.jpg)
He thought that Peony, being a woman, would never become Emperor anyway.
'Legally, a princess is also granted the right of succession, but no woman has ever become Emperor before.'
Peony frowned and looked at Adolf.
She didn't think she could easily become Emperor as long as Darian was around either.
But Adolf's taunting was quite unpleasant.
"That remains to be seen."
She opened her mouth bluntly.
"Because I have the strongest Dragon's power among us, don't I?"
Adolf huffed as if he was upset by her provocation.
"Even if that's the case, you're just-."
He was just about to pour out rude words to Peony.
Darian, who was next to him, immediately grabbed his shoulder and looked down at him with cold eyes.
"Adolf."
Just calling his name made Adolf flinch and shut his mouth at the chilly air.
Then, as if he was ashamed of being frightened, he shook off his brother's hand and ran to where the guards were standing.
Soon, the door to the Dragon's chamber was wide open.
"Hmph, you're all just watching from there!"
"Y-Your Highness!"
The guards and maids were embarrassed by his riot, but they couldn't dare to lay a hand on the Imperial Family.
Following the wide-open door, Darian and Peony slowly walked into the room.
Meanwhile, Adolf took out the meat he had prepared from his arms.
"Here, eat it!"
But contrary to Adolf's confident expectations, the Dragon did not accept the food he offered.
The Black Dragon glanced at the meat Adolf offered and bowed its head while hugging its body.
"Piyo..."
The Black Dragon trembled, hugging its small body.
It was a pitiful sight that anyone would feel sorry for.
But Adolf seemed displeased that the Dragon didn't even touch the food he gave.
He shouted in an angry voice.
"Hey, why aren't you eating! This is such expensive meat!"
Again, it was Darian who stopped him.
"Enough now, Adolf."
At Darian's rare rebuke, Adolf grumbled unhappily without even looking back at him.
"Tch, it'll eat it someday. How can it survive without eating?"
He couldn't force the Dragon to eat any more.
Adolf sat in a chair with his arms crossed. He looked at Darian as if he wasn't conscious of it.
It was to see if the Dragon would eat the food Darian gave.
Darian carefully approached the Dragon and sat down, gently stroking its black scales.
Then, he held out the food that the maid had handed him. But the Dragon turned its head away as if it wouldn't eat the food he gave either.
Adolf coughed with a noticeably relieved face.
But he hardened his face as he watched Peony step up next.
'If neither I nor my brother are accepted, is it that girl?'
Unlike Darian, Peony carefully placed the food down, keeping a distance from the Dragon.
But this time too, it was the same. The Dragon lay listlessly without eating the food.
Adolf finally let out a sigh of relief.
But he still took a haughty pose as if he didn't want to be caught being nervous.
"To refuse all the food we give, it seems like this Dragon isn't hungry yet. It'll eat someday as time passes. Hmph!"
Leaving those words behind, Adolf left the place.
Peony looked at the Black Dragon with a worried face.
'I promised Ayla I'd tell her how the Dragon is doing.'
She had no idea how to tell her about this state.
Peony thought about how it would have been if the Black Dragon had been with Ayla.
If that were the case, she thought it would have been happier than being in the Imperial Palace at least.
Would the Dragon remember Ayla?
With a resentful heart, Peony carefully touched the Dragon's forepaw with her finger.
But the Dragon just closed its eyes tightly as if it didn't even have the energy to resist such a touch.
Even after many days had passed, the Dragon still did not eat.
At some point, Adolf stopped coming to see the Dragon.
It was because he hated seeing the Dragon refusing food while suffering.
Now, only Darian and Peony came to visit the Dragon and check on its condition.
Darian looked down at the Dragon, who didn't even have the strength to cry, with a pitiful face and muttered.
"I don't have to be the owner, I just wish this kid could get better soon."
"...Brother doesn't mind not becoming the Dragon's owner?"
"It's better for anyone to save this child than to die like this."
Peony stared at Darian's face, which was sincerely sad.
'Is that really a face that can be faked?'
The more she watched, the more doubtful she became.
Was it really possible for a human being who was evil enough to secretly try to kill someone to show such a flawless appearance for so long?
'Usually, it shows even in the smallest actions.'
Or is Darian's acting that good?
If she were to die like this, no one would be able to suspect Darian.
He was a human being who was praised for being upright in his conduct.
And everyone in the Imperial Palace knew that Darian cherished Peony very much.
Empress Eliza was just as flawless.
She was basically cold, but she treated Peony and Adolf, the Emperor's children, fairly.
In that situation, if she were to die, everyone would suspect Adolf and Christina as the culprits.
Peony let out a faint sigh.
'When did it start?'
Not everything would have been a lie.
He wouldn't have wanted to kill her since she was very young.
'Okay, let's not think about it.'
What was important to her now was the Dragon groaning in front of her.
And at this moment, Peony also agreed with Darian's opinion.
'Ayla will be very worried if the Dragon is sick.'
Peony also hoped that the Dragon would choose an owner soon, no matter who it was.
At this rate, the Black Dragon wouldn't last long. A newborn Divine Beast needs sufficient nutrition.
It seems that the Dragon is holding out for quite a while, but it has been so long since it ate, so it must be weakened by now.
Peony looked at the Dragon and said.
"If you keep doing this, Ayla will be worried. Do you know how much she asked me to take good care of you?"
It was then.
The ears of the Dragon, which had been lying listlessly, perked up.
The Dragon soon raised its head and looked at Peony.
"Piyo!"
Peony tilted her head as if she was puzzled. The Dragon's reaction was different from what it had been so far.
"What, have you finally decided to eat?"
Peony once again offered the Dragon food.
Then the Dragon shook its head again. As if it wouldn't eat the food Peony offered.
She sighed in frustration and said again.
"Do you really want to see Ayla sad?"
The moment she said that, the Dragon raised its head again.
It even flapped its wings, which had been motionless until now, and got up.
"Piyooot!"
Peony then realized.
She realized which word the Dragon was reacting to.
"Ayla?"
"Piyooo!"
Peony opened her mouth in surprise at the different, intense reaction than before.
Darian also said to Peony as if he couldn't believe it.
"It seems like the Dragon is reacting as soon as we talk about Ayla."
"It's not just reacting, it's really happy?"
.jpg)