RODH Chapter 6

6.

Srrng—

Is there a sound more terrifying than a sword sliding out of its sheath?

At that moment, my strength drained away, and I ended up dropping onto my rear.

Peter, ever the quickest to pick up on the situation, spoke up.

“Your Highness, it seems Lord Ruben was quite startled.”

Seor’s cold gaze bore into me, as if he could burn a hole right through my skull.

I couldn’t help but wish he’d just turn around and disappear, taking the trash standing in front of me along with him.

But it seemed my wishes didn’t hold much sway with the heavens.

Lucian, who had dropped down to one knee to match my height, extended his hand toward me. He was unfazed, despite Seor’s blade hanging ominously behind him.

Did he think swords were useless against dragon scales or something?

I had to admit, I envied that level of confidence—just that one thing, nothing more.

“With such a faint heart, do you really think you’re fit to be the Crown Princess?”

“…I’m calling off the engagement.”

“What?”

“I said, I’m calling off the engagement.”

The mention of a breakup left Lucian momentarily stunned. Slowly, his expression relaxed, and then he burst into laughter.

I could feel a terrifying energy radiating from behind, but Lucian continued to laugh, utterly unperturbed.

After a good while, with tears nearly welling up in his eyes from laughing, Lucian finally calmed down and asked.

“You can say that with your fiancé right behind you? Why do you suddenly want to end the engagement?”

I took this opportunity to make it abundantly clear to everyone that I didn’t belong in the imperial family.

But Seor’s cold command fell upon us like an icy blade.

“That’s enough. This is a matter between Ian and me, so I would appreciate it if the Crown Prince refrained from intruding further.”

“Oh?”

Lucian looked genuinely curious about why I wanted to end the engagement.

He reached down and helped me up from my awkward position, but before I could steady myself, Seor grabbed my wrist, pulling me to his side.

I’d heard about the strength of Alpha blood, but having my body yanked around like a possession was more than a little irritating. The pull was so forceful that my wrist throbbed, making me wince. Noticing this, Lucian remarked,

“You shouldn’t handle your fiancé so roughly.”

“Lucian del Venom.”

“Yes?”

“Must I break the dragon’s wings once more to curb that arrogance of yours?”

Lucian’s easygoing expression hardened in an instant.

I wasn’t sure what bad blood lay between the two of them, but I wanted nothing more than to slip away from this hostile scene.

Go ahead and bicker and fight without me, you bastards.

As I was slowly inching away, the terrace door creaked open. A servant, alarmed by the tense atmosphere, cautiously spoke.

“His Majesty is requesting your presence, both of you.”

* * *

Dragged along with Seor, I was led to the place where the dragon clan’s king awaited.

Honestly, I’d accomplished what I came for and just wanted to head home, but Seor blocked my path.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going home.”

At the mention of going home, Seor’s expression changed in a strange way.

“I heard from Peter that you have some illness of the heart.”

Peter is way too loose-lipped for someone who doesn’t look it.

I quickly attempted to explain.

“Well, that’s just…”

But Seor cut me off with a look that brooked no further excuses.

“If you want to avoid inconveniencing me, it would be wise to come along now.”

And so, I was forced to sit through an unbearably stiff conversation.

The dragon king, however, was of a hearty disposition and welcomed me warmly, even though I was just the Crown Prince’s fiancé.

That was nice, I suppose… but it was getting colder by the minute. Would it be so bad if I left?

Dragons must not be as sensitive to the cold, as the king’s quarters were barely heated.

With the chill of early spring creeping through the air, I hugged myself tightly, rubbing one arm to stave off the cold.

I should have just given Bain the Dragon’s Tear. I was already regretting handing over my outer jacket too.

Lucian shrugged off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.

“You looked cold.”

Maybe he wasn’t such a terrible person after all. What did they call this… a nice-bad guy?

Still, thanking the man who had burned me alive in a past life was more than I could stomach.

Just then, the coat was snatched away in an instant.

The culprit was Seor.

“So quick to accept a coat from some random Alpha, aren’t we?”

Oh, come on.

Then give me *your* coat.

“Lucian isn’t just any random Alpha.”

“What?”

“At a celebration reinforcing the bonds between the Empire and the Dragon Clan, how could he be considered a mere outsider?”

“……”

The dragon king clapped his hands together.

Showing his approval of my words, he gently chastised Lucian.

“Lucian, that was inappropriate. Tending to one’s fiancé is a duty meant for their partner.”

“I will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”

Despite his reply, Lucian cast a small, amused smile in my direction.

I forced a smile back.

