Under the Burning Light

Kallios Capre Arneb-s.

The main villain of Dragon Empire and the Crown Prince of this country, Caprese-na.

Legally, he is my younger brother.

Whenever I think of him, I feel a subtle sense of discomfort, separate from the underlying pity I feel.

It is because of the thoughts I had while reading Dragon Empire.

If I had known I would become his older brother, I never would have thought such things.

Regrettably, back when I was flipping through the pages of Dragon Empire on my phone, I did not know the future.

And so, I had wished for Kallios to die while screaming, [I will curse you even from h*ll!]

I apologized inwardly while looking at the cufflinks fastened to my loose sleeves.

Kallios, I am sorry. Your brother is an extreme “Cider Villain” enthusiast.

What is a Cider Villain? There is such a thing.

A wicked constitution that is never satisfied unless there is refreshing retribution like a cold soda.

But hey, kid, no matter how I think about it, you went too far back then.

Even if you hated the protagonist, how could you snap his friend’s shoulder like a dry twig?

That guy committed suicide out of despair because he could never hold a sword again.

Well, it is something that has not happened yet.

I must make sure to write in my will that he should treasure people.

I do not know if it will work, but I believe it is better than not writing it at all.

No, I hope it works. Lately, his attitude seems to have… softened a bit.

Isaac approached me carrying a box.

When he opened the lid, the radiant ruby, the size of a baby’s fist, revealed itself.

The Breath of Capre.

I looked at it for a moment before hanging it around my neck.

The weight felt like hanging a heavy smartphone from my neck.

I felt certain that if I wore this for more than an hour, my neck would stiffen up.

Anyway, with this, all preparations were complete.

“Shall we head to the Imperial Princess’s palace?” Isaac asked.

There was plenty of time, but since being early is better than being late, I nodded.

Isaac bowed and walked to the door first to open it.

I toyed with the cufflinks on my wrist and headed toward the door.

“Ah.”

I stood before the door for a moment.

The hallway, which I had only seen through the gaps of opening and closing doors, was wider and longer than I expected.

What I thought were plain white pillars were, upon closer inspection, carvings delicately engraved with flower vines and birds.

I looked around the hallway, which felt both familiar and foreign, and then raised my head.

My eyes met Isaac’s, who was still holding the door.

“It is fascinating.”

Isaac’s expression, which had been thick with tension, momentarily faltered.

Was the fleeting emotion that surfaced pity, sadness, or regret?

The moment was too brief to tell.

“I suppose so.”

“Yes.”

I pulled my gaze away from his face, which had returned to its usual state, and took a step into the long hallway.

Nine years after becoming Kaian, I was finally able to leave this room.

My first outing. My heart pounded.

I stepped onto the plush carpet and let out a laugh.

What. Leaving the room is no big deal.

…Like h*ll it was.

It was a very big deal.

Surprisingly, the moment I stepped out of the spire, my knees buckled.

I used to think that clutching one’s chest and collapsing was something only sickly people did.

Right. I was a sickly person.

Though it had occasionally twitched as if tossing and turning in its sleep, the Dragon Blood, which had stayed quiet most of the time, now stretched its limbs.

F*ck.

Is this what they meant when they said I could only live inside the spire?

I curled up right there, unbothered by my white formal suit getting dirty.

“This is… insane.”

I gritted my teeth, clutching at whatever I could grab.

Wow, this is truly crazy.

The dormant Dragon Blood had not fully awakened.

However, just a single sleep-deprived tantrum from the Dragon Blood sent a wave of horrific pain through me.

The Dragon God Capre is a fire dragon, and the blessing he bestowed is the energy of fire.

And the greatest pain a human can feel is burning pain.

Causalgia. The pain of one’s body being on fire.

“Your Highness!”

I squeezed my eyes shut and simply shook my head.

It is okay. It is okay. I am not dying right now.

This thing is just talking in its sleep.

It is throwing a fit, asking why I woke it up when it was sleeping so soundly.

How do I know? Actually, I do not. I just hope that is the case.

