Chapter 98

‘…Ah. So this is the real point.’

Of course. There was no way the crown prince of a nation had come all this way just to confess his love.

I looked at him with eyes gone cold.

Naturally, the shameless crown prince wasn’t the least bit fazed by my frosty stare.

“Surely you, too, love the country where you were born and raised. Duke Tierney is deeply concerned for you as well. Are you not worried for your family? Come back to Roblet with me—”

That was when—

“I’ve heard enough.”

Lycian muttered it darkly and seized the crown prince by the collar.

Startled out of my wits, I threw my arms around Lycian’s waist and held on tight.

“Lycian, calm down! Let go—let’s talk first! No matter what, he’s still the crown prince of a kingdom!”

The look in his eyes as he glared at Fabian was savage—like he might tear him apart on the spot.

Veins stood out starkly along his forehead and neck, a raw testament to how furious he was.

“……”

Lycian met my gaze and let out a long breath. Then, as if conceding for my sake, he flung Fabian aside.

Fabian hit the floor gracelessly and rolled, groaning as he pushed himself up on one hand.

I had no desire whatsoever to help him to his feet. Instead, I only tightened my arms around Lycian.

Truthfully, I’d expected Fabian to come at me like this.

His feelings for me were neither desperate nor heavy. If anything, they were light as a feather.

To Fabian, I was merely one more pretty ornament he wanted to possess.

‘He came today to see if he could prod at an unripe persimmon… and, if possible, drag me back to the Roblet Kingdom.’

…And it wasn’t just Fabian.

Before long, powerful figures from across the continent would covet the power of purification.

Lycian would protect me, yes—but I couldn’t hide behind his back every single time.

I had to show that I had a will of my own. Only then would no one dare try to wield me as they pleased.

Slowly, I loosened my arms from around his waist.

Then I gently cupped his cheek and offered him a small smile.

“It’s okay.”

His golden eyes widened slightly.

I stepped out from behind him and stood boldly before Fabian.

“I will not be returning to the Roblet Kingdom. I am no longer a daughter of House Tierney.”

“Muriel, think carefully. Do you truly believe you can trust the Grastea Empire? The Empire will undoubtedly try to use you. It is, after all, the nation with the most contaminated lands on the Altera continent.”

He really said that—with a member of the Grastea Imperial Family standing right here?

Was he out of his mind?

If I’d followed my heart, I would have snapped back—

‘Better that than Roblet with a crown prince like you. Roblet is already rotting from within!’

But I was a civilized person. So I replied with composure.

“I trust His Highness the Grand Duke of Epherne more than anyone else in this world.”

“…!”

I felt Lycian flinch behind me.

I wanted to reach back and take his hand—but I had more to say.

“And wouldn’t it be wise to refrain from remarks that could be construed as insulting the Empire? Surely you haven’t forgotten where you are—or in whose presence.”

“Ah… ahem! Y-yes. I misspoke just now. …My apologies, Your Highness, Grand Duke of Epherne.”

“……”

The crown prince shot Lycian a sideways glance, gauging his reaction, but he didn’t seem particularly cowed.

‘What is this?’

He misspoke in front of the Empire’s Grand Duke and yet showed no sign of shrinking back?

Did he have something up his sleeve?

‘That’s suspicious….’

Even afterward, Fabian tried to persuade me with honeyed words, but I held firm, defending every point without yielding an inch.

In the end, it was around three in the afternoon when Fabian finally gave up and decided to leave.

“If you ever change your mind… come find me at the Roblet royal palace. You would always be welcome.”

“That will never happen—but thank you for the sentiment.”

“……”

Before he left, I let one last piece of information slip.

“Come to think of it… I wonder how Juliet has been lately. Has her health improved?”

“…Her health?”

As expected, Fabian took the bait instantly.

If a woman being considered as a candidate for crown princess had health issues, that could become a significant flaw, depending on the circumstances.

Fabian wasn’t particularly keen on marrying Juliet. He must have been waiting for any excuse to seize upon.

I had just handed him the perfect morsel.

“Why not invite Juliet to the palace sometime and have her examined by the royal physician? Without telling House Tierney or Juliet, of course. If she later learns how attentively Your Highness looked after her… I’m sure she’ll be deeply moved.”

That should have been enough for him to understand exactly what I meant.

