TSMMT Ch 61

Dragon and Immortality

Dian, or rather Dianna, stood up.

The cold autumn wind bit into the air. When she finished organizing books with the staff, the setting sun painted Neust Academy in beautiful shades of orange and red. She loved those slow, peaceful moments.

While arranging the library, Dianna found a specific book. It belonged to Adel's favorites. Even though he didn't come from Panborough—where people treated the dragon as a divine messenger of God—he possessed a strange fondness for dragons. When she once asked if his interest sprang from the King slaying a dragon, Adel had simply given a bitter smile.

Arunkel, the founding king of the Lodbrog Kingdom, had killed a dragon. His descendants inherited the blood of a dragonslayer. Born from blood and war, these fierce royals fought one another constantly, changing the name of the dynasty and the nation multiple times.

Dragons.

Dianna pondered the mythical creatures. Legends existed in both Panborough and Lodbrog. Divine messengers possessing godlike strength, they built magically protected nests to eliminate all intruders—beings bordering on immortality. They were divine beasts closest to the gods. Slaying such a creature allowed Guiscard, who once lived as a slave, to become the 'Returned Prince' and win the trust of the Lodbrog nobility.

Dianna closed the book upon reading the absurd passage claiming that a man became immortal simply by killing a dragon and soaking in its blood.

Two years had passed since her arrival. She currently resided at Neust Academy, located within the Blake Grand Duchy at the northern edge of the Lodbrog Kingdom. She had come to this nation as if guided by fate.

[Philip] “No one will know you are there. No one can hurt you.”

His voice echoed in her memory.

The Grand Ducal House of Blake, a branch of the Lodbrog royal family, established this academy two hundred years ago. In a kingdom obsessed with raw strength, the founders emphasized the importance of scholarship and art, building this place to promote cultural growth rather than the sword.

High society respected the academy as an independent sanctuary, often calling it the 'Grand Duke's Garden.' Grand Duke Blake ruled the land like a minor king of the Lodbrog Kingdom. Dianna had intentionally hidden here with Philip's assistance.

The days passed in absolute tranquility. She organized books, categorized them, and recorded the names of borrowers. Carrying the heavy volumes tired her, but the work remained manageable. Although she maintained a polite distance from the other employees, no one treated her poorly. Occasionally, Adel arrived to help. She smiled at the thought of him.

Adel was a warm person, and all the staff admired him. The workers squealed over his tall frame, broad shoulders, firm chest, and the prominent veins running along his hands, calling them attractive traits. Dianna, however, paid no attention to those details.

[Adel] "I like you, Dian. You are entirely too lovely."

Did he not pursue her too aggressively?

Adel, who supposedly worked as the Grand Duke's aide, frequently loitered around Dianna like a man of leisure. He was a strange man. She had no connections here, making his kindness completely incomprehensible.

Does he remain kind even though he knows my true identity?

There was no way to know. Dianna gave a bitter smile, stepping out of her room into the corridor. Various newspapers lay stacked in the corner of the room. Headlines detailed the prince who returned after defeating a dragon like the founding king, the ascension of the Hero King, the invasion of Panborough…… and the complete ruin of the House of Brienne.

Leaving all those events behind, Dianna walked out of the suffocating library.

The cool breeze brushed against her skin. Strolling through the academy at sunset after work offered her the finest relaxation. As autumn drew to a close, the chilly yet sun-warmed wind brought comfort.

Just then, several male students walked onto the academy grounds. Dianna quickly lowered her gaze. Slightly lowering her gaze meant nothing to her now. After experiencing that incident, she had abandoned every shred of pride. Bowing before someone triggered no emotion, despite her noble birth. Fortunately, most students treated the staff with respect.

That is to say, most students behaved well. But exceptions always existed. Dianna stopped mid-stride. The sound of the male students chuckling reached her, souring her mood.

[Dianna] "Is there something you need?"

[Oberon] "You are that lady from the library, correct? The one they call arrogant."

[Dianna] "……."

Their blatant stares fueled her irritation. In truth, nobles had approached Dianna even after she went into hiding. Her features were not exceptionally beautiful, and her simple commoner clothing should have kept her unnoticed, yet such encounters occurred frequently.

[Oberon] "I am Oberon, son of Count Hailo."

[Dianna] "……."

[Oberon] "I am related to Duke Islag, a pillar of this kingdom."

[Dianna] "I see."

When she replied with downcast eyes, Oberon scowled. A cruel desire to break this insolent woman burned within him.

The students trailing Oberon snickered at her reaction, driving her temper higher.

[Student] "Hey, Oberon. Stop it."

[Student] "No way."

[Student] "This lady acts more noble than actual noble girls."

Rage flared within Dianna. She labored to suppress her aristocratic pride, but becoming a target for their games was another matter completely. These boys had clearly watched her for a long time.

[Oberon] "Your behavior lacks respect."

[Dianna] "His Grace the Grand Duke explicitly forbade students from using their status to threaten the academy staff."

In the past, another reckless noble student had acted in this manner. Had Adel not passed by at that exact moment, disaster would have struck.

Afterward, upon receiving the report, the Grand Duke flew into a fury and established a new rule: immediate expulsion for anyone mistreating the staff. Yet another fool now challenged that decree.

