***

His head felt like it was about to explode. He knew what Rose wanted from him.

She was practical and wise.

In the current situation, the love game she spoke of was of no help, and he had no energy to spare for that damn romance.

Even the rumors about him and Rose played a part in destabilizing his position.

Rose is not part of the central nobility.

Her family has no power.

To make Rose the Empress through legitimate procedures, the only way was to raise the status of the surviving Estanya family.

Calix would gladly do so, and he had no choice but to do so.

Now Rose is his everything.

As she said, if he falls, she too would be in danger.

After all, what Rose chose was neither Kamesis, nor Morisias, nor her world, but Calix Posman.

So to protect what he cherished, he had to become stronger.

He needed to seize power and escape from all threats.

‘……damn it.’

Calix stared at the man standing before him, smiling broadly.

‘He didn’t smell human.’

‘The maid is in danger.’

A disturbing presence that kept hovering around Rose.

Though he had firmly resolved to become stronger, his fingers trembled involuntarily.

“Are you Aaron Crimson?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Aaron Crimson, from what he had discovered so far, was no ordinary kitchen assistant.

One of the capital’s most renowned informants.

‘Your Highness, as you instructed, I investigated his grandfather, Patch Crimson, and found traces of memory manipulation magic.’

And the traces of high-level magic were found around him.

“Why did you suddenly call for me, Crown Prince?”

“……”

“Your. Highness.”

Aaron Crimson playfully emphasized the words “Your Highness.”

At that, fear instantly crawled up from deep in his stomach to the tip of his chin.

It was a sensation he had experienced before.

When he was dominated by Morisias. That helplessness, fear, and frustration he felt in the uncontrollable darkness.

‘The Absolute One.’

Calix clenched his fist with all his might. He had to endure. He had to pretend not to know.

“Ah. Rose said I must always add ‘Your Highness’ after ‘Crown Prince.’ Right?”

Aaron Crimson smiled broadly with an indifferent expression, then tilted his head.

“So why did you call me?”

Calix bit his lip firmly.

It was maddening that this was happening in his palace. However, right now, the immediate answer was more important. If he answered incorrectly, he would die.

“I heard you do good work.”

“Oh. That’s unlikely.”

Aaron Crimson narrowed his eyes as he looked at him.

“When I become Emperor, I’ll bring you to the main palace……”

His voice trembled. Calix desperately cleared his throat.

‘Damn it, I can’t hold out any longer.’

Magical power that wasn’t human’s densely surrounded the office, pressing down on his shoulders like mad.

“Indeed, it’s not for nothing that Morisias has his eye on you. Right?”

And Aaron Crimson’s eyes narrowed instantly, like those of a reptile.

His orange hair began to brilliantly turn golden.

“But, I really don’t like perceptive humans.”

The human mouth stretched wide open, revealing sharp teeth through the gap.

Thanks to this, Calix could be certain.

The non-human being that had been sticking close to Rose was indeed a dragon.

“Because humans like you ruin my enjoyable entertainment.”

“Kuh, kuhek!”

Calix could only grab his throat, crushed under the overwhelming magical power of the Absolute One.

Even drawing upon all the magical power in his body, it was hard to endure.

When he was dominated by Morisias, Rose was by his side, but now he was completely alone.

“That’s right. As you thought, I’m not Aaron Crimson. I killed Aaron Crimson five years ago for my pleasant and comfortable entertainment.”

The dragon leaned in close to Calix, who was hunched over the desk, and grinned.

“Normally, I should kill you, too. But since you’re a human Rose cares about, I’ll generously spare you.”

Then the mana that had filled the office was withdrawn by the dragon.

“Rose is smarter than I expected, and she might figure out that I killed you.”

Calix wiped his mouth while struggling to catch his breath.

‘Damn it, blood…’

He needed to clean the blood on his sleeve before Rose arrived.

She would surely demand to know where he got hurt as soon as she saw it.

