Late evening, when a bright full moon illuminates the world.
I thought this eventful day was finally coming to an end, but it wasn't.
“What did you just... say?”
I was shocked when I heard this unbelievable story from Perdes and asked him again.
“The Great Sage... is a dragon?”
[Yes.]
I felt dazed as if someone had hit me hard in the back of the head.
I had expected something to happen when Perdes suddenly started talking about dragons, but I never thought the Great Sage would be a dragon.
I never expected it, not even in my dreams.
“Are you sure? You’re not just guessing?”
[No. The Great Sage himself admitted with his own mouth that he was a dragon.]
Even if the Great Sage wanted to hide his identity and lie, it would be true because he would not have lied about the absurd race called a dragon.
The Great Sage is actually a dragon.
Thinking back on it, it was so surprising and absurd that I couldn't help but laugh.
It was also surprising that dragons were not a fantasy race but a real existence.
Well, he did indeed exist, so the first Duke Leopold was blessed by the Red Dragon.
"Ha ha ha..."
[You must be really surprised.]
As I just smiled silently, Perdes said as if he understood everything.
[I was really surprised when I first heard it. I'm still a little bewildered.]
“...You’re very calm for something like that.”
[It's just my voice that sounds like that. If you saw me now, you wouldn't say that.]
"Is it so?"
[Yeah. It's okay now because a lot of time has passed, but it was worse earlier. When you contacted me.]
Perdes continued speaking in a voice that sounded like an awkward smile.
[I was so shocked that I was half out of my mind when I found out that the Great Sage was actually a dragon.]
Now that I think about it, Perdes' condition was a bit strange back then.
[I was so worried that I was going crazy trying to figure out how to get information from the Great Sage.]
“What information?”
[Well, this and that. Something about dragons. Or something about the dragon blessings that have been passed down through the generations to the Leopold Dukes.]
"Ah."
So that's why you said you would ask the Great Sage about this and that.
Finally, the questions were answered.
[So what I'm saying is... I revealed my identity to the Great Sage.]
“The two of us... our identities?”
[Yeah. Well, I had no choice but to ask the Great Sage to meet you. You said you would meet him if he knew more about dragons.]
I did say something like that.
[So that's why... Are you angry?]
“No, I’m not angry.”
Yeah, I wasn't angry, but I was a little embarrassed.
Because it was never a good thing that more and more people knew about Perdes' true identity.
It was the same even if the opponent was a dragon.
That dragon could be a chatterbox who talks nonsense and could accidentally reveal Perdes' true identity, so that part was concerning.
"I know what you're worried about," said Perdes.
[I asked the Great Sage to pretend not to know my identity and yours, and he promised to do the same, so if you're worried about your identity being revealed, you don't have to.]
Well then, that's fortunate, but...
[And the Great Sage was also very interested in the Leopold family. I only mentioned the family briefly, and he said he wanted to meet you first.]
“Did you ask why he wanted to meet me?”
[Of course, I asked. He didn't tell me that he would talk about it after he met you.]
There is a reason why you can't tell Perdes now, but you can tell him after you meet me.
It's extremely creepy.
[I don't know why, but it seems clear that he is very interested. He said that it would take a long time to wait for you to come here, so he said that he would go and meet you in person.]
What are you saying now...
“The Great Sage is coming to Leopold’s duchy? Right now?”
[Not right now, but he said he’d leave after roughly finishing up what he was doing... I think he’ll leave in about three days.]
Since Perdes would also come with the Great Sage, it meant that his return home would be earlier than planned.
This is true. I sent him all the way to the distant Kingdom of Artina to somehow get him away, but it was all in vain.
[Do you not want me to go back?]
As expected, you're quick-witted.
For someone as quick-witted as Perdes, it was better to be honest than to try to evade the situation with some lame lie.
Actually, when I used that method on Leo, it worked.
“...”
So, although I thought in my head that I should tell Perdes the truth and ask for his understanding, my mouth wouldn't open.
It felt like someone was choking me, keeping me from speaking.
But we can't remain silent forever.
