Chapter 65
“Perfect. I came regarding Sir Antonio’s matter anyway.”
“However…”
Though Carl had effectively ordered the door to be opened, the guard appeared troubled. Perhaps understandably so. Officially, Carl was on poor terms with both the Crown Prince and Antonio.
“If you’re uncomfortable opening it, I’ll go in myself.”
Carl pushed past the guard and knocked on the door. The guard fidgeted helplessly beside him, but didn’t dare stop a prince’s actions.
“Brother, it’s Carl.”
“Come in.”
A welcoming permission came from inside. Carl didn’t hesitate to fling the door open and enter.
As reported, Antonio Carter was sitting on the sofa in the middle of the spacious office. Hendrick sat like a painting in the seat of honor facing the door, watching Carl.
It was exactly as expected. The only thing Carl hadn’t anticipated was the red-haired woman sitting beside Antonio Carter.
For a brief moment, as their eyes met, Revenant elegantly smiled and tilted her head. There was nothing pleasant about her composed expression. Carl controlled his face, which threatened to frown.
“I came to check after hearing Brita’s nest was attacked, but for someone whose dragon—more precious than life itself—was attacked, you seem quite relaxed sitting here.”
Without waiting for the Crown Prince’s permission, Carl dropped heavily onto the sofa opposite Antonio Carter. Antonio’s shoulders tensed at Carl’s sudden, barbed words.
“He came first to request an empty nesting ground near the palace. As you said, Brita’s attacked nest has completely collapsed.”
The Crown Prince explained on behalf of Antonio, who was nothing but a criminal in Carl’s presence. Carl made an insincere sound of “Oh, is that so?”
“Is Brita alright? No injuries?”
“She was injured in the initial attack, but the wounds aren’t deep and should heal soon.”
“That’s fortunate at least.”
“Your Highness, now that His Grace has arrived, may we take our leave?”
Revenant beside Antonio smiled and made to withdraw.
“Though you don’t share your husband’s crimes, you share in matters like this? I didn’t expect to find you here.”
“The attack on Brita’s nest isn’t anyone’s fault. Isn’t this matter different from that one?”
Carl twisted his lips sardonically at Revenant’s smooth response.
“I suppose so. But why try to leave as soon as I arrive? It makes me feel like an unwelcome guest.”
“We had just finished discussing everything with His Highness. We received permission to use the empty nesting ground until we find another nest…”
“What exactly happened?”
Carl, who had barged into the Crown Prince’s office, addressed Antonio as if interrogating him. However, Hendrick showed no signs of displeasure and remained silent.
Antonio, cut off by Carl’s sharp voice, looked at the Crown Prince with pleading eyes.
However, Hendrick had no intention of taking sides. Officially at odds with Carl, Hendrick couldn’t take his side and simply sat with his arms crossed, wearing an inscrutable expression.
“Why are you so curious about the details, Your Grace, master of the noble Idelin?”
Revenant, realizing Hendrick would offer no help, asked on behalf of her husband.
“I heard a black dragon attacked, so I want to know when, how, and why it attacked Brita’s nest, and if this is true, where exactly this black dragon came from.”
At Carl’s ice-cold voice, Revenant’s eyes widened.
“Tell me everything you know, in as much detail as possible.”
“Actually, I don’t know much about this black dragon, having only heard of it. When Brita’s nest was attacked, my husband, being her master, couldn’t properly see due to his punishment restricting contact with dragons.”
“Then how did you know it was a black dragon that attacked?”
“Well, after the incident, my husband saw through Brita’s memories—a terrifying black dragon with gleaming, pitch-black scales.”
Revenant spoke, then covered her mouth with an “Oh!”
“I know the restriction on dragon contact hasn’t ended yet… but given the circumstances, couldn’t you overlook this?”
Somehow Revenant had taken over speaking on Antonio’s behalf, as if she were the dragon’s master. It was becoming difficult to tell who the actual Dragon Knight was. Carl inwardly sneered.
“Why do you think the black dragon attacked Brita’s nest, Sir Antonio?”
“Actually, at a recent tea party I hosted for Your Grace’s fiancée, I mentioned the black dragon. Perhaps it became angry that I revealed its existence, when it should have remained hidden?”
Carl had deliberately addressed Antonio, but Revenant naturally intercepted the answer. Carl narrowed his eyes at her, who kept stepping in for her husband while keeping him as a figurehead.
“Are you saying the black dragon was listening to the conversation at that small gathering?”
“It’s possible, isn’t it? The black dragon is Pegadrasil’s successor—who can gauge the extent of its abilities?”
Hendrick, who had been watching the exchange between Carl and Revenant with his arms crossed like a spectator, gazed at them both with an enigmatic expression.
The sudden appearance of a black dragon seemed strange to Hendrick as well. But Carl was even more zealous in trying to draw some kind of desired answer from Revenant.
Does he suspect something?
Hendrick observed the situation thoughtfully. Carl let out a derisive laugh.
“Even Idelin, Yggdrasil’s successor, doesn’t have such abilities. Moreover, I can’t understand where this claim about the black dragon being Pegadrasil’s successor comes from. If that were true, it would pose an enormous threat to the Empire, which was founded through the Dragon War.”
“Of course…”
Just as Revenant smiled as if she had been waiting for this response—
“Therefore, if this claim has no basis,” Carl cut off Revenant’s words. While Carl had shown clear displeasure since entering Hendrick’s office, his expression and tone as he glared at Revenant now carried an unmistakably severe air.
“You’ll have to pay dearly for running your mouth so recklessly without properly verifying the facts.”
Carl continued. Revenant fell silent, momentarily overwhelmed by the atmosphere that bordered on killing intent.
A suffocating silence fell over Hendrick’s office as Revenant, who had been countering Carl with a gentle smile on behalf of Antonio, closed her mouth.
“…I must agree with Carl to some extent.”
Hendrick, who had maintained silence throughout, broke the stillness as he lightly scratched his forehead.
“Unlike Yggdrasil, who had been protecting the world long before the Empire existed, Pegadrasil was a very young dragon who suddenly awakened. There’s no record anywhere of Pegadrasil leaving a successor. Moreover, Yggdrasil killed Pegadrasil to eliminate any future threat.”
Hendrick and Carl simultaneously looked at Revenant. Even Antonio, seated beside her, looked at her as if questioning. Revenant accepted their gazes silently, her face now a cold mask.
“Not all black dragons are Pegadrasil’s descendants, Mrs. Carter.”
“…Is that so?”
Revenant quickly collected herself and returned to her usual smiling face.
“I only heard it somewhere, so I’m not sure of the accuracy… But isn’t Your Grace’s silver dragon Yggdrasil’s successor?”
“Just as not all black dragons are Pegadrasil’s successors, not all silver dragons are Yggdrasil’s successors. To assume a black dragon must be Pegadrasil’s successor because Idelin is Yggdrasil’s is not only a leap in logic but also an insult to Idelin.”
While Idelin’s master Carl remained silent, Hendrick stepped in to point out Revenant’s rashness. Revenant fell silent, looking lost for words.
“Moreover, all dragons are managed by the Dragon Temple. They oversee everything related to their fate—from birth to the selection of their masters to death. The Temple has never revealed any information about black dragons. Frankly, this attack on Brita is beyond absurd.”
“The existence of the black dragon is absolutely certain.”
Revenant’s expression changed as she declared firmly.
“It’s hiding much closer than we can imagine, holding its breath.”
Her elegant noblewoman’s facade vanished completely, and for a brief moment, her true face was revealed—as fierce as a wild beast. Carl was certain this was the true face of the dragon hunter Revenant.
