#015

The Dragon seemed to like the name immensely.

“Call me.”

For the 15th time, he ordered Cullen to call him by his name. Cullen, expressionless, repeated the action he had performed 14 times before.

“Kiyen.”

The Dragon said again.

“Again.”

“Kiyen.”

The Dragon, no, Kiyen’s expression bloomed radiantly. His blue eyes curved so much that Cullen was taken aback. He had given it, but to be so happy over a mere word…

It wasn’t a bad feeling.

He felt a slight loosening in his rigid heart. Cullen decided it was better not to look at the Dragon’s face. He wondered if some magic was cast on that outer skin, as his gaze was constantly drawn to him whenever he looked. It seemed beneficial to avoid looking at his face properly in the future.

“What does your name mean?”

The Dragon, humming the name Kiyen softly, suddenly asked. Cullen deliberately avoided his gaze and replied.

“Nothing. It’s stranger for a commoner’s name to have meaning.”

“Hmm.”

The Dragon rubbed his chin, then leaned forward slightly to meet Cullen’s eyes. His blue eyes intently held him.

“Ella wouldn’t have just given a name for no reason. Perhaps the name Cullen is also an abbreviation of something.”

…I didn’t know he remembered my name.

“Did you know?”

“Know what?”

“My name.”

“You ask the obvious. I simply didn’t want to call you. To me, all humans are similar beings, so there’s no need to distinguish them by name.”

“It is an honor.”

Cullen replied in a voice that conveyed the opposite, and the Dragon smiled wryly.

“You have no expression.”

“I hear that often.”

“With a dull face, your actions are presumptuous. Did you make a deal with me believing I might have killed Ella?”

The content was sharp, but the tone was softened. Cullen judged that the scholar’s advice had been somewhat helpful.

“You are more narrow-minded than I thought. Are all Dragons like that?”

“Ask another Dragon. If you can find one.”

His voice was indifferent, but Cullen paused there. He pressed his lips together and fell silent for a moment. His reflection appeared in the blue eyes right before him. His face, as the Dragon said, showed no emotion, but why was it difficult to retort?

The thoughts he had in the library flashed through his mind.

The Dragon, no, Kiyen… must have been even lonelier than him.

No, that’s not it. I am not lonely.

Cullen quickly dismissed the useless thought.

“Enough. Let’s stop talking. Let’s move on to Ella.”

It was Kiyen who broke the silence. He turned abruptly and gestured.

“Follow me.”

Then he fell silent again. The soft sound of footsteps on the earth, the high, thin cry of a bird, the gentle murmur of a stream that Kiyen must have created, spread faintly from afar. He disliked the Imperial Palace, but he liked this place. It was like summer in Mount Tesnia.

“Why do you believe Ella was murdered?”

Kiyen brought up the question that had ended without proper discussion. Cullen lowered his eyes and replied calmly.

“At first, I thought it was an attack by barbarians. That’s what happened the day I first went down to the village.”

“Were you the only survivor?”

“Yes. Unfortunately.”

At Cullen’s dry voice, the Dragon turned back. His slightly narrowed eyes were like a cat’s. He didn’t expect the Dragon to pity him, but just in case, Cullen continued immediately. He didn’t want to hear unnecessary stories.

“However, among the casualties, only my mother’s eyes were gouged out. That was strange. The one who saved me…”

Recalling Gale, his mouth felt dry for a moment. He clenched and unclenched his fist. The memory of his death five years ago rose up, sickeningly. Cullen repeated to himself.

Guilt is a luxury.

“I further suspected it based on what my father’s close friend said. He said knights in black cloaks, trained well, had massacred the village.”

“Black cloaks.”

Kiyen, who had been watching Cullen, stopped. It was a place Cullen had never seen before. A giant tree, so wide that twenty men with outstretched arms could barely encircle it. It was an ancient tree, at least a thousand years old.

Did Kiyen grow it?

He must have. While human lifespans ended before they could even see a tree grow to human height, he must have watched it alone here.

“I wandered for a long time searching for barbarians with such attire. But there were no knights or barbarians dressed like that anywhere. Moreover, the barbarians near Mount Tesnia are generally as tall as you, Kiyen. But the knights were not that tall.”

“I see.”

Kiyen touched the tree. Then, the tree roots at the base, which had been encircling the tree, subtly moved, creating a door. It seemed to lead underground.

Cullen’s eyes widened slightly. Green moss grew softly on the stairs made of tree roots. Kiyen stepped onto them barefoot and descended.

“As far as I know, there are no knights from noble families with such attire. Black is not permitted for knights. However, I might be able to find out.”

Kiyen’s dwelling was very spacious and large, unlike the outside. It was like a humble hut located underground. The simple dwelling had old carvings and decorations, and the floor was surprisingly flat.

Cullen gazed intently at the roof, woven from intertwined tree trunks. It was strange, as if made of glass, allowing him to see the sky directly above, despite being covered in earth.

“You asked about Ella’s carriage.”

Kiyen naturally sat down on a wooden table. It was not processed wood but a trunk that rose to support it. It was a beautiful space.

However, Cullen became curious about how he had spent his time over the years. It was an uncharacteristic question.

“Yes.”

“You must have heard from Zigmund. Not many people knew that fact. When he dies, it will be just you and me left. My magic was perfect. No sorcerer in the world could defy my magic.”

