Chapter 3
If I said this out loud, I was sure to get an earful from Sheila. And sure enough, she looked serious as she objected.
“Your Highness, you were chosen by the Fairy King. How could you describe yourself as insignificant?”
Don’t forget that thirty-six people received that so-called “blessing” this generation alone, Sheila.
Surprisingly, even Fell reacted in a similar way. As if he couldn’t believe what he heard. Standing still, he muttered to himself.
“…Impossible.”
“What did you say?”
“Anyway, it’s just not possible.”
“Hold on, Fell.”
I stopped Fell as he tried to leave. How? I pushed the chair he had been sitting on.
“What are you doing…?”
“Better than touching you, right? I’m not done talking. Sit. You can decide after you’ve heard me out.”
“My opinion won’t change, though.”
“I know. I’m not trying to force you.”
I stopped Sheila, who looked like she was about to argue with Fell. I shook my head quietly, and she understood, falling silent. Seeing that, Fell returned to his seat—the chair I’d kicked earlier.
“…Go on.”
It was quite the rebellious tone for a mere attendant. But I didn’t bother pointing it out, because I knew the kindness behind Fell’s bluntness. Sheila often over-interpreted everything he said, but I couldn’t ignore the quiet care he showed.
‘He must’ve been changing the wet towel until I woke up.’
I remembered seeing Fell’s hand when I awoke from that long dream. His fingertips were wrinkled, like they had been in water for too long.
Why?
The answer came easily. Unlike the rest of my body, my face and hands had felt clean and fresh. Fell had been holding a damp towel in his other hand.
More than anything, we had spent years together in this secluded corner of the palace. Some things are impossible to hide. For Fell, perhaps this quiet kindness was his way of showing it.
That’s why I couldn’t give up.
When blood flows in the imperial family, it’s not just royalty who die. People like them—Fell and Sheila—wouldn’t even get a single line in the story.
“You might not believe this, but I had a dream.”
So this much should be fine… right? I think so. Probably.
“…Huh?”
“A dream?”
“Yeah. A very brutal one. But it felt like… it’s really going to happen.”
Both of their expressions grew confused. Unsure if I was joking or being serious.
“The imperial palace was trampled by a huge lizard.”
The protagonist of Return of the Emperor was a dragon. More accurately, a half-dragon. And even more precisely, the imperial family of the protagonist’s country was descended from dragon’s blood—just as the Creydon royal family is said to descend from the Fairy King.
“A lizard…?”
Sheila tilted her head. Her usual gentle face took on a strange expression. She clearly didn’t get it, so I had no choice but to add some flesh to the bare-bones story.
“Judging by the context, probably a dragon.”
“Are you suggesting the empire will fall?”
“…I’m not sure myself.”
She didn’t understand when I said “lizard,” but immediately guessed correctly when I said “dragon.” Though she pretended not to know, Sheila looked quite serious. I needed to drive the point home now.
“It didn’t feel like just a dream. I had it for the entire two weeks I was unconscious. That’s why I’m uneasy. But I can’t just leave the palace and abandon you two.”
“If this is so serious, shouldn’t you report it to His Majesty or someone else? Don’t you think so, Fell?”
Wait—if she turns to Fell now…!
“True.”
Fell glanced at me. But something was off.
‘That’s a look I’ve never seen before.’
Wearing a strange expression, Fell gave an answer neither of us expected.
“If Your Highness, a descendant of the great Fairy King, had such a dream for two weeks, then surely it means something.”
“…Huh?”
“Ten months until Your Highness comes of age, right? Then I should start packing now.”
You’re packing…? I haven’t even thought that far yet!
“As for reporting it upstairs, is it really necessary? The empire has the descendant of the great Fairy King and the Six Stars. I’m sure they’ll handle it.”
That sounded more like, “Even if we abandon them, who cares?”
“And if they don’t handle it… well…”
Sheila and I held our breath, watching Fell. But he didn’t finish the sentence. He just nodded slightly. Even I, who knew the future, couldn’t quite guess what was going through his mind.
‘What is he… really?’
For the first time in a long while, I found myself questioning Fell again.
