Chapter 36: That Which Is Never Inherited (2)

“You look wonderful.”

“… Thank you.”

Beneath the blue-tiled roof of the palace, the Hero revealed his face for the first time.

In this place, divided into eastern and western sections where numerous attendants fulfilled their duties, the Hero stood.

He had come to Edirne to meet Selene, one of the Five Champions and the only mage who, despite being tainted by demonic energy, retained her sanity.

Yet, Selene was nowhere to be seen in the palace.

For a moment, he wondered if the promise of finding a way to overcome the demonic energy was a lie.

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

What could the descendant of a great dragon and a hero who fought alongside the first Hero 300 years ago possibly gain by lying?

Now was the time for faith.

The Hero’s unease stemmed from one thing: the sheet of paper he had found in Sarah’s room.

“Could it be a prophecy, or has her memory returned…?”

He was sure Sarah’s memories had been erased.

The smeared ink and the erratic writing on the paper didn’t seem like something written in a normal state of mind, leaving the Hero deeply unsettled.

“Laura cannot return to her former self.”

“The Hero does not want me dead, but that is even more dangerous.”

“There are demons active in the land of dragons.”

The sentences were not something Sarah could have recalled without her memories, and some lines seemed to reflect future events.

If that were possible, it could only be through a prophecy.

But if it truly was a prophecy, if Sarah had unconsciously written down what she saw in her dream, didn’t it seem like the gods were demanding her sacrifice?

The thought left the Hero feeling an oppressive weight around him.

“… You seem tense.”

“Ah, my apologies…”

“No need to apologize. It’s natural to feel nervous the first time.”

One of the palace attendants, an elderly woman preparing the Hero for the ceremony, continued to speak.

“However, please remember that the Dragonkin are a sensitive people. Be cautious in front of them.”

“You’ve heard of the curse placed upon our race, haven’t you?”

“… Yes, and I know you’ve brought talented individuals into the Hero’s party to break that curse.”

“Indeed. That child is our hope. When we heard she had unleashed the dragon’s blood upon herself, we were terrified.

But thanks to your cooperation, we are fortunate.”

“She’s a comrade.”

After arriving in Edirne, the Hero learned much about the Dragonkin.

Though it was a contractual marriage, he was to marry Laura, so he needed to understand their circumstances.

He learned they were once dragons, cursed for challenging the gods.

To escape the curse, they took on human forms and allied with the Hero to break free.

The fact that even children born afterward could not escape the curse made it all the more tragic.

“If the gods present you with a trial beyond your means, what would you do, Hero?”

It was an unexpected question.

The Dragonkin had struggled desperately for forgiveness, but none of them had been saved.

Their entire race was reduced to tools to aid the Hero—a fate they believed to be the will of the gods.

Could such a thing truly be called divine will?

The same applied to Sarah.

She had chosen to sacrifice herself in the Hero’s place.

Among the lines she had written was the claim that not dying was more dangerous.

If that was truly a prophecy, could the Hero, as the one chosen, defy such a will?

The question forced him to confront the thoughts he had tried to bury.

“Well, preparations are complete. Let us move to the ceremony site.”

The silent Hero followed the elderly woman, who guided him to where the others had gathered.

As he walked, the Hero thought of Sarah’s face.

Her smooth, marble-like cheeks, faintly rosy lips, and slightly upturned eyes—despite the title of Saint, her features conveyed her fierce determination.

Her long, light brown hair flowed to her waist, making her appear delicate and fragile.

Her soft voice and slender frame gave her an air of gentleness, but the Hero often felt there was something twisted within her.

She could commit actions without hesitation that others would agonize over.

Throwing herself into divine flames in the capital, choosing to sacrifice herself at the fortress—Sarah acted without second thoughts.

If she learned the full truth through a prophecy, what would she become?

While her sacrifice could save the world, the Hero couldn’t be certain it was the right path.

If it was the will of the gods, wouldn’t he too be guilty of sin by allowing it?

The Hero himself, with black hair unseen in this world, stood tall in a formal outfit embroidered with golden patterns against a black background.

