Chapter 112
The Emperor led me to the glass greenhouse in the rear garden.
Lycian couldn’t come with me and returned to the Second Prince’s Palace instead. Because…
‘Ahem, Lycian? I’m afraid the Founding Dragon has requested Muriel come alone.’
That was why.
He’d already been suffering from heightened separation anxiety after the ‘soul separation incident’ at the Grand Temple, and he clearly wasn’t pleased.
But when it was the Founding Dragon’s will, how could anyone dare object?
In the end, Lycian had no choice but to give in.
Though he stared at me until the very last second, eyes brimming with reluctance.
‘I have a feeling he’s going to be unbearably clingy later….’
That fox with separation anxiety was more than capable of it.
As we neared the greenhouse, I noticed a band of golden light encircling the building.
‘What is that…?’
As if he’d read my thoughts, the Emperor explained.
“The Dragon of Time has placed a barrier so that no one else may approach. Only you can pass through. He is waiting for you, so go on.”
“Ah… y-yes!”
I answered stiffly and began walking forward on cautious steps.
Meeting a being as grand as the Dragon of Time made me nervous—but perhaps because I’d already had a sort of “advance lesson” with the three goddesses, I wasn’t afraid.
The golden band accepted me without the slightest resistance.
When I carefully opened the transparent glass door, a scene unfolded before me as though an exotic rainforest had been transplanted wholesale into the greenhouse.
‘Wow….’
I was looking around in awe when a golden butterfly fluttered over and began circling me lazily.
A closer look revealed it wasn’t an ordinary insect—it was made entirely of light.
‘What…?’
When I held out my hand, the butterfly gently settled on my fingertip.
Soon, a voice as warm and gentle as sunlight reached my ears.
“Hello, Muriel. I’m Soleil, the Spirit of Light.”
“A—a Spirit of Light?”
“Mm. You’ve made a contract with a spirit too, haven’t you? Is that child doing well?”
Ninabel was currently acting as the butler of my subspace.
Lately, she seemed lost in memories of the lake from a thousand years ago.
She was probably there even now.
“My spirit… Ninabel is doing well. She’s a little sad, but….”
At my answer, Soleil’s golden wings fluttered as she made a suggestion.
“Could you let me meet her? I’d like to speak with her for a moment.”
“Uh… just a second!”
I hurriedly sent Ninabel a telepathic message.
‘Nini, what are you doing right now? Can you come out for a bit? There’s a spirit who wants to meet you.’
The reply came quickly.
—What?! A spirit wants to meet Nini?! W-what kind of spirit is it?
Ninabel had been alone for a thousand years, dying in a contaminated land without meeting another spirit even once.
Maybe this encounter could help heal her sorrow.
‘Her name is Soleil. She’s a Spirit of Light.’
—I-I want to meet her! I’m coming out right now!
Ninabel answered urgently, her voice brimming with anticipation and excitement.
I opened the ‘Secret Door’ so she could come out of the subspace.
The dewdrop rice cake came barreling through the door and flung herself at me as usual.
“Master~! Cute Nini is here!”
“Good. Nothing unusual in the subspace?”
“Nope! Oh, but—!”
“…?”
“I think fish have started living in the lake! There’s no river nearby, though…. Isn’t that strange? You should go check later, Master!”
“Fish…? All right, I will.”
They probably weren’t ordinary fish. Edible ones… even less likely.
‘If they’re poisonous, that’s a problem.’
I frowned faintly, and that was when I heard Ninabel sharply inhale.
“Gasp…!”
It seemed she’d only just noticed Soleil, who had been quietly listening to our conversation.
The golden butterfly fluttered around Ninabel in slow circles. Unlike our little fool, she looked composed and at ease.
“Hello, Ninabel. I’m Soleil, the Spirit of Light. You’re a Spirit of Water, aren’t you?”
As Soleil greeted her, Ninabel leapt into the air and answered.
“Y-yes! It’s so, so nice to meet you!”
