First Reunion (13)

Garmiyu’s true identity was revealed completely out of the blue.

In that place, where everyone was enveloped in silence, I finally opened my mouth.

“It looks like she won’t be becoming a Dragon’s Priestess, but rather being served by Dragon’s Priestesses…?”

“Huh…? You’re joking, right…?”

“I’m not joking.”

It has been roughly a thousand years since this Holy Dominion was founded.

How many times had a Dragon reigned in this country throughout its long history?

It was extremely rare, countable on one’s fingers.

However, compared to pure Dragons, Half-Dragons existed relatively more often.

Therefore, it was said that cases of Dragon’s Priestesses serving Half-Dragons were not uncommon.

“Shouldn’t we tell the old men first? She’s a Half-Dragon; we can’t just hide it.”

“I think so too. We need to report it to the Cardinals.”

“Ah, no! Please don’t do that!”

Garmiyu waved her hands, trying her best to stop us.

What exactly was the problem?

“Please don’t tell them… I want to *become* a Dragon’s Priestess, not be *served* as a Half-Dragon!”

“Hmm, are we being a bit too hasty?”

Indeed, we had to hear Garmiyu’s side of things.

Since she was so vehemently refusing, we couldn’t just proceed as we pleased.

“Are you sure I’m a Half-Dragon?”

“It’s certain. I, a Dragon, guarantee it.”

“Does that mean one of my parents was a Dragon…?”

“I don’t know that. It could have been in your grandparents’ generation.”

Digging deeper could lead to complicated family matters…

So it seemed best to stop here.

“You don’t want to live the life of a Half-Dragon, is that it?”

“Yes, I’ve already enjoyed enough luxury as the Lady of Reinvalt. There’s nothing more I could wish for.”

“…”

Camille looked at Garmiyu with a complicated gaze, then made an unexpected suggestion.

“Then what else can you do but become a Dragon’s Priestess?”

“Huh…? Are you allowing it…?”

“There has never been a Half-Dragon becoming a Dragon’s Priestess in the history of the Holy Dominion… but if she wishes for it herself, there’s nothing we can do.”

Camille, who suddenly changed her attitude as if flipping her palm,

Garmiyu’s eyes were simply filled with emotion, but…

‘What’s her game?’

Something felt suspicious.

Was she trying to curry favor with Garmiyu, a Half-Dragon?

But why would Camille go that far?

Whether she knew my suspicions or not, Camille proceeded with the matter swiftly.

“First, I’ll have to contact the Rianpalt family. If we just make her a Dragon’s Priestess without saying anything, there’ll be an uproar.”

But what should I say?

“Your daughter will now be serving me, so be aware of that”?

Hmm.

They’d probably grab their clubs and come chasing after me with bloodshot eyes.

This was truly difficult.

“I’ve already spoken to my father.”

“Oh, already?”

“Yes, though he doesn’t seem to have fully understood…”

Not fully, but rather, he probably didn’t understand at all.

With a very uneasy feeling, I glanced at Camille.

What was she really thinking?

“It’s fine, Helix.”

“It doesn’t look fine.”

“Do you really think I’d just make a Half-Dragon, and the Lady of a great noble family at that, into an ordinary Dragon’s Priestess?”

“You’ll give her a separate role?”

“Exactly. She’ll be a Dragon’s Priestess in name only; I plan to give her a separate managerial role.”

Well, that would save face.

However, the other Dragon’s Priestesses might not see it favorably.

If someone suddenly dropped in from above as their superior, it would be hard for them to be entirely happy.

And… more importantly, would Garmiyu truly want this?

That was also a question.

“What do you think, Lady-nim?”

“Saint-nim, I… could I just start as an apprentice priestess? I’ll truly work hard, please believe me.”

“…”

I had a feeling, and I was right.

If Garmiyu truly wanted to become a Dragon’s Priestess, this offer wouldn’t be very welcome.

She wouldn’t be unaware that a position attained without following the proper steps wouldn’t be recognized by anyone.

“That’s impossible. Even with a position, it wouldn’t be easy, let alone an apprentice priestess? Lady Garmiyu, I’m sorry, but please consider my position.”

“Saint-nim…”

“If I take you in as an apprentice priestess, I’ll be in trouble.”

It was cold, but Camille’s words weren’t wrong.

Doing it for faith or whatever is all well and good, but…

Honestly, from Camille’s perspective, it would just be a nuisance.

‘Camille’s support base is still weak.’

She hadn’t even been properly recognized as a Saint before I appeared.

But for her to take in the daughter of a great noble as a Dragon’s Priestess?

There would undoubtedly be backlash.

Whatever Camille’s intentions were, that didn’t matter.

‘Even if Camille’s support base wavers, it won’t do me any good…’

No matter what, Camille and I were in the same boat.

We had to avoid Camille’s power weakening.

‘But it’s a real shame that she’s a Half-Dragon.’

Not only in this Holy Dominion, but Half-Dragons have always shaken history.

You don’t have to look far; just look at Imperial Princess Vivian.

