Chapter 140: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (4)
Chapter 140: Dragon's Eye, Human Heart (4)
"……I greet Her Imperial Highness."
At Ian’s impeccable greeting, a look of satisfaction flickered in Cien’s eyes.
She had been worried since he was the second son of a lower noble, but his training in etiquette was unexpectedly thorough. At the very least, she wouldn't have to worry about being criticized by high society for keeping him as an aide.
However, the words that flowed from Cien’s lips were filled with a humility that stood in stark contrast to her inner thoughts.
"You’re Senior Ian, right? Hehe, there’s no need to be so formal. No matter my title, I’m just another student here at the Academy."
As she spoke, Cien leaned forward slightly, offering him a charming, eye-curving smile.
Usually, this was enough to finish most men. It was almost boring. There wasn't a male alive who disliked a kind and beautiful woman.
Yet, this man seemed to be an exception. Not a single shred of emotion could be felt in the gaze he briefly lifted toward her.
They were emotionless, vacant eyes.
Cien was momentarily confused as to whether this was his true nature or if he was simply skilled at hiding his inner thoughts.
She would find out soon enough anyway. The Princess’s light gray eyes delved into Ian’s field of vision.
Now, she would be able to see.
Cien’s pupils blurred for a moment, as if she were staring at a place far beyond the present.
But a moment later, Cien’s eyes widened, and she began rubbing them in confusion.
Huh? This shouldn't be happening.
She couldn't see anything. She tried again, but the result was the same.
Cien couldn't hide her fluster. In her entire life, there had only been a handful of times when this had happened.
Regardless of Cien’s state, Ian didn't seem to care in the slightest. He simply asked a question in his characteristically flat voice.
"……So, what business brings you here?"
Though he had been told to treat her as a mere junior, Ian maintained his formal speech. It was a sign that he would treat her with the respect due to a princess without becoming overly burdened by it.
It was a wise decision. His ability to read his superiors was better than she had expected.
She liked him even more now. Cien felt a writhing sense of possessiveness stir in a corner of her heart.
Perhaps driven by greed, Cien made a somewhat adventurous decision, which was unlike her.
She didn't really need to 'see' it anyway.
Her opponent was the second son of a rural viscount who had shown rapid growth over the past two months. If that were the case, there had to be a reason for it—a motivation that forced him to achieve such growth.
What was the driving force behind him?
Human psychology was usually predictable. It was likely desire, and humans generally desired what they lacked.
And what would the second son of a rural viscount lack?
Power. Having reached a tentative conclusion, Cien’s light gray eyes sank deep with intent.
"I’ve heard a lot about your exploits, Senior Ian. I heard you recently subjugated a Fiend? Actually, I’ve come to speak with you on behalf of the Imperial Family regarding that matter."
Usually, one would be overcome with emotion when a beautiful princess visited on behalf of the Imperial Family and treated a mere student from the lower nobility with such courtesy. If not that, they would at least be unable to hide their anticipation for the reward the Imperial Family would bestow.
However, the man showed a surprising lack of reaction. He simply stared at Cien with golden eyes that seemed heavy with deep fatigue.
It wasn't that he lacked greed; rather, he was exceptionally skilled at hiding his true feelings.
Impressive. The Princess wore a soft smile.
He was a man she wanted to make hers more and more.
An impulse, like that of a predator discovering prey after a long hunger, seized Cien.
"Because your achievements are unprecedented, the Imperial Family is actually quite troubled. We must grant you a reward, but we simply cannot figure out what it is you want, Senior Ian……."
As she spoke, the Princess subtly closed the distance between them.
Standing on her tiptoes, the girl’s voice followed, whispering into the man’s ear.
"Tell me anything. I will pull the strings so that your wish is granted."
"……Anything?"
Only then did Ian ask back, his voice tinged with a hint of interest. The arc of Cien’s smile deepened.
Yes, no matter how great he is, he is still only human.
Cien’s breath grew even sweeter.
"Yes, anything… In exchange, just remember that I was the one who bridged the gap for you."
A low hum of contemplation escaped Ian’s lips.
Cien had no intention of letting this opportunity slip away. Her mouth poured out smooth, calculated words.
From what she had observed, he was a man like a stone. She had to pierce through with more direct language.
"Who knows? Perhaps we might form a good connection in the future. If that happens, I can give you everything you desire. All you have to do is kiss my feet."
It was a metaphorical expression, but the meaning was blatant.
She was telling him to consider an oath of fealty. Kissing one's feet was one of the highest marks of respect one could show a lord.
Of course, his pride might be wounded for now. But once he tasted power, his mind would soon change.
There was no creature more honest about their desires than a human.
In fact, throwing such a direct proposal from the start would ensure he followed her words obediently later. This was the basic art of personnel management Cien had mastered in the demon's den known as the Imperial Palace.
The man remained silent. For a long time.
Cien wasn't worried. After all, wasn't he just a human who was the second son of a rural viscount?
Even if he had shown remarkable activity lately, a member of the lower nobility wouldn't get many chances to be affiliated with the Imperial Family.
Soon, the man would surely come to kiss her feet willingly.
But feeling that it wasn't quite enough, the Princess decided to tease Ian’s desperation a bit more.
"……For example, the succession of your family's title?"
With those words, Cien clasped her hands behind her back and took two or three steps away.
She could imagine the sorrow he must have felt as the second son of a rural viscount. He must have grown up being compared to his older brother since childhood. Looking at his records, his brother had long been designated as the family's successor.
The reason for his recent rapid growth was likely not unrelated to that.
His history was so clean that no other cause could be found.
He was a man who had even donated a Demonic Beast corpse worth 10,000 Gold just to save some commoner girl. At the very least, he wasn't greedy for money. That left only power.
