Chapter 29.
Useless Golden Roses
After the successful subjugation of the monsters, the knights who had participated were enjoying some much-needed rest. In the meantime, Duke Xenon, the Chancellor, quietly summoned William to his office.
“You called for me?”
Duke Xenon sat with a grim expression, holding a single letter.
“There’s a message from the garrison stationed in the northern region of Koun…”
At the mention of Koun, William immediately tensed. That area was the closest to Wind Canyon, the habitat of the Dark Dragon.
“There was a large-scale fire a few days ago. An entire village burned down. It seems like the work of the Dark Dragon.”
“But Your Grace, this isn’t the time of year for their activity. They shouldn’t become active for at least another three months.”
“That’s exactly what’s odd… but there’s a witness.”
“A witness?”
Looking down at the report, Duke Xenon continued.
“A young boy who’d been playing in the hills just outside the village survived by sheer luck. He described seeing a black body with shimmering scales, enormous wings, a long, serrated tail—and fire spewing from its mouth.”
William, who had risked his life fighting those creatures several times, couldn’t deny it. What the boy saw was undoubtedly a Dark Dragon.
“The damage aligns with that too. If it had been during their normal activity period, burning down just one village wouldn’t have been the end. This attack was clearly forced, as if the creature was in an abnormal state.”
“But why…?”
“We should report this to His Highness Mikrok, shouldn’t we?”
For a moment, William hesitated. Was the menace of the Dark Dragon more terrifying, or the consequences of interrupting the king’s honeymoon?
But the answer was obvious.
“I’ll report to His Highness Mikrok immediately.”
Though heavy-hearted, William’s feet moved quickly as he left the Chancellor’s office.
✦✦✦
Tense and worried, William went to Mikrok’s chambers but found neither the king nor the queen there.
Only the maids remained, tidying up the room.
“Where are Their Majesties?”
“We’re not sure. They left together looking quite happy, but they didn’t say where they were going.”
Seeing the maid blush even as she answered made it clear how affectionate Mikrok and Lea had looked.
William pitied himself for having to bring grim news while the king was in such a good mood.
As he looked around, unsure who to ask next, Millie came out from the opposite hallway, her arms full of the queen’s clothes and belongings.
“Sir William!”
Millie greeted him cheerfully.
“You’re just a little late. They went for a walk in the Rose Conservatory after finishing lunch.”
“So they finally came out of the bedroom.”
“Right? They didn’t leave for three whole days and nights, and finally emerged on the fourth day.”
When William met Millie’s smiling eyes, he felt oddly embarrassed. Talking about the king’s bedroom in broad daylight with Millie felt… improper.
“But… is something wrong? You look tense.”
“Where are you taking all that?”
“To the Queen’s Palace.”
Instead of replying, William naturally extended his arms to take the luggage from her and began walking ahead.
As they walked to the Queen’s Palace, William glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then whispered quietly to Millie.
“I can’t be sure yet, but we may have to head out on another expedition soon.”
“What?”
So soon after returning? Millie was shocked at the intensity of a Pritan knight’s workload.
“Will His Highness Mikrok be going too?”
“Probably.”
“And what about you, Sir William?”
“If His Highness goes, of course I go.”
The answer was expected, but Millie still sighed. Once they reached the queen’s bedroom, William handed the bags back.
“Don’t tell anyone about this yet.”
“Of course.”
Millie answered confidently. But as William turned to go, he looked back and added sternly.
“Don’t even tell Ralph.”
“Huh? Why are you suddenly bringing up Sir Ralph?”
Millie replied incredulously and marched into the bedroom.
“Millie! At least answer me!!!”
William’s frustrated voice echoed in vain.
✦✦✦
Unlike Mik, who seemed eager to stay in the bedroom, I desperately wanted to get outside. The Pritan winds were still biting, but I needed fresh air.
Mik pouted that he wasn’t the only one suffering, but in the end, he couldn’t refuse my suggestion to take a walk in the conservatory.
He clearly intended to show how reluctant he was, hugging me from behind as we took slow, toddler-like steps through the glasshouse.
Even amidst all the colorful and rare roses, his gaze never left my head, ears, and nape nestled in his arms.
“Mik, this orange rose was newly developed through hybridization. Isn’t it pretty?”
“It is.”
When I gave him a sideways glance at his half-hearted answer, he looked away.
Fortunately, right beside us bloomed a stunning golden rose. Even Mik, indifferent as he was to flowers, would find this one fascinating, right?
“There are only three of these golden roses in the entire northern continent. The petals look like they’ve been dusted with gold. Isn’t it magical?”
“Yeah… magical.”
Trying to sound a bit more engaged, he added a little effort to his response.
I had to turn away to hide my smile and gently stroked the soft golden petals.
