Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Ancestral Dragon God's Legacy (1)
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Several hours earlier.
Canelian mulled over the prince's words as she raced to rescue her sister.
'Has the prince changed? Or was he hiding his true colors all along?'
Two things were certain.
He was a mythic-grade artifact appraiser, and he knew her realm.
He must have recognized her as a Swordmaster and sent her to save her sister.
Canelian finally rendezvoused with her sister's group, who were moving on foot under the escort of the Wyvern Knights.
"Sister, there's no time. We have to go right now."
"B-but these people...!"
Her soft-hearted sister couldn't move, her eyes lingering on the maids and attendants who'd been with her since childhood.
"Duchess! We'll be fine! Hurry and go!"
"The rats and birds are fleeing en masse—some massive disaster is definitely coming!"
Clutching her tearing heart, Canelian hoisted only her sister onto her back and returned to the Holy Site in the rocky mountains.
Now the great catastrophe had engulfed the Karbalon Mountains; she'd have to go retrieve at least the bodies of those left behind.
But then...
"Duchess! You're safe!"
"Thank goodness everyone's alive!"
"Duchess, forgive us! We abandoned all the betrothal gifts!"
"No, you did the right thing! I'm just grateful you're alive!"
Tears streaming down her sister's face.
The maids and attendants overcome with emotion at their tearful reunion, having survived.
The Wyvern Knights snorting proudly through their noses.
And the wastrel prince gazing down on the entire scene with an expressionless face...
"Your Highness, let's talk for a moment."
"... ."
The prince casually swept back his hair with indifference.
An elegant motion that nearly drew an involuntary gasp of admiration from her.
They said his personality and beauty were unmatched across the continent, the strongest of all.
His blue eyes, gleaming between strands of shimmering golden hair, regarded Canelian impassively.
"Everyone except the duchess, withdraw."
"Yes!"
Everyone moved out.
Canelian flashed a reassuring smile at her sister Ceres, who watched with anxious eyes.
The prince, lounging sideways on an outdoor daybed with his chin propped up, stared at her steadily.
Even the casual act of plucking a grape from the basket and popping it into his mouth was graceful.
"Your Highness, please explain."
"I'll ask first. When did the duchess reach the Swordmaster realm?"
"...!"
Canelian flinched but gritted her teeth and schooled her expression.
"Your explanation comes first right now."
"No, the duchess needs to convince me. What's the reason for hiding that you're a Swordmaster and agreeing to marry me?"
For a moment, Canelian was at a complete loss for words.
What kind of nonsense was this?
'You're the one who switched the engagement from my sister to me! You said a simple notice was enough since we're ducal vassals!'
"The duchess broke through the Karbalon Mountains and carried Duchess Ceres back. Even the Royal Guard Captain on the cusp of Swordmaster couldn't manage that."
"That's... ."
"Duchess, what's the reason for hiding that you're a Swordmaster and approaching me?"
She couldn't get a word out.
It was true that she'd resolved to deal with the prince for the sake of the kingdom and duchy even before setting out.
As Canelian stood speechless, Prince Ragna let out a smirk.
"Isn't it a good thing for the royals? A Swordmaster as the mother means we can produce healthy, exceptional royal heirs. No need to be so tense."
"...You just had to confirm that, huh?"
"Is another reason necessary?"
"My sister had to abandon people she'd lived with like friends and family, believing they'd die, and flee in tears.
Because of Your Highness's little prank, so many people had to suffer."
"Already playing the crown princess role?"
"Does it displease you?"
"No, it's not bad at all. Keep acting like that from now on, Duchess."
"Wh-what... ."
The prince's reactions kept veering off her expectations.
Canelian was flustered.
'This isn't how it was supposed to go.'
She'd meant to rebuke his vile habit,
that trash personality that got off on pointless mongrel training.
But he'd done it just to confirm she was a Swordmaster.
Regaining her composure, Canelian asked,
"How did you know?"
"One thing first. I'm not an artifact appraiser."
"...Pardon?"
"It's true I have somewhat better eyes than most."
The prince's blue eyes curved into a thin smile.
Canelian felt irritated, as if her thoughts were being read.
"Duchess, look down there. At my single command, the entire kingdom's people have united to achieve this monumental feat."
At the prince's gesture, Canelian surveyed the base of the rocky mountain.
