TOOCM 68

Chapter 68

Once the situation was under control, Kaiden didn’t hold back his scolding.

“What were you thinking, coming to a place like this so recklessly? What if you got hurt?”

He was clearly upset. Reina’s bravado deflated as she mumbled, “I found out the village chief’s granddaughter wasn’t on the list. I was worried about you.”

“You came because you were worried about me?”

“Yes. I really don’t want you to get hurt.”

Her honest answer made him pause. The fact that her reckless action had been for his sake made the corners of his lips twitch upward.

Forcing his expression back into a stern one, he said gruffly, “You’re probably the only one in the North who worries about me.”

But the faint smile tugging at his lips betrayed him. His anger had already melted away.

Michael watched the scene in silence.

When the Medusa lunged at Reina, a violet aura had enveloped her—Kaiden’s power, unmistakably tied to his draconic lineage.

Even after witnessing it with his own eyes, Michael found it difficult to believe.

Neutralizing the attack of a variant demonic beast was no small feat.

It explained how Crensia had managed to protect the North.

More astonishingly, Kaiden had handled the beast’s core with his bare hands without showing the slightest sign of corruption. Most people would have suffered severe burns or blackened skin from contact with its dark energy.

That must have been why the Emperor was so wary of him.

Kaiden only relaxed after confirming that Reina was completely unharmed.

To remain so calm in the face of such a terrifying beast was remarkable.

Reina was no less astonishing. She had wielded that formidable magical restraint as though she had anticipated the Medusa’s attack.

I need to keep a closer eye on her.

Michael absentmindedly twisted the ring on his pinky.

The Emperor had ordered him to monitor their every move in the North, particularly the depth of their relationship.

Yet His Majesty seemed less interested in Reina herself.

Michael had felt the same way.

But today had changed his mind.

Reina was far from simple, and her power was equally complicated.

His gaze shifted toward Ritsi, perched quietly on her shoulder.

Reina might not realize it, but her divine beast was extraordinary.

What kind of divine beast manifested itself like a loyal guard dog?

Until Ritsi acted, Michael hadn’t even sensed its presence.

Its energy seemed to fade at certain times, likely to reduce the burden placed on its master.

Summoning a divine beast consumed an immense amount of energy, and proud divine beasts rarely obeyed their masters without demanding a price in return.

Yet Reina and Ritsi shared a bond unlike anything Michael had seen before.

The red bird had protected her without hesitation.

Had Kaiden not shielded her, Ritsi would have intervened.

That alone proved the beast recognized Reina as its true master.

If the Emperor had witnessed this, he would likely have regretted sending her to the North.

When Michael caught Kaiden’s eye, he noticed the unmistakable protective glare directed at him, as though Kaiden were deliberately shielding Reina from his scrutiny.

Michael smirked.

It wasn’t just the divine beast guarding her.

His curiosity about Reina deepened.

She might just be capable of accomplishing something extraordinary.

Jane regained consciousness with no memory of what had happened—a common occurrence among humans who were freed from beast possession.

Given the tragic circumstances that had led to her becoming a target, Kaiden decided to protect her.

Officially, the incident was attributed to an isolated Medusa.

Only those who had been present knew that it had actually been a variant.

With the Medusa dealt with, the delegation prepared to return to the capital.

The day before their departure, Michael requested a private meeting with Reina.

Under the pretense of taking a casual walk, he led her toward the greenhouse.

As they wandered through the glass corridors in awkward silence, Michael glanced at Ritsi before speaking.

“If you ever visit the capital, you’d be wise to hide your divine beast.”

“What?”

His sudden warning startled her.

“I noticed early on that you haven’t revealed the full extent of Ritsi’s power.”

Reina’s hand trembled.

She had thought she had fooled him completely.

How much does he know?

It could simply be a probe, but she couldn’t stop herself from growing tense.

Seeing her unease, Michael spoke calmly.

“There’s no need to be so guarded. I’m only warning you to be cautious, especially around His Majesty.”

“…What do you mean?”

The mention of the Emperor immediately heightened her wariness.

She would have to tread carefully.

Feigning ignorance, she quietly urged Michael to continue.

“Let me ask you something. Doesn’t summoning Ritsi strain your body?”

“What?”

“Do you understand the significance of Ritsi protecting you from the Medusa?”

His cryptic questions left Reina at a loss.

When she remained silent, Michael explained as though he had expected that reaction.

“Most divine beasts don’t recognize royals as their masters. They won’t lend their power without demanding something in return. Even the most powerful royals cannot completely control them. I face the same restrictions whenever I use mine.”

“It’s the same for me…”

“Is it?”

Michael’s gaze settled on Ritsi.

“To me, your divine beast seems different. It acts as though it truly recognizes you as its master.”

Although Ritsi’s aura appeared weak, Michael remembered the power behind its wings when it had confronted the Medusa.

It was clearly hiding its true strength.

Perhaps its current form wasn’t even its real one.

If the Emperor saw Ritsi more than once, he would notice the anomaly quickly.

For a moment, Michael wondered whether Reina had deliberately fled to the North because she already knew the extent of her power.

But he dismissed the thought.

Awakening a divine beast’s full potential before the age of twenty was impossible.

“Coming to the North before your powers manifested was a smart move. If your birthday had already passed, His Majesty would never have let you go.”

He meant that her escape had been remarkably fortunate.

But Reina’s heart sank.

Michael couldn’t possibly know the truth.

Yet she still couldn’t calm herself.

Her silence lingered long enough for him to notice.

“What did His Majesty ask of you?”

“Just a letter of concern.”

Michael laughed softly.

“The Emperor only cares about himself. He wouldn’t send me a secret letter for mere pleasantries.”

“I have no obligation to tell you.”

Her curt response made him smile.

“Good attitude. If you had revealed His Majesty’s orders, I would have been disappointed.”

His blatant admission that he had been testing her left Reina stunned.

Michael was the Emperor’s man.

So why was he giving her this advice?

His behavior made it seem as though he genuinely wanted to help her, and she couldn’t understand why.

“Will you report this to His Majesty?”

“Report what?”

“What you’ve seen in the North.”

Specifically, her hidden power.