༺ Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (12) ༻
There wasn’t much known about the ‘Dragonblood Script’.
It was an ancient and mysterious legacy, and public knowledge was that only the Imperial Family could bestow it. Yet, the details of how it worked remained unclear.
Just by having it, one could use powerful magic. The Imperial Family strictly managed any related information in regards to it, so few possessed the Dragonblood Script.
While many were referred to as part of the ‘Imperial Family’, when it came down to it, only the Emperor truly held power.
There weren’t any others with actual power. This was true for every faction within the Imperial Family.
Power stemmed from the Emperor, like the branches from a tree. One’s position and influence were determined by how close they were to him, and he could reclaim that power whenever he chose to.
To maintain this level of control, they had a complex vigilance system in place.
Even the Imperial Intelligence Agents were in the dark about the Imperial Family’s factional set up. Of course, who belonged to which faction was also confidential. This inevitably caused problems.
Politics was much like life itself, full of countless variables and ever-changing situations. The factions that managed these political affairs within the Imperial Family also had to react with great precision.
Thus, what was bestowed was the ‘Dragonblood Script’.
The exact number of those possessing it was unknown. However, one confirmed fact was that anyone bestowed the Dragonblood Script were basically close associates of the Emperor.
While the Emperor’s children, known as the ‘Imperial Family’, and members of various factions under the Imperial Household, wielded power. However, this was merely borrowing from the Emperor’s authority.
No one in the Imperial Family could ignore the Emperor. Naturally, there wasn’t a single figure who could ignore the holder of the Dragonblood Script either.
The Dragonblood Script was a symbol of the Imperial Family and represented the Emperor’s authority.
The mysterious magic, which activated even without mana, was rumored to be a trace of dragons that had disappeared long ago. For the Imperial Family, who claimed themselves to be descendants of dragons, the Dragonblood Script was one of their evidence.
That was why every faction within the Imperial Family obeyed the holder of the Dragonblood Script.
This was true even for the First Prince and the Second Princess, who were both strong contestants in succession for the throne. Even they, to whom the heads of the Five Noble Families bowed to, would not dare cross the holder of the Dragonblood Script.
Their power was merely granted to them due to their potential of becoming Emperor. For them, surpassing the actual power of the Emperor was impossible.
Amidst all this, the Fifth Princess, at the bottom of the line of succession, dared to confront me.
For the Saintess, it was enough to make her scoff. She probably was thinking that the Princess attacked me without knowing that I also possessed the Dragonblood Script, which was why the Saintess didn’t even offer me a word of comfort.
Because once the Dragonblood Script was revealed, it would end all the problems.
The Saintess was one of the two people who had seen ‘me’ use the Dragonblood Script. She had said before that I had supposedly used it when I subdued both her and Yuren. Even the fiercely competitive Saintess had no choice but to shut up in front of its power.
It was a memory I had forgotten until now. The ‘me’ from that time wasn’t really me, so it was inevitable.
The Saintess snorted and gave me a look as if saying ‘Do you remember now? ‘, and then continued in a sarcastic tone.
“Even if it was the faction’s job, wasn’t that a bit too much? You could at least reveal your identity. Imagine how surprised the princess would be if she knew who you really are…”
Despite the Saintess’s chattering, I showed no reaction.
Right, having the Dragonblood Script did mean that every problem could be resolved.
However, there was a crucial problem left for me. That was, I didn’t know how to use the Dragonblood Script.
Although I had it, without knowing how to use it, it was useless to me.
It was problematic. As commonly known to the world, the only way to prove ownership of the Dragonblood Script was to display it.
In a situation like this, even with a powerful weapon, I would still be at a disadvantage. I groaned and searched through fragments of my memories for a while.
Of course, this didn’t give me any clues about how to use the Dragonblood Script. I could only inwardly grumble in frustration.
If he was going to cause a mess, shouldn’t he have at least given me some useful information?
Like, how to use the Dragonblood Script, you know?
But the only message left for me was an incomprehensible sentence like, ‘Those with the eyes of a dragon know nothing about the human heart.’ Such inflexible behavior was so frustrating.
As I was deep in thought about this future ‘me’…
The Saintess, who had been speaking on her own, suddenly coughed loudly. It seemed she had spoken so much her throat had dried.
I was still lost in my thoughts, holding my canteen. So I didn’t react when she casually decided to reach for it.
“Ah, I’m thirsty… Can I have a sip? After all, it’s just water. You can refill it anywhere.”
Suit yourself, I thought, and just stared at her sullenly.
But then something struck me.
Come to think of it, did I fill the canteen with water this morning?
I had a nagging feeling I had put something else in it, and only then did I snap to my senses and hurriedly tried to stop the Saintess.
“Wait, don’t…!”
But it was already too late.
The moment she gulped down the liquid, her eyes widened in shock. And then she spat out the liquid with a big Pwahh.
I slapped my forehead in disbelief.
The liquid in the canteen wasn’t water, but alcohol.
That’s right, I had filled it with it this morning because I was too stressed.
Coughing violently, the Saintess pounded her chest. The alcohol must’ve burned her throat.
With tearful eyes, she pleaded with me.
“Wa, water! Please give me water!”
“I don’t have any. Just bear with it.”
At my resigned response, the Saintess looked on the verge of tears, but there was nothing I could do.
I could have asked Yuren to fetch some water, but it was more efficient to wait without doing anything during that time.