* * *
Let’s rewind to the moment when Rebisia awoke from her two-week slumber.
“…Phil.”
“…”
“Siaphil.”
“…Ah. Yes, brother? Did you call me?”
Siaphil turned with a bright smile. The 18th prince, receiving his gaze, relaxed his frown and asked:
“Why were you so startled?”
“Huh? Was I?”
“Yeah, you flinched hard.”
“Hmm… I don’t know.”
As Siaphil tilted his head, the 18th prince clicked his tongue but still patted his head.
“You airhead.”
Siaphil smiled cutely as the prince ruffled his hair.
Siaphil Baer Creydon.
The youngest prince, beloved by all. The child of the current emperor, gifted with intelligence and talent. He had been granted the name “Creydon” at just thirteen years old, a year ago.
What made him so beloved was that, unlike other royals, he was warm and friendly to his nameless siblings. In the imperial family, there were unspoken factions between the “true Creydons” and everyone else—but Siaphil moved between both freely.
Being the cute and adored youngest had its advantages. At least for Siaphil.
‘This is annoying.’
Siaphil subtly frowned at the prince’s relentless affection. Normally he would endure it longer, but not now. Putting his beloved-little-brother mask back on, he grabbed the prince’s wrist. The hand stopped.
“But brother.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you feel something strange just now?”
“Strange? Like what?”
Siaphil recalled what he had just felt. The hair-raising sensation, followed by a chill crawling up his spine. How should he define it?
Discomfort? No… more like…
‘A shiver?’
Yes. He had shivered.
“Come on, it’s barely evening and you’re already dozing off? Kids these days.”
“…”
Siaphil smiled on the outside but thought:
‘Idiot.’
The 18th prince was notorious both inside and outside the palace as the worst kind of troublemaker. Good for nothing but crude jokes, breathing, eating, and pooping. A parasite of the royal family, as some called him.
‘He wouldn’t have sensed it.’
Only someone with similar sensitivity might have noticed that fleeting shiver. Siaphil sharpened his senses and rubbed his eyes. The perfect excuse to leave had been handed to him—he would use it.
“Yeah, I think I’m a little sleepy.”
“Then go to bed early. That’s how you grow up, like me.”
“Good night, brother.”
“My night’s just starting, kid. But that’s something you don’t need to know.”
As expected. Siaphil glanced at the giggling prince with pity and turned around.
“Oh, and tell the lovely Second Princess I said hello. She hates seeing my face.”
Tell her that, and that’ll be your last words. But Siaphil didn’t show it. He just answered:
“I will.”
With that, he swiftly left the prince’s quarters. But instead of returning to his own, he wandered the palace halls.
“I have to find out what that was.”
It was nearby. He had to be the first among his siblings to uncover it.
Siaphil’s eyes glowed bright blue.
* * *
That morning, I had to greet the doctor summoned to the palace.
“I told you, I’m fine.”
As he checked my pulse, I looked up at Sheila, who had brought him. But she was firm. Ignoring my protests, she told the doctor:
“She only woke up last night.”
“Hmm…”
The doctor checked my pulse several times, asking if I felt discomfort anywhere. Only after repeatedly saying I was fine did he release me.
“Huh… Astonishing.”
“Is Her Highness not fully recovered?”
“Quite the opposite. When I saw her before, there was no sign of improvement. But now she’s completely healed—it’s truly amazing.”
“Oh, my…”
Sheila sighed in relief beside me as I shrugged. I had said I was fine, but hearing it from the doctor seemed to finally convince her.
“This is truly remarkable. Unless you drank water from the Fairy Tree’s spring… or dragon’s blood, even… It’s a miracle.”
Next to the amazed doctor, Fell spoke:
“…It must be the Fairy King’s blessing on Her Highness.”
“Fell is right.”
As if something so grand could be bestowed upon me…
As I silently rolled down my sleeve, the doctor packed up and stood.
“In any case, I’m glad you’ve recovered.”
“You’re the one who gave up, saying there was no hope.”
“Oh, Fell!”
Fell slowly ran his gaze over me, then turned to the doctor. His usually dull golden eyes were, for once, sharp and clear.
