* * *
Malrang was either exceptionally good at escaping, or Cecily’s pursuit skills were lacking because she returned alone, unable to catch him.
“He’s my youngest, born in my later years, so we coddled him. Now he’s turned into quite the troublemaker…”
Ciel chuckled awkwardly.
Born late in her life…
That phrase stirred a sudden curiosity.
‘Could she know the dragon from our family’s history? The dragon who was close to the first emperor of the empire, Calliope, and who could control water.’
Habios had once brought up a certain water dragon who was said to be close with the first emperor, right after learning Malrang’s true identity.
Back when Eridian was human, his closest companions were the first Saint and the first emperor of the Erharta Empire.
Cecily even introduced herself as Eridian’s “old friend.”
“By any chance, Lady Cecily, are you acquainted with the empire’s first emperor?”
Ciel’s quiet question made Cecily’s blue eyes tremble slightly.
“…Do you remember… Calliope?”
Her usual gentle voice seemed to waver, as though it held some hidden sorrow.
Calliope. Ciel remembered Habios mentioning that name when he brought up the first emperor.
Ciel couldn’t truthfully say he “remembered”; he only knew what he’d been told.
“There’s a prince in our group. He found out about Malrang’s true identity, and he mentioned a water dragon named Cecily who was once close to one of his ancestors. So I wondered if that could be you.”
“Oh…”
Cecily let out a brief sigh.
That she asked if he remembered suggested that she truly was the dragon who had once been close to the empire’s first emperor, Calliope.
While Ciel pieced it together, her blue hair swayed, and she blinked a few times, as if recalling a distant memory.
Then, with a slight tremble in her voice, she murmured,
“Yes. I was indeed close with Calliope. We quarreled often, but we shared a bond of deep trust. It was Calliope, Eridian, and….”
Her gaze lingered on Ciel, but her voice suddenly stopped.
Ciel had a strong feeling that the name she had swallowed might have been that of the first Saint.
‘It was rude to ask about a departed friend of someone who still lives… Even if it happened 1,200 years ago, a friend’s death isn’t a casual subject.’
Ciel realized too late that his question had been insensitive.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to avoid being impolite by asking directly, but… I didn’t mean to stir up any painful memories.”
“No, it’s alright. Call and I were indeed as close as you guessed. But… there’s a descendant of Call in your group?”
“Yes. He has silver hair and red eyes—a diluted trace of Calliope’s bloodline.”
“Ah, I see. I was too preoccupied to notice. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a descendant of Calliope. I should take the chance to formally greet them later.”
“Is there really any need for that? He struck me as an impudent brat.”
“Ha, Erdian, is there any human you don’t find impudent?”
“There is, of course.”
Erdian cast a steady gaze at Seo Woohyun, smiling.
Cecily, watching them, shook her head as if she’d had enough.
“Well, not to boast, but Tartaros does make some decent food. But if I don’t supervise him, it takes forever… I should go check on him if we’re to serve esteemed guests. If Malrang comes back, could you give him a smack for me?”
“Certainly. How many would be appropriate?”
“How about one for every year of his age?”
“Good idea. I’ll set his bottom on fire.”
Erdian chuckled mischievously, seeing Cecily off.
As the blue curtain closed and Erdian’s pleasant laugh lingered, Seo Woohyun quietly asked him, “Are you really going to smack him ten times?”
“Where would I even find enough of that scrawny kid to hit? I was just saying. I’m not that violent.”
“Oh.”
At Seo Woohyun’s dry response, Erdian narrowed his eyes.
“What was that reaction? Don’t tell me you thought I’d actually do it?”
“…No?”
“You’re slower than usual with your response.”
“No, it’s nothing. Oh, Malrang’s back. And he’s carrying something?”
“Nice try at changing the subject.”
Erdian clicked his tongue, but he didn’t press Seo Woohyun further.
He figured persistence wasn’t particularly attractive.
“Hyung, is Mom gone?”
Malrang, clutching a small box to his chest, glanced around cautiously before approaching.
“She went to check on the cooking earlier. What’s that in your hands?”
“This? I brought it from Mom’s storage… I felt Hyung’s energy from it, so I took it. Mom knows I brought it, so it’s not stealing. I didn’t break any promises, right?”
“…My energy?”
Seo Woohyun looked at the box Malrang thrust toward him.
It was a yellow box with Korean letters boldly printed on it.
[Sweet Gold Coffee Mix – 20 Pack]
“There was coffee mix in her storage?”
It looked like the kind of coffee mix you’d find in any office break room, supermarket, or convenience store.
The familiar Hangul text and design were unmistakable.
“What’s coffee mix?”
