for your kindness, but Your Majesty, I—”

“This bear will be fine,” Hadis assured. “It won’t die.”

Jill opened her eyes, confused.

“I dyed some of the thread with Rave’s blood and weaved in a magic circle,” Hadis explained. “If you tug on the cape, the magic crystal embedded in its crown will activate. One tug will activate a barrier in front, and three tugs will allow it to launch fiery rays.”

“Rays?” Jill asked. “How strong is it?”

“It’s not enough to kill anyone, but enough to turn the ground to a crisp. Nothing to worry about there. And if even a single thread on its body is severed, it’ll enter automatic combat mode and fight any enemies within its range.”

“That’s amazing!”

“It might punch enemies to death, so be careful there.”

“How do I stop it?”

“Two tugs on its cape.”

This seemed like a plush that was difficult to handle. Jill turned the toy around and raised it in the air to inspect its entire body.

“And above all, I can fix it if needed,” Hadis said mischievously beside her.

Jill gasped and turned to her husband before growing inexplicably embarrassed. “You’re not fair, Your Majesty,” she grumbled.

“How so?” Hadis asked.

Time and again, he reminded her that her relationship with him was nothing like her first failed romantic endeavor. But Jill couldn’t possibly say that. She hugged the plush tightly.

“Will you accept this plush, then?” Hadis asked.

Jill buried her face in the soft, fluffy fabric, hiding her expression as she nodded. Hadis smiled happily and planted a kiss atop her head—she couldn’t scold him for his actions tonight.

“I didn’t know that Rave bleeds,” Jill remarked.

“Yeah, if you cut him, he’ll bleed,” Hadis replied.

“Didn’t you get scolded by him?”

“’Course he should get scolded by me, the numbskull!” Rave roared angrily. “Be thankful that I’ve quietly watched on until now, you idiotic Dragon Emperor!”

The violent and vulgar outburst of a deity soon dispelled the sweet air between the couple. Almost immediately, Rave and Hadis began to quarrel. Jill could only look on with a strained smile as she hugged the stuffed bear with all her might.

A Lovely Dinner

A Lovely Dinner

“YOUR Majesty, it must be tough for you to make field meals for us all by yourself,” Lawrence said.

It was the first day of the trip as the group headed to the location where the soldiers were scheduled to be handed over. Everyone had a metal bowl filled with pumpkin potage—their meal for the first day. The Dragon Emperor had prepared this dinner before they departed, and he made it from scratch. Everyone was excited to enjoy such a delicious meal outdoors.

“It’s not right to saddle His Majesty with so much work,” Lawrence pointed out. “We should split this task among us. Can’t any of you cook?”

“I mean, yeah, I can make food that’s edible,” Zeke said beside the boy. “But if His Majesty’s willing to cook for us, why not let him?”

“Yeah, I like the food His Majesty makes, too,” Camila added.

“Your Highness Risteard, may I hear your thoughts?” Lawrence asked.

“Indeed, just because Hadis is good at it, it’s not right to make him handle the brunt of the cooking,” Risteard admitted. “If none of us can cook, that’s a different story, but…”

Despite eating outdoors, the prince was proper enough to lay a tablecloth across his lap as he glared at his nearby subordinates. “How could you all make the emperor cook for you?!” he snapped. “Why didn’t you stop him?!”

“Well, I already knew from the cafeteria that he makes good food,” a subordinate replied.

“Your Highness, you’re eating his cooking too,” another pointed out. “Isn’t it too late for you to scold us?”

“Of course I’ll eat!” Risteard huffed. “I can’t just waste food!”

“Good food’s good. Can’t we leave it at that?” Camila asked. “Right, Jill? Isn’t His Majesty’s cooking delicious?”

“Huh? M-Mhm…” Jill replied.

She stuffed her cheeks with potage and bread. As she shoveled the food into her mouth, she was too distracted to do much more than nod. Fish was grilling over the fire, the fat dripping into the flames and emanating loud sizzles. Isn’t the fish grilled yet? Jill thought. Can I take one? There aren’t many, so I think it’s a first-come, first-served situation.

“Good-tasting food might be important, but we can simply follow the instructions of someone who’s excellent at cooking,” Lawrence said. “I can cook well enough. I’m not as good as you, of course, Your Majesty.”

“I-I see…” Hadis replied. “B-But I’m just decent myself. I-I think it’s more important to satisfy Jill’s needs!”

“You’re right. That is important. Why don’t we have the Dragon Consort be our taster and have her decide?”

“Huh?!” Jill gasped. She reached out to grab a fish, hoping to be the first in line when everyone turned toward her. She froze in place. “U-Uh, no, I just wanted a taste!” she cried. “I never even dreamed of hogging all the fish for myself… Ack!”

Hadis snatched the fish and bread from her. While Jill was sad to see her food confiscated, the emperor swiftly took out a small knife, sliced the bread and fish in half, lightly buttered the bread, and sandwiched the fish in between before returning it to Jill.

“Here, have half,” Hadis said. “This will be tastier, won’t it?”

“Right!” Jill replied. Since she finally got her hands on the fish, she was able to think about the people around her again. “So, what were we talking about again?”

Hadis smiled. “Lawrence is worried about my workload and offered to cook for us.”

“I see. Yeah, Lawrence’s cooking is pretty good— I mean, so I’ve heard! Right?”

That was close. I almost let it slip.

“I-I see… Hmm, interesting,” Hadis said in a low voice.

All too late, Jill realized that she’d touched upon a sore topic.

“U-Um, Your Majesty, you’ve got it all wrong!” Jill said. “I think your cooking is the best in the world. I love your food!”

“You told me that same line before!” Hadis shouted.

“Ugh, you’re such a pain… I mean, your cooking is the best! The best in the world! Yup!”

“Jill, you need to change up your praise a bit more,” Camila advised. “You’re not putting enough thought into it.”

“Yeah, that was pretty rough to watch,” Zeke added. “His Majesty’s easy to please, too.”

“Sh-Shut up!” Jill stammered. “Then why don’t you two handle him?”

“I want to eat Lawrence’s cooking now!” Hadis demanded. The emperor clearly began to head in a questionable direction.

“I’ll do my best,” Lawrence replied.

Since Jill’s previous timeline, Lawrence had a mean streak that allowed him to proudly face even the Dragon Emperor. Since this journey didn’t allow the utilization of dragons, they added plenty of extra time to their schedule. It was normal to add this sort of padding since the emperor and his older brother were tagging along for the journey.

“Uh, okay,” Risteard said. “We’ll split into teams and cook. Tonight’s dinner will be curry.”

But I don’t think we received extra time so that we can do stuff like this, Jill thought. Risteard must’ve thought the same, as he explained the rules with furrowed brows.

“The goal of this exercise is to…” Risteard trailed off for a few moments. “R-Right, we’ve been marching faster than usual thanks to everyone’s cooperation. Since we can reach our destination by tomorrow, we’ve got some extra time. This will be a cultural exchange of sorts. I want everyone to use this opportunity to strengthen bonds and raise morale.”

One of Risteard’s good points was his ability to think on his feet and be optimistic no matter the situation.

“Each team may cook as they see fit,” Risteard went on. “You can use the ingredients we have or go to nearby areas to search for supplies. As for teams, first, I want my squad of Dragon Knights to split into different teams.”

“Rock-paper-scissors,” a Dragon Knight muttered. “Whoever loses has to team up with Prince Risteard.”

“I can hear you!” Risteard roared. “The knights of the Dragon Consort and the Kratos guide will form a trio, right?”

“Yes, we’ll do our best,” Laurence replied with a smile.

Camila and Zeke gave an awkward sigh behind him. Jill raised her hand, and Risteard diligently took her question.

“Are we sure that I should be the judge?” Jill asked.

“Y-Yeah,” Risteard replied. “According to Lawrence, it’ll be easier to band together with a goal in mind. If we have the Dragon Consort taste test each dish and be our judge, it’ll help us. W-Will you be all right? You’ll just be eating curry.”

“Oh, that won’t be an issue! I can eat as many bowls as you wish!”

Jill clenched her fist and gave a firm nod. Then Risteard signaled the start of the battle. As people swiftly prepared the pots and ingredients for the curry, she grew increasingly excited.

“Isn’t this so exciting, Your…Majesty?” Jill asked.

Hadis slowly stood up with a gleaming knife. He was oddly quiet and had been sharpening his knives the entire time.

“Yeah,” Hadis chuckled. “I’m looking forward to it. Heh. Heh heh heh…”

“U-Um, Your Majesty, are you still bothered by our earlier exchange?” Jill asked.

“Me? Bothered? By what?”

He flashed a brilliant smile, and Jill struggled to utter any words. She knew she couldn’t back down here.

“I-I’m looking forward to your cooking! Really, I am!” Jill insisted.

“Yeah, you look forward to anyone’s cooking, don’t you?” Hadis replied dryly.

“Th-That’s not true. I’m most eager to try out yours!”

“Yeah, you really like my food, don’t you?”

Crap, he’s getting harder to handle. Hadis lifted his blade under the sunlight, his eyes dull and glazed over.

“Don’t worry,” Hadis said. “I’ll be the one to win in the end. That’s how it goes. I’m the Dragon Emperor, so I’ll always be the last one standing, no matter what happens.”

“U-Um, what kind of curry are you thinking of making, Your Majesty?” Jill asked.

Hadis’s unfocused eyes had lost their light—it wouldn’t have been odd if he laced his food with poison.

“A dish only I can make, of course,” he replied with a chuckle. “If I can grab your attention, I’ll do whatever it takes… Shut up, Rave. I’ll settle for red dragons at most, so call them all out. This’ll be a curry where we test our different dragon meat. Sashimi, seared dragon meat, or broiled. If I can use the curse with the dragon’s blood, I can simplify the cooking process.”

“Please wait!” Jill cried. “My interest is piqued, but you mustn’t! If the dragons gather here, we can no longer travel in secret!”

“Who cares! Someone’s betraying us anyway! If we can take care of everyone here, it’ll be easy for us— Ow!”

Hadis rubbed the back of his head. A certain prince had just slapped him. The emperor whirled around.

“You’re with me,” Risteard said.

“Why? I’m fine by myself,” Hadis insisted.

“Did you forget the goal of this exercise? It’s to strengthen our ties! We’ll be working in teams.”

“No. You’re in my way. And you’re too loud.”

“Stop acting like a petulant child. I won’t hear your complaints. We’ll make a dish together, and we’ll eat together.”

“I’m not eating. I’ll make my food myself. You think I can eat food that another person made?” As Hadis sneered, Risteard flicked his forehead.

“You think I’m unfamiliar with being poisoned?” Risteard snipped.

Hadis froze. Jill also stared at the prince. Risteard seemed completely nonchalant about what he’d just admitted.

“You’re so childish for going out of your way to point it out. You’re not special there,” Risteard said. “Come with me. If you get poisoned, I will too. Why not make things more convenient for the culprit?”

Risteard dragged Hadis away before he could complain. Jill knew that the prince could handle the Dragon Emperor. She didn’t want Hadis to wave a knife around with those lifeless eyes. But now, the Dragon Consort had some time to spare. She had nothing to do until food was ready. If there’s anything I can do to help…

When she glanced around, she saw Lawrence already cooking. Driven by a sense of nostalgia, she headed for him before she knew it.

“What are you planning, you raccoon?” Camila asked.

“What’s with you?” Lawrence asked back. “Have I done anything to earn your suspicion?”

“Anything you do is suspicious,” Zeke pointed out.

All the while, Zeke was preparing to heat up the pot as ordered, and Camila was skillfully peeling the potatoes. A lower-ranking officer like Lawrence almost never gave orders, but it was surprising just how obedient the others were to his instructions.

“Why do you keep challenging the emperor?” Camila asked.

“He’s the first Dragon Emperor in three centuries,” Lawrence replied. “Of course I’m curious about him.”

“And you wanted to win against him in a cooking contest?” Zeke asked. “Just because you can’t win against him in combat, this is weird.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t even dream of beating him this way. Oh, could you cut the ingredients into bigger chunks?”

“Then your ingredients will cook slower,” Camila warned.

“That’s fine. This is how Kratos makes their curry.”

Camila and Zeke froze. Lawrence laughed and revealed his plan.

“To be precise, this is how House Cervel makes their curry,” Lawrence said. “The ingredients are chopped into larger chunks, and there’s a lot of meat in it. It’s a sweeter curry. Don’t you think I’d be able to hit it off with the Dragon Consort using this as a starting point?”

The dish would be a taste of her hometown made by a person from her homeland. It’d been a few months since Jill arrived in Rave, and she was growing nostalgic for home. Lawrence knew that while Jill disliked Prince Gerald and Princess Faris, she held no resentment toward the Kratos Kingdom itself. The Dragon Consort was wary of Lawrence, but if it was only because he was the subordinate of the hated Prince Gerald, there were plenty of ways to work around that.

“Is that how you’re trying to win?” Zeke asked.

“As I said, I can’t win against the Dragon Emperor,” Lawrence replied. “But I could be just good enough not to lose. After all, my goal isn’t for her to say that my curry is the best, though I can’t say the same for the emperor.”

“Then you won the moment Jill became a judge!” Camila cried. “Ugh, I knew it! You’re so…”

“But both of you also wonder why she chose the Dragon Emperor, right?”

Once again, the knights froze, and Lawrence chuckled, knowing he’d hit the nail on the head.

“I agree, frankly,” he said. “Why don’t we work together to win her over?”

“Stop!” Camila shouted. “Don’t try to entice us in such a weird way!”

“You can just return to Kratos, and that’ll be that, but the same won’t apply to us!” Zeke shouted.

“But the emperor is already quite cross. The Dragon Consort still hasn’t improved his mood, so I assume you’ll both be troubled, all the same,” Lawrence reasoned.

“And who’s to blame for this mess?!” Camila accused. “It’s all because you provoked His Majesty and stirred the pot!”

“But you guys are enjoying yourselves as you watch from the sidelines.”

The two knights fell silent, unable to refute. Lawrence knew that he just needed one more push.

“I won’t let us lose,” he said. He placed his index finger to his lips in a form of a promise. Camila smacked the cutting board.

“What’re you telling us to do, you shitty raccoon?” she asked.

“Just to let you know, His Majesty really is an amazing cook,” Zeke said. He continued in a low voice, “But still, you know…” Zeke had steeled his resolve.

Lawrence smiled. “I visited a shop on the way here and got my hands on some quality meat. Why don’t we use that?”

“Captain does like meat…” Zeke agreed.

“But quality ingredients aren’t enough,” Camila replied. “She’ll just say that His Majesty’s curry is the best, and that’ll be that.”

“We don’t have to compete on taste,” Lawrence said. “All we need to do is attract the Dragon Consort’s attention, just a little.”

That alone would be enough for the Dragon Emperor to feel miffed.

“The emperor will be the most troubled,” Lawrence said. “I believe the Dragon Consort will eat everyone’s curry and claim the Dragon Emperor’s is best. It’s only natural for her to do so.”

“I doubt His Majesty would believe her words,” Camila said. “Jill doesn’t treat him well enough.”

“I can’t say that the angered emperor won’t slaughter us, but I doubt the kind Dragon Consort would allow it. In fact, if he did so, he’d be hated by her.”

Whether Hadis won or lost this battle, no good would come out of it for him.

“If your enemy is high above you, completely out of your grasp, you have to drag them down to challenge them,” Lawrence said.

“I can’t believe you can proudly state such scummy tactics,” Zeke remarked.

“We’re against the Dragon Emperor, a man who’s practically a God with the Dragon God’s blessing. You think my tactics are scummy? I find it more insolent to hold back when we puny humans are challenging an actual deity.”

“You don’t even consider the possibility of not challenging a God, do you?” Camila asked. “That’s just like you.”

The three hadn’t known each other long enough for Camila to judge him that way, but the raccoon strategist shrugged and didn’t deny her claims. Camila was right.

“God hasn’t really been there to spare me,” Lawrence confessed. “Also, who knows if the emperor can go all-out in this battle? He doesn’t like working with others, does he?” He glanced at the Dragon Emperor in the distance, being dragged away by his older brother.

“Uh, his older brother can look after others well, but can he cook?” Zeke wondered.

“He’s a prince, so it’s worrisome…” Camila said. “Wait, this actually might work out.”

“I told you that we won’t lose,” Lawrence replied.

Camila took a deep breath and rolled up her sleeves. “Now that we know we’ve got a chance, let’s make this curry. Come on, give me your orders.”

“I’ll gather the spices, so please continue to prep the ingredients,” Lawrence replied. “And Zeke… There are foxes and rabbits around here, aren’t there? It’d be great if we could secure some additional meat.”

“Sure, I’ll go take a look, then,” Zeke replied. “Lemme borrow your bow for a bit, Camila.”

“Don’t snap it, you bear,” Camila answered.

“How are things?” Jill popped up behind her. “Going well? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Right, well, let’s see…” Lawrence considered her offer. He thought her presence might help agitate the emperor. But then Camila grabbed his shoulder from behind. He turned to see her slowly shaking her head; behind her stood Zeke with a bow, making a large “X” with his arms. Lawrence immediately figured it out and turned back to Jill with a smile.

“I appreciate the offer, but it’s not right for the judge to help us out,” he said. “But the cooking process might be subject to judgment. Please ask away if you have any questions.”

“Ah, you’re right!” Jill replied.

Her face brightened, unaware of the Dragon Emperor emanating a dark, menacing aura in the distance. Jill was impressive in all sorts of ways.

“Nasty personality,” Camila muttered.

Lawrence quietly kicked her out of Jill’s sight.

🐉 🐉 🐉

IT was clear that Jill was especially worried about Lawrence. Hence, she wandered after him instead of Hadis. Perhaps she thought it didn’t count as cheating since the Knights of the Dragon Consort were with her, but those two were also a touch suspicious. The two knights had swiftly become Jill’s subordinates, despite hailing from different regions and circumstances. They became so close to her in the blink of an eye. Above all, the trio of Kratos looked very natural when they stood around the Dragon Consort. Hadis slowly raised his knife.

I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it, Hadis stewed. He slammed his knife onto the chunk of meat in front of him. Some meat chunks flew onto his cheek, but he didn’t care. He continued to chop the meat carefully and forcefully with loud thunks.

“H-H-Hey! Dude, calm down!” Rave shouted. “Are you watching where you’re chopping?!”

I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it!

“Ugh. You’re not listening, are you? And Missy can’t hear me right now… Damn it.”

“Hey, stop running wild by yourself,” Risteard said.

He tugged Hadis’s collar, and the emperor staggered. He whirled around and glared at Risteard; the prince was nothing but a bother.

“Don’t tug on me when I’ve got a knife!” Hadis snapped. “It’s dangerous!”

“Your current actions are even more dangerous, clearly,” Risteard pointed out. “What in the world are you trying to make?”

“None of your bus— Ow!”

Hadis was smacked again. Recently, this self-proclaimed older brother of his would hit the emperor without any hesitation. But no matter how much Hadis glared, Risteard remained completely unfazed, making him difficult to deal with. In fact, the Dragon Emperor began to feel bad about his actions. But he didn’t want to give Risteard the satisfaction and fell silent. The prince sighed.

“Now you’re sulking silently, huh?” Risteard said. “No matter. What do we need to do? If it’s just a step that requires brute force, it won’t affect the flavor, no matter who does it. Just to let you know, you can’t do everything by yourself. Remember, this is a team exercise.”

Hadis tried to offer a retort, but he recalled what he’d said earlier—poisoning.

“Okay, then mash the meat into tiny pieces,” Hadis instructed. “Make the pieces as small as possible. And dice up the mushrooms and onions over there.”

Risteard nodded and turned to his subordinates to give out the orders. Some of the soldiers tilted their heads in confusion, unsure of how to exactly mash the meat, and Hadis quietly showed them an example.

“You’re making minced meat,” Risteard said, impressed. “You weren’t just taking your anger out on the ingredients, then.”

“Of course I’m not,” Hadis replied. “You do it too, Risteard. Even though you’ve grown up in the castle, you can handle a task as simple as this, can’t you?”

“I’m actually a half-decent cook, I’ll have you know. I’m not as good as you, though.”

Risteard held a knife in his hand, showing off the carrots he’d chopped up. They were carved into beautiful star shapes, and Hadis couldn’t hide his surprise while the prince puffed out his chest and seemed awfully proud of his work.

“Don’t underestimate me,” Risteard said.

“Did you learn how to cook so that you don’t need someone to taste test your food?” Hadis asked clumsily.

Shock washed over Risteard before he flashed a faint smile. “No, Frida loves cute stuff like this. Besides, if I were poisoned, it’d happen no matter how careful I am. There’re a myriad of ways for poison to be snuck into food, and while I do need to be careful, if I become too paranoid about even eating, I won’t be able to survive. There’s just no end to my worries.”

“Y-You’re oddly knowledgeable.”

“I used to have an older brother who was an expert on toxins and the like. He had a horrible personality. I wonder what he’s up to now…”

That implied the man was still alive; Risteard wasn’t talking about his late biological older brother, and that made Hadis relieved.

“Imperial family members around my age had knowledge about toxins hammered into our heads,” Risteard explained. “I’m sure Vissel went through his fair share of training, too. Sister Elentzia was truly the astonishing one. I’m not sure if it’s because of her constitution or power from her magic, but toxins just don’t work on her. She even had people gather toxins that might affect her.”

“H-Huh…” Hadis muttered. “I guess…it’s a normal occurrence for everyone in the family.”

“Yeah. Our younger sisters also carry poison on them at all times. So they can kill themselves if enemies capture them.”

Hadis’s hands almost trembled as he listened while Risteard was neatly mincing the meat.

“Sister Elentzia has a dagger on her instead of poison, though,” the prince went on. “That’s just how it is for the imperial family.”

“But that’s…” Hadis started.

“You think that’s weird? Then why don’t you change our situation? You’re the emperor, after all.”

Assassinations couldn’t be completely eliminated, but when they occurred so frequently, it was due to political instability. Hadis pursed his lips. Risteard gently patted his back.

“Get it together,” Risteard said. “If you do, Lady Jill won’t cheat on you.”

Hadis slammed his knife onto the meat. “Jill just likes my cooking!” he cried.

“Were you listening to what I just said?”

“I wasn’t and I won’t. Why’re you acting like an older brother after all this time? It’s so annoying.”

“But of course I’ll act like one. I am your older brother, older than you by two months.”

He just won’t stop talking back, Hadis thought. Rave cackled within his body.

🐉 🐉 🐉

“TIME to dig in!” Jill shouted.

Surrounded by plates of curry, she had freshly baked flatbread in one hand as she quickly tried each dish.

“Mmm! This one’s a bit spicy!” she said. “It’s got a nice kick to it. Oooh! This one has apples in it. What if I mix the two? It might make the perfect mix. This is so yummy!”

Since every team had a dish of curry to offer, many varieties surrounded her. Jill grinned from ear to ear as she was allowed to have such an extravagant experience. Risteard’s subordinates were a bit taken aback by her hearty appetite.

“Er… Are you planning on eating it all?” one asked.

“Of course!” Jill shouted. “Oh, this is fish curry! Mmm! This is delicious too! It pairs so well with bread!”

“Th-That bread’s called naan. It was made often in his hometown, so we decided to make it here.”

“Huh… The southern region of Kratos also has bread like this, didn’t it?”

“Yeah, around the Aegle Peninsula,” Lawrence chimed in. “It’s a custom there to stretch bread into thin discs.”

Jill vigorously nodded along as she reached for another curry. “Oh, this one’s interesting!” she exclaimed. “Is this meat? There’re so many little pieces of meat inside! I’ve never had it before!”

Risteard cleared his throat and stepped forward. “It’s called Keema curry, apparently. How does it taste?”

“Wow, the Rave Empire has so many unusual curries! But I might’ve liked it better if it were a touch sweeter, and I love huge chunks in my curry! I prefer a ton of meat!”

“I-I see… I-I thought it was delicious, but perhaps this flavor profile is a bit too mature for your tastes.” Risteard worriedly glanced behind him as another figure appeared beside him.

“Then why don’t you try this one?” Lawrence offered. He pushed a plate in front of Jill, and she smiled.

“I had my eye on this one, for obvious reasons,” she said. “This amount of meat is perfect! I’d love to try it!” She took a spoon and placed a large chunk of meat onto her bread before she took a big bite. Jill blissfully placed her hand on her cheek. “Mmm! This one’s so good! This meat! This amount!” she cried. “It reminds me of the curry back home! Ah, this takes me back!”

Risteard froze and Lawrence looked satisfied.

“I’m glad it’s to your liking,” Lawrence said.

“I guess we’ve all got a taste of home,” Jill said. “There’s so much meat in it, and it’s delicious!”

“J-Jill, I know we served this curry, but uh… Calm down, okay?” Camila said.

Even Zeke felt the need to sound more reserved. “Y-Yeah, it sounds like you just like meat instead of the curry. Right?”

“That’s not true!” Jill insisted. “It tastes really good, too! It’s got honey inside, and it’s packed with nutrients!”

“Jill, are you doing this on purpose, or are you just this oblivious?!” Camila shrieked. “Don’t you feel the chill in the air?!”

“H-Hadis, this is just unfortunate,” Risteard stammered. “We can’t beat the taste of home. Wait, let go of that knife! Look at me! Say something!”

“I didn’t think it’d go this well…” Lawrence muttered. “Is the emperor’s cooking not as loved as I thought?”

“You, shut up!” Zeke roared. “If you’re gonna kill someone, make it this guy, Your Majesty!”

“Whew, thanks for the food!” Jill shouted. “But the one in first place is this one, His Majesty’s curry!”

The rowdy crowd instantly fell silent as Hadis, still in his apron and gripping his knife, awkwardly turned to his wife. “M-My curry?” he asked.

“Why’re you playing dumb?” Jill asked. “I’m talking about this curry, Your Majesty.” She used her hands to raise a plate of curry in the air—it looked the most basic. The bowl had a normal amount of meat and vegetables, and was the classic style of curry. “You made this yourself, aside from the one you made with Prince Risteard, didn’t you? You can’t do that. What about teamwork?”

“I-I just had some leftover ingredients…” Hadis muttered. “But how did you…”

“I know the taste of your cooking. I’ve eaten a ton of it. And it’s a taste that I love!” She huffed proudly and puffed out her chest amidst the silence.

“W-Well, well, isn’t that nice, Hadis? Huh, Brother?” Risteard exclaimed. His voice was unnaturally loud.

Camila crouched to the ground. “Th-Thank goodness… Thank you, Jill!”

“I suppose this is only possible because of her hearty appetite,” Lawrence remarked. “It’s got nothing to do with her feelings for the emperor.”

“Zip it with your unnecessary analysis, you dolt!” Zeke growled. “You’ll complicate matters again!”

“Your Majesty?” Jill asked. “What’s wrong?”

Hadis inched back, his face redder than a tomato. “I-I won’t be fooled by your words!” he shouted.

“Could I have seconds?” Jill asked.

“Fine, just one more bowl!”

“Extra meat, please.”

“No!”

Hadis inexplicably cried from frustration as he quickly ladled another bowl. Risteard laughed and encouraged everyone else to eat. An exhausted Zeke placed extra meat in his curry, encouraging Camila and Lawrence to have some, but they declined with a frown.

Hadis finally felt like eating and sat down. When he sat beside the others to grab a bowl, he spotted star-shaped carrots on a plate.

“They’re so cute,” Jill remarked. “Did you make these, Your Highness?”

“Hadis,” Risteard grumbled. “Why does only my bowl have flowers and stars on it?”

Hadis thought for a few moments before he answered, “That’s a secret.”

Risteard was about to grumble, but he let it go. It was a nice night. Even if someone were to betray them tomorrow, tonight was genuine. I hope Hadis feels the same, Risteard thought.

He made his wish as he gazed up at the sky, devoid of shooting stars.

A Harmony of Pork and Pineapple

A Harmony of Pork and Pineapple

“TIME todig in!” Jill shouted.

The chestnut cream looked imposing, but its color was elegant. Jill stabbed her fork into her dessert. She scooped up a forkful of the flaky pie crust underneath the cream and took a bite. At once, her world sparkled. The mild, pleasant sweetness of the chestnuts combined with the soft cream made her flail her legs with delight.

“Is it good?” Hadis asked. “Thank goodness you like it. This dessert is called Mont Blanc.”

“Mmph Blanc?” Jill asked, memorizing the name.

“Now, now,” he chided, narrowing his eyes. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Jill nodded back. As the Dragon Emperor poured her a cup of tea, the Knights of the Dragon Consort flashed an awkward smile—the emperor’s actions often felt at odds with his title.

“Captain really loves to eat,” Zeke remarked. “It’s only during times like this that she acts her age.”

“It really is reassuring to see that she’s still a child,” Camila agreed.

Jill’s fork froze when she heard those words. Act my age? she thought. Jill Cervel was currently eleven. Internally, she was sixteen—now seventeen, technically. She was a young maiden, but it was shocking to hear that she acted like she was eleven. Is this body making me act more childish?!

“Jill, there’s cream on your face,” Hadis said. He neatly wiped the cream off a stunned Jill.

🐉 🐉 🐉

HADIS arrived at the drawing room to invite his beloved for tea when he spotted an unusual scene.

“Jill, why are you doing embroidery?” he asked.

“I’ve got discipline as an adult, Your Majesty,” Jill replied.

She stood up straight. Hadis blinked back.

“What’s up with Missy?” Rave asked from within Hadis. “Didn’t she hate stuff like embroidery?”

Maybe she isn’t doing embroidery, Hadis thought in reply. Maybe she’s weaving some sort of magic circle.

“Don’t you dare say that to her. Look at it. That’s a flower, isn’t it?”

Is it? I thought it was a cow.

“Cows aren’t used for embroidery patterns… Wait, Missy just might do that, though.”

It’d do Hadis no good if he just whispered to the deity.

“Um, w-well, I prepared snacks for today,” Hadis offered. “Would you like some?”

Food was the best way to coax Jill. But as she stopped in the middle of her embroidery, she glared at Hadis.

“Could you stop doing that, Your Majesty?” Jill asked. “I’m not a child who always needs snacks at the ready!” Hadis was left flabbergasted as she swiftly went on, “I think your snacks and cooking are at fault!”

“Uh, what? I’m sorry,” Hadis apologized. “But what are you talking about?”

“Your food is so yummy that I become childish!”

Hadis was confused by Jill’s logic, but she was dead serious.

“I’ll abstain from eating your snacks and revert to my previous self!” Jill declared.

“Y-Your previous self?” Hadis asked. “What were you like back then? Did you not eat snacks?”

“Of course I did. I ate three square meals a day and had snacks.”

“Then what’s the difference from how you are now?”

Jill fell silent for a while before she gasped and grabbed the notebook beside her. She thrust it out to him. “B-But I even wrote a poem like a proper adult! Miss Sphere gave me homework, and I-I forgot about it until now, but…”

“W-Wow,” Hadis remarked. “You’ve been avoiding doing stuff like that until now…”

“I won’t do anything childish like that anymore! I even received some proper pointers! I need to write about stuff that resonated within my heart, and I prioritized harmony!”

“Could I see?” Hadis took the notebook from Jill and cracked it open.

“Go right ahead,” Jill said confidently. “I’m quite proud of it.”

A Harmony of Pork and Pineapple…

It was a poem about last night’s dinner. Hadis immediately placed a hand over his mouth and tried to stop his shoulders from shaking. Meanwhile, Rave slipped out of Hadis’s body and rolled around with laughter.

“Bwahahahahaha!” Rave guffawed.

“Wh-Why’re you laughing?” Jill asked.

“R-Rave, don’t be rude,” Hadis said, trying hard not to laugh. “I-It’s a nice poem. Yeah. I-I can really sense how delicious this meal was to you.”

“You’ve got tears in your eyes, Your Majesty!” Jill cried. “Enough!”

She yanked her notebook out of Hadis’s hands and turned away angrily.

Aw, crap… But she looks so cute even when she’s angry.

“It’s hard being an adult…” she muttered.

Hadis ignored Rave, who was still rolling on the floor laughing, and smiled at his wife. “Adults are just older children, really,” he said.

Jill looked at him, her eyes filled with suspicion; clearly, she didn’t agree.

“But even when you do become an adult, I hope you’ll still say that my cooking is delicious,” Hadis said.

“Isn’t that childish?” Jill asked.

“Why do you think that? I think a woman who can make the dinner table a cheery place is a lovely person.”

Jill blinked a few times and again turned pensive for a few long moments. Hadis scooped her up in his arms.

“Can’t you remain a child until that time comes?” Hadis asked. “If you suddenly turn into a mature lady, my heart will stop.”

Jill stared at Hadis’s face before she pouted, her cheeks red. “If you say so, Your Majesty,” she relented.

