I’m in Trouble Because The Emperor Thinks My Time is Limited - Chapter 59

“Melaine, are all dragons inherently evil?”

“Of course.”

The answer came without a moment’s hesitation. The firm response made me feel as if a nail had been driven into my chest.

No, you can’t say that—you’re a dragon too! When I looked at Melaine with sorrowful eyes, he flinched slightly.

It was because I still looked so miserable. After answering, Melaine tilted his head, perhaps curious about the reason behind my sudden question. His high ponytail swayed with the movement.

“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

“I’m disillusioned with my life.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I don’t really know what I’m saying either.”

When I mumbled dejectedly, I could sense Melaine fidgeting. I asked him again, hoping he’d say something comforting, even if it was just empty words.

“Even from a dragon’s perspective? Are all dragons evil?”

“All dragons are trash.”

However, this straightforward guy lacked tact. I bit my lip in frustration, and Melaine began to panic sincerely.

“O-of course, you’re a good dragon! Not you! I’m talking about the other dragons! You’re kind and good!”

Melaine hastily made excuses. Although that wasn’t quite the answer I was hoping for, I couldn’t blame him since I hadn’t explained myself in detail.

“You’re really a good dragon,” I muttered, feeling a sense of emptiness.

“M-me?”

His innocent face blushed with a pleasant hue. The way his face turned red at the sudden compliment didn’t match with words like “hypocrite” and “trash” at all.

What in the world did those dragons do to earn such hatred? Even as a human, not a dragon, I couldn’t help but feel disillusioned by their lives.

“You’re good too. You’re a good dragon.”

He fidgeted with his fingers, adding those words with pure sincerity.

“But why were you crying like that this morning? Did that guy do something to you? Should I go punish him?”

Trying to change the subject, Melaine clung to the table where I was lying down and muttered. Finding his flushed face endearing, I patted his head, and his soft hair slipped through my fingers.

“It wasn’t Sionel’s fault. It was because I did something wrong.”

“You couldn’t possibly have done anything wrong. He’s the one who’s bad.”

It was a strangely blind belief. For a moment, I realized how foolish it was to think that Sionel and Melaine were getting along well.

The two genuinely despised each other.

Like someone waiting for the last leaf to fall, I asked wistfully, “Do you see that over there?”

“The trash can?”

When I pointed at the distant trash can, Melaine’s innocent eyes followed the direction of my finger.

“Why do you ask?”

“That’s my new home now.”

Melaine’s expression turned peculiar. He seemed to be pondering what nonsense I was spouting.

“Home?”

“Yes. I’m trash. From now on, that’s my home.”

Seeing my wistful smile, he reached out and touched my forehead.

“Have you lost your mind…”

I clearly heard Melaine mutter softly, but I couldn’t deny it.

“Lindel, what’s wrong with you? Are you starting to resemble that man too?”

The “man” he was referring to here was undoubtedly Sionel. He was asking if I was going crazy, just like him.

“Melaine.”

“It must be that guy—he did something yesterday, didn’t he?”

Ignoring his deep-rooted distrust of Sionel, I called out to him again. The innocent light in his gem-like eyes flickered slightly in response to my continued questioning.

“Why do you hate dragons?”

“…Why ask that all of a sudden?”

His voice dropped a tone. It was as if he wanted to avoid the question, and he leaned back slightly.

His wary reaction made me realize what I had done.

“Sorry. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize. But why are you asking all of a sudden? Don’t tell me—”

For a moment, Melaine’s expression hardened. I could already guess what kind of misunderstanding he’d come to.

“No dragon came looking for me, and nothing happened. I was just curious.”

“I see.”

Relief washed over Melaine’s face.

“If any dragons do come, make sure to tell me. I’ll protect you.”

Even as he said that, Melaine’s expression remained troubled. He hesitated for a moment, then stood up. When my gaze followed him, Melaine glanced briefly at the door.

“Humans will come in soon. That question from earlier—I’ll answer it later.”

The moment Melaine stepped back after finishing his words, the door opened.

Those who entered were Hasina and the priests of the imperial palace. Every day at the same time, they would come in droves to check on my condition, and it seemed that time had come again.

“Did you sleep well last night, Lady Lindel?”

Hasina approached with a trusting smile, and Melaine and I both grimaced simultaneously.

Anyway, it was time to receive treatment for a nonexistent curse again.

Having secured her position as my physician with her eloquent words, Hasina had now perfectly integrated into the imperial palace.

When it was revealed that Hasina was the so-called “Saint of Lute,” a figure previously only heard of in rumors, people’s trust in her practically skyrocketed.

Hasina placed her hand on her chest and spoke, “Please let me know immediately if you feel any discomfort.”

As a faint glow burst from her fingertips, a warmth spread throughout my entire body. I unknowingly put on a comfortable expression, prompting small gasps from those around me.

Despite seeing it repeatedly, they always marveled. Even when it was just the ordinary healing power they could also use, as long as Hasina was the one doing it, they found it astonishing.

The holy aura surrounding Hasina made everything she did seem extraordinary.

“Very well. It seems you had a peaceful night.”

Hasina withdrew her hand with a gentle smile. Though the previous night had been anything but peaceful, her benevolent face made it seem natural to nod along.

