You are at the End of the Downfall

“Your Highness.”

Cecile and Denise reflexively bowed upon discovering the Grand Duke emerging from his bedroom.

“Her Highness needs to wash and rest. Make sure she eats, and don’t leave her side even if she lies down.”

“Ah, yes, Your Highness.”

The two maids raised their heads after quickly responding and looked at each other as they watched the Grand Duke walk away. Hadn’t he said he wasn’t in his chambers?

“Your Highness!”

Peon, who had headed toward the castle walls, pretended to have done a proper patrol. Though unnecessary, maintaining appearances was less troublesome and easier for the future.

“The monsters were retreating.”

“Yes. Where were you? Are you alright?”

The knights rushed over to examine him.

“I was withdrawn to the rear. Any casualties?”

“None. It’s very strange.”

“There’s more than one strange thing here.”

The strangest was the woman who should have been throwing tantrums and crying at this point but didn’t know how, or perhaps lacked the strength or desire to do so. She probably just tilted her head slightly, thinking Peon was strange before dismissing it.

“Yes. There had been no signals since last autumn, but today they suddenly appeared, acted like they would attack, and then…”

“Retreated.”

“Yes. You saw it?”

He didn’t see it – he knew. His father’s only goal was likely to create a momentary distraction to bring in his daughter-in-law, the only one who could save his son dying in his own blood.

“Wilberk, strengthen the defenses at Fort Fueten.”

“Yes.”

“Renard, guard Her Highness and maintain order inside the castle.”

“Yes.”

“Ferweding, stay alert but don’t expend too much military power. I’ll find out why the dragon’s minions retreated.”

“Yes… pardon?”

The knights were surprised to see the Grand Duke mounting his horse again.

“Your Highness, it’s dangerous.”

“I’ve already returned alive once, so it’s not dangerous. I feel ashamed for being absent during the battle.”

“Her Highness was with you.”

Ah, was she? That woman who tried to fulfill her duties even while singing of death was always impeccable. Peon smiled wryly.

She desires an impeccable death, that’s why. Having died amid all sorts of slander and accusations, this time she probably wants to die without any fuss.

“A married couple is one body. The monsters wouldn’t have retreated without reason. It’s suspicious, so I’ll go check it out.”

“But, Your Highness.”

“I know how to move without being noticed. Everyone worked hard, so I should do the final patrol. I’m counting on you to watch things here.”

Peon left abruptly without listening further. The affairs of Lusenford now seemed very small to him. Honestly, they were becoming bothersome.

Maintaining titles and fulfilling duties in hopes of better rewards was a human concern. Even the Emperor failed to capture his interest.

He just wanted to quickly kill them by ripping out their throats, deliver his mother to his father, and live peacefully alone with Kaela. He was only playing along because Kaela valued titles and duties, and feared the Emperor.

Once Peon led his horse out, he dismounted and walked when he reached an inconspicuous spot. With each step he took, his surroundings grew darker.

Instantly arriving at the evil dragon’s domain, he encountered lights illuminating his path. The evil dragon, who had spent all day worrying and weeping over his son, had still lit up numerous lights to prevent his son from walking in darkness.

In the deepest part of the realm, where round lights floated and flowers bloomed profusely, large golden eyes watched him. Those eyes, mixed with black spots, green spots, and red flames, were glazed with tears.

-Welcome. Well done. Well done. You thought well.

His father never scolded the son he had barely gained after living thousands of years. He simply spread his wings in welcome.

Peon walked straight into those wings. The dragon’s skin, completely unlike human skin, felt like a hard shield. The evil dragon Gusalante pulled his son into an embrace.

-Well done. I’m glad you’ve returned. Thank you.

What could be more joyful than his precious son returning from the brink of madness and death? The dragon’s voice, repeatedly saying “well done” and “good boy” in trembling tones, had become completely hoarse.

