REFDL 68

“Ah, I’ll take full responsibility!”

“Do you realize that statement itself is the very symbol of irresponsibility?”

“……”

Unable to win with words, Tortan had no choice but to resort to his final measure.

He let go of the calves he’d been clutching like a lifeline.

Instead, he sprawled out on the office floor, clenching both fists.

Kaelus’s expression, which had anticipated what was to come, clouded over, and contempt flickered in his gray eyes.

Tortan faltered, but only briefly. The dignity befitting an emperor, or the bare minimum of decorum expected of a human, vanished as quickly as it had surfaced.

“I’m not saying I’m fine!”

“Your Majesty. Please maintain your decorum.”

“No! I can’t do that.”

“Ha.”

The duke sighed. What on earth was he supposed to do with this disaster? His frustration was palpable.

Tortan refused to back down.

The man, who had been clinging to the floor like an octopus to a rock, suddenly jerked his head up.

“Let’s be honest. You know better than anyone else. How is that a dragon?! He’s a puppy!”

“…….”

“And a mutt that loves people so much he can’t even guard a house!”

Kaelus couldn’t find the words to counter. Tortan chattered excitedly.

“You know what I thought when I first saw him? ‘Ah, that mad mage Odan is finally trying to scam me with magic. He must have cast an illusion spell to make a puppy look like a dragon. There’s no other way to explain this.’ You saw it yourself at the banquet hall, how he climbed onto my shoulder and acted all pretty and cute.”

But Kaelus, holding the decision in his hands, remained adamant.

“The circumstances are different from the birthday celebration.”

“What circumstances?”

“……”

Kaelus faltered.

Exactly. What circumstances?

For a moment, Kaelus thought ‘his own emotional circumstances’ and quickly scattered the thought from his mind. But it was too late to deceive the quick-witted Tortan.

“…Are you hiding something from me?”

Kaelus’s cheek twitched.

A tiny hole had been pierced in the iron wall that wouldn’t let in a single needle.

‘Hm?’

Tortan didn’t miss that subtle change. He resolved to remember this reaction well.

Of course, remembering was one thing.

Throwing a tantrum was another.

“Ah, come off it! Didn’t you confidently promise at the birthday banquet to have preparations complete before the Founding Festival?”

“……In return, Your Majesty promised not to make contact with the Kremlis before the Founding Festival.”

“…No, it wasn’t exactly a promise… And besides, does it matter now?”

The emperor, at a loss for words on that matter, stammered. He rolled his eyes and rose as if nothing had happened.

…What is he scheming now?

Ignoring the growing chill in Kaelus’s gaze, he sat before the desk in the office and adopted a serious expression.

“Denos has contacted us, saying they wish to send a delegation to congratulate us on this year’s Founding Festival.”

“……!”

Denos often sent envoys to congratulate on national events, including the emperor’s birthday. But the annual Founding Festival was an exception.

That was only natural.

From Firmus’s perspective, it was a monumental day commemorating the founding of their nation by a great hero. But from Denos’s perspective, it was the incident where some unknown commoner rode a Kremlis dragon out of nowhere and seized nearly half of their rightful land.

Of course, there were complex reasons like the forest dividing the land and restricting movement and communication… but to those who had been robbed of what they possessed, nothing could have seemed justifiable.

Anyway, for these reasons, Denos ignored Firmus’s Founding Festival right up until today, treating it as if it didn’t exist.

Firmus, not wanting to stir up unnecessary conflict, generally understood and let it slide.

After living like this for hundreds of years, they’re sending congratulatory envoys for the Founding Festival now? There aren’t even border incursion issues like last time?

It could only mean they had ulterior motives.

“Then you must exercise even greater restraint. I understand you will ride a model dragon this year, not Azura.”

“Wrong. We must show those Denos bastards the majesty of the Kremlis.”

Tortan spoke in a serious tone.

“Moreover, this Kremlis is special. Shouldn’t we make it known that he dedicates himself to Firmus of his own volition? Yes. Just as the rumors say, like the incarnation of Julan.”

“……”

Tortan sighed.

“Kaelus. Let’s be honest here.”

“……”

“I can’t picture that creature suddenly going mad and charging at me. …What about you?”

Kaelus’s lips twitched. Contrary to his intention to remain silent, his mouth voiced his thoughts.

“That one… is special.”

The stage of doubt had long passed.

Kaelus acknowledged it. Nitan’s words, that such a dragon would never be seen again, were accurate.

‘No.‘

In truth, he was more than that.

Yuram was on a different level even from Ryumil. Comparing them felt almost apologetic.

‘He is…’

“……”

He started to cover his mouth with his hand, but remembered the emperor stood before him and stopped just in time. Instead, he clenched his fist unseen. Kaelus didn’t know the name for this feeling.

His life, ashes-like and mirroring its master’s, had never held anything that could stir such emotions.

Yet Kaelus instinctively remained silent. just as he had never spoken of what happened in the cavern.

It wasn’t due to complex calculations or political reasons.

He simply didn’t want to speak of it.

For the first time, Kaelus looked into his own heart. He saw a strange possessiveness coiled within.

The cavern, isolated from the world.

The events within that dreamlike space of reality belonged solely to himself and the dragon.

…He hadn’t asked, but he was certain Yuram felt the same way. For some reason, Kaelus knew it to be true.

“Yes. He’s special.”

Tortan nodded. Kaelus snapped out of his reverie, and Tortan, sighing, slumped onto the desk.

“That lad would never harm those around him on a whim or bare his fangs. It’s the other part that worries me. His inexplicable goodwill toward humans.”

“…….”

“Can you guarantee he won’t fall for those Denos bastards’ tricks?”

“That’s……!”

“What about the vessel? Have you secured it?”

Tortan cut off Kaelus’s words.

Kaelus fell silent. He knew what would come next. Even knowing, he had no choice but to give the predetermined answer. He replied with a stammer.

“Not yet.”

“Then you can’t guarantee anything.”

“…….”

“Secure the vessel and complete the artifact processing before the Founding Festival.”

Kaelus, who had been feeling a bit tired and bored, suddenly became alert. His heartbeat quickened.

Even though it had been his original plan, hearing the order to secure the vessel from someone else’s mouth sparked a strange sense of defiance.

He clenched his fist so tightly his fingernails dug into his palm. Only then did his mouth open.

“Understood.”

“I’ll ride the Kremlis dragon during the Founding Festival. Make the preparations. This is an order.”

“……Understood.”

“Good.”

Only then did the emperor, returning to his usual light and fluttering demeanor, grab Kaelus as he was about to leave the office, his expression sour.

“Is there anything else you wish to say?”

Bastard.

“……I think I heard something else just now.”

“Your Majesty is mistaken.”

So what now? Kaelus, his face weary, urged him on with his eyes.

“Well, you might call this bullshit if you hear it.”

“Saying that means there’s a high chance what you’re about to say is actually bullshit.”

“……Does he have any particular preferences or obsessions?”

Kaelus tilted his head. That wasn’t exactly bullshit.

“I’m worried about those Denos bastards. What if they snatch him before the vessel artifact is complete? I won’t feel reassured unless I lure him first …….”

This time, Kaelus nodded.

“That’s bullshit.”

“…So, do you know anything?”

After a moment’s thought, Kaelus muttered.

“Faces…”

“Faces?”

“……He seems to like them.”

He faltered mid-sentence, but it was too late to back down. As expected, Tortan, his face beaming, stroked his stomach with satisfied expression.

A warm, affectionate gaze, filled with trust, turned toward Kaelus’s face.

“Then there’s nothing to worry about!”

“……”

Kaelus worried about the future of the empire.