Chapter 37

***

Bezriche’s former associate was also Diamide’s associate.

Princess Elia stayed with them until the moment they defeated the evil king, so she was very sorry that the two people who loved each other ended up being separated.

She would constantly interfere with Diamide saying he could’ve just misunderstood what Bezriche did and that he should be responsible for Jayna.

However, as it got worse, Diamide killed Princess Elia, and after her death, Rosian became vengeful and raised his sword against Diamide.

‘Princess Elia is the starting point of the novel.’

The imperial palace where Jayna was invited was decorated very beautifully. The roses she saw for the first time were forming a tunnel. As if she were at a flower festival.

‘I came early, so I can take my time…’

Jayna was thinking of taking a leisurely tour of the surrounding landscape before heading to her meeting place.

However, strangely, as she got closer to the Imperial Palace, her body got weaker.

‘Huh? It’s weird … My tail shouldn’t come out unless I’m relaxed.’

However, the strange sensation she’s feeling did not subside and gradually became worse.

This time, starting with her head, hands, arms, and whole-body felt odd.

‘I am about to transform!’

Jayna closed her big eyes tightly. It seemed that there was a magic circle somewhere in the palace that limits magical power.

‘If I change to a dragon here in the palace, I would become a reagent or a holy sword.’

Jayna hurriedly controlled the mana in her body barely stopping her transformation. But it didn’t stop her tail from sticking out.

Swuuk!

A blacktail protruded through Jayna’s skirt.

Swuuk!

Subsequently, her tiny horns popped out of her head.

‘If my wings also pop out, people will find out soon…’

If she weren’t in the Imperial Palace, where there weren’t many people coming and going, it would have already been discovered that she was part of the dragon tribe.

“Get in!” (Jayna)

Jayna touched her raised horns with her little hands.

But even if it’s a part of her own body, the horn did not listen.

‘What to do…?’

Izren’s eyes that were on her widened.

However, like Jayna, he also changed into a different appearance than usual.

“A Cat…?”

“Meow .”

The only difference between him and Jayna was that he had cat ears and tails protruding instead of horns and dragon tails.

‘They said that he was a suin*, but Izren’s appearance was a cat.’

*(Suin mainly possess ears, limbs, and tails of beasts, and they possess superior sense, agility, and strength like beasts.)

Izren became restless and pulled Jaina towards him, then he flipped his cloak over them.

Jayna wondered for a moment why would he, a knight placed by Diamide, would try to help her, but she had no time to tackle such a thing right now.

“We have to run away.”

It’s dangerous for them to be seen, whether they’re dragon or Suin.

‘But where should we go?’

“Keug!”

While Jayna was in agony, Izren’s knee, which was holding her tightly, folded.

It was because Jayna, who had run out of magic, failed to control her weight.

The moment when the crisis of desperate despair came.

“Oh!”

Jayna screamed a little in surprise at the touch that came to her without her knowing.

“Is being hit from behind was the only thing that can make you surprise.”

“Your Majesty?”

“Great. This is a compliment.”

A beautiful woman with her blonde hair raised in a ponytail and gleaming red eyes scanned Jayna from head to toe.

Jayna’s pupil shook at her gaze.

Jayna, who had been victimized for her horns and tail, mixed blood, and for being different from ordinary people until now, shuddered.

‘I have to be alert .’

Jayna tried to somehow move her stiff legs.

“I heard a lot of stories about you from my nephew and son.”

Contrary to her expectations, a soft voice flowed from the woman in front of her.

“I am Elia El Isny ​​Delide, Princess of the Empire. I would like to ask you for a formal introduction.”

Then Princess Elia’s hand reached out.

Feeling that her face against the sun was dazzling, Jayna hurriedly reached out her small hand over the big hand of the princess.

“My name is Jayna. It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

***

When Jayna sat down, scones with raspberry, fruit sandwiches full of whipped cream, and cookies with orange peel were placed one after another. The tea was milk tea, which has a sweet flavor, perhaps due to consideration for Jayna.

It was a great tea set perfect for a warm afternoon.

“Eat to your heart’s content. The chef of the Imperial Palace specializes in desserts, but I don’t enjoy sweets, so he’d only shown his skills after a long time. I hope it suits your taste .”

Jayna picked up the buttery orange peel cookie first.

The flavor and the freshness of the orange peel blended, so Jayna was able to finish the cookie in no time.

“If you like it, I’ll pack desserts for you.”