“This was in Lady Cecily’s storage?”
“Yep!”
“Mind if I take a closer look?”
“Of course! I brought it as a gift for Hyung!”
Although he was curious about where it came from, Seo Woohyun inspected the coffee mix box more closely.
The ingredients list and directions were clearly in Hangul.
‘I did ask Lord Erdian if there were drinks that tasted like coffee… and he said there weren’t.’
Considering there might be reasons he couldn’t tell him everything, Seo Woohyun found himself able to make allowances.
But lying was a different issue altogether. He gave Erdian a mildly accusing look.
“So, you think I lied to you.”
How could he tell?
Did it show on his face?
Seo Woohyun continued to stare at Erdian, waiting for an explanation, until he heard a voice in his head.
[Sometimes, rifts open between dimensions. Objects or animals often get caught in them and appear here. And remember, you asked if there was a drink that tasted like coffee. Things like that aren’t regularly supplied here, so I had no choice but to say no.]
Hearing Erdian’s gentle explanation, Seo Woohyun found himself understanding.
‘I suppose he’s right. I didn’t ask if there was a drink with the exact same effects as coffee….’
He nodded, checking the expiration date on the box.
It was safe to consume for several months after the day he had supposedly died from overwork.
But considering it had crossed through a dimensional rift, he still felt uneasy.
There was no guarantee the contents were still intact.
“There’s more of this in Mom’s storage. Do you need more, Hyung?”
“More of these?”
“Yeah! Some look strange and others are sparkly.”
“When you say you felt my ‘energy,’ what do you mean exactly?”
“Um… At first, I could only sense holy power from you, but as I spent more time with you, there was a different feeling too. It’s hard to explain.”
Since Malrang couldn’t offer a clear explanation, Seo Woohyun glanced at Erdian as if to delegate it to him.
But Erdian only grinned slyly, for reasons of his own.
“Are the objects here from another dimension too, so they carry the same energy as I do?”
“Oh, my clever Seo Woohyun, getting sharper by the day.”
Pleased with Seo Woohyun’s deductive progress, Erdian gave him a fond look, just as Cecily approached them soundlessly.
“The meal is ready. If you’ll follow me, I’ll lead you to the dining area. My husband is guiding the other guests. And… Malrang, prepare for a scolding after the meal.”
“Hyung… tell Mom not to be mad at me, please?”
Malrang clutched Seo Woohyun’s sleeve, shivering slightly.
With the feel of the coffee mix box in his hand, Seo Woohyun pondered.
He’d feel more at ease if he cleared things up before they ate, given that he had accepted something from someone else’s storage.
“Lady Cecily, Malrang brought this for me, saying it carried my energy. Since it came from your storage, I thought I should tell you.”
“An item with Priest Ciel’s energy…”
Cecily looked at the yellow box Seo Woohyun was holding, unable to read the words on it.
Objects from all sorts of dimensions would occasionally appear through tiny rifts.
Since they didn’t know the items’ purposes, they stored them in a safe place to avoid any mysterious harm coming to the humans around her.
An object that carried an aura similar to Erdian’s?
Cecily’s blue eyes widened.
“So, all this time…”
“Enough. Let’s go to the dining table. Surely you’re not planning on boring our esteemed guest with mundane tales?”
Erdian swiftly cut in.
Cecily’s eyelids twitched slightly before she gave an awkward smile and gestured toward the garden.
“You must be hungry. We nearly veered off-topic there. The dining area is this way. By the way, Priest Ciel, do you enjoy fowl dishes?”
“Fowl! Dad made bird!”
Malrang cheered, sniffing the air.
Seo Woohyun, also catching the savory aroma, replied, “Malrang catches them often, so I’ve eaten my fair share. Even at his young age, he can catch birds… quite impressive. I don’t think I even dared approach fire when I was ten.”
“Hehe, I learned hunting from Dad! And his explosive magic is the best. Mom, I’ve even caught one in just eight blasts recently!”
“Right, Dad was proud of you. Our little Malrang is all grown up.”
“Not Malrang! I told you to call me Frangcis!”
“Priest Ciel calls you Malrang too, yet you only get upset with me? So you’re asking for more smacks, are you?”
“No!”
Listening to the lively back-and-forth, they made their way to the dining area.
Seo Woohyun fingered the coffee mix box, absorbing the curious atmosphere.
His dark brown eyes sparkled with a hint of mystery.
‘Just now, Lord Erdian interrupted her on purpose. He didn’t want Cecily to finish her sentence. But why?’
The answer felt almost within reach, yet something in him didn’t want to grasp it.
* * *
Oh come on Woohyun, It’s probably about the first saint
Thanks