TAPGB - Chapter 73

TAPGB - Chapter 73

 The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

"This is a really unique guy. You know my identity, right?"

When the attendant snapped his finger, Isis immediately stepped back. And then, contrary to before, from beginning to end... 

No, the dragon sat down, and Isis stood behind like a servant.

"You want to talk to me?"

Although it was a languid voice, Lucian could feel the dragon's unique sense of intimidation. Lucian did not let his guard down as he wiped away the blood that was slowly leaking from his neck.

"... Yes, that's right, dragon."

"Then ask first before talking. How did you know I was a dragon? There is probably no human being who knows this fact."

"... One of my friends is Caesar, a red dragon. Caesar once told me something about Dragon."

The dragon's eyebrows twitched. Soon he lowered his head.

"Ha... That little bastard..."

His sigh instantly froze the desk, and the temperature in the room instantly dropped as if winter had arrived.

"I was wondering what he was doing, how dare you sell my story to humans?"

Coo Coo Coo Coo-

The room began to shake slightly. Lucian, realizing that the dragon was angry, hurriedly opened his mouth.

"Ca, Caesar told me not to encounter or even think about meeting other dragons! It was a story that happened when I was very young, so it was probably something that Caesar said lightly! Please blame me!"

Coo Coo coo...

The vibrations became more frequent and the dragon looked at Lucian with interesting eyes.

"Now that I think about it, I heard that he often goes down to the human world. Was that because of you? How did you become friends with Caesar?"

"We had overlapping acquaintances. Thanks to that, we were able to become close friends, and we have maintained a good relationship to this day."

"Does he know that you are the Prince?"

"Yes... He knows."

"Hmm, okay then. Let's say you're right. How do you know I'm a dragon? Even though the Northern duchy is related to dragons, they wouldn't have been able to tell right away that I was a dragon, right?"

"It's a persimmon."

"Persimmon?"

The dragon made a bewildered expression at the absurd answer. 

"It was similar to the feeling I get when I encounter Caesar. My goal was to meet Dragon anyway, so I thought it was a good thing."

Lucian's original purpose was to ask the Duke of the North to allow him to meet the dragon. However, as soon as he saw the servant following the Duke, Lucian immediately realized that he was a dragon.

"Haha...... In life, there are many cases like this, Isis." 

"Yes, Age."

"Can you recognize other dragons right away when you see them?"

"Well... I think it would be difficult to tell them apart unless you specifically mention them."

"Yes. That's usually normal. However... This is a very unique guy."

Recognizing that it is a dragon as soon as you see it is almost impossible unless it is the same dragon.

'Interesting.'

It's surprising that he has a close relationship with that maverick Caesar, and that he has a special sense of humor. He did enough to stimulate curiosity

"My name is Age. As you said, I'm a white dragon and the first Duke of Libya. Currently, Isis is in charge of the duchy and is ruling the north."

Age polymorphed from an old servant to a very beautiful man.

"It's an honor to meet you, Age. My name is Lucian Odelion."

Lucian, who thought he had gotten over the first hurdle, took his stance again and bowed politely. Age liked that and nodded.

"I just hate talking in circles. Tell me why you wanted to meet me."

"I hope you can help me. My current position is quite precarious. Although I'm acting as the Crown Prince, in reality, I have no choice but to be swayed by orders from above. My own voice has no power, and I don't have enough people to follow me."

"That's why you're looking for someone who can help you, not the Crown Prince."

"Yes, that's right."

"Are you planning a rebellion?"

It sounded as if he wanted to increase his own power, not that of the Crown Prince. Doesn't it seem like an ambition to kill the Crown prince and become Emperor in his stead?

But strangely, Lucian's eyes did not contain any desire.

"When the Crown Prince wakes up, I will hand over his position. It's not my place, and I'm not interested in the throne."

"Hmm?"

"More than anything... The Crown Prince is the only family member I love. It's impossible to betray him."

Age blinked and burst out laughing when he saw Lucian's serious look in his eyes.

"Ahahaha! I thought you were taken by force by the emperor, but it seems that wasn't the case. Good good. It's very fun!"

The corners of Lucian's mouth rose at the positive response. But Age stopped laughing for a moment.

"But why should I help you? I don't think there's anything I can gain from helping you."

"... I will fulfill whatever you wish for, Age."

"Hoo. I know what I want."

"There's something I've been thinking about ever since I remembered Age's existence. Why does a dragon become a noble of the empire and maintain that family name for hundreds of years?"

Too much effort is put into it to be considered entertainment.

"I wondered if you wanted to create a country, but if you had, you would have overthrown this imperial authority long ago and become Emperor yourself. So I decided that there was something you wanted or were looking for within the empire."

"..."

"Am I right?"

Age had a smile on his face, but the gaze he was glaring at Lucian was extremely cold. Uncomfortable. A mere human looking into himself.

But it was also fun. Has there ever been a time like this in over 700 years of living?

"Yes, as you said, there is something the Empire I am looking for. I've been looking for it for almost 200 years, but I haven't been able to find even the slightest trace."

"I will help Age with what you're looking for."

"Hmm... I was already planning to investigate the imperial family again. What should I do..." 

Actually, the answer is fixed. The current Lucian is no different from a pumpkin that came to Age on a vine.

