Duke of the Beast and the Vicarious Bride - Chapter 104

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※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

He now understood the Emperor’s intention in bestowing even the title of Grand Duke upon an empty shell lacking even a sense of self—to keep that monster within his grasp.

[I require the power of the dragon.]

And no sooner had the Emperor’s letter arrived in his hands than a “slight change in circumstances” occurred with the beast. What a coincidence.

What countless scholars had labored and bled to achieve over the years was coming to pass in a single day.

A vague foreboding stirred within him, but he could be certain of nothing. What would happen if that beast fully regained its sense of self? Whether it was truly a dragon remained unproven.

But one thing was certain: first, he must report all of this to the Imperial Family.

No, furthermore, in these circumstances, he must hasten the beast’s recovery as quickly as possible. And if it should awaken as a true dragon…

If that came to pass, all the great merits—incomparable to anything accumulated thus far—would be his alone.

‘Would that be enough to erase the stain of bastardy?’

The vulnerability hidden behind his composed face gnawed at him.

In any case, the Emperor too would surely be far more satisfied with the dragon recovering its senses than merely waiting for an heir.

As Fiona had said, the beast before Jayden’s eyes now appeared to be regaining its sense of self—just as the Emperor had so fervently desired.

It was for this reason that he had left those two alone amidst this morning’s commotion.

Not because he feared that girl Fiona, but to observe the beast, which had released its own restraints and followed her of its own will.

For various reasons, Jayden had concluded that he could no longer treat the beast as a beast.

“So, you’re saying I should treat it as befits a Grand Duke?”

Having completed his calculations, Jayden slowly returned to the present.

Fiona, still huffing indignantly, resembled nothing so much as an overprotective owner shielding a pet that had been harshly treated somewhere.

“Very well. Do as you wish.”

Though a lingering unease remained, Jayden had no choice but to permit her presumption for now.

Unwilling as he was to admit it, given the circumstances, it was clear that the beast was gradually awakening, stimulated by Fiona.

“What? You mean it?”

Now that she had actually received permission, Fiona seemed somewhat taken aback.

“I leave the matter of the beast to you. Handle it as you see fit. But my condition is this: restore it to as sound a state as possible, in the shortest time you can manage.”

“What do you mean by that, all of a sudden?”

“As you said, whether it was memory loss or a curse, if something was wrong, I’m telling you to solve it. If you succeed, I will acknowledge you, and accept the Grand Duke as well.”

What needed to be proven, how, and why—she could not fathom the depths of Jayden’s dark scheming. But one thing was clear.

Now, Caligo could live normally.

“Restore it to as sound a state as possible.”

Whether she could fulfill the demand to “restore it to as sound a state as possible” was uncertain, but that much—at least that—was also what Fiona wished for.

For some reason, it was a moment when the interests of the two aligned.

“Very well. I’ll do it.”

“However, when the military requires him, I will dispatch him without exception. We cannot afford to lose our main force.”

At these words, Fiona glanced briefly at Caligo. He gave a small nod, signaling that this was acceptable. This much, she supposed, was a compromise she would have to accept.

“Alright. I understand for now.”

“That is all my conditions. I’ve said what I needed to say, so if you have no further business, you may leave. The stench of the beast is overwhelming and gives me a headache.”

Even at this dismissal—still treating Caligo as a beast—she found her mood not entirely unpleasant, at least today.

Filled with the joy of having her will granted, Fiona took Caligo and exited Jayden’s office with a light step.

Jayden silently watched the backs of the two as they left.

It was time to report to the Emperor the first achievement in five long years.