Chapter 150

[The Imperial Palace or the Temple, such things are not important!]

The dragon Azahadaka roared in frustration. The dragon, seemingly fed up, declared almost like a proclamation towards the Princess.

[What’s important is that I currently don’t have a body, so I need to borrow your sword. There’s a piece of the Dragon Heart inside it. Humans can’t use such an item properly, but I can.]

“If that’s the case, I will give it to you.”

…Did I hear that wrong?

Roka and Lady Kisea also widened their eyes as they looked at the Princess. But the Princess quietly approached the fallen Dragon’s Sword, picked it up, and held it out with both hands.

“If you truly are a dragon, then you must have known our distant ancestor. I don’t know why only your soul remains, but as a descendant of dragons, I want to help you, Senior.”

[Really…?]

The dragon, who had just spoken, looked at the Princess with a face that seemed to question if she was joking.

She simply nodded and extended the sword forward.

“Hey, what about me?”

The gray wolf, who had been butting in at every opportunity, boldly demanded his share. The Princess ignored the wolf’s words.

[Hahaha, refreshing. Very refreshing. It feels like a clogged up feeling has been cleared. I really like people like you.]

Well, if the sword’s owner is fine with it, we had no reason to stop her. Lady Kisea released the lizard, and the lizard rushed into the sword, merging with it as if they were one.

The golden Dragon’s Sword turned black and gold, and the cracks were completely filled. The sword, which was already a divine weapon, now had an ego. And not just any ego, but that of a dragon.

Thus, the Dragon’s Sword emitted a presence far beyond its previous level. The sword, as if alive, floated in the air and spoke.

[I should help someone like you. If you need anything, just say it. I’ll assist as much as I can within my limits.]

Even if only the soul remained, a dragon is still a dragon. The Princess gave away a sword and gained a great favor from the dragon. Whether this was a loss or a gain was still unclear. However, the Princess we saw again had changed in some way.

It felt like she had let go of many things.

“Even though I pursued and desired so much, none of the many things I possessed could save my life.”

When our eyes met, she shook her head awkwardly. She muttered something incomprehensible.

“Perhaps all of it was meaningless… That’s just what I thought.”

“Lady Ardein! Are you there? Lady! If you’re there, please answer. Are you safe?”

That was when it happened.

I don’t know how much time had passed, but now, from afar, a voice calling for the Princess could be heard. When the Princess reflexively raised her head, a knight appeared before us, panting heavily.

I was surprised, Roka was surprised, and even Lady Kisea was surprised. We all knew each other.

In fact, we were even acquainted with Her Highness. I never thought we’d meet again here.

“Milenia? Why are you here?”

“Your Highness, you’re here. That is…”

That person even seemed to know Lady Kisea. Ranga also widened his eyes. He shook his head, wondering if he was seeing things.

“Hey, wait a minute. Aren’t you the one who told us the way?”

“Ra, Ranga? Why are you there?”

“Why are you there yourself?”

Lady Kisea shot back with a disinterested expression.

Seeing Roka staring at her blankly, the knight seemed to suffer a severe mental shock and collapsed. She lamented as if the world had crumbled.

“To think two wolves would team up. Why is this happening…”

“So, why did Edmund’s close aide come looking for me? Surely you didn’t come alone to kill me. Did the Temple send you?”

“Your Highness… Please save Lord Edmund!”

That was brief, as the knight quickly regained her composure and knelt, begging desperately. She seemed ready to grab the Princess’s pants. The Princess, with a dazed expression, shouted.

“Let go. Why is this person acting like this?”

“No matter what, you are siblings by blood. Please help save Lord Edmund. If you won’t, then kill me too.”

“What is this… Can’t you let go?”

The knight desperately clung to her ankle and kissed her foot. That made the Princess more flustered than a sword strike. In fact, it flustered us too.

“Seeing this, it seems my father has won. Isn’t it more strange to hope to survive after committing such atrocities? I have no reason to save him, and even if I did, he’s already a dead man.”

