CH 131

It was a very natural question. His aide shrugged his shoulders and added a comment to Chises’ question with an expression of ‘Why are you asking such a stupid question seriously?’

“Of course, they are very strong. They were so strong that it couldn’t be expressed in words.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes. Once it returns to its main body, a single swish of its forepaw will kill several people.”

“Hmm.”

There was nothing wrong with what he said. Chises brushed his chin, thinking again. He was well aware that the Emperor had sent several assassins to kill Zagnac. Of course, there were times when he was fine though there were many cases where he injured an arm or a leg from time to time.

“Then, why did he get hurt?”

“Yes?”

“If he was a dragon, why didn’t he fight back?”

“…What? What does that mean?”

“…Nothing.”

When his aide asked back, Chises shook his head. If Zagnac was a dragon, he didn’t have to get hurt. Dragons were a proud race. There was no way that such a race would get hurt just to try to hide that they were humans.

“…I don’t think he’s a dragon.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

After answering briefly, he buried his face in the book again.

His aide, who thought he could get away from it now, also buried his head in the book with a teary face. Silence fell for a moment before his aide spoke again.

“Your Highness.”

“Why? Did you find anything?”

“N, no. It’s not…”

“Then what?”

He spoke as Chises scolded him. He didn’t like his aide’s hesitant look.

“What?”

“Well… How about seeking help from the Princess?”

“The Princess? Who? Are you talking about the First Princess Irinis? She is only interested in a man’s face. She has no interest in anything other than that.”

“N, no… The Eighth Princess Livia.”

“…Who?”

Chises’ eyebrows twitched at his aide’s words.

Looking at his hardened face, his aide paused for a moment. The imperial family despised her to such an extent that even mentioning the name of the Eighth Princess Livia, made them feel humiliated. Still, to ask her for help…?

Chises looked dumbfounded.

“I’d rather seek help from a passing dog.”

“But, but didn’t they say that when Princess Livia was born, she knew how to do ancient magic?”

The hand that was turning the page stopped this time. He was right. The fact that Livia had come to such a position now was the result of that.

When Chises didn’t object, his aide gained courage and continued talking.

“Well, then she might know more about this than we do.”

“…Nonsense.”

Chises snorted.

Even though his aide’s word wasn’t wrong, it hurt his pride to ask for Livia’s help. Furthermore, he felt that if it became known that he had asked help from Livia, the other siblings would easily see through him, and might even take the position of the successor.

“Stop talking nonsense and just read the book. If you can’t find it, I won’t send you back.”

“Yes…”

At those words, his aide dropped his shoulders and turned his gaze to the book he was reading again. Chises also turned his gaze to the book, but the words his aide said did not leave his head. It was quite credible to say that Livia might know more than they do.

“Well…”

“What is it again this time?”

“He couldn’t be a god, could he?”

“What?”

Chises’ face crumpled as if he was dumbfounded at the absurd remark.

…A God, he hadn’t even thought about it.

His aide repeated it again.

“A God… God.”

“You don’t think I didn’t hear that word and asked back, right?”

His aide smiled vaguely at Chises’ snorting and handed over the book he was reading.

“Here is something about God.”

Chises took the book he turned over and read the pages. It contained details about God. He didn’t think about god.

What if Zagnac was a god…?

Thinking that, he took his eyes off the page he was reading and fell into thought. Rather, the dragon was a more credible story.

“Why is god pretending to be human?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“…God.”

Even though the story was hard to believe, it wasn’t a bad thing to know in case the unknown happened. As he finished reading the page, there was written about God’s realm and those who run errands for God.

As Chises read the page, his aide wiped his nose and uttered with a forceful look.

“Isn’t it amazing? I thought it was only angels who ran God’s errands.”

“What?”

“It is written there. Those who carry out god’s errands are actually both angels and demons. They were divided into angels and demons only by human standards, but in fact, they are the same beings who run God’s errands.”

“…Angels and demons.”

“Angels and demons are the same. If this book speaks the truth, I pity the devil since only angels are praised for being good.”

Listening to his aide’s words, Chises tutted his tongue and closed the book he was reading.

“Stop talking nonsense and look for more books. If there are races I don’t know about, report them right away.”

“Yes.”

His aide focused on reading again at his command. Looking at him, Chises unexpectedly glanced at the book he had just closed. Come to think of it, those eyes looked like a devil… Zagnac seemed to have risen from hell.

“A devil… that’s nonsense.”

Chises shook his head. Still, his face was still stiff and there was no smile at all. As he unknowingly reached out and opened the book he had just closed, for some reason, he wanted to read the sentence after that.

* * *

It was a peaceful afternoon.

“Why on earth do you enjoy reading here?”

“…The sunlight coming through this window is just the right amount for reading.”

Azela frowned at Zagnac’s strange words.

There was the study, the library, and the bedroom that was good for lying down and reading, but he chose the parlor as a place to read. Of course, since it was a place to welcome precious guests, he could see the flowers in the garden from the window, and since it was on the first floor, it was a nice place with plenty of light.

“If someone suddenly visits and sees you and me sitting across from each other like this, they’ll find fault with it.”

“Go ahead and look.”

“To see me, an escort knight, sitting face to face with my employer and enjoying a book. Everyone will hold their stomachs and laugh.”

Hearing her words, Zagnac, who was reading the book, took his eyes off it and glanced at her.

“Azela, that is your problem. You care too much about how others see you.”

“You don’t care too much.”

“Enjoy a little more freedom.”

“If you are a human being, especially if you are a noble, you have no choice but to care about how others see you.”

With Azela’s boring tone, he put down the book he was holding and, in an instant, raised his body and snuggled his upper body closer to her.

The wind picked up because he was moving fast.

Azela, who was holding the book in her hand, was startled and hurriedly covered her mouth because she thought he was going to kiss her as he approached her with a half-closed gaze.

“…What’s wrong?”

They were close enough that their nose could touch. Azela asked in a small voice as she covered her mouth with her book.

“Wh, what?”

“Why are you covering your mouth?”

Saying so, he raised his index finger and tapped the book, laughing. Azela blushed and turned her gaze to her right as if she was caught red-handed despite not doing anything.

“Well, just… I think I might sneeze.”

Zagnac drew a straight smile on his lips at her cute gaze.

“If anyone else sees us like this now, would they find fault with us or grab their stomach and laugh?”

“…Rather than that, they would have a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding? That’s fine.”

Zagnac nodded his head, apparently liking the word misunderstanding. ‘So get away before anyone misunderstands,’ Azela said. As she was about to push him away, she could sense someone walking into the living room.

Was it Baharf or the handmaid?

When she was thinking so…

“A guest has arrived.”