* * *

“Priest Ciel, my apologies. I didn’t mean to be overfamiliar with any ill intent. It’s just… seeing you made me forget my manners. As a member of the royal family, I was raised with the notion that if we ever encountered a dragon, we should treat them with kindness…”

Habios lowered his head in respect to the Saint.

Royals rarely bow, but he couldn’t stand stiffly before the Saint, even if the emperor herself would bow before him.

And regardless of the reason, it had indeed been rude to read someone’s lips.

“No, I also spoke carelessly, so the fault is partly mine. Still, I’d appreciate it if you refrained from reading my lips in the future…”

“Of course. I swear on my name that it won’t happen again. I’m sorry, too, Francis… or rather, I should say Hatchling, shouldn’t I? Are you older than me?”

“No. I’m ten.”

Seo Woohyun wasn’t particularly sensitive about Habios’ intrusion.

He had missed the right timing to object and, considering the prince had even sworn on his name, it felt awkward to complain.

When Habios asked if he could speak more casually, Malrang crossed his arms with a pout but nodded.

“Can I ask what species you are, Francis?”

“You don’t know by my name? I belong to the water-dragon clan. I’ll become the ruler of the waters.”

“Do you happen to know Lady Cecily? She was a close friend of the Empire’s first emperor, Lady Calliope, and was also said to be a water dragon.”

“Cecily is my mother’s name.”

“…What?”

Habios couldn’t hide his surprise.

Dragons live for a very long time.

It was possible, then, that a dragon who existed over a thousand years ago might still be alive.

But, of course, there could also be another dragon with the same name.

“Could I… perhaps ask how old your mother is?”

“What do you mean by ‘how old’?”

“It means her age.”

“Hmm… well, my mom has lived much longer than me. An incredibly long time.”

Well, that’s obvious.

Seo Woohyun stifled a laugh at Malrang’s innocent response.

Being with a child made all those bothersome worries seem trivial.

Perhaps they truly were trivial, or so he wanted to believe. Whatever the case, this lightheartedness was a welcome relief.

“Oh, she really hates it when I talk about her age. This will be our secret, okay? But why are you asking? Do you… have an interest in my mom?”

“No! I just asked because I wondered if she might be the dragon who was close to the first emperor! Dragons are rare, mysterious, and impressive beings, after all. Don’t get the wrong idea!”

Habios hurriedly explained, sneaking a glance at Seo Woohyun.

The last thing he wanted was to come off as some lunatic who would be interested in a dragon who had a ten-year-old kid when his actual interest lay elsewhere.

“Really? So you’re not interested in my mom?”

“Right. I only asked to see if she was the dragon I know.”

“You know a thing or two, big bro. Dragons are indeed awesome.”

Malrang puffed out his chest proudly, clearly pleased with the praise.

As he mulled over the exchange between Malrang and Seo Woohyun, Habios tentatively asked,

“So, shall we go to Francis’ home? I felt that my presence might have been holding you back, but now that I know about this, that shouldn’t be an issue anymore.”

He knew he was shamelessly imposing, but a dragon from the founding legend of the Empire stood before him.

For Habios, this was an almost desperate opportunity.

‘Maybe if I gain favor with the dragons, they won’t be able to harm me so easily… Even though I’ve declared I have no interest in the throne, they still seem intent on killing me… those lunatics…’

So far, he’d survived through luck, but who knew what the future held?

There were seven children born to the emperor from her consorts and concubines, but only four were still alive.

The emperor especially despised her youngest, Habios, because her health had deteriorated after his birth due to the strain of multiple deliveries.

Once Habios realized that his own mother, the emperor, hated him, he decided early on to stay far from any struggle for succession.

But there was no way to formally renounce his claim without dying.

To survive, he’d publicly displayed his lack of ambition, letting everyone know he had no interest in the throne.

He himself thought he lacked what it took to become an emperor.

His combat skills were average, his academic prowess unremarkable, and his father wasn’t even a notable noble.

Habios’ father had been a knight from the Duchy of Soznian who, having caught the emperor’s eye at a banquet, served her several nights and received the title of count upon joining the Empire.