Sure enough, his eyes gleamed. A curious smile tugged at his lips as he nodded.

“Very well. I’ll see to it.”

“I’m glad I could be of help.”

And with that, Fabian departed from the Grand Duchy of Epherne.

I’d driven off a stalker and tossed a bomb at my enemies. Two birds with one stone.

Though I doubted the Roblet Kingdom would give up on a Purifier so easily.

‘Still… Fabian’s fearless attitude bothers me.’

Did Lycian have any idea what that was about?

As we walked down the corridor, curiosity pricked at me and I stole a sideways glance at him.

“……”

His face was set, stiff as stone.

‘Is he still angry?’

Honestly, Lycian seemed to suffer from a condition where the mere sight of pathetic men sent him into a rage.

And I was apparently a magnet for pathetic men.

Damn it….

“Ahem!”

I cleared my throat loudly on purpose to get his attention. As intended, Lycian turned toward me.

With a faint smile, I spoke.

“Don’t let Fabian’s nonsense get to you. He was never sincere about me to begin with.”

“…I’ve come to a fresh realization, Muriel. Trash seems to flock to you far too often.”

“I-It does happen a bit…! Haha….”

I tried to laugh it off and lighten the mood, but a silence as deep as still water settled between us instead.

Just as the quiet began to feel uncomfortable, Lycian spoke again.

“There will be more men who covet your power without knowing their place.”

“…Probably.”

“Not only on the Altera continent—but even across the sea….”

Lycian wasn’t merely angry because Fabian had tried to make a move on me.

He was furious because Fabian had used my origin in the Roblet Kingdom as leverage to covet the power of purification.

Come to think of it, he had been like this from the very beginning.

‘Master, keep your abilities secret whenever possible.’

A Grand Duke of the Empire—and instead of thinking how to exploit my abilities, he worried about me.

“……”

At some point, we’d reached my room. The door had barely shut behind us when Lycian pulled me into a tight embrace.

He let out a long, heavy sigh.

“What am I supposed to do?”

It sounded less like something meant for me and more like a muttered confession to himself.

“I can’t hide you away where only I can see you…. I can’t just swallow you whole and keep you in my stomach, either.”

“C-Could you not eat me, please?”

Half-dragons couldn’t take full dragon form.

And yet, for some reason, it was far too easy to imagine Lycian as a golden dragon, gulping me down in a single bite.

“…Muriel, I’m actually afraid.”

“What on earth do you have to be afraid of?”

“Quite a lot, actually.”

He buried his face in my shoulder and drew in a deep breath.

He didn’t sound like he was joking. It felt genuine.

Worry rose in me before I could hide it.

“What are you afraid of? If there’s anything I can do to help… tell me. Don’t hold back. I’ll do my best.”

At that, Lycian let out a soft huff of laughter and lifted his head, gazing at me.

“You’re too kind….”

“……”

Before I was certain of his true identity, I had wondered if Lycian might actually be younger than me.

But there were moments when he carried himself with the air of someone older—and in truth, he was.

Whenever that fact truly sank in… it left me feeling strangely unsettled.

My heart would beat just a little faster than usual.

He reached out and lightly brushed a strand of my emerald hair.

Then he pressed a soft kiss to my eyelids.

This kind of contact was no longer unfamiliar.

“Do you remember? I told you there was still something I had to confess.”

“Ah… yes.”

‘And don’t be so shocked over something like this. I’ll have to confess far more to you in the future.’

It had only been a few days ago. I’d been thinking about it ever since. It seemed he’d finally decided to tell me.

Lycian drew my hand to his cheek and rubbed against it lightly.

Then, pressing his lips to the golden ring on my ring finger, he looked at me steadily.

The moment our eyes met, my heart lurched.

His gaze was so painfully tender.

“Muriel, you said anything beyond being lovers would be a burden to you. But I… I need you desperately.”

“……”

“If it isn’t you, I’ll die. I truly will.”

He didn’t sound like he was flirting as usual. His demeanor was far too serious.

I opened and closed my mouth, unable to find the right words.

And then, suddenly, Lycian dropped to one knee.

“…!”

He clutched at my ankle as if hanging on for dear life and looked up at me, his expression almost pleading.

In a voice so earnest it made my chest tremble, he confessed—

“Muriel, I’m sorry. I selfishly… imprinted on you.”