CHAPTER 25
“So, when are you going to tell me who you really are?”
Asterios met the violet eyes that pierced straight through him and took a breath.
How much had she figured out?
“What do you mean, Your Highness?”
He concealed his heart as he replied—not to deceive her, but to gauge just how much she already knew.
Only then could he choose the right moment to tell her the truth.
I know it’s cowardly, but… I don’t want you to hate me anymore.
It was a selfish, cunning desire.
He knew she despised him.
And that it was because of his past mistakes.
That’s why he wanted to revive her sisters, to earn her forgiveness.
That’s why he and Nox had waited through countless ages, why she had been reborn as Roziana.
I want you to forgive me.
He wanted to tell Erika the truth.
That was the only redemption he sought.
He didn’t dare to hope for her love again. Even if she never loved him again…
“…”
He silently looked into her gemlike violet eyes.
“Before you grew up, I distinctly heard you say you were going to live as the younger brother of the previous Grand Duke.”
“Yes, I did say that.”
“It sounded like… you weren’t originally that person, but decided to become him.”
“…Did it?”
“And then you said you’d explain things in detail later.”
“…”
“If you’re not saying anything now, I assume you have your reasons. But I get the feeling you’re not planning to keep hiding things from me forever. So I’m willing to trust you and wait.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Because I appreciate what you’ve done for me. But I won’t wait forever. You’d better reveal your identity before it’s too late.”
In that moment, her eyes seemed more witchlike than ever.
“If you want to keep seeing me, that is.”
Roziana smiled so stunningly it could steal one’s breath away.
But it was a beauty so overwhelming, it sent a chill down the spine of anyone who beheld it.
Step, step.
A short while later, Roziana and Asterios were walking through the indoor garden.
The refreshing scent of the forest, chirping birds, and a soft breeze blowing from somewhere…
As they strolled through the lush green path, Roziana finally felt a sense of peace.
Her earlier killing intent toward Asterios had completely vanished by the time they entered the garden.
They were just reaching the entrance when Roziana slowed her pace.
“Huh? Izeph?”
To her surprise, Izeph was waiting ahead with Mikhail.
As soon as he saw Roziana, Izeph dropped to one knee.
Ah! He must be about to tell me he’s going back now that his job is done.
Izeph had originally stayed to help stabilize her out-of-control divine power.
But now that Roziana had fully regained her strength and even harmonized both her divine and dragon powers, she no longer needed him.
So maybe he was saying his goodbye…
…But I wanted to protect him longer because he’s mine.
If he returned to the Holy Kingdom now, he might be in danger. They could already be hunting for him after he disappeared claiming to visit his hometown. Roziana was considering whether to ask him to stay when—
Izeph suddenly offered her a single white lily.
“This flower is called Hazel, the Flower of Oaths.”
Its large white petals bloomed with noble elegance, and inside, a single pistil surrounded by five stamens formed a beautiful star shape. It had a sacred air to it.
“Hazel?”
“I needed it, and to my surprise, it happened to be growing here.”
You needed it?
Just as Roziana tilted her head in confusion, Izeph bent one knee before her again.
“Izeph?”
He took a formal posture of oath and held out the Hazel.
“Your Highness, you saved my life. If you’ll permit me, I wish to stay by your side and repay that grace.”
“Huh?”
Roziana blinked in surprise.
“I, Izeph Kiel Cherubim, hereby swear to honor and protect Her Highness Roziana Dreat, Princess of Dreat, as my lifelong benefactor…”
Before she knew it, she had accepted the white flower. Izeph continued his vow:
“…In the sacred name of the gods.”
With that, the vow was complete.
Asterios, standing nearby, watched the scene with a frosty gaze.
Priests were servants of the gods. Those like paladins or clerics did not easily swear loyalty to people. For Izeph to make such an oath—it meant he had staked his life and future on it.
There’s no way the High Priest of the Temple wouldn’t know the weight of this.
Could he be… serious?
Asterios’s sharp eyes narrowed on Izeph.
It was possible Izeph saw this as a repayment for saving his life. But even so, there was no need for a full-blown oath.
Now, with both the words and a ceremonial item—the Hazel—the vow had the full effect of a formal ceremony.
A priest with quite the cunning.
And from Asterios’s perspective, this wasn’t a bad situation at all.
Though Dreat had many spies planted in the enemy nation Graham, all of them had been loyal to Asterios from the start. It was nearly impossible for a true Graham citizen to pledge loyalty.
Yet here was Izeph, doing just that—swearing fealty to Roziana of his own accord.
He should have been pleased.
And yet, instead of joy, a fierce, burning feeling surged in him.
If Izeph had been even slightly slower in making this oath, Asterios would’ve already kicked him out of the Grand Duke’s house. He had deemed him a man who had served his purpose.
I can’t believe I thought that man was just a rabbit.
Didn’t he once call Edwin a fox-faced man?
Asterios looked at Izeph—whom he himself had brought into the fold—and at Roziana, who was now smiling at him with the Hazel in hand.
No. Izeph is the fox.
A fox wearing the skin of a rabbit.
A few days later.
A grand banquet was held in the Imperial Palace—to celebrate the return of the princess.
“Thanks to the efforts of the young marquis and Duke Tenebres, our dear princess has returned safely. As Emperor of Dreat, I offer you my deepest thanks and praise!”
Emperor Leodian joyfully declared the start of the feast.
“Especially to Duke Tenebres, who made outstanding contributions in locating Princess Roziana, I shall bestow a special reward.”
He would be entrusted with a rare royal treasure and a personal mission from the emperor himself.
They celebrated for days after Roziana’s return.
Those who had last seen her as an infant were shocked to see her fully grown, yet there was no denying her identity—Roziana was unmistakably a child of Dreat.
Her golden hair and violet eyes were a perfect blend of Emperor Leodian and Empress Ariana.
And yet, she carried herself with even greater grace, beauty, and an aura of untouchable majesty.
Wearing a green dress that complemented her golden hair and violet eyes, Roziana looked every inch the most precious lady of the empire.
“The imperial bloodline is truly amazing!”
“Indeed. To grow so fast and so beautifully!”
“Just laying eyes on her nearly stopped my breath. Once she comes of age, how many suitors will come for her hand?”
Everyone praised her in unison.
“It’s because her soul was held within the dragon’s power,” the elders said in celebration.
“Exactly. Even the two princes have grown stronger in the process. This is Dreat’s blessing and joy!”
The two older brothers had both awakened powers during their efforts to find her. Especially the second prince, William, who had finally awakened his dragon abilities and successfully summoned his divine beast.
“I was worried I’d be the only one to grow up and start calling you ‘big sister,’ but you both caught up!”
“Rozie! I’m so happy you’re back. We searched so desperately for you.”
“Rozie, Rozie! My summoned beast is a leopard! If you want, I’ll—”
“You’ll what? William, go train more before saying that.”
“Brother! Must you always embarrass me in front of Rozie?”
Roziana giggled as her two older brothers bickered, both now taller than her.
Her eldest brother, Alex, had come of age already, and William was close behind.
The dragon’s power didn’t just grow their bodies—it granted wisdom and experience far beyond their actual years.
Though she had been away from the palace for only a few days, much had changed.
“To think the princess can now wield divine power freely! Remarkable!”
“Thank you for returning safely, Rozie.”
“You’ve both said that dozens of times already.”
Roziana introduced to Leodian and Ariana the people who had helped her at the Grand Duke’s house. With the emperor’s permission, Mari and Izeph were allowed to remain at her side.
But the peace and happiness of that perfect, splendid banquet—
Would soon come to a sudden end.
