45 – The Arrival of the Divine Dragon
Tina, who had flown gracefully, spotted the Enghwa Palace from the sky.
Regardless of the reputation of the Second Prince Rainers, the Enghwa Palace was an exceptionally beautiful palace. Even if called a lake, the pond, without any sense of discomfort, displayed pink lotus flowers, and the platinum palace reflected its figure in the calm water.
Tina skillfully split the wind and descended. After reaching right in front of the main gate, she knocked on the door with her front paws. Then, a sense of presence gradually approached from inside.
Naturally, the Enghwa Palace was also filled with courtiers. Therefore, the first one to witness Tina transformed into a dragon was still a young maid.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Huh…?”
“What’s this?”
Thunk!
The young maid hastily closed the door. The maid needed some time to comprehend reality. Therefore, she blinked her eyes, reassured herself multiple times, and slowly opened the door again.
“Hmm…?”
“Meow?”
Thunk!
Once again, the large door closed in an instant. However, this time, the moment it reopened was quicker.
Clack!
At the moment the maid caught a glimpse of Tina’s figure for the last time, a scream erupted.
“Kiyaaah! A mon-monster appeared!”
“Kiiing!?”
Tina, chasing after the maid who fled in a panic, tried to dispel the misunderstanding. However, the frightened maid, running away with a commotion, was not willing to give Tina a chance to explain, desperately clinging to the note around her neck.
“What’s all this commotion?”
At that moment, an elderly woman – the head maid of the Lotus Palace – scolded the maid, but…
“… Huh?”
The turning point in her attitude was as fast as lightning.
“M-Monster…! Look at this, knights! Ray is attacked by a monster…!!!”
“Beep?!”
It seemed like the misunderstanding was escalating enormously. Even Tina, who was true to her instincts, could sense that to some extent.
Thud, thud, thud!
The urgent sounds of footsteps echoed from a distance. Judging by the weight and force in the sound, they seemed to be the knights guarding the Lotus Palace.
“W-What’s that…?”
“Though small, it certainly looks like a monster…”
“Why so cute?”
It was indeed the case.
The maids and chamberlains, astonished by the presence of Lee Hyeong, had only inflated their fear, but if one regained composure and observed, it was an exceedingly lovely appearance.
However, work was work, and one must distinguish between duty and personal life.
Soon, the knights formed a siege around, encircling the surroundings.
It was the moment when the intruder Tina was apprehended.
“What’s all this commotion, everyone?”
A dignified voice descended the spiral staircase. The knights maintained their siege but showed minimal courtesy. Presumably, he was someone worthy of the knights’ respect—the owner of Yeonhwa Palace.
“Hmm?”
However, Tina could only tilt her head. The owner of Yeonhwa Palace must be the Second Prince, but the person who appeared had only a few similarities.
The sun-like shining blonde hair and emerald eyes were indeed features shared by Julian and Reynes. However, the Reynes known to Tina lacked a sharp jawline, and there was no sense of broad shoulders.
At least judging by appearances, that man was no different from the knights surrounding Tina.
“Hmm?”
He uttered a comment, finding Tina intriguing with a fleeting glance.
“Is that creature the cause of the disturbance? Just by looks, I could believe it’s a dragon’s offspring, hahahaha…”
“Your Highness! It’s dangerous! Please don’t come closer!”
“It’s fine. If someone has to get hurt, it’s better that I, with quick recovery, get hurt. Besides, it somehow looks harmless…”
Reynes approached the mysterious creature, eyes twinkling with curiosity. As he removed the siege created by the knights and got closer, he noticed a large note hanging around Tina’s neck.
“What’s this…?”
“Mmm…”
“Can I read it?”
“Kkeing, kkeiiing…”
The baby dragon vigorously shook its head up and down.
In truth, the current situation for Tina was too pitiful. Following Urien’s instructions, they arrived at the Floral Palace, only to find a scene filled with terrified maids and intimidating knights, with no strawberry cake in sight.
