Camille (11)

A few more months passed, but there were no major changes in my life.

During the day, I taught Vivian magic…

At night, I embraced the Dragon’s Priestesses.

If there was any change, it was this.

My relationship with Camille had improved significantly.

“Hehe, I think you’re cutest as a baby dragon. Why didn’t I realize it when you were actually young?”

“Kiiik.”

Camille stroked me in my baby dragon form.

Lately, she often asked me to take on my baby dragon form.

This was a kind of role-play to reduce each other’s stress.

Forgetting the hatred and resentment we held for each other for a while…

It was a time to return to those truly happy days.

“Even the priestess girls’ eyes change when you’re in your baby dragon form. Doesn’t it look like honey is dripping from their eyes?”

“Kiiik…”

“Alright, alright. I won’t bring up the girls when it’s just the two of us.”

At my rumbling cry, Camille quickly changed the subject.

This was a rule.

A rule that, at least in this state, we wouldn’t bring up the Dragon’s Priestesses.

“I’d like to play more, but we both have things to do.”

Camille was right.

Camille had a meeting about state affairs in the Holy Dominion, and I also had to start heading to Vivian’s lesson soon.

“Then I’ll see you again tonight, my beloved Dragon.”

Camille gently kissed me and then left the room.

The quiet room after she left.

Woong!!

As the Polymorph spell wore off, I returned to my original human form.

“It’s really difficult.”

There was a reason I chose this kind of relationship.

Because I was tired of being hostile towards Camille.

Once I admitted that she truly loved the Dragon’s Priestesses, at least my heart felt more at ease.

“Hmph. What ‘admitting’ are you talking about?”

But I hadn’t truly let go of everything.

An absolute love that passionately yearned for only one.

My longing for that remained unchanged.

This small bonfire deep within my heart…

Would never extinguish, no matter what happened.

Because my desires continued to fan these embers.

*****

After getting ready, I left the temple for Vivian’s lesson.

“I’ll be back by evening.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare a delicious dinner for you today too.”

Being seen off by the Dragon’s Priestesses, I packed my bag with magic books.

On the way to the mansion where Vivian was staying.

Truthfully, my thoughts were complicated in many ways.

Ever since I heard Camille’s words…

I could no longer see Vivian in the same way as before.

‘Does Vivian truly want to seize power in the Empire?’

In fact, there was nothing problematic about that itself.

Our country treated Vivian well, and I also had a connection with her.

If she were to become the ruler of the Empire someday, there would be room for us to get along well.

“Hello, Vivian.”

“Helix-nim. Welcome.”

Today, as usual, the magic lesson began.

“Helix-nim, I can confidently say it now.”

“Say what?”

“I think I can use all Interrogation Magic now.”

“Really? Was there a specific reason?”

“Yes, an opportunity arose.”

If so, it was no exaggeration to say that Vivian had reached the level of a Magician, even if only a half-fledged one.

To achieve such progress so quickly.

She must have put in all sorts of unseen efforts in many ways during that time.

Feeling proud of Vivian, I unconsciously reached out my hand.

“Helix-nim?”

I almost carelessly stroked her head, but then…

“Oops, my bad.”

“You can do it, you know. Did I give off any impression of being displeased?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then please, stroke me with pride for all my hard work. A lot.”

Instead, Vivian came closer, grabbed my arm tightly, and then…

Rubbed her head against my hand.

What, is she a puppy?

It felt incredibly strange for her to do something in human form that I would only do as a baby dragon.

“Anyway, what was the reason?”

“Ah, sometimes the maids would lie. So I used Interrogation Magic to get a confession.”

“…”

At her words, I fell silent for a moment.

This was a kind of taboo I had set.

Vivian had crossed that taboo.

“No, what did they do for you to even use Confession Magic? I told you to only use Mental Magic on me.”

At my interrogation, Vivian flinched.

Her red eyes were full of injustice.

“But Helix-nim. The maids stole my belongings. They kept denying it, so I had no choice.”

“Stole…? What?”

“My heirlooms that my mother passed down to me. Things had been disappearing one by one for a while, but now they’ve even started openly stealing expensive items, so…”

People with kleptomania exist everywhere.

It wasn’t particularly strange.

However, the puzzling part was elsewhere.

If they followed her all the way to this distant foreign land, weren’t they supposed to be trustworthy people she had selected?

“Those maids, weren’t they the ones Vivian brought from her home country?”

“That’s right, but they’re not my people. They are surveillance agents sent by other Imperial Nobility to monitor me.”

“…”

“Whether it’s misfortune or fortune, they seem to be more focused on stealing things than on their surveillance mission, but…”

I was suddenly perplexed.

