Chapter 149: Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (13)

༺ Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (13) ༻

The Golden Lion Protecting the North, Delphine Yurdina.

She was the legitimate heir to one of the empire’s five prestigious families, the Yurdina March, a powerhouse in the North.Gẹtt the latest novels at n.o/(v)/e/l/bin(.)com

Since the Empire was founded, this family had a glorious history of fending off the foreign tribes from the North.

Not only did they oversee the border regions which often had conflicts with foreign tribes, they’d also shown unwavering loyalty to the Imperial Family for ages.

Taking this into consideration, the Imperial Family raised the limit of the number of private soldiers the Yurdina Household could have. Thus, they had a staggering amount of 10,000 private soldiers.

Furthermore, owing to their military lineage, many from the Yurdina Household held key positions in the Central Army.

If the Alpenhauser Household represented the empire’s economic power, then Yurdina was the undeniable symbol of military might.

The Yurdinas, who were responsible for commanding an army of thousands to tens of thousands, were notoriously strict in their family’s education.

They bore the weight of countless lives. From a young age, they had to dedicate themselves to rigorous training and be proficient in tactics and strategy.

Naturally, Senior Delphine, being the only heir to the Yurdina Household, had to undergo such harsh education since her childhood.

Thanks to that, she was not only well-versed in swordsmanship but also in various subjects that included the history of the empire and the study of war. Her confident and proud demeanor captivated many of the academy’s talents.

Thus, she earned the honorable title of ‘Golden Lion’.

The Yurdina Household, protectors of the North, had a lion as their symbol. And Senior Delphine with her radiant golden hair, stunning beauty, and innate charm combined, earned the nickname of such a fierce beast.

It also signified the world recognized her as the heir to the Yurdina Household.

She was truly an iron woman. From the family’s private soldiers to several troops in the central army, she proved she got what it takes to be a top-tier military leader, commanding tens of thousands.

And now, that very Delphine Yurdina was humbly bowing her head before me.

With an expression that conveyed genuine pleasure, no less.

My head was spinning. I couldn’t figure out where it all went wrong.

What would happen if the members of the Yurdina Household stumbled upon this?

I figured Seria might just pass out on the spot. If things just ended there, it would be a relief. But considering Marquis Yurdina’s frail health? His blood pressure might skyrocket, and that could be the end of him.

I needed to quickly fix my relationship with Senior Delphine.

Stumbling over my words, I tried to get Senior Delphine to stand up.

“No, Senior Delphine... there’s no need for this, please stand up.”

“But how could I...?”

However, no matter how much I pleaded, Senior Delphine did not lift her head. I felt I finally understood what she wanted.

A sigh escaped my lips.

I didn’t have time to waste. Every second was precious right now.

“...Delphine Yurdina, stand up.”

It was a cold command. Finally, as if satisfied, Delphine rose with a polite attitude.

“Yes, Master.”

She seemed ready to obey any command I gave. I placed a hand on my throbbing forehead, but the headache didn’t subside.

Fixing our current relationship seemed nearly impossible.

So, there was only one solution. At the very least, I had to prevent this relationship from being openly visible.

“Senior Delphine, please don’t act like this in the future. What will people think if they see?”

“It’s simple. They’ll see a master and a slave.”

Senior Delphine’s response was refreshingly bold. Yet, it only made my heart sink even more.

Are slaves choosing their masters nowadays?

Every time I saw Senior Delphine willingly acting as a slave regardless of my wishes, my mood only became gloomy. So, I decided to use a somewhat rough approach.

“Don’t do that.”

“But...”

“It’s an order.”

At the word ‘order’, Senior Delphine’s mouth snapped shut. She shot me a displeased glance, but I remained resolute.

In the end, Senior relaxed her hands, which she had held together politely, and let out a deep sigh.

“...If it’s an order, then alright.”

And then she plopped back down into the chair she was sitting in. There was an air of relaxation about her now.

It was the familiar Senior Delphine I hadn’t seen in a while.

At the very least, until Yurdina’s forces decide to sweep through the territory, the Percus territory would remain unharmed.

Honestly, my suggestion must’ve sounded insane to Senior Delphine.

Regardless of how far from the succession line the princess was, she was still a member of the Imperial Family. With them involved, it was impossible to turn the tide in such a short period of time.

Yet, here I was saying all I needed was a month or two.

I sounded either crazy or overly confident.

For a while, our eyes met in silence. After a moment, she unexpectedly responded

“... That’s just like you, Master.”

She seemed pleased. Her eyes sparkled with faint excitement. She apparently liked my suggestion.

Only then did I sighed in relief. I really needed the support of the Yurdina Household.

If Senior Delphine got involved, the safety of the Percus territory would pretty much be guaranteed for a while.

Given our relationship, I was optimistic that Senior Delphine would help. Still, it’s better to get a clear answer, so I cautiously asked.

“...So, will you help me?”

It was then that a playful smile surfaced on Senior Delphine’s face.

She gave me an odd look, stretched out casually, and stood up. Then, she whispered to me.

“Well? I’m not so sure.”

I gave her a frustrated glare as if asking ‘Why are you acting like this again?’, even then Senior Delphine remained unmoved. She still had a playful smile on.

“After all, what’s in it for the Yurdina Household? I see no compelling reason to grant that request as the heir to the Yurdina Household.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

When I glared at her with a stern expression, Senior Delphine laughed mischievously and soon turned her back.

She waved her hand nonchalantly, as if she was about to leave.

I finally got it. Why Senior Delphine was acting this way.

Sighing for what felt like the umpteenth time that day, I straightened up from where I leaned against the wall.

I walked over and grabbed Senior Delphine’s shoulder just as she was about to leave the lab.

Our eyes met as I yanked her back towards me.

Her crimson eyes, slightly taken aback, looked up at me. But there was an undeniable hint of anticipation in her gaze.

Her breathing grew ragged due to the strong grip on her shoulder.

“...Delphine Yurdina.”

As soon as she heard my commanding tone, her eyes grew dazed. Her panting breath smelled sweet.

Clenching her thighs, she looked visibly restless. There was a pleading look in her crimson eyes.

I spoke with a firm tone.

“It’s an order.”

Senior Delphine’s response was immediate.

She knelt before me and soon pressed her lips to my shoe. The trembling of her lower body seemed suggestive. She looked genuinely happy.

She then spoke in a humble manner, much like a loyal servant attending to their master.

“Yes, Master... Whatever you command, I will gladly obey.”

In the end, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Did it really have to come to this?

Still, I had no choice. For the support of the Yurdina Household, it was a small price to pay.

Such were the bitter thoughts in my mind when, all of a sudden,

A heated breath escaped from Senior Delphine’s mouth. The raspy sound of her panting warmed my feet.

“Ma, Master...”

My questioning gaze fell upon her. She remained in her submissive posture and pleaded with me.

“T-This female slave who, out of ignorance, dared to defy... P-Please, punish...”

Her voice as she subtly rubbed her thighs, carried an undeniable hint of joy.

I had to drag both hands down my face.

I felt so sorry for the Yurdina Household.

*

The incident where I ran into Emma being bullied occurred on that very afternoon.