Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Translator: Yonnee

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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.”[1]

“…….”

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, sir.”

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

The relationship between these two was subtle but evident. 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 just 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 retainer would do their best while serving their liege. And so, Liam would do his best with his liege’s best 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 from the capital with me. You can leave tomorrow because we don’t know when the dragon fledgling 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 dragon fledgling by her side.

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

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

At that time, she knew that the very moment she stepped out 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, sir. 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.

“…Pardon?”

“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.

¹ this line is not so clear-cut in Korean as it is here in English just because of that one phrase at the end, which was ‘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. ↩