Why was Vivian suddenly bringing up such a sensitive topic?

I had been very careful about when to bring up that subject, but I didn’t expect her to initiate it herself.

“Doesn’t Vivian lack the right to imperial succession?”

“That’s right. But you can’t necessarily seize power with qualifications alone. After all, what’s most important in the Empire is ability.”

Vivian’s eyes seemed to sparkle for a moment.

Like a predator spotting its prey…

They shone secretly and menacingly.

“If I had been completely incompetent, I might have been able to live a comfortable life, at least mentally. But unfortunately, I’m somewhat intelligent, even if imperfectly so.”

“…”

“The problem is, to those fools, even my imperfectly good mind seemed threatening.”

“By any chance… did the Imperial nobility start to check you more because of me?”

“No, it’s not because of Helix-nim.”

Vivian denied it, but I wasn’t a fool either.

Because I had approached her on my own accord and acted as if I would change her life, they had come to perceive Vivian’s existence as even more threatening.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

It felt as if a lead weight of guilt was pressing down on my stomach.

“Helix-nim?”

“Hm…?”

“You’re not, by any chance, thinking something rather foolish like I’m suffering because of you, are you…?”

“…”

“If that’s what you’re thinking, please stop. I’ve received far too many favors from Helix-nim. Those fools already considered me a threat before, and it was just a matter of time before things came to a head.”

I was grateful for Vivian’s consideration towards me, but…

There was still one more thing I needed to confirm.

“Vivian, have there been any assassination attempts?”

In response, Vivian remained silent instead of answering.

Silence was a form of affirmation.

Political intrigue had already begun in places I didn’t know about.

“Damn it.”

I stood up and roughly ran a hand through my hair.

Vivian had been struggling like this all alone, and I hadn’t known at all.

Feeling sorry, I got angry for no reason.

“I didn’t want to worry you.”

“If you get hurt because of that, *that’s* what worries me more. You should only hide what’s appropriate.”

“Thank you for your concern. But Helix-nim, you already taught me how to survive, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s true, but…”

“On the contrary, it became a good lesson. Good test subjects for practicing Mental Magic without any hesitation appeared right before me.”

Wait a minute.

What did you say?

Test subjects?

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

“You practiced Mental Magic on assassins…?”

“Yes, they tried to take my life, so they have to pay that price. And it must have been a good warning to those who sent the assassins to me. A warning about what fate awaits those who incur the wrath of a mental magic user.”

Vivian, wearing a cruel smile.

A shiver ran down my spine instantly.

Of course, I had no intention of blaming Vivian.

From Vivian’s perspective, this was a righteous revenge.

However, it’s still good to be wary of becoming overly cruel.

“Helix-nim. Do you perhaps find me cruel like this?”

“It is cruel, yes. But it’s justified, so I have nothing to say.”

“Honestly, you’re too frank.”

Vivian gave a bitter laugh, then…

She gently closed her eyes, as if recalling old memories.

“Helix-nim, I thought that if I stayed in this Holy Dominion, I could escape from the bloody power struggles.”

“…”

“But I think I was mistaken. There was no way to escape anyway. From the beginning, I was already a chess piece on the board.”

Vivian tightly clenched her small fist.

Her eyes already held a fierce resolve.

A resolve to fight against the enemies targeting her.

“There’s still a way, Vivian. How about seeking asylum in the Holy Dominion, now that things have come to this…?”

“Asylum?”

“Yes, let’s live in this country. At least as long as I protect you, the Empire won’t be able to threaten you.”

“Helix-nim.”

At that moment, Vivian smiled wistfully.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but that’s not the life I ultimately want either.”

“Is that so…? Then what kind of life do you want, Vivian?”

“The life I want is one where I get what I desire. But as someone who has sought asylum in this Holy Dominion, I can’t have what I want.”

“…”

I’m the one asking the questions, so why do I feel cornered?

As if being tightened, one by one, with Interrogation Magic.

She approaches little by little.

Slowly, very slowly.

But surely.

“Helix-nim, what do you think I want…?”

“Freedom?”

“Wrong. Freedom is what Helix-nim desires, isn’t it?”

“…”

I felt that the atmosphere was becoming strange.

Vivian’s gaze was unusual.

“What do you think it is?”

“I don’t know.”

Vivian looked at me and gave a sweet eye-smile.

It was a smile that would make any man’s heart flutter, but…

“Hehe, it’s a secret for now anyway. You’ll find out slowly later.”

Vivian gently placed a finger on her lips and winked.

This was her consideration.

A consideration that she wouldn’t question me even if I looked confused for a moment.

But how long that would last…

No one knew.