“Then the dragon of Barlefeldt is the mate of the one who formed the Depths,” I said as I turned to Dirk, and he leaned back in his chair with a wry smile.
“It’s weird hearing that kind of wild theory coming from you, Lucas. I’d normally say that’s ridiculous, but the kingdom is so secretive, and we’ve barely been able to dig up any proper info on its legends. If what they say is true, that a dragon fell in love with a human… Well, according to everything we know from the Herbst family, divine beasts and humans can’t form such bonds. Which means the dragon’s mate wasn’t human at all. And in that case, your theory might actually make sense, as dumb as it sounds.”
The way he muttered the last part left me completely silent for a moment.
So basically, some twisted dragon love triangle had been dragging on for hundreds, maybe thousands of years, and now we were caught up in the middle of it.
I should have been relieved that we’d finally figured out what was behind all the pain Cecilia had been through. But honestly, knowing all that and still watching the Empire cover it up with this pantomime search for Saints just made me want to wipe both them and Barlefeldt off the map. Maybe if I burned everything to the ground, the problem would finally go away.
I sighed and looked down at the rose in my hand, changing tack in my mind.
It was all ridiculous, but at least I got something useful out of this. And apparently, the kingdom had a divine relic said to contain even greater power than my Eckesachs. It wasn’t a weapon, but if my guess was right, and if it really held the power of the dragon who abandoned its mate, then maybe it could erase the Depths altogether.
And if I did that, no one would ever be able to use some lie about divine judgment to justify attempts on my Cecilia’s life ever again.
“Fine, then. I’ll destroy all of it.”
I didn’t know what it was about her that the Holy Emperor couldn’t stand. Or maybe he liked her. Maybe he’d set eyes on her once and decided he would have her. It didn’t matter either way. Neither he nor the Depths had any right to her.
Cecilia was caught up in motives even she didn’t fully understand, but I would cut through all of them. I’d tear them apart until there was no room to misunderstand that she belonged to me.
A faint crackling sound issued from the desert rose in my hand. Grains of sand trickled out from my palm.
“P-Prince Lucas!” Islan cried out frantically. “Give it back if you’re not going to use it! That’s the biggest one I had! You can’t even find desert roses of that size and clarity anymore. Please treat it with some care!”
“What do you mean, you can’t find them?”
All that commotion for a flower?
“Yes! The desert rose forms differently depending on its surrounding environment, just like a common rose. Some bloom large, while others stay tightly closed their whole lives. It’s incredibly rare to find a desert rose that grows that big, with such beautifully formed petals. And that one you’re holding? It’s a miracle it even exists!” he said.
“A miracle, huh?”
Just like Cecilia.
I looked down at the rose and silently cast a protective spell over it. I spread my magic evenly across every petal so it wouldn’t shatter even if I dropped it. As I worked, Islan watched me with a sour expression and muttered something under his breath. I gave him a curious look.
“You’re so extreme, crushing it one second, enchanting it the next. What is your problem?”
Extreme? No… When something matters this much, of course, you’d want to tear it apart and claim it as your own. How else are you supposed to know what’s really inside?
“If you don’t want it, give it back. I was going to give that to the woman I plan on making my queen…” Islan grumbled to himself while Dirk chuckled beside him.
“You’re so candid when it comes to your feelings. That hasn’t changed one bit. Well, I suppose even His Highness the romantic has something to teach us. Just let Lucas keep the desert rose.”
“You’re not actually complimenting me, are you, Lord Dirk?” Islan asked.
“Oh, but it is a compliment, and it’s advice as well. I’d suggest you follow my brother’s lead and put some effort into holding onto the person you love. Love can be strong, but it’s just as fragile.”
“Advice is all well and good, but I hear you don’t even have a lover,” Islan pointed out.
“Ah ha ha, I guess I’ve been found out!”
“Is it really that funny? And are you really Prince Lucas’s brother? You’re so carefree, I’d never have guessed.” Islan sounded exasperated, but Dirk’s teasing voice was so light and clear it carried over the sound of the bells.
And that’s when I felt it. A gaze coming from beyond the flames. I turned my face and deliberately sought the source of the gaze.
The dancer floated past, her thin veil swaying as she moved. The other dancers crossed in front of me one by one, their metal ornaments catching the firelight and casting it in shimmering rings across the floor.
The craftsmanship was impressive. I narrowed my eyes at the one who came the closest, and she looked away in a hurry.
But her eyes wandered. Even as she danced, stepping lightly and turning her face from side to side, I caught her glancing at my left side, curiosity and fear flickering across her face.
Good, it’s working.
I touched the left side of my neck with satisfaction, and Dirk muttered with amusement, “Poor thing. She’s trying her best, but someone that timid isn’t coming over to me, no matter how old she is. Did you do that on purpose, Lucas?”
He gestured to his own cheek, mimicking the mark. I pulled my hand back from the painted imprint on my skin.
Cecilia hadn’t just picked out my outfit for the gathering.
“I won’t be able to sit with you at the beginning of the party, right? So I was thinking maybe I could redraw the emblem on your body,” she’d said hesitantly. “I feel bad scaring people off, but I’m planning to get the same one myself. It might help fend off suitors, and if we match, it’ll make it clearer that we’re married.”
She showed me a drawing of the dark, deadly emblem with golden flowers on top. And of course, the only thought I could muster was that she was the perfect wife.
She was worried I might not like it, but her green eyes were brimming with jealousy and possessiveness, and it was adorable. That was the moment I finally decided to attend this insipid event.
Cecilia wouldn’t be able to come out until the opening act ended, all because of this stupid polygamy system. If someone put out their flame and chose a new lover, that lover became the priority, and any wives he had waiting in the back wouldn’t be allowed in the party. That was why they could only come out after the opening act.