“Then why don’t we have some snacks?” Hadis offered. “I baked some cream puffs.”

“Can I have three?!”

“No, only two.”

Jill puffed out her cheeks and hugged Hadis’s neck. “You stingy emperor.”

“But these cream puffs are big.”

“Okay then. I’ll remain a child for your sake.”

“That sounds nice. It makes you seem so mature.”

“What do you mean by that?”

She stared at Hadis suspiciously, but she would likely be dense when it came to the art of coaxing, no matter her age.

“I’ll tell you when you become an adult,” he whispered in her ear.

He didn’t kiss her on the lips, but on her cheek, which was red like a ripe apple. The emperor ignored the Dragon God, still laughing about TheHarmony of Pork and Pineapple, and carried his beloved bride to the table where he’d prepared her some snacks and tea.

The Brother of Light

The Brother of Light

IT was most logical for one to feel sleepy under the sunny rays on a clear day. His vessel, Hadis, would always gripe about how he was so envious that a good-for-nothing God didn’t have to work while he himself worked and his bride trained hard in the backyard with her two knights.

The gentle spring breeze blew through the terrace into the palace, where the Dragon Emperor and Dragon Consort shared a room. There was a sunny spot on the sofa, making it the perfect place to take a nap. The weather was so nice that even the Dragon God was allowed to laze around and catch a few winks.

“Peace is so nice…” Rave murmured.

“Where the hell did Hadis run off to?!” a furious roar echoed, shaking the building.

Rave sat up, his peace disturbed in an instant. The man, often referred to by Hadis as “Brother,” barged into the room angrily. He was a member of the Rave imperial family. Technically, he may have had no biological ties, but as long as Rave gave his permission, the man was allowed to call himself an imperial family member. He was one of the first to realize his position and diligently tended to his duties—Risteard Teos Rave.

“Where are you, Hadis?” Risteard shouted. “Don’t tell me you’re hiding somewhere!”

Paying no heed to etiquette, Risteard marched into the emperor’s bedroom and even peeled off the sheets, searching for Hadis. Risteard had manners and knew when to act genteel—his deliberate show of audacity was meant to imply that he was allowed to do so because he was Hadis’s brother. Risteard wasn’t the only one to take this attitude.

If Risteard’s the brother of light, Hadis’s other older brother is the brother of darkness, Rave thought. Even the Dragon God wasn’t sure which was better for Hadis. He didn’t dislike Risteard.

Risteard was the embodiment of expectations that one had in an imperial family member, but he shone too brightly, much to Hadis’s disdain. The Dragon Emperor had a dark past and a twisted personality, after all. Still, a proper nobleman like Risteard was essential in Hadis’s life.

“He’s not here…” Risteard grumbled. “Where in the blazes did he go?”

“That idiot fled again, did he?” Rave replied. “I’m sorry.”

“Just because no one listens to him, it makes no sense for him to foist all his responsibilities onto me!”

“It’s a win that he listens to any of your requests and has started showing up at meetings.”

Rave kept replying to Risteard, despite knowing the prince couldn’t hear him. The Dragon God floated in circles around him, but it was clear that Risteard couldn’t see him. Just as Risteard turned on his heel to leave, he paused.

“Whatcha looking at?” Rave asked. “Oh, are you looking at Hadis Bear?”

Risteard grabbed the stuffed bear that decorated the side of the bed. He stared intently at the toy with furrowed brows.

“What exactly did he do to make this a weapon of mass destruction?” he muttered.

“He dyed the threads with the Dragon God’s blood, and even wove in a magic circle,” Rave explained.

“Besides, it’s insane to gift this to that little girl.”

“Hmm, I wonder. Missy’s quirky in her own way. She sometimes grapples with Hadis Bear to improve her combat abilities.” Knowing that Risteard couldn’t sense him, Rave rested on top of the prince’s shoulders.

“Good grief, that idiot…” Risteard mumbled. “I feel like there’s a heavy weight on my shoulders. Is this what it feels like to have a knot in my shoulders from all the stress he causes me?”

“Nah, that’s probably my bad, but sure, why not make it Hadis’s fault?”

“And he hand-stitched this, didn’t he?” Risteard pinched Hadis Bear’s cape and stared intently at it.

“Chirp.”

A bird appeared out of nowhere by Risteard’s feet and gave a cry of warning. This chick was a present from the Dragon Emperor to his Dragon Consort. Its name was Sauté—a bird that had rejected its fate in becoming dinner and was growing to become a majestic game fowl. It seemed Sauté saw Hadis Bear as its subordinate, often keeping the toy within its line of sight.

“Sorry, but you misunderstood my intentions,” Risteard said. “I have no plans on stealing it. My younger sister, Frida, loves stuffed animals, that’s all.” Risteard looked a touch awkward as he made excuses to the bird with the plush in his hands. “I thought maybe I could ask Hadis to make another one…but I’ll refrain,” he said. “I don’t know what he’d make.”

A wise decision.

“I just…want some kind of trigger. An opportunity. That’s all.”

Rave blinked a few times when he heard the prince’s words. “Are you planning on acting as a mediator between Hadis and your younger sister?”

“But her first meeting with him was…an unfortunate one.”

“Right…”

Frida first met Hadis, her older half-brother, when her father begged for his life to be spared as the Dragon Emperor glared down at him. Hadis had even snapped toward the end of the encounter. Even if he was operating on the side of logic, the sight of her father being openly mocked and ridiculed by her half-brother must’ve been traumatizing and terrifying for little Frida. Rave and Risteard turned up to face the ceiling.

“Kind of an impossible task, isn’t it?” Rave asked. “There’re no guarantees that Hadis won’t do something similar in the future.”

“No, it’s not impossible,” Risteard said. “Hadis might act spoiled, but I’m sure he can be a good older brother.”

Rave was surprised to hear a direct response and turned to the prince, but Risteard, of course, wasn’t looking at the Dragon God. His gaze was glued on Hadis Bear.

“Just like how I was once a spoiled younger brother, but am now an older brother to him,” Risteard said.

Rave was the God of Logic. He couldn’t possibly understand illogical feelings of hope and optimism. But even so…

“Yeah, I hope so,” Rave said.

“Rave, you there?” Hadis called. “Brother Risteard isn’t here ye—”

The Dragon Emperor peeked inside the room through the open door and froze. Risteard whirled toward him and flashed a triumphant smile.

“I found you, Hadis!” he shouted.

“Ugh, you’re so persistent, Brother!” Hadis cried. “If you’ve got this much time on your hands, why don’t you go to work?”

“You don’t get to say that line to me! Wait, Hadi— huh?”

As Hadis inched back, Risteard hastily tried to return the bear so he could give chase. The toy slipped from his hands and bumped into a vase before it banged its head on the corner of a shelf and rolled onto the floor. Silence filled the room. Suddenly, the stuffed bear twitched and moved its adorable arm. Hadis gazed at the toy quietly while Risteard inched back on trembling legs.

“D-Does this thing move?!” Risteard cried. “Is it because it just got hit?!”

“Yeah, it moves,” Hadis replied. “As a test, I raised its sense of perception of what it deems as an attack.”

“Why in the world would you do that?! Lower it! Lower it!”

“Brother Risteard, just stand still. If you don’t move, you won’t get attacked by it.”

Hadis Bear was a murder weapon, set to pummel anything that moved in its field of view until its targets were dead. Hadis’s warning rang true. However…

“All right, good luck!” the Dragon Emperor said.

“You still choose to flee in this situation?!” Risteard roared.

“If you’re my older brother, you can survive this no problem!”

It was tough being the Dragon Emperor’s older brother. Sauté had already disappeared, and Hadis Bear stood up with a terrifying glimmer in its eyes. Risteard went pale as Rave offered his unheard blessing.

“Good luck. You’re that idiot’s older brother, aren’t you?” the Dragon God asked.

Surely, Risteard could serve logic well. The Dragon God gave his own vehement prayer.

The Baker of Radia

The Baker of Radia

ONCE every three days, Yuuna went to buy some simple bread from a grandma’s bakery on her way home from shopping for groceries. It was Yuuna’s routine, and she partly visited to make sure that the grandma was alive and well. It was all part of living in a community and watching out for neighbors. I hope it isn’t closed, Yuuna thought.

The grandma’s bakery opened and closed early. Yuuna had an extra errand to run today and was a bit behind schedule; she used the alleys as a shortcut. Recently, more people were crowding the main street, and it was faster to go around through the alleyways. She turned a narrow corner and spotted the bakery still open. Yuuna’s steps grew swifter, her hair tied up with a ribbon fluttering behind her. When she reached the counter, she called out to the elderly woman.

“Grandma, are you there? It’s me, Yuuna!”

This old bakery didn’t have anything flashy like a display window—only a simple counter where one could purchase their bread. The baker would then grab the baked goods that lined the glass cases. Yuuna crouched down to check what the bakery still had in stock and was a touch surprised. She expected the bakery to be almost sold out because of how late it was, but unusual varieties she didn’t normally sell remained. There was a delicious-looking egg sandwich and a crispy, moist croissant decorated with fresh fruits and cream. The bread looked decorative and eye-catching.

Huh? What is this? Strawberry jam bread? Did this bakery always sell items like this?

“Welcome,” a man called out.

At once, Yuuna stood tall. From beyond the counter emerged an unfamiliar young man. His glossy, black hair was tied back with a headkerchief, and he wore a clean apron. His golden eyes looked a touch scary, but he smiled as though to put the young lady at ease. He seemed kind, but he was so beautiful that it took Yuuna’s breath away.

“What can I get you?” he asked in a comforting voice.

“Huh? What?” Yuuna squeaked, her voice rising an octave.

She hastily snapped her mouth shut. The man behind the counter blinked several times before he smiled.

“Did I startle you? I’m sorry,” he apologized gently.

Yuuna hastily shook her head, her cheeks warming from embarrassment.

“I started working here today,” the man explained. “I’m a live-in employee.”

“I-I see,” Yuuna stammered. “U-Um, I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be. I’ve been startling everyone since this morning.”

Anyone would be surprised if a handsome, young man suddenly replaced the usually wholesome old lady. He was stunning in every sense of the word, and many would’ve questioned if they got their usual store wrong. The undeterred young man grabbed a pair of tongs.

“What would you like?” he asked.

Right, this is a bakery…

“Um, I’d like three simple bread loaves, the ones made from flour,” Yuuna said, her voice growing smaller. “The…cheapest one, please.” She grew embarrassed about her words, but the young man crouched to get the bread with a smile.

“This bread’s delicious, isn’t it? I know it’s Grandma’s specialty. I love it, too,” he said.

“Huh?” Yuuna gasped.

This man looked like a prince who stepped out of a fairy tale—it was difficult to imagine him eating such simple bread. As Yuuna gazed at him, he didn’t seem to mind as he neatly placed the bread into a paper bag.

“I guess this taste comes with experience,” he said. “I can’t make bread like her just yet.”

“A-Are you an apprentice baker?” Yuuna asked gingerly.

“Yep, I sure am.”

The man, who was more suited to be a prince, nodded jovially as he handed Yuuna her bread. She hastily took out the coins to pay for her food.

“Oh, and before I forget,” the man said. “Grandma’s doing just fine. She’s brimming with energy.”

“Huh?” Yuuna asked.

“Everyone’s been asking about her since this morning.”

He flashed an awkward smile. It was true that while most of the bakery’s customers came for the bread, they also wanted to check up on the grandma’s health.

“If you’d like to meet her, she’ll be at the counter tomorrow,” the man said.

“A-Are you off tomorrow?” Yuuna asked. She was still nervous, but the man was so friendly and easy to talk to that she spoke back.

“No, but tomorrow, I’ll head to the city to peddle these baked goods,” he replied. “So, I’m asking her to watch the shop for the day.”

“But she can’t make a lot anymore, can she?” Yuuna asked. “Are you going to make all the goods to peddle by yourself, along with the usual inventory for the shop?”

“Yep. Grandma will help me out, though. But she’s got some hip pain, doesn’t she? I don’t want her to push herself, so I’m having her rest. You see, I actually baked all the bread here aside from the usual varieties she made. I’m so glad that they sold.”

He seemed genuinely relieved. Yuuna smiled.

“This bakery is much smaller now, but it used to be really popular way back in the day and had long lines,” she said. “I’ve been raised on this bread since I was a child, so it’s been about a decade now. Everyone’s got a refined palate here thanks to her baked goods, so it might be tough to be her apprentice. Big shoes to fill.”

“Totally understandable,” the man replied. “Her bread is so good.”

“Good luck. If you need any help, let me know. I’ve helped out at this bakery a couple of times before.”

The man smiled. “Thank you. This is a good city.”

His phrasing made it clear that he wasn’t from here. This must’ve been his first time in Radia. Yuuna wasn’t close enough with him to ask why he came to the city, and she thought for a few moments about what to say.

“It is, isn’t it?” Yuuna finally said. “And starting today, this will be your city too.”

The man stared back blankly for a moment before he muttered, “Huh… My city…”

“May I ask your name?”

“Hadis.”

That name sounds familiar, but it seems like a pretty common name. Yuuna nodded and realized that she hadn’t introduced herself yet.

“Oh, and I’m—” Yuuna started.

“Yuuna,” Hadis replied. She was stunned to hear his response as he smiled. “That’s what you said when you entered this bakery.”

“D-Did I?”

“I added a little freebie in there, so if you don’t mind, have a bite and tell me your thoughts.” Hadis waved her farewell. “I’ll see you around.”

She hastily returned the way she came, her bread clutched to her chest as she swiftly headed home. Only when she reached home did she dare breathe a sigh of relief.

“That startled me,” she muttered.

Yuuna didn’t even notice that she’d clutched the paper bag of bread so tightly when she placed it on the table. When she looked inside, she found some bread she hadn’t ordered. It must’ve been the freebie that Hadis had mentioned. Yuuna fell silent, feeling awkward about explaining the free bread when her family returned home. With gusto, she took out the free bread and took a bite.

“It’s…delicious,” she murmured with awe and shock.

Sweet and tart strawberry jam filled the inside of the soft bread. I’m sure he’ll become famous in all sorts of ways in the future.

🐉🐉🐉

AS Yuuna had predicted, Hadis had gone to the city to peddle his goods the next day, and that alone made him famous throughout Radia. An incredibly handsome man was selling absurdly delicious bread, after all. Women rushed after him to become his customer, and in a flash, Grandma’s little bakery became crowded with long lines for days. Soon after, Yuuna was asked to help out as a seller.

“You see, dear, Hadis was called out to the castle,” the grandma said.

The bakery had sold out by noon, and Yuuna was helping the grandma close up for the day.

“The castle? You mean, for the military?” Yuuna asked.

“That’s right,” the grandma replied. “They asked him to bring bread for them.”

That was a huge honor, but Yuuna was worried. Radia was on edge these days; the recent event of Grand Duke George revolting in the debacle of the Riot of the False Emperor remained fresh in the citizens’ minds. An eleven-year-old girl was set to become the next ruler of Radia, but many obstacles were still in her way. Furthermore, there was an increased number of soldiers. The imperial army had arrived due to concerns that the Kratos army was targeting the Sacred Treasure of the Dragon Consort.

“Will you be okay?” Yuuna asked. “Um, won’t you run out of bread?”

“Hadis hired two new bakers for me, bless his heart,” the grandma replied. “He even left behind his recipe. That child is so smart and kind, isn’t he? Then, he suggested I hire someone to sell my goods, too, and he recommended you, Yuuna.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah, if you don’t mind,” Hadis chimed in as he popped out from the back of the shop. It was hard to get used to his beautiful face, and every time, it took Yuuna’s breath away. “We’ll pay you well, too. I fear the army might take all my time, and the new bakers joined just today. They aren’t used to this place yet. But Grandma could be more at ease with you around, Yuuna. You’re helping her out as we speak.”

“U-Uh, this is more like a habit of mine,” Yuuna confessed.

“Yeah. That’s why I can trust you with this job.”

She grew sheepish but knew that this was a very important request. The bakery was growing more popular by the day, and she couldn’t stand back and watch from the sidelines for much longer.

“I-If you’re all right with me,” she relented.

Hadis smiled. “I’m so glad! Thank you! Now, I can head to the castle with no worries.”

“Um, be careful.”

Hadis gazed back at Yuuna, perplexed. “I’m headed for the castle. Isn’t it, like, the safest and most well-guarded place in the city?”

“Yeah… You’re right, but it’s best not to be involved with war if you can help it.”

Her father often spoke of war and politics as he enjoyed a pint with some soldiers at the tavern, but Yuuna and her mother were more concerned with their daily lives. There was a time when the prices of their daily necessities had skyrocketed, and sometimes, they were out of stock. Yuuna still couldn’t forget the shock she felt when bread had been sold out, only to reappear on the shelves again three days later at double the price.

We don’t know when stuff like that will occur again, so I don’t like to talk about another war…

However, this time, Duke Lehrsatz from the south offered his assistance. The prices of necessities were lowered thanks to his aid, and food shortages were less of a concern. General South arrived, and now, there was a shortage of personnel. They were trying to keep up with the increased demand and offer supplies.

Thanks to that, Radia was prospering. More people and more soldiers traversed the streets, resulting in a safer neighborhood. Yuuna also felt like the dispatched General South was a good person. Still, since she knew this was in preparation for war, she couldn’t be genuinely happy about it.

Their daily lives could change at the drop of a hat, and they were always standing alongside danger. Hence, Yuuna was hesitant to stay by the grandma’s side at the bakery—this was a new routine, and creating a new daily routine was scary. Of course, if Yuuna was told she was simply too timid, she couldn’t refute it.

“Yeah,” Hadis nodded solemnly. “You’re absolutely right.”

Many bloodthirsty people actually welcomed war in these emergencies, hoping that it could change politics for the better. Yuuna was relieved to learn that Hadis wasn’t one of those people.

“I might just be worrying too much, though,” Yuuna said.

“No, I appreciate your concern,” Hadis replied. “I’ll be careful.”

“She’s right, Hadis, dear,” the grandma said. “If anything happens to you, your wife will be reduced to tears. Be careful.”

Yuuna was shocked to hear that as Hadis nodded firmly in response.

“Y-You’re married?” Yuuna asked as she turned to him.

Hadis grinned brightly. “Y-Yeah. Um, it’s not official yet, though! People around me are against our marriage…”

“Huh? Then is Radia…your rendezvous point with your partner?”

“S-Something like that, yeah.”

They’re eloping! Yuuna was stunned to hear it, but her heart pounded excitedly.

“So, publicly, we’re only engaged,” Hadis explained. “B-But I feel like a married man already! D-Do you think that’s weird?” Hadis blinked rapidly, his cheeks turning red as he fidgeted awkwardly.

Yuuna hastily shook her head. “No, I think that’s rather lovely.”

Eloping sounded like something out of a storybook. Yuuna couldn’t relate, but it was so adorable to see a restless Hadis. At the same time, she was intrigued by his situation.

A man as gorgeous as Hadis made an expression like a maiden in love. I wonder who his partner is? Is she indescribably pretty? Or is she utterly adorable?

“Ah! Is your wife planning to move to Radia after you?” Yuuna asked.

“Huh? Y-Yeah, I think she’s chasing after me,” Hadis replied.

How wonderful! Yuuna knew the couple must’ve had their fair share of struggles, but she couldn’t help but romanticize their circumstances. And oddly enough, Yuuna no longer felt like Hadis was different from them. He looks like a normal guy to me now. She exhaled and balled her hand into a fist.

“Then you have to make your name as a baker!” she declared. “Your visit to the castle is training of sorts.”

Hadis stared back blankly, causing Yuuna to assume that she’d jumped to conclusions.

“O-Oh, I’m sorry,” she apologized hastily. “Was I wrong? Is being a baker just a temporary job before you find something else?”

“No, you’re not wrong,” Hadis replied. “Yeah, a married couple running a bakery… That sounds wonderful.”

“I’m sure it’ll happen for you guys.”

Hadis gazed into the distance, waiting for his wife. He must be worried about whether he can elope with his wife and have a happy future. Yuuna mustered all the courage that she could.

“Since the bakery’s doing so well, let’s save up some funds for your wedding!” she declared.

“A-A wedding?!” Hadis gasped. “I-Isn’t it too early for that?”

“There’s no rush, but after things calm down for you and your wife, you should definitely at least have a simple wedding. I think she’ll be happy.”

Hadis nodded fervently. His serious demeanor made him oddly adorable.

“Let’s do our best,” Yuuna encouraged. “I’ll work hard to sell your bread, Hadis!”

“Yeah! Thank you!” Hadis replied.

“And introduce me to your wife one day.”

“I’ll bring her around, of course. You might be a bit surprised, though.”

He gave a meaningful chuckle. The fact that he kept some secrets must’ve implied that his wife was no normal lady. And Yuuna’s predictions rang true just a few days later.

“Grandma, are you all right?!” Yuuna asked.

“I-I’m all right, dear,” the grandma replied. “A soldier told me to flee that way.”

The elderly woman grabbed everything she could and followed orders as she fled the city with her family. Hadis was nowhere to be found. He had taken the helm to rally up the confused soldiers of Radia under his nickname, “Baker.”

“Will Hadis be all right?” the grandma wondered.

“He will be. I’m sure of it,” Yuuna assured.

“I had no idea that he was the emperor…”

Yuuna bit her lip. She’d just learned of his identity moments ago in the city. She knew who the baker truly was. The two carried Hadis’s things to safety.

“He seemed to bake bread so happily,” the grandma muttered.

Did she speak out of anger or sadness? Yuuna could only half-understand the elderly woman’s thoughts as she gazed at the night sky. Dawn would break soon. Smoke billowed from various parts of the city as thousands of magical, golden arrows rained down, only to be cut into pieces by a silver sword that glimmered above them. Yuuna couldn’t help but feel so detached from this battle. I didn’t know that war could look beautiful in my eyes.

🐉🐉🐉

“I’M thinking of visiting the bakery,” Hadis said the moment he was well enough to sit up.

Jill, who sat by her husband’s bed, turned to face him. “You mean visit the grandma with a bakery who hired you in Radia?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Hadis replied. “I don’t want to just check up on her, but on her neighbors and the bakery’s employees. They all had to evacuate, and I couldn’t thank them amid all the chaos. I’m so indebted to their kindness.”

Jill thought on it for a moment. “Yeah, you should go meet them, Your Majesty. But not yet. Your fever broke just yesterday and—ack!” The moment she looked away, her fruit knife sank deep into the apple’s flesh. “A-And I was off to a good start!” she whined.

She was peeling an apple for Hadis’s sake. Jill knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she sighed as Hadis leaned out from his bed.

“Please, Jill. Let me,” he insisted. “Just watching you handle that knife scares me.”

“No!” Jill declared. “I’ll peel this apple for you!”

“But you’re peeling all the fruit off with the skin.”

“Then why don’t you just eat the skin, Your Majesty?!”

She roughly cut the pieces she had left and placed them on a plate before offering them to her husband. Hadis picked up the pieces of apple that still had their skin on and slumped his shoulders.

“How did this happen after you tried to peel the skin off?” he wondered.

“Your Majesty, I’m quite adept at chopping people up, I think. I know where to stab so that I won’t damage their organs.”

“Then why don’t we try filleting a fish next time? Say, ‘ahhh.’”

Jill obediently opened her mouth whenever he did this with her—it was a recent bad habit she’d formed. Hrmm, this isn’t good, she thought. As she munched away on her apple, Hadis opened his mouth. Jill grabbed a slice of apple that didn’t have as much skin and fed it to her husband. She frowned as she watched Hadis skillfully eating the apple from her hands.

“See? You can eat it with the skin,” Jill pointed out.

“Well, of course,” he replied. “My wife prepared it for me. I’ve no doubt that it’s a delicious apple.”

“Who preps it doesn’t affect the taste.”

“It does.”

He peered up at her face, and Jill faltered. She knew that she’d lose in these battles, and it was imperative to make a strategic retreat as swiftly as possible. A hand reached out from behind to grab a slice, sparing Jill from her futile battle.

“You and Hadis sure get along well as always,” Elentzia remarked.

“Your Highness!” Jill gasped. “Prince Risteard! Are you taking a break as well?”

Risteard frowned at his sister as she ate a slice of apple, sighing.

“That’s bad manners, Sister,” he warned.

“What’s the harm? There’s a heaping pile of it, too,” Elentzia replied. “Do you want some?”

“No, thank you. Hadis, are you able to get up already?”

“Brother, perfect timing,” Hadis replied. “Could I have a day or two to myself? Oh, and with no guards!”

“Of course not.” Risteard denied the request with no hesitation, and Hadis narrowed his eyes.

“You’re so stingy,” the emperor grumbled.

“Don’t give me that!” Risteard snapped. “I’m doing whatever I can to allow you more rest, you know. We need to find people to replace roles, and above all, we must have Lady Jill become the grand duke while we’ve got the chance.”

“U-Uh, are you sure?” Jill stammered. “I’m still only eleven…” She also had no political abilities or backing.

Risteard rested his hand on his hip. “There’s nothing to worry about,” he replied. “Both you and Hadis are heroes who personally saved Radia. What’s more, you’re our first Dragon Consort in three centuries. You’ll be welcomed, not hated. As for administrative duties, we can carefully pick an advisor and other staff. I’ll choose people who know Radia very well. Don’t you worry about it.”

“O-Okay,” Jill replied. “If you say so, Your Highness.”

“If you need to step outside, I can do so in your stead, Hadis,” Elentzia offered. “I’ll be patrolling the areas that require restoration efforts, anyways.”

Risteard’s vein popped out in anger at his sister’s casual offer. “You’re going outside too casually, Sister,” he warned. “I’ve been told you left all that stuff to South while you trained the Dragon Knights.”

“Huh?” Elentzia replied. “South’s more knowledgeable about that stuff, and his subordinates are the ones handling the debris removal. Isn’t it more efficient if he takes charge?”

“That might be so, but…”

“Then what’s the problem? If you don’t like me training your Dragon Knights, just say so.”

Risteard’s cheek twitched as Elentzia hit the bullseye.

“No…” he groaned. “Thanks to you, we’ve been learning quite a bit!”

“Jill, did something happen between them?” Hadis asked.

“I heard that the difference in skill between the two Dragon Knight squads became clear when they were trying to take down the magical barrier,” Jill answered.

“Gotcha,” Hadis replied through narrowed eyes. “The Neutrahl Dragon Knights are a bit abnormal.”

“What do you mean by that?” Elentzia asked. “How rude.”

“I thought you were all gone. There you guys are,” another voice came from the doorway.

Hadis’s face lit up happily. “Brother!”

Vissel stepped into the room. Jill frowned and glued herself to Hadis’s arm. Risteard huffed angrily and turned away. Vissel glanced at both of them before he flashed Hadis a gentle smile.

“Hadis, are you all right being up and about?” Vissel asked. “You mustn’t push yourself.”

“I’m fine,” Hadis replied. “Brother, I’d like to head outside.”

“Oh? Do you have some sort of business outside?”

Vissel didn’t immediately decline the request as Risteard had done; instead, the crown prince allowed Hadis to give his reason. Vissel was creepily kind when it came to his younger brother, and as these exchanges grew more frequent, one could easily see why Hadis was so fond of Vissel. It’s because the crown prince spoils him. In fact, it seemed that Vissel was ready to agree to every single thing that Hadis requested.

“I want to pay my regards to a bakery that I’m indebted to,” Hadis said.

“I see… That’s important,” Vissel agreed.

“And as a way to express my gratitude, I’d like to help the bakery out one more time. I left my belongings there anyway. I’d like to stay at least one night, but if possible, an entire day of free time would be better. Could I?”

“The emperor can’t possibly do such a thing!” Risteard shouted.

“See? He keeps denying my request,” Hadis said. “But Brother Vissel, you’ll allow it, won’t you?”

“You little brat!” Risteard snapped.

Hadis knew how to act spoiled like a pro. As the veins began to pop on Risteard’s forehead, Elentzia tried to calm him down. Hadis continued smiling as Vissel thought on it and finally nodded.

“All right, sure,” Vissel said. “It shows that you’ve gotten better.”

“Really?! Thank you!” Hadis squealed.

“But you have to finish your work first. You have to take care of those things now. You’ve gotten better, after all.”

Everyone fell silent. Hadis visibly shrank before he gingerly peered at his brother’s smile.

“Um… Work?” the emperor asked.

“Work is work. You’re the emperor after all,” Vissel replied.

“H-How much work?”

“You’re a very smart child. There’s no need for you to ask, is there?”

Hadis fell silent.

“Good luck, Hadis,” Vissel said. “I’ll have your work brought to you shortly.”

Jill learned that Vissel didn’t just spoil the emperor. The crown prince was excellent at using the carrot and the stick. It may have been a cheeky tactic, but Vissel’s skillful handling of Hadis was commendable. After the crown prince smiled at Hadis, he turned to Risteard and Elentzia with steely eyes.

“Prince Risteard, Princess Elentzia, please don’t continue to humor Hadis’s selfish requests,” Vissel said. “Get back to work.”

Risteard scowled. “Hadis just got better… Don’t push him too hard.”

Hadis looked happy to receive his brother’s help, but Vissel immediately grabbed the emperor’s head.

“You don’t have to worry about that, Prince Risteard,” Vissel replied. “I know Hadis’s limits very well.”

“Limits?!” Hadis cried. “Brother Risteard, tell Brother Vissel to tone it down!”

“Hadis, you’re a very capable child.”

“You always say that when you push a ton of work onto me!”

“U-Um, Vissel, could I say something? And you listen up too, Risteard,” Elentzia said as she gingerly raised her hand.

The three brothers turned toward her as she cleared her throat.

“Vissel, why don’t you stop being so formal with me and Risteard?” Elentzia asked.

“Oh, how you jest,” Vissel replied.

His immediate, biting remark made Risteard frown while Elentzia’s eyebrows drooped sadly.

“I see…” she muttered. “I guess you’re resistant to that idea.”

“Naturally,” Vissel replied. “I don’t fully trust you two, I’ll have you know.”

“You’re going on and on about that again?!” Risteard shouted.

“Risteard,” Elentzia said, silencing her brother.

Risteard reluctantly fell silent, though his anger was quite apparent. Hadis and Jill quietly watched on.

The princess took a deep breath. “I understand how you feel,” Elentzia said. “Though it might upset you to hear that from me.”

“You’re oddly astute when it comes to stuff like this, Your Highness,” Vissel replied.

“I know it might be too late, but I really do regret my actions. I wanted to avoid conflict so badly that I didn’t aggressively try to save you or Hadis. And I didn’t try to fill the gap between Risteard and our other siblings either. I regret it all. Both you and Hadis are impossibly kind.”

Vissel shrugged as Elentzia slowly gazed down at her hands.

“Natalie scolded me. She said I was the eldest and had to take responsibility,” she went on. “And she’s absolutely right. I’m the oldest surviving sibling among the Rave imperial family.”

“What now? Are you trying to pin the blame on Hadis?” Vissel asked.

“No, that’s not what I mean. I feel like I should rule with an iron fist, in a literal sense. I should punch you all into submission.”

A beautiful beat of silence filled the room as Vissel furrowed his brows as much as he could.

“Excuse me?” he asked.

“Natalie said that if you guys fight, I should punch you all and get you to stop,” Elentzia explained.

“Punch who?”

“You brothers.”

Vissel, Risteard, and Hadis exchanged a glance as Elentzia clenched her fists.

“So, Vissel, every time you’re formal with us, you get one punch!” the oldest princess declared.

“How did you reach that conclusion, Sister?!” Risteard yelped.

“Don’t worry, Risteard. If you don’t refer to Vissel as your brother, I’ll punch you too! This’ll make everyone equal!”

Risteard opened his mouth and closed it, completely at a loss for words.

“Right,” Elentzia said as she smacked her hands together. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that Natalie and Frida refer to you as ‘Brother’ as well, Vissel. But Natalie and Frida are frail. I won’t use my fist, and only flick them. I hope you’ll allow me to do that.”

Vissel placed a finger between his brows as though to suppress a headache. “So… If I refer to any of you as a prince, princess, or call you ‘Your Highness,’ I’ll get punched? Is that what you’re telling me?”

“Yep!”

“Why do you sound so proud of yourself?”

“It’ll allow you to be less formal with us without any reservations, no?”

Vissel blinked back several times as Elentzia stood tall and proud.

“You may call me ‘Sister,’” she said.

Vissel had no response to offer. Hadis, who’d been quietly eating apples with Jill the entire time, broke the silence.

“Brother Vissel, I think it’d hurt quite a bit to get punched by Sister Elentzia,” the emperor remarked.

“Hadis, are you not on my side?” Vissel asked.

“You force me to do work.”

