Episode 57

Dragons were solitary creatures.

You, who would face a dragon.

You must know this fact.

.

.

.

…Then what about something that was neither a dragon nor a human?

What about something that was not even a dragonborn born between a dragon and a human, but just a human who gained the power of a dragon?

The Empire’s 2nd Princess, Hedera, was precisely that ‘something.’

In her childhood, she was merely a ‘dullard.’ Despite being born a princess and receiving all sorts of investments, being a dullard was enough reason for those around her to dismiss her.

Then one day, she accidentally acquired dragon blood and the dragon language.

She gained tremendous power, and her reputation soared, but Hedera never became happy.

Power and happiness were entirely separate issues.

Something that was neither dragon nor human.

It didn’t take long for the girl to become lonely.

When she was a dullard, at least no one envied Hedera. Regardless of what they thought or said behind her back, they at least encouraged her to work hard in front of her.

But after she gained power.

─Seeing that, my efforts seem completely useless.

─That’s right; it’s ultimately determined by the heavens.

─I won’t do it. Somehow it will work out…

Instead, Hedera made those around her lose their reason to strive. Her power eventually became a curse that robbed others of their motivation.

─Amazing!

─Indeed, it’s the Princess! A god, a god!

Those who deified Hedera couldn’t bring her happiness either. Instead, they viewed her as too extraordinary and only offered ignorant praise.

Those who truly understood the girl gradually disappeared.

Most of those who faced her showed submission in front but revealed envy and fear behind her back. It was too much weight to bear at such a young age.

But this was just the beginning.

The connections drawn by power were also not good.

─Follow my advice completely.

─I am a dragonborn by nature. Would I tell lies?

Dragonborn who wanted to use her for their own gain began to appear one by one because Hedera was born human.

Seeing their demands grow increasingly unreasonable, Hedera finally realized.

‘Everyone just wants something from me.’

Any kindness toward Hedera had ulterior motives.

Since then, the girl became obsessed with ‘wants.’

Was there anyone who wanted nothing?

Someone who would stay by her side even if she lost her power, lost her status as a princess, lost all her wealth, and treated her as usual.

…There was none. Of course, such a person didn’t exist.

In the end, Hedera couldn’t trust anyone. Hybrid or oddity, her ambiguous identity’s final gift was this lonely life.

Jaekiel Hound.

That teacher was the same.

At first, the fact that he left was shocking and infuriating, but soon she could easily understand.

He was human after all. He probably wanted gold and left after collecting enough, didn’t he?

So when she received the letter at first, she was dumbfounded.

Contact coming after an absurdly long period of neglect. By now, Hedera was an adult and knew well what such contacts meant.

When something was belatedly regretted, when something became urgently needed, when something was belatedly desired…

The pinnacle of pathetic. Thinking so, she scoffed.

But when she faced him at the Magic Tower, she wavered slightly.

He said he would do his best as an auditor to make the Magic Tower prosper? Of course, she couldn’t believe it.

It must be just an act to gain something bigger; Hedera completely denied his intentions.

Whenever she trusted, she was always betrayed.

The envy, fear, and slander of those she trusted.

What seemed like a good opportunity but was forced into a soul contract.

The more she trusted, the greater the betrayal she felt later. Perhaps thanks to being so worn down, Hedera now knew well how not to get hurt.

But after learning about his health in the church’s archives.

Reading the letter again, Hedera was greatly shocked.

─Happiness.

Yes, Jaekiel also had something he wanted.

But what he wanted was Hedera’s happiness.

…Why? Was that even possible?

Could a human truly wish for another’s happiness?

Without expecting any reward and without worrying about his own body, which seemed like it could collapse at any moment, could he really only wish for Hedera’s happiness?

And finally, the day she succeeded in interpreting the ancient dragon language.

‘…He’s sincere, undoubtedly sincere.’

Hedera finally understood Jaekiel’s sincerity.

Maintaining a barrier at the cost of his lifespan, telling her white lies so she could focus. There was no dirty desire in his actions.

He truly only wished for Hedera’s happiness.

Of course, acknowledging this was extremely difficult. She had to face all her past actions.

