The Encounter Between the Forsaken Healing Magic’s Beloved Child and the Betrayed Black Dragon Princess of Calamity - 14

Chapter 14: The Dragon Princess’s Request

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“Geez… Gilbert-kun, you’re really a crybaby.”

“Ah… Hehehe…”

With a wry smile on her lips, Mercedes-san scooped up my tears with her finger. It felt a bit ticklish, but this small gesture made me happy. I couldn’t help but smile shyly in return.

“I’m sorry. Let’s get back to the point. So… What are we going to do now?”

“The one we let go earlier will definitely tell everything to Klaus right away. Even if Klaus has the obligation to accept any challenge for the Royal Selection… Well, we still need to see how they respond. We could just storm in and crush them to pulp if we need to anyway. I don’t really mind either way.”

As she said that, the corner of Mercedes-san’s lips curled up into a devious smirk. It was an entirely different expression that she always showed to me. With me, Mercedes-san was always gentle and kind. She looked completely different when she was talking about her fellow dragonkin. There was this dark, suffocating gloom that seemed to encase her. But, well, this kind of reaction was to be expected. 

The dragons had betrayed Mercedes-san. According to her, strength was everything in the Dragroar Kingdom. The weak always had to bow their heads to the strong and yet… That Klaus guy, he committed a vile act by poisoning Mercedes-san’s father, the former king. He also poisoned Mercedes-san’s mother and Mercedes-san herself. Not only did he take the throne with such underhanded methods, but he also killed both of Mercedes-san’s parents and now he was out to take her life as well. 

“Hm? What’s the matter, Gilbert-kun?”

I was staring at her crimson eyes, which prompted Mercedes-san to ask me that question. Her face was filled with curiosity. 

Right. I need to say it properly…

“It’s just… I have a request.”

“A request?”

Mercedes-san tilted her head to the side. I gathered my resolve and finally voiced my feelings to her. 

“Please take me with you. I want to come too when you go through with the Royal Selection against that Klaus guy.”

“No.”

Mercedes-san said sharply. The gentle expression from earlier faded, replaced by a stern expression. 

“Listen here. Klaus is the kind of a man who would poison others just to ensure his victory. Just like what those soldiers did, he would take you hostage and use underhanded methods to kill you.”

“Yeah, I know that.”

“Then…?”

“But, think about it. If the man from earlier is going to tell everything to Klaus, that means he’s going to talk about me as well. In that case, I wouldn’t be safe here either.”

According to what Mercedes-san had said to me, I had a feeling Klaus was the kind of a man who would stop at nothing to fulfill his plan. In fact, he would actively use underhanded tactics without any hesitation. After he had won the Royal Selection, Klaus still sent pursuers to kill Mercedes-san, pushing her to the brink of death. 

A man as persistent and cunning as that would never leave me be. Although my threats were n nothing but empty threats, but considering the relationship between the Dragroar Kingdom and the Hylics Empire, Klaus would surely try to erase me. 

“And so, I think it’s safer for me to stay by Mercedes-san’s side.”

“Gilbert-kun…”

Mercedes-san furrowed her eyebrows together, looking really torn inside. Knowing how kind she was, she must be feeling guilty for getting me involved in her matter. 

“…Well, at least, that’s the official excuse I have.”

“Huh?”

“Truth to be told, I just want to stay by your side, Mercedes-san…”

For ten whole years… I had been constantly called useless in the imperial palace. I had been insulted, beaten, kicked and treated worse than an animal. No one ever treated me kindly. In fact, no one would even speak to me properly. I was nothing but an unwanted existence. My real father abandoned me in this forest as soon as he saw me. I genuinely thought that I had no place in this world. That was what I believed, but…

“But Mercedes-san, you acknowledged me. Only you, Mercedes-san. You showed me that it’s okay for me to exist in this world… You told me that I’m not useless… You’re the one who taught me all that…”

“…”

“That’s why… I want to be by your side. You’re the only person in this world who ever told me that it’s okay for me to live and because of that, I want to stay by your side.”

“Gilbert-kun… You’re really… Geez…”

“Huh?! Ehehehe~”

Mercedes-san scrunched her face up before hugging me tightly. It was a bit hard to breathe, but I didn’t mind it. I loved her scent and warmth. 

“I understand. Please witness the Royal Selection between Klaus and me.”

“Yes!”

Thank goodness. In this way, I could stay by Mercedes-san’s side. And… Maybe when the time came… I might be able to protect her. I could use this meager healing magic to help her… The same magic that she had praised me for. 

“However, in accordance with what we discussed earlier, you will need to fulfill my request in return. No. I think I need to add one more request to the equation.”

Ah, ri-right. I had promised. I had promised that I would do anything she asked me if Mercedes-san managed to drive those two dragons away without taking a single wound. 

“Umm… What is your request, Mercedes-san?”

My body stiffened a little. I braced myself. I hoped it was something I could actually fulfill…

“Fufu~ Then, for my first request…”

“Ye-Yes…!”

“From now on, I want  to call you Gil-kun. Of course, I also want Gil-kun to call me Mer.”

“Huh? U-Umm…”

I didn’t expect she would ask something like that. Of course, it was something I could do, so I really didn’t mind it, but…

“..You don’t want to?”

Mercedes-san asked. Her expression was tinged with a hint of anxiety.

“-?! N-No! Of course I want to! It’s just.. I’m just so happy…”

Panicking, I quickly shook my head. In the past ten years, I could count on one hand the number of times someone called me by name, so I never imagined someone would want to call me by a nickname.

“And for the next request… Please…”

“Please…?”

“Please, always stay by my side.”

Mercedes-san said, casting her gaze slightly downward. Her pale, translucent skin was tinged with a faint flush and her hand felt a bit sweaty. 

I…

“Yes! Absolutely! I also want to always stay by Mer-san’s side!”

“Gil-kun!”

“Wh-Whoa-?!”

Mer-san wrapped her arms around me and spun me around. Her beautiful face blossomed into a radiant smile.

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