ㅤChapter 21
ㅤAfter leaving the infirmary, Theodore remembered that he had forgotten to ask about the mystery of the fields and the spring.
ㅤHe hesitated about going back, but he noticed maids and the Dark Dragon Hatchling running noisily from the back of the hallway, and he decided to ask later.
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ㅤ（Princess Ruby will be staying in this country. There will be plenty of opportunities. I don’t want to alarm her by bombarding her with questions all at once.）
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ㅤEven that Dark Dragon Hatchling, staying by the Princess’s side with a harmless-looking face, is actually a disaster-class monster that shouldn’t be friendly to humans.
ㅤIs it staying with her seeking protection because it’s a hatchling, or is it, as the Princess described it as her 『Creature Under One’s Care『, bound by some kind of master-servant contract――?
ㅤEither way, it’s unthinkable in terms of Dark Dragon ecology, but the scary thing is that it seems possible with that extraordinary Princess. Carrying its injured master to the castle suggests high intelligence and loyalty.
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ㅤFor Theodore, monsters were targets to be subjugated, and the idea of coexisting with them never crossed his mind.
ㅤRuby’s life, surrounded by numerous poisonous animals and monsters and enjoying herself, was so fascinating that he could lose track of time watching her. He simply thought he wanted to know more about her.
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ㅤ”What are you doing standing here grinning like an idiot? Save your strange delusions for your own room.”
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ㅤTheodore was startled back to reality by Arnold’s icy voice.
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ㅤ”……Hmph.”
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ㅤPretending as if nothing had happened, he turned toward his office, with Arnold following behind.
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ㅤ”So, you’re not divorcing Princess Ruby after all?”
ㅤ”……Not for now, anyway. I don’t know about the future.”
ㅤ”I see. Well, I suppose it’s fine. Her Highness seems to have many secrets, and she doesn’t seem to be as bad a person as I thought.”
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ㅤReturning to his office, Theodore was greeted by the usual mountain of documents piled on his desk.
ㅤThe central envoys were in the main hall again, and a mountain of petitions from the citizens had arrived.
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ㅤHowever, Theodore didn’t feel as annoyed as he used to.
ㅤHe had found a new object of interest in Princess Ruby, and he had even secured a promise that she would cook him delicious food again once her injury healed.
ㅤHe wasn’t sure if she was fully aware of it, but for the first time since his coronation, he was feeling something akin to “enjoyment.”
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ㅤ（I can take care of things one by one, slowly.）
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ㅤTheodore began to tackle the mountain of documents with a calm heart.