If this thing actually wakes up and goes wild, I am dead.

I was soothing it, believing that it had not woken up yet and was just being cranky.

I gripped the necklace and forced myself to steady my breathing.

The ruby began to gulp down the fire energy I was emitting.

How much time passed?

Very fortunately, the seizure ended before my heart burned up and my blood evaporated.

I slowly opened my eyes.

“…Isaac.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Isaac answered.

Even in my exhausted state, Isaac’s tearful voice was so funny that I let out a chuckle.

“I cannot walk. Can you take me to the carriage?”

My limbs were trembling.

It was the result of tensing my entire body to endure the pain somehow.

Isaac picked me up with a face that looked like he had much to say.

As he looked back and forth between the spire entrance and the carriage, I knew he was debating whether to throw me back into my room or not.

“Let’s go, quickly.”

Isaac, whose nose had turned red, carried me to the plush seat of the carriage while keeping his mouth shut tight.

What should I leave behind for this guy?

I reached out while thinking of a list of precious but useless things I possessed.

Isaac pretended not to see and simply tidied my messy clothes.

This brat, he is sulking.

I grinned and tugged at a strand of Isaac’s bangs.

Do not be stubborn and lower your head.

Because “petting a good boy as much as possible” is my life motto.

By the time we arrived at the Imperial Princess’s palace, Isaac’s hair had become a perfect bird’s nest.

“A Count would be good.”

As always, Isaac ignored my monologue.

I wished he would ask this time.

It is a gift for the loyal and precious Isaac Ipsent.

I wish he would be curious instead of acting indifferent, especially since he was sobbing with worry just a moment ago.

I looked at Isaac with eyes hoping for a question.

Isaac looked into my eyes and said, “We have arrived.”

“I know.”

He is so clueless. I was about to scold him but stopped. No, I forgot.

It was because of Sierra, who was standing beyond the open door.

“Oh my god.”

Sierra smiled softly at my exclamation.

“Were you a fairy?”

“I am an Imperial Princess. And I am your younger sister.”

Isaac, having stepped down from the carriage, escorted Sierra over.

Sierra boarded the carriage very gracefully and sat opposite me.

I watched her as if entranced and admired her once more.

“You are truly beautiful.”

Sierra, who was smoothing out the hem of her dress that looked like pale pink rose petals, laughed again.

I had to struggle between the urge to pull Sierra into a hug and shower her with kisses, and the desire to keep capturing her beautiful appearance in my eyes.

Well, the latter won easily.

There were too many ornaments on Sierra to pull her into an embrace.

Anyway… I am glad I came out.

Sierra would look like a princess even in rags, but today she was truly incredible.

It was certain that she was the most beautiful and lovely nine-year-old girl in the whole world—no, in all dimensions.

Furthermore, surprisingly, my sister, who was beautiful from head to toe, was even cute.

Especially since she, who usually chattered incessantly, was exceptionally quiet today.

Was it because her concept was an elegant princess?

Was she shy about showing her fully dressed-up self?

Was she nervous about her first ball?

“You are going to wear me out.”

I must have been staring too intently.

Sierra, who had been sitting demurely and looking only out the window, spoke up.

“Ah, I shouldn’t do that.”

I quickly turned my head to look out the window, but it did not last long.

My gaze kept drifting back to Sierra as if she were coated in honey.

“Sierra, let’s just live with your brother forever.”

I couldn’t help but say it while openly looking at my beautiful sister.

Sierra’s eyes widened. Was it too random?

But I already feel it is a waste. I can never send her away in marriage.

Who could I possibly give such a beautiful girl to?

“Yes. I will do that.”

Sierra answered firmly, without knowing what her brother was thinking.

At that moment, the quiet Dragon Blood flickered.

I pressed my hand firmly against my chest at the fleeting pain.

“That is a promise, okay?”

My voice came out casually.

It was also lucky that Sierra was still only looking out the window.

After removing my hand, I gripped the ruby ornament.