The fact that this being was a dragon was an absolute secret.

Though she pretended otherwise, Rose was already suffering enough.

And if she found out that someone she had been friendly with was a dragon…

Calix gritted his teeth and stared at the dragon before him.

“Because Rose is much smarter than the foolish god of Posnia.”

The dragon looked at the trembling Calix and chuckled leisurely.

“Indeed, befitting the strongest soul chosen by that great fate, you’re not thinking of defying me. Usually, humans don’t know their place and go wild.”

Calix spoke to the dragon as nonchalantly as possible.

“I am honored to meet the dragon, one of the three Absolute Ones, who sits at the top observing the middle realm.”

“……Oh my. You’re quite interesting.”

His heart was pounding wildly with fear. He was furious.

It was wretched to be in a position where he could do nothing but bow his head.

“Indeed, there’s a reason why Rose cherishes you. You grasp situations well.”

The dragon’s grotesque face gradually began to return to human form.

“But, Your Highness, the Crown Prince. You seem to be under the illusion that you’re something special just because Rose cares for you.”

The dragon with a human face smiled brightly at Calix and warned.

“That otherworlder is mine.”

“……”

“You mortals seem to have excessive greed. So I personally came to warn you. Grateful, aren’t you?”

Humans who discover the identity of a dragon in entertainment usually die.

In fact, it could be said that Calix not dying on the spot right now was a miracle.

He secretly clenched his fist.

He could tolerate everything else, but he absolutely could not stand the words of that damn fat lizard claiming Rose for himself.

“Feeling wronged?”

The unnamed dragon’s eyebrows drooped. It was an artificial expression as if the one before him was pitiful.

“You know, I really like that otherworlder. Rose is so, so interesting. Don’t you think so too?”

The dragon looked at Calix with a dreamy face and said to him.

“You know, Rose, even killed the high priest guarding the famous Temple of Fate. Oh, maybe not killed? Anyway, although the God of Fate is particularly vulnerable to otherworlders, I got to see the Temple of Fate that I could never enter until I die, thanks to the gap in the barrier that opened because of it!”

And then, smack. He licked his lips.

Like a predator with prey right before its eyes.

“Crown Prince. Hand Rose over to me. Then I’ll take care of those idiots for you.”

“……Idiots?”

Calix frowned and asked the dragon.

“I mean Morisias and Kamesis. They foolishly meddled with something strange.”

The dragon sighed, conveying utter contempt.

“You may not know, Crown Prince, but there’s such a thing as an appropriate level in the world. But those guys really, really meddled with something strange.”

The dragon’s eyes sparkled.

“Something from a dimension much higher than our world.”

Rose was in danger. Dragons who live long lives often risk their lives for ‘fun.’

If Rose was indeed a being from a higher dimension, as the dragon said, there were more than enough reasons for him to be interested in her.

“That’s why Rose occasionally uses strange powers.”

Is he talking about the diary? He needed to think.

At this rate, Rose would be dragged to a dragon’s lair in an instant.

Whether it was Kamesis or Morisias, Rose came first for him.

He needed to meet with the Tower Master immediately.

“Crown Prince. I can see you thinking, what should I do?”

“Rose is……”

“Yes, Rose is mine. I’ve decided that.”

His breathing became rapid. In the face of overwhelming power, he felt utterly helpless, unable to do anything.

‘Would Rose have been different?’

‘How has she managed to endure among these enormous forces?’

He had to protect Rose.

“Ah, it’s such a shame I can’t kill you. I really, really hate being interfered with.”

The dragon quietly observed Calix, who was struggling to stay seated. Soon his eyes narrowed and he said.

“But how are you enduring so long in front of me, Crown Prince? A normal human would have fainted by now.”

A strong hand suddenly grabbed Calix’s chin.

“Aha! You’ve consumed the magical power of that stupid eel from Braham, haven’t you?”