High nobles of esteemed houses piling stones by hand for the ritual altar.
Knights and soldiers discarding swords and armor, sweating buckets as they hauled supplies.
"Sometimes, a ruler must enforce dignity by force, even knowing it will cause suffering to vassals and subjects. That is what it means to be a monarch."
"...!"
"Don't forget that the crown princess is a vassal as well."
The prince gestured as if to dismiss her,
and Canelian turned away in a daze.
Stumbling along.
All the way back to her tent, the prince's words echoed in her ears.
'No matter how much he wants to establish his dignity, this has gone too far.'
The sudden holy site pilgrimage had plunged the entire kingdom into suffering.
Enormous expenses had been incurred, and money was still pouring out like water at this very moment.
The nobles were interpreting it this way:
-The prince is pulling out all the stops to build some dignity to cover up his past rampages.
Canelian had thought much the same.
But now...
'Without appraisal magic, how did he recognize it as a mythic-grade artifact?'
Canelian unconsciously gripped her brooch.
'That mountain was really getting on my nerves.' Just one mutter like that, and poof—the mountain's gone. Felt like I'd become the division commander or something.
The entire kingdom's holy site pilgrimage.
Altar construction and ritual proceedings.
All of it accomplished in the blink of an eye.
Just three days after arriving at the rocky mountain Holy Site, every preparation was complete.
'So this is the taste of power?'
Over a million people scrambling this way and that to carry out my orders.
If the kingdom had gotten wiped out per the quest event, it would've boosted my reputation,
but I should count myself lucky to have avoided starting from rock bottom all over again.
'And Canelian's been quiet since then.'
So why'd you hide that you're a Swordmaster?
My counterattack had landed perfectly.
Attack is the best defense, after all. Invincible logic.
Before the ritual.
I even caught a glimpse of the king inside the mobile magic tent.
He gripped my hand tightly with his wrinkled fingers, earnestly praying.
"My son, may your voice reach the Ancestor... Bring glory and prosperity back to our Arcana once more...."
Your voice has already reached.
I'm deliberately avoiding the cave's pond sanctuary because you're way too talkative.
With everyone watching.
I finally stood before the altar.
"Prince Ragna Volter Arcana offers tribute to Her Highness the Ancestor in the upper realm!"
The Prime Minister bellowed thunderously,
and I, clad in full ritual robes,
ascended the towering altar slowly, holding the sake bottle said to be the Ancestor's favorite.
The moment I piously raised the cup of sake overhead.
A voice descended.
How much has all this cost? We can't spend so extravagantly. The household'll go bankrupt.
"It's all for the show."
Hope she gets the 'show and prove' concept.
"Might as well grant a miracle while we're at it. Ideally, for Father's recovery."
"That poor, huh?"
Felt like a kid wheedling his overseas mom for remittance over the phone.
"Ancestor, but the royal genealogy lists a separate queen. What's up with that?"
There were no mentions of the Ancestral Dragon God being male or female.
Instead, a queen was listed as spouse in the records.
"Pardon? Why?"
Ah, so that's the secret history...
The sake in the cup evaporated.
I refilled the cup, offered it overhead, and the Ancestral Dragon God lapped it up eagerly.
Imagining the petite silver-haired girl from before chugging the cup greedily,
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"I thought it was offered every year at the rituals?"
I was alone atop the lofty altar.
Since I had to stay put until the ceremony concluded anyway, I kept offering sake and chatting away with the Ancestral Dragon God about this and that.
"Ancestor, are you returning to the mortal world?"
"Oh dear..."
Two thousand years?
The oldest king on record lived to 140.
Upper realms are no joke, huh...
Side stories mentioned it now and then.
Tempting, but it felt like she was just diluting her loneliness, so nah...
The Ancestral Dragon God's tales went on and on.
I could feel just how devastating thousands of years in exile were for a single dragon.
"What's it like there?"
What a kind-hearted ancestor.
"What is it?"
Finally?
My heart suddenly pounded fiercely.
But wasn't she unable to send gifts due to mortal interference rules?
"Mana Herb Seeds exist separately? And they're cultivable?"
I shot to my feet and bellowed down toward the altar base.
"Bring every last bottle of Lumière de Ver! Don't leave a single one behind!"