### Chapter: 254
Time flew by like an arrow.
During this time, Kraush focused on absorbing the power of the White Dragon King that dwelled within him.
[ To fully absorb the power of the White Dragon King, a transformation will be necessary. ]
Initially, he had been scolded by Crimson Garden for wanting to absorb the power of a Dragon King. However, as time progressed, even Crimson Garden eventually let out a sigh and helped him with the absorption.
[ If you completely absorb this, you will effectively no longer be human. Are you okay with that? ]
“It’s a bit late to worry about that now, isn’t it?”
Kraush chuckled briefly, as if to say, “Didn’t I already accept the power of world erosion?”
At this, Crimson Garden stomped on his foot in annoyance.
[ What I mean is the world’s story after you achieve your goal. ]
After protecting it from destruction, how would the world treat Kraush? Could he truly live there entirely?
His body was filled with countless curses, the power of worldly erosion, and now, even the strength of the Dragon King. And on top of that was Crimson Garden’s desperation for immortality, which she once sought along with other Dragon Kings.
With all these burdens, it might not be long before Kraush became a target of fear for others.
[ Humans absolutely despise anything that’s different from themselves. It’s just ingrained. ]
Once they accept another existence, they fear the risks it might bring. Thus, humans endlessly deny and erase anything that is not like them, seeking to ensure that only their kind exist in this world.
“There’s me too, right?”
He pointed to himself, socializing with Crimson Garden and Ebelasque.
Crimson Garden let out a bigger sigh at this.
[ That’s the problem with you. You make others slip into the delusion that it’s alright to accept differences. ]
Kraush didn’t know everything about Crimson Garden’s life. He only knew that she lost everything due to Arthur and melted into lava forever.
So he just smiled blandly, pondering her words deeply.
“I have no intention of going back, and you know well that it’s too late for that.”
[ …Can’t you at least think about your past a little? ]
“Thinking about the past is why I’m living like this.”
To see what lay behind, Kraush was giving his all to today.
Crimson Garden didn’t want to push him further, knowing this truth.
[ Fine. For now, just stay inside and don’t even think about going out. ]
“I mean, I’m fine with it.”
To break Ixion’s plan, Kraush needed to fully absorb the power of the Dragon King. Thus, he welcomed Crimson Garden’s advice.
And just when he was about to embark on a rigorous training session,
He spotted a familiar hair color up ahead.
Ocean-colored hair.
It was one of the colors he used to despise most, but thanks to someone else, he found it acceptable now.
“Sigrid.”
As he called out her name, Sigrid looked up.
“What brings you all the way to the Unnamed Academy?”
Given that this was the Unnamed Academy building, he had a good idea of who she was meeting. Still, he asked playfully.
At his question, Sigrid chuckled lightly.
“I came to meet my lord.”
Kraush was taken aback by her next words. Sigrid had anticipated his reaction and shrugged nonchalantly.
“What can I do? It’s just something the royals pushed through. It’s officially recognized by the Emperor, so truthfully, I have no say in this.”
She fiddled with her hair, looking a bit apologetic. As she said, this was purely a power play.
No matter how much Kraush could flap his wings, he couldn’t possibly manage both the Empire and Balheim simultaneously.
The forced engagement would tie itself of its own accord, and Sigrid was caught in the blast.
“I didn’t expect things to unfold this way. I’m sorry.”
As the one who caused the stir, Kraush apologized to Sigrid, who widened her eyes in surprise.
And then she burst into a fit of giggles.
“Are you feeling responsible for this?”
“Of course! I did set this up.”
Sigrid snorted disdainfully at his words, leaning closer, she squinted at him.
“So, are you willing to take responsibility for me, then?”
“…As if I’d need to take care of someone who’s managing just fine on their own?”
“Look at my situation! If this engagement falls through, I’m going to get a ton of flak from the Empire.”
Sigrid feigned a pitiful expression, placing her hands at her eyes, pretending to cry.
This was coming from someone who had no intentions of taking a position in the Empire and had entirely removed herself from the imperial squabbles.
“…So you’re saying you’d want to marry me and make it official?”
Upon hearing Kraush’s question, Sigrid puffed up her chest proudly.
“Look at me! I was born cute, and I’m smart too! Surely I’d make a fine partner, right?”
What a self-promotion.
Kraush looked at her, dumbfounded.
Sigrid, seeing his expression, coughed awkwardly, showing a hint of embarrassment.
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s just that I think living with you would be pretty enjoyable.”
Sigrid wrapped her arms around herself, her expression turning a bit bittersweet.
“I don’t really have a place in the Empire.”
Sigrid cared for the Empire. But the Empire never gave her a place to belong.
Being the frail youngest royal, that burden always weighed her down.
With her intelligence, she could navigate through such obstacles, but she understood that doing so would risk dividing the Empire.
“Wouldn’t it be better to leave the Empire and start anew?”