“No way.”
The longer the silence went on, the more strange it seemed to Perdes, so I spoke calmly as if nothing had happened.
“I welcome you back anytime, Perdes, but things aren’t so great right now.”
[What's going on?]
“As you know, Lord Perdes, our wedding was postponed indefinitely due to the counterfeit gold coin incident. Because of that, the Emperor is watching us with a blazing eye, and I think if he catches sight of you, you’ll trip and fall.”
I had no idea what to say in my excuse, but once I opened my mouth, lies just flowed out.
“For example, they might tell you to register your marriage first even if you’re getting married later. Or they might pressure you to have children first. They might even make you take potions or something. In the past, they were careful because Perdes was a minor, but now that you're an adult, there’s a high chance that he’ll just go out.”
[Considering that he tried to give me strange medicine before, I don't think he was particularly careful.]
Now that I think about it, that's what happened.
It was so long ago that I had forgotten about it for a while.
“But you have a shred of conscience, so you prepared it without any weak ingredients.”
[What a surprise.]
Perdes snorted in exasperation.
[Anyway, I think it would be best for you to stay here for the time being and avoid the Emperor's notice, right?]
“Yes. In addition, border security has been strengthened due to the counterfeit gold coin incident.”
This was not a lie, it was the truth.
“In this situation, if you are caught crossing the border with a forged ID, things could get more complicated, so I think it would be best not to come to the Empire for the time being.”
[Yeah. If that's the case, then there's nothing I can do.]
Said Perdes, in a half-resigned voice.
I thought this eventful day was finally coming to an end, but it wasn't.
“What did you just... say?”
I was shocked when I heard this unbelievable story from Perdes and asked him again.
“The Great Sage... is a dragon?”
[Yes.]
I felt dazed as if someone had hit me hard in the back of the head.
I had expected something to happen when Perdes suddenly started talking about dragons, but I never thought the Great Sage would be a dragon.
I never expected it, not even in my dreams.
“Are you sure? You’re not just guessing?”
[No. The Great Sage himself admitted with his own mouth that he was a dragon.]
Even if the Great Sage wanted to hide his identity and lie, it would be true because he would not have lied about the absurd race called a dragon.
The Great Sage is actually a dragon.
Thinking back on it, it was so surprising and absurd that I couldn't help but laugh.
It was also surprising that dragons were not a fantasy race but a real existence.
Well, he did indeed exist, so the first Duke Leopold was blessed by the Red Dragon.
"Ha ha ha..."
[You must be really surprised.]
As I just smiled silently, Perdes said as if he understood everything.
[I was really surprised when I first heard it. I'm still a little bewildered.]
“...You’re very calm for something like that.”
[It's just my voice that sounds like that. If you saw me now, you wouldn't say that.]
"Is it so?"
[Yeah. It's okay now because a lot of time has passed, but it was worse earlier. When you contacted me.]
Perdes continued speaking in a voice that sounded like an awkward smile.
[I was so shocked that I was half out of my mind when I found out that the Great Sage was actually a dragon.]
Now that I think about it, Perdes' condition was a bit strange back then.
[I was so worried that I was going crazy trying to figure out how to get information from the Great Sage.]
“What information?”
[Well, this and that. Something about dragons. Or something about the dragon blessings that have been passed down through the generations to the Leopold Dukes.]
"Ah."
So that's why you said you would ask the Great Sage about this and that.
Finally, the questions were answered.
[So what I'm saying is... I revealed my identity to the Great Sage.]
“The two of us... our identities?”
[Yeah. Well, I had no choice but to ask the Great Sage to meet you. You said you would meet him if he knew more about dragons.]
I did say something like that.
[So that's why... Are you angry?]
“No, I’m not angry.”
Yeah, I wasn't angry, but I was a little embarrassed.
Because it was never a good thing that more and more people knew about Perdes' true identity.
It was the same even if the opponent was a dragon.
That dragon could be a chatterbox who talks nonsense and could accidentally reveal Perdes' true identity, so that part was concerning.
"I know what you're worried about," said Perdes.
