The Response to my Drunken Proposal was Surprisingly Good

✦  Chapter 57 – Sun Elixir (9)  ✦

「Translator – Creator」

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Dragons are solitary creatures.

You, who face the dragon,

This truth you must know.

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…Then what of something that is neither dragon nor human?

Something that is not even a dragon-people born between dragon and human, but is simply a human, yet has gained the power of a dragon?

The Empire’s Second Imperial Princess, Hedera, was precisely that ‘something’.

As a child, she was simply labeled as a ‘dullard’. She must have received all sorts of investment because she was born a princess, but being a dullard was enough of a reason for those around her to ignore her.

Then one day, by chance, she obtained Dragon Blood and the power of Dragon Speech; though she gained tremendous power afterward and her reputation soared, Hedera was far from happy.

After all, power and happiness were entirely separate matters.

A being that is neither a dragon nor a human.

It didn’t take long for the girl to become lonely.

At least when she was a dullard, there was no one who envied Hedera. No matter what they thought or what they said behind her back, they would at least give her encouragement to work hard in front of her.

But after gaining power…

— Seeing that, it seems all my efforts were meaningless.

— Indeed, in the end it’s all decided by heaven.

— I won’t bother anymore. Things will work out somehow….

Rather than motivating them, Hedera’s power caused those around her to lose their reason to strive. Her power gradually became not a motivation but a disaster that made them lose the will to go on.

— How amazing!

— As expected of the Princess! She’s divine!

Even those who deified Hedera couldn’t bring her happiness. On the contrary, they simply considered the girl to be too great and only poured out ignorant praise.

Those who truly understood the girl gradually disappeared.

Most of those who faced her bowed down in front of her, but behind her back they showed jealousy and fear. It was a burden too heavy to bear at a young age.

Yet all of this was just the beginning.

The connections drawn by power were no better.

— Follow my advice completely.

— I am dragonborn by nature. Would I lie to you?

Because Hedera was human-born, dragon-people seeking to exploit her for their own gain began to appear one by one.

Watching their demands escalate to unreasonable levels, Hedera finally realized—

‘They all just want something from me.’

Every kindness shown to Hedera had ulterior motives.

From then on, the girl became obsessed with ‘wanting’.

Was there no one who wanted nothing from her?

Someone who would stay by her side even if she lost her power, someone who would remain even if she lost her status as princess and all her wealth, someone who would treat the girl normally.

…There was no one. Of course such a person couldn’t exist.

Hedera eventually came to trust no one. Her ambiguous identity as a hybrid or anomaly had finally gifted her with this painfully lonely existence.

Ezekiel Hound.

Even that Master was no different.

At first, the fact that he had left was shocking and infuriating, but soon enough she could easily understand. He too was human after all. Surely he must have desired gold coins, and left once he had amassed enough.

Therefore, when she first received his letter, she was exasperated.

A message arriving belatedly after an unconscionable period of neglect. Hedera was now an adult, and well aware of what such communications implied.

When one belatedly feels regret, when something suddenly becomes urgent, when one desires something too late…

The height of patheticness. That’s what she thought as she scoffed.

However, when she met him on the rooftop, she was slightly shaken.

He claimed he would do his best as an inspector to ensure the magic tower’s success? Of course, she couldn’t believe it.

Hedera completely rejected his intentions, assuming it was merely an act to gain something greater.

Trust always led to betrayal.

The jealousy, fear, and slander from those she had trusted.

What seemed like a good opportunity turned into forced soul contracts.

Didn’t the pain of betrayal grow stronger the more trust was given? Was it because she was so worn out? Hedera now knew how not to get hurt herself.

But after learning of his health condition in the temple’s archives…

She reread the letter and was deeply shocked.

— Happiness.

Yes, Ezekiel too wanted something.

However, what he wanted was Hedera’s happiness.

…Why on earth? Was such a thing even possible?

Could a human truly desire another’s happiness alone?

Without asking for anything in return, without caring about his own body that seemed like it would collapse at any moment, could he only wish for Hedera’s happiness?

And finally, on the day she succeeded in deciphering the ancient dragon language…

‘…He’s sincere. Undoubtedly sincere.’

Hedera at last understood Ezekiel’s true intentions.

He was maintaining the barrier by sacrificing his lifespan, and he was telling her a white lie so that she could concentrate comfortably. There was no ulterior motive in his actions.

He was truly, only wishing for Hedera’s happiness.

Of course, the process of accepting this was incredibly difficult. She had to face all of her past actions.

She doubted all of Ezekiel’s intentions, and even went so far as to block his way. And on top of that, she even recklessly provoked him into making a wager. In truth, it now took courage just to meet Ezekiel’s gaze. It was hard to know what expression to wear when looking at him. Speaking to him was even harder.

So Hedera pondered deeply, again and again.

And finally came to a conclusion.

Equivalent exchange.

So far, Ezekiel had worked for Hedera’s happiness without any compensation, and Hedera had not been able to do anything for Ezekiel in return.

But if they could continue to face each other in the future, she could start doing something for him from now on.

Give, and give, and give again.

So that one day, the relationship between the two would become an equivalent exchange.

Currently, Hedera had sought out the Imperial Treasury as her first step.

“Tether.”

“Princess! We’ve been awaiting your arrival!”

Though the Emperor had forcibly dragged Hedera and Solana out of the valley, Hedera was a proper lady. She wasn’t childish enough to throw a tantrum insisting on going back in. So she decided to use her time efficiently and immediately called for Tether to find the Imperial Treasury.

“Princess, hasn’t the first floor become much more spacious? It’s thanks to the Magic Tower’s Inspector. He moved all those troublesome elemental stones to the second floor!”

“…Yes. I heard.”

Hedera nodded, feeling newly grateful.

Like this, even his small actions were helping her. In this world overflowing with pretense and lies, he was the only sincerity and truth.

“Let’s go to the third floor.”

“The third floor, did you say the third floor?”

“Yes. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“No, no! It’s just been so long…!”

Opening the Imperial Treasury itself was a rare event, but visiting the highest third floor was even rarer.

“Are you here to look around? Or perhaps to withdraw something…?”

“To withdraw.”

“Withdraw! Relics from the third floor, no less!”

However, Hedera had already made up her mind. She intended to take everything that could be of help to Ezekiel.

“I am but a lowly servant, unable to enter the third floor. I shall wait at the entrance!”

“Alright.”

The Second Imperial Princess slowly looked around the treasure vault.

Indeed, an abundance of relics worthy of being called rare treasures overflowed in various forms. Jewels, ornaments, weapons, clothing…

‘This is… a branch of the World Tree.’

Her gaze swept only over items related to health. Currently displayed before her was a branch from the World Tree of the Great Forest. A staff imbued with tremendous life force.

‘No good. It doesn’t actually have healing effects.’

Literally, it only contained immense life force but had no curative properties.

Perhaps that’s why, to Hedera’s eyes as she thought of Ezekiel, it suddenly looked like mere trash.

The woman’s footsteps hurriedly traversed the third floor.

‘Dragon’s Tear.’

A relics said to break all curses.

However, it couldn’t actually change one’s constitution.

‘The Sun’s Regret.’

A necklace that constantly provided a holy barrier.

But again, it had no healing effect.

One by one, they were relics that could have a great impact on the continent, but Hedera didn’t want any of them. It had to be something that could help Ezekiel…

Then, in the midst of it all.

Something finally caught her eye.

“…Fusion Rings.”

A pair of rings that made up a set, if two people wore them, they could check each other’s condition in real time.

‘I’ll take these for now. To know immediately if there’s an emergency.’

Just as Hedera picked up the Fusion Rings…

“Pr-Princess! Princess!”

An urgent voice came from the lower floor.

Hedera furrowed her brow at the noise, but…

“The Inspector! The Magic Tower’s Inspector has been injured!”

Her displeasure quickly turned to shock.

“…What?”

Hedera descended to the lower floor. Such was her urgency that she lowered her mask and even used her dragon speech.

“Speak. What exactly has happened?”

Under the influence of the dragon speech, Tether began to explain.

“I heard that during the match, the Magic Tower’s Inspector was gravely injured. He’s currently in the Imperial Palace’s temple—”

“…Damn it all!”

Hedera didn’t even listen anymore and started moving; her hurried steps soon became a full sprint.

“Hah… hah…!”

It was an undignified act, but she didn’t have time to care. Ezekiel is in critical condition? Why on earth?

What if something terrible were to happen…?

No. That absolutely could not be allowed.

He was the only man who had shown her true sincerity, the only one who had wished for her happiness. She couldn’t afford for him to get hurt before she could make an equivalent exchange.

No.

Absolutely, absolutely not…

Hedera ran towards the temple like a madman.

Truly like a woman possessed.