And immediately felt a pinch on my thigh.

It was Seor again.

I leaned closer to him and whispered, “Why did you pinch me?”

“And why did you smile at him?”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t play ignorant. If you intend to claim that everything on the terrace and everything that’s happened tonight is mere coincidence, you may as well abandon that idea now.”

His chilling warning made me want to bolt from the room immediately, but I clenched my fists and held my ground.

Beheading, burning… Had I truly committed that many sins in my past lives to deserve all this?

The sense of injustice bubbled up again, and I found myself fantasizing about smacking each of these Alpha bastards across the head with a spoon—Seor, Peter, Lucian. I wanted to leave spoon-shaped dents on all their foreheads.

The thought was oddly satisfying.

Returning to reality, I caught the dragon king glancing between Peter and Seor as he spoke.

“I am relieved to hear that Countess Layard is recovering well. I have prepared a gift for her, so please ensure it reaches her safely.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

“It’s getting late, so I won’t keep you any longer. I appreciate your company with this old man.”

Finally, home at last!

I tried not to show my relief too openly, rising slowly from my seat, just as the others did.

Seor, with his usual diplomatic grace, responded to the king as if he’d been buttering up dignitaries his whole life.

“It’s a great honor that Your Majesty personally showed concern for Countess Layard. I’m certain Grand Duke Kirias of the north will also be pleased.”

“Ahem, it’s not just for political reasons. I owe much to Grand Duke Kirias.”

“I understand.”

Yet, despite his polite tone, Seor’s vigilance toward the Dragon Clan was unwavering.

Now that I thought about it, I’d once overheard at a party that the king’s sister nearly died in the north, only to be saved by Grand Duke Kirias. It made sense that the king would keep an eye on Countess Layard, as she was the Grand Duke’s only family.

Suddenly, I felt a pang of longing for my own family.

* * *

“Ian Pearl Ruben.”

Seor called me, stopping me just as I was about to step into the carriage.

Oh, come on! I was *this close* to escaping.

“Why are you calling me?”

“Can’t I call you? I am the Crown Prince of the Empire.”

Yes, yes, call me all you want.

“Feel free to call me a hundred or a thousand times, Your Highness. I’m simply asking because it seemed you didn’t actually have anything to say.”

“Not a trace of respect, as always.”

Did he just stop me to mock me?

I almost laughed out of sheer frustration.

He wouldn’t even let me mention ending the engagement, yet here he was acting… like this.

“Which is why I have no choice but to look after you.”

“What?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I don’t ‘want’ you to look after me.”

“You’re still…”

“Still what?”

“Still… too young.”

“Tomorrow is my coming-of-age ceremony. Did you forget?”

Seor frowned.

He was acting strangely today. Earlier, he’d been furious, and now he was trying to hold me up with nonsense.

“I have to leave now to prepare for the ceremony, young master,” Bain intervened at the perfect time.

“Then, I’ll be on my way,” I said, nodding.

“Wait!”

“Oh, ‘what now,’ Your Highness?”

“I heard you obtained a treasure from the Dragon Clan.”

It seemed Peter had scurried off to tell him everything.

I shot Peter a glare, and he gave me a puzzled look.

Don’t give me that innocent face, you loose-lipped idiot.

I had no choice but to admit to Seor that I’d obtained the Dragon’s Tear. At this rate, everyone in town would know soon enough.

“And what exactly do you intend to do with the Dragon’s Tear?”

“Everyone knows I’m obsessed with jewels. I figured I’d use the chance to add the famed Dragon’s Tear to my collection.”

Though the Dragon’s Tear was known for its effects, it didn’t look especially impressive—just a bit sparkly, at most.

Seor narrowed his eyes, clearly not convinced.

“Let’s assume your story is true. How exactly did you acquire it? With your stamina, there’s no way you managed on your own. Did that rogue Lucian help you?”

Did Peter spill that too?

I shot him another glare.

Peter looked genuinely confused, as if he hadn’t said a word.

“Yes, the Crown Prince helped me—”

“Stay here. Don’t even think of leaving.”

“What?”

“If you leave, you’ll find out just how short my patience is.”

“…….”

So I stood there, begrudgingly waiting in front of Peter, as Seor had ordered.

After a while, Seor returned, looking smug.

Trailing behind him was a servant struggling to pull a large cart piled high with Dragon’s Tears.

“What… what is all that?”

Seor pounded his chest as if he’d done something truly noble.

“These are top-quality Dragon’s Tears. They’re far superior to whatever scraps that rogue Lucian handed to you.”