The Red Dragon and the White Dragon (2)
In the Gael Holy Kingdom, the First Saintess held a peculiar status. She was the successor of the White Dragon, the incarnation of the white dragon that guarded the goddess. Only a noble virgin chosen by the White Dragon could become the First Saintess. That was why Beatrice, despite awakening her saintly divine power before Jablina, had been relegated to the Second Saintess simply because she had not received the White Dragon's blessing. The Holy Kingdom prioritized laws and traditions above all else, making it impossible to overturn the established hierarchy.
“I apologize for the meager hospitality.”
“It’s quite all right. In the name of the First Saintess, I shall specially forgive your lack of courtesy.”
The girl with flowing silver hair lifted her teacup with a prim expression. Milk tea, with milk mixed into black tea. And a special cheesecake that would have been the mischievous fairy’s snack for the day. She had brought out what little dessert she could to entertain the Saintess who had visited so suddenly. Rue, who had spent the morning sorting documents in anticipation of dessert, let out a scream and collapsed into her seat. The cheesecake she had been longing for was slowly disappearing right before her eyes.
“Hieeeek…!”
“Would you like at least one bite?”
“Yes!!”
“I’m joking. This is a precious gift I received from Lord Edanant.”
The Saintess offered the fork with the cheesecake to the fairy who had been voicing her despair. However, she had never intended to share even a single piece. When Rue opened her mouth with sparkling anticipation, Jablina promptly popped it into her own mouth.
Good heavens. She could be quite vicious. Far too mischievous for a benevolent Saintess.
“Ahem! We’ve had enough idle chatter… I believe it is time for the Saintess to get to the main point.”
The princess, who had been watching the noisy farce, spoke up. With her lustrous golden hair flowing down, she cleared her throat and urged the Saintess to proceed. At that, the Saintess opened her mouth.
“I would very much like to have a private conversation with Lord Edanant right away… but since Princess Ludmila refuses to leave, I have no choice but to waste time like this.”
“Your joke has gone too far.”
“No, aside from the prank I just played on the child, I haven’t joked at all.”
“……”
The Red Dragon and the White Dragon began a battle of wills disguised as polite conversation. Terrifying. How could a battle of wills be this terrifying? Behind Ludmila and Jablina, silhouettes of ferocious dragons seemed to roar. It must have been an illusion, yet cold sweat trickled down my entire body. Rue’s reaction was no different—she looked utterly horrified. It felt like watching a tiny squirrel caught between two apex predators locked in combat. I could now fully understand the misery of a shrimp caught between fighting whales.
“Both of you are taking your jokes too far.”
If this nerve-wracking tension continued, the villa would surely not survive unscathed. Gathering my courage, I stepped in to mediate.
“Your Highness and the Saintess represent the Empire and the Holy Kingdom, respectively. Even in a private setting, please maintain proper decorum.”
Perhaps it was an old habit from mediating between the men of the Saintess Party who fought like sworn enemies. I spoke in a courteous yet firm voice. Ludmila and Jablina exchanged awkward glances and withdrew the suffocating pressure that had been building.
“My apologies. I lost my composure for a moment.”
“I seem to have committed an unintended discourtesy. It appears I still lack discipline.”
The princess and the Saintess acknowledged their fault. Yet it was by no means an apology. An apology was an act of seeking forgiveness from the party one had wronged. However, Ludmila and Jablina did not ask forgiveness from each other. They had only apologized to me for stopping their sharp exchange.
Urgh—. My stomach began to ache. It had been a long time since I last felt this pain, ever since Maximilian’s unauthorized elopement.
“Since Lord Edanant is a Holy Sword wielder, he must possess outstanding martial prowess, correct? After all, you achieved the feat of slaying that ruthless bomber in a single strike.”
“It wasn’t exactly… a single strike.”
Jablina, who had been seated on the sofa, suddenly stood up and leaned forward in an uncomfortably close manner. Feeling pressured, I answered. What was her goal? It felt like a leading question, so I responded with deliberate caution.
“But something feels off.”
“Pardon?”
“Lord Edanant possesses such unwavering loyalty to the imperial family that he risked countless dangers to subjugate the bomber… So why did you not participate in the racial war that broke out three years ago?”
“…You mean the racial war.”
The all-out war in which humanity and the Demon King’s forces clashed in a decisive struggle. It was called the racial war because the fate of countless races had been determined by its outcome. The Demon King, who suffered a crushing defeat and lost his legions in the Third Racial War, was gathering his forces when he met a glorious end at the hands of the Saintess Party’s surprise attack. That was both the result of the racial war and the conclusion of the romance fantasy White Blessing of the Lady.
