Camille (8)

Lately, I’ve vaguely sensed it.

That Camille’s attitude towards me has changed.

“Helix, what are you doing?”

“Studying Magic.”

“Hmm, it’s a headache. Is this fun?”

“It’s fun once you understand it. Do you want to see?”

Camille approached me from behind and rested her chin on my shoulder.

Her hair brushed against my ear, tickling me, so I subtly distanced myself.

But Camille, as if not allowing even that gap…

Instead, she clung to me tightly.

“Why do you think I came here?”

“Because you’re bored?”

“Well, something like that.”

Camille smiled seductively and whispered.

“Let’s do it again today.”

“Again? We did it yesterday.”

“What’s with you? Don’t complain when such a pretty wife is coming on to you.”

Lately, the frequency of my intimate encounters with Camille had increased.

Most of the time, it was at Camille’s instigation.

Originally, Camille wasn’t very active in marital relations.

She used to say that excessive indulgence in sex interfered with her faith or something.

After I embraced the Dragon’s Priestesses, it decreased even further.

But recently, she had started actively demanding intimacy.

“Alright. I’ll go wash up then.”

“Let’s just do it as we are today. Sometimes, this might be nice too…”

Camille rubbed her cheek against mine and hugged me.

I hadn’t particularly sweated today, but doing it like this was a first.

“Don’t make it obvious you dislike it.”

“Alright.”

Although I was preoccupied with Vivian’s problem…

I hadn’t forgotten my duty.

I was Camille’s husband.

I had an obligation to grant her wishes.

‘Though her motives are a bit impure…’

The reason Camille had become so proactive was obvious.

She must be displeased with me studying for Vivian.

But instead of showing it openly, she probably intended to interfere in this legitimate way.

It felt a little bitter that our relationship seemed to have changed due to external factors, not solely because of me.

“Helix.”

“Why?”

Mid-kiss, Camille stared intently at me.

Her expression suggested she had something to say.

A strange, uneasy feeling crept over me.

“That Princess-nim, should I save her?”

“What…?”

“Listen, it won’t be a bad offer for you either.”

I was half-skeptical, but I decided to hear Camille’s proposal first.

“That Princess-nim is being made into a Magician because of a political marriage, right?”

“Well, that’s the biggest reason.”

“I can solve that problem.”

“How?”

“We just need to make that Princess-nim a Religious Order Nun of the Holy Dominion.”

Camille’s eyes sparkled with confidence.

“What about the diplomatic issues with the Empire?”

“We can just offer a suitable compensation. Honestly, the Empire is overflowing with Imperial Nobility. Would they really cling to a Princess with no particular talent or influence?”

At Camille’s words, I silently shook my head.

Did she think it was a good offer from her perspective?

But that wasn’t true freedom.

“I refuse.”

“Why? There won’t be a better offer than this.”

It wasn’t good at all.

From Camille’s point of view, it might not be incomprehensible, but…

From Vivian’s perspective, it was the worst possible offer.

“Camille, as you know best, living as a Religious Order Nun of the Holy Dominion isn’t easy, even for those who have cherished their faith since childhood.”

“…”

“And Vivian doesn’t particularly have Dragon Faith. Telling her to live as a nun is no different from telling her to marry an old noble.”

At that, Camille flared up and raised her voice.

“It’s completely different! What a great joy it is to serve the Divine Dragon-nim!”

“That’s just your opinion. From the perspective of someone who desires freedom, they are all just obstacles.”

“…”

Camille’s eyes were filled with dissatisfaction, as if she couldn’t understand.

“I want to give Vivian freedom. Complete freedom. The right to live without being bound by anyone.”

“How ridiculous. You yourself are not free, yet you speak of freedom…”

Camille stopped mid-sentence, her expression showing she’d made a mistake.

But the water was already spilled.

It was impossible to pick it back up.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that…”

“No. It’s not wrong, so it’s fine.”

Not free, huh…

It was true.

Come to think of it, I might just be living in an illusion.

‘I’m no different from a dog on a leash.’

Everyone revered me as a Dragon, but…

In a way, I was merely a possession of this country.

Just packaged with the grand name of a Guardian Dragon.

Despite having two wings that could freely soar the sky, I was bound to this land.

Perhaps it seemed ridiculous for me to talk about freedom.

“Perhaps I’m over-investing in Vivian because I’m not free myself. Maybe I want vicarious satisfaction.”

“Helix, that’s not it.”

I gently pushed Camille away.

My mood was spoiled for today.

“I’m a little tired right now. Let’s do it another time.”

“Wait, Helix…!”

Camille urgently called out to me, but I didn’t listen and left the couple’s bedroom.

My eyes weren’t clouded with tears like a girl this time.

It was just that I felt somehow pathetic, and that was agonizing.

*******

My mind was complicated with Camille’s matter, but I couldn’t just wallow in sadness.

Since I had thrown away the option of Vivian becoming a nun with my own hands, I had to show definite results for that.

“Helix-nim, the amount of lessons lately is too much.”

“Yeah, I think it’s a bit much too.”

“Right? So you’ll reduce it, won’t you?”

“No, I’m sorry, but please just follow along quietly.”

“Did something happen…?”

At Vivian’s probing, I told her what had happened.

Camille’s proposal for her to become a Religious Order Nun of the Holy Dominion.

And my refusal of it.

I subtly watched Vivian’s reaction.

I wondered if she might be angry that I had made such a decision on her behalf.

“You did well.”

“Huh?”

“Honestly, if you had suddenly told me to become a nun, I might have been a little disappointed in Helix-nim.”

“But this could have been the next best option.”

