* * *
“Moreover, you always exceed expectations in your work. So, leave the rest to me now.”
“But, Your Grace, don’t you have things to take care of as well?”
Ed momentarily averted his gaze from the Grand Duke, scanning their surroundings.
By now, the people who had been purified were moving in line with the knights’ instructions.
“Some are still disoriented, but the knights can handle that much.”
The Grand Duke clasped Ed’s hand, conjuring a flame at his fingertips.
Ed raised his eyes to see the flickering firelight reflecting on the Grand Duke’s face.
As the black dragon retreated fully into the formation, Luan and the hatchling darted away swiftly.
The Grand Duke interlaced his fingers with Ed’s and snapped his fingers.
With a sharp crack, crimson flames ignited and spread along the trails of blood Ed had scattered.
The fire rapidly spread from the initial spark, tracing the intricate patterns of the formation and bursting into roaring flames.
In an instant, the garden turned into a night brighter and hotter than any day.
Amidst the blazing inferno, the black dragon writhed, trying to escape.
Ed, observing the growling beast, suddenly noticed a shift in the flow of magic around them.
Glancing down, he saw the Grand Duke channeling more magic through their entwined hands.
Ed entertained a thought.
“Your Grace, are you searching for the black dragon’s core?”
“Thanks to you, I’ve been able to investigate its interior faster than planned. When it twisted its body to avoid your water pillars, certain areas swelled visibly, as though it was trying to push the core further inside to avoid the healing magic.”
The Grand Duke, with his sharp perception, had observed this keenly and focused on those areas.
“Using the chains embedded with magic, I confirmed it—without a doubt.”
Ed had briefly imagined that spilling more of his blood would intensify the flames within the formation and reduce the black dragon to ashes.
But the Grand Duke had found another way.
Ed tightened his grip on the Grand Duke’s hand, prompting a soft, gentle look in the latter’s eyes.
Until now, Ed had hoped they could resolve this situation without burdening each other.
Even if it seemed reckless.
But Ed realized that the Grand Duke’s method would dispatch the black dragon more swiftly and flawlessly than the idea lingering in his mind.
Before, Ed often sought to prove his usefulness to the Grand Duke.
He understood now that the Grand Duke had supported him precisely because he recognized this sentiment.
However, Ed discovered something deeper—that by sharing and aligning their thoughts, and prioritizing each other’s well-being, they could uncover even better solutions.
As a golden thread of light emerged from the Grand Duke’s fingertips, Ed added his strength to it.
This time, he set aside his desire to demonstrate his abilities or achieve results, instead committing to fully supporting the Grand Duke’s magic.
It was a gesture of alignment, of walking in step with him.
The Grand Duke smiled.
Ed could feel it too—their complete harmony. That shared understanding warmed their joined hands.
Their magic, now unified, grew more potent.
Three golden beams of light surged forward, intertwined with Ed’s healing blue light like ivy vines.
The aggressive golden light combined with the gentle blue energy, racing toward the black dragon.
The beams tore through the air, piercing the dragon’s neck, chest, and knee with unerring precision.
With a series of deafening cracks, the light pinpointed the core’s location, coiling around it tightly.
As it attempted to extract the core, Ed’s blue light purified the blackened, crimson mass.
Time seemed to stretch and condense simultaneously.
As the forces of Ed, the Grand Duke, and the black dragon clashed, a tempest raged around them.
Yet, neither the Grand Duke nor Ed wavered, their hands firmly clasped as they kept their gaze fixed on the black dragon.
Finally, the core was ripped from the dragon’s body.
The moment it emerged, the dragon collapsed onto the formation, its immense body falling lifelessly and showing no further movement.
Wrapped in the intertwined beams of golden and blue light, the core gradually lost its dark hue and turned white.
Then, with a soft crack, it shattered and scattered into the sky.
The fragments ascended like a signal flare, but their brilliance and mystique far surpassed any mere signal.
The spectators tilted their heads back, gazing at the night sky illuminated by the radiant fragments.
Awe and reverence shimmered in their eyes.
By now, the pouring rain had ceased, and the dark clouds that had smothered the night sky had vanished.
In their place, the fragments of light, infused with Ed and the Grand Duke’s magic, sparkled like multicolored stars.
Some tried to count the fragments, but their attention was inevitably stolen by the breathtaking sight of the sky entirely painted with light.
Then, all at once, the fragments descended to the earth, fluttering like petals.
The glowing pieces slowly blanketed the empire.
The radiant blessing fell not only on the storm-battered capital but also on the clear-skied north, the foggy south, and the wind-swept east.
For a moment, the entire empire was enveloped in a luminous wave.
The brilliance was enough to awaken even those in the deepest slumber.
It was beautiful, mesmerizing, unforgettable.
The fragments took seconds to minutes to sink into the earth, depending on their size, but one thing was certain—those who witnessed this night would never forget it.