Jill couldn’t help but crack a smile at the childish response. Vissel raised a bemused eyebrow and finally gave an exhausted sigh.

“Very well,” he relented. “I shall comply.”

“Really? So you finally understand?” Elentzia cried. “Then all our problems are solved!”

“Sister, I don’t think a single thing has been solved,” Risteard grumbled. “It’s not right to force people into submission. And I can’t believe Natalie advised you, the one who’ll be most eager about stuff like this…”

“But I don’t need any incompetent siblings,” Vissel added.

Risteard whirled around furiously. “Are you saying I’m incompetent?!”

“Risteard.” The prince froze at the crown prince’s voice, but Vissel coolly continued, “Go and provide a full report about this incident to Duke Neutrahl and Duke Lehrsatz. You’re the swiftest if you ride a dragon. Keep them at bay so they won’t say anything about the Dragon Consort becoming the grand duke of Radia.”

“H-Huh?”

“Visit Duke Verrat on your way there and stir the pot a little. As for your excuse, well, just say that you were worried about the safety of my fiancée or something. The important bit is that I sent you over to him. You understand what this implies, don’t you? If you’re so competent.”

Vissel gave a condescending smile, and the stunned Risteard snapped back to his senses. Still slightly nervous, he gave a firm nod.

“O-Of course I know what it implies!” Risteard cried. “I’ll go and keep the Three Dukes at bay.”

“Good,” Vissel replied. “I’ll let you choose your own method. If you decide that all is well, return to the imperial capital instead of Radia. I’m sure Hadis and I will be back at the capital by then.”

“A-All right. I’ll be the one making the decisions then.”

“You’re the best man for the job. Go on, now.”

“O-Okay.”

“And Sister,” Vissel said.

Elentzia appeared shocked to be called by that nickname, despite being the one who had insisted upon it. She dully pointed to herself as Vissel frowned with displeasure.

“Yes, you,” he said. “Head back to the imperial capital immediately.”

“Huh? Why?” she asked.

“We can leave this place to South, and it’ll run itself. Hurry home and tighten the security around Natalie and Frida. I made sure to get ahead of the issue so they would be safe, but as you know, we’ve no end to our enemies. The princesses will especially be in danger when word gets out that Risteard’s flying around to talk with the dukes—some of our enemies might assume the worst.”

A confused Elentzia slowly regained her serious demeanor. “Got it. If I leave right now and fly without breaks, I’ll be there early tomorrow. Leave it to me.”

“I’ll leave with you,” Risteard said, following behind his sister.

In a flash, everyone had a job to do and headed out. Vissel sighed, the strength leaving his shoulders.

“And now, the noisy ones are gone,” he said.

Jill narrowed her eyes and frowned. “You didn’t intentionally chase them away, did you?”

“Hadis, I’ll bring you your work later.”

“Okey doke,” the emperor replied with a nonchalant wave of his hand.

Vissel then left the room, leaving the emperor and his consort behind.

“Your Majesty, are you all right with this situation?” Jill asked.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Hadis replied. “Brother Vissel isn’t just using people, but entrusting them with work.” The emperor smiled happily at an astonished Jill. “I thought that he’d die of exhaustion soon enough. He’s a stubborn guy.”

“‘Stubborn’ is a very cute way of describing him.”

But perhaps this was growth in some way. Jill opened her mouth wide and took a large bite of her apple.

🐉🐉🐉

IT was only natural that people went to purchase bread that the Dragon Emperor had personally kneaded, hoping it’d bring good fortune. It’d been ten days since the restoration efforts in Radia had begun, and the grandma’s bakery reopened for business, bustling with long lines as usual. The old granny sounded a touch troubled as she mentioned that she planned to close the shop after the war and didn’t know what to do with this popularity.

I know it’s tough on Grandma, but I hope this bakery stays open for years to come, Yuuna thought.

One of the bakers they hired was seriously aiming to open a bakery of their own one day, and there were talks about allowing this person to take over Grandma’s shop instead. But the decision hadn’t been made just yet. Hadis had organized the shop into what it was today and left behind the recipes; without his input, the bakery struggled to move forward with important decisions.

Everyone wondered what Hadis was up to, but none of them had the power to casually meet with the emperor. Fortunately, military people dropped by to purchase bread, and Yuuna and the others could hear tidbits about what Hadis had been up to.

“I heard that Baker finally got up from bed,” one of the soldiers mentioned.

The people of the city and the soldiers who fought alongside Hadis still chose to call him “Baker.” It was a habit at this point, and no one punished them for this goofy nickname. Yuuna was the first to hear various rumors as she handled the counter and handed customers their bread while making small talk.

“Thank goodness,” Yuuna said. “I’m sure that Grandma will be happy to hear it. She’s been worried about him.”

“I heard he’s surrounded by stacks of papers, though,” the soldier added. “It must be tough being emperor.”

The soldier smiled and joked around, but sorrow hid behind his sunny demeanor. Hadis may have kept his nickname, but there was now a clear, intangible wall between the emperor and commoners. Perhaps this soldier spoke of the emperor more formally and sounded distant during public events. That makes me feel a bit lonely… Yuuna thought.

Hadis’s handwritten bread recipes and belongings were still left behind at the bakery.

“I can’t ask you to send a message to Hadis, can I?” Yuuna asked.

“We’re low on the ladder, so the best I can do is relay it to General South,” the soldier replied. “He’ll probably speak to Crown Prince Vissel, and then the message will be relayed from there.”

Everyone had their hands full with the restoration efforts—Yuuna didn’t want to add to the workload. She decided with Grandma to wait a bit longer until things settled down, when two unfamiliar men entered the store.

“Hello? We’re here on behalf of the Dragon Emperor,” a feminine voice called. This person was bright and cheery with an oddly alluring aura. There was a small mole just below his eye.

Beside him stood a brawny soldier. He frowned as he gazed around the shop. A stunned Yuuna hastily made her way out from the counter to greet the pair, who were obviously close to the emperor somehow.

The man with the mole under his eye waved his hand. “Oh, you don’t have to act all stiff with us. In fact, we’re sorry to bother you in the middle of work.”

“Th-Thank you,” Yuuna stammered. “Um, you said you were here on behalf of His Majesty?”

“Yup. We’re here to get his things.”

“Huh?”

Even Yuuna was surprised by how shocked she sounded as her voice escaped her lips. The man with the mole blinked back. When the two locked gazes, an awkward silence settled between them.

“We were told that this is the bakery that His Majesty was indebted to,” the brawny man said, breaking the silence. “Are we at the right place? I heard that an old lady was in charge of the store.”

“Uh, um… You’re at the right place,” Yuuna replied. “Grandma’s currently out shopping for supplies. Y-You’re here for Hadis’s belongings, right? I’m the saleswoman of sorts at this bakery.”

“So we heard,” the man with the mole replied. “The owner’s an old lady, the seller’s a young lady, and you’ve got two bakers, right? Are you guys all safe? Were you injured in the commotion?”

“No, we’re fine.”

“Thank goodness. And do you still have His Majesty’s belongings? Oh, and don’t worry. We’re not here to scold you or anything, even if you don’t have his stuff. The emperor was just worried because he had left his things behind.”

“W-We still have his belongings…”

Can I hand his stuff over while Grandma’s still out? And…will we never be able to meet him again? Yuuna didn’t want that. She clenched her fists and raised her head. The emperor sent the two men before her—surely, they could easily get rid of a plain townsgirl or two without batting an eye. Despite her fear, Yuuna mustered her courage.

“I-I’m sorry… I’m not sure if I’m just…allowed to hand over his things,” she said. “And Grandma isn’t here…” She couldn’t formulate her words well, but it was the best she could do. As she turned to the ground, the man with the mole smiled.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he said. “We were the rude ones, weren’t we?”

“What?” Yuuna asked as she raised her head.

“In our defense, His Majesty plans on coming back here himself someday. He said he wanted to thank you guys since he’s indebted to you all.” The man flashed a weary smile. “But he’s still an emperor, you know? We don’t know when he’ll be able to come, and we thought we should take his things first. He might not have much, but we thought it’d be scary for you guys to keep his stuff. It was meant as an act of kindness, but I’m sorry. I think it had the opposite effect.”

The brawny man sighed. “Yeah, it was rude for us to act as messengers and ask for his stuff after he became so indebted to you guys.”

“I-I’m sorry!” Yuuna hastily replied. “I-I didn’t mean to sound like His Majesty was being rude or anything…”

“Don’t worry about it,” the man with the mole said. “Truth be told, we came and claimed we were sent on behalf of the emperor because it was a pain to explain ourselves, but he didn’t actually send us.”

“What?”

Did these two lie to me and try to scam us out of Hadis’s belongings?

The man with the mole winked. “You’re smart. And brave to boot,” he said. “You’re a good kid. I think you’re all kind, actually.”

A few neighbors came to take a peek at the fuss. They were all familiar faces to Yuuna as the man with the mole glanced around at the crowd and smiled.

“I suppose you should be, or else His Majesty wouldn’t give you any of his attention,” the man muttered.

“U-Um… Then what about the bit you told me earlier about Hadis?” Yuuna asked.

“Oh, that part isn’t a lie. To be precise, we act on behalf of the Dragon Consort. We’re the Knights of the Dragon Consort.”

“What?!”

There was no end to the surprises, but Yuuna was internally relieved that these two weren’t a pair of swindlers.

“Don’t worry,” the man with the mole assured. “We’ll be sure to tell His Majesty to get his stupid butt over here.”

“I-It’s not my intention—” Yuuna started.

“Eh, I’m sure he plans on it,” the brawny man said. “He seemed awfully worried about this place.”

Only then did Yuuna realize that the two men sounded rather friendly with the emperor. They must’ve been quite close to him. In fact, she wasn’t punished for referring to Hadis so casually.

“Um, is Hadis doing well?” Yuuna asked gingerly. “I heard he was stuck in bed.”

The man with the mole smiled and nodded. “He’s doing well. He’s up and about, buried in mountains of documents. He has a ton of work to do, including the restoration efforts and choosing the new grand duke of Radia. Plus, we’re in this hectic situation. Goons and bandits might try to take advantage of the confusion to steal and ransack stuff. He has to tighten security and patrol the area, but we don’t have nearly enough people.”

Yuuna had heard of bandits taking advantage of these dire times to steal.

“So, we decided to come all the way out here as part of our patrol route,” the brawny man said, sounding surprisingly thoughtful. “Any issues here? If you’ve got anything at all, feel free to let us know.”

Yuuna shook her head. “Th-There hasn’t been that much damage in this area. Besides, people from other areas will stand out if they come here for food and alms. I heard that those who lost their homes are allowed to seek refuge in the castle. And those who wish to rebuild their homes will have a residential area built for them. I-I’m not too knowledgeable on stuff like this, but Grandma said she’s never seen such generous support in the aftermath of war.”

“Well, that’s to be expected. The Dragon Emperor personally took the helm in the land of the Dragon Consort. His dignity’s at stake.”

“Everyone seems accepting of the Dragon Consort taking over Radia.” She felt it was important to inform the Knights of the Dragon Consort, and the two men exchanged a glance before they smiled.

“Thank you,” the man with the mole said. “I’m sure the Dragon Consort will be happy to hear it.”

“And, you know, I’m sure His Majesty will sneak out and come here soon,” the brawny man added. “He’ll be in your care then.”

“H-He’ll what?!” Yuuna gasped.

The man with the mole laughed jovially. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll come and pick him up later. Besides, it was His Majesty who made the sole decision to come work at this bakery.”

“Really?”

“What excuse did His Majesty say to you guys at the time?” the brawny man asked.

“H-He mentioned that his wife would follow him,” Yuuna answered. “He made it sound like the two eloped…”

The brawny man sighed while the man with the mole clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.

“Ahahahaha! That’s hilarious! Let’s rat him out to Jill!”

“Don’t,” the brawny man warned. “We just finally settled this situation peacefully. We don’t want Captain’s anger to flare up again.”

“Isn’t that the funny bit? Whew, I had a good laugh! Thank you for providing us with such crucial information, little lady. And if you need us, feel free to give us a holler. We’ll probably be around, patrolling the area.”

“O-Okay,” Yuuna replied. “O-Oh, and um!” She stopped the two men who were about to leave, knowing that despite her confusion, she had to tell them one more important thing. “P-Please tell Hadis not to sneak out!” she said, pale-faced. “He can come here when he’s allowed to.”

The man with the mole laughed again as the brawny man sighed.

🐉🐉🐉

“ANYWAYS, that’s what happened, Jill,” Camila said. “We couldn’t get His Majesty’s belongings.”

Jill had been punching a log in the training grounds as she listened to Camila’s report and took a deep breath. Beside the Dragon Consort’s legs was Raw, who yawned on the ground.

“I see…” Jill replied. “Yeah, it was very rude of us to ask, wasn’t it? I thought we were being considerate, but…”

“Seems like His Majesty was doing pretty well there,” Zeke remarked.

“The bakery was very busy and I’m sure it was pretty popular,” Camila added. “With His Majesty’s life skills, he can live anywhere.”

Jill caught her breath and looked up at Camila. “I’d like to properly speak with the grandma that His Majesty was indebted to,” she said. “We should wait until His Majesty’s work settles down.”

“Oh? Are you not angry by the excuse that he gave?” Camila inquired.

“About the eloping bit?” Jill punched with her right fist, blowing the log back. Raw jumped awake with a yelp while Camila and Zeke’s cheeks twitched with fear. “I’m sure that’s what he thought,” Jill said with a smile. “It’s all in his mind, I suppose.”

“See! I told you to keep quiet!” Zeke whispered furiously.

“No, Jill’s been angry this entire time!” Camila hissed back. “Raw, can’t you do something?”

“Rawr.”

“Hey, did you just say that you can’t?” Camila asked. “How can you not handle her? Aren’t you His Majesty’s spirit?”

“Jill!” Hadis called out from above. He popped his head out of a window of a building that surrounded the training grounds and waved his hand. “Dinner’s ready!”

“Okay!” Jill shouted back since the emperor was a good distance away. “I’ll be there in a bit!”

“Hurry! I’ll probably head out tomorrow or the day after!”

He likely was trying to visit the bakery, which Jill had heard about from Camila mere moments ago. The knights gave a small shriek and trembled.

“Wh-What horrible timing…” Zeke muttered.

“H-Hey, head over to His Majesty and give him a warning!” Camila urged. “You go too, Raw!”

“R-Rawr.”

“Okay, I’m just testing out the power of the Sacred Treasure a little!” Jill called back.

“Raaaawr!”

Raw gave a terrified shriek as Zeke rushed ahead with the baby dragon in his arms. Hadis was momentarily confused, but he waved his hand and headed back inside.

“His Majesty is a handful, isn’t he?” Jill asked. “He openly declared that he’d be heading out soon.”

“Y-Yeah,” Camila stammered.

“Now then…”

Jill took a deep breath and outstretched her left hand, causing Camila to panic.

“W-Wait, Jill,” Camila said. “Don’t tell you’re about to hit His Majesty with—”

When the Dragon Consort exerted her magical energy, the red and blue jewels within her golden ring transformed into a pair of golden whips. It destroyed the targets that stood on the edge of the training grounds. Smoke billowed in the area as she grew pensive.

“Hmm…” she muttered. “My weapon appears faster in my left hand. It’s a touch slower in my right. Or have I just not practiced enough?”

“Jill, why don’t we sit down and talk?” Camila suggested.

“These whips aren’t bad. I can see why Mother preferred to use them. They can tie someone up, hit them, or hang them from a building…”

“Jill! Please! Face me!”

“I’m not angry.”

Camila was practically in tears behind Jill. The Dragon Consort turned to face her knight. Camila fell silent, but her gaze was questioning. But it was the truth. Jill wasn’t angry. Hadis had been suddenly attacked by the enemy that was a step ahead of him, but he united a confused army to save Radia. She couldn’t be angry at her husband’s actions. No, I… Jill was aware of her feelings, and her voice was small.

“I just think I have to introduce myself properly,” she said. “That elderly lady must be old enough to recall the skirmishes with Kratos, right? I’d like to leave a good impression if I can help it…”

“But Jill…” Camila started.

“And the person you mentioned earlier, the girl who guarded His Majesty’s belongings, must be really cute, right?”

“Huh? Y-Yeah. She’s a normal girl. I think she’s sixteen or seventeen or so.”

“His Majesty is very popular. I know that best as his wife.”

Jill had wanted to hide her pouting, especially from Hadis and Raw. Camila blinked for a few moments before a solemn look overtook her features.

“Judging from what I saw, I think she sees him more as a target of admiration,” the knight said. “You know, like the neighborhood guy who’s a bit handsome. I don’t think she’s in love with him or anything.”

“If I came just two weeks later, I don’t know what would’ve happened,” Jill replied.

“His Majesty told everyone that he eloped. He didn’t hide the fact that he was married.”

“Sure, but that might not matter.”

Camila silently lowered her gaze to meet Jill’s. The knight’s eyes were gentle and mature, much to Jill’s frustration. Her feelings spilled from her mouth.

“I’m a narrow-minded person,” Jill confessed. “And I’m a child, as you can see.”

“You’re right,” Camila agreed. “You wouldn’t want the one you love to just treat you like a child, do you?”

“Normal girls are my natural enemy. It’s far easier to snap the Goddess in half.”

As Jill slumped her shoulders, a crouching Camila buried her face in her crossed arms and sighed.

“God, I wanna freaking murder that emperor,” Camila muttered.

“What?” Jill asked.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing. I’m lucky just being able to see that face.” Camila stood up and gave a forced smile, placing a hand on her hip. “Do you feel a bit better letting it out?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s go. We don’t want His Majesty to worry, do we?”

Jill nodded and swiftly returned her golden whips back into her ring. As Camila walked ahead, Jill hastily opened her mouth.

“Camila! Um, could you keep what I just said…” the Dragon Consort started.

“A secret,” Camila finished. She turned around and winked. “I know.”

Jill breathed a sigh of relief, but she had to be sure. “It’s a promise, okay? I know that you sometimes betray me.”

“Oh dear, I guess I’m not trusted.”

“Quite the opposite. I trust you, and that’s precisely why I know that you sometimes try to smooth things over between His Majesty and me.”

“I’m not that nice, I’ll have you know. In fact, I’m trying to curse His Majesty to death as we speak.”

“If you go up against His Majesty, you’ll be flattened in a flash.”

“Yup. Ahahaha! You really don’t understand a man’s heart, do you?”

Jill was utterly confused, but Camila only smiled and didn’t explain further.

🐉🐉🐉

IT mattered not if Yuuna had mentally prepared herself. A visit from the emperor would happen regardless, and without warning, much like how he first appeared and met her at the bakery.

“H-Hadis?!” Yuuna gasped.

“Ah, good morning, Yuuna,” Hadis replied.

She’d arrived to prep before they opened when Hadis was already baking away, dressed in an apron, a headkerchief, and a pair of mittens. Yuuna was at a loss for words when the grandma laughed from the living room.

“Hadis, dear, you really are like a bolt from the blue,” the elderly lady said. “I don’t blame Yuuna for being so surprised.”

“I-I mean, uh…” Yuuna stammered. “Are you sure that you can be here? Are you fine with that?”

“Huh?” Hadis asked. “Should I not be here?”

Yuuna froze at Hadis’s questioning gaze. Of course, the emperor was allowed to be wherever he wanted to, but she couldn’t help but worry about a myriad of things now that she knew his title. She couldn’t think straight.

“Um, I’m sorry,” Hadis apologized. “I told Grandma the night before, but I think I still shocked everyone…”

“W-Well, that’s only natural…” Yuuna mumbled.

He was the emperor after all—surely, he was aware of it himself. While everyone had been worried about him, they were at a loss about what to do when he actually appeared before them.

“I’ve got time until tomorrow afternoon,” Hadis explained.

“Tomorrow afternoon?” Yuuna asked.

“Yeah. We have to appoint the new grand duke by tomorrow evening and all that stuff. I have to attend that ceremony, or I’ll get in trouble.”

“All that stuff…”

“I just need to stand there with a smile.”

The ceremony was extremely important to the people of the city. One of the bakers who worked behind Hadis quietly averted his gaze while the other silently worked away, accepting reality. The grandma gently patted Yuuna’s back.

“Don’t worry, Yuuna,” she assured. “He’s Hadis, all the same.”

Yuuna picked up on the elderly lady’s meaningful tone and silently looked back at Hadis. Just recently, this man had been working away at this bakery, and he hadn’t changed, aside from the forced smile that danced on his lips.

“Am I a bother here?” he asked.

“N-No, you’re fine!” Yuuna quickly replied. “I think everyone will be overjoyed!”

“Thank goodness! Brother Vissel allowed me to go because he thought as much, too.”

Isn’t that the name of the crown prince of this empire? Yuuna thought. She quickly shook her head to rid herself of those thoughts, focusing on the reality right in front of her. I-I have to hurry up and prep! The crowd in front of the bakery had died down, but an endless stream of customers still bought the bread made from Hadis’s recipe—it was the Dragon Emperor’s bread, after all. And now that the emperor was here in the flesh, people would undoubtedly flood into the bakery. Judging from Hadis’s behavior, he had no intention of hiding his identity either.

“G-Grandma, could I ask for your help?” Yuuna asked. “I’m sure that it’ll be really busy today!”

“I expected as much,” the elderly lady said with a happy smile.

Yuuna wasn’t sure of the intricacies of politics, but she knew for sure that they’d be busy.

“This might be the last time I’ll be here,” Hadis said. “Let’s make tons and sell tons!”

The emperor’s words were practically an order, but the grandma and the bakers smiled and nodded. Yuuna was lonely to hear that it might be Hadis’s last visit, but she smiled and nodded as well. Before they could worry about whether they had enough ingredients, a large delivery of flour and butter had been placed at the back entrance. The soldiers who’d called the emperor “Baker” had made their delivery, giving credence to Hadis’s title. Yet, the man in question seemed quite laid back about it all.

“Brother really is considerate,” he mused.

At this point, Yuuna began to care less about the emperor’s title, and could only see Hadis as a regular baker by the time their doors were set to open.

By morning, the rumors of the Dragon Emperor working at the bakery had spread throughout the city. The usual counter wasn’t enough to handle the flood of customers, and they set up a desk outside to serve as a temporary storefront. Even nearby neighbors pitched in to help sell the bread—they would be paid with the profits that Hadis had made just the other day.

There were so many people that soldiers patrolling the city arrived to see the fuss and helped organize the long lines.

“Five per customer, please!” a soldier said. “Please line up in four rows. The back of the line’s right here!”

“Here’s a freshly baked batch!” Hadis announced.

Every so often, the emperor would pop out to deliver the bread, and every time, people squealed and screamed with delight. Countless women shrieked excitedly when they received a single wave from His Majesty, and an elderly couple who didn’t line up put their hands together in prayer to honor the emperor from afar.

Yuuna did her best to forget that Hadis was an emperor, but she began to understand why Hadis had been allowed to come. While she wasn’t privy to his thoughts, it was clear that his actions garnered popularity.

Hadis Teos Rave was infamous for being the cursed emperor. It’d been two years since he took the throne, but he was as unpopular as ever. Even Yuuna had heard nasty rumors that Hadis had been blamed for the unnatural deaths of the crown princes. In addition, recently, there were rumors that the emperor was only interested in little girls. But when she saw Hadis smiling and busily toiling away, she knew that rumors couldn’t be trusted. It must be tough being an emperor.

She also realized that he was a living human being like all the rest. Just as Yuuna had been doing, he also prepared the bread as requested, placed it in a bag, and handed it to customers. She thanked her customer and raised her head to greet a new one when she gasped.

“Ack! Strawberry jam bread is sold out!” a voice cried out.

“Huh?!”

Yuuna blinked and turned toward the voice that came from below. An adorable girl with blonde hair and purple eyes looked heartbroken. She tightly clutched her wallet in her small hands. Did she come for the strawberry jam bread? But Yuuna had been told there were no plans to bake a new batch—they were all out. She crouched in front of the disappointed girl.

“I’m sorry,” Yuuna apologized. “We just sold our last one.”

“I-I was looking forward to that bread the most…” the little girl mumbled gloomily.

“You lined up for it, didn’t you? I’m really sorry.”

The girl shook her head. She seemed to genuinely be here for the bread. Quite a few customers, especially the ladies, seemed to be after the emperor and persistently asked for him to appear. Seeing this child desperate for bread instead was quite the wholesome sight, and Yuuna formed a tiny smile.

“Well, strawberry jam bread is very good, but we’ve got tons of other yummy ones,” she said. “If you’d like something sweet, that one with stewed apples is delicious. The bread is light and crispy, and I highly recommend it, though it’s a bit hard to eat without getting some crumbs on you.”

“You’re right,” the girl said. Her face lit up a little. “That one looks really tasty.”

“And we’ve still got our best-selling ones. Like this one here. It’s called the Croissant of Oath.”

“What’s that?!”

The girl sounded surprised, and Yuuna assumed the word “croissant” must’ve been too difficult for the child. She took out the bread and showed it to her. Crescent-shaped croissants were tied together to form a ring. A glossy, sugar glaze generously coated the surface, and the sweet treat was popular amongst kids.

“It’s easier to eat, sweet, and delicious!” Yuuna said. “It’s crispy and flaky, too.”

“I…think I’ll refrain from that one,” the girl replied.

“Are you sure?”

“Mhm. Um, will there be no more batches of strawberry jam bread?”

The girl looked up at Yuuna hopefully. She must’ve really wanted that bread. Yuuna decided to check the back and see if there were any messy or sloppy ones that couldn’t be sold. Even if it didn’t look perfect, the taste would be the same.

“Could you wait here?” she asked. “I’ll go ask, just in case.”

“Um…” the girl said.

Suddenly, the little girl froze. Yuuna whirled around and spotted Hadis, carrying a fresh batch of bread as he gazed her way. Seeing the perfect opportunity, she decided to ask him about the bread when she noticed him acting oddly, too. For some reason, his eyes were fixated on the little girl. It was understandable that the girl was petrified; whether she knew that Hadis was an emperor or not, it was astonishing to see such a beautiful man. However, Yuuna couldn’t understand why Hadis was so focused on her as he ignored the crowd that called out to him.

“Um, she came for strawberry jam bread,” Yuuna explained. “But we’ve completely sold out of that one.”

Hadis smiled back at Yuuna. She could tell that his smile was different than usual—it had a bit of mischievous flare to it.

“Is that so?” the emperor replied. “Welcome.”

The little girl said not a word and averted her gaze as Hadis’s smile grew wider.

“Yuuna, do we still have Grandma’s usual bread?” he asked.

“Y-Yes, we do,” Yuuna replied. “But she wants strawberry jam…”

“That bread will do just fine.”

The emperor set down his basket of freshly baked bread and selected a couple himself before placing them in a bag.

“We’ve still got some stew, so heat that up and eat it with the bread,” Hadis said. “That’s what I recommend anyway. They pair together really well.”

The little girl looked nervous as she stayed silent. Yuuna couldn’t find it in her to intervene as she was confused by Hadis’s phrasing about the stew.

“In fact, that’s what I made the stew for,” he continued. “Try it out.” He picked five loaves of Grandma’s usual bread and handed them to the girl.

“Strawberry jam bread…” the girl muttered as though she still had lingering regrets.

But Hadis pushed the bag into her hands and smiled playfully. “You don’t need to eat it now, do you? You can eat my bread whenever you want.”

The crowd muttered when they heard those words as steam rose from the little girl’s face. She pursed her lips together, raised her face to glare at the emperor, and placed her money on the desk.

“You’re an idiot, Your Majesty!” she cried.

She clutched the bread in her arms and ran away. Hadis placed a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughs beside a stunned Yuuna. The grandma appeared from behind them.

“What’s wrong, dears?” she asked. “Did something happen?”

“A-A little,” Hadis replied. “She was supposed to be here tomorrow, but she must’ve really wanted to eat. My wife was in line to purchase my goods.”

“What?!” Yuuna gasped.

Hadis didn’t seem to care if others heard him as he repeated himself. “She’s cute, isn’t she? She’s my wife.”

He smiled brightly as his eyes chased after the girl who had just fled, an expression that Yuuna hadn’t seen before. The emperor’s wife was the new grand duke, and the one who wielded the Sacred Treasure of the Dragon Consort to save Radia. She was just eleven years old. A myriad of thoughts swirled in Yuuna’s mind, but Hadis’s eyes, filled with love and endearment, said it all. Without a doubt, the two must’ve been happily and madly in love with each other.

“I can’t believe she lined up without telling me,” Hadis said, trying to suppress his laughter. “She must’ve really wanted my bread.”

Yuuna tilted her head to one side. I think she came because she was worried about you. Sure, the girl may have wanted bread too, but that was probably not what she was most worried about. But Yuuna decided to remain quiet; she knew the girl must’ve been in agony, embarrassed and frustrated. As a fellow girl, Yuuna understood those feelings all too well.

🐉🐉🐉

JILL didn’t care about the attention she commanded as she rushed straight toward her subordinates, at the city corner, a short distance from the bakery.

“Camila, you said that His Majesty isn’t out there greeting the customers!” Jill yelled. “You said I wouldn’t get caught if I was in line, but you lied to me!”

“Oh dear, I wasn’t lying,” Camila replied. “He wasn’t greeting customers and only occasionally appears to carry the bread.”

“Th-That may be so, but he greeted me!”

“Of course he’d greet you, Captain,” Zeke replied wearily.

Jill’s face turned red again as she groaned and clutched the bread close to her chest. “I-I didn’t expect him to find me…” she mumbled.

“Why not? What’s the issue?” Zeke asked.

“It’s a huge issue! I couldn’t even buy any strawberry jam bread!”

It only looked like Jill had arrived to sneak a peek at her working husband. It shouldn’t have been a big deal, but she was very embarrassed by it. Zeke took the bag of bread from her arms.

“What’s the big deal?” he asked. “Just be loud and proud. Why’re you so confused? It’s not like you.”

“B-Because His Majesty was…” Jill started.

Even in the middle of a large crowd, Hadis didn’t act shy as he proudly told her that she was the most special woman in the world to him. As Jill recalled her husband, she used her hands to cup her warm cheeks. She could only groan instead of providing any sort of explanation. She didn’t mind standing in line. Truthfully, she was excited to eat his bread without his knowledge.

Women would squeal whenever he popped out from the store to deliver bread, but he was handsome, and it was good that he was popular. It was a refreshing sight to see him skillfully working away despite all the screams he received, and Jill was happy to discover another new side of her husband. Hence, she’d failed to notice it.

Jill hadn’t realized how Hadis’s eyes, expression, and voice changed when he spoke with her. Sure, it was awkward when she was caught, but above all, she had seen the moment when the air around Hadis changed as he caught sight of her. It was the Hadis that she was familiar with, but she’d suddenly realized that she received special treatment from him. And he said that I could eat his bread whenever I want! He’s right, but still!

Normally, if he said such a thing, Jill would just nod along, but in public, his sweet words were a hundred times more impactful. She could only eke out a childish response, and she was so embarrassed that she wanted to vanish from the face of this continent.

“I-I wonder what that lady at the bakery thought of me…” Jill mumbled.

That lady had been so kind to Jill, and the Dragon Consort only felt apologetic. Her husband had been in the employee’s care, and Jill had been so eager to properly introduce herself and offer a word of gratitude, but she could only retract her thoughts.

“I’m sure you’re fine,” Zeke replied. “These things happen.”

“It’s not fine!” Jill cried. “I acted really uncool, and I’m not sure how I can show up tomorrow!”

“If it bothers you that much, why don’t you go and apologize?”

“You’re so dense,” Camila scolded. “Jill wants to act like the perfect wife around the cute girls near His Majesty.” She jabbed her finger into Zeke’s chest as he scratched the back of his head, finding it all to be troublesome nonsense.

“Who cares?” he asked. “It’s more of a problem if Captain rushed straight in with her usual antics.”

“Well, I guess…” Camila relented. “I also think that it’s nice to act cute sometimes.”

“You make it sound like I’m normally not cute at all,” Jill huffed.

“Goodness, someone’s acting all pouty.”

“Um… Are you the Dragon Consort?!” a voice cut in.

Jill turned around and saw a young man standing there—he didn’t look like a soldier. Zeke stepped forward to protect Jill, and Camila flashed one of her fake smiles.

“Do you have any business with us?” she asked. “You must be from Radia.”

“I-I am,” the man replied. “I-I’m sorry, I just thought it was worth mentioning something…” The young man trailed off as he glanced at Zeke; clearly, the man knew how alert everyone was.

“Do you have something to tell us? What’s wrong?” Camila asked. She spoke gently, in contrast to Zeke’s threatening aura.

The young man’s gaze wandered nervously, but he nodded. “Some unfamiliar faces were at the tavern chatting away in hushed whispers. Ah, and I work at that tavern.”

