The Encounter Between the Forsaken Healing Magic’s Beloved Child and the Betrayed Black Dragon Princess of Calamity - 22

Chapter 22:  If He So Wishes, I Will Gladly Destroy Everything in This World ※Mercedes Drake Fafnir’s POV

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※Mercedes Drake Fafnir’s POV

“Fufufu… He has fallen asleep.”

“Fuuh… Fuuh…”

I was smiling to myself while stroking Gil-kun’s hair gently as he breathed peacefully in his sleep. There had been so many things happening today, so at first, he hadn’t been able to sleep from the tension, but it seemed the thread finally snapped now. 

“Your Highness… Earlier, this bra- No, I mean, Gilbert-dono earlier said that he didn’t have anyone to talk to…”

“That’s right. Since he was born, Gil-kun has been oppressed by humans. He has suffered a lot at their hands.”

I said to Conrad, who had asked me that question hesitantly. Of course, I made sure Elsa, who was nearby, could hear it as well. No, I was letting these two know on purpose, so they could understand how discourteous they had treated Gil-kun earlier… And the fact that they had crossed a line that should never have been crossed.

Hence why, I told them everything that Gil-kun had told me. I didn’t spare any single details. I told them how Gil-kun was separated from his mother right after birth. How he was bullied by his wet nurse, treated with disdain by the servants and lived his whole life with people talking behind his back. Every day, Gil-kun was beaten, kicked. He was covered in wounds all the time and yet, he persisted. He continued to believe that his father, the Emperor, was watching over him from somewhere and protecting him. 

However, that conviction was proven to be nothing but a mirage. 

“…And so, this human child was forsaken in this forest by the command of his real father. A forest where a weak human like him could not survive for even three days.” 

“How terrible…”

Conrad was rendered speechless after listening to me. His reaction was understandable though. No one would’ve expected such a dark past from someone as bright as Gil-kun. 

“…My apologies for my rudeness, but is there a possibility that story was just a lie that Gilbert-sama fabricated-“

“Elsa.”

“-?! M-My apologies!”

When I directed my killing intent toward her, Elsa immediately prostrated to the ground. Good grief. I really didn’t like how she always said things like that. It seemed she didn’t have the best impression about Gil-kun, but she, out of all people, shouldn’t ever said something like that.

“If you dare to say the same thing again, I won’t let it slide.”

“Yes… I’ll be sure to remember it.”

After I warned her one more time, Elsa pressed her forehead to the ground. 

“Yo-Your Highness, while I have better understanding about Gilbert-dono’s situation now, but I find it hard to believe that his healing magic was able to cure Your Highness’ wounds and remove the poison.”

“Conrad.”

“O-Of course, I’m not trying to doubt Your Highness! It’s just… I’ve never heard of any healing magic powerful enough to heal dragonkin…”

Indeed, just like what Conrad said, Gil-kun’s healing magic was simply extraordinary. Dragons had natural resistance to poison and other status ailments. We were also highly resistant to magic, which meant healing magic meant to cure wounds or magic for physical enhancement usually didn’t work on us. Hence why, I was equally amazed by Gil-kun’s healing magic back then. He was able to heal me in the blink of an eye when I was on the brink of death. 

Gil-kun seemed to think his healing magic wasn’t anything special and based on his story, it seemed he had never told anyone in the imperial palace about his power. 

…Well, not like he had anyone who would listen to him in the first place. 

But…

“If I feel like it, it would be very easy for me to kill every dragon living in Dragroar, starting with Klaus. You two should know how powerful I am, right? The only reason I had to run away was because I was poisoned.”

“”…””

“And now, the fact that I’m here, fully recovered… You two understand what I’m trying to say, right?”

Yes… The dragons who had betrayed me and didn’t try to save me deserved to be wiped out. The only reason why I couldn’t do that was because I had been under the poison… Until I met Gil-kun. 

Thanks to his healing magic, I am still alive now. 

“That said, there is one thing I must thank humans for.”

“Thank? For what…?”

“Yes. Because they couldn’t understand how wonderful Gil-kun is, I was able to meet him in this forest. He is kinder than anyone, stronger in heart, and really warm inside out… He’s the only one I can trust in this world. My precious one.”

Indeed. As long as I have Gil-kun, I don’t need anything. I don’t need anyone else. If he so desires it, I will gladly destroy everything in this world.

While staring at Gil-kun’s sleeping figure, I smiled to myself. 

My beloved… More beloved than anything else.

And then…

“…Umm… Your Highness, may I receive the permission to touch Gilbert-dono?”

“Humph… I will say this now. If you wake him up, you better prepare yourself for the consequences.”

“O-Of course.”

Albeit gingerly, I gave him the permission to touch Gil-kun. Conrad inched closer and with extra caution, he gently touched Gil-kun’s cheek. 

“It’s soft…”

“Yes. Gil-kun’s cheeks are very soft and warm. It makes you want to keep touching them forever.”

I’d love to keep him all to myself, but since I had given Conrad the permission to touch Gil-kun, I had to reel myself in. Not to mention… Conrad’s face was scrunched together, he looked like he might burst into tears at any second now. 

“Au… Ehehe…”

“Haha, did you see that, Your Highness? This boy is rubbing his cheek happily against my fingers.”

“…Aren’t you just imagining things? Also, stop calling him ‘boy.’”

Even if Gil-kun was asleep, but I couldn’t accept that Gil-kun would show that kind of expression to a crude old man like Conrad. All of Gil-kun belonged to me and me alone. 

“If… If only he were still alive…”

Clenching his fist, Conrad finally couldn’t hold back and teared up. Conrad had lost his own child when his child was still young. This happened long before I was even born. He must be seeing the image of his own lost child in Gil-kun. 

“Humm… Well, since he’s a human, he must be a bit fragile, right? If he wants to stay by Your Highness’s side, he’ll need to train with his life on the line.”

While wiping his tears away, Conrad gazed at Gil-kun intently. His eyes were full of determination. 

N-No. This is not good. This man… He’s definitely going to make Gil-kun do something incredulous. 

“No, you can’t. Gil-kun is adorable like this. This aspect of him is what makes him Gil-kun.”

“My apologies, but I’m afraid I can’t accept that. A man must be strong. Don’t worry, I will turn him into a real man…?!”

But suddenly, a large shadow loomed over us.

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