What Does That Evil Dragon Live For?

As soon as the new year came, there was an unwelcome event that had to take place.

 

“I really hate New Year’s services.”

 

[If you don’t like it, you don’t have to go.]

 

“If I do, I’ll get gossiped about, and besides, my uncle or Lark might bother me even more…”

 

PS: I changed the name L’Arch to lark. Because I think it’s the right one and makes it easier for readers to read.

 

[Why on earth are you letting such troublesome guys live?]

 

Rabes grumbled again, and Elaine sighed softly as she put back on the white dress, which was tailored to last year.

 

Now that she knew Lance’s urn was fake, she had to get ready to leave the temple, but preparing for a life she’d never experienced was not as easy as it sounds, so she still couldn’t decide what to wish for Rabes.

 

So Elaine was putting off leaving the temple.

 

‘I wonder if I can go out this year.’

 

As long as she stayed in the temple, Newt would have to pretend to be family with her every year, and even if she didn’t like it, she had to get ready to leave.

 

Elaine took another look at her perfect outfit from a long time ago, picked up the scriptures, and left the room.

 

Newt was on his way to meet with the people, but she was glad Rabes was with him.

 

Everywhere in the temple was crowded due to the presence of nobles.

 

The saints who returned to the temple two days ago were chatting with their families, and the nobles were busy exchanging greetings with people from other families they had not seen in a long time.

 

Everything was repeating itself, just as it had been a year ago.

 

Elaine entered the chapel with heavy steps and walked to find Newt’s seat.

 

“uh? It’s Elaine.”

 

The first thing that struck Elaine was Ellie’s voice, which seemed to be sharper than before.

 

Count Newt and the Countess glanced at Elaine and then turned their heads away, while Martin looked Elaine up and down to see if there was anything to complain about.

 

“It’s been a while, Elaine.”

 

Lark, who was the only one to greet me, still had an unreadable expression on his face.

 

Even though Elaine turned around after shouting at him like that last time, he remained calm as if nothing like that had happened.

 

That sight was actually more unpleasant.

 

“Long time no see.”

 

Elaine greeted him briefly and then sat in the last seat.

 

Today’s mission was to sit like that and endure until the service was over.

 

As she stared off into space, trying to figure out when the time would run out, someone tapped her on the side.

 

She turned her head and saw that Damon had switched places with Ellie.

 

“How have you been?”

 

Although he wasn’t looking in this direction at all, it was clear what he was saying to Elaine.

 

[Why is this guy like this all of a sudden?]

 

Rabes furrowed his brows as if wary.

 

But Elaine just pretended to rub her shoulder to stroke Rabes’ tail and nodded in response.

 

“Just so-so. you?”

 

“I am…”

 

Damon seemed hesitant about something and mumbled in a low voice.

 

“I’m studying hard.”

 

“Study? What are you studying?”

 

“This and that. Liberal arts, foreign languages, world history, etc…”

 

Damon, who turns seventeen this year, seemed much different from the last time Elaine saw him at the entrance ceremony. He was tall and seemed to have become somewhat mature.

 

And above all, He has not hung out and talked to Martin once since he came here.

 

“Did you fight with Martin?”

 

“We didn’t fight.…Since I don’t follow my brother around, he calls me a traitor.…”

 

“Phew! It looks like Martin is still the same.”

 

Damon nodded quickly, agreeing with Elaine’s opinion.

 

“I thought seriously about what you said at the entrance ceremony. Still, I wasn’t sure what I should do.”

 

Damon seemed to have seriously considered the advice Elaine gave him at last year’s entrance ceremony.

 

‘Actually, I didn’t have high expectations, but it was surprising.’

 

“I discussed it with my brother Lark, and he’d help me figure out what I wanted to do. My brother told me to build up basic knowledge first.”

 

For Damon, Lark would have been the closest counselor. Regardless of Elaine’s dislike of Lark, she understood Damon and nodded her head.

 

However, Damon looked at Lark and asked in a low voice.

 

“however…Can I trust my brother?”

 

Elaine looked at Damon with wide eyes, as she had not expected such a question to come from Damon.

 

As if anticipating Elaine’s reaction, Damon added an explanation.

 

“Brother Lark is the next head of the family. Then, I think my brother will see me as nothing more than a vassal for him and the family.”

 

“Wow, Damon. You’ve really grown up a lot.”

 

“Are you being sarcastic?”

