༺ Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (14) ༻
After delivering the ‘punishment’ Senior Delphine wanted, I had a sullen look on my face.
Was this kind of relationship really okay?
Senior Delphine seemed genuinely submissive towards me, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that I was actually bending to her will.
At that moment, I was thinking about how much trouble I’d be in if someone reported this abuse to the Disciplinary Committee.
Senior Delphine looked somewhat satisfied. Her body’s prominent curves were particularly captivating.
Lately, the punishments asked by Senior Delphine had become increasingly intense.
At first, she just wanted me to scratch her cheek with the hatchet blade or punch her in the solar plexus. But today, as if she had awakened to some fetish, she even asked me to spank her.
Of course, the sensation was nice.
You wouldn’t understand it unless you’ve also felt the cool touch of her taut, supple flesh in your palm. Senior Delphine had a figure as perfect as her face, so, honestly, it was quite a treat.
However, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Marquis Yurdina.
I thought that once the holidays started, I would get Senior Delphine some health supplements as a gift. Maybe it’d help ease my guilt.
Who would have imagined that the prideful and esteemed heir of the Yurdina Household would willingly kiss the foot of a nobody?
Even going as far as developing a strange fetish for punishments.
It was a side of her that should remain unseen. Not just by Marquis Yurdina but also by Seria.
If Seria saw Senior Delphine now, I could imagine her fainting from the shock.
I sighed deeply, immersed in thoughts, but Senior Delphine seemed rather calm.
She looked utterly carefree. With a calm voice, she offered some advice.
“By the way, Master, you should be careful around the Press Club.”
My eyes, filled with confusion, turned to Senior Delphine. She approached my ear with a sly smile and whispered.
Her warm and moist breath felt as if it was burning my ear.
“… It’s a branch of the Imperial Intelligence Agency.”
“What?”
The same Press Club that publishes sensational and seemingly pointless articles?
My surprise was evident, but her words remained unchanged. She gave a knowing smile as if my reaction was expected.
“You really thought that the Imperial Intelligence Agency would make it obvious they’re a skilled and suspicious group?”
“…You’ve got a point.”
I nodded in agreement because that’s how I used to think.
After all, appearing unremarkable is the best way to avoid suspicion. From that perspective, the Imperial Intelligence Agency’s choice to disguise itself as the Press Club was brilliant.
‘A place that supplies interesting tidbits to read, just to burn them later.’
Such was the Press Club’s reputation at the Academy.
Of course, until Senior Delphine shared this information with me, I would have never imagined it. Though I did think that there had to be some spies active somewhere, given the Empire’s influence within the Academy.
Suddenly, I thought of the newspaper I had tucked away.
It frequently offered distorted information about me. The reason behind their bias now made sense.
No wonder they had issues with me, who was constantly messing with the high nobility and the Imperial Family.
I chuckled, thinking about how I used to picture the ‘Imperial Intelligence Agency’ as fearsome secret agents. Now? It barely fazed me.
Compared to them, beings like demonic humans, mythical monsters, and Dark Priests were more terrifying.
Maybe someday I would confront the Press Club. Not sure what I’d do, but it’s worth a shot.
It was the Imperial Intelligence Agency after all, where talented individuals gathered. It would be naive to judge them under a normal perspective.
After pondering for a while, I curiously asked Senior Delphine.
“If so, then is the ‘Queen of the Ball’ also…?”
“Obviously she’s a part of the Intelligence Agency. She’s the head of the Academy branch.”
As expected. I swallowed hard and nodded.
I had heard of the ‘Queen of the Ball’, a commoner who dominated the aristocratic social scene.
Not only was she beautiful, but her intelligence and insights were said to be extraordinary.
I had always wondered how a commoner could achieve such influence. But after hearing Senior Delphine’s words, it all made sense.
I mentally stored all this information. Gotta admit, I was more impressed with Senior Delphine than ever.
She was the same person who, after the Hunting Festival, hadn’t managed to assert her authority as the successor of the Yurdina Household.
Yet, she knew about the top-secret branch of the Imperial Intelligence Agency. Her power felt very real once again.
After all, she was the heir to one of the Five Noble Families of the empire.
While I couldn’t help but admire Senior Delphine’s intelligence, I also felt a pang of guilt.
Just to be clear, the information about the Imperial Intelligence Agency was top secret.