Soleil laughed as if she found Ninabel adorable. It was the benevolent chuckle of an elder watching a grandchild’s antics.
‘Somehow… I thought Soleil would be older.’
Just then, Ninabel, who had been trembling all over, suddenly burst into loud sobs.
“Waaah~! I can’t believe I’m meeting another spirit~! Nini is so touched!”
At Ninabel’s torrent of tears, Soleil looked briefly flustered, but soon she soothed her with practiced ease, like handling a child.
“Don’t cry, Ninabel. I’ll come visit you often from now on.”
“R-really?”
“Of course. One day, you’ll be able to meet other spirits as well.”
“S-sniff, waaah~! Thank you~!!”
They looked like a nanny and a child.
Patting Ninabel with her golden wings, Soleil spoke to me in a gentle aside.
“I’ll look after Ninabel. You should go meet Ortemius. He’s waiting for you over there.”
‘Ortemius?’
For a moment I was puzzled, then realized it was the name of the Founding Dragon.
‘Fitting. Even the name sounds extraordinary.’
I slowly headed in the direction Soleil indicated.
Carefully pushing aside a massive leaf that blocked my path, I saw him—sleeping soundly in a clearing beyond.
A blond beauty.
‘S-sleeping Beauty?’
…As if.
His face was pretty enough to be mistaken for a woman at first glance, but that man had to be the Dragon of Time.
‘He’s not waiting for me… he’s fast asleep.’
Suppressing a laugh, I approached him cautiously.
When I finally reached his side, I crouched down as quietly as possible.
Even with me this close, there was no sign he would wake.
Should I shake him awake?
But I didn’t have the nerve to be that bold with a dragon.
So instead, I shifted into a more comfortable seated position and waited leisurely, taking in the greenhouse.
‘Our fox must be anxiously waiting for me….’
This old gee—no, the Founding Dragon—why summon someone and then fall asleep?
I felt an intense urge to braid his long golden hair that fell all the way to his knees.
My fingers itched, but I didn’t have the guts to actually do it.
Instead, I lightly touched the end of his hair.
‘Wow. It’s so soft.’
I was genuinely curious what kind of care routine produced such a silky texture.
‘His eyelashes are ridiculously long, too.’
I found myself staring at his face.
In that transcendent beauty, I could vaguely see traces of resemblance to Lycian.
‘Is it because he’s his ancestor?’
With nothing else to do, I studied my ancestor-in-law’s face with diligence.
I’d reached the point of practically calculating the angle of his brows, the width of his forehead, and the golden ratio of his features when—
“…!”
The Dragon of Time’s eyes slid open.
As brilliant golden irises were revealed, I swallowed without meaning to.
Lycian’s eyes were also clear and deeply golden… but his ancestor’s seemed to hold the sun itself.
“…….”
He gazed at me silently. Caught red-handed admiring his face, I quickly averted my eyes in embarrassment.
Scooting back a little on my seat, I greeted him in a timid voice.
“I-it is an honor to meet you, Dragon of Time. My name is Muriel.”
Still seated on my knees, I bowed my head deeply. I could feel his steady gaze resting on me.
Unsure what to do, cold sweat prickled along my skin—until a gentle voice reached my ears, making me flinch slightly.
“…It has been a long time since I’ve seen someone like you.”
“…?”
At that cryptic first remark, I slowly lifted my head.
The moment our eyes met, the dragon gave a faint smile.
“Yes, Muriel. You require Dragon’s Tear?”
Straight to the point. What a refreshingly direct ancestor!
Seizing the opportunity, I answered at once.
“Yes! I truly—desperately—need it!”
“Very well. Since it is for a Purifier, and not just anyone, I can grant you that much.”
‘Oh yes…!’
It felt like everything was falling perfectly into place. I clasped my hands together, brimming with anticipation.
But the next words made my eyes widen.
“On one condition.”
“…A c-condition?”
I stammered, and the Dragon of Time nodded lightly, his tone turning serious.
“You will help me choose a birthday gift for my mate.”