IBRIP l CH 101

Chapter 101 

“…Are you crying or not?”

I pointed out that even though she looked like she was about to cry, her eyes were completely dry. At my words, Loti trembled her lips and replied,

“Loti doesn’t cry because she’s not worried about you, miss. Loti knows who you really are.”

“Then can you stop frowning? You look pretty ugly right now.”

Loti pouted while looking down at me.

“Why can’t I ever do anything to help?”

Her eyes started to well up.

“If you were a young master instead of a lady, I’d at least give you a kiss on the cheek to cheer you up…”

That’s really not necessary, thanks.

“You have your own role to play.”

I waved my hand and sighed.

“…Then how about going to study for a bit? It’d be nice if you could at least reply to letters in my place.”

“Rena, you have to come with me! You can’t even wait a moment!”

I laughed out loud while watching Loti run away in a hurry. But my smile faded quickly when I felt a cold gaze.

Winter was sitting on the bed, half of his face hidden in shadow, looking colder than ever.

He spoke in his usual bored tone.

“The aftereffect of suddenly using magic without practice. It’s like someone who never exercises suddenly moving too much and getting sore. You used a lot of magic without even a spell and didn’t die, which means you have amazing talent.”

The sun was slowly rising. In the soft morning light, Winter’s clear blue eyes were fixed only on me.

“Do you remember the magic I was under in Rohia’s underground?”

I nodded quietly. It was a spell that amplified desires—troublesome, since it didn’t just amplify one, but several at once. Winter had once said that kind of magic made life more interesting.

“My greatest desire seems to be making sure you don’t get hurt. When you suddenly coughed up blood earlier, I was completely ready to destroy Oscar Tradi’s mind without hesitation. The old me wouldn’t have done that.”

It meant protecting me had become his top priority. Because of the magic, that desire was pushed to an extreme.

I swallowed hard without saying anything.

Winter’s eyes flashed with a bitter smile.

“It’s been a long time since I felt that kind of urgency. You were asleep for three hours, and I had to hold myself back the whole time. It was intense. I even thought I deserved some kind of reward.”

I had no excuse for what happened. Looking down, I muttered,

“I really wanted to save Oscar.”

Winter’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“I’ll be more careful next time.”

He was still smiling gently with his eyes and mouth, but a chill ran down my spine.

Winter was very, very angry.

“Um, Duke? Well, besides using a sword, should I also start learning magic? Since you won’t break the spell on yourself, maybe I should learn to do it for you… haha…”

I awkwardly shrugged, trying to lighten the mood.

Winter’s smile only deepened.

…It didn’t seem like he felt any better.

[Hey, fellow dragon, and master! You two are completely misunderstanding something!]

At that moment, Raglia suddenly interrupted, sparkling with light.

[Hahaha! Fellow dragon, you must not know well since you’re alone! Let me tell you about us!]

Winter looked at Raglia, who was proudly shouting.

I was extremely grateful for the unexpected interruption.

“Raglia, can you explain what you mean in more detail?”

[Dragons always get what they want! That’s our reason for living! Who cares about some weak spell? Our desires are like fire, and that spell only fanned the flames! Once it starts burning, nothing can stop it! Especially our fire—it can’t be stopped!]

Raglia shook so much that my wrist moved with it.

[What you’re feeling, fellow dragon, is all your own emotion! The magic just brought it out. Our desires were already huge and burning hot to begin with!]

“…So breaking the spell won’t change the Duke’s state?”

[Exactly! Removing the spell is like scooping a spoonful of sand from a beach! Useless!]

In short, Winter would keep prioritizing me.

He had become someone who couldn’t stand seeing me get hurt.

I let out a long sigh and rubbed my eyes.

Winter frowned as if thinking deeply, then slowly nodded.

“I suppose that’s true. Not that it changes anything.”

Raglia laughed like he found it all hilarious.

[From the way things are going, fellow dragon! And master! You must have turned back time!]

I didn’t know how to respond.

I had never explained our situation in detail to Raglia. I just wore him on my wrist, and he would help me as long as I gave him jewels, grumbling all the while.

He never asked why I was doing any of it.

“You noticed, but why didn’t you ask?”

Raglia clicked his tongue.

[I’m already dead! Whatever you or the fellow dragon do doesn’t concern me! I just want my regular payment of jewels!]

The jewel in the bracelet sparkled along with his laughter. Then he turned toward Winter and asked,

[Hey, fellow dragon! This isn’t our first time meeting, right?]

Winter smiled.

“Of course not. We used to be quite close. It’s a shame you don’t remember.”

[Hmph! No way! If I were still alive, you’d have been torn apart by my teeth! I hate silver-scaled dragons! They were always so stuck-up!]

“You’re right. You killed me many times.”

Winter agreed without hesitation. Raglia burst into another round of laughter.

[Hahaha! Serves you right! You’re not still holding a grudge, are you? I mean, I probably enjoyed killing you back then!]

“Of course not.”

Winter shook his head cheerfully. Raglia’s laughter got even louder.

[Then tell me, fellow dragon! Shall we finally get along this time?]

“What joy will you bring me?”

[I’ll teach and watch over this weak master of mine! I’ll even protect her in her dreams, especially when you can’t!]

Winter held out a hand.

“The price is jewels, right?”

[Obviously!]

“I don’t care. Let’s work well together, friend.”

Winter paused briefly, then added,

“But I have one condition.”

He lightly tapped Raglia, who twitched with excitement.

“You’re louder than any creature I’ve ever met. Lower your voice.”

[I knew it! I never get along with silver-scaled dragons!]

Raglia yelled in annoyance, then turned his jewel face toward me and sparkled brightly.

[Hey, master! If it weren’t for me, that fool Oscar’s mind would’ve shattered! You owe me big time!]

He seemed excited just thinking about it.

He even looked ready to hum a song but soon quieted down and stopped glowing.

Winter gently helped me lie back down.

“I’ll teach you magic.”

Then he added,

“Though you probably won’t need to use it.”

…It was a reassuring thing to hear—but at the same time, it made me nervous.

Of course, I was thankful he wanted to protect me. But I’d never been told something like that before. What if I ended up expecting too much?

A strange feeling rose in my chest.

I tried to put a name to that emotion, but nothing seemed quite right, so I gave up and slowly closed my eyes.

‘By the way, does this mean I really can’t become a Swordmaster?’

I hoped Winter only said that out of anger.

I decided I’d ask Sir Radd next time.

Until Loti barged in again, I allowed myself a very short break.