TSMMT Ch 136

Peculiar Interest

Dianna couldn't comprehend it. Why was this dragon taking such an immense interest in her? She was merely an ordinary human, aside from having returned through time and possessing the ability to command spirits. She was thoroughly ordinary.

Yet whenever Tarascus awakened, he looked for Dianna, lingered by her side, and spoke strictly to her. Judging solely by his appearance, he resembled a child trailing after his mother.

Knowing that this seemingly harmless child had struck down Guiscard and attempted to murder her occasionally sent a chilling shiver through her chest.

Though she had expected the dragon to observe her briefly and depart, he showed absolutely no intention of leaving.

[Dianna] "Tarascus, why are you staying here?"

She was baffled. If a rift existed and she was merely a byproduct of that rift, shouldn't he leave to search for the real anomaly?

[Taras] "Simply because."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "Am I in thy way?"

[Dianna] "In my way...? No..."

[Taras] "Thou art the King's wife. Thou possessest many things and enjoyest vast privileges. Is granting me a single room beyond thy tolerance?"

She flinched as she caught sight of Adelheit standing behind the dragon. Ever since she had unlocked the restraint collar, Adelheit had been casting resentful glances her way.

Please, permit me to bind him again, quickly.

His unspoken plea made Dianna sigh. If she didn't allow him to bind the dragon, she felt he might burst into tears and cause a massive scene.

[Dianna] "I permit it. Since I am allowing you to stay, why not answer Grand Duke Blake's questions?"

Despite her suggestion, the troublesome dragon completely ignored Adelheit's inquiries, citing his lack of desire to answer as the sole reason.

[Taras] "I stated that remaining here meant I would answer questions; I never specified when I would answer them."

Though he had claimed dragons tell lies, strictly speaking, this wasn't a lie. Yet the dragon was indulging his whims as he pleased.

Whenever that happened, Dianna felt a strange sense of bewilderment. Like a noble child stepping out into the world for the first time, he found everything fascinating. He dipped his hands in water, touched tree leaves, observed servants doing laundry, and smelled flowers.

In that manner, he appeared to savor every passing moment. Adelheit chased after the dragon, and the dragon trailed after Dianna. It became a common sight in the royal castle.

 Watching Adelheit, with his matching silver hair, frantically pursuing the dragon, people gradually began to suspect the child's true origins.

Is that child Grand Duke Blake's secret illegitimate son?

Such rumors quietly circulated among the palace staff. Dianna released a soft sigh as she watched them.

In truth, she had far too much work to handle. The moment she learned Guiscard would awaken only after a prolonged period, she had assumed the duties of regent.

Leaving the pair to their devices, she held daily discussions with Revius in her quarters.

Conversing with Revius, she learned about the undertakings he had managed. Reviewing several strategies Guiscard had orchestrated, an indescribable ache weighed heavily on her heart.

First, he had meticulously laid the groundwork to dismantle Duke Levian. To counter the Levian family's port city, Guiscard had funded the construction of a competing harbor for Duke Kragel and financed bridge connections between isolated offshore islands.

Furthermore, he had quietly manipulated events to drive a wedge between Duke Islag and his duchess.

He had been preparing a calculated, crushing retribution against those who had harbored hostility toward Dianna. Though it wasn't the most optimal approach, he had continuously exerted effort for her sake.

Quietly, without ever explaining his actions to her, all on his own.

Unable to continue, Dianna eventually paused her conversation with Revius and headed toward Guiscard's chamber. She longed to see him.

As summer approached, the bright sunlight cast a white radiance into the room, where Guiscard lay sleeping amidst the light. Sitting beside him, Dianna gently brushed his hair.

When you wake up, what should we talk about? What should we do?

[Dianna] "Wake up."

What kind of hell did this man endure? What was he looking at all this time? You knew everything about me, yet I knew nothing about you.

Reflecting on it, that was the truth, both in her past life and in the present.

Even when she learned he was the son of Herya, the Panborough princess burned at the stake as a witch, she had brushed the fact aside. While sympathizing with his living hell, she had never sought to understand it. Indeed, her life had been dictated by Guiscard, yet she had never once tried to comprehend his entire existence.

[Dianna] "We have so much to talk about. Both you and I."

She gazed at his dark eyebrows and the straight bridge of his nose. His slightly parted lips exhaled faint, rhythmic breaths. He looked as though he were merely sleeping, evoking a fairytale from her childhood. A prince arriving to awaken a sleeping princess.

Of course, in this tale, the king slept while the queen sought to awaken him. Just as Dianna leaned down to press a soft kiss against his lips…...

[Taras] "Is this the dragon slayer?"

