Chapter 46

Altears lightly patted her back. He seemed much more natural now than when he first touched her.

She had heard from Lat and Tan many times that children are fragile beings.

Now, she felt much heavier, and the weight felt good.

She squirmed a little in his arms and then gently lifted her head to gauge his reaction. Altears met her gaze without averting his eyes.

“H-Huh?”

She didn’t even realize that a strange sound had escaped her in surprise. Altears burst into laughter.

“Huh?”

When he repeated it, Lirika’s cheeks flushed.

‘Just like Atel!’

She thought to herself, but no matter how she tried to move, she couldn’t with her cheeks held firmly. Tears welled up in her eyes. Altears finally suppressed his laughter.

‘I see.’

He could laugh too.

“I’ll protect you.”

As he said it with a pledge, Lirika stared at him blankly before saying,

“I, I’ll protect Your Majesty too.”

Altears raised an eyebrow, and Lirika explained earnestly,

“Of course, I’m weak, and my magic isn’t much help, but Your Majesty is strong. I want to protect you as much as I can. It might be silly, but...”

Altears chuckled.

“Well, but.”

He released her cheeks.

“You already are protecting me.”

In a different way, one he couldn’t.

Rudia and Atel were the same. Even to him.

Lirika looked puzzled and then said, “Ah!”

“I was thinking of making a new protective charm. If I make it pretty, I’ll give it to Your Majesty.”

“The gems will be provided by me.”

“Yes!”

Lirika nodded brightly and said, “By the way.”

“Go on.”

“Can Your Majesty’s power not fix it?”

Since a dragon had turned a monster into a human, and Your Majesty’s power was immense, it should be possible, right?

“It’s impossible.”

“I see...”

Lirika thought hard.

“Then, could I make about ten of them?”

Looking at her as if to say, ‘Where did you get that idea from?’, Altears shook his head.

“No, if you start giving them away, it could cause chaos. Takar had one and didn’t use it, but imagine if others found out.”

Lirika nodded firmly and said softly,

“I’ll make sure to tell Raub.”

“Good.”

“But, Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

“Can Your Majesty’s power not alleviate the symptoms?”

“Not possible.”

“Why not?”

“If you save them and let them continue their lineage, the next generation might be even worse.”

They should be eliminated.

It was a cruelly cold statement.

Lirika’s expression darkened, and Altears sighed.

“Then, try making something to alleviate the symptoms. About ten, as you said.”

It’s good to have weapons, whether you use them or not.

And if it would ease Lirika’s burden, this method was much better.

Lirika’s face brightened.

“Yes, I’ll secretly give them out.”

She whispered and smiled softly. He nodded and said,

“Go now.”

“Will Your Majesty not come in?”

Though it was a bit disappointing to lose the formality, Altears didn’t insist.

He didn’t think he had ever acted as a father to her, so insisting would be foolish.

“I’ll stay out a bit longer.”

“Then I’ll bring you a blanket!”

“Huh?”

Before he could react, Lirika ran off and disappeared among the garden shrubs. Stunned, he watched as she returned with a summer blanket.

Clearly, Brin had brought it, showing the Sol family’s competence.

“Here, make sure to keep your stomach warm and get some rest.”

He had never heard such a statement before and nodded at her fresh remark.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Turn around once more.”

At Altears’ request, Lirika smiled widely, spun around twice, spread her skirt, and curtsied before retreating.

Altears held up the blanket and smiled.

‘Indeed.’

He decided to agree with Rudia.

‘The cutest in the world.’

* * *

Rudia was drinking tea in her comfortable nightgown.

A cool summer night breeze flowed in from the open balcony. The temperature difference between day and night was becoming more pronounced, signaling the end of summer.

It was well past midnight, yet Altears still hadn’t returned.

Usually, she wouldn’t care and would just go to bed, but Lirika’s words from earlier in the evening lingered in her mind.

Lirika, who had been boasting about her new clothes, said with a drooping eyebrow while hugging a teddy bear as big as half her body,

“But, Mother, Your Majesty seems lonely.”

