A Blend of Romance and Fantasy Chapter 23

Chapter 23

If you’re going to sneak in, at least have some manners.
Knock on the window or something. Otherwise, the engagement is off.

That had become my personal rule ever since Leonard Blake gained the ability to come and go from the princess’s palace as he pleased.

Fortunately, the threat must have worked.

Right now, Leonard was sitting on the window frame—quietly waiting.

“….”

Just moments ago, I had been thinking about his past.

By any standard, it was miserable.

And because of that—

I couldn’t help seeing him a little differently.

“…Come in.”

“Excuse me.”

He slipped inside.

Tonight, he looked different—dressed in a loose robe, as if he had been preparing for bed.

The brief flicker of sympathy I’d felt instantly vanished.

If anyone saw this, I’d be socially dead.

“Leonard, what is it? If it’s not urgent, we should talk tomorrow somewhere open—”

I turned—

And froze.

“…Ignis?”

Perched beside him was the red dragon.

No—Ignis.

I had already read most of Song of Sky, Fire, and Moon, so I knew.

A young red dragon.

Not fully grown.

Terrible personality.

Arrogant.

“I came because we need to talk about him,” Leonard said calmly. “Not something we can discuss in public.”

“…What kind of talk?”

“Do you have a familiar?”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Are you bragging because you have a dragon? I don’t even have divine power—what would I contract with?”

“Don’t be so prickly. Are you a rhombus?”

“…You really thought that was funny?”

“This guy’s humor is the worst,” Ignis muttered. “The real problem is that he thinks it’s funny.”

We both stared at Leonard.

He awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.

“…Anyway. I want you to form a summoner contract with Ignis.”

“…What?”

I blinked.

“Isn’t he already contracted to you?”

“We can transfer it. If both of you agree, it’s simple.”

“…Why would I?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Ignis puffed up. “He wants to leave a great dragon like me with his female for protection—”

My brain stopped working.

I grabbed Ignis and shook him violently.

“Stop saying it like that! There’s a word called ‘woman,’ you know?!”

“W-What did I say wrong?! I’m just saying you’re pathetic without a familiar—hey! Stop shaking me!”

“Ignis.”

In one smooth motion, Leonard snatched him away and clamped his mouth shut.

“Please be quiet. And that’s not the reason.”

“Mmmph! Mmph!!”

Ignis flailed.

Leonard’s expression stayed calm—

But the back of his neck was faintly red.

…He’s really bad at this.

Big, intimidating build—

But kind of cu—

Nope.

Absolutely not.

I mentally slapped myself.

Leonard cleared his throat.

“So. Will you accept him?”

I avoided his eyes.

“…If Ignis agrees, then I will.”

“He will. He’s been trying to escape me.”

“…What did you do to him?”

“That’s a secret.”

Ignis sulked in his grip, looking oddly pitiful.

“…Ignis. Do you want to contract with me?”

“…If you give me gold. And jewels. And a good bed.”

“…You’re kind of adorable.”

“Wait until you see his real form.”

“I’ll revise my opinion then.”

I crossed my arms.

“Fine. I’ll do it. But how? I don’t have magic.”

Leonard smiled faintly.

“Tear of Deligno is enough. Where is it?”

“Oh—right.”

I opened my drawer and took out the jewel box.

Inside—

The shimmering stone.

“You kept something that valuable like this? No protection spell?”

“My palace has multiple layers of barriers.”

I paused.

“…You being able to walk in is the real problem.”

He just shrugged.

I placed the Tear on the desk.

“Let’s begin.”

“No tricks.”

“This is your territory.”

“That doesn’t make me trust you.”

“What would?”

“Your face already looks suspicious.”

“If I looked like Cedric Myers, would that help?”

“…Don’t push it.”

He muttered a spell.

Golden script bloomed above the Tear—ancient, shifting—

Then translated:

[Leonard Blackwood Blake transfers his contract with Ignis to Charlotte Singcester. Do you accept?]

I hesitated—

Then nodded.

A small golden knife appeared.

“…What’s this?”

“Blood.”

“I hate pain.”

“…You’ll live.”

Grumbling, I pricked my finger.

A drop fell.

The text dissolved.

“…That’s it?”

“It’s a transfer. If you’re worried, we can do a blood oath.”

A blood oath.

Absolute.

Irrevocable.

“…You should’ve said that before finishing—”

“WOOHOO!!!”

Ignis exploded with joy.

“IT’S OVER!! I’M FREE!!”

He spun in circles, raising his tiny arms.

“I’m finally free from that awful Leonard! I’ll miss the bed, but goodbye, you—”

“…You must be horrible.”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

Leonard sighed.

Then—

Something changed.

Red light began pouring from Ignis’s body.

“…What is that?”

“AAAAAHHH!!”

BOOM—

A burst of crimson smoke filled the room.

I coughed—

Waited—

And when it cleared—

I froze.

The dragon was gone.

In his place—

A boy.

Around ten years old.

Bright red hair.

Golden reptilian eyes.

“…What?”

“…I didn’t expect this either.”

“Ignis?”

He stared blankly—

Then sprinted to the mirror.

His mouth opened—

Leonard instantly covered it.

“Mmmpf! Mmmph!!”

“I’ll take him with me for now.”

“O-Okay.”

A teleportation circle flared.

And just like that—

They vanished.

Silence.

I stood there, staring at the empty space.

“…What just happened?”