Either way, she would likely calm down.
And just as I expected, it didn’t take long for the Saintess to stop coughing. She just looked a little dazed as if she was drained.
“Ugh, the smell is weird…”
“Is it your first time drinking alcohol?”
“Why would a Saintess drink alcohol?”
With a sharp glare filled with resentment, she responded that way. All I could do was shrug.
After all, who was it that took my canteen without asking? I did nothing wrong.
However, accidents often lead to unexpected outcomes.
A soft blush began to bloom on the cheeks of the Saintess who had just been glaring at me.
Her pupils dilated a bit, and I could feel the heat from the breath she exhaled. I recognized the signs all too well and my eyes widened in disbelief.
No way, was she drunk?
She had barely taken a sip or two. If she got tipsy from that, it meant she must be weak to alcohol.
A vivid future played out in my mind.
It was of a drunk Saintess staggering out of the prayer room, wandering around the Temple grounds. The sight would surely cause the believers to whisper among themselves, suspecting that she had been drinking inside the Temple.
Cold sweat dripped down my forehead. The Saintess was already very conscious of her reputation.
If such a mistake tarnished her image, she would feel utterly devastated. Without wasting any time, I quickly grabbed the canteen from the Saintess’s hand, fearing she might drink more in her drunken state.
Then I opened the door to the prayer room and called out to Yuren, who was waiting outside.
“Yuren, bring some water.”
“…What?”
He looked at me as if wondering what the sudden request was all about, but upon smelling the scent coming from the canteen in my hand, his face immediately scrunched up.
He always was quick to pick up on things, and this time was no exception.
Yuren began to move right away. I slammed the door shut to the prayer room and approached the Saintess.
She had a dazed look in her eyes. Her slightly flushed skin gave off a seductive aura.
Her intoxicated rosy eyes turned towards me.
“…Ian?”
“Yes, Saintess. I’m right here.”
Not knowing if there would be unpredictable reactions from her, I answered compliantly.
I just had to wait for her to drink some cold water and calm down. Upon hearing my response, the Saintess chuckled softly.
Her slender finger playfully poked my cheek.
The disheveled appearance of the Saintess was breathtakingly beautiful. Her sweet body scent mixed with the smell of alcohol tickled my nose.
With an innocent smile, the Saintess whispered in my ear.
“…Dummy.”
“Yes, I’m a dummy.”
“Idiot.”
“Idiot too.”
We exchanged only a few words, but for some reason, the Saintess burst into gleeful laughter.
She then nestled her face into my chest. I couldn’t help but worry she might hear my racing heartbeat.
“I’ve never met someone who’s as much of a pushover as you.”
“…I’m not always a pushover.”
I tried to defend myself, but the Saintess just giggled as if it didn’t matter.
She pulled me by the neck, drawing me closer.
Her lips hesitantly approached my ear. I could feel the softness of her chest pressed against mine.
It was a pleasant sensation. Touching it would probably feel even better.
The sweet rhythm of the Saintess’s breath was so intoxicating that such thoughts involuntarily came to my mind.
And then, in the next moment, she whispered into my ear,
“That’s why I like you, Ian. You’re different from others, you’re special.”
I remained silent for a moment.
After all, such words could easily be misunderstood as confession. When my frozen gaze returned to the Saintess, she had gone limp.
She had fallen asleep. And it was just from a couple sips of alcohol.
Thinking this might be for the best, I gave a bitter smile and laid her down gently. Her sleeping face looked angelic.
Leaning against the prayer room’s wall, I waited for Yuren. On a whim, I asked the sleeping Saintess.
“Saintess, do you by chance know how to use the Dragonblood Script?”
Of course, there was no reply. Chuckling, I stared at the sleeping Saintess for a while before slowly getting up.
I sensed someone’s presence outside the door. It seemed like Yuren had returned.
It was the moment I was about to turn around.
“…With the eye.”
Hearing that faint sleep-talk, I froze.
I quickly glanced back. The Saintess was still lost in her dreams.
“You must… unhmm… see with the eyes… the fundamental of all… magicccc…”
With those words, the Saintess drifted back into deep sleep. Maybe she had never really woken up.
Seeing her like that, I found her oddly cute. Lost in thoughts, I stared at her for a while.
I soon shook my head and began to move.
How ridiculous, thinking of a Saintess in such a way.
Above all, I still had tasks to complete. Until those tasks were done, romance was out of the question.
I fiddled with the letter in my pocket.
I needed to save the world, so I could also save my future fiancées.
Now, it was time to meet Senior Delphine.
**
I entered the dimly lit research building.
It was abandoned for some reason. Despite that, it seemed well-maintained, its interiors tidy and organized.
Under normal circumstances, I would be on my way to the Aedalus Pavilion by now.
However, given the unfavorable circumstances surrounding me lately, Senior Delphine had taken the initiative and sent me a note in advance.
This seldom-visited research building was where she had asked me to meet.
As I wandered around, I soon found myself in front of the agreed lab. Carefully, I pulled the door handle.
Senior Delphine was inside.
With her radiant golden hair, crimson eyes, and fair skin, the Northern beauty greeted me with a slight smile as soon as she saw me.
She rose from her seat and immediately knelt, bowing her head with a respectful tone.
“…You’re here, Master.”
Honestly, I hoped she wouldn’t do that.
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