#013

Cullen stared at him wordlessly. He bowed elegantly, looking at Cullen with a pleased expression. Duke Refellon wedged himself between them.

“Viscount Grove’s dancing skills are exceptional. He is renowned in high society. He will be an excellent practice partner for His Highness.”

A child of Marquis Grove. Cullen recalled what he had learned in his lessons, separate from what he had already recognized. Marquis Grove ruled the north, situated very close to the territory Count Linden had been granted. His territory extended all the way to the Mount Tesnia region where Cullen resided.

Seeing him now, it seemed he was also close to Refellon.

“Wasn’t there talk about dancing?”

Cullen momentarily dropped his formal address.

“Originally, His Majesty announces the start of the banquet, but as he is unwell, His Highness will have to perform the first dance.”

“Ask Kihelene to do it.”

“The Crown Prince is, unequivocally, Cullen.”

Jules Grove, who had been smiling silently, cautiously added.

“I will teach you without difficulty. Your Highness, please leave it to me.”

His voice, as gentle as his appearance, even carried a feminine quality. He was taller than average and had a decent build, but his most striking feature was his prettiness. For some reason, the face of a Dragon overlapped with his. Of course, the Dragon was incomparably more beautiful.

…The last thought was unnecessary.

“Then I shall handle it myself.”

Duke Refellon merely smiled at Cullen’s rather firm stance, then tried to persuade him in a different way.

“If Your Highness truly does not wish it, I understand. However, you will need a partner.”

The face of a Dragon flashed in Cullen’s mind again. What was the problem, Cullen?

“I do not need one.”

“Please, I implore you. If Your Highness does not bring a partner, no one else will be able to bring one.”

Duke Refellon was smiling, but he was not yielding. Cullen stared at him expressionlessly. He was clearly helping him, yet it felt as though he was subtly manipulating him to his own will. If Duke Lenon was a venomous snake, Duke Refellon was akin to a slippery eel.

“I will consider it.”

“If you find someone you like, you may tell me at any time.”

With those words, Duke Refellon placed a hand on Jules Grove’s shoulder. The Viscount gave Cullen a knowing smile. The meaning was clear.

“I understand. You may leave now. I have somewhere to be.”

“Thank you for your time. Then, until we meet again.”

The Duke retreated for the moment. Cullen left his quarters first, leaving him be. After spending so much time with so many people over the past five years, he had grown weary. Talking and observing people’s emotions was exhausting. Especially so when someone trying to manipulate him was nearby.

However, it was not without its gains. Through his lessons with the scholars, Cullen was convinced that there was a clear power struggle within the Imperial Palace. The factions, each led by one of the two Dukes, had distinct characteristics. Specifically, Duke Lenon’s faction did.

They were the ones who had rapidly gained influence after the fall of the Duchy of Jenix. Those who had newly received titles or expanded their territories were mostly Duke Lenon’s close associates, while the opposite formed Duke Refellon’s power base.

Even if Cullen knew little about politics or power struggles, it was clear this was about factions.

This led to the conclusion that the Duke Refellon family had been outmaneuvered by Duke Lenon during the reign of Belimir. There was clearly something. Something intertwined with the sudden rebellion of the Duchy of Jenix.

As he organized his thoughts, Cullen arrived at the North Palace. It was not intentional.

Why did I come here?

The moment he thought this, a voice suddenly spoke from behind him.

“You’re late.”

Reacting instinctively, he spun around and drew his sword. Before the longsword was fully unsheathed, a white hand stopped it. The instant his fingers lightly brushed the back of the hand, Cullen confirmed the opponent’s face.

“You should fix that habit of drawing your sword first.”

The Dragon looked at him, raising an eyebrow. His expression was cold, as if scolding him.

“There are ways to announce your presence.”

“Troublesome human.”

The Dragon stepped back as he said this. Only after the warmth that had briefly touched his hand disappeared did Cullen belatedly realize they had made contact. His skin tingled, and he quietly rubbed the back of his hand against his clothes.

“Have you been busy?”

“Thanks to you, I have.”

The Dragon seemed to understand the subtly sarcastic remark. He raised the corner of his lips.

“Even if it hadn’t been me, the Elder Council would have found out your birthday.”

“Yes. Is that so?”

The Dragon chided him when he replied without emotion.

“You have no manners.”

“This is already quite polite.”

“Your etiquette is far from that of the common folk.”

Surprisingly, the Dragon continued the idle conversation. His demeanor had clearly changed slightly. Since Cullen had stated he would agree to the transaction, the Dragon had shed the hostility he initially displayed. At least, he was not showing contempt.

It felt strange, somehow.

The Dragon stepped away from Cullen and entered his dwelling, a triangular structure resembling a temple. Following the opening door, Cullen also entered. The Dragon’s dwelling, seen in the daytime, had a refreshing quality, as if one had entered a forest.

“You seem like a person as old-fashioned as your age, Dragon.”

“Old-fashioned?”

The Dragon looked at Cullen as if offended. Indeed, it was an unfitting word. His beautiful face seemed too young and sacred to be described with such a word. Cullen, again without conscious thought, found himself admiring his face. He belatedly averted his gaze.

“Then you are insolent.”

He was momentarily speechless. …Insolent. That was truly an unfitting word for him.