She doubted all of Jaekiel’s intentions, even blocking his path. That wasn’t enough, so she later forced him into unreasonable bets.

Now, she needed courage just to meet Jaekiel’s gaze. It was hard to know what expression to show him. Talking to him was even harder.

So Hedera pondered and pondered again.

Eventually, she came to a conclusion.

Equivalent exchange.

So far, Jaekiel had worked for Hedera’s happiness without expecting anything in return, while she hadn’t done anything for him.

But if she could keep facing him in the future, she could start doing something for him now.

She would do it again and again.

Until one day their relationship would become one of equivalent exchange.

Currently, Hedera took that first step by seeking the Royal Treasury.

“Tether.”

“Your Highness! I’ve been waiting for you!”

The Emperor had forcibly pulled Hedera and Solana out of the gorge, but Hedera was a mature lady. She wasn’t childish enough to throw a tantrum to force her way back in.

So she decided to use her time efficiently, immediately summoning Tether to find the Royal Treasury.

“Your Highness, hasn’t the first-floor space become much larger? It’s thanks to the Auditor of the Imperial Tower. He moved all the troublesome spirit stones to the second floor!”

“…Yes. I heard.”

Hedera nodded, feeling grateful anew.

In this way, his every small action was helping Hedera. In a world overflowing with pretense and lies, he was the only sincere and truthful person.

“Let’s go to the third floor.”

“The third floor, you said the third floor?”

“Yes. Do you want me to say it twice?”

“No, no! It’s just been so long…!”

Opening the Royal Treasury itself was rare, but visiting the top third floor was even rarer.

“Are you sightseeing? Or perhaps requisitioning…?”

“Requisitioning.”

“Requisitioning! A holy relic from the third floor!”

But Hedera had already made up her mind. She planned to take everything that might help Jaekiel.

“I am but a lowly servant, so I cannot enter the third floor. I will wait at the entrance!”

“Got it.”

The 2nd Princess slowly looked around the Royal Treasury.

Indeed, treasures worthy of being called rare overflowed in various forms. Jewelry, ornaments, weapons, clothing…

‘This is… the World Tree’s branch.’

Her gaze only scanned items related to health. The item currently on display was a branch from the Great Forest’s World Tree, a staff imbued with immense life force.

‘No. It doesn’t have healing effects.’

It literally contained an immense life force but had no healing effects.

Perhaps because of this, to Hedera thinking of Jaekiel, it suddenly looked like mere trash.

The woman’s footsteps busily went back and forth on the third floor.

‘Tears of the Dragon.’

A sacred liquid said to dispel all curses.

But it couldn’t fix a constitution.

‘Regret of the Sun.’

A necklace that constantly provides a holy power shield.

But again, it didn’t have healing effects.

Each one was a relic that could significantly impact the continent, but none were what Hedera wanted. It had to be something that could help Jaekiel…

In the midst of this.

Something finally caught her eye.

“…Fusion Ring.”

A pair of rings, when worn by two people, allows them to monitor each other’s condition in real-time.

‘For now, this. To know immediately in an emergency.’

Just as Hedera picked up the Fusion Ring…

“Pr-Pr-Princess! Your Highness!”

Urgent sounds came from downstairs.

Hedera frowned at the noise.

“The Auditor! The Auditor of the Imperial Tower is injured!”

Then the displeasure turned to shock.

“…What?”

Hedera went downstairs. It was so urgent that she lowered her mask and even used the dragon language.

“Tell me. What exactly happened?”

Under the control of the dragon language, Tether spoke.

“During the duel, the Auditor of the Imperial Tower was seriously injured. He is currently at the Imperial Church–”

“Insane!”

Hedera didn’t listen any further and started moving.

Her urgent steps soon turned into a sprint.

“Huff… Huff…!”

It was an undignified action, but she had no time to care. Jaekiel was in critical condition? Why?

If something serious happened…

No. That must never happen.

He was the only man who showed sincerity, the only one who wished for Hedera’s happiness. It would be terrible if he got hurt before achieving equivalent exchange.

No.

Absolutely, absolutely not…

Hedera ran like crazy toward the church.

Truly like crazy.