༺ Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (50) ༻
The flames that erupted heated the surroundings, conjuring mirages with their sheer heat.
The might of the Dragonblood Script was devastating even after subduing its power to spare the scattered knights and the imperial princess from harm.
Mitram, as the primary target, found herself engulfed in flames.
Gasping for air, she dropped to the ground and began rolling around in a desperate attempt to extinguish the fire.
The cave reverberated with a deep rumble, signaling damage from the intense explosion. Yet, thanks to its sturdy construction, it managed to stay intact.
Ian groggily staggered towards a nearby body while Mitram continued to struggle within the blaze.
It was the mangled corpse of a knight, torn from arm to chest in the detonation of Mitram’s living bomb—a promising knight, likely from a reputable family, who had met an untimely demise within the secret passageway.
Though his death seemed in vain, the legacy of the fallen sometimes served as a lifeline for others.
Ian rummaged through the knight’s waist, discovering a pouch, which he promptly opened before grabbing and gulping down the green potion contained within. Though he couldn’t explain how, he instinctively knew it was an antidote.
In fact, he had made extensive preparations before entering the tunnel and had only ventured inside after consuming all the potions Emma had given him.
He had consumed so many potions that he lost count.
Off the top of his head, he recalled taking an antidote, a concealment potion, a regeneration-enhancing elixir, and a pain-relieving stimulant, among others.
Emma would have been greatly shocked had she witnessed him consuming so many potions at once.
Alchemy centered on the harmony of elements and mana. Different ingredients were required even when concocting potions with similar effects. Failure to do so could result in complications when consuming multiple potions simultaneously. It was a fundamental principle well known amongst all combatants. Ian was no exception to this information.
Yet, driven by an inexplicable anxiety, he took the risk—and succeeded.
Taking all those potions beforehand was why he was able to move despite taking multiple poison needles.
Naturally, his body bore the consequences of doing so.
“K-Kuuhk…!”
After swallowing the antidote, blood surged up Ian’s throat, splattering onto the ground below.
In addition to all his injuries, his body was also rejecting the conflicting elements from potion overdose, likely causing his organs to dissolve from the extreme reactions.
But Ian paid no heed to his physical state.
Defeating Mitram was more important than his body at that moment. She was a dark priestess bent on humanity’s destruction and had even heartlessly utilized orphans as living material to further her goal.
The sound of an empty bottle rolling across the ground echoed through the tunnel as Ian staggered back a few paces.
Having consumed the antidote and purged his body of the blood contaminated by excessive medical effects, his vision cleared, and mana began coursing through his veins once more. He felt his body become revitalized as his breathing stabilized.
It was only now that he fully regained his senses, albeit along with the accumulated pain.
Ian firmly pressed against his eyes, feeling the strain from merely using the Dragonblood Script once. It seemed that there were limits to harnessing the power of dragons.
“Huu…”
With a heavy sigh, he directed his golden eyes behind him.
There, two women were gazing at him with wide eyes while struggling to hold themselves up.
An esteemed figure with dark blue hair, the Fifth Imperial Princess, Cien.
And the female knight with light blue hair and an impressive body, Irene.
Their mouths were agape, but only fragmented stammers emerged.
“A-aa- uhh… ah…”
Their reactions spoke volumes of their shock.
Running a hand through his sweat-drenched hair, Ian approached Irene directly, causing her to squirm restlessly.
Irene exerted herself, attempting to form coherent words despite her tongue still numb from Mitram’s poison.
“u-uh… uugh… H-How did… N-no, I mean… I-Irene Lupermion… greets H-His Imperial… Majesty’s proxy…”
Indifferent to her struggle, Ian glanced at her disinterestedly before conducting a rough search of her body.
As a maiden who had never allowed a man to touch her, her cheeks flushed deep red as her mind raced.
Though, of course, it was only her imagination.
Ian retrieved the highly potent antidote carried by imperial knights, tilted her head back, and forcefully poured it down her throat, causing her to jerk and resist in shock.
Understanding his intention after a brief resistance, Irene quietly swallowed the potion.
Still, uncertainty lingered in Irene’s eyes.
Why was the man in such a hurry when he wielded an unrivaled power like the Dragonblood Script?
Even Mitram was still suffering on the ground, engulfed in flames as all her cells were thoroughly scorched through.
It was a painful fate that no living being could survive.
Though it was a regrettable end for the manipulated head maid, in a sense, it was preferable to unknowingly betraying and attacking her loved ones.
Rather than addressing Irene’s doubts, Ian simply sighed and opted to postpone their conversation.
“About today’s matter… Haa… Nevermind. Let’s discuss it at another time.”
Her body stiffened as fear crept back into her eyes.
She had disgraced herself before him too many times.
Twice, she had failed to protect her liege. Once, she had been so overwhelmed that she failed to even put up a fight. Another time, she had allowed her liege to almost be struck by a hatchet without being able to do anything.
Lastly, despite his numerous warnings, she had failed to safeguard Cien. She had undeniably failed as a knight.
Understandably, her face paled.
Merely the daughter of the Lupermion house, she stood before the bearer of the Dragonblood Script, who was no different from being the representative of the emperor. He commanded caution from even the heads of the five great families.
The fear of Ian, coupled with self-reproach and the shame of failing her mission, plunged her into the depths of an emotional abyss.
Oblivious to her inner turmoil, Ian wearily shifted his gaze towards Cien, who had been staring blankly at him.
Her tear-streaked appearance was pitiful.
Snapping out of her daze, Cien clumsily attempted to hide her face behind her trembling hands that hadn’t yet regained their full mobility.
But above all, she was afraid.
She was afraid to see the emotions of the one who had tried the hardest to save her.
It was precisely as Mitram had stated.
She had been selfish.
She put her pride first, willfully dismissing Ian’s suspicious actions as just some ‘strange’ behavior.
And despite his outward indifference, Cien understood all too well the agony of being ostracized and scorned by everyone. It was a pain she had experienced during her childhood.
Not only that, she had oppressed the people around him as well.
Yet, he still came to her rescue.
He could have taken the easy way out by revealing the Dragonblood Script, dissuading her from antagonizing him, but he had opted against it.
All for her safety.
There was no other explanation. He had endured in silence, keeping his true power hidden until the final moment, to prevent Mitram from hatching a more cunning and dangerous plan.
Tears welled in the princess’ eyes.
“I… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Sir Ian…”
It was an apology filled with sincerity.
If only she could turn back time.
He had sacrificed everything to rescue her, yet she had responded with nothing but resentment and ingratitude. She couldn’t even begin to imagine the depth of his anger and disappointment.
Therefore, Cien covered her eyes.
She dreaded seeing him even more, fearing her innate ability to visualize his emotions. The mere thought of confronting his feelings—his resentment and animosity—was unbearable for her.
All she could do was continue to offer apologies like a broken record.
“I-I… I was wrong. A-All… hik… because of my useless pride…”
Ian maintained his silence.
He simply observed the princess, who avoided his gaze, then gently lifted her by the shoulders as tears continued to flow down her cheeks.
Finally, Ian spoke up.
“…Your Imperial Highness.”
“Y-Yes?”
As soon as the girl replied, Ian responded with a swing of his arm.
-Puk!
His fist connected with the girl’s cheek.
Unable to react, Irene speechlessly watched the scene unfold in stunned silence.
Cien felt as if her teeth had been knocked loose.
It was a humiliation she had never experienced as a princess.
Only after tumbling across the ground did she grasp what had happened.
‘Was I… hit just now…?’