Age was already planning to start investigating the imperial palace, which he had not done before.

But when the second most influential person in the imperial family first offers to help, is there any reason to refuse?

There is a battle of wits because it is more advantageous in terms of a contract to make people fret than to just grab their hands and welcome them.

"When the Crown Prince wakes up, I will tell him about Age separately. If it were my brother, he would listen to my request and be willing to help Age even if I am not here. Of course, I won't tell him that you are a dragon."

The deadline, which could have ended in one shot, has been extended indefinitely. This is a satisfactory contract.

"Okay, I'm happy to help."

Lucian's face lit up. He felt like he wanted to cheer.

"Age, then what is your future schedule...."

Isis asked cautiously.

"Let you handle it. Since I have entrusted the Prince's education to you anyway, I will be here in your stead. I'm also investigating the imperial family."

"Eh, Age, are you teaching me directly?"

"Isn't that what you wanted? Even after all this, I am in charge of the education of the Libyan operatives. It won't be a problem."

That's not it, it's burdensome. However, if Age is directly by his side, it is no different from gaining a thousand armies and ten thousand demons.

"Now then, let's take a look at what education you need right away. As I teach you directly, you will also have to listen to my requests."

"Oh, I... Before that, can I ask you one more favor?"

Age raised an eyebrow.

In fact, there was a big reason why Lucian wanted to take the risk to face Age.

"... I would like Age to take a look at my brother's condition."

Just looking at Leopold.

As soon as Lucian saw Leopold's condition, Lucian was convinced that he would have to be at least a dragon, not a human, to be able to treat him.

At first, Lucian thought of Caesar, but the key was how to bring Caesar here and how to fool others. Then what came to mind was Age.

 "Did you say he has an incurable disease?"

"No, I assume it's black magic."

"It's black magic... It might be worth checking out. Okay, since you mentioned it, let's go right away." 

"First of all, I asked Dane separately to prepare a table..."

"No, that won't happen."

Age came closer and grabbed Lucian's arm. And in the blink of an eye, he teleported to the room where Leopold was.

"Wait a minute, there's a knight inside...!"

I hurriedly looked around the doorway and found that the knights who had been standing guard had fallen asleep, probably because they had used their hands immediately. In addition, Lucian knows that they used strict barrier magic to prepare for any possible black magic, but Age destroyed even that with great ease.

Lucian could not keep his mouth shut as what happened in less than a second.

"It's not my first time seeing a dragon, and I'm surprised... Caesar has never shown anything like this."

"Someone who barely got rid of the hatchling tag can't act like me."

Age snorted and approached Leopold, who was lying on the bed. Age, who was examining Leopold's condition with his eyes closed, twitched his eyelids.

Soon he withdrew his hand and tilted his head. Lucian swallowed his saliva and asked carefully. 

"Can you treat him?"

"No. No one can touch this."

Perhaps because it was spoken by a dragon, the words had a special weight. Lucian felt his heart sink.

"He was indeed the victim of black magic, but the problem is not the black magic, but the soul inside."

"Soul?"

"So, there are two souls inside the Prince now?"

Lucian suddenly remembered the black smoke he had seen the other day.

Was it perhaps a soul?

"It's my first time experiencing something like this, so I can't say anything. Normally, only one soul resides in one body. If more than one soul resides in him, his body will not be able to withstand it. But now, in a very strange way, the two souls are in harmony."

Although it is not a fairy tale, it is so intertwined that it is impossible to separate one from the other. If he takes it out, both will come together. Then Leopold, who has no soul, will die.

"Do you know what other spirits are?"

"I don't know. I am not God."

"I guess so..."

Lucian stroked Leopold's forehead and held his hand tightly.

Age looked surprised at the affectionate appearance of the brothers.

"If we keep doing that, the Crown Prince prince won't open his eyes right away, so let's just go. There's a lot of work to do from now on. You don't have anyone else besides me, right?"

Lucian opened his closed eyes and looked back at Age.

"There are about two more."

"No one in the imperial family knows, so how?"

"There is a way."

Lucian thought of the two people he had recruited just before meeting Age today. The reason he went to the extent of fighting with the Emperor to win the right to choose his servants was to bring in those two people.

"Are they trustworthy?"

"They are  absolutely mine, so you don't have to worry."

Age's confident smile cast aside his doubts. Soon he snapped his fingers and teleported back to his original location.

"Since I'm in the same boat, I'd like to meet them sometime."

"You can meet one right now, but it's difficult for the other."

"Why?"

"I ordered something. It will take some time to get there and back."

By now he would have reached Leah, the person Lucian wanted to see the most.

Lucian wanted to see her in person and talk about it...

From the moment he signed a contract with the Emperor, he could not escape the imperial palace. Of course, even going to the haunted mansion is impossible.

'Leah...'

This is his first time being away from Leah for this long.

'Are you waiting for me? Are you mistaking me for running away from home because I broke up with you in anger? Or are you going to be mad because I didn't come?" 

No matter what he imagined, it was not easy to predict. Lucian just selfishly wanted her to think of him.

'Leah, please forgive me for only being able to contact you this way.' 

Lucian looked out the window and looked at the imperial forest where the ghost mansion was located.

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