Even though she didn’t intend to become like this, people treated her with hostility.
Not just once, but this mistreatment repeated so often that the dust-covered memories gradually became vivid. The time when instinctual bloodlust dominated her body had some commonalities with the present…
“Hate it…”
Though it felt like a faded memory from a long time ago, in reality, it hadn’t even been a year. The reason she could quickly mend the wounds of her heart was undoubtedly thanks to Harthe and those around her.
Thinking back, since meeting Harthe, everyone had treated her positively. So, she quickly forgot the feeling of being persecuted by someone.
“Dad…”
“Kkuuu…”
It was around the time Tina let out a feeble cry.
As Reinas read the note left by Urien, his face gradually turned pale.
“Well, what…!”
“Your Highness? Is there something wrong?”
“… No, nothing. Nothing at all…! More importantly, now that the escort is done, go and do your job!”
Even with Reinas’s instructions, the group of knights and maids didn’t easily leave their positions. It was understandable, as Reinas leaving his spot meant a potential series of beheadings if they were attacked.
“Hey! Hurry up and leave!”
“… Your Highness, if it’s permissible, please allow us to keep a couple of knights.”
“Alright, just get on with your tasks quickly.”
“Yes, understood.”
Only after reluctantly obtaining permission did the surroundings finally become quiet. Raynes could now calmly reread the note.
‘This child is the granddaughter of Duke Luminel, whom I saw at the ball? Moreover, she’s actually a half-dragon? Does that make sense? Even if I search the secret archives, I won’t find a successful case of dragon crossbreeding…!’
Raynes scanned Tina with a look of disbelief. However, the time for prejudices to shift was quick.
‘No, no. She’s Harte’s daughter. Whether it’s a dragon hybrid or a demon hybrid, there’s nothing surprising. Just accept it without the need for understanding…’
Above all, the part emphasized in bold – [Please treat her as much strawberry cake as she desires.] catches his attention. Seeing this, it’s hard not to believe that this dragon is a young girl.
“Uh… um…”
In the end, Raynes had the rare experience of speaking to a speechless beast for the first time in his life.
“So… Tina?”
“Kkiing…”
“Do you like strawberry cake?”
“Pweet, pwiiik.”
“Well, I see. You like it…”
He may not understand a single word, but he can grasp the meaning behind nodding or shaking her head. Therefore, Raynes completely let down his guard and began guiding Tina.
“Enjoy as much as you want until you return home. You can have it until the budget of the Floral Palace runs out!”
“Muut!”
Swish, swish!
Tina vigorously performed headbanging. Faced with such overwhelming positivity, Raynes awkwardly let out a chuckle.
“hahahaha…”
Afterward, Raynes’ admiration continued unabated.
Sweet snacks were stuffed into Tina’s wide-open mouth, and her eating habits were astonishing. Raynus had promised to treat her as if the budget were unlimited, but when all the prepared ingredients ran out, he struggled to find a way to procure more.
Thus, Tina’s enjoyable time at the Flower Palace, thanks to her concession, came to an end under the sunset.
◇
The moon drove away the darkness as evening approached, pushing the sun away.
Tina spread her wings and soared from the Flower Palace. As it was time to return home as a duke’s daughter, she planned to bid farewell to Uriane. However, Tina’s flight path took a strange turn not long after.
“Dad… It hurts. Sniff…”
“It’s okay… It’ll be okay. How could I have brought you all the way here if not? Being someone close to the Imperial Palace, you’ll surely find a solution.”
Somewhere in the main palace, the moans of a sick child and the trembling voice of an elderly man could be heard. Using her dragon’s unique hearing, Tina secretly headed towards the source of the commotion.
The room on the third floor was unusually luxurious, even compared to other spaces on the same floor of the main palace. The third floor of the main palace was as special as the Emperor’s office, so every space was equally exceptional. In that sense, the man and the child were receiving extraordinary treatment.
However, it seemed even fate didn’t consider them particularly special.
“… I apologize, Duke. In the case of late-stage leukemia, both medicine and magic are helpless.”