‘Is she simply testing me? Or… does she know something?’
How many people would suddenly bring up such a serious topic during a gathering meant to foster friendship with a complete stranger? Either someone lacking social skills, or a madman who enjoyed war and bloodshed. Yet the First Saintess fit neither description. She knew something. That was why she had asked this difficult question while her blue eyes sparkled. If I were a timid person with little courage, I would have confessed everything the moment I fell into her leading question and dug my own grave. But I was different. Had I not cultivated a near-impenetrable shamelessness while campaigning alongside the Saintess Party? A leading question? Let her try as she pleased. I had no intention of answering obediently. For a moment, I imitated Maximilian’s perpetually sullen expression.
“After my brother, chosen as the Hero, left the county to fulfill his noble duty… I devoted myself entirely to assisting my father in his stead. My brother repeatedly entrusted me with the safety of the county when he departed with the Saintess Party.”
It was a truly elaborate tale. No one would suspect it. Humans may strive to follow reason, but in the end, they are creatures swayed by emotion. For a lie fabricated in an instant, its completeness was remarkable. It was good enough to be immediately accepted if submitted to a newspaper as a personal story. Even the coldest-blooded individual would be moved by such a heartfelt account.
“Maximilian, chosen as the Hero, left overnight, so you must have endured considerable hardship as well.”
As if to prove it, Ludmila spoke in a solemn voice. She nodded quietly, seemingly deeply moved.
“Hmmm.”
On the other hand, Jablina wore a meaningful smile whose true intent was difficult to discern. What was that smile…? It carried a playful air, as if to say, “Your efforts are commendable, so I’ll let it slide this time.”
I desperately searched my memory while looking at the girl with silver hair as beautiful as bellflowers, but nothing came to mind. There was no way I could have forgotten a girl whose beauty rivaled Ludmila’s.
“I shall take my leave now. I have been discourteous to Lord Edanant by visiting so suddenly without notice.”
“…It’s fine.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll drop by unannounced again next time.”
“No, actually, it’s not fine.”
When I showed my reluctance with a bitter smile, the mischievous Saintess burst into giggles. Ludmila glared at Jablina, clearly displeased.
“Uwaaah.”
“E-Edan! Edan is dead! Hwaaaah!!”
Like a receding tide, the princess and the Saintess—who had been on the verge of exploding—exited simultaneously. The moment they left, I collapsed onto the floor, overwhelmed by exhaustion. It felt as though all the blood circulating through my body had suddenly drained away. The Red Dragon and the White Dragon. The Valtaria Empire’s princess and the Gael Holy Kingdom’s Saintess had stormed in. I groaned as I recalled how they had confronted each other without the slightest concession.
Damn it. If situations like this kept happening, I would surely die young.
Rue burst into tears and shook me vigorously as I lay on the floor. I wanted to lift my head and respond, but my body, heavy as a thousand pounds, would not allow it.
* * *
Ludmila and Jablina, who had left the villa at the same time, parted ways as if to say, “Let’s never meet again if possible, and preferably never see each other’s faces.” Was it instinctive disgust? Or hatred born from intuition? They simply disliked each other. Did one need a reason to hate someone? Whenever the Valtaria Empire and the Gael Holy Kingdom held summit meetings, they inevitably encountered each other. Each time, Ludmila and Jablina displayed their unchanging attitudes, confirming that the Red Dragon and the White Dragon remained irreconcilable rivals.
‘In any case, you’re still as adorable as ever.’
Chuckle—. The silver-haired girl burst into laughter. It was a pure, innocent smile without any pretense, one she had never shown to anyone before.
‘After three whole years… I’ve finally found you.’
When I pulled his arm, and when I was embraced in his sturdy arms. The scent of gunpowder had lingered. It was the scent of the man I had longed for and yearned after for so long. I had to exert all my strength to hold back the tears that nearly spilled the moment my longing, which had become a sorrowful homesickness, was fulfilled.
‘Still, since your efforts are commendable… shall I pretend not to know for now? Teasing you is fun, after all.’
War maniac. I’ve finally found you. In the territory of the Valtaria Empire, so far from the Holy Kingdom. Was this what they called fate? No, even if it wasn’t fate, it didn’t matter. Just as I found you across such a vast distance, no matter where you disappear to, I will surely find you again. The White Dragon of the Holy Kingdom would never relinquish her obsession. Jablina hummed a cheerful tune as she recalled Edanant’s flustered expression, drenched in cold sweat.