Chapter 47

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Chapter 47

After Rosé revealed her thoughts of becoming that fledgling dragon’s contractor, Albert knew that even if he tried to talk it out with Rosé, he wouldn’t be able to change her mind. It was also a problem when he could read her this quickly.

The ever-increasing pain he was feeling also added to why he wanted to let her leave right away. He wasn’t used to showing his struggles to others.

“Hu…”

After sending Rosé back to her room, Albert groaned in pain as though his entire body was burning.

This pain was never something he had gotten used to. It felt like his whole body had been set ablaze in a fire pit. Every moment, every second, this fire burned through him. As he felt as though his bones were being broken to pieces then melded back together again, the thought even crossed his mind that it might be better to die than to endure.

At first, this was all he thought about.

Even though he knew that the human body was much tougher than anyone would expect.

Fortunately, he wouldn’t have to hold back his groans due to the soundproofing spell on the walls.

He was aware that the pain of becoming a contractor was far beyond just this. So, he couldn’t understand what Rosé was thinking anymore.

‘…What kind of contractor do you even want to be when you can’t even overcome a black magic curse by yourself?’

It hadn’t been long since Rosé found that fledgling dragon, but why was it that she’s gotten so attached already.

‘You’ll think differently once you’ve seen it for yourself.’

A visual manifestation of fear had a much greater effect on people. That moment would be stuck on their minds for a long time.

Albert once thought that there would never come a time when he’d feel like a normal person. He still had that notion while he was trapped in the tower.

Until she urged him to sign that contract.

Then, they spent the days normally—eating, talking, then going to sleep at night. He had expected this period in his life to be like living hell. But instead, he was given a chance to realize a new meaning of life.

Precious moments in one’s life would not come often. If one did not act in time, then they would be left brooding and lamenting the past.

Like his foolish self, during the days of his childhood.

Before sunrise, Liam was already in Albert’s room. This was because Albert had called for the duke.

Holding desperately onto his fleeting consciousness lest he’d collapse, Albert was sitting against the wall as he let out a long, drawn-out sigh. He swept back his sweat-drenched hair.

“The fledgling dragon, its condition.”

“We’ve determined its location at Hetendorr. According to a mage’s report, it had let out a cry not too long ago.”

When a fledgling dragon would let out a deafening cry, it was a sign that it had less than a week left until it’s dead.

“It is a blue dragon, but it’s being much more cooperative than we expected. I believe it’s taking this as an opportunity to take revenge against Marquis Evnen.”

“So it knows the ways of the world.”

Unlike some other fledgling here, Albert muttered to himself. He thought of Blanc, who continued to stick to Rosé’s side. How incredible it was to just be sleeping all day.

“What kind of revenge is it?”

“The fledgling is nearly 500 years old, and apparently it had been attacked by Marquis Evnen before.”

“How sad.”

Despite his words, Albert’s tone was indifferent.

Dragons could travel through time and space, even back to the past, and they could easily change reality as it was here in the present. An increase in dragons in this world was something that wouldn’t benefit this side at all.

“It must be because Marquis Evnen hadn’t been able to control his greed again.”

“Yes, that seems to be the case, sire. There are also reports that the mages and the Marquis had made a deal between themselves.”

Marquis Evnen was a close aide of the current king, Rosteratu. The marquis was a man who yearned to become a mage, but because he lacked the mana for it, he instead had a great desire to acquire a dragon to allow him to gain the constitution of a half-dragon.

If that fledgling dragon were to be left with that marquis, then it’s obvious what its fate would be.

“I believe I’ll need to go there myself, Your Highness. It’s a great opportunity to hasten the coup.”

With the disaster that the fledgling dragon’s death would cause, Albert intended to maximize this opportunity to damage Marquis Evnen’s side and drive a wedge between him and Rosteratu.

“I was going to say that as well. And, I have another order for you.”

“What is it, sire? Is it the rumors you told me to spread starting at the outskirts?”

“……”

The moment those rumors were mentioned, the first thing that Albert thought of was Rosé—back when she said that he didn’t have to tell her about it if he didn’t want to. That expression of hers that comforted him so.

How could he not love that kindness of hers?

Schooling his features, Albert continued speaking.

“Take Rosé Artius to the capital with you and show her the landscape of the disaster.”

“…Pardon?”

Liam asked back with a dazed expression. Just taking the maid with him to the capital was baffling enough, but to take her to the forefront of the disaster?

Albert narrowed his eyes. He explained the situation briefly to Liam.

“She’s planning to become a dragon’s contractor.”

“…Is that so? But how, when you’ve just been at the tower…”

“The cat that came here with us is a fledgling dragon.”

“Ahh…”

Liam grew silent, choosing his words slowly and carefully before he replied. He didn’t want Albert to catch on that he and Rosé had talked back in the library. There was a risk that Albert would put two and two together if Liam made anything slip here.

That the maid, Rosé Artius, and Liam had met in the library and decided to cooperate so she could run away.

This plan was something Liam was all for. He couldn’t believe that the maid willingly wanted to leave Albert Grey when he’s the most perfect monarch out there.

“Rather than the pain that she had never experienced personally… she said that it would hurt her more if she were to part with that fledgling.”

Albert couldn’t speak without pausing from time to time because he was gasping out from the pain that wracked his body.