“It wouldn’t be the next best option, but the next worst. I can’t just throw away the hope that has just emerged so meaninglessly.”

The resolve in her eyes was as firm as a holy tower.

So much so that I felt sorry for having wavered alone.

To live up to her determination…

I also had to do my best.

“Vivian, let’s start taking the Elixir now.”

“Elixir? What’s its effect?”

“Increased Magic capacity.”

“Isn’t that incredibly amazing?”

“Of course.”

“But why don’t other Magicians drink it?”

“Because it’s that precious.”

Vivian looked at the Elixir I offered with uneasy eyes.

“This doesn’t have any side effects, does it?”

“The tests are already complete. You can drink it with peace of mind.”

“Hmm, but Helix-nim. What is this made of?”

“My blood.”

“…”

And so, Vivian continued to dedicate herself to Magic training, consuming the Elixir until she was full.

After about a year, some results began to show.

‘As expected, just raising Magic capacity first was the right answer.’

With the fundamental power level changing, there were definitely many advantages.

Her proficiency in Magic increased rapidly.

Of course, Vivian’s exceptional talent couldn’t be ignored either.

‘Flame Magic and Mental Magic. These two are the most prominent.’

And among them, the field Vivian was most confident in and interested in was Flame Magic.

In a normal situation, I would have advised her to pursue Flame Magic.

However…

“Vivian, let’s stop with Flame Magic here.”

“Huh? Why? My results are better in Flame Magic…”

“Flame Magic is too common. Especially in the Empire, I hear there are many authorities on Flame Magic. So I think going into Mental Magic will raise your value.”

“But… Mental Magic needs a subject to practice on for progress, doesn’t it?”

Vivian was already worrying too far ahead.

But who was I?

Naturally, I had a countermeasure for that.

“You can test it on me, can’t you?”

“What? On Helix-nim directly?”

“Anyway, most of your Mental Magic won’t even scratch me. So feel free to experiment on me as much as you want.”

At that, Vivian made a blank expression for a moment, then…

“Why?”

“Hm?”

“Why are you so good to me?”

“Huh?”

“Did you perhaps fall for me…?”

At her words, I made a dumbfounded expression for a moment, then…

“Handkerchief.”

“…”

“I did it because I was grateful you lent me your handkerchief…”

It was true.

At that time, I was truly filled with resentment towards Camille.

But that small act of kindness Vivian offered me then calmed me down.

The value of a single handkerchief was clearly insignificant.

But the weight that returned to me because of it was by no means small.

“It is strange, isn’t it…? Me suddenly being so meddlesome.”

“No! It was a joke! I was joking! Don’t take it seriously!”

“It was a joke…?”

“Yes… I was so surprised you took it so seriously, I thought I might have offended Helix-nim.”

“Yeah, honestly, I was surprised. I am married, after all.”

At that moment, Vivian blinked, as if she didn’t understand, then…

“What…?”

She replied in a strained voice.

“Oh, you didn’t know?”

“I didn’t…”

“I see… It seems this isn’t as well-known as I thought.”

Well, it wasn’t entirely strange.

I was always wandering around and running away from home…

And I didn’t often appear with Camille at official events either.

Vivian also had no one to talk to in this Holy Dominion except me, so it wasn’t unreasonable for her not to know.

“You had a family, and I was taking up your precious time…”

“There’s no need to over-interpret it that much. I’m doing it because I find it interesting too.”

“Anyway, I have nothing to give Helix-nim, yet I was consuming the time of such a precious person…”

Heavy responsibility settled in Vivian’s eyes.

“Someday, I will definitely repay you for the time you’ve given me.”

“You don’t have to…”

“No, even if Helix-nim is fine with it, I’m not. So I will definitely repay you. Double, triple, with interest.”

Vivian clenched her fists, firming her resolve.

At her appearance, I smiled faintly.

“You don’t need to repay me, but I’d like to visit the Empire someday.”

“Our country?”

“Yeah, I’m curious what the country Vivian lived in is like.”

“It’s a boring place. All they ever think about is the military, territory, and war.”

I don’t have much interest in international politics, so I don’t know much about the Empire.

However, I did pick up a few things from Camille, albeit clumsily.

The Empire wasn’t just a country focused on military expansion.

‘She said it was a country that started from a knight order.’

The Croina Empire was originally a knight order, it was said.

A unique case where its power grew later, eventually taking the form of a nation.

It was even said that the military owned the country.

For the Empire, the military was more than just an organization; it was practically an identity.

“I heard the Empire employs people based on ability. Is that true?”

“Yes, although it’s a homeland I don’t like, that one thing is quite good. Whether commoners or old nobility, if you have ability, the path is open to anyone.”

But conversely, that meant it was a harsh system where those without ability would be exploited for life.

In the Empire, incompetence was practically synonymous with abandoning one’s dignity.

“Vivian.”

“Yes, Helix-nim.”

“What do you want to do when you become a Magician?”

“Hmm… I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it seriously.”

“Then it’s good to start thinking about it little by little, even now.”

It might be excessive meddling, but…

This was advice born from my own experience.

“People need a dream or a purpose to not waver. Even if you gain freedom later, if there’s nothing you want to achieve, only emptiness will remain.”

“…”

I had lived my entire life looking only at Camille.

But when Camille wasn’t looking solely at me, I crumbled.

I hoped Vivian wouldn’t go through the same thing.

I hoped she would walk her own path, not cling to someone else.

“Alright. I’ll try to find it, as Helix-nim said.”

“Good, take your time.”

Looking at Vivian’s smile, the knot in my heart gently unravels.

But on the other hand, it feels like a betrayal of Camille…

A corner of my heart stung as if pricked by a needle.