Chapter 42
As if still half-asleep, Snowa answered sluggishly, her eyes filled with worry.
– Asil has disappeared. The adults seem to know where she went, but they won’t tell me anything.
“Turns out I really was that idiot.”
– Huh? What did you say?
“Nothing. Asil is here.”
– What?! Where exactly is that?!
– Who are you talking to?
It was at that moment that the sound of someone approaching came from behind Snowa.
It was Briana, who had just finished a meeting with the elders.
“Tch.”
No matter how much it was about Asil, the thought of talking to Briana after so long felt uncomfortable.
After all, wasn’t she the one who told him to throw away his communication device?
Arcian, thinking he should quickly end the call, spoke without even taking a breath.
“Asil is in the human world. If you’re thinking of coming, don’t. The protective barrier over the entire forest makes it impossible to come and go easily. That’s probably why your mom had a meeting with the elders.
– Why is Asil there?! I want to go too! I’ll rescue her!
“Stop it. I’ll send her back soon, so don’t do anything reckless and just wait quietly. Got it?”
– …Arcian?
Briana’s surprised voice came through the communication device.
Damn it, Arcian immediately turned off the device.
And ignoring the constant blinking of the communication device, he shoved it into a drawer.
* * *
At that time.
A major incident occurred at the imperial palace.
During a party hosted by the Crown Prince to console Duke Starafit, who had lost in a friendly match, Fear, in a drunken state, breathed fire, causing the entire party venue to burn down.
Knowing it was embarrassing, Fear pretended to be ill again and was carried off to the grand temple, while Duke Starafit lost a fortune restoring the party venue.
If only the venue had been the only thing burned, it might have been fine.
Unfortunately, even the silver hair, the symbol of the imperial family and the pride of the Crown Prince, was half-burned.
Furious to the core, the Crown Prince issued a ban on divine beasts entering the imperial palace.
He also began secretly searching for a hair regrowth potion, something that even money couldn’t easily buy, to avoid public attention.
It was only natural that Eokaste, who had been criticized as a blemish on the imperial family for not having silver hair, laughed her head off.
“Bbiu.”
Meanwhile, Asil, upon hearing the news, let out a deep sigh.
She had been eagerly looking forward to meeting the fierce human princess, but now she couldn’t attend the imperial banquet!
And that wasn’t all.
The imperial banquet was said to be the most splendid of all, and for Asil, who loved shiny things, this was a great sorrow.
Still, thankfully, there was one thing left that made Asil’s heart flutter.
“Bbiabbi?” (When is that human coming?)
“That human?”
Edenber, who was organizing documents in his office, asked curiously.
Asil stretched her face with her front paws.
“Bbi. Bbiabbiabbi. Bbiabbiabbiabbi.” (Yeah. The black-haired human. The one with upturned eyes and a scary face.)
“Are you talking about Sir Arcian?”
A fleeting look of confusion crossed Edenber’s face. When did she see Sir Arcian?
Though puzzled, he answered diligently.
“I don’t know why, but the inspection is over, so he probably won’t come back. Why?”
“Bbiabbi.” (I want to meet that human again.)
“What?”
Edenber was visibly flustered.
But Asil, oblivious to his reaction, wagged her tail excitedly.
Meeting another beastkin in the human world was precious.
Even if she couldn’t go home through that man, she could ease her homesickness.
‘I want to meet him again.’
She wanted to hear news about the beastkin forest.
Edenberg stammered.
“Why on earth… Did he threaten you or something?”
“Bbiabbi. Bbiabbiabbiabbi.” (No. The old man said he’d protect Asil and take good care of her.)
“No way. Can you tell me exactly what he said?”
“Bbiabbi.” (Husband.)
“Huh.”
“Bbiabbiabbi bbiabbi.” (Asil needs some secrets sometimes too.)
Asil primly placed both front paws on her hips.
Her mom and teachers had told her never to let humans know she was a beastkin!
Edenber, even more flustered, stammered again.
“Secrets… are fine, but I’m worried you might have been threatened.”
“Bbiabbi. Bbiabbi bbi bbiabbi.” (I wasn’t threatened. Asil is a ferocious black dragon.)
A black dragon doesn’t get threatened by anyone. Asil puffed out her chest confidently.
Edenber stared at her with a bewildered expression.
Not only did he not understand why she was acting this way, but he also doubted whether it was right for her to have contact with an inquisitor when the inspection was already over.
However.
Since he had promised to grant all of Asil’s wishes, he soon contacted Arcian.
He sent a letter asking if they could meet in person.
‘I need to find out what happened between him and Asil.’
Some time later.
Surprisingly, Arcian invited Asil to the count’s estate.
* * *
Asil was the only one invited, but Edenber strongly insisted that he couldn’t let her go alone.
Since the other party was who he was, Edenber thought something might happen to her.
In the end, both of them went to the Erzébet count’s estate.
Asil, riding in the carriage, thought about what she would say to the beastkin man.
‘I’ll ask how the beastkin forest is doing these days.’
She’d ask if her mom and brother knew.
She’d talk about her beastkin kindergarten teacher and spill all the secret stories she couldn’t tell in front of humans!
Even though he was a stranger, having someone to rely on felt reassuring.
“Bbiabbi- Bbiabbi-”
She couldn’t help but hum a tune.
Her heart pounded with excitement, and her tail spun like a windmill, full of enthusiasm.
When they finally arrived at the main gate-
“You’ve come a long way, divine beast. I should have come to you myself.”
Arcian bowed politely.
Huh, why’s this guy acting like this?
Asil tilted her head, confused by his completely different attitude compared to their last meeting.
Then she belatedly realized it was because of the other humans around.
‘He’s acting.’
In that case, Asil should show the demeanor of a ferocious black dragon!
Puffing out her chest, Asil placed both front paws on her hips and shouted.
“Bbi. Bbiabbi bbiabbi.” (Yeah. Next time, you come to me!)
“Understood.”
Arcian bowed again.
The people around them flinched in unison.
The Count of Erzébet was known for being cold and keeping others at a distance.
So what was this conversation?
Especially Edenber, who had unexpectedly become an unwelcome guest, had the most intense look in his eyes.
“This way, please.”
Ignoring Edenber’s gaze entirely, Arcian personally led them to the reception room. Then, with an almost overly warm look in his eyes, he began to host them.
“Try this. It’s a special cookie made by our chef.”
He personally picked up a large cookie studded with chocolate and nuts and offered it to her.
These were specially prepared because Asil was coming.
“Bbiabbi…”
It looks delicious!
Her favorability toward Arcian shot up instantly. A beastkin who gives tasty things is a good beastkin.
Asil eagerly reached for it.
But at that moment, Edenber, who had been glaring at Arcian fiercely from the side, snatched the cookie away.
Then he broke it in half and popped one piece into his mouth.
‘Husband…?’
Asil looked at him with trembling eyes.
Edenber, chewing the cookie nonchalantly, offered the remaining half.
“Doesn’t seem like there’s anything in it.”
For a moment, the temperature in the reception room plummeted.
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By Anna 💓