“This golden rose reminds me of Robi. His eyes are a deep honey color.”
“What??”
At Robi’s name, Mik’s drowsy expression instantly shattered. He glared at me stroking the flower as if that, too, offended him.
“What’s the point of making something like this? Completely useless and not even edible.”
The proud golden rose crumpled under Mik’s rough grip. He plucked the bloom and threw it to the ground, then crushed it beneath his heel.
It all happened so fast.
“Mik!! That was incredibly rare!! Why did you—?!”
“Enough. Next time, I’ll ask them to make purple roses instead.”
I turned back, dumbfounded, only to see him sneaking glances at me. Then, noticing my frown, he pressed a kiss to the corner of my eye.
“Don’t frown. You’ll get wrinkles.”
Just like ironing out a crease, he ran his tongue softly over the corner of my eye. Startled, I smacked his arm, still clearly upset.
Despite the slap, he kept grinning as if nothing pleased him more. Feeling I couldn’t just let him get away with it, I warned him sternly.
“Robi is coming to the castle in a few days. If you keep picking on him in front of me, I won’t let it slide.”
“Fine.”
Mik mumbled, then muttered under his breath,
“So… it’s okay if I pick on him when you’re not looking?”
“Mik!!”
“Why is that guy even coming here? Isn’t it cold for him?”
“I don’t really know. He just sent a letter saying he’d visit. But he’s my friend, so you should welcome him. Okay?”
I coaxed him, stroking his arm. Reluctantly, he nodded.
Then, as if a thought had struck him, he opened his mouth to speak… and closed it again. He pulled me tighter into his embrace.
Sensing something odd, I turned and asked,
“What is it? Do you have something to say?”
“Well… you seem to care a lot about appearances when it comes to men…”
“…I guess so.”
“That brat looks okay, I’ll give him that. Though he’s no match for me.”
“Pfft! What are you saying?”
I laughed, already guessing what he was trying to get at.
“You two grew up together, right? Surely there was a moment when you had a crush on him?”
Mik, annoyed by his own question, was already scowling.
I turned and pulled his shoulders toward me. As he leaned closer, I pressed my fingers to his furrowed brow.
“Don’t frown. You’ll get wrinkles.”
I parroted his earlier words, and he deepened the crease out of defiance. I couldn’t help but giggle.
“We met when we were nine. I was secretly learning swordsmanship from Sir Pallet, and Robi came too, pressured by his father, Count Stone.”
Mik listened intently, intrigued by this unfamiliar piece of my past.
“Robi hated sword training. He was scrawny, covered in freckles, and cried whenever the master swung a sword. I felt like I had to take care of him.”
“Hmph. I already don’t like him.”
Laughing, I interlocked my fingers with his as we strolled through the garden.
“After half a year, he caught up to me. The first time I lost a sparring match to him, I was so frustrated I couldn’t sleep. That’s when we really started competing. For over ten years, we were like siblings, like best friends.”
“You may trust him, but I don’t trust his feelings.”
“Oh come on!”
I was exasperated by Mik’s suspicious lens on our friendship.
“We’ve fought over a single potato, smashed our heads together, cried with snot and tears during diving contests… We’ve seen each other at our absolute worst. There was no room for romantic feelings.”
Mik pouted, visibly displeased.
“I bet you were adorable back then too. Just thinking he saw what I didn’t makes me mad.”
“But you’ve seen something Robi hasn’t.”
As he kept sulking, I whispered mischievously. He raised an eyebrow curiously, and I leaned in to whisper in his ear.
“You’re the only one who’s seen me in the bedroom.”
“Gasp!”
Mik froze and turned to me. His eyes burned with sudden intensity.
“He’ll never get the chance. I should’ve gouged his eyes out—”
“Shhh.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and silenced him with a kiss. I nibbled gently on his lower lip, teasing, brushing my lips against his nose, then his mouth again.
Eventually, Mik’s arms wrapped tightly around my waist. Apparently feeling mocked, he growled,
“You’re enjoying this too much. I’m going to punish you properly—so be ready.”
“Ahem!”
We thought we were alone in the conservatory, but a sudden cough startled us both.
We turned toward the sound—and there stood William, wearing a terribly awkward expression.
Startled, I quickly pulled away and hid behind Mik. Mik, meanwhile, glared at William furiously.
“What?”
“Apologies for interrupting, but… there’s an urgent report that can’t wait.”
Sensing from William’s expression that something serious had happened, I gave Mik a push.
With clenched teeth and the look of a man ready to murder someone, Mik replied,
“To the office. If this isn’t important, you’re dead.”
As I watched Mik and William stride away, a creeping sense of dread rose in me.
I hoped it wasn’t anything serious…
As if trying to smother my unease with fragrance, I began gathering roses into a basket—until it was full.