“Your Highness, please! You are now the first in line for the throne. If you just say a word, you can save someone who is about to die.”

“Hey.”

Despite the knight’s desperate plea, the Princess’s expression remained cold. Instead, someone else’s heart seemed to have been moved.

Lady Kisea hesitated, then approached the Princess and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I was a bit sensitive earlier. I’m not usually like this.”

The Princess’s face was filled with bewilderment. She looked at Lady Kisea, whose tone had suddenly changed, with a face that seemed to ask what was going on.

“If you need someone useful, just call me. This Kisea, once known as the Wooden Kisea, is a master of the blade.”

[You’ve got some nerve.]

The Dragon’s Sword buzzed and retorted.

[Please learn some shame.]

By the way, does she really think “Wooden Kisea” is a great nickname?

Somehow, I felt a shiver, and my mood became a bit strange.

“Ah, anyway, get lost before I step on you! I have no intention of saving him, now or ever. I can forgive him for treating me badly when I was sick. I didn’t treat Edmund well when I was healthy either.”

Ignoring the wolf’s words desperately, the Princess shouted.

“But he shouldn’t have poisoned my brother. He shouldn’t have planned such a rebellion! He put his own neck into the noose, so who does he think he can ask for help now? He did it himself. Tell him to take responsibility himself!”

[Just cut him down.]

The dragon offered a simple solution.

[No need to drag it out.]

“Hey, if you ascend to the throne, I’m a contributor, right? I’ve been on the Empire’s side from the beginning. I can say I’m more on the side of His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire than anyone else.”

[I’ll cut this one down too. I’ll lend my full power.]

Is it that I always side with the winner? Is that your mercenary’s creed?

Even Roka looked at Lady Kisea with a dumbfounded expression. Regardless, Lady Kisea shamelessly asserted her rights. I rarely give such evaluations, but she’s quite the opportunist.

“It’s not the Empire. Not His Majesty either.”

The sniffling knight pleaded desperately to the Princess.

“It’s the Temple. The Temple is trying to capture Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Prince. If they are caught, they will surely die. Please help.”

“The Temple…?”

Blinking her eyes, she asked again.

“So?”

“Uh…?”

“Tell them to die. What exactly do you want me to do?”

The Princess crossed her arms and retorted.

“Let me say it again, it’s more strange to hope to survive after committing such atrocities. You must have known that failure means death, so there’s nothing more to say.”

A golden light flashed in her eyes.

“Now is not the time to worry about others. I’ll arrest you too. Since the ringleader of the rebellion has come to me directly, I have no choice but to capture you…”

“Ah, you should have said so earlier.”

Before the Princess could finish, the gray wolf rushed in. He planted his sword on the ground and swung the scabbard, striking the knight’s head.

With a thud, the knight fainted, and the wolf pinned her down, sealing her magical power to completely neutralize her.

“There, I’ve caught her. Do whatever you want with her, whether it’s cooking or grilling.”

Then he rolled the unconscious knight and placed her right in front of the Princess. The Princess sighed, and the knight, who seemed to have fainted, regained consciousness and shouted.

“Ranga, you can’t do this…! The contract money from the Temple…”

Thud!

With a crisp sound, the scabbard struck the knight’s head again. This time, the knight completely fainted and collapsed.

As the Princess’s gaze slowly turned to Ranga, Lady Kisea made a very familiar expression. That, that’s an expression I know very well.

It was similar to the expression Roka always made when she wanted to say, ‘Roka knows nothing.’

To interpret it, it would be something like, ‘Contract money? Kisea knows nothing.’ Lady Kisea whistled and played dumb. She seemed afraid someone would ask her to spit out the contract money.

The Princess wouldn’t ask for the money, and the Temple… If the Temple really lost, they wouldn’t have the luxury to worry about such money.

In the end, the contract money went straight into her pocket. If it’s money to hire a Master, it must be quite a sum.

“By the way, is there any bounty? I personally caught the ringleader of the rebellion… Or a reward would be fine too.”

Swallowing it all and even aiming for additional profits. She was truly an amazing person. That much was certain.