Of course, depending on the listener, Cien’s words could be taken as an insult to his family.
But what could he do? Cien was a Princess, and Ian was merely the second son of a rural viscount. Above all, if the man had his sights set on power, these were words he would inwardly find gratifying.
It was a statement that validated his desires. Most humans, while pretending otherwise, wanted their ugly hearts to be acknowledged.
The Princess was certain that Ian was half-tempted by now. Even after hearing her rude proposal, Ian remained calm instead of getting angry.
Cien asked Ian once more.
"Well, Senior Ian? Have you thought of anything?"
"……I do happen to have one wish."
There it is. A flash of joy crossed the Princess’s eyes.
All that was left was the finishing touch. With the feeling of hooking a fish that had taken the bait, Cien offered a smile like a blooming flower.
"Yes, just say the word. If it’s something you want, Senior Ian, then anything……."
It was then that a bucket of cold water was thrown over the harmonious atmosphere.
A stream of liquid sprayed through the air.
Ian had opened the cap of his canteen and immediately poured its contents over the Princess.
The situation was so sudden that no one could react.
Not Cien, not the escort knights standing behind her, and not even the passersby who had been eavesdropping on the conversation between the man and the Princess with curious eyes.
Splatter. The stream of water flying through the air fell, soaking Cien’s entire body.
Faced with an unimaginable response, the Princess froze in her smiling pose. The escort knights behind her were the same.
Seeing this, Ian asked in a voice tinged with a faint laugh. He looked somewhat amused.
"……Is the water shower refreshing, Your Highness?"
Only then did Cien let out a dumbfounded gasp. A mixture of bewilderment and shame flickered in her eyes.
She had never been treated like this in her life.
Born as a Princess, had she ever suffered such an insult?
And that was the signal.
The first to react was Irene. Her hand gripped the hilt of her sword like a bolt of lightning.
But just as she was about to draw her blade—
A chilling sensation ran down Irene’s spine. Instinctively, her eyes moved to find the source.
It was his golden eyes. The man’s burning gaze was already fixed on Irene.
Irene froze in place.
It was strange. Her warrior’s intuition, honed through a lifetime of training, was ringing alarm bells. That fact meant only one thing.
The man before her was strong. He was an enemy she should not engage.
Cold sweat began to bead on Irene’s hands. Her breathing suddenly grew ragged.
Without taking his eyes off her, the man’s mouth uttered a low warning.
"Sir Irene… take your hand off your sword if you don't want to regret it."
It was a natural, commanding tone. It was as if it were only natural to speak to Irene that way, without a hint of awkwardness.
It was then that Irene snapped back to her senses.
She felt like a fool.
Her opponent was merely a third-year student at the Academy. She was a member of the Imperial Guard Knights, a group that only the most skilled Academy graduates could join.
There was no way Irene would lose to a man like that.
A flush rose to the female knight’s fair face as she remembered that fact. She was ashamed of having been intimidated by Ian, even for a moment.
And that shame soon turned into hostility toward the man.
Grinding her teeth, Irene drew her sword.
"All escort knights, prepare for combat!"
The screech of metal followed—a signal that all the escort knights behind Irene had drawn their swords.
The knights were all powerhouses at the Expert level or higher. Though they weren't wearing armor due to Academy regulations, their entire bodies were already no different from lethal weapons.
Their burning Auras proved the heights they had reached. It should have been normal to suppress a mere third-year student in an instant.
Nevertheless, not a single ripple of emotion could be seen in Ian’s eyes.
It was not the attitude one should have before powerful enemies. Not a trace of fear or tension could be found on his face.
What reflected in those golden eyes was only a deep sense of fatigue. It was as if all other emotions had been incinerated.
Irene found that point incredibly ominous.
The man didn't look arrogant or overconfident. Rather, his demeanor was closer to someone dealing with an opponent who wasn't even worth the effort.
In the end, Irene grit her teeth to soothe the anxiety that kept creeping in.
It couldn't be. He was just a third-year student. It was impossible for him to have the skill to overwhelm four Imperial Guard Knights.
Driven by the lingering unease, Irene made a decision.
Fine, she would just have to prove it with her skill.
The brief confrontation was over. Unable to hold back any longer, Irene’s foot kicked off the ground.
In an instant—truly, in the blink of an eye.
As if space itself had been deleted, Irene had already surged into the man’s immediate vicinity.
The torn atmosphere let out a delayed scream. Even the sonic boom was slow. The woman’s blue hair fluttered wildly in the blade-like wind.
This happened after Irene’s sword had already been thrust toward Ian’s heart.
It was a sharp pierce. Even then, there was no movement from Ian.
He didn't even attempt to draw his sword. In the heavy flow of time, Irene felt inwardly relieved.
It had been a pointless worry. Indeed, her opponent was still just a greenhorn third-year student.
Forget a counterattack; he hadn't even been able to respond to her surprise attack.
But in the next moment—
Irene’s eyes flew wide.
Within the frozen time, the man’s hand was pushing against the flat of Irene’s blade as if pressing it down. It was a feat possible only if one perfectly understood the flow of power. A subtle trajectory where even her Aura yielded and twisted.
Irene’s sword pierced through empty air. Before she knew it, Ian’s arm had already wrapped around her shoulder, which had been overextended toward the empty space.
Irene’s brain went white.
How, just how?
Before she could even ask such a question, a level voice echoed in her ear.
"……I told you not to do something you'd regret."
And all at once, Irene’s world flipped.
BOOM!
As the female knight was slammed into the ground, a sound closer to an explosion erupted. Fragments of stone and gravel, crushed into a mess, scattered in all directions.
Dust soared high into the sky, creating a thick fog. Even at a glance, it was a strike with an enormous amount of impact.
It was a moment where the breathing of dozens of people stopped.