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Chapter -19……………………………………………………………………………………………..
The duke’s eyes widened. He seemed startled, but that expression didn’t last long.
“Do you mean His Highness the Prince of the Principality? Is this because of that meeting at the temple the other day?”
“…You heard about it?”
“Yes. It was quite the incident.”
The duke let out a short sigh, then furrowed his brows as if troubled.
“After becoming a dragon, His Highness the Prince rarely leaves the principality in the southern region. He occasionally comes up to the capital at the Emperor’s request, but in the first place, only a very limited number of people can even speak with the Prince… I can’t even begin to guess what kind of person he is.”
The duke’s honest words oddly made me feel more at ease. Right, well. The Prince only appeared in the original story after the saintess showed up anyway.
“If he already sensed that the saintess was someone who would awaken as a dragon, that would explain it.”
“Then… is it impossible to meet him?”
“No, that’s not the case.”
Unexpectedly, the duke shook his head.
“If you wish, meeting His Highness the Prince will not be difficult. I will personally send a request to him.”
“That’s… possible?”
“Erina. Didn’t you already receive His Highness the Prince’s favor? I’m sure there isn’t a single person in this country who doesn’t know that.”
Ah. I thought I was fine, but was I already in trouble? Hahaha.
I swallowed the sigh trying to escape.
Ah, life… no, ever since I got possessed, nothing has been going right anyway.
‘No, it’s still fine.’
I was only trying to quietly escape the original story—it just became a little harder. There were still two years until the original plot began, and if I hid quietly before the awakening, I could manage.
“Please let me meet the Prince, Father. I want to speak with him.”
The duke looked at me with an appraising gaze.
“I would like to know your reason. If you tell me your purpose, it would be easier to arrange the meeting with him.”
I fell silent at his words. I understood what that persistent gaze meant.
‘Is he thinking he wants to help if it’s something he can handle?’
A reasonable thought. And for a duke who felt indebted to Erina, it was understandable.
But unfortunately, what I needed to talk to the Prince about was not something the duke could help with. There were limits to what humans could do about awakening.
More than anything, I didn’t want to rely on the duke any more than necessary.
“I want to speak directly with His Highness the Prince.”
The duke’s eyes wavered, but I deliberately avoided them. It wasn’t something he could do anything about anyway. Besides, I didn’t trust him.
‘Same goes for Gawen and Russell.’
In the original story, they ignored Erina. They turned away from her, and once the heroine appeared, they abandoned her. If they did it once, what was stopping them from doing it again?
And unlike the original, their personalities had already gone through major changes. How could I predict what they might do?
If my awakening failed, they might abandon me again. So I wouldn’t tell them.
“Is it something you can’t tell me?”
“Yes. It’s difficult.”
“…Not even Gawen or Russell?”
I quietly nodded.
The duke’s expression grew complicated. After letting out a long sigh filled with many meanings, he slowly nodded.
“…Very well. I will relay your words to His Highness the Prince. It would be best to enter the palace immediately.”
“Now?”
“Isn’t that what you want?”
With a faint smile, the duke stood up. He reached out toward me, then hesitated.
Maybe he had intended to pat my head, or reassure me by tapping my shoulder.
In the end, he withdrew his hand without doing anything more.
“Go back to your room and rest.”
Leaving only those words behind, the duke turned and left. His back looked strangely slumped, but I had nothing to say to him.
‘Serves him right.’
He shouldn’t have done things he’d regret so much that even Erina’s smallest reactions would wound him like this.
Even though, from my perspective, these were trivial matters… seeing such intense reactions was honestly exhausting.
Since the room’s owner had left, I couldn’t stay long. So I reluctantly stood up, leaving the tea and snacks behind.
‘I should ask Marie to bring me some sweets.’
After all, sweets were the best when stressed.
* * *
Surprisingly, things moved very quickly. The duke went straight to the imperial palace that same day and received permission from the Prince.
And the day of the meeting was just two days later.
“So we’re meeting him this soon…”
Even though the Prince rarely met anyone, nobles must constantly send letters and requests trying to meet him… yet I got an appointment two days later? And today is that day?
“What could the Prince possibly be thinking?”
“How could a mere human understand the thoughts of a great dragon, my lady? Please relax a little.”
At Marie’s words, I sighed and loosened my body. Her hands gently combed through my hair, and a sweet fragrance tickled my nose a moment later.
“…Isn’t this taking too long just to get ready?”
“What are you saying, my lady! This is a chance to meet a dragon who walks upon the earth! If anything, I’m worried we don’t have enough time!”
Marie’s eyes sparkled as she fussed over me, making it feel like she was the one going to meet the Prince.
‘Let’s just enjoy this moment.’
Even if this was my body now, Erina’s beauty was incredible. Watching it become even more dazzling under the hands of others was strangely enjoyable.
‘People really should put effort into their appearance.’
Is this what people mean when they say “you look like a goddess”?
This can’t possibly be my face.
‘Ah, right. It is Erina’s body.’
…Suddenly I feel a bit self-conscious.
No—this face is mine now! If I want to keep enjoying it, I need to change this miserable future!
With the help of Marie and the maids, I changed into a red dress and clenched my fist.
‘I need to find a breakthrough after meeting the Prince Shrandis!’
Whether it’s about awakening or escaping the family and going into hiding, this meeting with Shrandis was my lifeline.
I grabbed the hem of my dress and stepped forward. At the end of the hallway, as if waiting, Gawen stood in his knightly uniform.
“…Let’s go, Erina.”
He held out his hand. When I lightly took it, I felt strength tighten in his grip.
The carriage ride to the palace was filled with silence.
“…Erina.”
Just as I was thinking about how to speak to the Prince, Gawen’s voice reached my ears.
I sighed inwardly, already guessing what he would ask, and looked at him.
“Why are you meeting His Highness the Prince…”
“Brother Gawen, you were with me at the temple. You probably already have a rough idea of why I’m meeting him…”
“Knowing and hearing it from you are different things, aren’t they?”
Well, that’s true. But I had no intention of telling him.
“I don’t want to say.”
“Erina.”
“Even if it’s called His Highness’s whim, I received the Prince’s favor. I think anyone would be grateful for that favor.”
“I agree. But if what you’re thinking of is something we can handle ourselves, then it would be better to save that precious opportunity—”
I stared at Gawen.
He stopped mid-sentence.
“Only the Prince can do this.”
Even I thought I sounded too firm. But it was the truth.
Awakening potential couldn’t be changed—that was canon. And it couldn’t be altered after awakening either.
If it could, Erina wouldn’t have fallen into darkness like that.
So this was my only chance.
If I could meet a dragon before the awakening ritual, maybe there would be a way to change something.
Even if not, it wasn’t hopeless. He had promised help under the name of a dragon. Surely there were other ways to receive assistance beyond awakening.
Gawen fell silent, lowering his gaze. He looked like he was thinking deeply, but I ignored it.
‘He’s probably digging a hole in his head, wondering who to consult.’
Go ahead, dig deeper. Dig so far you’ll need a tombstone.
“Still… I wish you would tell me, Erina. If it’s something we can help with, we could preserve that precious opportunity…”
Gawen was persistent. Perhaps because of that effort, I answered lightly.
“I don’t think you would be able to help. Especially not those like you who awakened before turning nineteen.”
Just as geniuses struggle to understand ordinary people’s hardships, they would struggle to understand Erina too.
Even if they were now trying to care, even if they regretted it.