However, the following words that Liam heard did not waver a single time.

“When my person says they’re going to walk right into the gates of hell, shouldn’t I stop them, she said.”

[ t/n: this line is not so clear-cut in Korean as it is here in English just because of that one phrase at the end of ‘she said’. there are two interpretations here: (1) Albert recounts what Rosé had told him about not wanting to let Blanc die, or (2) Albert says that he’s not willing to let Rosé walk right into hell because she’s his person. ]

“…….”

The languid smile on his lips would make anyone mesmerized. He didn’t look human. As he was not just a man but a mage as well who would push the boundaries of strength, there was a certain air to him that made him seem absolutely peerless.

Liam was at a loss for words.

Compared to the shock he felt that the cat Schubert had been playing together with was actually a dragon, he was even more astonished that the woman named Rosé was determined to become that dragon’s contractor.

Since she had read the book about dragons, she should know what it meant to become a contractor. And, again, Liam was shocked to know that she was trying to protect her person—no, well, her dragon.

‘She might just be more reliable than I thought.’

Liam’s first impression of Rosé plummeted the moment she appeared at this place in Albert’s arms. However, ever since he had a talk with her at the library, and now with what Albert said about her, his confidence in trusting her was inched upward.

“I understand, sire.”

Of course, that didn’t mean he was in favor of letting Rosé stay by Albert’s side.

The relationship between these two had a subtle impression. While Albert was originally the kind of person who would take good care of the people on his side, there was always a wall that prohibited anyone from getting close.

But whenever he was in front of Rosé, that wall vanished.

At his core, Albert was an orphan who once had no power. Once he ascended the throne, it wouldn’t make sense for him to make that maid his queen—this would only serve as a thorn at his side.

In the first place, marriage was more like a contract of mutual benefit. There were plenty of noble ladies who were willing to sign such a contract with Albert.

Any good vassal would do their best while serving their lord. And so, Liam would do his best with his lord’s good interests in mind.

Even if Albert were to hate him, as long as all that Liam did was to help the future king, then that was enough.

“Match the time you come back with me. You can leave tomorrow because we don’t know when the fledgling dragon will die. Return by the weekend.”

This timing was the most ideal for Albert.

It’s going to take a while for them to torture the dark mages and make them cough up what they knew. He was thinking about how to make Rosé stay away from his room in the meantime, and it all managed to work out like this.

This was a good opportunity for her to see the capital as well… Then, she would see that there’s no need for her to keep that fledgling dragon by her side.

The Rosé he knew was someone who cherished her own life dearly.

‘That’s the reason why you made me sign that contract.’

At the time, she knew that the very moment she stepped out of the tower, she would lose her life. So, she pushed for the contract and suddenly changed her attitude entirely.

Rosé had become a completely different person.

‘Should I talk to you about this later, I wonder.’

Rosé didn’t seem willing to bring it up first and talk about it, but it was still a matter that they must address.

While Albert was lost in thought, he recalled something that he hadn’t thought about in a very long time.

…After Rosé changed, she reminded him of someone. When he was a child, that person…

As Albert was immersed in his thoughts and at the same time trying to suppress the pain he was in, Liam’s stiff voice rang out.

“I understand, sire. I’ll report back to you once everything is ready.”

“Okay.”

Liam left. As soon as he went out the door, a knock followed as though the person out there had been waiting.

Knock, knock.

Albert frowned irritably at the surging headache that plagued him. There was only one other person who could enter his room at this time.

“…Greten.”

“Y-Your Highness. You’ve been too harsh. You drove me out like that yesterday and…”

After having just entered the room, Greten’s eyes brimmed with tears as she hurriedly stepped forward to change the wet towel on Albert’s forehead. Before she could, Albert slapped Greten’s hand away.

“So it seems you don’t think you did anything wrong.”

“…I never thought that Your Highness favored that child to this extent. From now on, I’ll fix my way of speaking.”

What Greten said made Albert raise an eyebrow.

“Is that what you call an apology? I’m mad at you because you acted like you know me better.”

“……”

“Just because we’ve been acquainted since I was young, do not boast that you know everything about me, Greten.”

“Your Highness, but…”

“The whole kingdom will know the truth about me anyhow.”

As she was shedding tears as she picked up the towel that fell on the ground, Greten looked up with a bewildered expression.

“…Huh?”

“I guess Liam hasn’t told you yet. The rumors are already spreading. The things that you thought only you knew.”

“…T-That? Your Highness, but you must c-continue to hide that w…weakness.”

Greten stammered as she spoke.

It was a part of Albert’s past that she especially knew, and it was what made her Albert’s person.

It was a flaw that a divine king should never have. To spread such a story! That’s impossible!

Greten’s expression became badly distorted.

“Your Highness, you can’t do that. Have you not told me to hide it? You must continue to keep it hidden. It’s like a curse. A curse, Your Highness. It’s something that would incur even God’s wrath. So then you must—”

As he listened to Greten utter words like a crazed madwoman, Albert’s eyes curved thinly.

Right. This was a situation that he was familiar enough with.

A nanny who had deluded herself into thinking that she was special to him, regarding him with the insulting idea that he was a king who could do nothing at all. Left suffocated and unable to breathe, he was led to believe that this was all utterly normal.

There was a time in his life just like that.

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