“Bandits, perhaps?”

“N-No… I, er, heard bits of their conversation, and the plan was to target people from the bakery to threaten the emperor. I thought I should tell you that.”

“I’ll hear you out,” Jill said. She stepped out from between Camila and Zeke and smiled, hoping to calm the panicking man. “Could you calm down a bit more and tell us what went on?” she asked gently.

“A-Are you sure?” the man replied. “I might’ve just misheard.”

“Don’t worry. I’m the Dragon Consort. It’s my job to protect the Dragon Emperor.”

Encouraged to speak his side of the story, the man looked visibly relieved and lowered his head.

🐉🐉🐉

ALL the bread sold out by evening. In fact, it was impressive that the bakery managed to keep some stock until this late hour and sold everything. A cheer of joy echoed in the area, and everyone smiled and clapped their hands. Someone had mentioned that there would be a party tonight.

Unfortunately, there was no more bread, but people began to bring some food and drinks from home and gathered in front of the bakery where the bread had once been sold. At once, a cheery party started. Yuuna hadn’t experienced this sort of rowdiness since she’d been dragged into the war. Everyone seemed to relieve their daily stress and complaints that they’d bottled up within them; even outsiders gathered around and made a bonfire as people drank and sang under the evening sky. The people could only be at ease because soldiers were keeping guard around them.

They must be protecting Hadis, she assumed. Yuuna thought it was best if Hadis was kept in a safe space, but he was the one who rallied the soldiers to fight. She knew it was best to stay quiet. Plus, it seemed a bit foolish to ask Hadis, dressed in an apron, to act like a haughty emperor. He planned to teach as much as he could before leaving and had been giving his recipes to the bakers. No doubt the future of the bakery was being decided as well.

“I see,” the grandma said. “So, you can see the Dragon God, Hadis?”

Above all, the elderly lady seemed to be happy about it all. She sat next to Hadis in the corner of a bench, and Yuuna couldn’t suppress a smile.

“Yeah,” Hadis replied. “He’s right next to you right now, Grandma.”

“I’m so very grateful,” the grandma replied. “If my husband were alive with us right now, he’d be shocked out of his mind.”

“Your husband was a military man, wasn’t he?”

“That’s right. Hadis, dear, I heard that your wife is the young lady of House Cervel.”

Yuuna was familiar with the name, and as she sat across from them, sipping on her cocoa, she gazed at the pair. Isn’t that the house famous for protecting Kratos’s borders? They’re renowned for their power… All the while, the elderly lady chuckled.

“If my husband heard it, he would’ve brought out his spear,” she said. “He would’ve said that she was an enemy who came to attack from beyond the Rakia mountains.”

“Grandma, do you not like House Cervel?” Hadis asked.

“I can’t deny it, my dear. You won’t find many in Rave who like them. Plus, we’re near the border—House Cervel is single-handedly protecting the borders that require Neutrahl, Lehrsatz, and Verrat to work together to defend. They’re a family of monsters.” The elderly woman sipped on her tea before she went on, “But if we can all get along together, they’d be a reliable ally…”

A pensive Hadis blinked several times at her.

“They’re fighting to protect Kratos, aren’t they?” the grandma continued. “It’s not all that simple, I’m afraid.”

“Yeah,” Hadis agreed.

“It’d be great if we could find a way to resolve matters without fighting.”

“You think that’s possible?”

“I wonder… We couldn’t for the past millennium. Many died.” The elderly lady gazed up at the sky. “Nations are important, but wars are no fun at all.”

She gazed into the distance, and Yuuna did as well. Beyond the dark skies, they could see the Rakia mountains—the border between Rave and Kratos.

“If you’ll attempt it, Hadis, dear, all I can do is trust you,” the grandma said.

“Right,” Hadis replied.

Reality was far more complex than that. Yet, this sort of faith was just as important.

“Will you meet my wife?” Hadis asked.

“Of course,” the grandma replied.

Hadis smiled, his face illuminated by the fire. Yuuna, who’d glanced down, looked up.

“Hadis, you haven’t eaten yet, have you?” she asked. “I’ll go get you some food.”

“Thank you,” Hadis replied.

As he sent her off, Yuuna walked over to the table piled high with food. Right, the Dragon Consort is apparently from Kratos… Rave and Kratos had clashed decades ago. It was quite a while back, and Yuuna had never experienced a war against the neighboring kingdom. She didn’t think much when she heard of a girl from an enemy nation, but older people would definitely react to the news. Her mind wandered to the girl she had met in the afternoon. She’s a cute little lady. Indeed, reality wasn’t so simple. She sighed as she tried to grab a new plate from the stack. Huh?

One of the plates brushed against her fingertips and fell to the floor when she realized that a glittering knife was pressed against her neck. Before she could cry out, people around her screamed with fear.

“Don’t move!” the assailant roared.

For the first time in her life, Yuuna had been yelled at point-blank, and only then did she realize that she was caught. The arm around her neck pressed against her, and she winced, feeling suffocated.

“Where’s the emperor?!” the assailant demanded.

“Come on out unless you want us to kill her!” another shouted.

People around the man who captured Yuuna unsheathed their weapons. They must’ve blended in with the townspeople as everyone stepped away. Yuuna’s pale-faced mother was in the crowd.

“Yuuna!” she cried.

“M-Mom…” Yuuna mumbled.

“Shut up!” the man shouted. “Bring out the emperor! Or else—”

Suddenly, Yuuna’s view grew dark. In a flash, the arm around her released her from its grip and she fell to the ground. When she sat back up, she saw the man who had restrained her on the ground, out cold. A small shadow leaped from the ceiling and axe kicked the man’s head.

“What the?!” a man cried.

The men surrounded the small girl who suddenly appeared in the middle of the fuss and pointed their weapons at her.

“You’re all right,” the girl reassured, looking Yuuna in the eye. “Just stay put.”

The girl whirled her left arm around in an arc, instantly tripping the armed men. The men fell to the ground, hit by a golden whip. The whip coiled around the men’s ankles, stringing them together like a set of rosary beads.

“Zeke, Camila, restrain the ones who fled!” the girl ordered. “Soldiers over there, help me restrain these men. Take their weapons away.”

She stood gallantly before she offered Yuuna a hand.

“Are you injured anywhere?” she asked.

“I-I’m fine,” Yuuna replied.

“Thank goodness.”

The hand was small, causing Yuuna to hesitate, but she gratefully accepted the assistance, and the girl firmly helped her to her feet. Yuuna was familiar with this girl, of course. She’s the Dragon Consort… Yuuna was still in a daze while the Dragon Consort patted the dirt off her dress.

“Th-Thank you,” Yuuna said.

“No worries. It must’ve startled you,” the Dragon Consort replied.

“Are you okay?!” Hadis shouted. He parted the chattering crowd and rushed toward them.

Yuuna turned around and nodded. “I-I’m all right. The Dragon Consort saved me.”

“Ah, then I should go!” the girl said. “I’ve got to give out a few more orders.”

“Huh?” Yuuna asked.

As the girl tried to turn on her heel to leave, she was grabbed by the collar and scooped into Hadis’s arms.

“Jill,” he said.

That must be her name… Yuuna had never heard the Dragon Consort’s name before.

“Wh-What is it, Your Majesty?” Jill asked. “I’m busy.”

“Thank goodness,” Hadis said. He exhaled as he pressed his forehead against her hip.

The girl blinked, startled by this reaction.

“I did hear that security would be heightened because some suspicious people were up to no good, but why are you wandering about outside?” Hadis asked.

“Huh? Well…” Jill started.

“I gave orders to ensure you remain in the castle, but you snuck out, didn’t you?” Hadis asked.

The girl didn’t respond and averted her gaze as Hadis glared at her, his eyes half-narrowed.

“I know you can sneak past a layer or two of security, but…” Hadis said.

“I think General South and the others should be trained more!” Jill insisted. “It’s a problem that they can be defeated so easily!”

“Don’t turn defiant! Didn’t Camila and Zeke stop you?!”

“They’re my subordinates.”

“Those knights are useless! You are aware you’re the Dragon Consort, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am. That’s why I’m here to protect you. That’s my job.”

After a moment of silence, Hadis staggered, much to Yuuna’s concern.

“H-Hadis!” she cried. “Are you all right?”

“Y-Yeah… I-I feel weak whenever she acts so sharp with me,” Hadis replied.

Yuuna tilted her head in confusion as the Dragon Consort leaped out of her husband’s embrace and stood tall.

“I’ll head back now,” Jill said.

“Wait!” Hadis shouted.

“What? Is there anything more you’d like to say, Your Majesty? You’re hindering my work.”

“I don’t think it’s right to call the person you’re supposed to protect a hindrance! Sorry, I mean, let’s introduce you to everyone.”

“What?”

The Dragon Consort froze in place as she was again carried off in Hadis’s arms. He walked ahead with her.

“I’ll introduce you to Grandma,” Hadis said.

“Huh?” the Dragon Consort replied. “B-But I’m supposed to do that tomorrow…”

“Who cares? The time shouldn’t matter. In fact, why not stay the night here with me?”

“But I can’t leave Raw back at the castle.”

“Who’s more important? That idiot dragon or me?”

“You say that, but are you sure you don’t mind me disregarding your spirit?”

“Sorry… I’d want you to treasure us both.”

“Then I should head back. I’m not dressed for the occasion either.”

As Yuuna followed behind the couple and listened in on their conversation, still a touch astonished, Hadis stopped.

“She’s quite elderly, isn’t she?” Jill asked. “Then I’m sure she has her fair share of concerns about Kratos and House Cervel. This is the border.”

Once again, it became clear that matters weren’t so simple. But Yuuna was shocked that this little girl seemed to understand the complexities of her situation, and accepted her reality. Jill even flashed an awkward, knowing smile.

“Plus, I’m sure it’s cause for worry that a child like me is your wife and the grand duke,” Jill added. “I’d like to be a bit more proper when I greet her.”

“That’s not…” Hadis started.

“Hadis, dear?” the elderly lady called. She slowly approached the couple from a good distance away. “Is this child your wife?”

Hadis glanced between the grandma and the little girl before nodding. The girl sighed with resignation, leaped out of Hadis’s arms, and stood in front of the elderly lady.

“I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Jill Cervel.”

Her profile was dignified and proud—no longer did she have that awkward smile on her face. So calm she was that Yuuna became nervous instead.

“His Majesty is very indebted to you for all you did for him,” Jill went on.

“Oh, the pleasure is all mine,” the grandma replied. “You really are quite little, aren’t you? May I ask your age?”

“I’m…eleven.”

“Ah, how nice.”

The girl appeared confused by that response, and even Hadis blinked back quizzically.

The grandma continued with a smile, “I met my husband when we were adults—it was an arranged marriage of sorts when we clicked. But you see, my husband had a childhood friend—a girl he was always with since they were kids.”

Yuuna felt like she had heard this story before, but she had no idea where this was going. The girl must’ve felt the same as she gave a troubled and solemn nod.

“I-I see…” the girl replied. “That, uh, that must be a bit…complicated.”

“Oh, it was,” the grandma said. “His childhood friend knew everything about him. They were very good friends and practically family. Do you get it? Even if I were jealous of them, I would be the only fool in this situation. Goodness, I was so, so frustrated with my position. My husband was five years older than me and often treated me like a child, so it only added to my woes.”

“Y-Yeah.”

The little girl politely nodded back again as the elderly lady slowly turned to Hadis.

“Hadis, aren’t you a lucky man?” she said. “You can monopolize your wife while she’s still so cute and young.”

The little girl slowly widened her amethyst eyes, and Hadis hugged his wife tightly as he faced the grandma.

“I know, right?!” he squealed. “You know, when I first met Jill, she was only about this tall. She came up around here, to about the middle of my stomach.”

“Y-Your Majesty!” the Dragon Consort panicked.

“But now, she’s around here!” Hadis laid his head flat on the girl’s head and brought his hand to a bit below his chest. “It’s not much, but she’s clearly growing taller!” he cried.

“But of course,” the grandma replied. “She’s still eleven, so she’s got a lot more growing to do, I’m sure.”

“Exactly! I’m looking forward to it so, so much, but I’m a bit worried.” He sighed and slumped his shoulders as the elderly lady gave a knowing smirk.

“You think she’ll turn into a real beauty?” she asked.

“Yeah…” Hadis replied. “She’s cute and cool enough as it is right now!”

“That’s a conundrum. But isn’t it better if you two stay together throughout it all?” The grandma turned to the little girl. “Don’t you agree?”

The Dragon Consort blinked before she flashed a relaxed smile. “I do,” the girl agreed. “It’s a shame I couldn’t be with His Majesty when he was much younger.”

“Huh? No, you don’t have to see my younger self…” Hadis replied.

“But I’m happy that I get to see him now, as he currently is, and not six years later.”

Six years? I wonder why she chose that number, Yuuna wondered. Maybe it doesn’t have any deeper meaning. She just wanted to speak of the future. Even Yuuna couldn’t imagine herself six years in the future. It wouldn’t be odd if she found a man by then and married him, though she could hardly imagine it now.

“If you ask an old lady like me, you’re all young,” the grandma said. “And you’re at your youngest in the present moment.”

Her words struck true, and the little girl leaned forward, her nerves eased.

“U-Um, your bread was delicious!” she exclaimed.

“Oh? I’m happy to hear it,” the grandma replied.

“I very much understand why His Majesty highly recommends your bread! May I buy a ton tomorrow and bring them all back with me?”

“Of course.”

“Huh? Jill? What about my bread?”

“You’re on the back burner! I can only eat Grandma’s bread in Radia!”

“W-Well, yeah, but…”

Hadis was shocked, and Yuuna couldn’t suppress a smile. She also felt a twinge of loneliness—the fact that the girl was trying to stock up in Radia implied that neither she nor Hadis would stay in the city for long. I wonder when they’ll leave… I heard the ceremony to appoint Radia’s grand duke will be conducted tomorrow. Would they leave the day after tomorrow or a bit later than that? No matter the case, a future where Yuuna would part ways with them would undoubtedly arrive.

“Then I guess I’ll work hard tomorrow too,” the grandma said. Her words echoed in Yuuna’s heart.

It didn’t take long for Jill to blend in with the citizens of Radia. She ate heartily and called everything delicious, which encouraged others to serve her more food. Hadis’s eyes grew more dubious by the second as he saw others feeding his wife, and Yuuna and the others around him laughed at how obvious the emperor’s jealousy was.

Jill truly acted like a normal girl. She apparently had to recite a speech at the appointment ceremony of Radia’s grand duke, and she seemed apologetic for being unable to memorize it all. Those around her acted with haste and helped her repeatedly recite the lines so that she could remember the words—even Yuuna and the others joined in to offer their aid. Ultimately, many had memorized the Dragon Consort’s speech in full.

Despite her timidness, she had enough power to silence rude, rowdy drunkards in one blow. Those who tried to stop the appointment ceremony were all captured, and the festivities continued until the crack of dawn with no further issues.

Ultimately, Jill and Hadis decided to spend the night at the grandma’s house, and after they finished breakfast, people from the castle arrived to pick them up. When the emperor and his consort stepped out of the building, Yuuna handed Hadis the belongings that had been kept safe.

“Thank you for everything,” Hadis said.

No longer was he wearing an apron, and as a host of soldiers lined up and waited for him, he had the face of an emperor. But Hadis didn’t act much different from when he was called “Baker” and helped out at the bakery. Yuuna didn’t feel like Hadis had turned into a different person just because of his rank. While she experienced the loneliness of parting ways with him, she didn’t feel like she had lost a good friend. Neighbors and bakers alike all came out to bid the emperor farewell with smiles.

“Thank you,” Jill said beside Hadis. She bowed her head. “I really have been in your care.”

“Good luck at the ceremony,” Yuuna whispered.

“Th-Thank you. Um, Yuuna, you aren’t…”

The little girl began to mumble and fidget. Yuuna crouched down and drew her ear close to the girl; Jill was wary of her surroundings as she spoke in almost a hushed whisper.

“You aren’t in love with His Majesty or anything, are you?” Jill inquired.

Yuuna burst out laughing for a quick moment. She knew it was rude, but hoped for the Dragon Consort’s understanding.

“I-I’m not. Don’t worry,” Yuuna assured.

“R-Right!” Jill replied. “I’m sorry for asking such a weird question.”

“Don’t be. It’s only natural for you to be worried, and I think it’ll be tough for you going forward. Some girls really are serious about him.”

“Th-They are?” Jill gaped.

“But Hadis only has eyes for you, Jill. Hang in there!”

“O-Okay!”

“Hadis, dear,” the grandma said as she stepped forward.

Yuuna drew back and made way for the elderly lady, who grabbed the emperor’s hands and gave a gentle smile.

“You can stop by and visit me whenever you like,” she said.

“Thank you,” Hadis replied.

“But you can’t run away here, okay?”

Hadis’s golden eyes went wide as Jill quietly watched on.

“Look sharp, and do your best. You’re our emperor,” the grandma said.

Hadis took on an expression of resignation—his wry smile, however, was laced with kindness.

“I will,” Hadis replied. “Stay well, too, Grandma.”

The emperor elegantly crouched down and planted a kiss on her cheek. All that was left was for everyone to turn around and return to their respective positions.

That evening, at the Temple of Radia, the appointment ceremony was held. Hadis had the visage of a splendid emperor, and the little girl in his arms stood tall. No longer did she resemble a Dragon Consort who ran around with bread in her arms.

But Yuuna knew them well. It was easy to think that the emperor and his consort were so different from her and in a league of their own, but Yuuna was well aware that they had once stayed in Radia. The emperor and Dragon Consort smiled and agonized over decisions like any normal, living human. And above all…

“God is the never-ending Heavens. Dragons are light with wings. The Dragon Consort is the golden shield,” Jill recited. “By the name of Dragon God Rave, as the Dragon Consort, heed my words. Citizens of the bride of the Heavens, be the knight who holds the shield of logic. Only then shall you become the golden light that illuminates the skies! Yes! Yes! I said it!”

Everyone had gazed upon the Dragon Consort with bated breath, and once her speech was over, a thunderous applause of awe surrounded her. All too late, Jill had realized that she’d shouted unnecessary words at the end, but everyone was willing to look the other way.

“Hurray for the Grand Duke of Radia! Huzzah, Dragon Consort! Glory to the emperor!”

Everyone shouted their own cheers and praise while Hadis scooped up Jill in his arms, and the two waved at the crowd. For a split moment, Hadis glanced toward Yuuna and gave a quick wink—surely, she wasn’t imagining things. It was the last time Yuuna got to lay eyes on the emperor and his consort.

Yuuna wished to one day visit Rahelm, the city of the skies, but it was a good distance away and wasn’t an easy trip to make. But the grandma insisted on seeing Hadis and Jill’s wedding with her own eyes, and Yuuna did her best to make the plans. She’d go with the grandma and the baker, who was set to take over the bakery. I’d like for it to be our honeymoon of sorts… But maybe it was a bit too early to fantasize about stuff like that.

If she ever visited Rahelm, Yuuna was determined to bring some of Grandma’s bread and offer it to the emperor and the Dragon Consort. Yuuna and the baker would inherit Grandma’s special recipe, allowing it to live on—this bread was especially delicious, made for the sake of the Dragon Emperor and the Dragon Consort, who protected the skies and this empire.

Operation Endless Surprise Attacks

Operation Endless Surprise Attacks

“YOUR Majesty, couldn’t you dance with my daughter?” a voice echoed from behind Jill.

The Dragon Consort was trying to choose between roast beef and lobster when she inevitably ended up eavesdropping on the conversation.

“She just wants a single glance from you, and has worked very hard for tonight,” the father said. “I imagine it’ll be an unattainable dream to have the honor of being with you unless it’s at an intimate party like this. It’ll help my daughter in the future as well. I beg of you.”

The young lady, encouraged by her father, turned red and visibly shrank in front of the emperor. She looked around sixteen or seventeen, and was clearly nervous as Hadis offered a gentle smile.

“If you will have me,” he said.

“R-Really?” the lady replied, her voice rising an octave.

“I’d love to, young lady.”

The lady spoke innocently and showed no hostility. While Jill was busy analyzing these things, Hadis turned toward her, crouched low, and extended a hand to Jill’s cheek.

“I’ll see you in a bit, Jill,” the emperor said.

Before Jill could respond, Hadis planted a kiss on her cheek in one smooth movement and elegantly bowed—he embodied every maiden’s dream. He took the young lady’s hand and glided toward the center of the floor with her.

He got me again, Jill thought as she placed a hand on her cheek and gazed at her husband, unamused.

They were at the imperial castle in Rahelm. Small evening banquets like these were frequently hosted as a method to dispel any fears and unrest after all the civil strife. It was also a way for Jill, who had just become officially engaged to Hadis, to get used to these high society events.

The Dragon Consort was grateful to be allowed to attend these events; she had some leeway since she was still a child, and she could take advantage of the time she had to get used to them. Parties were always coupled with lavish dishes where one ate while standing up, and she loved to satisfy her appetite instead of staying home. The roast beef and lobster in front of her were one of the huge perks of attending these events.

Unfortunately, the height difference between Jill and Hadis prevented the two from dancing together, so young ladies took that opportunity to dance with the emperor. Hadis was friendly and had once dreamed of having a hundred friends. He never declined an invitation, and since he didn’t seem overly attached to anyone, there weren’t any issues. Vissel gave his approval, allowing the emperor to dance every now and then. The crown prince hoped these acts would increase Hadis’s popularity and even actively encouraged the emperor to attend these events. Hadis always remembered the faces and names of ladies who were far lower on the social ladder, and little by little, more ladies became infatuated with him, delighted that they were remembered at all.

While Jill wasn’t sure if it was a calculated move or if he thought it was normal, Hadis would always go to her before he danced with another lady, implying that his consort took priority, no matter what. Yet, he never asked for her permission. It was an excellent display of the emperor’s power and his respect for the Dragon Consort.

🐉🐉🐉

HADIS was the emperor, and that was all well and good. Jill was proud of him for garnering more popularity—this was a good thing. But…

“At this rate, I might use the Sacred Treasure to hang His Majesty from the chandelier,” Jill confessed one day. “What should I do?”

“Why do you always have such dangerous trains of thought?” Natalie replied wearily.

The ladies were enjoying a spot of tea in the afternoon, and Frida appeared with a plush in her hands as she gazed with wonder at Jill’s remark. This was a tea party among the imperial ladies; occasionally, Elentzia, the general of the Rave Imperial Army, would join in as well.

“But Brother Hadis…always…kisses you, Sister Jill,” Frida mumbled. Her face turned pink as she grew embarrassed and looked down.

Usually, Jill would also turn red, but today, she could only expel a tired sigh. “I don’t think that His Majesty’s cheating on me,” she explained. “He always treats me preciously, and I have no reason to doubt him. But that also makes me displeased, somehow…”

“Just don’t quarrel with your husband during the party, Jill,” Camila warned.

“Yeah, how ridiculous would it be if the Dragon Consort gets caught trying to assassinate the emperor?” Zeke added.

The two Knights of the Dragon Consort had been guarding the door when they butt into the conversation. Their social rank didn’t allow them to speak with the imperial family, but Natalie and Frida didn’t seem to mind, so the knights occasionally gave their two cents.

“I know,” Jill replied. “But it still makes me so angry! How dare he!”

She leaped to her feet with gusto, causing Frida to widen her eyes and Natalie to rest her cheek on her hand.

“Has Brother Hadis ever snuck into your room at night?” Natalie asked.

“Nope, never!” Jill cried. “He’s the emperor, and yet he won’t come! How dare he! Seriously, how dare he!”

“Jill, if His Majesty does sneak into your room, it implies that our security’s lax,” Camila said. “Please don’t provoke him.”

“Besides, it’s normal for him not to be there,” Zeke added.

“What do you mean by normal?!” Jill demanded. “Do I lack sex appeal?”

“You can say that…but I’m mostly referring to your age,” Zeke replied. “You’ve gotta be aware of how young you are. It’s only common sense that he can’t possibly visit you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“Now, now, Jill,” Camila said. “Let’s calm down, all right? Have some delicious snacks.”

“I’ll eat snacks whether you offer them to me or not!” Jill shouted.

“Um… Sister Jill…do you…want to trouble Brother Hadis?” Frida asked.

Jill immediately calmed down when young Frida accurately pointed out the Dragon Consort’s woes.

“N-Not exactly,” Jill mumbled. “I just… Well, I want to… You know…”

She sank into her seat and struggled to find her words. Hadis had changed since he returned from Radia as a hero after fighting alone. Jill had always believed that he was strong, but she absolutely despised herself for being unable to genuinely be happy for Hadis for embracing his strength. Normal girls were Jill’s mortal enemies. The small sparks of anxiety that Jill had felt in Radia welled up into large waves of worry. The Dragon Consort squeezed her eyes shut and groaned.

“If only the Goddess had just come to attack us!” Jill cried.

“No! Don’t say something so terrifying!” Camila shouted.

“I can punch the Goddess and decide the match there! But I can’t just…punch normal, cute girls…” Jill faced the ground as everyone around her exchanged a glance. The Dragon Consort slammed her fist onto the table. “Why don’t we host a wedding martial arts tournament for the hand of His Majesty?!” she suggested. “I’ll go all out and aim for the top!”

“Ah, the thing you did in the skies of Beilburg where His Majesty’s the prize…” Camila replied.

“No one’s gonna sign up for that tournament aside from the Goddess,” Zeke said.

“Sister Jill… Brother Hadis loves you…so much. Are…you jealous?” Frida asked.

Jill turned red. “I-I’m not! Well, I might be a little, but that’s not it! I…”

“You don’t have confidence in yourself,” Natalie finished. The princess looked bored as she stirred her juice with her straw. “Personality aside, Brother Hadis is very handsome, and his etiquette is perfect. In fact, maybe only the Goddess could stand beside him without being outshone by his glamour.”

“I don’t mind if it’s the Goddess. I can just snap her in half,” Jill replied.

“Then why not have more confidence? You’re confident enough to win against your strongest enemy, aren’t you?”

I’ve never thought about it that way… Jill thought. As she hesitated, Frida sat in front of the Dragon Consort with sparkling eyes.

“You sound so cool, Sister Jill!” Frida squealed.

“Th-Thank you,” Jill replied. “But all I can do is fight.”

“All you can do?” Natalie asked wearily. “Isn’t that more than enough?”

Jill became confused. “Wait, then should I host a martial arts tournament for marriage?”

“Get your mind away from that tournament. All right, stand up!”

“Okay!”

Jill stood up straight at Natalie’s order. The Dragon Consort kicked her chair behind her, and the princess scrutinized the girl intently. Jill nervously stood there until Natalie finally sighed.

“Oh, all right,” Natalie said. “I’ll help you out with your next party.”

“Huh?” Jill asked.

“It’s not like I can’t relate. Brother Hadis has become very handsome recently, and I think he’s got more…mental leeway. How dare he, huh?”

Jill nodded vigorously, happy that her thoughts had been properly conveyed.

“Exactly!” Jill said. “How dare His Majesty look so handsome?! How dare he! Who does he think he is?”

“U-Um, we can’t…trouble Brother Hadis…” Frida eked out.

“You’re one to talk,” Natalie replied. “You once threw Brother Risteard out of your room and had him apologize to you for three straight days and nights.”

“Wow. That’s amazing,” Jill remarked. “You made Prince Risteard do that?”

“Well…” Frida started.

Her eyes grew wide with rage as magical energy coursed throughout her body. The little princess clutched her stuffed toy tightly, practically suffocating it. Natalie gave a small shriek. Everyone else inched back.

“Brother’s to blame…” Frida said.

“I-Is that so?” Jill replied.

“So, what are we gonna do?” Zeke asked.

“No hanging him from a chandelier,” Camila added.

The two knights steered the conversation back on track.

“We’ll use a more proper method,” Natalie replied. “Dresses and makeup.”

“D-Dresses?” Jill asked dumbly.

Natalie stood up. “I’ll lend you my makeup person.”

“Oh my!” Camila said. “A bit of a fashion makeover?! I’m in!” She excitedly raised her arms in the air, but Natalie glared at the knight.

“No,” the princess said firmly. “Guys aren’t allowed. You guys will tend to subconsciously hold back.”

“What?” Camila replied. “I can hardly understand what you mean.”

“B-But I’m still a child,” Jill said. “I think I’m a bit too young for makeup and stuff…”

“No one can be too young or old for primping,” Natalie said. “Besides, while your strength might be your most defining point, you’re pretty enough. You’ve got excellent posture when you stand.”

“I do?”

Jill could only be stunned, not quite understanding this unusual praise. Frida smiled.

“Sister Jill…” she said. “You’re so cool…and pretty.”

“Brother Hadis has been saying it himself,” Natalie added. “He’s always worried about the future since he knows you’ll grow up to be a real beauty.”

“I-I felt like His Majesty was just overestimating me,” Jill stammered. “B-Besides, while I might grow taller, I’m not very confident in my physique. I don’t think I’ll look more mature on that end.”

In fact, it was Hadis himself who claimed that Jill lacked sex appeal. Just remembering it makes me mad… Times like these were when knowledge of the future came as a splash of cruel reality to her.

“But despite his worries, Brother Hadis has been looking forward to it,” Natalie said. “He’s letting his guard down because he thinks he still has time to prepare.”

The future was bound to change. This very moment also changed the future.

“We just need to take advantage of that,” Natalie added. “I think we’ll be in for a good show.”

In other words, this was a surprise attack. Jill wasn’t confident, but she held her head high and nodded.

🐉🐉🐉

“WHERE’S Jill?” Hadis asked. He turned to the two Knights of the Dragon Consort in the waiting room, but they just frowned.

“She’ll be late, apparently,” Camila reported.

“She asked you to go ahead without her,” Zeke added.

“It’s unusual for Jill to be late,” Hadis said. “She’s usually first in line at the party venue to get her hands on all the food.”

Knowing it was time, Hadis stood from the sofa, and one of his stylists swiftly handed him a mantle to wear. The emperor checked his outfit in the full-length mirror and was ready to enter the venue. He checked the time on the wall clock and turned back to Camila and Zeke.

“Tonight, there’ll be an entire roasted pig,” Hadis said. “Could you let her know, please?”

“Sorry, can’t,” Zeke replied. “We were chased out of her room.”

“What?” Hadis stared at them.

Camila fiddled with the ends of her hair, frowning. She knew that it was bad manners. “Princess Natalie won’t let us approach the Dragon Consort,” she explained. “Even I’m not allowed in, despite telling her I’d help. This bear, I can understand, but isn’t it mean that even I’m treated like an outsider?”

“Who’re you calling a bear?” Zeke snapped.

“Wait, then who’s guarding Jill?”

“She’s with Princess Natalie and Princess Frida,” Zeke answered. “Princess Elentzia is standing guard.”

In other words, Hadis’s precious bride was with his younger sisters, being guarded by his older sister. The emperor furrowed his brows as he imagined this gathering.

“Are we sure that Sister Elentzia didn’t leave midway and leave Jill to protect Frida and Natalie?” Hadis asked.

“We’ll be on guard when she enters the venue,” Zeke replied.

“Don’t worry,” Camila said. “We won’t let our precious Dragon Consort become a guard for no reason at all.”

Hadis was well aware of Jill’s power, and her cool visage made his heart flutter. It was only natural for the Dragon Emperor to expect a degree of power from the Dragon Consort. But when she went too far with her strength, people wrongly assumed that she wasn’t different from any old soldier.

Not everyone watched Jill’s eyes sparkling at the party’s food and found it a wholesome sight, eager to see her mature. At best, people cooked up schemes to utilize this excitement of hers, but the most troublesome were those who tried to curry favor with the Dragon Consort while still internally treating her as a child. No matter how much might Jill displayed, these types of people only saw her as a child soldier to be used.

But I don’t want her to push herself, Hadis thought. This is difficult…

“I get you,” Rave said from within Hadis’s body. “She does look like a child.”

Hadis gave a strained smile. Can’t do anything about that. It takes time for one to grow. Plus, it becomes convenient at times.

“Yeah, it’s better to be underestimated, huh?”

The Dragon Consort was still a child and hardly a threat. It mattered not just how much the Dragon Emperor doted over her—she couldn’t become pregnant at such a young age. And since His Majesty was offering other women his attention as well, people expected him to grow tired of the child sooner or later. As long as people had this assumption, Hadis could protect Jill from harm.

Vissel didn’t have Jill attend banquets just so that she could grow used to these societal occasions; it was also a way for Jill to be looked down upon and underestimated. Risteard wasn’t totally on board with this idea, but he didn’t want a child like Jill to be foisted with unnecessary trouble. The younger prince gave his tacit approval.

“A fight between women is terrifying,” Rave remarked.

