Chapter 38
“What’s this?”
Asil giving him something—Edenber received the box with a mix of joy and surprise.
Then, his face stiffened at the sight of the contents inside.
“This is…”
It was the paperwork for the diamond mine that the Starafit Ducal Family had received as a reward for the desert conquest, along with the business rights his uncle had practically extorted.
Even beneath those were the documents for the yellow sapphire mine that the Duke of Starafit always boasted about and a contract promising to lend a divine beast to Viante.
“Where did you get all this?”
“Bbi-ya.” (Secret.)
“Did Father give it to you?”
Gasp, how did he know?!
Startled, Asil’s tail shot up stiffly.
Realizing her mistake, she quickly shook her head, but Edenber had already seen everything.
“Father…”
Edenber bit his lip tightly.
Edenber didn’t welcome his father’s kindness.
It was his father who had ruined their family, and it was his father who had burdened him with heavy responsibilities at a young age.
But even so, he was his only father.
When Edenber received the report that Ikart had escaped from the abandoned tower not long ago, he didn’t order a pursuit.
He had only commanded that his father’s escape be kept hidden from the imperial family’s ears.
To him, his father was the embodiment of both love and hate.
“I… really hate Father.”
“Bbi?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
Nothing, my foot—she heard everything.
Asil blinked. Mother had said that Husband and Father-in-law didn’t get along, and it seemed to be true.
‘After all, Father-in-law told me not to say he saw me.’
Asil got along well with all her dads. If only Husband could get along with Father-in-law too.
While thinking this, a certain beastman flashed through Asil’s mind.
Among her five dads, there was exactly one dad with whom Asil had a distant relationship.
It was her biological father, a black dragon beastman like Asil.
Ar… something, he said Asil’s name came from his own.
Since they parted when Asil was very young, she couldn’t even remember his name now.
When Asil had just hatched from her egg, her father said he was going on an important business trip and never returned.
Thanks to the love of his other four dads, Asil didn’t feel the absence of her biological father, but she was occasionally curious.
‘Where is Asil’s real dad, and what is he doing?’
If he ever got the chance, she’d like to see him at least once.
* * *
After the friendly match, the Third Princess Eokaste invited Edenber and Asil for tea time.
Lately, she was in an excellent mood.
No matter how much gold and treasure were piled up in the imperial vault, every withdrawal left a record.
But the money earned from the friendly match left no trace. It meant she could spend it freely without catching the eye of her political rival, the Crown Prince.
Thanks to Monlepe, she had unexpectedly gained a secret fund.
“I never thought I’d owe a debt to a duke like this.”
On the terrace, Eokaste clinked glasses with Edenber.
“Little divine beast, have a drink too.”
“Bbi-ya!”
Asil, holding a mug while nestled in Edenber’s arms, clinked it in a toast.
Then, looking at Eokaste, her eyes sparkled brightly.
‘Finally, I’ve met the human princess famous for her ferocity.’
If she followed her, she could become a ferocious dragon too.
‘I’ll copy everything she does!’
While firmly resolved, Eokaste tilted her glass with refined grace.
Asil, who had been sneaking glances at her, quickly took a sip as well.
When Eokaste set her glass on the table and leaned against the terrace railing, Asil hurriedly placed her mug on the table, hopped out of Edenber’s arms, and leaned against the railing too.
Watching quietly, the princess let out a chuckle.
“Are you copying me right now?”
“Bbi. Bbi-ya.” (No. I’m not copying.)
Feeling caught, Asil quickly shook her head.
“No, you are. Anyone can see you’re mimicking me.”
The princess, looking thoroughly amused, toyed with her sleek glass and sank into her own thoughts.
Then, she suddenly spoke up.
“I have something to discuss with the duke alone, so the cute divine beast should step out for a bit.”
“Bbi?”
What? Asil, who had been struggling to mimic Eokaste by toying with her far-off mug, snapped her head up.
Edenber calmly refused.
“The divine beast is one with the head of the family, so there’s no reason for her to leave.”
“But aren’t your physical bodies separate? Having more ears listening isn’t always a good thing.”
She frowned slightly, clearly displeased.
“If you don’t send her out, I’ll assume you want to marry me and send another marriage proposal.”
“Want to play outside for a bit?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Edenber pulled the bell cord to summon a servant.
Asil’s eyes widened in shock. How could Husband try to kick Asil out?
“Bbi-ya!” (Asil doesn’t want to go!)
“Sorry, I’ll call you back soon.”
Despite clinging to Edenber’s trouser leg, Asil was promptly ushered out.
Having sent Asil away, Edenber looked at Eokaste coldly.
It was a silent protest that he had absolutely no intention of marrying her.
“You’ll hurt my feelings if you act like that.”
“I know full well that’s not true.”
“How boring.”
Clicking her tongue lightly, she shifted her expression and lowered her voice.
“The reason I wanted to meet with the duke alone is because I have one thing to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“Do you love peace?”
For a moment, Edenber’s face turned incredulous.
Peace? Wasn’t Eokaste the least likely among the royals to be associated with that word?
Seeing his expression, Eokaste burst into laughter.
“Oh my, that reaction hurts my feelings too.”
“What’s the intent behind your question?”
“Answer my question first, and I’ll tell you. Do you know why His Majesty the Emperor went so far as to persuade the Grand Temple to allow your divine beast summoning?”
“Because a divine beast is extremely important to the empire—”
“If it were just that, wouldn’t any sacred beast or divine beast have sufficed? This is all because of the Crown Prince.”
Iokaste shot back sharply.
“You know the Crown Prince is very interested in divine beasts, don’t you?”
Unlike the four ducal families that have handled divine beasts for generations, the imperial family, at the pinnacle above them, has no divine beast.
Throughout history, royals have always regretted this fact.
Among them, the current Crown Prince was particularly obsessed.
He had even sought the Grand Temple’s approval to independently research ways to obtain a divine beast.
Edenber’s use of summoning magic was a byproduct of that.
Eokaste continued.
“The Crown Prince was curious about what kind of disaster would befall if a monster not blessed by the gods became a divine beast. If something went wrong, he planned to hold the duke accountable and strip you of your title.”
“…Why are you telling me this?”
Edenber, who had been listening silently, asked dryly.
He had vaguely assumed there was a reason the imperial family allowed summoning magic, so he wasn’t surprised.
What was surprising, though, was that Iokaste was telling him this. They weren’t exactly close.
“If you disappear, the Crown Prince’s lackey will take your place, won’t they?”
Eokaste gave a sly smile.
“Having more dukes aligned with the Crown Prince wouldn’t do any good.”
“…”
“What I’m about to say is treated as top secret even in the imperial palace.”
She lowered her voice further.
Even though she had already cleared the area, she quietly listened to ensure no one was nearby.
Then, looking at Edenber, she spoke.
“You know about the beastman tribe living in the southern border forest outside the empire, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
Edenber answered briefly.
Beastmen were originally the masters of this continent but were driven into the forest after losing a war against the empire 500 years ago.
“Beastmen generally take animal forms but can also transform into humans. Just like divine beasts.”
Eokaste smiled faintly.
“My dear brother, the Crown Prince, plans to attack them. Why do you think that is?”
“…No way.”
“He intends to bring them to their knees and use them as the imperial family’s divine beasts. A war will break out soon.”
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By Anna 💓