Dianna nearly let out a shriek. Standing right next to her chair was Tarascus, looking down at Guiscard. Terror seized her in that instant. What if this dragon manifested murderous intent toward a human who had slain his kin?

Yet regardless of her fear and vigilance, the dragon observed Guiscard with his signature impassive face. Tilting his head, Tarascus looked at frozen Dianna.

[Taras] "Why art thou so startled?"

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "Thou didst not wear such a face even when I sought to kill thee. Why reveal such an expression only now?"

What does he mean?

Suddenly, Dianna realized she had harbored genuine terror toward this dragon. He was a being capable of harming Guiscard the moment he willed it.

Transparent eyes that seemed to read her very soul fixed upon her. Releasing a soft sigh, she finally spoke.

[Dianna] "This man is the slayer who killed your kin. I assumed you would harbor murderous intent toward him."

[Taras] "Haha."

The dragon let out a rare, faint chuckle.

Is he going to treat me like a low-intelligence creature again?

She quickly added an explanation.

[Dianna] "You said that if anyone killed you, all the other dragons would go on a rampage."

[Taras] "Indeed."

[Dianna] "Which implies that if someone slays your kin, dragons..."

[Taras] "Thou foolish creature."

Dismissed once again, she grimaced.

Observing her expression, the dragon spoke as if perplexed.

[Taras] "Fafnir's death must be known to all dragons. Had they intended to rampage, would they not have done so long ago?"

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "Dragons respond exclusively to my death."

[Dianna] "Why is that...?"

[Taras] "Because I am precious."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "I am a dragon of such stature."

Is he bragging all of a sudden?

Claiming he was precious out of nowhere. Were there specific dragons that warranted a response while others didn't? Despite his impassive face, he distinctly sounded as though he were boasting.

Observing her expression, the dragon continued.

[Taras] "Furthermore, a dragon's death is impossible."

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

[Taras] "A dragon chooses its own death. Beyond that, death doesn't exist. A dragon is immortal, should it so desire."

[Dianna] "What in the world...?"

[Taras] "If a dragon dies, it is solely because it willed its own demise."

Good heavens…

Her lips parted in disbelief.

[Taras] "Therefore, no dragon—myself excluded—interferes in the death of another. A dragon dies because it wished to die."

Curiosity suddenly flared within her.

If so, what about Fafnir? How did Fafnir die?

[Dianna] "If that is true, then Fafnir..."

[Taras] "She went on a rampage because she wished to die. I can almost guess why she perished."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "Yet it remains difficult to comprehend. I find myself curious. I have always found such matters difficult, thoroughly difficult."

The dragon looked at Dianna as though genuinely intrigued.

[Taras] "Tell me, how much dost thou know about this male?"

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "I heard he is thy mate."

She couldn't bring herself to answer. It felt as though Taras knew the exact self-reproach she had harbored before his arrival. An eerie alignment of timing.

With a subdued gaze, she spoke softly.

[Dianna] "I don't know much."

[Taras] "I see."

He offered neither criticism nor rebuke, merely nodding in understanding.

[Dianna] "Ah... but Herya, that woman, mentioned she possessed dragon blood."

She managed to squeeze out the single piece of knowledge she possessed, though even revealing that felt somewhat embarrassing.

[Dianna] "However, why would a dragon ever mingle with humans?"

At her question, Tarascus let out a faint chuckle.

[Taras] "Among dragons, some assume human form to mate with humans and bear dragon offspring."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "A thoroughly unamusing matter and a horrific one at that."

[Dianna] "Does that mean there are many dragon bloodlines in this world?"

The dragon didn't deny it.

[Taras] "Children of dragons and humans possess exceptional martial prowess, magical power, or striking beauty; that is all. They inherit none of a dragon's true capabilities. Thus, many may exist."

I see…

She had learned a new fact. Though she heard it from a dragon, she had gained new insight regarding Guiscard, easing her heart a little.

[Dianna] "Then who was Guiscard's ancestor?"

[Taras] "Dost thou not know?"

How could she possibly know? The dragon stated impassively.

[Taras] "It was Fafnir."

She stared blankly upon hearing the name. The sudden realization flashed through her mind, freezing her face in absolute shock.

[Dianna] "If it was Fafnir..."

[Taras] "Indeed, the dragon slain by this male."

She shook her head slightly in disbelief.

[Taras] "Counting by bloodline proximity, two generations... which means..."

[Dianna] "..."

[Taras] "This male essentially slew his own grandmother."

Dianna covered her mouth in horror

T/N: Fafnir was a female dragon who took on human form and bore a child with the late King of Panborough.

• Fafnir + Late King of Panborough ➔ Herya (born in the Abyssal Forest, raised as a princess)

• Herya + King of Lodbrog ➔ Guiscard

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