But when Habios was seven, his father passed away.

No one knew whether it was poison or illness.

The only reason he sought to meet his grandfather in Soznian was to plead for a way to protect his fragile life.

He hoped his grandfather might support him, as his bloodline flowed in his veins.

‘What else am I supposed to do here? I just want to live a carefree life, without worries, maybe even fall in love…’

Habios pressed his lips tightly together.

From the moment he joined the group escorted by one of the kingdom’s three Sword Masters, the captain of the temple’s knights, he felt a strange sense of peace he couldn’t quite explain.

Even if this tranquility were only temporary, it felt comforting.

Being under the protection of a capable warrior was enough to allow his feelings of admiration and love for the Saint of the Erdian Order to grow.

He envied the Saint’s position, authority, and strength, so respected that even his mother, the cold-blooded emperor, would not dare cross him.

He yearned for a life free from assassination attempts, safeguarded by the Saint’s protection.

‘Should I… join the church and become a priest?’

It might be better to become a priest rather than live on edge like this.

With a year of service and a basic resonance with holy power, he could become an assistant priest.

But even as a priest, he wouldn’t be able to cast aside his royal name immediately.

One would have to progress from assistant priest to priest, then to senior priest, and finally be ordained to discard one’s family name.

But if it meant he could frequently see the Saint, perhaps becoming a priest wouldn’t be so bad.

After all, even his mother, who turned a blind eye to her children’s assassination attempts against each other, respected the church’s priests and wouldn’t dare harm them.

“Habios hyung, come visit sometime! I’m a mighty dragon and don’t discriminate. You can come later if you’re busy.”

Pleased by Habios’ praise, Malrang extended a cheerful invitation.

“May I come along as well?”

Habios looked toward the Saint with a somewhat nervous expression. Seo Woohyun could only nod in agreement.

When the host’s son had extended the invitation, what else could he do but bring him along?

This was Seo Woohyunfirst time visiting a dragon’s home.

Without permission from the owner, he had accepted an impulsive invitation from their youngest son, so he felt it only proper to bring a gift.

When Seo Woohyun suggested they stop by a nearby village to buy some fruit, Erdian assigned yet another quest.

After returning with a bundle of fruit, accompanied by our porter Marvin, Raullet, and Priest Caro, we were able to complete the quest.

Seo Woohyun now had six stamps collected. The only quests left to complete were “Exercise” and “Reflection.”

‘If I collect all the stamps, I get to make a wish, right? I wonder what I should ask Erdian for…’

As Seo Woohyun pondered what would be the best wish to ask for, they stood on the mountainside.

It looked like a typical mountain, filled with nothing but trees and grass.

“Is there really a house here?”

“Yep! You can’t see anything, right? It’s hidden by magic!”

At that moment, Malrang grinned mischievously—just as a loud voice thundered from somewhere.

“You little rascal, Malrang! How many times have I told you to inform your father if you’re bringing guests over?!”

“Eek!”

Malrang jumped in surprise and quickly hid behind Seo Woohyun’s back.

Seo Woohyun turned to where the voice had come from.

‘Wow, he’s handsome. Is he Malrang’s father?’

A strikingly good-looking man with bright red hair tied back stood by a tree.

His pale skin made his hair color stand out even more.

As he strode toward them, Raullet and Justin visibly tensed, but they didn’t draw their swords, likely because of Malrang’s mumbled complaints from behind Seo Woohyun.

“Dad’s always picking on me…”

With those wide, bright blue eyes darting around, watching for his father’s reaction, it was clear this was a typical father-and-son relationship.

Pouting and dragging his feet, Malrang reluctantly stepped forward, glancing up as his father’s stern gaze settled on him.

“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Tartalos, Malrang’s father. Thank you for taking good care of my son.”

The man bowed politely to the group.

After surveying them, his gaze lingered on Erdian and Seo Woohyun, and he smiled broadly.

“My wife is waiting inside. Please, follow me.”

With a polite gesture, the mountain of trees and grass began to shift and distort.

* * *