Even with a tiny bit of magic, didn’t she surpass me in mental magic?

If Garmiyu could just awaken her abilities a little…

‘No, if she were to get hurt, what kind of resentment would I face from her parents later?’

Enticing Garmiyu would be easy, but…

I couldn’t handle the aftermath.

Being the Lady of a noble family was a hindrance in many ways.

There were many regrets, but it seemed I would have to send Garmiyu back.

“Sorry, Garmiyu.”

“Huh…?”

“It seems it won’t work after all.”

“…”

Garmiyu hung her head, looking disappointed.

Not knowing what to say to comfort her, I remained silent.

Garmiyu raised her head, her voice choked with tears, then…

She forced a smile at me.

“Yes, I’ll go back…”

“Okay, goodbye…”

And so, Camille and I had no choice but to sadly send her away.

*****

After the Garmiyu incident, I spent my time taking Fairy Dust.

Naturally, during the period of taking it, I had no choice but to rest from battles with Termites.

“I feel bad sending you alone.”

“It’s alright, Dragon-nim. Rest for a greater battle in the future.”

Vilkes continued his search for Termites alone.

Was it because he regretted not being able to fight the Termites directly last time?

He was more enthusiastic about this mission than anyone else.

“Vilkes is Vilkes, but Garmiyu is also on my mind…”

“…”

“I wonder what she’s doing right now.”

“She’s probably being comforted by her family. She’s a pampered Lady, after all.”

Camille said that, as if displeased.

“By the way, Camille. Why did you suddenly make such an offer to Garmiyu?”

“Such an offer? Are you talking about the Dragon’s Priestess?”

“Yeah, you were against it at first.”

“I was against it. But my thoughts changed when I learned she was a Half-Dragon.”

What came out of Camille’s mouth next were words I had not expected at all.

“If that Lady is discovered to be a Half-Dragon, the Cardinals will recommend her as your wife.”

“Why…? When you’re the Saint?”

“Hmph, Helix. Actually, being a Saint isn’t as grand a position as you think. Only you consider it that way.”

Camille said that with a bitter smile.

“An outsider like me, whose origins are unclear, versus a Half-Dragon from a prestigious family. Naturally, the old geezers’ hearts will lean towards the latter.”

“Camille, I have no intention whatsoever of taking Garmiyu as a wife.”

“I know. Do you think I wouldn’t know that much…?”

Camille pressed her hand firmly against my chest…

She sadly lowered her head.

“Honestly, I’m scared.”

“…”

“How many more times will I have to go through situations like this? How many more times will I have to be anxious not to lose you?”

“…”

“Imperial Princess Vivian, and that Lady, the spirit… How many people want you, exactly…?”

Camille flopped onto the bed and laughed hollowly.

She looked dejected.

Without realizing it, I approached her and flopped down beside her.

“Helix, first of all, you don’t want to meet any of those women, right?”

“Well, that’s right.”

“But all those women want to meet you?”

“…”

“You’ve always been a good husband, haven’t you? So consistent…”

A good husband, well.

I don’t know about that.

For me, it was simply that repeated regressions had left me with no lingering attachments.

And perhaps for them, it was just that there was no alternative to me.

In any case, I simply no longer harbored any vain illusions.

“Helix, tell me honestly.”

“If possible.”

“Among your wives, who was the prettiest?”

“Are you going to ask a question like that right from the start?”

To Camille’s mischievous question, I answered immediately without a moment’s hesitation.

“You were the prettiest.”

“Yeah, that’s a lie. Even Dragons lie sometimes.”

“…”

“Still, it’s better than being brutally honest there.”

An answer wasn’t strictly necessary.

Because Camille immediately threw out the next question.

“Among your wives, who was the strongest?”

“Hmm.”

The strongest wife.

The criteria for that were ambiguous.

In terms of influence, it would be Imperial Princess Vivian, who held the continent, including the Empire, in her grasp.

But in terms of individual combat power, no wife surpassed the Lady, the ruler of spirits.

“It’s not me, right?”

“Well, that’s right. Camille specializes in holy magic.”

“Right… you certainly picked only remarkable women.”

I wanted to refute Camille’s words, but I had no choice but to shut my mouth at what followed.

“Still… you chose me first, even though I was truly nothing at the beginning.”

“Camille.”

“Ah… this is annoying. The more I dwell on it, the more I regret it… Ahaha…”

Camille let out a hollow laugh.

She covered her eyes with her arm, her shoulders faintly trembling.

“Camille, are you crying…?”

“No… I’m not…”

“But you are crying.”

Perhaps Camille didn’t want to show me her tears.

She deliberately turned her body, facing away from me.

“Helix.”

“Yeah.”

“I know it’s my karma. But it’s too hard. I can’t accept it…”

Camille, in distress.

Perhaps because of what Undine said…

Garmiyu’s existence seemed to have made her heart even more uneasy.

What on earth should I say to her?

No thoughts came to mind, and I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

“Hngh…”

The night deepened, and Camille’s faint sobs continued.

To attribute everything to her karma…

Her suffering was simply too great.