A Blend of Romance and Fantasy Chapter 25

Chapter 25

For a moment, silence settled over the reception room.

Both Aurora and I looked at Ignis with unmistakable sympathy.

“Y-you humans… what’s with that look?”

“So you knew all that and still made him work like a slave?”

I turned sharply, glaring at Leonard Blake.

He immediately raised his hands in defense.

“You haven’t seen his true form. If you had, you’d understand why his magic needs restraint. A fully grown dragon is—”

He stopped mid-sentence.

“….”

Leonard’s expression tightened. He pressed his fingers against his temples.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Let’s drop the dragon topic.”

His tone was too quick. Too controlled.

Before I could question it, he turned away.

“So, Saint—what we report to His Majesty is that Ignis is stable, and Charlotte’s divine power has awakened?”

“That’s right.”

“Hey! I told you to teach me how to turn back into a dragon!!”

“But we can’t just leave him like this,” Aurora said, frowning slightly. “And someone who talks about ‘males’ and ‘females’ like that won’t pass as human.”

“Are you ignoring me?!”

“Then let him learn magic,” I said suddenly. “From Sarah.”

Leonard’s brow twitched.

“…Sarah?”

“My friend. A mage. If he’s going to be my familiar, he should at least be useful.”

I glanced at Ignis.

“And with Elysia’s Prayer on him, he won’t be dangerous.”

Leonard didn’t look pleased—but he nodded.

“He’s yours now. Do as you want.”

“Good.”

“…Sniff…”

We both froze.

“…Sniff… sniff…”

Ignis.

Crying.

“Waaah…!”

“Ignis?!”

“You evil humans!” he wailed. “Worse than dwarf poop! You turn me human and then ignore me?!”

His small face crumpled completely.

And just like that—

My heart melted.

“…I’m sorry!” I said immediately. “That wasn’t intentional! My divine power just activated!”

“That’s right,” Aurora added gently. “It’s not Charlotte’s fault. And… she’s kind to children.”

“…Probably.”

“Why ‘probably’?!” I snapped.

But Ignis sniffled, wiping his face.

“Then… remove the spell?”

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

He froze.

“…That’s cruel!”

“If we remove it, you might attack me.”

“I won’t! I swear it on Ragnarok’s heart!”

“…Ragna—what?”

“The greatest dragon alive! You don’t know Ragnarok?! Pathetic—”

“Stop.”

The word cut through the air.

Cold.

Sharp.

Absolute.

Leonard.

His expression had changed completely.

Gone was the casual teasing.

In its place—

Something darker.

“Stop talking.”

Silence crashed down.

Even Ignis shrank back.

The warmth from moments ago disappeared, replaced by something tense—almost suffocating.

Whatever had just been said…

It had crossed a line.

Ignis noticed first.

“…F-fine!” he stammered quickly. “Then give me gold! Jewelry! A gold bed! A gold room! I like shiny things! Then I’ll… cooperate!”

The King’s Judgment

Aurora and I went straight to Erdan.

As we walked, she leaned closer.

“…About the prince earlier. Why did he react like that?”

“…I’m not sure.”

But I was thinking.

Leonard hadn’t just been annoyed.

It had been closer to—

Disgust.

“…I don’t think it was about Ignis,” I murmured.

Aurora frowned.

“…Then what?”

“I don’t know yet.”

We reached the king’s office.

After hearing everything, Erdan fell silent—processing.

Then slowly—

“I see… Then Charlotte’s awakening should be announced immediately.”

“No.”

Both he and Aurora looked at me.

“I’ll go to Blake as a powerless princess,” I said calmly. “It’ll make Damian Blueheart Blake lower his guard.”

Aurora hesitated.

“…That makes sense. But—Charlotte’s crest…”

Erdan’s expression changed instantly.

“…What did you say?”

“Her divine mark… it’s not the lion of Singcester.”

Silence.

Heavy.

“Charlotte,” Erdan said quietly. “Show me.”

“I… don’t know how to use it yet—”

“This is not about control.”

He stepped closer.

“…We’re going to the Altar of Sacred Blood.”

The Vault of Fate

After changing into ceremonial attire, I stood before the great doors.

The air itself felt heavy.

Sacred.

Erdan placed his hand on the golden handle.

Pink light spread outward.

The doors opened.

Inside—

Divine power filled the space like a living presence.

Warm.

Overwhelming.

“Come.”

He led me to a display.

Two relics rested within.

A silver bell.

A crystal orb.

“These are meant for a princess,” Erdan said.

He handed me the bell.

“Hold it.”

I did.

Nothing.

“…Try the orb.”

Same result.

Silence.

Aurora’s voice wavered.

“…Does that mean her power isn’t royal?”

Erdan shook his head slowly.

“No.”

His gaze settled on me.

“Her power is real.”

Then—

“…But its meaning is different.”

My throat tightened.

“Charlotte,” he said quietly, “do you know what your mark represents?”

“…No.”

“Are you certain?”

“I am.”

A long pause.

Then—

“…Then your fate is unlike any princess before you.”

He turned.

Toward the center of the chamber.

There—

Covered in pale peach cloth—

Was something else.

Something important.

He stepped aside.

“Would you like to open it yourself?”