Chapter 169: Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (33)

Chapter 169: Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (33)

Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (33) Yôur favorite stories on n/o/(v)e/lbin(.)com

Just a little way into the southern forest, there were many hidden clearings.

According to my seniors, these clearings were the remnants of traditional hunting festivals held for a long time. The trees in the once dense forest always suffered during these festivals.

It was due to it being a contest between demonic beasts who could topple trees with a single swing of their arm, and skilled individuals who could face these monsters with just a sword.

Once the battle began, no tree was safe.

Even I had a record of knocking down quite a few trees in this years hunting festival. Although, most of them were the result of being hit and flung by the Gut Collector.

And among these recently formed clearings, some became excellent meeting spots with just a bit of trimming of the fallen tree trunks. Trimming the stumps was simple enough if one could handle aura.

The place where I, Senior Delphine, and Senior Elsie were sitting was one such clearing.

The sun burned hotter as we approached the peak of summer. We only felt somewhat refreshed after we sought refuge under the trees shade..

After the Month of Cane passes, the air would be stuffy everywhere.

I fanned my slightly flushed face from the heat. Yet, the sweat beads forming on my forehead did not evaporate.

Even though I was circulating mana to my skin to cope with the heat, it was still tough. Even with quite the increase of my mana after consuming Dragons Blood, it was still not enough.

In fact, Senior Delphine and Senior Elsie seemed unbothered by this heat. Thanks to their vastly greater reserves of mana.

It was like a confirmation I still had a long way to go.

The two women hesitated as I fanned myself.

They probably thought I was angry.

Of course, that was a misunderstanding. I was quite calm at the moment.

I was only silent because I was unsure of what to say.

To be more specific, I was pondering how to dampen the weird rivalry between Senior Delphine and Senior Elsie.

It wasnt a problem that I would find an answer to just by thinking about it. But that didnt mean I could conceal my uneasiness either.

If things continued like this, my reputation might end up tarnished.

The nobles of the empire place great importance on honor. Even the lower nobility like the Percus family did so, not mentioning the high-ranking nobles.

To them, Honor was more precious than life itself.

Because it was directly linked to their familys prestige.

Yet here were the heir of the esteemed Yurdina family and the daughter of the Rinella family, addressing a mere second son of a Countryside Viscount as Master.

It wasnt a matter that would just end up stigmatizing two noble families of the venerable Empire. This could also possibly backfire on me.

In the distant past, when concepts of chastity were more rigid than now, it is said that a commoner engaging in a relationship with a noblewoman would be executed.

Whether it was consensual or rape, it didnt matter. They always framed it as rape and executed the commoner.

It was all to preserve the honor of the nobility.

Why do I see myself in those commoners who had vanished like dew at the execution grounds?

The chilling thought made me break into a cold sweat.. It wasnt really because of the worry about offending the royal family, though.

Whether she knew of my worries or not, Senior Elsie hesitantly approached me and began to fan me with her small hands.

As expected with her small hands, the wind she created was exceedingly weak.

When I looked at her questioningly, Senior Elsie cleared her throat and awkwardly averted her gaze.

A faint blush rose on her soft cheeks.

Y-You lookedhotso

I let out a hollow laugh.

Though I found it absurd, I also appreciated her gesture, so I chose to remain in silence..

Instead, I directly asked..

Senior Delphine, what about that information on the pit?

Well, actually theres a tunnel that runs from the academy to the outskirts of the city.

Senior Delphine glanced at me cautiously before continuing in a calm voice.

Its a tunnel created when the academy was under the control of the Imperial Family. It may just be a tunnel, but it was built as an emergency escape route for the Imperial Family at that time, so it should still exist. Ive also heard that it underwent magical processing.

An escape route for the Imperial Family.

If the academy was under the Imperial Familys control, that must have been hundreds of years ago. It was surprising that the tunnel could still exist until now.