“What did you say…?”
The Duke of the palace made an objective and harsh judgment. However, the guardian of the child, the Duke, held onto the hem of the palace’s clothes and shed tears.
“This is ridiculous. It’s not like there haven’t been cases of curing leukemia…!”
“I have no words. However, the cases you are aware of were caught early, so the difference with this case is significant.”
“I just thought… it was a manageable illness. That it wouldn’t deteriorate to this extent…”
“… Most patients think that way. Unless medical treatment, like with the Emperor, is a daily routine, discovering it early is considered fortunate.”
“Ah… Aah…”
It was at that moment when the Duke was expressing despair.
The child, lying quietly on the bed, shed a stream of tears.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
“…”
“Then, am I… going to die…?”
“…”
In the midst of all the chaos in the imperial palace, Hwanggung couldn’t easily assert a death sentence, even in the face of a situation that had gone through everything. However, there are times when silence is scarier than affirmation. It was exactly like that for the young boy at the moment.
“I don’t want to.”
“My son…”
“Please save me… Dad. Please save me… Teacher… It hurts too much…”
“…”
“I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die. I don’t want to say that I want to die… It’s scary…”
There were still many unfinished things. At his age, contemplating the concept of death was difficult. Yet, when faced with death right in front of him, it was overwhelmingly terrifying.
“I haven’t even apologized to Mom for being cheeky. I said whatever came to my mind because it hurt so much. I even annoyed the maids who took care of me every day… It’s all my fault. I should apologize. But even now, I feel annoyed. So, I don’t think I can apologize even if I go back…”
The listener had the urge to somehow stop the rambling child’s mouth.
To think that the child who received the heavenly decree so quickly gained fame would leave in such a weak state.
Parents couldn’t bury their child before themselves. The pain of illness and loneliness was no different from the agony that tortured the soul.
“Sob…”
At a time when a voice, whose lament it was unclear, spread melancholy.
Tina, like a gecko sticking to the wall, thought.
“Hematoma? Blood? Is the pain in the blood? But what does it mean for blood to hurt? How can blood hurt?”
With Tina’s limited knowledge, she couldn’t grasp exactly what hematoma was. However, her active brain led to a very sharp deduction.
‘Anyway, as long as the blood is good!’
Truly a witty, cool, and s*xy conclusion. So, with a noticeable skill, Tina opened the terrace door with her front paws and crawled inside playfully.
“Wow!?”
“Ugh…!”
Hwanggoong and Hujak noisily smacked their buttocks. Whether they liked it or not, Tina flew into the bed where the boy lay and landed. Then, the boy, too, turned pale with surprise as his face was covered in blue.
“What… what is this…? Ugh…”
“Kyuutt.”
The boy couldn’t continue his words. Tina’s front paw had pressed down on his face with a thud.
“Hey, guards! Guards! My son, my son…! We’re under attack! Guards!!!”
Hujak shouted in a panic.
Although it was rare for someone at his age to make such a spectacle, the effect was evident. As the third floor received special attention, the reaction time of the palace guards was quite fast.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
Shortly after, guards rushed urgently down the corridor and hastily opened the door.
“Who is it, daring to intrude where His Majesty resides… Ugh!”
“Intruders… who… what…?!”
“Um, what is that…!?”
Even those who were forcefully charging forward froze for a moment. The palace guards of Hwanggoong were an elite group, but none of them had ever witnessed an actual dragon.
However, seeing Tina, who closely resembled the description of a dragon, they hesitated for a moment.
Is it okay to touch that creature?
Perhaps, in their hesitation, the grandeur displayed by Hwanggoong was not unwarranted.
“Moo…”
From Noble mtl dot com
Twitch!
The dragon of a crimson hue let out a cry. Simultaneously, the guards, whose shoulders had stiffened, jolted.
Thump, thump, thump.
In no time, the dragon lifted the sole of its foot, which had been on the child’s face. Then, skillfully using quadrupedal movement, it descended from the bed and slipped through the window crack onto the terrace.