[Oberon] "Threaten? What threat? Are you claiming I threatened you?"

[Dianna] "Then, if I may ask, for what reason did you announce your status to me, Lord Oberon?"

She questioned him calmly, swallowing her anger.

The surrounding nobles snicker-laughed again. Meanwhile, Oberon stood speechless. Unlike the other staff members who automatically shrank before nobility, this woman showed no fear. Her vocabulary and tone remained refined and elegant. Though her insolence enraged Oberon, it also triggered a sharp thrill.

What would happen if I drag her proud face through the mud?

[Oberon] "I…… merely wished to get to know you. If you consider that a threat, it is solely because you are overly sensitive."

[Dianna] "……."

[Oberon] "Now, hurry up and give me your name."

The Grand Duke was away, and practically no one else at the academy could restrain Oberon. Due to Duke Islag's power, even the Grand Duke would hesitate to punish him. This woman stood completely alone. A single slap would force her to learn her place and crawl.

[Oberon] "Insolent girl. Your name is……"

[Dianna] "It is Dian."

She spoke quietly. Oberon swept his eyes over her face. His strange gaze set her nerves on edge. The moment his eyes drifted down her clothing toward her chest, her mood hit rock bottom.

[Oberon] "A woman with a pretty face shouldn't wear such an expression."

[Dianna] "……."

[Oberon] "The staff exists to support the education of nobles. Your expression is unacceptable."

He reached out and tapped her shoulder. Dianna grit her teeth and glared at his hand, prompting him to seize her chin and force her face upward.

[Student] "Hey, don't take it too far."

[Student] "No, do it more."

Her humiliation became entertainment for the crowd. It was ridiculous. She believed she had discarded her pride during that time, yet anger still burned within her.

[Oberon] "This is your training to learn proper manners. Hurry up and smile."

Stay calm. Unlike my past life, this life is paradise.

Dianna bit her lip and attempted to offer a gentle smile. Suddenly, her face froze. The expression overriding her features wasn't stubbornness or rebellion, but utter terror.

Oberon felt satisfied as her face turned pale within a split second. A moment later, however, a massive agony forced a scream from his throat.

[Oberon] "Argh! Aaaah!"

[Guiscard] "How dare you!"

A man of massive build appeared. In stark contrast to the white school uniforms, he wore pure black garments. Appearing like a crow among white doves, the man stood out immediately. He looked like the Grim Reaper itself.

Caught in the sunset, his purple eyes flashed with a reddish tint. Unrelated to the crimson blood spraying around, his sharp features possessed the beauty of a fine sculpture.

The jawline that once held rounded curves during their first meeting now showed a powerful, rugged line. His pitch-black hair gleamed with vitality, and his full lips remained tightly closed.

The man she had yearned for so intensely, yet desired to meet least of all, revealed himself right before her. Dianna met him again amidst the scent of blood.

She permanently refused to believe that fate repeated itself. Yet, despair consumed her as Guiscard appeared before her like a manifestation of destiny.

[Guiscard] "This is the price for insulting my wife."

Pure chaos erupted afterward. Dianna lost all track of how the scene concluded. Only the word wife uttered by him remained burned into her mind.

I tried so hard to change things, so why did you seek me out?

Right, I know you loathe me and my family. But I suffered those horrific acts because of you……

Darkness swallowed her sight.

Endless conflicting emotions toward Guiscard swirled within her. Yet she deliberately refused to examine them. They felt far too repulsive and filthy, mirroring the beasts who had tormented her.

Once, as much as I hated you, I waited for you for a very long time. But back then, you never came.

[Dianna] "I would rather die than marry you."

She wanted to shout a thousand things. Yet she desired to utter nothing at all. Her bond with Guiscard ended here, and prolonging it promised an even more horrific reality. Both in her past life and the present, Dianna excelled at hiding her feelings and deceiving herself.

Don't think.

The phrase horrific fate provided more than enough reason to welcome death. No further emotions were required.

Gritting her teeth, she drove a dagger straight into her slender neck.

This is my second death.

It was an entirely hollow, quiet end. Dianna gave a cold smile. In that fraction of a second, she judged that no hope remained in life. However, the exact moment the blade touched her throat, a massive hand gripped it and wrenched it away.

[Dianna] "Ah!"

The iron grip squeezing her wrist threatened to crush the bone. She bit her lip, staring at the man who held her arm until her skin turned stark white.

[Guiscard] "What do you think you are doing, My Lady?"

[Dianna] "My Lady?"

She let out a hollow laugh.

[Dianna] "What kind of game are you playing, Your Majesty?"

[Guiscard] "My Lady."

[Dianna] "Let go of me! Who is whose wife?!"

She screamed. Yet no one cared about her cries. Dianna twisted her wrist frantically to escape, but the hold remained absolute.

As she thrashed and screamed in desperation, blood welled from her neck. She attempted to flee, drenched in crimson, but the knights had already surrounded the area. The burning pain in her neck went entirely unfelt.

[Dianna] "Let go! Let go of me!"

She shrieked. Every ounce of her hard-won comfort vanished. Guiscard had found her.

Suddenly, a heavy strike delivered to the back of her neck cut through her consciousness. Darkness claimed her completely.

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