[I asked the Great Sage to pretend not to know my identity and yours, and he promised to do the same, so if you're worried about your identity being revealed, you don't have to.]
Well then, that's fortunate, but...
[And the Great Sage was also very interested in the Leopold family. I only mentioned the family briefly, and he said he wanted to meet you first.]
“Did you ask why he wanted to meet me?”
[Of course, I asked. He didn't tell me that he would talk about it after he met you.]
There is a reason why you can't tell Perdes now, but you can tell him after you meet me.
It's extremely creepy.
[I don't know why, but it seems clear that he is very interested. He said that it would take a long time to wait for you to come here, so he said that he would go and meet you in person.]
What are you saying now...
“The Great Sage is coming to Leopold’s duchy? Right now?”
[Not right now, but he said he’d leave after roughly finishing up what he was doing... I think he’ll leave in about three days.]
Since Perdes would also come with the Great Sage, it meant that his return home would be earlier than planned.
This is true. I sent him all the way to the distant Kingdom of Artina to somehow get him away, but it was all in vain.
[Do you not want me to go back?]
As expected, you're quick-witted.
For someone as quick-witted as Perdes, it was better to be honest than to try to evade the situation with some lame lie.
Actually, when I used that method on Leo, it worked.
“...”
So, although I thought in my head that I should tell Perdes the truth and ask for his understanding, my mouth wouldn't open.
It felt like someone was choking me, keeping me from speaking.
But we can't remain silent forever.
“No way.”
The longer the silence went on, the more strange it seemed to Perdes, so I spoke calmly as if nothing had happened.
“I welcome you back anytime, Perdes, but things aren’t so great right now.”
[What's going on?]
“As you know, Lord Perdes, our wedding was postponed indefinitely due to the counterfeit gold coin incident. Because of that, the Emperor is watching us with a blazing eye, and I think if he catches sight of you, you’ll trip and fall.”
I had no idea what to say in my excuse, but once I opened my mouth, lies just flowed out.
“For example, they might tell you to register your marriage first even if you’re getting married later. Or they might pressure you to have children first. They might even make you take potions or something. In the past, they were careful because Perdes was a minor, but now that you're an adult, there’s a high chance that he’ll just go out.”
[Considering that he tried to give me strange medicine before, I don't think he was particularly careful.]
Now that I think about it, that's what happened.
It was so long ago that I had forgotten about it for a while.
“But you have a shred of conscience, so you prepared it without any weak ingredients.”
[What a surprise.]
Perdes snorted in exasperation.
[Anyway, I think it would be best for you to stay here for the time being and avoid the Emperor's notice, right?]
“Yes. In addition, border security has been strengthened due to the counterfeit gold coin incident.”
This was not a lie, it was the truth.
“In this situation, if you are caught crossing the border with a forged ID, things could get more complicated, so I think it would be best not to come to the Empire for the time being.”
[Yeah. If that's the case, then there's nothing I can do.]
Said Perdes, in a half-resigned voice.
“Do you believe me?”
[So when will it be okay to go?]
“Well, I’ll tell you when things calm down a bit.”
[Please tell me as soon as possible.]
“Yes, I will.”
The conversation ended there.
I stared blankly at the communication ring whose light had gone out, then took out another ring that I had kept in my desk drawer.
It was a communication ring that was exchanged one by one with Leo.
It seemed like I had fooled him for now, but you never know.
Later, he may notice something strange and try to come to the empire, and that great sage called Dragon may act impulsively, so it would be better to block him for sure.
Knock knock, I tapped the communication ring and Pura flashed red.
After a while, Leo's voice came out of Pura.
[What is it, Your Excellency?]
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
[Oh, if that's the case, just wait a minute.]
I heard a rustling sound as if something was being done.
[Now speak]
“You weren’t alone?”
[That's right, I locked the door in case someone came in.]
He has a meticulous personality. That's why I could trust him and entrust him with work.
[So what is it you would like to ask?]
“Where are you now?”
“How long does it take from there to Hepburn in the Kingdom of Medes?”
