Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Before his two subordinates could get too full of themselves, Dylan made a sharp “tch” sound to put them in their place.
Mitzu and Hael clamped their mouths shut at his chilling aura, but their eyes were still laughing. The fact that Dylan hadn’t kicked them outright was already a miracle. In any case, their superior seemed to be in a very good mood.
“So, why were you acting like a mutt wagging its tail around Erina? I nearly puked, for real!”
“For real!”
“You still look like you want to puke. Want me to help you throw up, big time?”
Dylan didn’t rise to the two dragons’ provocation. Which meant it was time for them to back off.
The two tactfully retreated, wiping the playful grins off their faces and returning to neutral expressions. A subtle pressure unique to full-grown dragons began to fill the air.
Dylan too erased his light-hearted look and continued speaking seriously.
“Erina’s going to the princess’s palace tomorrow. With the way she’s calling people over like this… it doesn’t seem like the princess is that sick.”
“Huh? But why call a human woman, of all people?”
“No idea. I’d like to find out, but unfortunately, I tore into the emperor today.”
Dylan shrugged and turned to Hael.
“This time, you go.”
“…??”
Hael widened her eyes and pointed to herself. Dylan kindly confirmed,
“Yes, you.”
A flustered look appeared on Hael’s face. She wanted to say, ‘This kind of crap is Mitzu’ specialty! Why the hell are you dumping this bulls**** on me?’ But instead, she just sparked a few more volts in the air—four to be exact.
“Well, your face is the least recognized. Just stand quietly next to her and come back. Simple, right?”
“Oh! That’s true. I saw the emperor with you today, and during the last banquet, Hael came later, so the palace folks probably don’t know her well. Wow, Lord Dylan, you’re so smart!”
Mitzu clapped one fist into his palm with a thump.
Hael, hearing Mitzu’ explanation, finally retracted two of her sparks. Still, she clearly had no interest in going to the princess’s palace, and it showed.
But if Dylan actually cared about his subordinates’ opinions, he wouldn’t be Dylan. That would be some monster wearing Dylan’s skin.
He ignored Hael’s complaints without a second thought.
“Go tell Erina you’re going with her tomorrow. Help her if there’s anything she needs.”
With a snap of his fingers, Dylan vanished, probably headed to his nest for half a day of luxurious rest.
“Lord Dylan must’ve eaten something bad. He’s fussing over a human woman like that?”
“Bull****! If anyone’s eaten something bad, it’s you, stuffing your d*** face every day, you freaking pig! Ugh, I don’t wanna go! This d*** top-down command crap. Pissing me off.”
Hael’s cherry-red lips exploded with curses. Mitzu twitched one eyebrow and flicked his ear, as if shaking off the vulgarity.
That kind of speech was low-class no matter how many times he heard it.
“Just don’t open your filthy mouth in front of the human woman. You’ll scare her into a coma.”
“Screw off! I’ll do what I want, so butt out. D*** it!!”
Still fuming, Hael stomped the ground hard enough to crack the marble beneath her feet like a spiderweb.
Mitzu clicked his tongue and muttered,
“Dumb brute with nothing but strength.”
***
The Next Day
Erina stepped out of the estate with the triplets, all dressed in matching outfits.
Hael accompanied her. She’d seen Mitzu and Dylan separately, but this was her first time going somewhere with Hael, so she was nervous.
Hael didn’t talk much and rarely showed any expression, so it was hard to approach her. Even in her usual casual clothes, she wasn’t approachable, let alone now—dressed to impress.
Hael, dressed in a black form-fitting gown, stood silently beside Erina. It was her attempt to show proper manners, but the dignified and elegant image she gave off was almost overwhelming, like a royal envoy from some faraway kingdom.
Even the kids, who usually only called Erina pretty, ended up complimenting Hael’s beauty.
Standing next to such a radiant figure made Erina feel self-conscious and awkward. She realized once again that dragon beauty was universal, irrespective of age or gender, and kept sneaking glances at Hael.
She looked like the stunning heroine from one of Luan’s romance novels brought to life.
“…?”
Hael, receiving Erina’s sparkly gaze, didn’t move, only looking at her as if to say, ‘Well? What are you waiting for?’
The restrictive clothing was uncomfortable, and she just wanted to get this over with so she could go lie down.
“Sh-Shall we go?”
Erina extended one arm like an escort, and Hael let out a quiet snort, curling one corner of her mouth.
That small smile made Erina’s heart race again, and she instinctively clutched her chest.
If I were a guy, I’d propose within ten minutes! What beauty!!
Whether Hael knew what she was thinking or not, she boarded the carriage with confident strides.
If she were alone, she could leap over rooftops and be there in five minutes. But with a human woman and mini reptiles in tow, she had to go their way.
Ugh, what a pain… Hael clicked her tongue inwardly.
The carriage to the princess’s palace was filled with the children’s singing. They’d picked up a new song while camping and had been singing it nonstop for two days in rounds.
Erina hummed along to the already-overplayed “La Cola Cha-Cha,” bobbing her head with the kids.
Hael, still not adjusted to the mood, thought that if she heard that wretched song two more times, she might flip the whole thing.
Just then, the carriage slowed and passed through large gates.
The kids stopped singing and rushed to the windows, eager to wave at the familiar palace.
“We’re here! It’s the princess’s house!”
“Lia, it’s not a house, it’s a palace.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“It’s not?”
Poi tilted his head, seemingly agreeing with Lia.
Resen looked at them like he didn’t know where to begin explaining. It had already been six months since they’d hatched, and he worried how they’d survive this world knowing so little.
Feeling like a concerned grandpa, Resen launched into a lecture.
“Listen carefully! A palace is where kings, princes, and princesses live. A house is where regular people or animals live!”
As he finished, Poi raised a hand. Resen gave him the floor.
“Then aren’t princes and princesses… people? Not animals?”
“What?! Of course, they’re people!!”
“Then… isn’t it still a house…?”
Poi’s droopy eyebrows said he didn’t get it.
Lia, of course, wasn’t listening at all and just yawned, bored.
Erina laughed again at the vastly different reactions of the triplets. Just listening to their banter made time fly.
Even after arriving at the princess’s palace, the four of them were still chatting away, quickly wearing down Hael’s patience.
Hael wanted to scream, ‘You little punks!! Get your a***es out already! I swear I’ll crush you all if you don’t!’
But she kept her mouth shut. The moment she let that slip, Dylan would surely trap her in her nest for 50 years.
Perhaps the reason they were so relaxed was because they didn’t know what the emperor and his cronies were up to in this palace.
If those little reptiles ever found out who was responsible for their parents’ deaths… could they still laugh like this?
Hael fought the overwhelming urge to spill everything, then flung the carriage door open.
