Camille (17)

I didn’t expect to be able to persuade Vivian in just one day.

My plan was to stay for at least a few more days and negotiate.

To do that, I was willing to humor her to some extent.

“Vivian, I’ll go along with whatever you want for today.”

“Really?”

“Since I’m here to persuade you, I suppose I have to make this much of a concession.”

“Good, I like that attitude.”

Vivian nodded her head in satisfaction, then…

For some reason, she pulled the bell cord and called her maids.

“Did you call, Empress-jeonha?”

“Decorate a room in a secluded location beautifully. Prepare various items as you see fit. You know what I mean, right?”

“Yes, as ordered.”

Vivian, with eyes full of excitement, caressed my chin.

“First, let’s go on a date, and it won’t be too late to consummate things tonight, right?”

“Come here, turn your back. How many hits do you want?”

Jjaak!!

I didn’t hold back and immediately struck Vivian’s back sharply.

A reddish handprint was left on Vivian’s back.

“Ow, ow, for someone so small, your hand is quite fierce.”

“Consider yourself lucky I didn’t slap your cheek.”

“That’s too much. Is it okay for a man to hit a woman like this?”

“I’m not originally a man or a woman; I’m just a Dragon, you know? I only adjust my gender to suit the other person.”

Vivian rubbed her back and wiped away tears.

“Hitting a woman’s body like that, take responsibility.”

“Take responsibility for what?”

“Oh, you know, stop pretending to be shy.”

When I subtly raised my hand, Vivian widened the distance, as if she didn’t want to be hit.

“Haa, if Camille saw this, she would have flipped out.”

“Yeah, I’d love to film us being all lovey-dovey with a Magic Projector and send it to her right away. Just thinking about it makes me feel so smug.”

Having nothing to say, a sigh escaped me.

Was Vivian originally this kind of person? It felt a little unfamiliar.

“If you keep spouting nonsense, I’m just going to rest.”

“Where are you going? You came all the way to the Empire, so you have to play with me.”

Vivian hugged me as I was about to turn away.

“The Holy Dominion is a bleak country, isn’t it? Our Empire has many enjoyable things.”

“It seems just as bleak here.”

If the Holy Dominion spends all its days reciting scriptures and droning on with boring sermons, the Empire, on the other hand, frequently holds military parades, creating an atmosphere that keeps neighboring countries on edge.

“Well, that’s because you’re only seeing a part of our Empire. If you actually look at how people live, it’s different, you know?”

Vivian urgently grabbed my hand tightly and pulled me along.

“I’ll show you, my Dragon. Just how many enjoyable things there are in this world.”

“…”

“I’m different from that Saint who boringly locked you up in that monastery. I’ll let you fully enjoy this world.”

********

As she had declared, Vivian took me to the downtown area located on the outskirts of the Empire Capital.

I had somewhat expected it, but it was definitely different from the Holy Dominion.

The splendid and vibrant Empire Capital.

“The streets are really wide. All the buildings are square-shaped. Are all cities in the Empire like this?”

“Only this Empire Capital is like this. The previous Emperor deliberately redeveloped the city to establish his achievements.”

“I see, no wonder it felt unnatural.”

While we were walking together, Vivian subtly took my hand.

“Why are you suddenly holding my hand?”

“So you don’t get lost.”

“Vivian, if Camille finds out about this, I’m really dead.”

“If you get kicked out, come live in our Empire.”

“…”

Her hand held mine firmly, as if she would never let go.

Her hand was originally smaller than mine, but now that I’m in my child form, it’s much larger than hers.

Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since I held Camille’s hand.

Lately, we’ve only had reasons to get flustered with each other…

“Helix, what are you thinking about?”

“Huh? Nothing.”

“Nothing, my foot. You were thinking about the Saint again, weren’t you?”

“…”

“Forget about her for a moment and enjoy sightseeing in our country. It’ll definitely be fun.”

“Alright, alright.”

As if to prevent me from thinking about anything else, Vivian quickened her pace.

“Too fast…”

“That’s why I told you not to think about other things.”

Before we knew it, Vivian and I entered a street lined with various entertainment establishments.

Her gaze lingered on a cafe.

“I’m thirsty, let’s have a sweet drink.”

“Sounds good.”

Vivian ordered an ade made with sweet lemon syrup.

I sipped my drink and observed the surrounding scenery.

I had only thought of it as a street of decadent entertainment, but it wasn’t just that.

There were reading clubs, various sports clubs, and even specialty pubs like wine bars…

It was certainly more diverse than the Holy Dominion.

“How is it?”

“It’s more wholesome than I expected. In some ways, even more so than the Holy Dominion.”

“Heh, exactly. People in the Holy Dominion are so suppressed by religion that the backlash is even stronger, isn’t it? Maybe the real perverts are them?”

“Hey, you. I was born in the Holy Dominion too, so I have a certain sense of belonging, okay? Could you please stop badmouthing other countries?”

I glanced around for a moment.

There was no one particularly following us.

“By the way, Vivian, aren’t you bringing any guards? Are you okay with assassins and such?”

“What’s there to worry about when you, a Dragon, will protect me?”

“We’re practically enemies now, and you still trust me?”

At that, Vivian simply smiled sweetly and…

“Yes, of course I trust you. Because you’re Helix.”

