"What are you thinking about, my wife?"
Cilestras was playing with Lilican's hands, gently pinching the tip of each finger, when he found that Lilican was distracted.
"Husband, what happened to me? Why did my head hurt when I woke up?" Lilican asked, even though it was his own doing.
He was simply testing if Cilestras would tell him the truth or if the dragon would hide it from him. He didn't want a partner who would keep information from him under the banner of doing it "for your own good." Lilican would rather be alone.
Fortunately, Cilestras did not disappoint. "You were injured when you were brought here. Do not fret, my wife. Those who harmed you will pay the price."
"Do you know who it was?" Lilican asked knowingly, finding the last sentence funny. He was curious how the dragon would make the system, which didn't even have a proper body, "pay the price."
"Does it matter?"
Oh. That was unexpected.
Lilican had almost forgotten that Cilestras was a big villain — the biggest of villains, even. It was only natural that he didn't take others' lives seriously.
Lilican thought this couldn't continue. He had no qualms about doing what he should do, but he couldn't be indiscriminate about it. He also couldn't let his "husband" do just whatever he wanted without thinking about the consequences.
Lilican was no saint, but he was not the devil either.
Every debt has its owner. Those who should pay will pay, one way or another.
This reminded Lilican of the plot, of the ending, of how the original owner was sent to the Dragon King.
The original owner's final despair was real. Even in the end, he truly did not understand why he, a "sacrifice," was branded as a traitor.
There was something fishy there.
"Can I meet them?" Lilican asked, his back to the Black Dragon's chest. The dragon had been cuddling him since they finished dinner. Now there was no one in the great hall but the two of them.
"Whyever would you wish to do so?"
"Maybe I can get my memories faster."
Cilestras pondered the possibility. The human healer did say that reintroducing Lilican to familiar places and people might help, but Cilestras didn't feel inclined to do so.
He didn't want his wife to meet other people. If possible, he wanted to be the only creature, human or not, in his wife's world. But he had a hunch that if he did that, his wife's tears would flood his castle.
When Cilestras didn't answer, Lilican thought he wouldn't agree. There was nothing Lilican could do; he had to poke the Dragon King so he would move.
In his most innocent voice, Lilican said, "It's okay, husband. I can not meet them if you don't want me to. After all, the world is so dangerous out there. What if you can't protect me?"
The Black Dragon's scales bristled. Did his wife think he was so weak that he couldn't protect a single human?
That wouldn't do!
Cilestras, who had never had anyone challenge him, was successfully provoked.
He snapped his fingers, sending a spell to summon his magical attendant.
Lilican didn't know what Cilestras had done, but a heartbeat later, he saw the dark elf appear next to them. Both he and the system, which had been silently watching inside Lilican's mental space, were shocked.
Breiroc was just as shocked as Lilican. He had never been summoned like this before. He didn't even know he could be teleported without his consent.
Instead of being frightened, Breiroc was excited.
Yes, that was right — excited!
This was a new revelation! If he studied it and published a paper on this magical discovery, his name would be known to magical scholars all over the world, not just elves!
The dark elf wasn't lying when he claimed to be the best among dark elves in the Academy. (He merely exaggerated a little.) This, of course, meant that he was also good at his studies.
In a good mood, Breiroc performed a standard bow to the Dragon King and Queen.
Cilestras didn't know how much impact his casual spell would have on the magical community. And even if he did, he wouldn't care. This little magic was nothing in his eyes.
"Have you found what happened to the Queen?" Cilestras asked without waiting for the dark elf to greet him.
Breiroc was sweating when he heard Cilestras's question. How much could he find when it had not even been a day yet? Even the holy priest was still waiting to be sent back.
"My apologies, my liege. According to the goblins' report, the Queen was fine and intact when they first saw him."
"Are you saying you haven't discovered who caused my wife to be injured?"
"Unfortunately so, my liege."
"Were those gold coins taken from the vault for you to do nothing?"
This is unfair, Breiroc cried in his heart. Since leaving the Queen's Chambers that morning, he had been running around trying to figure out the cause and effect.
It was not that he didn't want to be lazy. He very much wanted his leisurely life back, but he also knew that it was impossible now.
He had been scared silly since the Dragon King's outburst. Since then, he vowed that for any task related to the Queen, he must complete it with utmost efficiency.
Lilican silently watched the interaction between the two. When he saw that the dark elf was about to cry, he gently bumped his head on the Black Dragon's chest.
After he got Cilestras's attention, he asked, "Husband, won't you introduce me?"
"Introduce yourself, dark elf." Cilestras certainly wouldn't admit that he didn't know the dark elf's name.
"I am Breiroc the dark elf, Your Grace, the fourth and youngest son of Breiya and Piroc. I am currently serving as Your Majesty's magical attendant. I am honored to be of your service." Breiroc bowed again.
"Hello, Breiroc. Was it the goblins who picked me up?"
"Did they escort you from your former residence? No, Your Grace."
Lilican wanted to know because this part wasn't included in the plot. It simply stated that the original owner was "sacrificed," but it didn't delve into the why and how. There was also nothing in the original owner's memory, like someone forcibly cut off that part.
He was already suspicious, but the two unclear clues raised his suspicion to the highest degree. Something was telling him there was more than what it seemed.
"Well, what did their report say?" asked Lilican, ignoring the way Cilestras's chin was rubbing on the top of his head.
"Your Grace, the goblins said they found you in a cave where the other — other…" Breiroc trailed off, trying to find the right words without offending the precious human. "They found you where the 'offerings' usually stayed. Although you were unconscious, you were also uninjured."
"Can I talk to those goblins? I have something I would like to ask."
"Um, now? Here?"
"Is it not possible?"
"Apologies, Your Grace. I do not possess the magical prowess of Your Majesty. I cannot teleport other creatures without their explicit permission," said Breiroc, not so subtle about his attempt at flattering the Black Dragon.
In fact, teleporting living creatures was thought to be impossible without a teleportation scroll or a summoning circle. That was why Breiroc got so excited earlier.
"Husband." Hearing that only Cilestras could do it, Lilican turned to the Black Dragon, silently asking without using words.
Instantly, Cilestras snapped his fingers again.
He would do anything as long as his wife asked. It was not because he was scared that his wife would cry again, no. The Great Dragon was not afraid of anything. Certainly not. Not this dragon.
Lilican was preparing the words to ask, but he was interrupted by two shrill screams.
"The dragon food is still alive?!"
—--
[Mini theater:]
Lilican: I am no saint, but I am not the devil either.
People Lilican saved in the future: No, you are a saint.
People Lilican killed in the future: No, you are the devil.
Cilestras: What are you talking about? You're my wife.