“Did you speak that way to your mother as well?”

“She was cuter than you. Though she was peculiar and troublesome in many ways, she was saner than you.”

“I am not insane.”

“It’s hard to express your tendency to draw a sword at the slightest provocation any other way.”

Not only was the conversation continuing, but it was also quite pleasant. His way of speaking felt very unique, yet he didn’t dislike it as much as he expected.

“So.”

The Dragon stopped before a tree with large, pointed leaves drooping down. He placed a hand on the bark and turned to Cullen.

“Have you investigated regarding Ella?”

“There hasn’t been much progress. I have learned who she was in the Imperial Palace.”

It was the truth. Cullen had no intention of foolishly questioning nobles in the Imperial Palace about his mother’s accident, especially when there might be someone behind it. Investigating it openly was impossible.

The problem was that there was no one trustworthy within the Imperial Palace. He couldn’t create such a person, and Cullen still had much to figure out.

However, excluding her death, it was clear his mother had been a beloved Princess. It was a long time ago, and only old Dukes or Marquesses would know about her. Cullen had used Duke Refellon and his associates, as he had no opportunity to question Duke Lenon, who was hostile towards him.

Duke Refellon described his mother as ‘wise, bold, and courageous.’ Emperor Zigmund also seemed to have cared for his mother on the surface, and she did not seem to have aimed for the position of Crown Prince. Did she not obediently accept her fate and go to the temple for the infertility ritual?

There was no one on the surface who had a motive to harm his mother. Unless there was a romantic entanglement he was unaware of.

Furthermore… he could not completely rule out the Dragon yet. Although they seemed to have been acquainted with his mother, considering that he could never like Larkan, the possibility remained high.

Cullen had to confirm that first. If the Dragon was involved, the transaction itself could not be made.

“It would be best to discuss the transaction.”

The Dragon placed his ear against the bark of the tree, then reached his hand upwards. Then, something miraculous happened. The tree’s high branches bent on their own. The Dragon plucked a green fruit from the leaves. It was a fruit Cullen had never seen before. Its elongated, round shape made it look like a stone.

“You said Ella was murdered. Is your wish to find her killer?”

“Yes.”

“Then you and I will investigate that from now on.”

The Dragon took a bite of the fruit. His pink lips parted elegantly, and he chewed the fruit with a crisp sound. Even his white teeth looked like carved stone. Feeling as though he was peeking at a scene he shouldn’t, Cullen turned his head.

“Why do you think Ella was murdered?”

Cullen lowered his eyes. Even after so much time had passed, something churned within him. But he quickly suppressed it. It was nothing. It was already over. There was no need to fear.

“I heard there was a landslide.”

The Dragon, who had been biting into the fruit, stopped. He gazed at Cullen motionlessly. A moment of hesitation followed. His words did not come out at once. But he had to resolve the biggest question for sure.

Whether the one he was about to make a deal with was not the one behind his mother’s death.

“And I also heard that you cast absolute magic on the carriage. Yet, the magic did not work, and my mother became a dead person.”

The Dragon slowly raised his eyelashes. Transparent liquid dripped between his fingers holding the fruit. He slowly walked towards Cullen. Cullen watched the approaching bare feet before meeting his gaze.

This was a conversation that needed to happen.

“Do you know anything about this, Dragon?”

Cullen looked straight into the Dragon’s eyes. The Dragon, who stopped abruptly before him, quietly looked down at Cullen. The sunlight was warm, and birds were chirping softly, yet the air instantly turned cold.

“Are you…?”

He asked in a languid voice.

“Asking if I killed Ella?”

“I merely asked if you knew anything.”

The Dragon narrowed his eyes and smiled. The corners of his mouth curved softly.

“How amusing.”

The fruit dropped to the ground with a thud.

“Should I call it boldness to propose a transaction to someone who might have killed your mother…?”

The Dragon leaned his upper body forward. His blue eyes, meeting Cullen’s gaze directly, shone intensely.

“Or recklessness.”

His smile vanished in an instant.

“I am Larciel’s Guardian Dragon. You Larkan placed a perfect chain upon me. I must protect Larkan in any way possible, and I cannot do anything that goes against that.”

Anger tinged his voice. Like blue fire slowly boiling.

“That is why I made oceans of human blood. Tens of thousands died for your safety.”

Even though it was a question he absolutely had to ask, Cullen’s lips tightened. Somewhere in the corner of his heart felt heavy.

“I… had to confirm.”

A sensation akin to guilt instantly washed over Cullen. Even though he had done nothing wrong.

“Then listen carefully. I do not lie. I did not kill your mother, human. I have nothing to do with anything related to it.”

With a swish, his robe moved. The Dragon, his pupils sharp like a beast’s, stared at Cullen and spoke.

“You have a remarkable talent for angering me.”

He reached out a hand. His fingers pointed to the door.

“Leave. I do not wish to see your face.”

Cullen was taken aback by the anger, which was far greater than he had expected. Although his expression remained impassive, he was clearly flustered. His lips parted. As he chose his words, the Dragon raised his voice.

“Leave.”

The final warning fell. The Dragon turned his body. His stern back pierced him uncomfortably. The Dragon completely disappeared. Cullen, looking at the empty space, turned with heavy steps.

He felt as though he had made a grave mistake.