The kingdom closest to the empire was the Medes.
[Um, I think it would take about three days by train.]
“Then go straight to Hepburn and ask for a man named Frankie Lloyd. He’ll be staying at the Moonlit Inn.”
Flankie Lloyd.
It was the false identity that Prophetes IV used when sending letters to me.
The Flankie Lloyd there now was not Prophetes IV, but his knight bodyguard and academy instructor, Lord Logos.
“If you see him, tell him to send it to me right away.”
[Can I just tell him that?]
"Yes."
[That's easy. Okay.]
“Just trust yourself,” Leo said confidently.
“Thank you. And sorry. I told you to rest, but I'm making you work again.”
[It's okay. I actually like this better. Maybe it's because I'm the type of person who works hard.]
“Then I guess I’ll have to keep you by my side and use you a lot in the future.”
Leo said playfully, and I responded playfully.
[...]
But why aren't you saying anything?
It's not that the communication was cut off..l. Are you perhaps hurt by what I said?
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
[Phew.]
Leo let out a small laugh as he apologized right away.
“What? Weren’t you hurt?”
[Haha, there's no way I'd be hurt by something like this. You still don't know me well. Hmm, this hurts even more?]
“Don’t joke around.”
[This is no joke.]
Leo's voice lowered for a moment.
He asked me in a whisper, holding the ring close to his lips.
[So what I'm saying is, can I stay by your side for the rest of my life? By the way, I don't mind if you're my concubine.]
[So when will it be okay to go?]
“Well, I’ll tell you when things calm down a bit.”
[Please tell me as soon as possible.]
“Yes, I will.”
The conversation ended there.
I stared blankly at the communication ring whose light had gone out, then took out another ring that I had kept in my desk drawer.
It was a communication ring that was exchanged one by one with Leo.
It seemed like I had fooled him for now, but you never know.
Later, he may notice something strange and try to come to the empire, and that great sage called Dragon may act impulsively, so it would be better to block him for sure.
Knock knock, I tapped the communication ring and Pura flashed red.
After a while, Leo's voice came out of Pura.
[What is it, Your Excellency?]
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
[Oh, if that's the case, just wait a minute.]
I heard a rustling sound as if something was being done.
[Now speak]
“You weren’t alone?”
[That's right, I locked the door in case someone came in.]
He has a meticulous personality. That's why I could trust him and entrust him with work.
[So what is it you would like to ask?]
“Where are you now?”
[Now? I'm in Ballin].
Ballin was the westernmost nation of the Alliance and the second closest to the Empire of the seven Allied nations.
The kingdom closest to the empire was the Medes.
[Um, I think it would take about three days by train.]
“Then go straight to Hepburn and ask for a man named Frankie Lloyd. He’ll be staying at the Moonlit Inn.”
Flankie Lloyd.
It was the false identity that Prophetes IV used when sending letters to me.
The Flankie Lloyd there now was not Prophetes IV, but his knight bodyguard and academy instructor, Lord Logos.
“If you see him, tell him to send it to me right away.”
[Can I just tell him that?]
"Yes."
[That's easy. Okay.]
“Just trust yourself,” Leo said confidently.
“Thank you. And sorry. I told you to rest, but I'm making you work again.”
[It's okay. I actually like this better. Maybe it's because I'm the type of person who works hard.]
“Then I guess I’ll have to keep you by my side and use you a lot in the future.”
Leo said playfully, and I responded playfully.
[...]
But why aren't you saying anything?
It's not that the communication was cut off..l. Are you perhaps hurt by what I said?
“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
[Phew.]
Leo let out a small laugh as he apologized right away.
“What? Weren’t you hurt?”
[Haha, there's no way I'd be hurt by something like this. You still don't know me well. Hmm, this hurts even more?]
“Don’t joke around.”
[This is no joke.]
Leo's voice lowered for a moment.
He asked me in a whisper, holding the ring close to his lips.
[So what I'm saying is, can I stay by your side for the rest of my life? By the way, I don't mind if you're my concubine.]
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment