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Chapter 6
“Excuse me, could I trouble you for a blanket? I need something to cover myself while I sleep.”
“Huh? You mean you’re going to sleep here? This isn’t a place for people to stay, especially for a young lady like you.”
“It’s fine. I’m sturdier than I look.”
“No, still…”
The maid hesitated, flustered, trying to stop Jeina. She hadn’t been told that Jeina was the daughter of the Tower Master, and knowing how much the people of the Mage Tower disliked interference, the maid’s insistence was surprisingly earnest. She seemed to be genuinely caring.
Jeina appreciated the thought but shook her head again.
“Really, it’s fine. Besides, wasn’t it Michael who wanted this place?”
“But…”
At the mention of Michael, the maid faltered and hesitated. Even as she handed over the blanket, her face still seemed reluctant, but Jeina waved her off and closed the door.
Jeina had no complaints about the room. In fact, she felt like praising Michael for wisely choosing the location. If they had rashly assigned her a room in the central tower in the current situation, it would have upset Diarmid.
And right now, Jeina had no time to care about the room itself. She was too overwhelmed with gratitude for this moment.
‘It’s the first time in my life I’ve had a room all to myself.’
In both her past life and this one, Jeina had always been a burden. A private room was an unattainable luxury for her.
‘It’s too late now, so I should avoid making noise. Tomorrow, I’ll borrow cleaning tools and clear the cobwebs and dust in the corners.’
Plop.
Lying down, even the blanket, large enough for an adult to cover themselves, seemed enormous against her small body.
‘I ended up coming out after all.’
Haa. As the tension left her, her long tail wriggled out. Everything else was fine, but the tail, being something humans don’t have, tended to appear whenever she relaxed.
Sigh.
Through the window, the trees in the garden she had seen in the library earlier cast long shadows.
‘It was really good to come to the Mage Tower without any complaints.’
Her heart felt far lighter than when she lived invisibly in the Dragon Village. There were so many things she could enjoy here.
‘I wish every day could be like today.’
Even in spring, the night was still chilly. Jeina curled up as she stared at the shadows, swaying and shifting in various shapes in the wind.
The next morning, when Jeina arrived at the dining hall, she ran into Michael.
He smiled brightly, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at her.
With dragon blood in his veins, his sensitive ears picked up the whispers of the surrounding magicians. It was surprising to see Michael, who usually just grabbed a potion for a meal, come to the dining hall again after yesterday.
“Did you sleep well last night, little one?”
His eyes didn’t glance at the food at all, focusing solely on Jeina. Clearly, he wasn’t there to eat but to see her.
“Yes.”
Jeina responded while diligently tearing her bread with small hands. Michael leaned in closer.
“I heard last night that you slept in a narrow storage room the servants used. Was it okay? Did the long branches of the trees outside look like ghosts to you? Though, maybe they actually were. Even the magicians whisper whenever they pass through there.”
Jeina recalled the garden trees swaying outside the window last night. It certainly would have been frightening for a child to stay alone in that barren, chilly room.
But she had picked the right person. Looking at Michael’s expectant face, Jeina spoke.
“The room last night…”
As she chewed her bread and lazily lifted her head, her eyes caught someone.
It was Moben.
He had left the library yesterday as if chased out, staring at Michael and her with a sharp gaze.
‘He asked what kind of relationship I have with Michael.’
Though not with good intentions, Michael had proven useful. Perhaps she could make use of that. Jeina briefly met Moben’s eyes, then naturally looked away as if she hadn’t noticed.
“It was a nice room. I like trees, you know. I’m grateful if it was chosen with me in mind.”
“Not afraid of ghosts?”
“The living are scarier than the dead.”
Jeina answered, recalling a saying she often heard in Korea.
“You really… you’re beyond mature for your age… even bizarre…”
She fidgeted with her small hands under the table.
“And it’s the first time I’ve had a room all to myself.”
Hearing that, Michael’s expression twisted oddly.
“What? First time? Even so, you’re a dragon, right? Surely your dwelling has more than one room?”
“Seems so.”
Michael, suspicious, seemed to consider something, then muttered to himself, “Whatever.”
“The strangest thing is your personality. Are all dragons like you?”
“Can I ask something too? Are all pure-blood humans like Michael?”
“What? Like Michael?”
Michael frowned and prolonged his words. Jeina, looking innocent, asked again.
“Oh, if my wording bothered you, I’ll correct it. Then are all pure-blood humans like you?”
“You mean ‘you’?!”
Michael jumped at her choice of words.
“Why would I be ‘you’ to you, brat!”
“Then what should I call you? I can’t exactly call you big brother.”
“Well…!”
Michael, who tried to retort, was left speechless. Despite twisting her origin yesterday, he was at a loss for words even though it didn’t imply a blood-related older brother.
Huh…?
Jeina was puzzled when Michael, who she expected to lose his temper, hesitated.
As they stared at each other, neither noticed someone approaching. Even with full attention, the outcome wouldn’t have changed.
“Oh my. Having fun being noisy? Can I join in?”
A woman approached, naturally breaching the sound barrier Michael had set up. Though she spoke as if she were an old lady, her smooth, fair face looked no older than twenty.
Only her hair was white, shimmering like silver in the light, subtly indicating her actual age. Jeina could vaguely tell.
“That guy is always foolish and noisy every day. Maybe that’s why I’m more interested in the new child?”
Her name was Hilbenzia. Her pale green eyes sparkled as she turned to Jeina.
“I thought you only enjoyed my cooking yesterday, but you ate a lot today too.”
Her gaze briefly fell on the empty plate that had held bread moments ago.
“Hello. You’re the Mage Tower Master’s daughter, right?”
“You already know, so I have nothing more to say.”
Hilbenzia smiled faintly, her eyes curving elegantly.
“I like dragons. Did you know that the first potion contained dragon’s blood?”
“I also know the temple’s holy sword was made from dragon bones.”
“Smart child.”
Hilbenzia covered her mouth lazily, her eyes twinkling again with charm.
“And brave too.”
She reached out and gently patted Jeina’s round head.
“I’m usually not liked by children. But you’re not afraid of me, huh?”
Her long nails brushed lightly against Jeina’s scalp. Jeina met her gaze without flinching.
“Am I supposed to be afraid?”
“Well… I wonder?”
Her hand moved down from her hair to Jeina’s eye area.
“Blue eyes… same as the Tower Master’s. Such a lovely color. I don’t know about other traits, but even if not…”
Hilbenzia stroked Jeina’s white cheeks. Her small face fit entirely in Hilbenzia’s hand.
“I’m quite intrigued by you.”
“Hey, old woman.”
“Don’t interrupt, Michael. I’m talking now.”
Hilbenzia’s voice turned low. The smile vanished from her face as she addressed Michael.
“Anyway, weren’t you planning to play with this child? I have important business, so step aside, okay?”
“What old woman? You telling me to back off from this kid? Does she even know you? Have you ever spoken?”
Michael’s normally gentle face twisted fiercely. When he didn’t back down easily, a fleeting look of surprise crossed Hilbenzia’s face before disappearing.
“Don’t interrupt? That’s my line. I was speaking to this child first—why are you talking?”
A tense aura started emanating from Michael. The overwhelming magic froze the magicians in the dining hall.
The Mage Tower was full of skilled individuals, each with keen nerves. For them, injury or death was preferable to a bruised ego.
‘How did I get caught in this fight…?’
Jeina felt uneasy. The timing was terrible. Hilbenzia approached precisely when Michael was present.
“Whatever you intended for this child would have been wicked, obviously.”
“You were going to do something else with her, right?”
“At least I don’t see her as just an ingredient.”
“Ingredient, hmm.”
Hilbenzia chuckled softly at that.
“Ashreed, I think your relatives’ letter said so? Your hair might have been useful too, but unfortunately it’s quite short.”
“Old woman!”
“Please call me Jeina. That’s the real name my mother gave me, not my relatives.”
While Jeina spoke quietly, Michael’s aura grew harsher. Yet Hilbenzia remained calm, even more intrigued.
When she pointed at Jeina with one hand, the oppressive magic pressing down around them vanished.