The handful of fire energy that had surged out was sucked away without a trace.

After a journey that was neither long nor short, we arrived at the ballroom.

The carriage stopped, and Isaac opened the door.

Sierra stood up first and stepped down with Isaac’s escort.

“Oh? That hair ornament.”

The ornament pinned into her updo caught my eye.

A rose crafted from gold.

In the center was a pink jewel that resembled Sierra’s eyes.

I touched my loosely hanging sleeves.

It was the same design as the cufflinks I was wearing.

“Ah.”

Sierra pouted as if she did not really want to talk about it.

I laughed as I stepped down from the carriage with Isaac’s help.

This child still seems to find Kallios unpleasant.

Well, it would be strange for a deep-seated grudge to vanish just because of a few words from someone else.

I should make sure the three of us have tea time together from now on.

Though I do not know how many times I will be able to do that.

Perhaps the other nobles had already entered, as the long, magnificent hallway was empty.

Faint sounds of music and conversation echoed from afar.

Suddenly, I remembered the times I used to sneak through the hallways when I was late for class.

It felt like only yesterday when I would turn the doorknob silently, praying it was a self-study period.

I walked while indulging in silly thoughts and spoke in a low voice.

“I named them Ciel.”

“Pardon?”

“The cufflinks I am wearing right now. I liked them because they reminded me of you.”

Sierra’s small hand gripped mine tightly.

“Brother.”

“Yes.”

“Do you want me to be close with that person?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

Because after I die, there will only be the two of you left.

It was the truth, but it was something I must never say.

I looked at Sierra’s pouting face and just smiled.

“Sierra, why do you dislike Kallios?”

“That is…”

I gave a peck to the back of Sierra’s thinking hand.

Oh, how cute my sister is.

It is even cute how she doesn’t give in to her brother’s kiss and tries to squeeze out a reason for hating Kallios.

I heard Sierra’s answer as we stood before the massive doors.

For something she pondered so long, the reason was not very grandiose.

“He hates me too.”

The doors opened, and an announcement of our entrance burst forth.

The conversations stopped all at once, and the gaze of almost everyone in the ballroom turned toward Sierra and me.

“No, he probably hates everyone in the world.”

Was that an evaluation filled with dislike and spite, or was it the truth seen through the untainted eyes of a child?

My eyes met Kallios’s, who was standing near the center of the ballroom.

Smiling at the approaching guy, I whispered to Sierra.

“I doubt that.”

How do I know? Actually, I do not. I just hope so.

That he does not become a main villain who crosses the line.

I hope the efforts I have made so far have some effect.

Even though I have not done anything grand.

When the three siblings of the imperial family reunited, the musicians resumed the music they had paused.

The people continued the dancing and conversation they had briefly stopped.

It could have been very noisy, but surprisingly, I was not bothered by the noise.

As I looked around the hall in wonder, Kallios spoke.

“A noise-canceling spell has been cast.”

What the h*ll, Kallios. Who are you to read my mind?

“Imperial Princess. Would you like to have a dance?”

“Well… fine.”

Between me, who was in shock, Kallios and Sierra had this conversation and then left while holding hands.

Toward the center of the hall.

What is with you two? Where are you going without me?

Do you two not have a bad relationship?

Sierra, did you not just say you hated Kallios a moment ago?

I wanted to grab them and ask, but I couldn’t.

There were too many gazes glancing at me.

I took a glass of a non-alcoholic beverage from a servant carrying a tray full of drinks and let out a chuckle.

Because of the height difference, the two omitted many movements.

I have never learned how to dance, but since they were so different from the other couples, even a layman like me could tell they were skipping everything and just stepping.

But even so—no, because of that—it was truly lovely and cute.

They looked like a sister who was clumsy at dancing and a kind older brother.

Our Sierra, who is a perfect Imperial Princess, would normally dance wonderfully, but that is how it looked to me.

As I watched the hem of her skirt fluttering to the rhythm, I thought it would have been nice if I were in that spot.

I swallowed that fleeting thought along with my drink.