Ultimately, everyone had the same thought.

“Maybe Jill became a little tired attending all these evening banquets,” Hadis muttered. “Maybe I should make some lunch and invite her out on a picnic for a change of pace.”

A trumpet, which signaled the emperor’s appearance, drowned out his voice. Shockingly, Rave slipped out of the emperor’s body.

“Are you all right?” the Dragon God asked.

“Huh? Yeah,” Hadis replied. “Brother Vissel and Brother Risteard have been assisting me this entire time, too.”

“I see. That’s good.”

“Yeah. Don’t climb on my shoulder. You’re heavy.”

“Aw, come on. I think I’ll have a bite to eat too.”

“Don’t eat without permission. People will panic if they see food disappear.”

The venue erupted in loud applause and Hadis took advantage of the noise to whisper back to Rave. After the emperor went around doing greetings, he grabbed a glass to drink.

“Hadis, where’s Lady Jill?” Risteard asked, approaching the emperor.

“Apparently, she needs some extra time to get ready,” Hadis replied.

“I see. Frida will pop in tonight, so I plan to leave the party early with her.”

“I thought you wanted her to get used to these events,” Vissel said from behind the two men.

Risteard frowned and turned around. “She’s still only eight. She just needs to pop in, and that’s good enough.”

“You’re an overprotective brother, aren’t you? Hadis, are you tired?” Vissel’s tone was kind as he posed the same question as Rave.

Hadis smiled. “I’m fine.”

“All right,” Vissel replied. “If you need anything, be sure to let me know.”

“I will.”

“I don’t want you to call me overprotective,” Risteard mumbled.

“Did you say something, Risteard?” Vissel asked.

As the three engaged in some banter, the venue guests mustered up their courage to approach the imperial family again. The ladies glared at each other as they inched forward and surrounded the emperor, who was lost in his thoughts. I think I danced with that girl before. Ah, and that girl who was just pushed away was pushed last time, too. Should I save her? Or will that only encourage more bullying?

It was exhausting to think that far ahead, but Hadis had no choice. He had to continue acting this way and buy time until Jill became a bit older.

Just then, another trumpet sounded to signal the entry of more imperial family members, snapping Hadis out of his reverie. My adorable bride is finally here. Hadis whirled around to face his beloved Dragon Consort.

🐉🐉🐉

JILL had knights, but no maids or ladies-in-waiting. The imperial castle didn’t have enough people to go around, and since Jill had no backing, it took time to carefully select her servants. Hence, she’d utilized Elentzia’s servants until now to help get dressed, but Natalie claimed this was a huge mistake.

“This is Sister Elentzia we’re talking about!” Natalie exclaimed. “She’s totally unreliable!”

“Natalie, I can’t deny it, but it doesn’t feel right for you to say it in front of me,” Elentzia replied.

“But Sister Elentzia, whenever you’ve got a banquet you must attend, a group of elite makeup artists is sent from Neutrahl. You’re so reliant on them.”

“Right,” Elentzia said as she gazed into the distance. “I always say that it’s not necessary, but…”

“You’ll be surprised when Sister Elentzia gets a makeover. She looks like a totally different, elegant person! You can hardly recognize her.”

“Cool…” Jill replied in awe.

Natalie smiled and stood tall and proud. “But we can give those Neutrahl people a run for their money.”

“What?” Jill asked.

The princess snapped her fingers and smiling servants immediately lined up. From there on, Jill’s memory was a bit fuzzy. She was told to wash, polish, paint, scrub, and was passed from person to person. Before she knew it, the sun had set. Jill had been busily preparing since the morning, and she still couldn’t make it in time for the evening banquet, much to her dismay.

Is this what a woman’s battlefield is like? Jill wondered. I-I’m so tired…

When lunch had rolled around, bread and water had been shoved into her mouth. She couldn’t recall the taste and hardly had time to savor the flavor.

“No matter how hungry you are, you can’t lay your hands on the food at the banquet,” Natalie ordered. “Do I make myself clear? That will ruin everything.”

“I’m fine,” Jill mumbled. “I don’t even have the energy to eat…”

“You seem exhausted and in low spirits. Perfect! Keep at it.”

“A-Are we sure? Is this okay? Are we really certain that—”

“Yep. You’ll be just fine. Could someone bring me a mirror? Okay, you can open your eyes.”

Jill had her eyes closed the entire time her face was being painted with makeup. She slowly opened them and hardly recognized the person staring back at her in the mirror. When she blinked, the girl in her seat blinked back; the Dragon Consort was astonished.

“Huh? I-Is this…m-me?” Jill gasped. “Really?”

“That’s right,” Natalie nodded proudly.

Frida approached Jill with twinkling eyes. “Sister Jill, you look so lovely!”

Natalie’s maids also shouted with joy.

“How does she look? We did it, Princess Natalie!” one squealed.

“Do you think we can secure more funding for the palace?!” another asked.

“So, that’s your goal, huh?” Elentzia said. She’d been standing guard as she approached the girls.

“It’d be nice if it happened. That’s all,” Natalie replied.

Elentzia stared at Jill in the mirror and smiled. “All I see is a breathtaking beauty that compels me to reach out and kneel before you. Is she wearing a wig?”

“That’s right,” Natalie replied. “We should go all out.”

Jill touched the hair that went down to her hip—the wig was blonde, just like her own locks, and it looked like her hair had grown practically overnight. She brought her fingertips to her cheek. She felt no difference, but the makeup accentuated more of her features, and her chubby, childlike cheeks looked slimmer, making her face smaller. Her eyebrows were made thinner, and even her eyes looked different thanks to the fake eyelashes.

Jill’s outfit was different as well. Her attire was simple with calmer tones. Some lace adorned the fabric, but it was tightly wrapped around her neck and fell straight down to below her knees. If the skirt had looked wider, it might’ve given a more childish appearance, but the length of the skirt wasn’t long and stopped just under her knees.

“Is she all right revealing so much of her legs?” Elentzia asked.

“This party isn’t stiff or formal. We should be fine,” Natalie replied. “Plus, a long skirt won’t look as elegant on a short frame. It’s better to end it around the knees and have thin, high heels. Jill, stand up and watch your feet. You’re a bit higher up than usual.”

“O-Okay,” Jill replied.

“Sister Elentzia, could you lend her a hand?”

“Of course. Your hand, please, princess,” Elentzia said with a smile.

Thanks to her assistance, Jill gingerly got to her feet. When the girl in the mirror moved in sync with her actions, she finally realized she was staring at herself. This is…me.

Natalie had already finished getting herself ready as she crossed her arms in front of her, satisfied. “Good,” she said. “I think you’ll be fine walking on your own, but it is different from usual. Be careful. And keep your back straight.”

“G-Got it,” Jill stammered.

“Can you walk?”

“I-I’m still a little scared, but I think so.”

“Athletic people with a strong core can walk beautifully even in very high heels. Sister Elentzia’s the same. Ugh, it makes me so annoyed and jealous.”

“If you’d like to learn a bit of self-defense, I’d happily teach you anytime,” Elentzia offered.

Natalia frowned. “No, thank you. Now then, shall we go?”

“Wh-What?! Already?!” Jill yelped.

“We’re late. But that’s fine—it’s better to make them wait.”

Jill wasn’t mentally prepared yet. Before she could say as much, Natalie stood in front and glared at her.

“Listen here,” Natalie said. “If we stay too long, we’ll give ourselves away. We’ll show you off and quickly retreat. If people try to talk to you, don’t say anything unnecessary. Just keep smiling and do nothing else.”

“R-Right, I just smile,” Jill replied. “Like this?”

“Oh god, no. All right, just stay expressionless. Yeah, you’ll look more like a beautiful little doll.”

Jill could only nod at Natalie’s harsh words. All the while, the princess and the other ladies surrounded the Dragon Consort as the group reached the door to the venue. The nerves got to Jill, and she anxiously placed her hands in front of her chest.

“D-Do I look okay?” she asked. “People won’t laugh at me, will they?”

“They won’t,” Natalie reassured.

“B-But, um, maybe His Majesty won’t recognize me.”

If Hadis glared at her like she was some sort of girl that he’d never seen before, Jill wouldn’t be able to take it. Frida gently patted the Dragon Consort’s back.

“You’ll…be okay,” Frida reassured. “Brother Hadis will recognize you.”

“B-But even so!” Jill cried. “If he went, ‘Huh? Why’re you wearing a wig?’ or something like that, I’d be crushed!”

“Jill, why don’t you just close your eyes?” Elentzia suggested. “I’ll grab your hand and escort you.”

The Dragon Consort blinked back blankly. Natalie nodded in agreement.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Natalie said. “If you look so anxious and worried, it’ll ruin your vibe. You can walk in a straight line, can’t you?”

“I-I think I can,” Jill replied. “But…”

“I’ll let you know when you have to open your eyes,” Elentzia said. “You can open them when you’re close enough to see Hadis’s face.”

Jill’s heart skipped a beat. She pressed her hand against her chest, faced the ground, and meekly nodded.

“Th-That would be great,” she said.

“All right, let’s go,” Elentzia replied.

Trumpets rang in the air. Jill took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Elentzia escorted the Dragon Consort perfectly; Jill had nothing to fear, but her heartbeats echoed loudly in her ears. This isn’t like me. Why am I even doing this?

Even if she managed to look a bit mature today, she was still only eleven. Tomorrow would be another normal day, business as usual. If she were lucky, she’d surprise Hadis, but it’d just be for a fleeting moment—one that would pass in the blink of an eye. Jill was abundantly aware that he loved her and treated her dearly. She had no complaints about their relationship. What am I trying to do here?

Jill hadn’t the faintest clue. Despite her apprehensions, she slowly walked forward. Within the darkness, she gingerly took steps ahead as though she was trying to carefully find an answer to her feelings. If she waited a few years, all of her woes would be solved—that was logic. Yet, she couldn’t bear to wait a few more years—that was love. Jill sensed Elentzia stop, and the Dragon Consort followed suit. Elentzia whispered the Dragon Consort’s name as a signal, and Jill sucked in her breath.

Ever so slowly, she opened her eyes. The dazzling lights of the chandelier were blinding as they obscured her vision for only a moment. Yet, Jill always thought that her husband shone brighter still. She was always enchanted by him, no matter his expression—whether he smiled happily, looked bashful, frowned with loneliness, or scowled with anger, she couldn’t look away.

But when she opened her eyes and saw Hadis’s stunned face, clearly enamored by someone, Jill wondered who he was staring at. Just who was reflected in his golden eyes? Only when she took a closer look did she realize that it was herself. And finally, Jill realized what she wanted. She wanted to be a woman who could monopolize him—one who could hog all his attention.

“Your Majesty,” Jill said.

Now that she knew what she wanted, the Dragon Consort wasn’t scared anymore. She smiled as she saw herself within her beloved’s sparkling eyes. As though she had some sort of gravitational pull, Hadis staggered toward her before he suddenly removed his cape. Jill, to her surprise, found herself in darkness once more; Hadis had placed his cape over her head. He paid no heed to his surroundings as he scooped his wife up in his arms, cape and all.

“What?! Your Majesty?!” Jill cried.

“Brother—” Natalie started with surprise.

But a heavy wave of magical energy immediately drowned out her voice. A moment later, she was greeted by the feeling of her butt hitting the cold floor.

“Y-Your Majesty?” Jill asked. “What’s…”

There was a loud boom as Hadis punched the wall near her, causing her to fall silent and gulp nervously. Silence then settled upon the room. She could sense Hadis nearby, but could only hear his breathing and nothing more. Confused, Jill peeked out from within the cape. She was surrounded by darkness, and it took a few moments for her eyes to adjust when she spotted a few pieces of familiar furniture. She was in Hadis’s bedroom. Did he teleport to this room from the glimmering venue? Why were they in the corner of the bedroom anyway? Hadis kept his forehead pressed against her shoulder.

“What’s wrong, Your Majesty?” Jill gingerly asked.

The emperor, who’d trapped his consort in the corner of his room, slowly raised his head. Even within the darkness, his eyes held a dangerous glimmer that couldn’t be obfuscated; Jill let out a small shriek.

🐉🐉🐉

CONFUSED chatter filled the venue. The emperor had wrapped his consort in his cape and suddenly vanished. Vissel loudly clapped his hands, silencing the guests.

“I apologize. Do excuse the emperor, for he had to leave to take care of some urgent business,” Vissel announced. “It’s nothing you should be concerned about. Please relax and enjoy the rest of the evening.”

His smile refused to accept any words of dissent. And Risteard, who stood with him, said not a word, enhancing Vissel’s power over the crowd. The calm symphony of violins began to fill the hall, and the fuss died down. Elentzia breathed a sigh of relief.

“What’s wrong with Hadis?” she asked.

“He was surprised, I bet,” Natalie said.

Natalie was shocked at first, but as she recalled her older brother whisking Jill away, she laughed triumphantly through her nose.

Frida’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Because…Sister Jill was really pretty!”

“That’s right,” Natalie replied. “We got him. We can tease him about this incident for a good while.”

“Natalie,” a gentle voice echoed from behind.

At once, she held her head tall and gingerly turned around. She locked eyes with a smiling Vissel, the eldest brother of the imperial family.

“This was your doing, I presume?” he asked.

“Wh-What?” Natalie stammered. “It’s not like I’ve done anything wrong…”

But her excuses fizzled out in front of Vissel’s glowing eyes.

“And if things with Hadis become complicated, who will take responsibility?” he inquired. “Has that ever crossed your astute mind?”

Natalie fell silent.

“Since we’ve got the occasion, why don’t we have a little chat?” Vissel offered. “Call it sibling bonding time.”

Frida hid behind Natalie and Elentzia scratched her cheek beside the two younger princesses. Risteard scanned the crowd and gave a quick, “Don’t get too carried away.”

🐉🐉🐉

“NATALIE?” Hadis asked.

His voice wasn’t as intimidating as his eyes, and Jill reacted a beat later.

“Y-Yes?” she asked. “What about Princess Natalie?”

“Did she do this to you?” the emperor inquired.

“Sh-She did.”

“Thought so. She’s the only one who gives you all sorts of unnecessary ideas.” He emitted a weary sigh as he pressed his forehead against Jill’s shoulder again. “Seriously, you have to stop this,” Hadis said accusingly. “I…can’t believe it.”

Jill felt her chest tighten and couldn’t stop her voice from quivering. “I-I’m sorry…” she started. “I-I probably look so horr—”

“You’ve got to stop,” Hadis interrupted. “I thought you’d turn pretty in the far future—I didn’t expect you to undergo this transformation so soon.”

She felt her breathing almost stop, and it wasn’t because she was in his tight embrace.

“And you pulled a fast one on me,” Hadis added. “I thought that my heart was going to stop.”

“D-Did I startle you?” Jill stammered.

That wasn’t what she wanted to ask, but she couldn’t weave her words well, and her mouth moved around clumsily. During times like these, she became painfully aware just how immature and childish she was when it came to romance.

“That’s not the problem,” Hadis replied. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Wh-What do you mean?” Jill asked.

“I don’t want anyone to see you.”

Surely, a mature, adult woman could easily toy with this man in quiet panic, full of openings to utilize. Yet, Jill was still just a child; she could only panic alongside her beloved.

“U-Um!” Jill started. “This is just…well, temporary. You don’t have to worry about a thing. I-It was a ton ofwork. Everyone helped me prep since early in the morning, and it was a whole affair. I’ll be back to my usual self in no time.”

“Do you really think you can?” Hadis asked. “After you taught me that you’re no longer a child?”

Those golden eyes gazed up at her as they approached. She felt his thumb and index finger grab her chin.

“I love you, Jill,” he said. For the first time, he flashed a smile. “You’re trembling. Are you scared?”

“N-No, I’m not…” Jill replied.

“Then you won’t run away, will you?”

Jill was backed into a corner of the room; it didn’t seem like Hadis was willing to let her flee.

The moonlight that trickled in through the lattice window illuminated his face, causing Jill to hold her breath. She didn’t know the face of the man in front of her—he looked so pale and calm, yet he couldn’t hide the passionate fire that flickered in his eyes of gold. His thin, dry lips emitted alluring breaths. He was beautiful, yet terrifying.

Jill squeezed her eyes shut—she didn’t know what else to do. But she knew that curling into a ball here would make her forever a child.

“Jill,” Hadis said.

As Hadis’s lips drew near, she chose to greet him with a headbutt. A dull sound echoed throughout the room as Hadis pressed his hand against his lips, writhing in agonizing pain. Jill took that opportunity to stand tall and proud.

“You love going to extremes, Your Majesty!” she declared. “And you’re quick to push your luck!”

“B-But the mood!” Hadis cried. “Is that really how you react in this moment?!”

His cape fell to the floor, and Jill picked it up to wrap it around her beloved again. She peered into his face.

“Did I surprise you?” she asked.

He responded with silence, and that was all the answer that she needed. Her happiness permeated her face as she gave a beaming smile.

“Heh heh,” she chuckled. “Heh heh heh! I see. So, I did surprise you.”

“Why do you look so happy?” Hadis asked.

“I-I’m not! Really! I’m just, you know, analyzing my situation, checking my facts.”

“Don’t lie to me! I see you grinning from ear to ear! You’re having fun tormenting me!”

Jill tried her best to lie, but even she knew that her face gave it away. What’s more, her glaring husband was just so adorable in her eyes. She leaned against him, entrusting her back to Hadis’s chest, as she sat back down.

“What’s the harm?” Jill asked. “Sometimes, I want to cause you a bit of trouble too, Your Majesty. And if I take these clothes off and remove my makeup, I’ll be back to my usual self in no time. It’s a dainty spell so fleeting that it’ll be undone in no time. It won’t last long.”

She bent her knees and rested her chin between them.

“Besides, I know you’re only surprised momentarily,” Jill added. “And then it’s over.”

“You’re the only one who thinks that way,” Hadis replied. As he sighed, he enveloped her entire body as he leaned on his consort.

“You’re too heavy,” Jill complained.

“That’s your fault,” Hadis replied. “You started it, so take responsibility and clean up after your messes.”

“As I said, if I change clothes, this illusion will be all over.”

“Hmm…”

His unconvincing reply made Jill frown as he gently stroked her legs. When her gaze traveled toward her feet, she realized that her shoelaces were being undone.

“I remember a tale about a princess,” Hadis said. “She became all pretty thanks to magic and went to a ball. I think she left a slipper behind. And the magic wore off.”

Jill’s shoe rolled onto the floor.

“But the prince who picked up this slipper could never break out of the spell he was under,” Hadis said. “Ah, you’ve even painted your toenails. No one will even see your toes.”

He chuckled in the back of his throat. Was it because Jill’s bare legs were touching the cold floor? She felt uneasy. The Dragon Consort neatly placed her feet together and gingerly straightened her posture.

“That lipstick’s the one I sent you before, isn’t it?” Hadis asked. His index finger brushed along Jill’s lips. “Natalie’s amazing. She really is good at provocation.”

“Um… Your…Majesty?” Jill asked. “I’m thinking of changing, so…”

“Mhm. I’ll get you changed.”

“Pardon?!”

Jill could hardly believe what she had just heard, but Hadis’s bright smile met her incredulous face.

“I’m not stupid enough to let you go just because your magic might wear off,” Hadis said. “Besides, how could I forgive you for turning all pretty without my knowledge and then reverting to your usual self of your own accord?”

“Wh-What?” Jill asked. “Your Majesty, even I find that logic a bit…”

“It’s your fault, not mine.”

The smile never quite reached his eyes. He pushed the blame onto his wife so loudly and proudly that it was almost a breath of fresh air. Jill felt exasperated by his arrogant display of defiance. He’s always been like this, hasn’t he? Jill thought. He’s been a bit cooler recently, but his core hasn’t changed. When the strength left her body, she felt laughter bubble up within her instead.

Hadis knitted his brows. “What are you laughing at?”

“B-Because I guess you were just that surprised, Your Majesty,” Jill eked out between chuckles.

A tight embrace held her in place. It was a bit suffocating, but when she knew his gruffness was all due to his surprise, she felt a bit ticklish on the inside. I’ve gone crazy.

“Of course I was shocked,” Hadis said. “I’m still nervous. I don’t know what’ll happen if I look away from you for even a moment.”

“I’ll just return to my usual self,” Jill reassured. “Your Majesty, when I become much older, I’ll return this lipstick to you.”

“Do you even understand what that means?”

Hadis loosened his grip around his consort and peered into her face, his golden eyes filled with hope and unease. Jill reached out to touch his face.

“What do you think?” she asked playfully.

“Ugh…” Hadis said wearily. “I feel scammed.”

Jill giggled again. As Hadis hugged her again, her mind was whisked back to the time when their love was first requited. It was a nostalgic memory for her as she stroked his head. Is this what it means to be a mature woman? She wanted to spoil him to bits, but he wasn’t allowed to let it go to his head. All she could do was ensure that the spell cast upon him would last as long as possible. Perhaps that was how one became stronger when it came to romance.

🐉🐉🐉

“UM, Your Majesty?” Jill asked. “Isn’t it… Well, maybe it’s about time you and I spend the teensiest bit of time apart.”

She sat on Hadis’s lap as he was busy approving a few documents. The Dragon Emperor smiled back at her.

“You might turn all pretty again the moment I look away,” Hadis said.

Jill fell silent. Ever since last night, Hadis hadn’t spent even a moment away from his beloved’s side. The Dragon Consort found his antics cute at first, but she was beginning to grow tired of it. Left with no other choice, Jill reluctantly turned to the other people who were quietly working away in the same office and begged for help.

“Um… Prince Vissel,” she started.

“Your job is to quietly sit there until Hadis is satisfied,” Vissel replied sharply.

“P-Prince Risteard!” Jill cried.

“If it helps him work, I’m willing to turn the other way,” Risteard replied.

You can’t work and turn the other way, can you?! Face your work! And reality! Jill internally cried. But no one came to her aid. It seemed Natalie received one heck of a scolding from Vissel and all she could say was a weary, “Good luck.” Elentzia and Frida were happy to see the Dragon Emperor and his consort on such good terms; they were no help either.

“What a pain…” Jill grumbled.

“Did you just call me a pain?” Hadis growled.

“N-Never… It’s just… How did it come to this?”

“It’s because you cast a spell upon me.”

Usually, this embarrassing phrase would make Jill’s heart flutter with excitement, but now, it only sounded like a threat. When she saw him panic, she was proud of herself for shocking him, but she never wanted it to turn out like this. No doubt it was tough for Hadis, who kept Jill on his lap the entire time, but even when he switched rooms, he scooped her up in his arms and refused to let her go. It was as though they reverted to when he was glued to her side—it’d probably become worse. I’m sure that’s His Majesty’s way of getting revenge on me, too…

His actions tacitly implied what would happen if he ever panicked and became uneasy again. I thought I won yesterday… Romance is hard. Jill discreetly sighed and stared at Hadis scribbling away in front of her. He’s really got neat handwriting. Just then, his other hand gently pinched her cheek.

“After I work a little bit more, I’ll free you,” he said.

“R-Really?!” Jill cried.

Only then did she realize it sounded like she threw in the towel first.

“Did you learn your lesson?” Hadis asked, looking inexplicably delighted as Jill expected. “I’m an adult, you see. So I’ve got the capacity to forgive you.”

He looked so anxious just the night before, yet his dazzling, nonchalant smile seemed to forget everything that had happened. The spell Jill had cast upon him was long undone, and she frowned while falling silent.

How can I shatter this man’s composure? I did it yesterday, which means I can do it again. I’m sure of it. I’ll win yet.

Jill had yet to realize that casting a spell upon him would only bring them back to her initial problem—the one she experienced just the night prior. It wouldn’t solve anything. But the day of her epiphany would be far into the future.

You’ll Be Just Fine

You’ll Be Just Fine

THE whip cracked loudly against the floor. Every crack caused the entire venue to shudder, but it felt so distant and far away to a certain emperor. The formal attire prepared for him so that he could sign the engagement contract was very heavy. After he fled through the mountains, he wielded his Heavenly Sword to order the dragons around, fought against the notoriously powerful House Cervel’s lord and the guardian of the Goddess who held the Parrying Dagger of the Goddess, and handled the prince who wielded the Sacred Spear. It was practically a miracle that the Dragon Emperor was standing here, and he mustered every last of his strength to do so.

The magical energy that permeated throughout this kingdom, the land where no dragon could survive and soar above, was eerie enough as it was. This was the kingdom that dared to kill his adoptive father, but the emperor had to do what he had to do. After all, he made it here solely for this purpose. It was practically unprecedented to have this document stamped with either nation’s Great Seal, and the Dragon Emperor neatly wrote his name: Hadis Teos Rave. His signature used up the last of his strength.

“Brother?” a voice called.

Hadis blinked two or three times, his blurry vision slowly becoming crisper and allowing him to focus. He was faced with his younger sister, whom the enemy king had kidnapped. No, we saved her, Hadis thought.

“Natalie?” Hadis murmured.

She nodded back. “I’m here. Thank the Dragon God! Rest easy and don’t make any sudden moves.”

“I… What…”

“You fainted. We’re in the manor of House Cervel. Sister Elentzia! He woke up!”

Only when he felt the cold hand of his sister did he realize that he was slightly feverish. He’d used up too much of his mana again. He internally called out to Rave and received a curt reply, but the Dragon God showed no signs of emerging from the emperor’s body. We’re in enemy territory. How can you be so laid-back? he thought.All the while, his older sister emerged, opposite Natalie.

“You still look weak,” Elentzia noted. “Don’t push yourself.”

“Do you want some water?” Natalie offered. “You sound raspy.”

Hadis’s younger sister swiftly offered a pitcher of water. His older sister supported his tired body and helped him sit up to take a sip of water. Finally, his mind began to clear as he unraveled his memories. He was forced to wear exceedingly heavy clothes and sign his name in front of a grandiose pedestal. And for some reason, I could hear the sound of a whip… He hastily raised his head.

“Where’s Jill?!” Hadis cried. “We were in the middle of signing a contract and…”

“It went just fine,” Elentzia said firmly. “Don’t worry about it.”

Hadis blinked several times. Natalie flashed a wry smile.

“You signed the engagement contract, Brother,” Natalie reassured.

“Risteard’s handling the rest,” Elentzia added. “You and Jill are officially engaged.”

“Hadis, you awake?” Risteard asked.

Elentzia hadn’t fully closed the door, and the prince strolled right into the room. The emperor was still in a daze when Risteard placed a hand against Hadis’s forehead.

Risteard frowned. “You should sleep longer.”

“But… I… I still have stuff I need to do,” Hadis insisted.

“We’ve already arranged for Prince Gerald to be escorted back. If there’s any issue where you must be around, I’ll force you to get up. Rest while you can. Lady Jill already made House Cervel promise to let you recuperate.”

“But Natalie was just kidnapped, and…”

“I’m fine,” Natalie said. “I was rescued, and I’ve got Sister Elentzia and Brother Risteard with me.”

All the while, she placed a damp cloth on Hadis’s forehead to wipe away his sweat. It’s the second time I’ve been told that things are “fine.”

“You really should take it easy,” Natalie said. “If your condition gets worse, I’ll be the one to get a scolding from Brother Vissel.”

“But House Cervel isn’t an ally,” Hadis started.

“House Cervel isn’t foolish enough to lay a hand on you in this situation,” Risteard replied. “They even prepared such a splendid room for you—they’re very kind. And Lady Jill is out there keeping her eyes peeled. Have faith in her.” The prince stood by the bed and placed a hand on his hip before he flashed a fearless smile. “It’ll all be fine.”

That’s the third time.

“You’ve done what you need,” Risteard went on. “Have a bit more faith in us and rest—”

Only when Hadis saw his older brother’s shocked face did he realize something was trickling down his cheek. Natalie was the first to react—she wiped away Hadis’s tears as though nothing had happened. Elentzia then came from the opposite side of her sister and reached out, enveloping her brother in a tight embrace.

“You feel relieved, don’t you?” Elentzia asked. “You did very well. You worked so hard. And don’t forget that Jill chose you.”

Hadis let out a weird sob as he blinked back the hot liquid pooling in his eyes. Elentzia smiled at him.

“Rest up,” she said. “Take it easy. Should anything happen, I’ll be here to protect you. Did you know? Your older sister is quite the powerhouse. I won’t lose to House Cervel or anyone else who threatens you.”

“I-I know,” Hadis sobbed. “I saw…that a side of the mountain was stripped away.”

“Whoa… I’m so glad that I was passed out,” Natalie muttered.

“Natalie, are you injured?” Hadis asked.

“Of course not. If there were even a scratch on me, the prince would have to admit defeat.”

She laughed proudly as large beads of tears blurred Hadis’s vision. Both Natalie and Elentzia were fine. They just barely managed to avoid war, and he was engaged to Jill. Everything went perfectly.

“Come now, Brother,” Natalie scolded gently. “Don’t cry. If Jill sees you now, you’d look so uncool in her eyes.”

“I always look uncool to her anyway,” Hadis sulked.

“Why don’t you let him cry while he can?” Elentzia said. “Or at least until Jill arrives. It’s only us siblings in here right now.”

“Don’t spoil him like that,” Natalie replied. “Don’t you agree with me, Brother Risteard?”

A stiff Risteard returned to his senses and exaggeratedly cleared his throat.

Hadis sniffled and said in a low voice, “You’re annoying, Brother.”

“I haven’t said anything yet!” Risteard protested. “Besides, I’m the one who offered my full support to you and looked after you the most! Aren’t you being a bit too rude to me?!”

“You’re annoying.”

“You don’t need to repeat yourself! Good grief… Well, at least you’ve got the strength to be defiant. Hurry up and get better. I’ll head back to Rave first and—”

When the prince looked up and locked eyes with the emperor, Risteard’s eyes grew wide with astonishment. Only then did Hadis understand how he must’ve looked.

“Don’t worry,” Risteard finally said. “I’ll finish up my work before I go. And I can prove to Brother Vissel that I can look after you.”

He flicked Hadis’s forehead, and the annoyed emperor gripped his brother’s finger. Surprised, Risteard tried to draw back, but Hadis refused to release his brother from his grip.

“Owww!” Risteard cried. “Ouch! Cut it out, Hadis! You’ll break my finger.”

“That’ll do just fine!” Hadis exclaimed. “Then you won’t have to leave!”

“Why are you always so violent when you act spoiled?!”

“I’m in my rebellious phase!”

“You’re too old to act like an edgy teen!”

“Your Majesty? Are you up?!” Jill called out.

She heard the ruckus and found the door to her husband’s bedroom open. She rushed into the room and jumped toward his bed. Hadis kicked a groaning Risteard to the side of the bed and welcomed Jill with open arms.

“Are you okay? How is your fever?” Jill asked. “Wait! You’re still so warm!”

“Yeah,” Hadis replied.

“You should still be asleep! And your eyes are so red and damp… Huh? Why’re you laughing, Princess Elentzia?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” Elentzia replied. “Ah, Hadis, want an apple?”

“Don’t just give the entire thing to him, Sister,” Risteard scolded. “I’ll peel it.”

“You can use this knife, Brother Risteard,” Natalie said. “I’ll bring in some other fruits and plates.”

“P-Prince Risteard, you can peel an apple?” Jill asked, incredulous. “Are…you able to peel it in the shape of a rabbit and stuff?”

“Yeah, Frida always begged me to do that,” Risteard replied.

“Y-Your Majesty, His Highness can peel bunny-shaped apples for you!”

“Yeah,” Hadis replied.

Jill poutily looked up at Hadis. “Your Majesty, that’s the only word you’ve been saying,” she pointed out.

“Yeah,” Hadis answered again.

“You must still have a fever.” Her small hand pressed against his forehead. “You’ll be just fine. I’m right here with you.”

That’s the fourth time. Hadis nodded back as Jill frowned, then straightened up in his arms.

“And I’ll be the one to feed you!” Jill declared.

She looked so proud of herself as she insisted that she was his wife and that was her right. And she wasn’t wrong.

The Dragon God laughed within Hadis’s body. “Good for you.”

Yeah. Hadis nodded blissfully once more.

Too Immature for His Handsome Side

Too Immature for His Handsome Side

“I guess people of House Cervel trip easily,” Hadis remarked.

“Pardon?” Jill asked. “What are you on about?”

The Dragon Consort had never heard of such a thing before. As Jill put on her apron, the Dragon Emperor peeled potatoes beside her.

“Since two days ago, it seems I’ve been helping people who trip right in front of me,” Hadis went on. “Just today, I think I’ve helped three people. Or am I walking right into a trap?”

“I’ve never heard of such a trap or tactic,” Jill replied.

“Me neither. And it’s not like anyone’s done anything to me.”

“What’s Rave saying about it?”

Rave almost never showed himself while he stayed at House Cervel and refused to leave Hadis’s side. Since Kratos was under the Goddess’s jurisdiction, he claimed he didn’t want to interfere. No doubt, there were some sort of rules and regulations that humans couldn’t sense.

“He said that I handled it well and he raised me right,” Hadis answered.

Jill fell silent for a moment. “That makes me nervous now. You haven’t done anything, have you, Your Majesty?”

“Of course not! I just lent a helping hand to the people who tripped in front of me. Maybe the roads are old and rugged or something.”

“I’ll be sure to report back to my parents. But it really isn’t like the Cervel people to trip just because the roads are a bit bumpy…”

The citizens living near the main manor of House Cervel were all retired from the front lines, but they still boasted a strong core and an ample supply of mana. A small squad of them could easily decimate a platoon of mercenaries. Jill raised an eyebrow when she learned that a few bumps in the road would trip them up.

“Yeah, you should report to them,” Hadis said. “Whoops, we’re out of veggies. I didn’t request more from your mother either…”

“Oh, I’ll bring them back for you,” Jill offered.

“That’s all right. I can go. I need to head to the grandpa with the farm, two blocks over, right?”

Hadis already knew of House Cervel’s food suppliers. He removed his headkerchief and took a basket from the shelf.

“That old man loves to fight,” Jill said. “Doesn’t he try to pick one with you, Your Majesty?”

“Yeah, but he gives me veggies if I win against him in arm wrestling,” Hadis replied.

“What?! That sounds like so much fun! I want to join i—”

“I need you to dry the dishes I washed. Don’t touch anything else!” He hastily interrupted Jill before he swiftly exited the kitchen. She frowned with displeasure.

Once Hadis was well enough to be up and about, he chose to stay in House Cervel for one obvious reason, and nothing else—to become the chef. Jill was grateful that he had been given the role since there was no need for food tasters. House Cervel’s villa was an excellent place to recuperate, but it wasn’t the ideal environment to welcome nobles. That served Hadis well, since he was used to taking care of himself. While it was a bit problematic that the battle-hungry citizens challenged Hadis to a match, a simple arm-wrestling competition was easy to turn a blind eye to.

As Jill was lost in her thoughts, she found a towel to dry the dishes.

“Oh? Jill, where’s Hadis?” Charlotte, Jill’s mother, asked. Various ingredients filled her arms. It seemed she’d just missed the emperor.

“He said that we were short on some vegetables and went off to gather them,” Jill replied. “I think he’ll be back soon.”

“I see,” Charlotte replied. “Why don’t you sit down, my dear? Don’t move an inch. You’ll only create more work for others.”

“His Majesty told me to dry these plates! I can help out a little, at least!”

Jill’s mother was acutely aware of how hopeless her daughter was when it came to housework. She tried to chase Jill out of the kitchen, but when she was met with the Dragon Consort’s sharp retort, Charlotte chuckled as she set the vegetables on the table.

“Hee hee, I can’t believe you’re helping out around the house,” Charlotte said. “Hadis continues to impress me.”

“Wh-What do you mean by that?” Jill stammered. “Sure, I’m not great at it, but it’s normal for people to help out, isn’t it?”

“You’ve never offered to help out at home before.”

Jill was unable to refute. Charlotte chuckled as she slipped on her apron.

“I guess you’re reaching that age,” Charlotte said. “I’m happy to see it. Love is so wonderful.”

She was clearly trying to tease her daughter, and Jill knew she mustn’t take the bait. In her utmost effort to remain cool, she switched topics.

“Mother, His Majesty told me that the paved roads around the manor might be a bit too old or poorly maintained,” Jill said. “He sounded worried.”

“Ah, but you’ve still got a long way to go,” Charlotte said meaningfully. “You’re not used to fighting against women.”

Jill had tried her best to change topics, but it didn’t work to her advantage. She froze with a plate in her hand at her mother’s comment.

“I saw,” Charlotte said. “Only girls trip in front of Hadis, don’t they?”

“Only…girls?” Jill parroted. “In front of His Majesty?”

The Dragon Consort slowly furrowed her brows while Charlotte opened a bottle of spices to replenish its contents.

“That’s right,” Charlotte said. “Only girls trip in front of him, and there’s no limit to age. All ladies, from young to old, will fumble over their legs. Hadis is quite amazing, isn’t he? And terribly popular.”

“Wh-What?!” Jill spluttered. “He may not look it, but he’s an emperor, you know! And the Dragon Emperor, no less! He might be popular, but you can’t just walk up to him so casually!”

“We called an entire crowd for the engagement ceremony. A ton of young people are back at the main manor to visit their parents’ home, and we’ve called quite a few from elsewhere, too. Plus, Hadis is always wearing an apron—some people might not have realized his identity.”

That was certainly possible. No matter how handsome he was, if he was in an apron walking around the countryside with vegetables in his arms, people wouldn’t assume that he was an emperor. No one of high status would ever do anything like that.

“Hadis apparently carried a girl who sprained her ankle to her home,” Charlotte explained. “Other girls spotted that, and they must’ve been envious. That encouraged women to trip in front of him.”

“E-Envious?” Jill stammered. “Um… You mean…”

“He might wear an apron, but his face is breathtaking.” Charlotte’s claims were extremely convincing. “And Hadis is very skilled with handling women,” she added.

“H-He is?” Jill asked.

The emperor was known to wail his dissent whenever things didn’t go his way before he tried to flee; Jill could hardly see him as the perfect gentleman. Charlotte chuckled.

“He lends a hand whenever someone trips, and is very considerate,” she said. “He must’ve been raised well. He’s so respectful, polite, and extremely kind.”

That was a good thing. Yet, Jill couldn’t agree. Curse you, God of Logic, she thought. How could you raise His Majesty so that he can maintain appearances? He’s so good at handling matters, but it never comes with any good results.

“The old lady across the street claimed that she feels younger and has gained a few years of life just looking at him,” Charlotte added.

“What is everyone doing?!” Jill cried. “He’s my husband! I’ll go chase after him!”

“Oh dear, if every little thing bothers you, you won’t last long.”

Charlotte’s calmness made her sound like a commander who carefully analyzed her foe on the battlefield.

“At a glance, he’s difficult to approach, but when he smiles, he looks so friendly,” Charlotte mused. “He’s got a childish side, which makes him so adorable. It makes one feel compelled to save and protect him. That’s the impression I get from Hadis. Yet, the fact that he’s difficult to approach isn’t a mere illusion—he draws a clear line that won’t allow one to get close. He might seem to be in your grasp, but he can easily slip away. This enigmatic side only adds to his charm. Any narrow-minded lady would fall for him in no time. He’s a dangerous man, but I suppose he really can’t be to blame.”

“Wh-Why not?” Jill asked. The Dragon Consort struggled to get her apron off while her mother let out a gentle chuckle.

“He’s a man who can seduce the Goddess of Love, after all,” Charlotte said.

🐉🐉🐉

JILL stopped when she spotted him. Huh, he really is handsome. After she raced out of the manor and turned the corner near a few houses, she spotted Hadis lending a hand to a girl. After he helped her to her feet, he helped pick up the contents of her bag, which had spilled onto the ground.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Hadis asked gently.

“I-I’m all right,” the girl replied. “Just a few scrapes.”

“Oh, I’ve got a handkerchief. Could you wait here? It’s best to treat that wound as soon as you can.”

The girl’s face lit up. Jill glared accusingly as she hid behind a house. That girl isn’t trying to keep a memento to remind her of the time when she was saved by His Majesty, is she? Jill wondered. It was certainly possible. A handsome man’s photo or belongings were very precious to some.

The girl appeared apologetic and showed her reservations, but she couldn’t hide the joy on her face. One might even see her as delighted. Within the peaceful countryside, it was exciting to cross paths with a handsome stranger, even if it was just for a moment. It was far too innocent and playful of an attempt that Jill couldn’t find it in her to become furious. The girl who just tripped was three to four years older than Jill, but still younger than Hadis. It felt much too childish for the Dragon Consort to run in and shout that no one was allowed to toy with her husband.

I mean, I’m still eleven, but still. She stared at her tiny palms and sighed. His Majesty is good at acting innocent.

At the corner of the road, she spotted Hadis wrapping his handkerchief around the girl’s palm. Jill leaned against the wall of the house and crouched down. I sort of envy her. His Majesty looks so cool. Will I never see him act that way toward me? She knew that his usual immature antics reflected his real self, and his current attitude was a facade he displayed toward others, but Jill still wasn’t satisfied.

How were ladies other than his wife allowed to enjoy his suave side? No, I must’ve seen him act cool before. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to recall an emperor who wasn’t wearing an apron. What about that time when he led the army in Radia? His profile was illuminated by the crack of dawn. Or that time when he lit up the night sky with his overwhelming powers in the future of my previous timeline. Sure, when he bid me farewell without batting an eye and tried to abandon me, I wanted to clobber him, but if I change perspectives, yeah, he looked handsome.

“But all of those times are when we’re battling or in tatters!” Jill groaned as she covered her face. She shook her head. “No, there must be another time when he looked handsome… When he was just so stunning… And it’s not just his face! There must be an instance where he looked handsome inside and out and acted like the perfect prince!”

Surely, he must’ve looked that way at a banquet or two. Come on, try to remember! Right! We were under a shimmering chandelier, and there was a large plate with a whole-roasted pig. And an all-you-can-eat bowl of pasta! There were these little desserts lined up that glittered like a box of jewels, and a three-tier cake. Jill smiled and slumped her shoulders with visible resignation.

“I give up,” she muttered. “My handsome emperor is…”

“Huh? You’re giving up?” Hadis asked.

Jill spotted her husband crouched down in front of her. She hastily inched back, only to bump into the wall.

“Y-Y-Your Majesty?” Jill asked. “Since when…”

“Since you hid and refused to come out,” Hadis replied. “I was worried that something had happened to you and came to check.”

“At least say something, then!”

“You seemed so lost in your thoughts that I thought it was best to leave you be.”

The two of them were crouching behind the house with their knees touching. Ugh, this is so pathetic. Jill sighed and tried to say something, but she didn’t know what to say.

“Did you get the vegetables?” she asked.

“Sure did,” Hadis replied. He grabbed the basket on the ground and stood up. “Let’s go back. I have to prepare our meal.”

“A-Aren’t you…curious?”

Surely, he knew that Jill was peeping on him, and as he tried to turn his back to her, he stopped.

“I told that girl that she didn’t need to return my handkerchief,” he said.

“I don’t care about that,” Jill replied. “That’s not what I mean.”

“Then is it about how you gave up on seeing my handsome self?”

“E-Er, yeah.”

All Jill could do now was turn defiant. She jumped to her feet to face him.

Hadis shrugged in reply. “But you flee when I try to act cool.”

“Wh-What do you mean by that?!” Jill yelped. “I’m not one to flee from anything!”

“Your parents are here too. I can’t do much. And while you don’t seem to notice, your father in particular gets awfully noisy.”

Jill couldn’t possibly understand what Hadis was talking about. But the emperor walked ahead as though he knew all. She swiftly chased after him, hoping not to be left behind.

“Do you notice what’s going on, if you’re so smart?” Jill demanded. “Those girls are tripping in front of you on purpose!”

“Ah, yeah, I thought so,” Hadis replied. “It happens all the time, though.”

“I-It what?!”

Before Jill could get the rest of her words out, the tip of her shoe dug into the ground, and she lost her balance. But she knew that she could break her fall still. As she braced herself, someone drew her shoulders close and saved her from touching the ground. She turned to see Hadis’s arms protecting her.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Y-Yeah. Thank you,” Jill replied.

Jill didn’t trip. Unlike the other girls who fell to the ground, Hadis acted first and prevented his wife from ever touching the dirt. As this realization hit Jill, she failed to react and couldn’t fix her posture.

“Did you do that on purpose?” Hadis whispered.

The meaning of his query only sank in when she saw his meaningful smirk and heard his low voice. Jill felt like her entire body was on fire as she kicked the ground and jumped away from her emperor.

“O-Of course not!” she stammered. “Why must I purposefully trip in front of you?! I was able to break my fall there! But then you—”

“See?” Hadis interjected. “You fled from me.”

“What?! What are you—”

They just spoke about a handsome Hadis mere moments before. The emperor took a few paces ahead before he tilted his head back, his golden eyes glimmering and his perfect set of lips tugging upward to form a mean smile.

“You see? You’re still a bit too young,” he said.

Jill couldn’t understand what that implied, but she trembled with embarrassment and vexation. She was beet red from the top of her head to the tips of her toes; her ears must’ve been a shade of bright scarlet too. The Dragon Consort clenched her fists and bit her lip. Only when Hadis saw her face did his composure crack and morph into panic.

“Sorry,” he said. “I don’t actually think you tripped on purpose. It just came at such perfect timing that I wanted to tease you, that’s all.”

He looked as though he felt he had taken things too far, and his kindness frustrated Jill even more. She shouted at the top of her lungs, using all her power—surely, even her father could hear her voice.

“You idiot emperor!” she bellowed. “How dare you toy with me!”

“Phrasing! Your poor choice of words will only make people misunderstand!” Hadis cried.

Jill didn’t care. She turned on her heel and walked away as quickly as she could. She heard her husband’s frantic voice behind her, but she wasn’t going to lend a helping hand. After all, he was the man who could seduce even the Goddess of Love. But she knew that he was a man who knelt to his wife.

“Wait, Jill!” Hadis said. “I’m sorry. I was in the wrong.”

“I know that I’m a child!” Jill shouted. “You’re so stupid! You idiot! Dunce! Stay at least three steps away from me! You’re not allowed to draw near!”

“Come on, don’t be so mad. I’ll make your favorites for dinner.”

“I still won’t forgive you!”

“And I’ll add dessert, too. Come on, Jill!”

He whined as he chased after his bride and scooped her up in his arms. Jill didn’t give him permission to draw near and touch her, but he ignored it all.

“Won’t you forgive me?” Hadis begged. “Please?”

His tone was feeble and meek, but his eyes and lips quivered as though they were trying to suppress a strained smile. His mature face said it all—he knew he’d be forgiven. And Jill had no choice but to comply. To prove she wasn’t a child and his genuine wife, it was all she could do. Hadis knew that and still participated in this farce, attesting to his calculating attitude.

It made him look so oddly mature and cool. Infuriated, Jill clung to her husband’s neck. She put too much power into her arms, and Hadis gave a suffocated grunt, but she paid it no heed and quietly squeezed him tight.

“Thank goodness,” Hadis said. “I’ll be sure to cook a delicious meal.”

He walked on as calmly as ever, assuming that he was already forgiven. Jill buried her red face into his shoulder and gave a low growl.

“Don’t you dare underestimate me,” she threatened.

You don’t have the right to decide whether I’m too immature for your cool side or not. His perfect earlobe was right beside her, and she bit down, causing Hadis to jump up and yelp in pain.

On the Other Side of the Family of Justice

On the Other Side of the Family of Justice

AFTER six months, the twins reunited. The older twin looked exactly the same as the day he left, and he remained nonchalant as though he had only parted ways with his brother just yesterday. He casually raised a hand in greeting as he waited in front of the gates of House Cervel’s main manor.

“’Sup, Andy. Guess I was faster,” Rick said.

“Didn’t you just arrive?” Andy replied. “I saw you enter the villa at the foot of the mountain.”

“Then you should’ve called out to me.”

“I had some shopping to do. Abby, Chris, and Matilda might not be home, but I wanted to get some gifts for Mom and Dad. I got Jill a can of snacks, and Catherine’s out training, but I got a little something for her too, just in case.”

“Excuses, excuses. I was here first, even though we left at the same time. Heh heh.” Rick grinned proudly.

The children of House Cervel trained in the Rakia mountains since they were little, and when they turned eight, they headed out to travel around the Kratos Kingdom, earning a living as mercenaries. The boys had just finished their trip, but Rick, the older twin, hadn’t changed one bit.

“I don’t care who’s first, but I hate that we ended up coming home on the same day,” Andy grumbled. “I even went the opposite direction. We’ll be teased about twin telepathy and stuff again.”

“Aw, come on,” Rick replied. “If we’re back the same day, we won’t cause the people around us to worry.”

“How were things on your end? Notice anything?”

“I heard that a Dragon Consort appeared in Rave.”

Andy pushed up his glasses and sighed. “Then it must be true that the King of South Kratos headed for Rave. Everyone seems a bit restless, too, and it’s not because we came back home.”

“I’m sure they’ll tell us if anything happened. But I wanna just sit back and relax for today.”

Rick stretched before he set foot back into his home for the first time in half a year. Andy was exasperated to find his brother as laid-back as ever as he followed Rick into the manor. Should war break out against Rave, House Cervel, geographically located on the border and thus, on the front lines, couldn’t remain uninvolved. The twins hadn’t experienced war just yet, but it was clear that their parents and their people were wary around the border.

Before Andy was born, when the current king was still the crown prince, Kratos’s royal capital suffered a surprise attack, forcing the kingdom to switch capitals. Even without the Dragon Emperor, the two nations clashed time and again. With Rave now gaining a Dragon Emperor, should war break out, one could hardly imagine the damage and devastation that would ensue. Prince Gerald tried to encourage a divide within Rave in hopes of shaving off the emperor’s power, but now that a Dragon Consort had emerged, the danger that the empire possessed increased exponentially. Records indicated that the Dragon Consort was a weapon with the sole mission to take down the Goddess.

Andy felt a tinge of nostalgia as he entered his house through the front door. “I wonder what happened to the engagement with Prince Gerald and Jill,” he said. “I haven’t heard a peep about it, but you think Sis turned him down?”

“She seemed so excited to meet the prince, so I doubt it,” Rick replied. “Maybe they’re just looking for the right timing to announce it publicly.”

Jill had been awfully excited about attending Prince Gerald’s birthday party. His Highness was handsome, intelligent, and even possessed mana that would put her to shame. The twins knew Jill secretly fantasized about a grand proposal at a birthday party, and she truly had no reason to refuse. Or so they thought.

But they were met with surprising news when they asked Billy, their father, about their sister’s whereabouts.

“Jill has become this generation’s Dragon Consort,” their father said, looking as troubled as could be.

🐉🐉🐉

“MY bet’s on her being lured by food,” Rick said.

Once the twins escorted the crown prince to the villa and were on their way back to the main manor, they decided to take a break by the river. Rick grabbed a stone and threw it, watching it bounce across the water’s surface thrice. Andy followed suit and threw his stone into the river as well.

“My money’s on her having no thoughts at all,” Andy said.

“I don’t think even Sis’ll act completely without a plan,” Rick replied. “Her partner’s the emperor of an enemy empire.”

“You think so? She’s good at fighting enemies, but not so sharp when it comes to discerning friend from foe. I feel like she hasn’t really grasped the situation.”

“Yeah, I mean, I don’t think she knows just how much of an awkward situation we’re in. She said she fell in love with the Dragon Emperor at first sight, but I don’t know how true that is.”

“It seems more like she disliked Prince Gerald to me.”

“Had she ever even met His Highness before that night?”

“Don’t think so.”

Rick crouched down to search for another flat stone to throw and emitted a low groan.

“She even snapped the Sacred Spear in two,” he said. “I’m honestly surprised that Prince Gerald still values us so highly. Must be thanks to our ancestors’ accomplishments.”

“Told ya. I don’t think Jill’s got a plan in mind,” Andy added. “I don’t think she’s got the resolve to fight us either.”

“Well, when you put it that way, yeah, I don’t think she has a plan. You might be right.”

A Dragon Consort simply needed to protect the Dragon Emperor. Yet, reality wasn’t so simple. As long as Jill was the daughter of House Cervel and Kratos and Rave remained enemies, she was in a very awkward position.

“But if she really doesn’t have anything in mind, maybe we can convince her with a little chat,” Andy suggested, gazing at a stone he had just picked up.

Rick whirled around. “Rave’s been claiming that they even got the Sacred Treasure of the Dragon Consort. I don’t think a simple little chat will cut it. His Highness’s suggestion is way too forgiving—he’s kind to a fault. He’s trying to make her reject the Dragon Emperor of her own accord.”

“If we ask her to come back, I’m sure she’ll reconsider.”

“Didn’t you hear what Mother said? First off, the Dragon Emperor won’t easily allow his Dragon Consort to escape his grasp. And if Jill’s truly in love with him, then we gotta steel ourselves.”

“You think someone as childish as Jill actually fell in love with someone?”

The twins knew Jill as a sister slightly older than them, who loved delicious food and would train her brothers without showing a shred of mercy. During times of need, she’d kick their behinds and tell them to solve their own problems, but if they were truly in danger, she’d be the first one there to protect them.

“I think she’s just in love with the idea of romance,” Andy said. “If we talk with her, I’m sure she’d understand.”

The stone that Andy unwittingly picked up was jagged and rough—it couldn’t possibly bounce across the river’s surface. Rick walked toward his twin—he was the older half with the same height and face as Andy. Yet, despite all these similarities, it was clear that the older twin had steeled his resolve. Andy felt like he was gazing into a mirror, comparing Rick to himself, the one who still lacked this resolve.

“Maybe,” Rick said. “But you know what they say, love makes you blind. Even if you face Sis head-on and tell her that the Dragon Emperor’s a good-for-nothing guy, I doubt she’d listen and agree. She’s oddly stubborn when it comes to stuff like that.”

Indeed, that was the kind of girl that she was. Whenever Andy pointed out any of her mistakes, she’d become oddly stubborn, and when she clearly snuck in a few snacks before dinner, she’d insist that she did no such thing. He knew that she was strong. She was the perfect candidate to become the Dragon Consort and act as the Dragon Emperor’s shield.

But underneath her veneer of power was a normal girl whom one could meet anywhere. Above all, she was Andy and Rick’s sister. She possessed neither the intelligence nor the resilience to fight against the Goddess and the enemy empire. As Andy fell silent, Rick sighed.

“At the very least, you know that we can’t directly confront her, don’t you?” Rick asked. “The Dragon Emperor would blame our family. But if Sis shows any signs of agreeing with us, maybe we can try speaking with her. We won’t tell Mom or Dad.”

“If we act on our own, we’ll get in trouble,” Andy pointed out.

“All’s well that ends well. Oh, when we return to the main manor, I’ll keep an eye on the Dragon Emperor. You should stay by Sis’s side. You know what I’m getting at, don’t you?”

The implication was that Jill couldn’t possibly be a proper Dragon Consort. There was no way that she could point her blade at her family. The twins just wanted her to understand that.

Andy nodded while Rick patted his shoulder. The older twin bent down to pick up a rock by his feet and threw it at the river. While the younger twin wasn’t sure what shape the rock was, it sank to its watery grave in the riverbed without a single skip. The Great Seals were ready, and the emperor and king would be present as well.

The Dragon Consort angrily ordered the engagement contract to be signed, causing the entirety of House Cervel to be in a state of frenzy. She abandoned cleaning up the aftermath of the battle—a “training exercise,” rather—to force her way through. Even the Rave imperial family was present. There were appearances to maintain, but that was all for naught.

🐉🐉🐉

“ARE we good now? Are you sure?!” Jill asked.

She’d been smacking the venue floor with her whip threateningly until she got her hands on the contract and showed it to Prince Risteard. She made no attempt to show it to her brothers.

“Yeah,” the imperial prince replied.

Andy gazed at the two from afar, knowing that his sister followed the proper steps. His older sister—the Dragon Consort—was no longer willing to have faith in her family. He knew there was nothing he could do if he stayed, so he quietly left the venue with his brother, Rick, in tow.

“She can’t even read the contract for herself,” Rick said cheerfully. “Will she really be all right?”

Andy decided to answer in kind, trying his best to remain as indifferent as possible, as he usually did. “Sure she will,” he said. “Her main role is to be the Dragon Emperor’s shield, after all.”

“Sis has got such peculiar taste,” Rick said. “Oops, maybe we can’t call her so casually anymore. She’s now Her Highness, the Dragon Consort.”

Just as the twins were about to turn the corner of the corridor, they heard a voice.

“Keep it together, Brother. Here, water,” a voice echoed.

The twins stopped and took a peek. They spotted a few people on the sofa in the grand hall near the entrance. The emperor, who had fainted in the venue earlier, was being nursed by his sisters, Princess Elentzia and Princess Natalie. After his older sister carried him out with his little sister beside them, he was apparently brought to rest here. The Grand Seal ceremony was prioritized above all, and there wasn’t enough time to prepare a suitable room for His Imperial Majesty. He looked pale as he leaned heavily into the sofa.

“These…clothes…” he groaned. “So…heavy.”

“C’mon, give me your arms,” Princess Elentzia said. “I’ll help you take that cape off, at least. Sheesh, this thing really is heavy.”

“Sister, don’t toss it on the ground!” Princess Natalie scolded. “This costs an arm and a leg—oops.” The younger imperial sister noticed the twins and flashed a smile. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “Could we place this cape here? If you ask my brother—Prince Risteard—he’ll know where to store this away.”

“Gotcha, sure thing,” Rick replied brightly. “Is he all right? Should I call for someone to help you guys out?” He stepped forward as the older imperial princess turned around with a strained smile.

“Oh, no need for that,” Princess Elentzia said. “If you could prepare a room for us, that would be great. We’ll carry him there.”

“Huh. You siblings get along well,” Andy stated his impression of them.

The emperor was sandwiched between his sisters as he groaned, but the ladies exchanged a glance and chuckled.

“Only recently,” Princess Elentzia said.

“How nice. How do you feel, tearing us siblings apart instead?” Andy asked.

He meant it as a joke, but the ladies’ smiles became strained, triggering feelings of utmost displeasure within him. Did the ladies not even notice what they’d done? Or was everything all fine and dandy so long as they were happy? It was most fitting for the family protected by the Dragon God of Logic; love was nonexistent for them.

“Are you satisfied? Jill, our dear sister, returned to your side,” Andy went on.

“Andy, don’t,” Rick said, his smile fading. “Cut it out.”

But the older twin couldn’t hide anything from his younger brother. Andy knew that despite Rick’s smile of resignation, he had his fists tightly clenched and quivered ever so slightly during the entire Great Seal ceremony.

“You ripped our sister away from her family, used her as a shield, and protected yourselves,” Andy pressed on. “Happily ever after, eh? So? Are you guys happy? The next time we meet our sister, we’ll be enemies, you know. Thanks for that.”

He took a step forward. Princess Elentzia drew her chin back, ready to fight if needed. Princess Natalie bit her lip.

“Why don’t you answer me? How do you feel?” Andy asked again.

He couldn’t see the imperial princesses’ faces well. He gritted his teeth and felt something spill out of his eyes, obfuscating his vision.

“Answer me!” Andy demanded. “Are you guys relieved because you can be one big happy family?! Go on! Admit it!”

“I’ve never felt better,” a reply came, filled with triumphant derision.

The cold tone felt like a splash of cold water on Andy’s face. He didn’t even notice that he was facing the ground, and when he looked up, a pair of golden eyes met his.

“If this hunky-dory atmosphere continued, it would’ve creeped me out to no end,” His Imperial Majesty replied. “The air of malice and spite that you emit is comforting.”

The Dragon Emperor raised the towel from his forehead and flashed a victorious smile.

“That’s right. I stole your precious older sister from you,” he said. “And I tore your family apart. Should the circumstances call for it, I’ll make you kill each other. Sucks to be you, huh? But I can be with my beloved bride, and I’m so, so happy about that.”

“You ass…” Andy growled.

“I won, and you guys lost. Losers get stuff stolen from them. Isn’t that the only natural conclusion?”

Andy knew that. He was well aware that his outburst was him simply taking his anger out on them; he was being a sore loser. The boy clenched his fists with frustration. All the while, the Dragon Emperor sat up straight and formed a calm smile.

“Only a nonsensical claim of love dictates that the loser loses nothing at all,” the Dragon Emperor said. “And I suppose that makes you correct.”

“By your logic, if we win, it’s only natural that you’d have something taken away from you,” Rick said, stepping forward with his usual sunny smile. The smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “That’s the conclusion of logic, isn’t it?”

As the twins lined up next to each other, the emperor averted his gaze to the ground.

“That’s right,” he said. “You can come steal her back from me.”

The Dragon Emperor, protected by logic, expelled words of mercy from his lips—a privilege granted only to the victor.

“You guys are adept at combat, aren’t you?” His Majesty continued. “Why not come for me in hopes of taking back your sister and rebuilding your familial ties that were torn asunder? I won’t run or hide. I’ll face the entirety of your animosity. It’s the job of the Dragon Emperor to correct any mistakes.”

Andy clenched his teeth. No matter how much he cried or wailed, his sister had chosen this man. If he wanted to prioritize his sister’s feelings, trying to defeat the emperor was simply to fulfill the young Cervel’s hopes of self-satisfaction. Yet, the Dragon Emperor cast judgment on others and allowed justice to prevail. Hence, he was willing to accept any challenges.

Rick patted his brother’s shoulder. Andy took a deep breath and did his utmost to plaster a fake smile onto his face.

“I’m just joking around,” Andy said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“That’s right, Andy. You took it a step too far,” Rick said. “Sorry about him, ladies.” The older twin put his hands together innocently in a gesture of apology.

Princess Elentzia pursed her lips and shook her head. “Don’t be,” she said. “You kids are so young and yet so powerful. I fear for the future.”

“I’ll take the cape to my other brother,” Princess Natalie said with a smile. “You two may leave,” she ordered.

It was clear that Princess Elentzia was wary of them as well. Andy didn’t hate this shift of attitude; it made it all the easier to vow that he’d one day slaughter the despicable members of the Rave imperial family.

“Then please excuse us,” Rick said. “Oh, and Big Brother Hadis, won’t you make us some curry again?”

“I…can’t…right now,” the emperor groaned.

“Brother! And he’s out,” Princess Natalie said.

“We’ve got no choice,” Princess Elentzia sighed. “Let’s carry him.”

“Get well soon, Dragon Emperor,” Andy said before departing with his brother.

The two proceeded down the corridor when Rick broke the silence.

“Jill’s gotten herself involved with a troublesome guy,” he said casually.

“Yeah,” Andy agreed. “She’s a problematic older sister, all right. I’d like her to put herself in our shoes—we’re the ones that have to save her.”

“Rick, Andy,” their mother called out.

The two noticed her only when she raised her voice. Had she heard the conversation they had earlier? No one had the answer to that. She outstretched her arms wide to envelop the twins in a tight embrace.

“You two did well,” she said.

Their mother must’ve been pained about this entire situation as well. The daughter that she so preciously raised became an enemy, and her husband was almost killed. Yet, she had to press on with a sunny smile. The twins could understand the logic behind it, but they were citizens who protected the Kingdom of Love.

“Damn it,” Rick muttered.

“You shouldn’t cry, dude,” Andy pointed out.

“You cried first, Andy!”

The emperor was the one who protected logic and judged people as the force of justice. But he would never understand what the Cervels had lost. No matter what happened from here on out, even if Jill was successfully dragged back to Kratos, the older sister who taught her brothers how to skip stones would never return.

Our sister is gone. But don’t act spoiled, Andy told himself. At least have the resolve to kill her if you meet her on the battlefield. As tears streamed down his cheeks in his mother’s arms, he vowed to be born anew.

He swore to one day shatter the emperor’s logic and prove him wrong.

A “Welcome Back” Not According to Plan

A “Welcome Back” Not According to Plan

VISSEL gazed at his gathered siblings’ faces, then stood up.

“Here’s a brief summary of our plans,” he said as he pointed to the map on the wall and began to explain their tactics. “After Hadis leaves, Natalie and Sister Elentzia will immediately head to Verrat. We’ll send Natalie to Kratos, and Elentzia, you’ll be on standby on the boat until you receive our signal. All the while, the army waiting in Radia will gather at the border. Risteard, you negotiate with Duke Lehrsatz and Duke Neutrahl to borrow their troops before you place them in formation. Then use your squad of Dragon Knights to fight and offer support. Remember to be flexible and adaptable.”

“I’m surprised that the Three Dukes are willing to offer their support,” Elentzia said from her seat with her legs crossed. Her tone was laced with suspicion; the usually easygoing princess was astute during times like these. “What do they want?”

“The moment we dispatched the army to Radia, both Duke Lehrsatz and Duke Neutrahl jumped at the opportunity to help,” Vissel replied. “Should war be declared, their lands won’t go unscathed. All I said was that the Dragon Emperor was personally heading out to visit the Dragon Consort’s parents so that he could officially be engaged to her.”

Needless to say, none of the Three Dukes was foolish enough to take Vissel’s words at face value.

Risteard slumped his shoulders. “No wonder they happily lent their aid. Duke Lehrsatz will probably hold back, but we should be wary about Duke Neutrahl jumping the gun. We ought to tell him that this is just a form of intimidation and nothing more. He must understand that.”