This was because he had spent the night wailing and crying out, trying desperately to bring his isolated, maddening son back to his senses.

The gentle patting touch was simply affectionate. Peon, staying still as his hair was messed up from the stroking, knew what to say at times like this.

“I’m sorry.”

-Yes.

“I won’t do this again.”

-Yes, that’s enough then. That’s enough.

The volume of the soft yet majestic voice that had been shaking the entire realm gradually decreased. It became closer, more intimate.

The thick arms embracing his son shrank, and the sturdy skin that no arrow could pierce changed into soft human skin.

The evil dragon reduced his size and altered his composition, returning to the form he took when meeting his only love, and hugged his son tightly. Peon had seen this appearance several times before.

“It’s fine as long as you don’t do it again.”

When Gusalante took human form, he looked exactly like his son. Anyone could tell they were father and son. If he appeared at Lusenford Castle, anyone would immediately recognize him as “Ah, the Grand Duke’s father” and guide him into the castle; they looked so similar.

This is how Peon would look when he grew older and more mature.

The evil dragon, who transcended time and ages, was an innately magnificent being with both the dignity and atmosphere of a ruler. Even while deeply saddened and troubled, he embraced his son.

“You did well. I’m glad you came back. Thank you for returning.”

Peon hugged his father back as he held and stroked him.

“I won’t do it again. I’m sorry.”

“Yes. Every child needs to rebel and disobey sometimes.”

Isn’t that what raising children is all about? Gusalante pulled his son’s ear. Even that was a gentle touch, careful not to hurt.

“Still, how could you do such a thing right in front of me?”

“Thanks to you, I returned alive and well.”

“So you know you almost died.”

“I realized it when I came to my senses. But I probably wouldn’t have died.”

“Right.”

Though he might not have died, a catastrophe would have struck from Lusenford throughout all of Crania. An enormous disaster that even Gusalante couldn’t stop would have swept across the entire continent.

“I’m sorry.”

Gusalante muttered while stroking his face.

“I’m ashamed of being such an inadequate father.”

To save his son who couldn’t even recognize his own father, the dragon had bound himself here, immobile and seemingly dead, going beyond even his thousand-year-old promise. He had desperately and humiliatingly prevented the Emperor from killing his son.

He knew that the dragon had knocked on Lusenford’s walls by sending monsters and spirits, and even accepted the infamous title of evil dragon, all to strengthen his unstable son’s position.

Or perhaps it was his desperate attempt to see his son’s face and reveal himself as his father.

“Don’t worry about anything. As I’ve said many times, none of it is your fault.”

Peon knew well what Gusalante meant. The child they didn’t even know existed before losing it. The child whose fate was sealed when Kaela was imprisoned. Learning about losing the child had been a great shock to Peon.

But more than the child, what mattered most to Peon was that he had hurt Kaela by creating that child.

More precisely, this fact had driven him to madness. However, he had no intention of discussing these thoughts in front of a father who loved his child so desperately and would sacrifice anything for him.

“Please tell Kaela I’m sorry for bringing her here like that. I’m truly sorry for frightening her so much.”

“If you’re sorry, why don’t you share some of those treasures over there, Father?”

Before his father could sink deeper into unreasonable self-blame, Peon directed attention to the gold and silver treasures scattered throughout the realm.

“I’ll give them to Kaela.”

“Why ask for permission? Just take them.”

“Are these mine? They’re yours, Father.”

“I collected all this to give to you. I gave you the mines too. Speaking of which, why are you leaving the ones near here untouched? Do you know how much is buried there?”

“The person who needs to manage the mines says his liver is too small to come near here.”

Right after his regression, when communication with his father became possible, the first thing Peon received was enormous wealth. Dragons live with gold and treasures beneath them.

Gusalante was overjoyed to give his son everything: mine locations, types and quantities of buried minerals, and offerings collected separately for over a thousand years.

Considering how hard it had been to reveal the location of the diamond mine that produced the Kervan series before the regression, this was truly wonderful.