Rudia was puzzled.

“Your Majesty? Why?”

What could make that human—no, dragon—lonely?

“Today, I saw him sleeping in the garden, and he seems to have a lot of work... He might catch a cold.”

“No one catches a cold from sleeping outside in this weather.”

Rudia’s blunt response made Lirika droop even more, and Rudia was taken aback.

“Mother, even if it’s a contract, Your Majesty is still your husband.”

Moreover, an unexpected criticism!

More puzzled, Rudia listened as Lirika worried,

“Besides, no one understands Your Majesty, right?”

It sounded as if Lirika knew Altears was a dragon. Rudia swallowed.

“Someone who understands?”

“Your Majesty is a dragon, I mean, Takar. I don’t think he likes that term much.”

Lirika quickly corrected herself and buried her cheek in the teddy bear’s head.

“He has mysterious and powerful abilities, but because of his background, he’s always lived alone in the desert. So, he must feel lonely.”

‘I’ve never thought about that.’

She couldn’t say it. Moreover, Lirika’s words made sense.

‘It’s possible.’

Even if he was a dragon, he was still human. The arrogant notion that a human could live alone had already been burned away. Lirika was right. Even if it was a contract, she was the empress, and it was her duty to take care of the emperor.

Thinking about it, she realized she had never waited for Altears before.

So, here she was, wide awake, drinking tea until dawn.

The maids had suggested she go to bed, but she found it peaceful to brew the tea herself.

“I didn’t expect you to be awake.”

Altears entered through the balcony. Rudia said,

“Why not through the door?”

“Didn’t you leave it open for me?”

He chuckled.

“It’s open for the breeze.”

Altears approached and stroked the empty teacup. Another cup was prepared for him.

“So, you at least wanted to drink tea together? There’s no one else you’d let into your bedroom at midnight, right?”

“During the contract period, only you can untie my bond.”

Altears murmured, “A contract.”

Rudia looked at him carefully. His hand moved from the teacup to cup her cheek. His large hand also caressed her nape.

His hand was warm.

‘Warm.’

Rudia jumped up from her seat. As Altears leaned in, she reached out to his forehead.

Not understanding, Altears blinked. Rudia repeated firmly,

“You have a fever.”

“Fever?”

He chuckled.

“Perhaps because you’re by my side—”

“Stop joking. I know your body temperature better than you do.”

Altears was speechless.

Well, that’s true. Hmm.

Rudia pulled him. Altears followed obediently. Pushed to the bed, he plopped down.

‘This is the first time I’ve been tempted like this.’

The words almost slipped out, but he held back because Rudia’s face was serious.

“Rest, and you’ll get better.”

Rudia nodded.

“Of course. I don’t plan to cause a fuss by calling the royal physician for this.”

Altears’ inhuman traits made his position as emperor more solid. Showing a human weakness like a fever would only give his enemies an advantage.

Rudia returned with a damp cloth.

“Lie down.”

Altears leaned back on the bed’s pillow. Rudia placed the damp cloth on his eyes and forehead.

“Does it feel better?”

“Hmm.”

“I’m not very good at nursing. Lirika did it for me, but...”

“She’s cute.”

“Yes, Lirika is the cutest in the world.”

‘Indeed.’

Rudia muttered. She lifted the damp cloth slightly, and Altears said,

“Is it supposed to drip like this?”

“I think so, when Lirika did it, it dripped.”

“Maybe she just didn’t have the strength.”

“...Maybe.”

She groaned, and Altears chuckled, wringing out the cloth. The droplets fell and evaporated in mid-air.

He placed the wrung-out cloth back on his forehead and lay down. Rudia was captivated by a strange feeling.

She had seen Altears use his power before, without any limits or boundaries.

It was an overwhelmingly immense power.

The ground split, the earth rose, and the air trembled.

Because of that, and knowing his true form was a dragon, she had never thought of him as human.

‘But he is human.’

Not an impregnable fortress.

He could feel pain and die from severe injuries. Even now, he had a fever.

It was a new realization.