“I’m sure Duke Neutrahl knows not to start anything,” Vissel replied. “Even more so since he’ll be up against House Cervel.”

“Because…war…might start?” Frida asked Natalie.

Two sofas faced each other in front of the office desk, and the youngest princess sat on one of them as she turned to her older sister.

Natalie elegantly took a sip of her tea. “We’ll be fine,” she said coolly. “If I get engaged to the crown prince of Kratos, we can maintain peace.”

“Yup,” Hadis added. He was the only one who sat at his desk, fiddling with and twirling his pen. “Besides, I just want to greet my in-laws, that’s all. I think they’ll welcome me. I’m looking forward to it.”

He rested his face in his hands as a cruel smile danced across his lips. Frida fell silent, Natalie gazed at him with exasperation, Elentzia guffawed, and Risteard massaged between his furrowed brows.

“Don’t provoke them too much,” Risteard warned. “Be sure to hold yourself back as much as you can. This is for Lady Jill’s sake, too.”

“I know,” Hadis replied.

“Um…” Frida piped up again gingerly. “Are we sure…that we can…keep it a secret from Sister Jill?”

“We don’t need to tell Jill any of this,” Elentzia replied firmly. “It’ll make it easier for her to realize our intentions, and we can have her choose after all’s said and done. She’s free to choose her side.”

“Oh? Sister Elentzia, do you think the Dragon Consort will betray us?” Vissel asked.

“I want her to remain our Dragon Consort, of course. But it’s hard to fight your roots.”

Frida knitted her brows sorrowfully as she turned back to Hadis. “Brother… Please bring…Sister Jill back.”

“I plan to,” Hadis replied. “But it’s Jill’s choice—”

“Even…if you have to tie her up. You must…bring her back.”

Frida’s terrifying demands made Hadis turn solemn and everyone else go rigid. Only the youngest princess maintained her usual demeanor as she muttered pensively.

“Sister Jill…has a strong sense of responsibility,” she said. “If we…hurt House Cervel enough, I think…they’ll give up. And then…if Brother Hadis sobs to her and begs…for her sympathy, we might be able to keep her.”

“I have to cry and beg?!” Hadis yelped.

“I’ll…also cry tons. Why don’t…we ask Mother for tips?”

It seemed the ladies of the Empress’s Palace had a few tricks up their sleeves when it came to getting their way by crying, and Frida wanted to employ those tactics to resolve this problem.

Risteard placed a hand on his forehead as he groaned. “What in the world has Mother been teaching you?”

“But I think she’s on to something,” Natalie said. “Brother Hadis’s crying face just might be able to stop her.”

The emperor’s two younger sisters stared at him, but Hadis frowned.

“No,” he said like a sulking child. “I won’t do that this time around. I won’t give Jill any excuses and make it seem like she has no other choice. That would be a display of contempt toward the Dragon Emperor and the Dragon God.”

He wanted the Dragon Consort to make her own decision without any cheap tricks. Would she burn her home or the Rave Empire?

“I don’t need a Dragon Consort who’ll only reluctantly protect the Dragon Emperor from the Goddess,” Hadis said.

It was during these times that his gaze was terribly cold. His golden eyes held no warmth of a human and were filled with the indifference of a God. Natalie and Frida faltered, unfamiliar with this frightening iciness, but Elentzia and Risteard stood there as proud as ever.

“We know,” Risteard said. “But if Lady Jill chooses her home, it’d mean that you were rejected, Hadis. We’d lose face.”

“That won’t happen,” Hadis replied. “It’s why I’m getting ready to deploy the army toward House Cervel.”

“I see. She’d be a war trophy of sorts. I suppose if the worst comes to pass, that would be our compromise.”

“Don’t look so angry, Brother Risteard. I’ll feel bad for Jill.”

“This outcome is far too nice, if you ask me. After all, she has the gall to call herself the ‘Dragon Consort.’”

It was only natural to wipe out a traitor. Failing to do so while keeping her beside the emperor made little sense. Everyone was aware of Hadis’s naivete, but no one could raise their voice to berate him for it. They believed that the Dragon Emperor would never drown in love and bend his logic, but above all, they must’ve sensed Hadis’s feelings.

“But it seems like Jill’s trying her best to convince her family that she can marry me,” Hadis added. “I might just be needlessly worrying about it all.”

He knew best that that wasn’t the case. If he truly believed there was no cause for concern, he wouldn’t have crafted an elaborate plan in case war broke out between the two nations. Yet, he desperately wanted to trust the Dragon Consort and tried to protect her.

Vissel huffed through his nose with annoyance. “I doubt that the Dragon Consort’s plan will be of any use. We’ll depart tomorrow. I want all of you to prepare yourself, and don’t get distracted by the Dragon Consort.”

Elentzia gallantly stood up and left with Risteard while Natalie called for a lady-in-waiting to clean up the tea. While all the siblings hurriedly left, only Hadis remained calmly in his seat.

“Are you still concerned about something, Hadis?” Vissel asked as he took down the map on the wall.

The Dragon Emperor sighed. “I was thinking about how I should greet my in-laws. I want to leave a positive impression if I can.”

His worries paled in comparison to the grand scheme that was about to commence, but Vissel humored his brother. Had the imperial crown prince revered Hadis as the Dragon Emperor, he would’ve likely scolded Hadis for his careless remark.

“You’re a good kid,” Vissel said. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. I guarantee that they’ll take a liking to you.”

“I feel like that’s not really what I’m hoping for…” Hadis mused.

“You’re really going out of your way to greet her parents, huh? You truly do love the Dragon Consort, I see.”

As Vissel ruminated over this reality, Hadis turned to him.

“Don’t you have a fiancée?” Hadis asked. “What’s going on with her?”

“Nothing’s going on,” Vissel replied curtly. “I’m not so young that I’d fall in love and fantasize about a woman I’ve never met.”

“Why don’t you go and meet her? You’re not set on canceling your engagement with her, are you?”

To stabilize his position as crown prince, Vissel was engaged to the daughter of George, the former emperor’s younger brother. However, his household had fallen when George masterminded the Riot of the False Emperor and was reduced to a traitor. His daughter was to be executed as well, but Hadis displayed his benevolence and generosity toward her and George’s death. While a part of George’s land was confiscated, Vissel was allowed to keep the engagement if he wished.

“I sent her a letter,” Vissel said. “I gave her the choice of either siding with you, or following suit with her father and becoming eviscerated from society.”

“And did she reply?” Hadis asked.

“Her letter’s probably buried in that stack.” Vissel glanced at a box of letters addressed to him. Hadis hastily peered into the box.

“You have to at least read her response!” the emperor cried. “Which one is it? Rave, help me search!”

Vissel looked wearily at his younger brother, who dared to use the Dragon God for such a menial task. “Stop that,” he said. “It’s not worth searching for. I already know her answer anyway. She probably seeks vengeance on me for her father, or is acting like a heroine of some sort of tragedy.”

“Wait, this might be it!” Hadis cried. “This letter’s from Verrat! What was her name again?”

Was it thanks to the Dragon God? Hadis found the letter easily, but this was no way to treat a deity. When Vissel saw his brother’s eyes sparkle with excitement, the crown prince decided to go with the flow.

“I think her name’s Gloria,” Vissel said. “If she’s using her mother’s maiden name, she should be Gloria de Muffy.”

“Then this is the one!” Hadis said. “Here. Read it!”

As the emperor pushed the letter into the crown prince’s hands, Vissel gave a look of displeasure.

“I’m worried about you, you know,” Hadis said sulkily. “I want you to be happy, too.”

When people were anxious about themselves, they often worried about others; it was easier to fret about someone else, after all. Vissel gave a wry smile.

“You just need to worry about yourself,” he said.

If Hadis planned on making Jill his war trophy, he didn’t need to wait for the Dragon Consort to make her choice. And yet, he decided to humor her whims and head to her home to greet his in-laws. If he wanted to destroy House Cervel, he could just plan to utilize any openings, but he only chose to apply pressure to them by keeping the army nearby.

This entire scheme was Hadis battling with himself. It hinged on him coldly assuming that the Dragon Consort could never betray her family, while he also harbored a sliver of naïve hope that he could trust her. Kratos could take advantage of the opening made by his internal struggle. Vissel wasn’t about to bet on the fact that the enemy would let this opportunity slip by. If necessary, I’ll make the necessary decision myself, he thought.

“I know, Brother,” Hadis said as though he’d read his brother’s mind. “I’ll be fine.”

The emperor silently locked eyes with his brother, and Vissel finally sighed. The crown prince had already decided not to act so independently. Hence, he even wrote a letter to his fiancée—an unusual act for him.

“If you say so,” Vissel said. “I’ll trust you and wait here, hoping to say, ‘welcome back’ when you return.”

“Yeah,” Hadis said. “I’ll go look for some souvenirs with Jill.”

“Isn’t it…tough for you?”

Hadis wanted to have faith in his beloved, but deep down, he doubted her while acting as if he trusted her.

“Equal parts tough and happy,” Hadis replied. “Love never goes according to plan.”

He flashed a genuine smile before he left. ‘Not according to plan,’ huh… As Vissel remained alone in the office, he recalled the letter in his hand. Would his fiancée side with Hadis or her father? Neither response would surprise him. Since his brother insisted, Vissel had no choice but to open the envelope. He reached for a paper knife and sliced it open.

Letters from ladies were usually laced with the aroma they used, but no scent greeted Vissel’s nose. The stationery wasn’t lavish either. Was she being treated poorly as the daughter of a rebel? A downgrade in her opulent lifestyle was to be expected, but if it was taken too far, he needed to take proper measures against it. Hadis didn’t wish for her to be treated horribly. The crown prince unfolded the letter.

His name was inscribed neatly and beautifully in dark-blue ink.

To Crown Prince Vissel Teos Rave.

I’m terribly sorry about my belated response. Regarding your question, I believe House Muffy will provide you with some sort of response. I don’t know, and I don’t care, but please wait a little longer.

Now then, you need not worry about how I will conduct myself. I’ve gone out to sea to pursue my dream of becoming a tuna fisherwoman.

And it’s all thanks to your threatening letter. The people who jumped to conclusions tried to take care of me, if you catch my drift. With my life on the line, I’ve no need to hold myself back, now, do I? I proudly defeated them all and walked out the front door, allowing me to enjoy a life of freedom. I’m also with my trusty yellow dragon, Tuina. A dragon makes a world of difference when it comes to tuna fishing, did you know? I’m still training to become a fully-fledged fisherwoman, but when I can catch tuna on my own, I’ll present one to you to express my gratitude.

You may proceed with the engagement as you please. Though, while I’m still a member of the Rave imperial family, I doubt you’d be able to do much until you can catch hold of me. I suppose the Dragon Emperor’s generosity worked against you. In fact, you may never be able to marry. Oh, how I pity you so, poor child.

But see, know that your actions are to blame. Precisely because you didn’t come to meet me once, your ineptitude has come to bite you back. You pathetic man.

Have a blessed day.

P.S. If you plan to cross the borders from the southern seas, I can help provide a smokescreen if you beg. I’m currently fighting with Lady Abby of House Cervel over territorial waters. Please tell Cousin Elentzia to visit me.

For a moment, Vissel thought he heard the triumphant laugh of a woman with long, blonde princess curls fluttering behind her. Before he knew it, he threw the letter onto the floor.

“My ineptitude?!” Vissel rumbled.

Why was she catching tuna? Why was she almost killed? And above all, how in the world did she know about their plan to cross the borders? There was so much information to unpack that Vissel could hardly keep up. But one thing was clear: he was being mocked.

This woman hardly had any rumors swirl about her; she was simply the daughter of the emperor’s younger brother. George didn’t mention her much either, and Vissel assumed that she was a normal, run-of-the-mill noblewoman, but he greatly misread her. He had no choice but to admit his mistake openly. But thanks to this letter, he knew he absolutely had to cancel this engagement.

Even if Vissel would one day need to surrender his title of crown prince, he knew that his marriage would be a huge political move for Hadis. Would Vissel’s precious plan be utterly ruined by this eccentric woman? Perish the thought.

Vissel picked up the letter from the ground and tore it to shreds. The fragments of white paper fluttered to the floor. Indeed, he’d never met his fiancée before, and he didn’t expect anything from her; still, he felt betrayed by her somehow. Despite his frustrations, laughter began to well up within him. Is this what his younger brother felt toward the Dragon Consort?

“Indeed, it really doesn’t go according to plan!” Vissel shouted.

But in his case, his emotions didn’t come from love—they originated from rage.

🐉🐉🐉

MOMENTS after his younger brothers set out, the signal arrived. A round black dragon with gold eyes crawled over to Vissel, buried in a mountain of documents, and used his body and arms to send a signal.

“Rawr! Rawr!”

It was such a pathetic signal, and Vissel was glad that the Dragon Queen arrived shortly after to translate her husband’s words. The signal was sent out to all the dragons, and the situation turned out exactly as Hadis expected. Elentzia headed south atop a ship with Rosa, and Risteard crossed the Rakia mountains into Kratos from the north to collect Hadis. The Three Dukes in charge of assisting security at the border waited patiently for the judgment that the Dragon Emperor would cast upon his consort. They wanted to see if Hadis was capable of sound ruling. Vissel remained behind in the imperial castle, giving out orders. He couldn’t watch the scene unfold with his own eyes and could only wait for reports. So, the Dragon Consort chose her home.

Vissel knew that something would change the moment he let Jill and Hadis leave. He hated that his face scrunched up with regret; he couldn’t possibly claim that the Dragon Consort was naïve without sounding like a hypocrite. He found himself staring out the window of his office toward the direction of the border. The Dragon King was by his feet, waiting as well.

“Hadis hasn’t ordered to deploy the army yet, has he?” Vissel asked.

The dragon shook his head.

“If he left me to handle it, I could’ve destroyed House Cervel without him ever sullying his hands.”

The baby dragon looked up at the crown prince with the same golden eyes as Hadis.

“I know. I’m just being selfish. No, I guess I’m taking my anger out on the Dragon Consort.”

The Dragon God only permitted the Dragon Consort to keep her love. She needed it to fight against the Goddess. Only the Dragon Consort could uphold love and logic without any contradictions. And only she could offer her love to the Dragon Emperor without turning her back on logic. Vissel was infuriated to learn that his hopes in her had been betrayed.

According to reports, Jill pursued her engagement to be accepted by her home kingdom by rescuing Gerald and battling the Kratos king. No matter the process that led her there, this was an unthinkable choice for the Dragon Consort. Since Hadis had already made his decision, Jill would return to Rave no matter what. If she came back in chains, Vissel was eager to scoff at her. She swore to protect Hadis, yet her half-baked resolve caused her to break her oath. She was a pitiful loser.

“Rawr!” the Dragon King squeaked. He suddenly stood tall before he placed his paws on his tiny cheeks and wriggled around. “R-Rawr! Raaaaar!”

Vissel couldn’t speak the draconic language. Yet, for some reason, he thought he heard the dragon wail, “J-Jill! Jiiiill!” Surely, the crown prince’s mind was playing tricks on him. He quietly observed the dragon.

“Rawr! Rawr rar! Rawr! Rawr raaaawr!”

The dragon began to squeak with a sparkle in his eyes, and Vissel smiled and nodded back.

“Noted. I’ll prepare a prison cell for the Dragon Consort,” he said. “Ah, shall I also mobilize our forces? I’m worried about Hadis. I guess this is the perfect time to invade Kratos and lay waste to them.”

“Rawr?! Rawr! Rawr Rawr! Ra ra ra ra rar rawr ra rar!”

“If we start a war, I’m sure that the Dragon Consort will resign herself to her fate,” Vissel said. “She’ll know she can’t go back to how she once was. Oh, the sorrow! Oh, the horror! It pains me to think I’ll have to burn the Dragon Consort’s home down. But it seems we have no other method to bring the Dragon Consort back. It’s truly a pity.”

“Rawr!”

“Yep, no other way.”

“Raaar!”

“None at all.”

“Raaaaawr!”

The Dragon King clearly voiced his dissent as he smacked Vissel with his tail. All of a sudden, a shadow loomed over the window, and sensing a dragon, Vissel tried to make a hasty retreat. Before he could leave the room, the wind burst the doors of the terrace wide open.

“What’s wrong, my husband?!” the Dragon Queen cried.

How can we go back to how we once were? We can’t. There’s no way we can. I refuse to believe it. Vissel didn’t even want to imagine the absolutely troublesome method needed. I should stop thinking about silly affairs and solemnly prepare to invade the Cervel fief. Oh, and I should make sure that I won’t hear any more reports. Yeah, that’s an excellent idea. I’ll do just that. Vissel hurried down the corridor when a soldier hastily came up to him.

“Your Highness!” the soldier cried. “We received an expedited package to the kitchen! It’s tuna!”

“Seriously?! Now?” Vissel rumbled.

“I-I’m terribly sorry! But a yellow dragon came to deliver it, courtesy of Duke Verrat, apparently! And inside the box with tuna was this slip of paper.”

Vissel did his best to look and sound as calm as he could before scanning the paper that the soldier provided.

“Congrats!★ The Dragon Consort’s triumphant return!” Vissel read in his mind.

“Your Highness, the Dragon Queen calls for you!” another soldier called. “The Dragon Consort took Crown Prince Gerald as hostage to have him study abroad in Rave! The Dragon Emperor seems to have a message for you as well, so please head to the courtyard! The dragons are all restless and refuse to calm down!”

“I’ve got a report, Your Highness!” another shouted. “A spy has told us that the clash between the Dragon Consort and House Cervel has practically destroyed the Queen’s Palace of the King of South Kratos! Details are unknown.”

“I’ve got a coded message from one surveilling the Rakia mountains!” another reported. “A change has been detected on the summit of the northern region of the Rakia mountains!”

“Crown Prince Vissel, General South has reported that Duke Lehrsatz and Duke Neutrahl are trying to retreat from the borders of their own accord!” another soldier cried. “Did you already know about this?!”

All right. The Dragon Consort’s to blame for all of this. As Vissel found himself peppered by reports, he crushed the paper in his hand.

🐉🐉🐉

A month after the tumultuous flurry of reports, the Dragon Emperor and his consort returned to the imperial castle atop a purple-eyed black dragon.

“I’m back, Prince Vissel. Thank you for staying behind,” Jill said.

“Welcome back, Dragon Consort,” Vissel replied. “I’ve heard that you played quite a role in this series of events.”

“Not as much as you, working hard behind the scenes.”

“Oh, please don’t be so humble. I’ve heard that you convinced Crown Prince Gerald to study abroad here so that he could deepen Kratos’s friendly ties with us. All I could do was watch over things from the imperial castle.”

“Hahaha. Then you’re truly impressive! All you did was watch, and you managed to enlist the support of the Three Dukes and the imperial army by the border. Could I just say one thing? Don’t ever try to trick me again.”

“I refuse.”

The two glared at each other, their smiles never quite reaching their eyes. This was a waste of time. The Dragon Consort clicked her tongue and headed for Elentzia, Natalie, and Frida, who arrived to welcome her back. Vissel huffed angrily as he watched her leave when he noticed Hadis gingerly walk up to him.

“Um… Brother Vissel, are you mad?” Hadis asked.

“Why would I be angry?” Vissel asked.

“Uh, because of Prince Gerald. You had to explain it all to the Three Dukes, and you took care of administrative duties. I imagine it was really tough for you since we headed in a completely different direction from our preparations.”

“Where’s the engagement contract?”

Hadis took out a tube from the small bag around his waist. Inside was the contract. As Vissel scanned the document, the days he had spent until now filled his mind like a flashback.

Amid all the pressure and confusion, Vissel had to prepare to welcome the Kratos crown prince and allow him to study in Rave. Vissel hardly had time to sleep as he inspected each area and even negotiated with the Three Dukes—he thought he heard his veins pop from anger several times during the process. There was hardly a ripple in his now-calm heart as he smiled.

“I did all that for this…” Vissel growled. “I’d love to turn this paper into ashes.”

Hadis quickly grabbed the contract from his brother’s hand, placed it in the tube, and hid it behind his back.

“I’m just joking,” Vissel said. “Crown Prince Gerald is here as quiet as ever. Risteard did say that he’d add a magic seal again when you returned.”

“Right, he’s in handcuffs right now, isn’t he?” Hadis asked. “We can’t keep him in cuffs forever since he’s supposedly studying here. We’ve got to maintain appearances.”

“I’ll get someone who can pry some info out of him. The crown prince wished for a teacher. He said that he wants to use this opportunity to study the faith of the Dragon God while he’s here.”

“Why not? I’ve got no intention of meeting him, though.”

As Hadis casually rejected the crown prince, he appeared the same as ever. Vissel stared at the Dragon Consort, speaking with Frida a short distance away. She hadn’t changed either.

“You’ve got some work left, but the worst has passed,” Vissel said. “You can rest for a bit.”

“No, I’ll gather the Three Dukes,” Hadis said. It was clear that his mindset had shifted. “I’m in no rush, but I want to take care of Kratos while they’re meek and quiet. It pisses me off when I see them trying to buy time. The dukes dispatched soldiers under the assumption that war might break out against Kratos, right? Tell them that I recognize their hard work.”

“You think those doddering, old men will happily jump at your summons with a bit of praise? This’ll be tough…”

“I’ll ask Brother Risteard and Sister Elentzia to do the negotiating. As for Duke Verrat…” Hadis glanced at Vissel. The emperor didn’t need to spell it out.

“It’s a pain, but this is none other than your order. I’ll do it,” Vissel said.

“Thank you,” Hadis replied.

“Luckily, I’ve got a little funny story to tell. Speaking of which, Hadis, do you like tuna?”

The emperor blinked blankly. “Tuna? Why?”

“We got some frozen tuna delivered. It’s in the kitchen. How do you even count an entire tuna—is it just…one tuna?”

“Er… Aren’t tunas, like, huge? I’ve never cut into one before.”

“You can ask someone to do it for you. But I hope you can preserve some so it’ll last a good while.”

“Sure, but are you gonna give it to someone? Duke Verrat, perhaps? I know that his territory is involved with the fishing trade.”

“I’m the type to use whatever I can at my disposal and handsomely reward people for their work.”

Vissel said so much, yet so little, as he walked ahead. Hadis hastily jogged after him and peeked behind Vissel to peer into his face.

“Did something nice happen, Brother?” Hadis asked.

His gestures reminded Vissel of his childhood days with his brother.

“Nice? No, nothing like that,” Vissel replied. “In fact, I’ve been hit with a series of headache-inducing requests that I never expected. I wonder who could be to blame…”

“Ah, Brother Risteard!” Hadis shouted. “I’m back!”

The emperor spotted his other brother a good distance away and fled as though he didn’t hear a word of Vissel’s complaints. No doubt Risteard would nag again about the emperor staying in Kratos for too long. Hadis knew this, but he must’ve been secretly happy to receive some attention. Vissel’s younger brother loved to act spoiled, after all. Perhaps this was just another side effect of certain ideas not going as planned.

Vissel sighed as he recalled his fiancée, with whom he couldn’t cut ties. But what can I do? I’m living in an age where the Goddess’s vessel is rumored to become the next queen. But I can’t let a woman harpooning tuna atop a yellow dragon become Hadis’s sister-in-law.

“Brother Vissel!” Hadis cried. “Brother Risteard’s bullying me!”

“Enough!” Risteard roared. “Answer me already! What kind of detour did you make? You didn’t do something stupid again, did you?! Both you and your wife shouldn’t be wandering around playing as you ride atop the Dragon Queen’s back!”

“Risteard, the entirety of the Rave Empire is Hadis’s,” Vissel said. “He can do as he likes.”

“Yeah! Say it again for the people in the back!” Hadis shouted. “I even brought you guys souvenirs!”

“But admittedly, I don’t know of your plans, Hadis. Why don’t we head to the office and have a little chat?”

“Exactly,” Risteard said. “I’ll have you spill everything. The moment I look away, you’re always up to no good.”

“Aw, all I did was head with Jill to the hot springs to recuperate a little…” Hadis whined.

“That’s a huge problem!” Risteard and Vissel roared.

As the two older brothers surrounded the emperor, it took only a few seconds for a flurry of fists to greet them, courtesy of their older sister, the eldest of the bunch. As the siblings tried to flee, it turned into a familiar sight. But until recently, this was thought to be a seemingly impossible situation—no doubt Hadis agreed. Suddenly, Vissel realized that he’d forgotten to tell his younger brother a very important thing.

“Hadis,” Vissel said.

“What?” Hadis asked. “It’s your guys’ fault that I’m being lectured the moment I came back here!”

“Welcome back.”

Truly, Vissel was glad that nothing had gone according to his plan. He could only hope that reality would continue not to go according to his assumptions, so he could welcome his brother back every time he encountered an unexpected situation. He vehemently prayed that his wishes would be conveyed.

“I’m home,” Hadis said with the happiest smile.

What About Our Family?

What About Our Family?

THE moment Jill entered the room, she opened the window. Her room within the imperial castle had been kept clean even while she was away. The room was nice and comfortable, but it felt even better when she opened a window to let a refreshing breeze inside. The air was a touch chillier than she remembered, and dry. She assumed the imperial castle and her hometown in Kratos were at a similar elevation, but the wind was a stark reminder of the differences.

Yeah… I’m not overcome with nostalgia here, Jill thought. My childhood home hits a lot harder.

This would be Jill’s first summer in the Rave Empire—she had nothing to be nostalgic about yet. She didn’t feel completely relaxed in her room here either; it’d only been a few months since she was provided with her own space. Indeed, she was far more used to her room back at House Cervel.

Jill knew she could only feel these differences because she had returned to this castle. In a daze, she gazed out the window to enjoy the scenery when she spotted her husband rushing through the garden.

“Your—” Jill started.

“Hadis! Wait!” an angry voice roared. “Don’t run! Stop!”

“Fat chance!” Hadis cried. “Both you and Brother Vissel are to blame! It’s all because you picked a fight with me the moment I returned!”

Hadis wasn’t alone—he was with his two older brothers. Clearly, they weren’t there to enjoy a leisurely stroll. Hadis fled into the garden.

“Enough,” Vissel scolded. “Both of you should keep quiet. Our sister might notice us.” The crown prince leaned his back against a tree trunk with his arms crossed in annoyance.

Risteard took out his pocket watch. “Sister needs to go training soon,” he said. “If we manage to flee until then, we should be good.”

“Ah! Okay, how about this?” Hadis suggested. “We all run our separate ways, and I’ll head for Jill.”

“Hell no! You’re just trying to ditch work!” Risteard grabbed Hadis by the scruff of his neck. The emperor pouted.

“Our older sister’s a simple person,” Hadis said. “If anything else catches her attention, she’ll forget about us immediately. And Jill will protect me. Brother Risteard, why don’t you go to Frida and have her protect you?”

“Hadis… I don’t think an older brother should beg his little sister for help,” Risteard replied.

“Aww, but I think that’s the best solution. And Brother Vissel can…” Hadis’s smile faded.

Vissel’s lips curved up in an eerily soft smile. “What about me, Hadis?” the crown prince asked.

“Can…” Hadis tried again, but to no avail.

“Are you unable to think of anyone who will protect me from her?”

“Brother Risteard said it! Oh, yeah! He said he worried about that!”

The emperor hid behind Risteard, whose cheek twitched.

“Hadis, I’ve said no such thing,” Risteard insisted. “But it’d be remiss of me to deny the truth. It reminds me of the age-old adage, you reap what you sow.”

“Oh?” Vissel replied.

An argument ensued between the three brothers. With all the noise and fuss they were making, it was only a matter of time before Elentzia found them. Jill let out an awkward laugh before she pursed her lips. Her hands slipped away from the windowsill as she sank to the ground with her back against the wall. Those brothers got along well. She clutched her knees and rested her chin on her kneecaps. I…used to get along well with my siblings, too.

The Dragon Consort calmly assessed her reality. That was poor timing on my part. She was relieved that she could return to the castle from House Cervel unscathed, but she felt no sense of nostalgia or attachment to the home that she returned to. After all, she couldn’t get used to this new environment as she faced her own reality.

Her hometown, which she’d sworn to never return to as a show of her resolve, was filled to the brim with many things she found dear. There were the citizens who treated her so preciously, her father, who would spar with her as many times as she wished, and her mother, who would always prepare heaping piles of food after training sessions.

Jill recalled chasing after her mischievous younger brothers—the twins loved to pull pranks. And she’d searched for her youngest sister when she got lost. There was a time when Jill needed to be rescued by her oldest brother when she went off on an adventure searching for dragons and lost her way. Her usually strict older sister didn’t utter a word of complaint and helped Jill bathe that day. The following day, the second-eldest sister taught Jill how to navigate even in the middle of the mountains. The Cervel siblings were close.

We were close. It’s all in the past now. Jill bit her lip. What do I do? But what could she do? She had decided on this path for herself, and she chose to hold her head high. When she looked up with renewed confidence, she was met with the Dragon God.

“R-Rave?!” Jill stammered.

“Heya,” the Dragon God replied. He flashed his usual, friendly grin as he floated in the air.

“A-Are you allowed to be away from His Majesty?”

“He’s nearby. And I don’t need to be glued to his side here.”

The Dragon God’s claims implied that the imperial castle was a safe place for Hadis. No doubt, he couldn’t have been this relaxed a mere several months ago. Jill was genuinely relieved to hear of this change. Thank goodness. Her lips formed a smile.

“Are His Majesty and his siblings still quarreling?” Jill asked.

“Nope. They fled like baby spiders when a certain someone found them.”

Jill burst out laughing. “Then His Majesty might flee here.”

“Likely. Anyways, Missy, I just wanna tell you that you aren’t wrong.”

When Jill turned back to the Dragon God, she saw a smiling deity who ruled over logic.

“This place isn’t your hometown,” Rave went on. “It’s only natural that you feel nostalgic toward your childhood home and maybe a little lonely. A bit of homesickness is normal. You’re not wrong to feel these emotions.”

“B-But I’m the Dragon Consort,” Jill insisted. “I can’t act spoiled—”

“You’re also human. And to err is human. It’s only logical that humans try to choose the path of least resistance and take the easy way out.”

Jill stared at Rave, who only chuckled back.

“Think it’s weird that this is coming from me?” the Dragon God asked. “But logic, you see, assumes that humans make mistakes. What’s important is how one reacts after the mistake is made. A person who’s always correct doesn’t need guidance, now, do they?”

“Y-Yeah. Now that you mention it…” Jill said.

Indeed, if a person never made a mistake, why in the world would they need to be judged or governed? Rave nodded proudly when he saw she followed his logic.

“So, your feelings, Missy, don’t go against logic,” Rave said. “The real issue is what you’re gonna do after you’ve realized those feelings.”

“Wh-What can I do?” Jill wondered.

“Well, first thing you can do is tell Hadis your honest feelings.”

“B-But won’t he start sulking if I do?!”

There was certainly a chance that Hadis would follow a bizarre train of logic and claim that he no longer wanted to get along with his siblings, too. Rave gave a carefree laugh.

“Maybe so,” the Dragon God chuckled. “But hey, there’s a chance that he might unexpectedly be a pillar of support.”

“Jill! Shelter me!” Hadis cried, rushing right into her room with perfect timing. Jill stood up, her back straight.

“Sister Elentzia’s trying to punch me!” Hadis wailed. “I didn’t do anything wrong, but— Oh. Hey, Rave. There you are.”

“Here I am,” the Dragon God replied.

Rave winked at Jill before he slipped into Hadis’s body. The emperor noticed his adoptive father’s meaningful gaze and tilted his head quizzically.

“What’s wrong?” Hadis asked. “Did something happen?”

“Um, well…” Jill started. “I just thought you get along with your siblings so well.”

“No, I don’t! I’m being pursued right now! And my brothers won’t protect me!”

“I…also…used to get along with my siblings.”

Hadis, who whined about his plight mere seconds ago, fell silent. He knelt to match Jill’s eye level.

“Yeah…” he said.

But his face said it all—he was displeased. He didn’t want to hear about her complaints, but he had to endure his feelings and hear her out. His expression, which told a story of eloquent, quiet agony, made Jill feel a bit exasperated with her husband.

“Uh, that’s all,” she said.

“No way it is,” Hadis replied. “I stole you away. And for that, I have to take responsibility.”

I guess he is a bit aware of his actions. Jill felt the strength leave her body.

“But ultimately, I chose this too,” she said.

Yeah, I made this choice with him. I’m not alone. When Jill looked up, she found another person right there with her.

“Your mother told me to never, ever allow you to return home,” Hadis said. “She firmly said, ‘Don’t naively think you can return her to this home. There’s no place for her here.’ I do understand your situation, and I know that you can’t go back. At the very least, things will never go back to how they once were, and I know that I have to take responsibility for that.”