As I nodded absentmindedly, the priests around us began to ask questions one by one. Most of them inquired about my current condition, but amidst the questions, an unfamiliar voice suddenly asked something.

“How did you become aware of the curse, Lady Lindel?”

The string of fervent questions was abruptly cut off. I could feel everyone turning to look at me, but unlike them, I looked at the person who had asked the question. Judging by the youthful face, it was a new priest.

Unfortunately, I had no answer for him. If I responded honestly that I had no idea, I’d just receive more pitiful looks.

As the silence stretched, Hasina spoke up instead. “A curse that takes a person’s life is never weak. Thus, the caster bears a significant burden as well. They usually wager their own life.”

Her solemn voice brought a hush over the room. I saw the young priest who had asked the question gulp.

“The effects are just as destructive. The curse quietly finds its target—which makes it even more frightening. People die without even realizing they’ve been cursed.”

“Th-then how did Lady Lindel notice it—”

“I heard that Lady Lindel has a natural sensitivity. Though the curse is subtle, it’s not entirely undetectable. She must have keenly sensed its malice.”

Eyes filled with respect turned toward me.

Please, take those eyes off me. I’m famous for being dense!

“I also heard that Lady Lindel stayed by His Majesty’s side despite all the hardships. Even if she didn’t fully grasp the curse’s presence at first, she must have sensed something.”

“So that’s why she insisted on staying close to His Majesty.”

I did feel something when I looked at Sionel—that this guy was bound to cause trouble, even at a young age. Or maybe it was just, wow, he’s really handsome.

“A person’s spirit influences the energy around them. Given her sensitivity and powerful aura, it makes sense that the curse would mistake its target and shift toward Lady Lindel.”

Hasina had a talent for making nonsense sound plausible. The curse wasn’t a sentient being that could change its mind. Yet everyone nodded along.

It was truly maddening.

“And curses typically use a medium. I can only assume—”

Hasina’s sky-blue eyes, filled with reverence and awe, looked at me.

“That Lady Lindel, while guarding His Majesty, dealt with suspicious objects that might have been used as mediums. As a result, the curses within those items transferred to her.”

Oh, come on!

Some of the people around us were tearing up.

“It’s only natural that, having fought alone for so long, her body has taken such a toll.”

Hasina took my hand, which she had quietly laid down, into hers. The sight of her holding my hand in prayer was the very image of a perfect saintess.

A few elderly priests made the sign of the cross in quiet admiration.

“But now, you won’t have to fight alone anymore. It will be a difficult battle, but I will be by your side until the end.”

“Ah, Lady Hasina!”

“Lady Hasina!”

The priests called her name with admiration. They knelt, their aged knees trembling, as though they were welcoming a new deity.

A faint, wicked smile appeared below her bowed head, but I was the only one who could see it.

Is it really okay for someone like her to be a saintess?

I couldn’t help but doubt Lute’s judgment. Suppressing a sigh, I straightened my head, and soon saw Melaine standing a distance away.

Unlike the priests who were moved, his face had hardened. Staring at Hasina, not me, Melaine seemed distinctly displeased.

‘What’s with him lately?’

Ignoring the noisy priests, I pondered Melaine’s behavior. Based on what I’d observed so far, I could tell one thing for certain.

Melaine disliked Hasina.

Melaine was originally indifferent to all humans except me. His cold and aloof attitude was consistently impartial toward every human, yet he was strangely hostile toward Hasina.

The only conversations they had exchanged were greetings and inquiries about my condition, so I couldn’t understand why Melaine was reacting this way.

He seemed to sense my gaze, and our eyes met. As I mouthed his name, Melaine spoke at the same time.

“How long have you been serving Lute?”

His voice was surprisingly cold, startling the priests out of their reverie. Only Hasina, who slowly raised her head, responded kindly.

“It’s been a long time. I was called by the god at a young age and realized it was my destiny. What about you, Lord Melaine?”

Since Melaine outwardly presented himself as a servant of Lute, it was natural for Hasina to ask.

But Melaine, who had been posing as Lute’s follower, suddenly gave an answer that even startled me.

“I’m not a servant of Lute. I was just unlucky enough to be born with the ability to see souls, which put me in this situation.”

Oh, my goodness!

Though they didn’t serve the same god, Melaine’s response wasn’t likely to be well-received by the priests, who were all servants of the divine.

Ignoring the shocked humans, Melaine maintained his stern expression, and Hasina replied, “Oh my. It seems this is an unwanted power for you. But isn’t that also the will of God?”

A subtle tension filled the room.

Hasina was smiling, but everyone else had a dark expression. In the middle of it all, I lay awkwardly, seemingly ignored by everyone.

“More importantly—”

Everyone’s attention turned back to Hasina.

“I almost forgot, Lady Lindel. How about going out with me today?”

“Going out?”

I instantly shook off my lethargy and jumped up. Seeing my incredulous reaction, Hasina let out a bright laugh.

“I already have His Majesty’s permission. Sometimes a little outing is needed for a change of pace.”

“But—!”

“No.”

Just as I rose with a face full of joy, a cold voice opposed us.

“Haven’t you heard about the recent attack? Who knows when something dangerous might happen, and you want to go on an outing?”

“Don’t worry.”

Hasina’s gentle voice cut off Melaine’s words.

“Lord Melaine will be coming along as well.”

Her sky-blue eyes leisurely met Melaine’s angry face.