Chapter 18
Reina apologized for the heavy story.
“Oh dear. I’m sorry. I unnecessarily brought up a difficult matter.”
“No. Rather, I’m worried that Dalia caused trouble.”
“Not at all. I understand because after my brother went missing, I have memories of following anyone who resembled him. Actually, even knowing it wasn’t him, I often did such impulsive actions because I missed him.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Probably Dalia knows too. She’s just wandering in search of anyone who resembles her mom even a little because she misses her.”
Reina made a wistful expression recalling her missing brother.
Aiden, who had been quietly watching this, tried to take Dalia away, then Reina said.
“If it’s okay, may I take Dalia to her room? I’m afraid the child will cry again if separated.”
“Could you do that?”
“Of course. Instead, could you please pick up that book over there?”
When Reina pointed to the book she had placed on one side, Aiden held the book in his arms.
As such an unfamiliar companionship continued, Aiden secretly observed Reina keenly.
When his brother suddenly said he was getting married, he had assumed it was due to the emperor’s influence.
He thought for sure the marriage was used to monitor the north.
But the opponent in front of him didn’t seem to care about such things at all.
Rather, it was amazing that she didn’t blame his daughter’s rudeness.
Most would dislike a child’s snot or saliva touching their clothes.
She appeared calm without changing her expression at all.
A short while later, arriving in front of the child’s bedroom, Aiden took Dalia and lightly greeted.
“Thank you. By any chance, do you know the way back?”
“Yes. I always carry the map that Dive gave me.”
“Still, it would be right for me to escort you…….”
“Please stay with Dalia instead of me. It’s an age where being alone is very scary, right?”
Reina lightly refused and wiped Dalia’s wet eyes.
Fortunately, perhaps deeply asleep, she wasn’t whining like before.
Reina pitifully looked at the child’s swollen eyes and continued.
“If the child looks for her mom again, send her to me. If it’s okay with me, that is.”
“You’re kind.”
Aiden bowed his head with a faint smile.
“I hope we have a chance to talk soon. Have a peaceful night.”
“Have a peaceful night.”
Reina lightly lifted her skirt hem, paid respects, and quietly walked away.
Aiden guarded outside the door until she disappeared, making a strange expression.
Curiosity arose inwardly at her appearance different from what he thought.
Aiden put on hold defining the opponent in front of him.
Reflecting on unconsciously trying to keep distance just because she was royalty.
* * *
The next day, a cute guest came to Reina who was enjoying a walk.
Dalia, hesitating to approach timidly, peeked only her head from behind a pillar and watched this side.
In the child’s hand was a sketchbook.
She was wearing indoor shoes, probably because she rushed out while drawing.
Reina hesitated whether to acknowledge Dalia or not.
If she pretended not to know like this, the child’s attire bothered her.
At that time, Lily first spoke to the child.
“Oh my, Miss Dalia? What brings you here?”
“Hic!”
Dalia was startled by the sudden call and hiccuped.
Following that, she dropped the sketchbook and ran far away.
Lily tilted her head, not knowing why.
“Did I make some mistake?”
“No way.”
Reina lightly shrugged her shoulders and picked up the sketchbook.
Crayon crumbs were scattered in the direction Dalia ran away.
At the traces left as if to follow her, Reina let out a shallow laugh.
“It seems today’s walking path is that way.”
“Are you going to follow?”
“Because I have to return this.”
Reina headed in the direction Dalia disappeared, holding the sketchbook preciously.
* * *
Meanwhile, Kaiden was in Aiden’s laboratory.
Unlike Kaiden who excelled in martial arts from childhood, Aiden liked books and research more.
Especially with great interest in monsters, he started research from childhood, gaining profound knowledge, and was skilled in magic tool making.
Even though they were of the same dragon bloodline, the brothers who excelled in completely different fields had a good relationship, to the extent there was no common succession dispute.
Kaiden looked at his younger brother Aiden worriedly.
After losing his wife a few months ago, he had been depressed all along.
Now he was practically living in the laboratory.
Knowing that it’s better to be engrossed in something, but he couldn’t help worrying.
Kaiden lightly asked Aiden who was examining the beaker containing Goreth’s egg.
“Are you sleeping?”
“Of course.”
“But for that, there are too many stimulants and coffee on your desk.”
At the words hitting the mark, Aiden pouted his lips and made an excuse.
“You don’t seem to think that my superior gave me an urgent research task.”
“That superior wouldn’t be me, would it?”
“Then who else is above me besides brother?”
“I don’t think I gave a deadline.”
“Anyway. It means work has piled up.”
Aiden grumbled without taking his eyes off the beaker.
Kaiden, quietly watching his brother who was barely looking at him, spoke.
“How is it? Can you remove it safely?”
“It seems worth trying sufficiently. Bringing the hatching prevention magic tool in advance seems helpful too. Moreover, thanks to brother preparing plenty of samples, research on Goreth will become more active.”
Excited by the question about the research status, Aiden took off his lab glasses and continued.
“By the way, Goreth’s egg would have been hard to search before hatching. How on earth did you find it so quickly? Did you get some clue?”
Aiden looked at his brother as if seeking an answer.
He had been curious all along how, shortly after discovering Goreth’s shed skin and sending a messenger, he dispatched the subjugation team to the exact location.
It was too exquisitely located to be a coincidence, so he guessed there was a clue.
The following words were a completely deflating answer.
“I happened to get to know a pinpoint oracle priestess. It seems God is on my side.”
As Kaiden joked and snickered, Aiden was shocked.
“Priestess? Don’t tell me you dispatched that many subjugation teams just based on a person’s words without any evidence?”
“Result-wise, it was accurate, right?”
“Well, that’s true but……. I thought there was some other reason.”
As Aiden made a visibly disappointed face, Kaiden said.
“Your scholarly zeal has kicked in again.”
“What kind of person is that priestess? Did she come with you this time by any chance? If she did, I’d like to talk to her.”
To Aiden’s question full of curiosity, he spared his words.
It was because he promised that only Kaiden would know about Reina’s ability.
Kaiden changed the subject.
“No. She didn’t come with me. Instead, I brought someone close to the priestess.”
“Someone close… Don’t tell me it’s not Princess Reina?”
Aiden was astonished seeing Kaiden not denying it.
“Don’t tell me you married for that reason?”
“Keep it to yourself.”
As he put his index finger to his lips and smiled, Aiden gaped.
He had guessed it was for a reason other than love, but to think it was that reason.
Aiden, hardening his expression at once, started to chide.
“Brother, are you crazy?”
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By Anna 💓