Her tone was so full of conviction that I didn’t know how to respond.

It was just a ticklish feeling in one corner of my chest.

My expression felt like it was about to completely soften without me realizing it.

“Oh, what was that expression?”

“What did I do?”

“You just felt good, didn’t you? You secretly liked it when I said I trusted you, didn’t you?”

“No, I didn’t!”

Despite my denial, Vivian’s upturned lips showed no sign of falling.

Her red eyes were full of mischief, as if she had caught me red-handed.

“It’s no use denying it when your face looks like it’s about to melt away.”

“Be quiet.”

“Aah, why are you so cute? Is this why you came in your child form? To charm me with cuteness and stop the war?”

“No? I came to stop it by beating you up, actually.”

At Vivian’s attitude, treating a person-no, a Dragon-like an idiot, I raised my hand, but…

Deop-sseok.

Even that was caught.

Both my hands, that is.

“Helix, there’s a way to stop the war.”

“What is it…?”

“You living with me in this Empire.”

At my look that clearly said ‘What nonsense are you talking about?’, Vivian quickly continued.

“This isn’t a joke, so listen seriously. If you stay by my side… then I can truly endure anything. The Empire is already in a position where it might collapse if it doesn’t start a war. Overturning that now would mean the downfall of the system.”

“You want me to help you maintain your power? And then you won’t start a war?”

At my words, Vivian merely offered an ambiguous smile.

“Hmm, that’s not what I meant. It seems to have been conveyed strangely, hasn’t it?”

“Then what is it?”

“It means that if you stay by my side, I’ll endure all the troublesome things. That I can use my power for the peaceful world you, Helix, so desire.”

At Vivian’s proposal, I fell silent.

I understood that, from her perspective, it was a proposal made with considerable concessions.

But…

“If that happened, Camille would probably flip out and start a war instead, wouldn’t she?”

It was half a joke, but if it were Camille now, she might actually do that.

Because right now, she’s like a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment.

“Are you that worried about her?”

“Because she’s my wife.”

“In what way is she better than me?”

“I don’t even think about things like that, and what good would comparing do?”

At my immediate reply, Vivian clicked her tongue, ‘Tsk-‘.

“How boring.”

“Well, I didn’t get married for fun.”

“Just abandon that wicked woman and remarry me~”

Had she decided that negotiation wouldn’t work?

This time, she changed tactics, whining like a child.

“I’m lonely. Helix, I have no family or siblings to rely on… I only have you.”

“Don’t you have the Emperor as family over there?”

“That person is literally just blood. We’re worse than strangers.”

“…”

“You wouldn’t know, Helix, would you? The feeling of being all alone in this world.”

Vivian had now found a way to appeal to my sympathy.

“Even without you, she has those Dragon’s Priestesses or whatever they’re called, doesn’t she? How much like family must they be for her to even lend out her own husband?”

“Vivian, don’t talk about that.”

The story of the Dragon’s Priestesses was a sensitive spot for me.

When I growled, Vivian subtly glanced at me.

“Alright, I’m sorry if I upset you… I just wanted to tell you that the Saint and I are in different positions. The Saint has family and companions, but I have nothing.”

“Camille is also a lonely person; she’s struggling because she bears the heavy responsibility of the nation all by herself.”

“What about me? Am I not bearing a burden? That’s not true, is it? Unlike her, who has inherent authority as a Saint, I don’t even have that.”

Honestly, Vivian’s true intentions were obvious.

But even knowing that…

I couldn’t help but go along with her conversation.

“You’re a descendant of the Dragon, aren’t you? You have legitimacy, you said.”

“More than that, being a woman in the Empire is a disadvantage as a leader, you know? You wouldn’t know, Helix, would you? Even if I act like a tyrant here, from a distance, it’s just a struggle to survive.”

“…”

I couldn’t deny it.

That external circumstances also played a part in Vivian taking such an extreme path.

“Helix, I know. I know I’ve been coercive with you. And that’s why you can’t trust me.”

“Vivian…”

“Treat me kindly again, like before. Tell me you came here for me, not because of things like nations or wars.”

My heart wavered at Vivian’s sincere plea.

In a way, this might be the very situation Camille least wanted.

But could I simply dismiss this as Vivian’s acting?

“Alright.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I came here for you, Vivian. I’ll forget about everything else for a while.”

“Thank you, thank you, Helix!”

Vivian, with a joyful smile, lifted me up in a hug.

Thanks to that, my field of vision suddenly rose sharply.

“You’re doing it again. Am I your doll or something?”

“But Helix is just too adorable right now, I can’t help it.”

Vivian rubbed her face against my stomach like a puppy.

“That tickles…”

“Just let me stay like this a little longer.”

I awkwardly waited for Vivian, enduring the ticklish sensation.

She must have gone through a lot of emotional hardship during that time.

And there was probably no one for her to share her feelings with.

With a feeling of pity, I reached out my hand to Vivian’s head.

“I’ll be on your side. So, if you ever need me, just find me.”

“Mmm, Helix, your hand is warm…”

The soft sensation of her silver hair intertwined between my fingers.

If Camille knew I was doing this, she’d be very upset.

Even though I kept feeling sorry…

I couldn’t stop stroking Vivian’s hair.