It was strictly forbidden to leak any of it. Even for the heir of the Yurdina Household.
Even if she saw me as someone close, she really had no obligation to share such important information with me, someone not even from her family.
In fact, by giving me this information, she was actually risking a lot. Yet, she didn’t hesitate to clue me in.
That unexpected kindness made me feel uneasy.
Lately, I’ve been making some waves, but deep down, I’m just a second son of a countryside Viscount. Even as a swordsman, I wasn’t perfect.
However, Senior Delphine was showing me favor that went beyond mere friendship.
Feeling totally puzzled, I couldn’t help but ask her.
“Senior Delphine.”
“…?”
Senior Delphine, who was about to leave the lab after adjusting her clothes, stopped immediately at my call.
Confusion was visible in her deep crimson eyes. Her eyes were always beautiful, but now wasn’t the time to indulge in them.
With a more serious tone, I asked.
“…Why are you clinging to me?”
It could have been a slightly offensive question. However, I intentionally asked it without any filter.
I thought that was the only way to hear Senior Delphine’s true feelings.
After staring at me for a brief moment, Senior Delphine smirked.
Then she walked over and whispered into my ear.
“…Obviously, to win.”
Before I could ask, ‘Win what?’.
My eyes met Senior Delphine’s blood-red pupils. My mouth snapped shut instantly.
A torrent of fierce emotions bubbled up in her eyes. A mix of a desire to win, obsession, and blind faith, all fusing into some new kind of emotion.
Madness. That was the only word I could use to describe the way Senior Delphine looked, smiling with those lifeless eyes.
Her raspy voice lingered over my ears.
“If I’m on your side, I can win, right? To me, winning means everything. And so does losing. If there’s even a slight chance to win, I’d do anything.”
Senior Delphine’s slender fingers, which were gripping my shoulder, tightened. I felt a slight pain.
But I wasn’t bothered by that. What truly shocked me was the raw depth of emotion Senior Delphine was displaying.
“Want me to wag my tail? Fine, I’ll wag it as much as you want. I’ll kiss your feet, or anywhere you want just for that… I’ll even undress if you ask and kneel if you command. But in return, you’ve got to make sure to win.”
With those words, Senior Delphine pushed off my shoulder, distancing herself from me.
All the while, my eyes were filled with shock. My dumbfounded gaze was directed at Senior Delphine.
As if pretending the demeanor she showed moments ago was a lie, she had a strange smile on her face.
“If you do that, I’ll be your property for life… So, please try your best, okay?”
With that, Senior Delphine knelt down for the last time, kissed my foot, and left.
For a long time, I stood there as if I was nailed to the spot.
After what felt like ages, a bitter smile formed on my lips.
“…I’ll do my best.”
Thinking that Delphine Yurdina was still the same, I began to walk again.
The pieces were starting to fall into place.
**
It was when I was walking alone in a secluded part of the Academy, after leaving the research building.
A familiar face caught my eye. A lovely girl with red-coloured hair was there.
It was Emma. She was putting something into a basket and moving along. I thought about greeting her but decided against it.
It’d be a hassle. Even Leto, who was a noble, suffered because he was a close friend of mine and for that reason, I couldn’t get close to Emma, a commoner.
A bitter smile formed on my face again. Now was the time to be patient.
Anyway, everything would be settled in less than a month. As I was about to turn away, a scene caught my attention, making me halt.
A group of female students, who appeared as nobles at a glance, approached Emma. Something felt off.
My instincts were on point.
I heard arguments and soon enough, a commotion started. Even from afar, it was clear what the issue was.
“…What’s the problem? Is that lowly noble your prince or something?”
“Didn’t I tell you to fucking repeat after me? Say ‘Ian Percus is an idiot who doesn’t know his place, and his family is just a bunch of country bumpkins without any roots.'”
The mocking laughter continued. Yet, I still hesitated.
Would stepping in really help Emma?
I couldn’t be by her side all day. If my involvement made things worse, it’d be counterproductive.
But then, in the next moment…
“…I’ll never say it!”
Emma’s determined shout echoed, followed by a sharp slapping sound.
Emma screamed and fell to the ground. The basket dropped, spilling its contents.
One of the female students had slapped Emma across the face.
Time seemed to slow. Seeing Emma get slapped and fall so pitifully, my mind went blank.
I couldn’t think. All I heard was a distinct crack.
It was the sound of my string of rationality snapping.