At that moment, Jayna’s affinity for Princess Elia increased.

“The reason your appearance has changed is that there are barriers in the Imperial palace that scatter magic power.”

In a clear voice, Princess Elia soon explained to Jayna the reason for her transformation.

“It wasn’t exactly magic.”

“It’s a barrier that catches even the little mana.”

After hearing that, Jayna was curious.

“I’ve never heard of such a delicate barrier. I haven’t seen it in the tower.”

“The Tower is a place where magic is studied, so magic doesn’t scatter there.”

Princess Elia said as if it was passing by.

“Well, it’s the barrier that Diamide gave, so you can ask him yourself to show it to you later.”

Princess Elia shrugged.

‘She already knows who I am.’

Jayna was surprised when the name “Diamide” came out of her, but on the other hand, she could see why she was showing favor with her.

“I’m an old colleague of your mother, Bezriche, and your father, Diamide, and we stood back to back to save each other.”

As if to recall the past, her eyes warmed up in a moment. Perhaps her memory of her mother, Bezriche, remains a good memory.

But for a moment, her eyes clouded with sadness. Jayna waited without opening her mouth. It was because she wanted to give Princess Elia the time to take care of her heart.

Princess Elia, who had been silent for a while, stared at Jayna and slowly opened her mouth.

“You look exactly like Bezriche.”

-Yeah. It certainly resembles its mother.

The first word that came from her mouth was what Diamide said to her when she first came to the tower.

Jayna quietly lowered her eyes and said.

“I don’t remember my mother’s face.”

Princess Elia tilted her head.

“You don’t know? I thought you already saw her through portraits.”

“Portrait is a human culture. My mother is a dragon.”

“Of course, but your mother loved the human culture. Maybe you can still find it if you want to find it now. One of my friends has a talent for painting, so he drew a lot.”

Princess Elia pulled out a necklace from the jewelry box she had. Inside the locket necklace, she handed was a portrait of a woman.

Jayna couldn’t take her eyes off the portrait.

It was because she(Bezriche) looked like herself ten years later.

“It’s your mother .”

“Mother …”

Was the color of their eyes was the only difference between them?

Now Jayna understood why Diamide said she was not “his daughter”. It was because she didn’t him anywhere.

“I think you should have this.”

“But it’s a precious item to your Majesty.”

“There is no reason to give it as a gift if it is not precious.”

Princess Elia took Jayna’s hand and then held the necklace tightly in her hand.

“The daughter didn’t know her mother’s face…”

Jayna felt the warmth from her fingertips as if she can feel the love of her mother, Bezriche.

“What was my mother like?”

“She never grimaced even in hard times. Her tone was always light and cheerful, but I always feel as if she was going to disappear somewhere.”

Soon, Princess Elia’s face changed complexly.

“The dragon that lives for a thousand years was the first to die among us….”

Princess Elia continued to speak with her hands covering her face.

“But she was lucky to have you. Bezriche was probably happy because you were born. She said she didn’t want to leave anything in her life, but she still had her child… I didn’t know Diamide would change her like that.”

Jayna flinched at the mention of Diamide, but Princess Elia continued to talk regardless.

“I heard Diamide is being mean to you. He doesn’t want to admit that you’re his real daughter? I don’t want to get involved in other people’s family affairs, but… I don’t understand that you haven’t even seen the portrait of your mother. Let me talk to Diamide.”

“Don’t do that. “

“Diamide is mistaken. There’s no way Bezriche had betrayed him and left. She even gave birth to his child.”

“The tower lord thinks, I was her daughter to another man .”

“No way. Bezriche is not that kind of person. I’m sure of it.”

Princess Elia sighed as she looked at Jayna and soon spoke with a determined face.

“I have to see you get your last name Bellaphanian, or else I’ll be ashamed to the deceased Bezriche.”

But Jayna shook her head.

“Don’t tell anyone about my mother, especially the tower lord.”

When Princess Elia looked at her with a curious face, Jayna continued.

“You know, I’m a dragon. The dragons don’t have a concept of a father. Besides, I’ve never thought of him as a father, and I have nothing to ask of him. So, I’m his daughter, but I don’t want to have his affection.”

Jayna opened her hand.

“I want to live with Michael-nim in the tower, and there’s also Hilvenzia-nim, who cares about me. All I want is to live quietly in the tower with them.”

“But …”

“Even if I had to recognize him as my father someday, I don’t think it’s the time yet.”

As Jayna shook her head, Princess Elia took a step back.