Typically, tunnels made of soft soil rather than solid rock are prone to collapse. Therefore, they were typically short and located at shallow depths.

But this was a large tunnel extending from the academy to the outskirts of the city. It was an emergency evacuation route for the Imperial Family, so it must have been built deep underground where it would be impossible to detect.

If it didnt collapse to this day, it must have involved investing an enormous amount of mana back then. Especially considering the primitive technology of the time.

What was somewhat puzzling was that, for such a costly construction, there was no need to insist on a tunnel.

Considering durability, it would have been more logical to officially build an underground shelter. But why did they specifically insist on a tunnel?

Since it was a question I couldnt find an answer to now, I decided to carefully tuck the doubt away in my heart.

And its location?

Where do you think the members of the imperial family are assigned when they enroll?

The reply to my question was a clear hint.

Each prince and princess was like the master of a palace. For various practical reasons, including security concerns, the Imperial family received special treatment at the academy.

Their assigned residence was the Verlata Palace.

So, what about punishment?

She came close, almost flirtatiously, and whispered in my ear with her hot breath.

My eardrums felt as if they were melting.

..I have prepared my body for today as well.

Hey, hey!

Of course, before that, Senior Elsie had already burst out in protest.

She looked at me with a pitiful look and said,

M-Master what about me? I-Its been quite a while since I received a reward

It was a complete disaster.

In the end, it took a few more minutes to satisfy both of their demands.

And just as I was straightening my clothes, about to leave, the excited Senior Delphine who was catching her breath, suddenly asked as if she just remembered.

By the way, did the princess seem okay to you?

I stopped in my tracks.

There were a few things about her that bothered me. Her abnormally aggressive attitude, and the gloomy look she sometimes displayed.

As my eyes briefly met Senior Delphine, she said in a nonchalant tone. .

She has some painful memories from her childhood. She nearly died, you know

From whom?

The corners of Senior Delphines mouth curled up in a meaningful smile as she responded to my vague question.

Her own mother.

There wasnt much time left until the Homecoming Festival.

**

The clearing in the dark night exuded a chilly atmosphere despite the moonlight pouring down.

It was behind the rarely frequented research building. Without saying a word, I sat blankly on a rock, then asked the nothingness..

Neris.

Yes, Sir Ian.

Suddenly, a shadow descended from within the darkness.

She was a beautiful brown haired woman and a noteworthy hairpin in her bangs. Her light green eyes were cast down, hidden by her bowed head.

Today was the day to receive her gathered intel.

Senior Neris, like a few days ago, seemed incredibly tense.

Stuttering, she first tried to make up for her previous failure.

S-Sir Ian? Fi-Firstly, about the tunnel, theres information regarding an emergency escape route of the Imperial Family

I know its a tunnel that leads from the basement of Verlata Palace to the outside of the city.

Senior Neriss eyes widened in surprise, clearly flustered.

Then her head dropped low.

I didnt know how she interpreted my words, but Senior Neris apologized to me in a trembling voice.

I-I apologize.

Regardless, I didnt pay any attention to it. I just had a nagging question lingering in my mind.

The princess almost died when she was young.

And to her own mother at that. Why would her mother do such a thing?

The needle-like question pierced through certain words.

Without thinking, I voiced it out.

The Dragons Eye.

Startled, Senior Neris froze. Her gaze, looking up at me while kneeling, was filled with confusion.

Only then did my eyes turn to her.

My gaze, backlit by the moonlight, was deep. As soon as our eyes met, Senior Neris immediately lowered her head to avoid my gaze.

Her panting breath briefly conveyed her fear.

Ignoring that as well, I asked Neris.

Dragons Eye, tell me what you know about it.

The story Senior Neris had prepared seemed to be a long one.

As she cleared her throat with a cough, and then began speaking in a monotonous voice.

Its a long-standing legend passed down in the Imperial Family

The story that followed was the one I expected.

It was about the princesss past.

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