“But the magic was broken.”

“Yes. But that was not my mistake. It was damaged by another power, one that even I do not know.”

Another power?

“Are you saying there is something you, Kiyen, do not know?”

“Surprisingly, yes. Upon investigating the carriage, it was not a power originating from the goddess. It was something more sinister and malicious. Magic demands equivalent exchange, but it is usually based on allocated natural forces. However, that power… demanded a great deal.”

The bizarre Demonic Beasts that had suddenly appeared in the last decade flashed through his mind. But he couldn’t find any correlation with what Kiyen was talking about. He just had a strange intuition.

“I call it a type of curse. I do not know its exact name.”

“But…”

Now Cullen knew that his mother’s eyes were a symbol of royalty. And his mother and father were extremely wary of going down to the village. Even on the day they went down together, they seemed to be afraid of someone. As if some entity was targeting them.

“I still don’t know why my mother was the target.”

“Indeed. It could be someone within the Imperial Palace, or it could be the work of someone with an unfamiliar power. However, Ella, as far as I know, had no enemies. In fact, no one in the Imperial Palace would dare to think such a thing while I am here.”

Kiyen spoke again.

“But humans are unpredictable beings.”

His gaze fixed on Cullen.

“Is that not so, Cullen?”

“I agree.”

“Then I will investigate the knights you mentioned. You should use your position to observe the Imperial Palace.”

Kiyen was genuinely willing to cooperate, clearly organizing the tasks. Cullen thought he had a fussy personality, but he liked this aspect. He didn’t seem to be just good-looking.

“I wonder if everyone liked my mother.”

“Yes. They said she was beautiful and wise, full of praise. In reality, she had an annoying personality.”

“How did you two meet? As far as I know, Larkan……”

Cullen hesitated. Kiyen answered first.

“Don’t approach me? That’s right. Ella broke that. She, unlike a royal, me……”

This time, Kiyen fell silent. He waved his hand as if he didn’t want to speak.

“This should be enough. Withdraw for today.”

A dismissal order was given. Cullen closed his mouth. It made sense. The Dragon had given the information it could for now, so he had to examine that today.

Besides… there were banquet preparations left.

Cullen paused. He had no genuine intention of learning to dance or finding a partner. Appearing alone was not an issue.

However, Duke Refellon didn’t seem like he would leave him alone. The man was helping Cullen in his own way, but the reason was too obvious. Moreover, he was treating Cullen as someone easy to handle. If he brought someone up again, talking about a partner, that would be just as ridiculous.

But there was truly no one he wanted. He also didn’t know anyone in the palace.

…Except for Kiyen.

“Why are you standing there?”

Kiyen asked, seeing Cullen stop as he ascended the stairs. Cullen turned his body slightly. Kiyen, looking at him with a puzzled expression, spoke. It seemed Cullen was uncomfortable being in his own quarters.

“Perhaps….”

A thought he hadn’t expected almost slipped out. Shaking off the absurd suggestion that briefly crossed his mind, Cullen concluded the conversation.

“I’ll be going.”

“I dislike deception.”

Kiyen approached with long strides, saying those words. The golden light in his eyes, looking down with haughtiness, grew larger. It seemed the golden hue of his eyes deepened depending on his mood.

“Speak.”

Seeing Kiyen, who seemed displeased again, Cullen swallowed a sigh. He felt like he was offending Kiyen just by breathing. Hesitating, Cullen made a decision. There was no particular harm in saying it out loud. He would be rejected anyway,

“Have you ever attended a banquet?”

“A banquet?”

Kiyen raised an eyebrow, perhaps not expecting that answer.

“It’s held by the Imperial Family.”

“I attended once. It was 1500 years ago.”

The number was so large it felt unreal. Cullen nodded.

“I understand.”

“You seem to be hiding something else.”

“It’s nothing. Just…”

He felt inexplicably anxious. Cullen hesitated, then, feeling awkward about his own hesitation, he just blurted it out.

“I was just thinking, wouldn’t it be better to invite you than to have a partner for even a moment who doesn’t understand my intentions?”

Kiyen blinked. With eyes that were pretty, his tail slightly raised, he stared at Cullen, then twisted his lips. It looked like a sneer.

“You were just thinking?”

“Yes. I’ll be going now.”

“Wait.”

Kiyen’s low command stopped Cullen in his tracks.

“You…”

His pink lips slowly lost their sneer.

“You truly say only things that go beyond expectations.”

Without giving him time to reply, Kiyen declared.

“Fine. I will be your partner.”

The situation was turning out strangely. Cullen quickly refused.

“I don’t need it. I told you I was just thinking.”

“Do you know how to dance?”

Kiyen ignored Cullen’s words. Cullen was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

“I didn’t feel the need to.”

“I don’t know your level, but…”

Kiyen scanned Cullen with a blank expression.

“Come back again tomorrow. I will make you useful before the banquet.”

Before he could even refuse, Cullen was pushed out of Kiyen’s residence. The trees seemed to pull him as he blinked. Cullen, instantly pushed onto the moss-covered ground, struck a vine with a sigh. He considered cutting them but knew it was pointless.

It didn’t matter.

He just wouldn’t visit. Judging by the Dragon’s expression, he didn’t seem particularly eager. Even if he didn’t visit tomorrow, the Dragon… would clearly not care.