Plop!
Unfurling its wings and soaring towards the pale moon, the guards gulped nervously as they watched Tina in flight.
Only after the enigmatic creature had completely vanished did the tense atmosphere in the room finally dissipate.
“Ah… my son…!!!”
The first to regain composure was Viscount. He was anxious about his son, who had been attacked by an unknown creature. However, his son, blinking his eyes, was perfectly fine.
“… Dad.”
“Yeah, dad. I’m fine. More than anything, I’m relieved that you’re safe…”
“Dad…”
“Yes, I’m your dad. Your dad.”
“That body…”
“The body…? Don’t tell me, that beast did something nasty to you earlier…!”
“No! It’s not that…”
The boy unconsciously groped his body. Touching his arms, chest, head, and abdomen sequentially, he shook his head after a while. Viscount became a little uneasy about his son’s inexplicable actions.
Only for a moment.
The boy uttered miraculous words.
“My body… doesn’t hurt.”
“… What?”
“My body doesn’t hurt at all. I feel like I could even run right now…”
“That, that can’t be! It’s unbelievable!”
Hwang Gung-ui immediately refuted. It was not because he relied on malice, but because it was medically impossible.
However, as he proceeded with a thorough reexamination, Hwang Gung-ui couldn’t help but be convinced of the existence of a miracle. In an instant, the child, who had a very short life expectancy, had transformed into a perfectly healthy body.
What could be the cause of this?
There was only one thing that could be intuitively thought of.
“Oh… my son.”
“Yes, Father.”
“It seems like the Divine Dragon has shown mercy to you.”
A sense of awe filled the Duke’s eyes. And his son, who had a reverent gaze, was no exception.
“The Divine Dragon… That’s right. Now that I think about it, that was definitely the hoof of a dragon.”
“That’s right… The Divine Dragon has left its mark on your face. It’s a blessing.”
“The Divine Dragon…”
I’ve heard of it before.
There’s a dragon with a baptismal name that exists somewhere in the world. And people called such a dragon the Divine Dragon and praised it.
Everyone present at that moment was reminded of the legend of the Divine Dragon.
“Thank you…”
The boy’s gratitude was the starting line of the rumor of the crimson Divine Dragon that suddenly appeared in the Duke’s mind.
A few days later, a large sum of money was donated to the temple by an anonymous benefactor.
It was an amount equivalent to the three-year income of a small territory.
Everyone was bewildered, but only the Pope smiled bitterly.
“Oh… You, who has never left, have brought wealth.”
[As a child of humans and dragons, it is a fascinating existence.]
“Surprisingly, it’s Harte’s follower?”
[Somehow, it’s a convincing statement.]
The one who conversed with the Pope had wings with elegant white feathers fluttering. The smooth scales were as pure white as a snowy plain after a blizzard, and the golden eyes sparkled like the sun on a beach.
Although it was polymorphed into a suitable size and not noticeable, its powerful presence was hard to hide.
“By the way, Mr. Shinryong was close to Harte, right?”
[Among the humans I have seen, he was the most faithful.]
“Unlike the other members of your kind who would say, ‘How dare a human~’?”
[I have a baptismal name, but if my neck is severed, I will die.]
“Ahahahaha, just joking.”
[…]
“Ahahahaha.”
[…]
“…”
When a moment of awkward silence swept over them, the sacred White Dragon spoke again.
“Your Majesty, I hope Harte was happy.”
“It’s a good attitude to wish for the happiness of a friend.”
[Although mixed with worldly desires.]
“Ah, is that what it means?”
The Pope quickly caught on to the meaning behind Shiryong’s words.
[I never want to see someone so faithful cross the line and destroy the world…]
As faithful as he was kind, as faithful as he was strong, Hartera was like a miracle, a product of coincidences tightly woven together.
A tragedy should never unfold where such a virtuous person comes into the world with a distorted face.
That was Shiryong’s true intention.
[May there be blessings in the tranquility that you have finally found…]