From the Holy Maiden, Astoria, to the Flame Emperor, Aslan, and even his fiancée Bianca—
It felt like everyone around him was abandoning their safe havens.
“Why does everyone feel like a halfwit? Am I becoming some sort of shelter for the lost souls?”
Kraush sighed, feeling the weight of this responsibility.
“Do keep your act reasonable.”
“Did it show?”
Sigrid was the type not to care so much about the implications of the Empire, so Kraush caught on to her deceit quickly.
Just then, Sigrid was suddenly right in front of him, the citrus scent tickling his nose.
With a bright smile and a playful poke to his chest, she said,
“Just know that not everything I said was a joke.”
Living together with him wouldn’t be so bad, she meant it.
“I think it’d be fun, but honestly, just giving me a place to stay would be enough.”
As she stepped back, slyly indicating she didn’t have plans to invade his fiancée’s territory, Kraush sighed again.
Recent events, including those surrounding Astoria, added more into this mess.
“…At the very least, I won’t ignore you.”
Kraush wasn’t the kind to leave things unattended.
Things were rolling this way, and at some point, he’d have to find a solution.
‘Was Arthur feeling the same way?’
He had a vague understanding of why Arthur kept three women around him.
The trouble was that in Kraush’s eyes, it felt like an extremely bad idea.
‘Maybe those around me are the ones who seem the most half-witted in Arthur’s eyes.’
People huddled together with their own kind, as they say.
He chuckled to himself, contemplating his own situation.
Just then, a sound echoed from the end of the hallway.
Both Kraush and Sigrid turned their heads in unison toward the sound.
What came into view was another head of ocean-colored hair.
Yet, the moment Kraush’s eyes settled on her, his expression distorted immediately.
“Sigrid.”
As he spoke her name, the girl immediately froze mid-step.
Unlike usual, Sigrid’s face showed obvious signs of distress today.
After recent bouts of insomnia, she hadn’t been sleeping well, her eyelids drooping, and her skin somewhat haggard.
Yet, the aura emanating from her was more potent than before.
Kraush raised an eyebrow.
‘What happened to this girl?’
During her sleepless nights, Sigrid had thrown herself into training.
Perhaps that’s why the pressure of the White Dragon had intensified within her.
‘She’s deliberately trying to break free from her shell.’
Kraush had only stolen the Emperor’s egg; Sigrid still retained the White Dragon King’s egg inside her.
It meant that she was pushing herself to awaken the power of the White Dragon King stored within her.
Rushing it would be akin to self-destructive behavior given her condition.
Yet, this also meant she was feeling overwhelmed, constantly losing what she treasured.
Sigrid felt more anxious than ever and had begun reaching for the power of the White Dragon King.
Unaware that the power she sought had already been consumed by Kraush.
“…”
Sigrid lifted her head, meeting Kraush’s gaze.
Her sunken eyes slowly shifted to Sigrid as she approached.
Upon seeing Sigrid and Kraush together, a flicker of certainty sparked in her eyes, quickly morphing into anger.
“You, how dare you!”
Her voice cracked with fury, recognizing the cause of her anger.
Kraush immediately understood the source of her ire—his engagement to Sigrid.
Sigrid had caught wind of the news.
The moment she heard it, rage flared within her.
As Kraush was about to formally join the royal family,
His child would inherit the Emperor’s bloodline, with rumors circulating about how the sickly Emperor was already eyeing them.
So was that why?
In Sigrid’s eyes, Kraush appeared as a shameless thief, taking away not only her hopes but Arthur’s as well.
“This… this is all for Lord Arthur’s…!”
“Lady?”
Sigrid nearly lost control as she shouted, realizing she had spoken too much and began to compose herself. She realized how bad her current mental state was, as the fatigue kicked in.
“Urgh.”
Sigrid swallowed her frustration and stepped back.
Her state of mind had deteriorated to a point where she could barely remember how she got there.
Ever since the first student duel, her condition steadily worsened.
She was aware of it, yet knowing didn’t change her spiraling mental state.
“Sigrid.”
At that moment, Kraush called out to her.
As Sigrid flinched and looked up, Kraush wore a gentle smile, filled with kindness.
It was an expression that seemed so oblivious to the turmoil of reincarnation, making Sigrid’s mind even more entangled.
“You seem quite tired. How about heading back to your room for a little rest?”
“…Rest?”
Sigrid muttered his words in a daze.
“Rest.”
Had anyone ever told her to rest in her entire life?
Sigrid, who had always striven for the top, had never heard such words before.
Deep down, an insufferably displeasing feeling began to bubble up.
As all these mixed emotions began to flood her being, she felt a tingling sensation through her fingertips and toes.
Kraush’s mere suggestion of rest hit her like a hammer, crushing her spirit.
It felt as if he were saying she had no need in this world.
“…Fuck.”
The refined Sigrid let loose a foul word for the first time.
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