They had witnessed a scene from the empire’s myths, a moment that would be recorded for generations.
The Grand Duke brushed back the bangs of a sleeping Ed.
He gazed down at his lover’s serene face before carefully lifting the curled hatchling resting on Ed’s stomach.
Three days had passed since the chaos caused by Fez and the black dragon.
Placing the hatchling in a cozy nest near the sunny window, the Grand Duke looked outside.
This was the royal palace’s imperial suite.
The lavish treatment stood in stark contrast to how Fez had treated the annex, underscoring how much the Grand Duke’s status had changed.
It wasn’t just his rank that had shifted.
The empire’s ruler had changed as well.
Fez, drained of life by the black dragon, clung to his last breath before succumbing on the second night. He died alone, with no one visiting him in his final moments.
The captain of the guards and the empress, who had fled the chaos, relinquished their positions without a hint of regret.
The Dowager Empress then stepped in to stabilize the disarray within the royal family and the empire.
And at the center of it all stood the name “Grand Duke Asnel Linden,” whose actions that day would forever remain a legend.
Yet, the Grand Duke’s only concern was Ed’s condition.
After defeating the black dragon, Ed had been unable to hide the joy on his face.
He had embraced the Grand Duke tightly, the warmth of his lover filling his arms.
Relief, achievement, and the comfort of knowing neither had been harmed melted into a long, soothing sigh.
When Tens entrusted the Empress Dowager with overseeing matters and the Grand Duke returned to the room with him, Ed collapsed onto the bed, lying down with his eyes closed.
The Grand Duke carefully lifted him and properly laid him down on the bed.
Ed smiled softly and spoke.
“I’ll never forget what happened today for the rest of my life. Truly…”
His hands fumbled about, touching the Grand Duke here and there.
Struggling to lift his heavy eyelids, he confirmed that the person by his side was indeed the Grand Duke.
Then, he leaned forward to place a light kiss on his lips before falling asleep, as if only then could he truly feel at ease.
“…”
After that, Ed continued to sleep.
According to the royal palace physician, there was no danger to his life, and the child was in perfect health as well.
The diagnosis was that he had fallen into a deep sleep due to a combination of relaxation and exhaustion.
Once his body recovered, he would soon wake up.
“So, when are you planning to wake up, Ed?”
The Grand Duke approached him, pulling the blanket up to cover him and gently tapping Ed’s nose.
“I want to see you soon.”
As much as he hated being apart from Ed, there were still tasks to handle in the chaotic palace and empire.
The Grand Duke placed a brief kiss on Ed’s forehead before leaving the room.
The sound of his boots echoed against the smooth marble floor as he exited, where the new captain of the guard and the chamberlain, unfamiliar faces to him, awaited.
Just as the people had changed, so had their attitudes.
Unlike before, no one rushed or pressured him.
Following the chamberlain into the audience chamber, he was greeted by the Empress Dowager, who rose from her seat to welcome him.
“Come in, Grand Duke.”
The Grand Duke bowed his head in greeting.
She gestured to a seat with her hand and spoke as she sat on the sofa.
“Fez often lamented how difficult it was to catch a glimpse of your face, but in these past few days, I understand how he feels. Not seeing you has been painful for me as well.”
“Your Majesty, you must have many matters to attend to. I could have waited and come at a more convenient time.”
She met his gaze with a faint smile.
“You’ve brought peace to the empire. Saying such things would make me feel very hurt.”
“…”
“But I also know that you’re not here because you missed me but rather because there’s something on your mind. For you, who repeatedly declined my requests to take charge of the empire, to visit me now…”
Nodding slightly, the Empress Dowager sipped her tea.
The Grand Duke also took a sip before speaking slowly.
“Your Majesty, is it truly just exhaustion that has caused Ed to fall asleep?”
Since Ed had fallen asleep, the Grand Duke had maintained his composure outwardly, but as time passed, he could not completely hide the growing unease on his face.
However, he soon steadied himself, knowing that his anxiety wouldn’t hasten Ed’s recovery.
Moreover, he recalled what he had seen during his mother pregnancy with Ronen.
The Grand Duke firmly believed that Ed would wake up feeling refreshed after a deep rest.
The Empress Dowager, listening intently to his quiet voice, took another sip of tea before speaking again.
“While reviewing the records left by the late emperor—records I couldn’t examine thoroughly before due to Fez—I came across some fascinating accounts.”
“Could you tell me what they are? I wonder if they are related to Ed.”
She gave a slight nod.
“As you know, those who bear descendants of the Golden Dragon’s blood often fall into prolonged sleep as their vitality is restored. Mela experienced this when carrying you and Ronen. You might remember this as you were old enough to witness it when it happened with Ronen.”
“However, my mother never slept for as long as three days when carrying Ronen. And her deep sleep only occurred in the final month when Ronen became active.”
The Empress Dowager let out a soft laugh.
“That may have been the case with Ronen.”
“What do you mean by that?”
* * *