Jill was so stunned that she struggled to speak. Mother… The Dragon Consort had explicitly been told never to return, and the pain and emotions behind her mother’s firm demands weren’t lost on Jill. No doubt, Charlotte must’ve agonized over her decision. When Jill left home, she didn’t feel lonely as her family sent her off. Ah, it’s because I was so busy protecting my husband. He took precedence over everything else, so I was fine.

But now that she was back, safe and sound, a myriad of ugly emotions reared their heads and haunted her. Jill knew she mustn’t let the tears spill from her eyes; she’d only trouble Hadis. Or maybe that’s just fine. He did say he’d take responsibility for his actions, didn’t he?

“So, here’s my plan,” Hadis said. “We should create our own family!”

“Excuse me?” Jill asked, her tears dissipating in a flash.

Hadis made a fist in a show of passion. “Truth be told, I’ve actually got a secret residence near the imperial capital. It’s a pretty spacious and nice manor. It’s a good distance from the city, and I think it was originally a farm or something. There’s a pasture there.”

“O-Okay?”

“Let’s secretly renovate the place! My brothers don’t have to know!”

It was a random admission. The idea sounded fun, but it wasn’t what Jill anticipated. She thought he’d choose a more delicate approach.

“I thought your childhood home was nice,” Hadis said. “I sort of want to make a place like that here.”

Still, his bold plans blew all of Jill’s worries away.

“The manor’s too big for just us, but we plan to have ten kids, right?” Hadis continued. “It’ll get rowdy and exciting in no time. We can till the field for a garden and raise some livestock. Oh, and a few dragons too! I’d like to raise some dragons.”

“W-Wait, really?! Can we raise dragons?” Jill asked, getting excited.

“Of course. But if possible, I want to imitate their habitats in the wild as much as I can for them. Dragons raised by humans from birth don’t mature well. They struggle to learn how to fly and stuff.”

“You can make a watering hole,” Rave said as he popped out to offer a word of advice. “That’ll attract dragons. That manor is near the mountains, isn’t it? Besides, if you’re with dragons too much, you won’t be able to raise your livestock. Instead of raising dragons, I recommend you foster a place where dragons can rest for a while. Dragons will see the manor as part of their territory and defend you if needed. It’ll be a mysterious manor protected by them. Ooh! Like a hideout for the Dragon Emperor’s family!”

“Th-That sounds awesome!” Jill cried. Her heart pounded with excitement as she nodded vigorously and eagerly.

“What else can we do, Jill?” Hadis asked.

Hmm… What else… Jill glanced around her room—this would be her home from now on.

“The imperial castle and this palace are our homes,” Hadis said. “I don’t see why we can’t renovate them a bit.”

“I-I, um, I’d like an office that isn’t my bedroom!” Jill cried.

“That’s unexpected. Why?”

“Because I want a place to work as the Dragon Consort, of course!”

There was much to be done. Jill puffed out her chest, and Hadis let out a forced laugh before he stood up.

“Then let’s go shopping for some chairs and desks, yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah!” Jill replied.

They held hands and began to walk forward.

When the Dragon Emperor and his consort renovated an entire corner of the imperial palace all on their own, their relatives screamed with astonishment. Needless to say, the happy couple endured a harsh scolding well into the night.

Billy Cervel’s Diary

Billy Cervel’s Diary

○ Month × Day

My daughter brought her fiancé home. He seems like the shadiest guy ever, but if I’m vocally against him, I know that it’ll only sadden my daughter. What’s most important is mutual understanding. Maybe he’s an unexpectedly understanding guy, who knows? Since I’m the adult here, I’ll be the one to compromise.

“Beautiful day out, Mr. Hadis,” I said. “Would you like to explore the nearby area with me?”

“Huh? No way,” he replied.

I don’t think I’ll ever get along with this loon.

○ Month ▲ Day

No, no, I know I mustn’t give in after just one unfortunate encounter. I’m doing this for my daughter’s sake, my adorable Jill. Surely, he’d act for her. If he doesn’t, I’ll never forgive him. I’ll change the angle of my approach.

“Mr. Hadis, why don’t we go hunting together?” I invited. “Jill loves meat, you know.”

“That’s not really my job, is it?” he replied.

Ha ha ha! Well said, Dragon Emperor. I’m gonna freaking kill this man.

○ Month ◇ Day

I have to take the opposite approach. Maybe flip my angle. I have to make that cheeky bastard of a Dragon Emperor think that I, his father-in-law, want to hear that dunce out. Only then will he gain respect for me.

“Jill’s always been so adorable!” I told him with a laugh. “When she was a young kid, she said she wanted to marry me! Ha ha ha!”

“I’m sorry to say, but I recommend you face reality and the present, instead of staying in the past,” that jerk replied.

All right. He chose war.

○ Month ● Day

Screw this! I can’t keep this farce up for another day! He won’t compromise an inch and won’t even speak with me! I’ll ignore him! He doesn’t exist in my eyes! If he’s gonna be such an ass to me, I’m sure he’d rather I not speak with him either!

“Oh, these nibbles are delectable, honey!” I said.

“Hadis brought them for you, dear,” Charlotte replied. “He seemed awfully depressed and said you’ve been ignoring him lately. Why don’t you be a touch kinder to him?”

Ugh, communication is hard!

○ Month □ Day

Kinder? To him? The Dragon Emperor’s an adult, not a kid! I don’t need to spoil him. But I admit that ignoring him was immature on my part. I guess…I can help him create an opportunity to talk things out.

“Hey there, Mr. Hadis,” I said. “Do you have anything you’d like to say to me?”

“Nah, not really,” he replied flatly.

It’s clear now! He and I will never see eye to eye!

○ Month ◆ Day

Now that I know we’ll never agree, I feel a lot better! I’ll never accept this man!

“The nibbles I received yesterday were a touch too salty, Mr. Hadis,” I told him.

“Noted. I’ll add more salt,” the brat replied.

“Your Majesty, Father, please get along already…” my daughter said with a touch of exasperation.

“I’d like to,” I said.

“I don’t,” the idiot added.

But this is just fine with me. And for him too, I reckon.

● Month × Day

Finally, the Dragon Emperor left. He took my daughter with him, but I can drag her back one day.

“That’s a load off our shoulders, huh, honey?” I asked. “I want to handle the Rave imperial family only during times of war.”

“Speaking of which, dear, Chris has been frequenting the Rave Empire,” Charlotte replied.

“That’s unusual. He’s usually not interested in anything at all. Has he got a woman he’s in love with?”

“Well, it seems like he’s going to see Princess Elentzia.”

I fell silent.

“What shall we do about our house’s successor? This is becoming a bit of a problem,” Charlotte went on.

I ought to destroy the Rave Empire as soon as I can.

What the God Lost

What the God Lost

IT was a quiet hill. The chilly breeze signaled summer’s impending end, tickling the flowers and grass as it swept by. The calm whispering of the wind allowed the flora to dance about—a quiet orchestra of peace and tranquility. From between the dense foliage that grew in abundance, little birds chirped and added a layer to the symphony. A small stone bridge stretched across a stream, and the tiny rays of sunshine that managed to trickle through the canopy allowed the surface of the water to glimmer and shine.

The imperial capital boasted a higher elevation than the rest of the empire. This peaceful little spot was in a corner of the imperial castle, built atop a hill that towered above the imperial capital of Rahelm, providing a picturesque view of the city below.

This corner remained untouched and unbothered by human hands, and that came as no surprise. Three hundred years ago, the former Dragon Emperor forbade anyone other than a Dragon Emperor to enter this cemetery.

Jill learned of the existence of this place only recently. Since there was no Dragon Emperor for the past three centuries, the Rave imperial family had no business here, and it remained abandoned—the rule had never been broken.

This sanctuary, where the previous Dragon Emperor only allowed those of his title to enter, was the cemetery of the Dragon Consorts.

“It’s a beautiful place,” Jill said.

When she walked through the rusty gates, she imagined a place overrun with foliage, but it boasted a good view of the city. Had this not been a cemetery, she would’ve wanted to enjoy a picnic in this fresh, crisp air. Jill took a deep breath, listening to the leaves whistling in the wind. A squirrel popped out from a pile of fallen trees. This cemetery didn’t at all resemble a dingy, abandoned graveyard; it felt like a paradise of verdure.

Jill brushed away the dirt and sand from the mossy tombstones and placed a tiny flower in front of each one. Hadis, dragged on this excursion by his wife, solemnly placed the flowers as well. There weren’t many tombstones. Once she finished offering the flowers, she cast a sweeping glance at all of them.

“We don’t have to do much,” Jill said. “We can probably leave everything as is.”

“Then can’t we also keep the rule where only the Dragon Emperor’s allowed to be here?” Hadis asked.

“No. It feels a bit lonely if no one can visit these graves, don’t you think? I’ll rest here too, one day.”

“No! I don’t want to hear that!”

Hadis crouched on the ground and covered his ears. The emperor had heard of the fate of the previous Dragon Consorts and refused to come. Every time, the consort betrayed the Dragon Emperor and ultimately aided the Goddess. Still, these consorts had supported Jill when she fought against the Goddess. Hence, the golden ring on her left ring finger glowed under the sun, and she could still use the Sacred Treasure of the Dragon Consort to this day. It was only proper to express her gratitude to her predecessors. And as the newest Dragon Consort, she felt it was her job to improve and do what she could.

Jill stooped down to Hadis, who remained crouching with his eyes squeezed shut and his hands clasped over his ears to block out her words.

“Look sharp, Your Majesty,” she scolded. “The people before you are my predecessors. They’ll be disappointed if they see that the current Dragon Emperor behaves so pathetically again. They’ll abandon me this time for sure.”

“Pathetically?! Again?!” Hadis cried. “Aren’t you all undervaluing the Dragon Emperor a bit too much?”

“Don’t worry. I like that pathetic part of you, too.” Jill silenced her husband before he could throw a tantrum.

“You’ve gotten a lot more mature these days,” he noted. “I feel like you’re trying to lead me around by the nose.”

“I recently read a book which stated that to be an adult is to become aware of the power that you wield,” Jill replied. “The book was difficult to read, and I couldn’t understand half of it, but I committed that part to memory.”

“Right… You’ve been studying hard these days, haven’t you? Brother Vissel even said that it was an omen of a cataclysmic disaster, and he’s actually dispatched a few squads in case of emergencies.”

“I’ve started to think that you really are an adult, Your Majesty.”

Hadis was aware that he was the Dragon Emperor. At times, he’d seem coldhearted as he never made the wrong choice as emperor. Jill, on the other hand, felt that she was rather immature. She may have been internally sixteen, and physically turned eleven in this do-over of her life, but age alone didn’t determine maturity.

“I don’t want to be an adult,” Hadis said with a frown.

Jill stood tall and proud as she placed her hands on her hips. “Don’t spout that nonsense again! I won’t be fooled anymore! You’re a proper adult, Your Majesty. And besides, if I don’t become an adult soon, you’ll be the one who’ll be in trouble.”

“Yeah, but still.” The emperor scooped Jill in his arms and buried his face in her stomach and sighed. “But I still want to continue carrying you like,” he said. “I want to cook delicious meals and go on picnics with you. I even want to sleep beside you if I’m allowed!”

Half-exasperated and half-embarrassed, an inexplicable feeling washed over Jill. But she knew that she couldn’t spoil him and cleared her throat.

“I’ve grown taller, too,” she said. “You won’t be allowed to carry me soon enough.”

“No! Tell me that isn’t true!” Hadis cried. “I refuse! Do you have that much fun bullying me?! Is that what this is about?”

“It won’t be right away. But you’ll have to get used to that reality soon enough.”

Jill petted her husband’s head, and he fell silent. He pouted and sulked, ruining his beautiful and handsome face. He’s such a handful, Jill thought. She cracked an awkward smile before she hugged his neck. Truth be told, she also felt a sense of loneliness, knowing she wouldn’t be able to cling to him like this in a few years, but she was excited about the future that awaited her. Surely, they could have more enjoyable experiences than they could have before because of their height differences.

“Let’s visit their graves again one day, Your Majesty,” Jill said. “I’m sure that the previous Dragon Consorts will be overjoyed.”

“No, they won’t be, if what you said to me is true,” Hadis replied.

“You always look at things at such a twisted angle. We can even have your siblings visit here in the—”

“No, absolutely not. Only the Dragon Emperor and the Dragon Consort will be allowed here from now on.”

Jill knitted her brows and glared at her husband, but he only gazed at the sky.

“This place is close to the sky,” he said. “You wouldn’t want to impose on a married couple, and they probably don’t want any interference either.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” Jill asked. “Speaking of which, where are the graves of the Dragon Emperors?”

“There aren’t any.”

Jill blinked several times and peered into her husband’s face. Hadis turned away from the sky and locked eyes with her before he flashed a troubled smile.

“I don’t know the details, but seven days after a Dragon Emperor’s death, their body apparently disappears,” he explained.

“Y-You’ll disappear?!” Jill asked.

“The Dragon Emperor is the vessel of the Dragon God and the deity’s reincarnation, but it’s not like the actual god will die. Raw—the Dragon King—will follow suit. He and everyone else will fall into a deep slumber. The Dragon Emperor will get a funeral, though, or so it seems.” He spoke nonchalantly as though none of this pertained to him. “It’s said that the Dragon Emperor will return to the sky. So, only the Dragon Emperor and the Dragon Consort will be allowed here.”

“I see…” Jill said as she faced the sky, too.

The welkin above truly felt so close to them up here.

“Let’s grow old together, Your Majesty,” Jill said. “We should include being surrounded by our grandchildren in our Happy Family Plan.”

“That plan’s expanding by the day,” Hadis noted with a smile. His smile felt so distant and fleeting, even further away than the skies above. Jill reached out and clung to his neck.

“Growing up and becoming an adult doesn’t sound so scary anymore, does it?” she asked.

“Hmm… Yeah. I guess so,” Hadis replied.

“Exactly. Will Rave need a few more moments?”

The Dragon God was with them when the gate was unlocked, but he soon flew elsewhere. While the deity looked like a faux dragon now, he had apparently once taken the form of a human as the first Dragon Emperor. In other words, the first Dragon Consort was his wife. Rave was visiting his wife’s grave; according to the myths, she was his shield, and she exchanged fatal blows with the Goddess.

She’ll hate Rave again. The fact that her tombstone is beside the second Dragon Consort’s grave feels a bit insensitive, too.

Curious, Jill leaped out of Hadis’s arms. She left her puzzled husband behind and checked the grave of the second Dragon Consort. The second one was born fifty years after the first consort’s death. The First Holy Battle of Rakia was long over by this time, wasn’t it?

Rave’s history books, filled with a chronological description of important events, were so boring that Jill grew drowsy every ten pages, but she recalled the year 300 of the divine calendar because it was such a clean number. That year kicked off the war—the First Holy Battle of Rakia, depicted in many legends. That was the first major war between the Rave Empire and the Kratos Kingdom, where their respective deities stood at the top. As the two powerful forces clashed, both the Dragon God and the Goddess used up their strength and fell into a deep slumber. Jill understood that they lost their divinities as the battle ended in a draw, though this was a bit of a roundabout explanation of the outcome.

And so, as the replacement for the Dragon Emperor, a boy with the closest blood ties to Dragon Rave stood as the emperor. Jill recalled reading about this tidbit in Rave’s history textbooks. It seemed that historians had only recently fit the pieces together for this story, and they were certain that this was the truth.

In other words, Rave left his seat as the Dragon Emperor before the second Dragon Consort was born. The Dragon God, when faced with the dying breaths of the first Dragon Consort, mercilessly muttered that he needed to find his next one. Since she was the trigger for the First Holy Battle of Rakia, naturally, she passed away before year 300 of the divine calendar.

Which means that the second Dragon Consort is the wife of the second Dragon Emperor. In other words, Rave didn’t find his next consort. Or maybe he didn’t have the opportunity to do so.

“What’s up, Missy? You seem awfully engrossed in that tombstone,” Rave remarked.

His golden eyes peered into Jill’s face, and she straightened her back. The Dragon God appeared from the air with a tiny woven basket on his head. He must’ve brought the basket with him, filled to the brim with white flowers.

“You were picking flowers? You personally went through all the trouble?” Jill asked.

“If they’re Dragon Consorts, they’re all technically my wives,” Rave explained. “And my actual wife is lying here. I should offer a flower or two, I think.”

He descended upon the tombstone nearest to him—the grave of the Dragon Consort three centuries ago. A white flower floated out from the basket and fell in front of the grave. What was going through Rave’s mind? His golden eyes, focused on the graves of his wives who once protected the Dragon Consort before falling to the wiles of the Goddess, hid his emotions that lay within. He stared as though he couldn’t show any emotion.

“Are you thinking about something difficult again?” Hadis asked as he used one arm to raise Jill in the air.

But his eyes weren’t focused on his wife—they were also on Rave. The emperor’s adoptive father would vanish the moment Hadis drowned in love and bent logic.

“Er, I just thought those flowers were beautiful,” Jill replied. “Do they bloom nearby?”

“There’s apparently a garden of flowers in the back, so maybe you can pluck some there,” Hadis replied. “Should we visit it?”

“No need. We don’t—”

Jill initially tried to decline the request, but she stopped herself. Rave quietly placed a flower in front of each tombstone and spent several moments at each as though he was trying to go back in time in his memories. Soon enough, he’d reach the tombstone of his wife, the first Dragon Consort by his side when he took human form. Jill didn’t want to intrude, even if Rave remained a God.

She left and descended the narrow, meandering, forked road that stretched out from the entrance. The cemetery was lush with greenery, but this other route was poorly maintained and rugged. As she walked along, she suddenly found a clearing.

“W-Wow…” Jill gasped with awe.

She couldn’t help it. A sea of white stretched out in front of her eyes; there was an entire garden covered with petals the color of pure snow. Clouds drifted about, enveloping the flora, and in the middle of it all stood one old, milky white tree.

“What a view!” Jill cried. “This must be what people mean when they see spectacular scenery!”

“I’ve never seen it for myself either, but this really looks like a garden,” Hadis remarked.

Jill jumped out of Hadis’s arms and ran ahead. She glanced all around her, noticing the luster and shine emitting from the white petals and clouds. There was a lovely glimmer everywhere she looked, thanks to the dazzling sunshine from above. Nothing obstructed the rays.

“We should’ve prepared for a picnic!” Jill shouted.

“We’re just visiting the cemetery today, remember?” Hadis replied. “And this place is part of the cemetery, too. It’s imprudent to do so.”

That’s rich, coming from you. Jill cast a dubious look at her husband, her eyes half-closed.

“But if no one but the Dragon Consort and the Dragon Emperor are allowed here, we can relax without anyone bothering us,” Jill said.

“Y-Your sweet words won’t trick me!” Hadis replied. “I bet you’re just after the lunch that I pack!”

“Actually, I’d love to roll around in this magnificent field of flowers with you, Your Majesty.”

“Wait, really?! G-Got it. Maybe we can have a picnic then…”

“Yay! After I eat a ton of your delicious food, I want to take a nap here with you! Hup!”

She placed her arm and leg on the root of the old tree. Hadis chased after his wife with a forced smile.

“Are you climbing that tree?” he asked.

“I just want to see the view from above!” Jill replied. “Won’t you climb up with me, Your Majesty?”

“Ugh… But I don’t want to sully my clothes.”

“You can just wash them! Come on, come on!”

“You say that, but I’m the one who’s in charge of the laundry.”

“But I guarantee the view from up here will be amazing!”

Jill glued herself to the thick trunk and turned around as she confidently spoke. Hadis rolled up his sleeves. The large, sturdy tree wasn’t all that tall. It didn’t take long for the couple to reach a thick branch they could sit upon. Jill glanced around at the garden as she sat on the branch.

The white petals danced in the wind as the clouds drifted by—they looked like they were floating in the sky.

Jill sighed. “It really feels like a waste to make such a fabulous place off-limits. Why don’t we at least open this spot to others? I’m positive that it’ll be so much fun if we can enjoy a picnic with everyone!”

“You literally just said that you wanted to enjoy some time together just the two of us,” Hadis glared as he climbed up after her. “You’re quick to change your tune.”

Jill averted her gaze. “Picnics are always fun, whether it’s just the two of us or with everyone else.”

“Well, some foods can only be prepared for a crowd.”

“You’re not cute at all, Your Majesty!”

“How could I be? I learned that you once wanted to marry the cook.”

It seemed he still bore a grudge for that. As Jill thought about ways to deal with him, he sat next to her.

“And your family almost killed me,” he added. “My in-laws are against my marriage to you, but all you think about is my food. Aw, man. Of course I’ll be anxious and worried.”

He kept stealing glances at her, and Jill found that annoying.

“If you want to be spoiled by me, you can just say so.” Jill sighed.

There was a beat of silence before he covered his face with his hands.

“Th-Th-That’s not what I want!” Hadis stammered.

“Your Majesty, I find it best that you don’t engage in losing battles against me,” Jill said. “You should fix that bad habit of yours.”

“I’m not always losing!”

The fact that he sounded like a petulant child made it already seem like he was losing. Jill shrugged her shoulders and gazed down at the view.

“But I’m not keen on tearing up this place if we host a picnic with a lot of people,” she said. “At most, I’d bring Sauté and His Majesty Bear. And Raw.”

This quiet garden felt isolated from the rest of the world; time passed slowly here.

“This is just a guess, but I think this is where Rave first met the Dragon Consort—it’s where he fell in love at first sight with the first Dragon Consort,” Hadis said.

“Wait, really?!” Jill gasped. “Then, do you think this is where he proposed to her and received blessings?”

If so, this was a sacred place, a land of legends. She was shocked to hear this. Hadis gazed into the distance.

“I wonder…” he said. “Rave doesn’t really talk about the past, so I can’t ask either. I’m sure he’s got some things he doesn’t want to talk about, too. And I’m the same anyway. What I said earlier is just a guess, and I’m not certain. I’ve just heard that there’s a similar garden of flowers back at the Empress’s Palace.”

Above all, he must’ve been terrified of going against logic.

“If there’s a similar place elsewhere, we can have a picnic there,” Jill said.

Hadis’s dazed eyes focused on the flowers before he turned to his wife. She smiled at the golden eyes—the same ones as Dragon God Rave.

“I’m happy to have a picnic anywhere,” she said. “So long as I’m with you.”

“Ugh! There you go again, sounding so cool!” Hadis cried.

“Sorry, I just can’t help myself, I guess. You’re just so cute.”

“I hate this!”

Not only did he cover his face with his hands, but he turned away, too. Jill felt ticklish inside as she dangled her legs from the branch. She knew it was bad manners, but she couldn’t help it.

“I’m really glad that I got to visit the graves with you and Rave today, Your Majesty,” she said.

“R-Really?” Hadis asked.

“Yeah. It made me feel like I can work hard for the future. What about you?”

“I don’t feel much…” Was he going to say something twisted and off-kilter again? Just then, he looked up. “Right! There was something I wanted to do here.”

“You can’t do anything that’ll get you scolded by Rave.”

“Nothing like that; it’s something important. Jill. No…”

He suddenly grabbed her hands. Perplexed, Jill looked up and saw Hadis staring straight at her.

“Lady Jill Cervel,” Hadis said. Perhaps he was nervous; his voice sounded a touch hoarse. “Protect me. Protect me from the Goddess, from curses, from traitors, from unreason, from undesirable love, and from any and all misfortune.”

Shaded under the foliage, he narrowed his golden eyes as his long, slender fingers brushed against a troubled Jill’s cheek.

“Swear it. Swear that you’ll make me happy,” he implored. “Swear to me, a man who cannot vow that I’ll make you happy.”

It was a one-sided, perfidious oath devoid of love. Yet, Hadis’s gaze, which made Jill more sorrowful than he was as she stared into his eyes, implied that he knew the intention behind his words best.

“Become my shield and my sword,” he said. “That’s what it means to be my wife.”

But logic that never drowned in love was a display of the Dragon Emperor’s sincerity.

“Will you please marry me?” he asked.

For the first time, Jill heard his proposal. He sounded so feeble and frail, as though the wind would easily blow his request away. He pressed his forehead against her shoulder, and she instinctively tried to pull away. But his ravenous, desolate, golden eyes refused to let her flee. All she could do was tighten her grip on the branch she sat upon, and nothing more. This beautiful man, decorated by the snow-white petals that twirled in the air, practically knelt to his wife and begged her.

“Please, make me yours,” he beseeched.

Sweet words of promise were expelled from his lips, coupled with a loud creaking that wasn’t suitable for the occasion.

“Uh,” the Dragon Emperor uttered.

“Huh?!” the Dragon Consort gasped.

A moment later, Jill felt herself descending. The branch they were sitting on cracked and snapped. And of course, the two met the ground. Jill expertly broke her fall, lightening the impact as she fell, and she wasn’t in any danger. She was fine as she got up and hastily glanced around.

“Y-Your Majesty?! Your Majesty, are you all right?” Jill called.

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine, but Jill…” Hadis groaned from below.

Only then did she look down and see her husband’s back underneath her.

“I-I’m sorry…” she started.

Hadis’s silence was painfully deafening, and Jill groaned as she did her best to find excuses.

“M-My knees gave way…” Jill said. “And the branch snapped at impeccable timing! And Your Majesty, you suddenly…”

How could he ask her to make him hers? It was a shocking confession, and his proposal almost stopped her heart.

Her body caught up to her mind a moment later as her cheeks, ears, and entire frame grew warm.

“Y-You should only say those words after you give the proper signal that you’re going to do so!” Jill cried.

“What?” Hadis whined. “But you always catch me off guard whenever you like.”

“But I’m a child! It’s okay for me to do it, but you’re an adult! You should show more restraint!”

“Then you’re sitting on me right now because you’re a child and I’m an adult, I presume?”

“That’s right!”

What choice did Jill have other than to turn defiant? She swiftly stepped off her husband’s back. It seemed like Hadis was going to get up, so she purposefully took her distance, puffed out her cheeks, and turned away, adamant to display her anger.

“Jill, your reply?” Hadis asked.

“Th-There’s no need for me to say it, is there?” Jill asked. “At this point, it’s…”

She kept turning away when Hadis’s lips drew near her ear.

“Your reply?” he asked again.

She felt his breath, and she knew he was doing it on purpose. It was clear from his tone that he was teasing her a bit.

“Will you marry me?” Hadis asked.

He fiddled with the tips of her hair, her tresses wrapping around his fingers. Clearly, he was growing more confident, believing he had the upper hand, and she didn’t like always being on the receiving end. Her refusal to lose and attempt to hide her embarrassment caused Jill to brace herself.

“I’ll marry you!” she declared. “I mean, we already are married, but who knows if I’ll always be your wife?”

She placed her hands on her hips, leaning forward to gaze down at her astonished husband. Jill regained some of her confidence.

“A married couple can divorce, you know,” she said. “Father said that to you, didn’t he?”

Hadis grew pale, and Jill bent down to peer into her husband’s face.

“I’m working hard because I want to make you happy,” Jill said. “I’m doing so of my own volition. Do you understand what I’m getting at?”

She saw the white flowers fluttering in the corner of her eye; seduced by the sight, she stood straight up again and gazed into the distance. Was it the sun’s rays? The milky petals glimmered ever so slightly with a sheen of gold, the same color as the Dragon Consort’s ring.

“Everything—and I mean everything—is based on my feelings alone,” Jill finished. “I’ll cast aside a weak emperor who won’t even make an ounce of effort to become happy.” She turned away as she heard the pathetic wails of Hadis, who rose to his feet behind her.

“I’ve never heard a colder response to a proposal!” he cried.

“You’ve heard it right here,” the Dragon Consort replied.

“Jiiill!”

“A tough road awaits us for our Happy Family Plan. You’d best prepare yourself, too, Your Majesty! Come on, I’ll hold your hand.”

When she offered her palm, Hadis sat atop the flowers and gazed down. He let out a loud sigh, and an annoyed Jill glared down at him, willing to listen to any of his complaints. He gazed up at his wife with innocent eyes.

“You’re always so free and cool,” Hadis said. He flashed a faint smile as he grabbed her hand and stood up, hardly putting any weight on Jill. “Hmm, what should I do…”

The two interlocked fingers as Hadis took the first step forward. Jill snapped back to her senses and hastily followed.

“Since I’ve got my office now, I can do my work as the Dragon Consort,” she said.

“Then maybe I’ll prepare dinner,” Hadis replied.

“What’ll we have tonight?!”

“That’s a secret.”

Why did he have to tease her there? Jill puffed out her cheeks angrily, but Hadis smirked at her.

“I have to leave you wanting more lest you leave my side,” the emperor said. “I want you to remain my wife forever.”

When he winked at her, he was so stunningly handsome, much to Jill’s annoyance. And so, she jumped on his back.

🐉🐉🐉

HADIS and Jill must’ve cleaned up the tombstones. Standing in the very back, the oldest grave was free of dust and cobwebs, solemnly adorning the cemetery.

“Hey,” Rave said. “Guess you won’t recognize me, though. I’ve changed quite a bit, too.”

The Dragon God descended from the sky and placed his basket on the ground. The flowers he’d plucked were still fresh and vibrant.

“I lost my human form a long, long time ago,” he explained. “Now, I just look like someone’s pet. Don’t laugh at me for my lack of dignity, you hear?”

He placed a white flower on her tombstone.

“You lent your power to the Goddess, huh?”

He offered another, and then another flower. No longer did he possess the hands of a human. How long had he spent with her? How many years had it been since they were separated?”

“It was a foolish thing to do.”

No longer could he take the form of a magnificent silver dragon, a form that made her squint her eyes with awe as she voiced her astonishment at his beauty. And he lost his human shape as her husband, too.

“You must’ve known I’d be unwavering, didn’t you?”

Rave couldn’t read minds. He didn’t know what went through his consort’s head, nor was he aware of the thought process of the other consorts. Even if his consort pointed a blade at him, he wouldn’t have flinched and cut her down without hesitation. She was simply a foolish woman who drowned in love and went against logic. He could do so heartlessly because he was a god.

“But see, I’m still the man you wished to protect as you bemoaned about how pitiful I was. I’m the same man you loved. No matter how much you change, I never will.”

Rave narrowed his eyes as he turned to the other consorts’ tombstones.

“So, don’t bear a grudge against the other Dragon Emperors. Curse me, and me alone.”

The Dragon Consorts were all the wives of the Dragon God, and the wives of their respective Dragon Emperors as well. It was the life the ladies led, a jumbled mess of love and logic. The culmination of all these events, stacked with countless layers of history, was Hadis.

“Or did I change?”

Even Rave knew how stupid his question was. Of course he changed. Who wouldn’t over a millennium? His power and form were different, and he had lost a fair bit of divinity as well. But perhaps other, less superficial changes occurred within him. As Rave gazed down, a strong gust of wind blew at him as though to condemn him for his words. His empty basket flipped over and danced with the white petals in the wind.

“That reminds me…” Rave muttered.

He narrowed his eyes as though he recalled something. His mind raced to something he lost when he went down the path of no return.

“I couldn’t find my next one.”

The words that fell upon the tombstones had no one to retrieve them. They could only be quietly blown away with the fluttering, milky petals before they fell upon him like a thick blanket of snow. And that was just fine.

If his claims ever reached the past, he’d be turning back time. It’d be a do-over—the beginning of a fate where one turned their back on logic and drowned in love.

Afterword

Afterword

HELLO, Sarasa Nagase here. Thank you so much for picking up this volume! This is the first collection of short stories for the Do-Over Damsel. This compilation contains a lot of tweaks and additions from the WEB version, along with new short stories. Chronologically speaking, these stories occur during the first through fourth volumes of the main series.

I also didn’t choose every short story I uploaded online. Instead, I carefully selected those that would complement the main story. They don’t just revolve around Jill and Hadis—some stories focus on the side characters and behind-the-scenes tales.

I’m so grateful that an animated series is underway as I write this! Those who’ve caught up with the recent release of the main story might need to go back in time a little, but it’d be great if you could reread the volumes so that you’ll be well-prepared for the anime!

Now, for some acknowledgments. Once again, thank you to Mitsuya Fuji for the wonderful illustrations! I was especially torn when I was presented with two options for the cover—I wanted to choose both! I hope you’ll continue to support this series!

And to Anko Yuzu, I’m always blown away by your amazing manga adaptation of this series! I’m consistently impressed by the quality of your work, and I couldn’t be happier if you would continue to portray Jill and her gang as you see fit.

Thank you to my editors and their department, the designers, proofreaders, the anime staff, and everyone else involved in making this book. I couldn’t be more thankful.

And above all, thank you, dear reader, who picked this book up! Thank you for cheering on Jill and her friends! I’ll continue working hard to provide a story you can all enjoy! I hope we can meet again soon!

Sarasa Nagase