A red sash was tightly tied around his waist, and the attire made him appear almost regal—wings of cloth framing his figure.

It was a sight that could evoke envy.

The protagonist.

A person who could enjoy everything just by existing.

Even if he deceived everyone, committed vile acts, and toyed with heroines, this game’s world would forgive him for everything.

How envious I felt of that position.

I forgot to even blink as I stared at the Hero.

“… I can’t help but feel a little jealous.”

“Isn’t it just a contractual marriage?”

“Hmm, even so, didn’t you keep staring at the Hero?”

“What?! That’s…!”

The concept of marriage didn’t exist in this game.

Instead, there was only a submission contract, a vow of total devotion in body and soul.

And the other party? It was, of course, the Hero.

There was no benefit to being in such a relationship.

What else could come from it besides kneeling naked at the Hero’s feet and begging for his attention?

Unaware of my thoughts, Natalia seemed utterly entertained by teasing me.

As if she, a glorified Hero’s personal toy, was on the same level as me—it was infuriating.

What’s so great about that sweet-talking… no, damned bastard that makes everyone swoon over him?

“Ah, look, there’s Laura.”

I wanted to shout loud enough for everyone to hear that I had no interest in the Hero.

But I swallowed that thought and quickly changed the topic.

Natalia turned her gaze where I pointed.

There stood Laura, dressed in pure white.

Her slightly flushed cheeks and white hair that barely touched her shoulders complemented the outfit.

She should have looked like a mature bride, but her small stature made her appear simply adorable.

A problematic brat with countless issues and a damned Hero obsessed with using hypnosis to conquer women.

The stars of the show had made their entrance.

“Thank you all for gathering.”

The pre-wedding ceremony began with a brief explanation that the queen was unwell and couldn’t attend.

Essentially, today’s event was closer to an engagement ceremony.

The two betrothed would offer a globe amaranth, a symbol of unchanging love, to the altar.

Once infused with their mana, the flower’s bud would close, only to bloom again over time as a sign of their unity under the heavens.

I had heard there were other rituals, but this was all I knew.

It wasn’t as if I needed to know the details of the Hero and Laura’s marriage ceremony anyway.

“Hello, Hero…”

“… Hello, you look good.”

It was their first meeting since leaving the Kingdom of Roza.

Seeing each other dressed up, they bowed their heads awkwardly.

What could they be so shy about that they couldn’t even have a proper conversation?

People around them murmured various comments, but I couldn’t focus on any of them.

The Hero and Laura kept drawing my attention.

“Would the main couple please step forward and offer the globe amaranth?”

At those words, the two approached and placed their hands into the water.

Before them bloomed a beautiful globe amaranth.

“Laura, place your hand here.”

“… Okay.”

The Hero held the flower’s stem with his right hand, and Laura mirrored him with her left.

As they prepared to infuse the flower with their mana, I felt a strange discomfort.

“Is this what you truly desire…?”

This was the beginning of the Hero and Laura’s new bond.

Even if it was just a contractual marriage, even if their relationship had already gone too far, I wondered if the Hero’s view of Laura would change a little.

“Leave it to me. I will grant you everything.”

Laura, raising the flower in sync with the Hero, resembled an unrefined gem.

Though she still had the appearance of a young girl, time would undoubtedly transform her into a woman who would turn heads.

Her emotions would grow richer, and the Hero would likely find himself drawn to her.

After all, Laura was the woman who had the closest connection to the Hero without needing to go far.

“Be honest with your desires. Your world offers you nothing.”

Silently, the onlookers watched the Hero and Laura.

Among them, I felt like the only one standing alone.

Why was that?

Was it because of the whispers echoing in my head?

Or was it because Laura, blushing ignorantly without knowing the Hero’s true nature, seemed so pathetic?

No, no.

It was something fundamentally different.

“… Shut up.”

I suppressed the hypnosis reverberating in my mind and stared at the Hero.

Standing beside Laura, he seemed to awkwardly hide his embarrassment.

I’d never liked the Hero, but today, I found him even more unbearable.