However, the largest and most important mine happened to be in the evil dragon’s domain.

Since Secretary Regen Nerkel insisted he couldn’t go there and begged to spare his tiny liver, Peon had left it alone. After all, he had numerous other mines from his father, and plenty of wealth besides mines.

“Take a lot. You’ll need to go to Craine soon.”

Gusalante personally selected the finest jewels for his requesting son.

“Must I go?”

Peon hesitantly turned to look at his father.

“Yes. Both you and Kaela will need to go.”

Gusalante smiled bitterly. It was somewhat regrettable that his son, who had finally grown close to him, would be distant again. Especially since this son had gone mad and slashed himself, his worry was immeasurable.

“I occasionally see distant things. And lately, my vision has become clearer.”

Peon listened silently. Craine…

“It seems you’ll be there for quite a while.”

Gusalante pulled out boxes he had kept separately precious among the carelessly piled gold.

“Then what about Mother…”

“Yes. Evelyn…”

Father and son, understanding each other’s hearts, nodded.

“Still, don’t think too hastily about it – do it at your own pace, alright? I can wait a bit longer.”

“I can’t wait any longer.”

“Yes. You’ve become that kind of dragon.”

Gusalante’s voice, who had spent all night trying to stop his son, sank deeply. He was too late this time as well.

“Is it completely finished?”

“Once a dragon opens its eyes, there is no end. It only continues to spread, never stopping. There is no ultimate stage.”

The Emperor, who had placed restrictions to prevent his son from awakening, had failed this time, but that didn’t mean Gusalante had succeeded either.

“I don’t even know where you’ll go.”

“Is that so?”

“I’ve never walked the path you’re walking. After many years, I met Evelyn, and though she was taken from me, you and she sustained me. Your existence brought me joy. I had hope.”

But his son no longer wanted to have hope. The precious hope he had held was already broken.

“Peon, you’re a dragon I’ve never seen or known before.”

The evil dragon could only say that his son had gone mad many times, speaking to one who would be called the mad dragon.

****

They said it was the first time monsters had acted like they would attack before retreating. Strangely, no one knew that Kaela had been absent during that time. Another typical unsettling day in Lusenford was passing by.

“How strange. We never prepared any bath water.”

Cecile seemed incredibly amazed that the tub was already filled with warm water. Since she kept mentioning it, Kaela had to respond.

“His Highness prepared it.”

“What? Oh my goodness.”

Cecile’s eyes widened. He even prepared warm bath water separately during all that? Goodness! Could there be such a caring and gentle husband! But for the Grand Duke to do such menial tasks – how humbling and apologetic!

Though she didn’t speak, her thoughts were clearly written on her face. Kaela let Cecile quietly think whatever she wanted. She had her own thoughts to consider.

Having a dragon as a father-in-law was something everyone should take seriously. Of course, thinking about it didn’t lead to any answers.

Conventionally, she should go to Craine immediately to report this, but well… considering her husband who had made ‘that’ evil dragon weep… Besides, reporting it wouldn’t solve anything, and she didn’t have that much passion for it either.

Yes. No passion or motivation. Dragons, huh. Kaela knew several legends about dragons she’d heard since coming here. Well, things like dragons being born from ashes of fire, or wielding tremendous magic.

‘Was the regression because of the dragon?’

Because of Peon? Or because of the evil dragon Gusalante? Well, she wasn’t curious about such things anymore. Kaela was curious about just one thing.

She closed her drowsy eyes. She was very tired today. It was natural, since it hadn’t been long since she’d barely started walking after being unconscious for a month from poison.

When she opened her eyes again, everything was quiet. Kaela stared ahead quietly, slowly realizing that what was blocking her view was a man’s upper body.

“Awake?”

Peon, who had been watching her while propping his head up with his arm, smiled. Even in the darkness, his smile was quite magnificent.