 

“No, I sincerely admire you. I didn’t know you could even think of something like that.”

 

Damon pouted in frustration, but couldn’t seem to find the words to retort.

 

Until early last year, he couldn’t deny that he was following Martin around and playing tricks on Elaine.

 

“After listening to what you said and thinking about it, it seemed like there wasn’t much difference between me and you. To my brother Lark, I thought I was just property that could be sold when the time came…”

 

“Usually everyone is like that. Look at the younger siblings in other families. Most people live according to the opinions of their father or older brother. It’s even worse if it’s a daughter.”

 

Since the head of the family had the right to dispose of and divide all property, children younger than the second son who wanted to acquire even a small piece of land had to obey the orders of the head of the family.

 

However, Damon seemed to have made up his mind and spoke in an earnest voice.

 

“I…I don’t want to marry a woman whose face I don’t know, and I don’t want to live my life doing something I don’t want to do. It doesn’t matter if I don’t get my brother’s property.”

 

“You are trying to take a difficult path.”

 

“You too. You are rebelling against my brother, right?”

 

As Elaine shrugged her shoulders, Damon chuckled.

 

“You, who have nothing to believe in, can do it too, so you don’t think I can do it?”

 

“It’s actually possible because I have nothing to lose. But you have a lot to lose if you get hated by Lark. Are you prepared to lose everything you have?”

 

“It’s difficult right now, but…I want to prepare for independence before I become an adult, even though I’m not sure what to do yet.”

 

Damon, with his determined expression, looked really different.

 

Although he was still young, he seemed to have thought a lot about his future, and he had a strong will that did not want to be influenced by others.

 

Although he was an obnoxious cousin, Elaine could not ignore the troubled child who listened to her advice.

 

‘What was Damon like…?’

 

Elaine quietly recalled the events of her past life.

 

‘Actually, I didn’t have much interest in Damon, so there wasn’t much that came to mind, but one thing was certain: Damon was a stylish guy who paid a lot of attention to clothes.’

 

It was common for noble men to wear clothes chosen by their mothers before marriage and clothes chosen by their wives after marriage. But Damon had started choosing his own clothes three or four years ago.

 

Elaine could tell Damon’s taste just by looking at his preference for unique buttons or lace and his neat attire.

 

“You like pretty clothes, right?”

 

“what?! Do you think I am a girl?”

 

Damon exclaimed, slipping the lace sleeves that were sticking out under the cuffs of his coat.

 

“It’s not a crime to like pretty clothes, so why are you so embarrassed? Besides, men who dress well are popular in social circles.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“I think you have a great sense of clothing. Design costumes or discover and nurture good costume makers.… Anyway, I think it would be good to think about something related to clothes.”

 

At those words, Damon’s eyes began to sparkle.

 

“Do you really think so?”

 

Elaine nodded.

 

“Actually, it’s not that I haven’t thought about it, but I was afraid of getting scolded by my father or older brother.….”

 

“You’re thinking of becoming independent anyway, right? You have to be prepared to bump into it once.”

 

“Ah…That’s right.”

 

Damon’s face became increasingly serious.

 

“To be honest, the foreign languages and world history I’m studying right now are really boring. Rather, I want to study fashion history or clothing theory.….”

 

“At times like this, you need to make a play, Damon. Rather than show off that you’re looking for a job related to clothes, act like you’re an immature rich boy who just wants to go somewhere and show off.”

 

“Well, then isn’t Lark disappointed in me again?”

 

“It’s better than when you were following Martin around, right? and give Lark a scold sometimes about how Newt’s successor dresses?”

 

“Hahaha!”

 

Damon burst out laughing, probably imagining himself scolding Lark.

 

But Elaine was serious.

 

“If your advice on clothes was quite appropriate, Lark wouldn’t ignore your opinion. Maybe he will ask you every time he buys clothes. Be at that level, I mean.”

 

“Okay! It could be so.”

 

“There isn’t much time left, so you’ll have to hurry.”

 

Damon nodded slowly, as if he had made up his mind.

 

At that moment, High Priest John appeared at the chapel.

 

Damon whispered softly as everyone stood up to greet him.

 

“Thank you. I will help you someday too. I promise.”

 

At that moment, Elaine felt as if a stone pressing on her heart had disappeared.

 

Damon may have made this promise because he was young, but thanks to him, Elaine was able to erase another pain from her past life.

 

* * *