The Vain Princess and Her Dragon Knight

Chapter 9

That night, Elstar came to Gloria's door for reasons he couldn't quite explain, knocking softly. The princess opened it, wearing only a thin nightgown with a fur shawl draped over her shoulders. Her golden hair, slightly disheveled, was tucked under the shawl, the ends bearing faint creases from the pressure.

Elstar's eyes flickered with something like pain at the sight of those creases. He could almost hear the poor strands groaning. It took considerable restraint not to reach out and smooth them.

"Your Highness," he said slowly, dragging his gaze away. "There is something you may not fully understand. An immortal elf's age cannot be judged by his appearance. Cui is likely far older than your father, the King."

Gloria stared at him. "......"

What on earth? This i***t knight had come to her door in the middle of the night to tell her that Cui was older than her father?

"That's not my point," Elstar said coolly. "My point is, in Cui's eyes, you are little more than a child."

"And what's wrong with being a child?" she countered. Everyone loved being a child—the freedom to be**, the unconditional indulgence of the adults around them. She certainly loved it. If she could, she'd stay her father's little angel forever, a princess who never had to grow up. Cui seeing her as a child was even better. Perhaps he'd take extra care of her, even help with her studies. "Maybe let me copy his homework sometimes."

"Impossible," Elstar said flatly. He knew elves well. They adhered to an unshakable code, and in all the eras, almost nothing had ever made them break it. "An elf would scold you, sit beside you until you'd finished every last assignment yourself, and then inform you that any repetition of such behavior would be reported to your mentor."

Gloria gaped. "Surely not...?" Could the gentle Cui really be so strict?

Seeing her opinion of the elf drop—precisely as he'd intended—the dragon allowed a faint smile beneath his helmet. His goal for tonight was accomplished. His dark features vanished into the shadows, only his long, narrow beast-eyes gleaming like molten gold, carrying the heat of a volcano's heart. At the center of his vision was the princess, oblivious to his scheming. The pure white girl was being shamelessly watched, long since marked as his possession. No one else could take her attention. Not anyone.

---

The next morning, the King summoned Gloria to his study. Cui and Suka were already there. As her Guardian Knight, Elstar was not permitted inside; he had to wait with the other guards outside the door. This was the King's deliberate arrangement—he didn't want the three inside disturbed. He hadn't anticipated that a dragon's hearing could pierce walls and catch every sound within.

Gloria, contrary to Elstar's hopes, didn't change her opinion of Cui so easily. She trusted her own judgment. So far, the elf had shown himself to be gentle and accepting. And she needed to stay on good terms with her future classmates—that was just good strategy. She swept into the room, already launching into conversation.

First, the dark-haired youth on her left. "Suka, did you get a new scabbard? That looks so cool!"

Suka stood with his arms crossed, leaning against a bookshelf, his expression cold as ever. He habitually stayed silent, blending into the shadows—a wolf's instinct to watch and wait. But her genuine praise had struck his most beloved subject: swords. And his little-known hobby of collecting scabbards. He lifted his eyelids slightly. "Thank you."

Gloria beamed, then turned right. "Cui, good morning! While walking in the garden yesterday, I found a litter of newborn rabbits in the snow. The mother was nowhere to be found."

Cui was instantly interested. "Rabbits? In the garden?"

"I was surprised too! By all logic, palace pets should be kept in a dedicated area with their own caretakers. I asked around—no one has lost a rabbit. Except a Lady Eliza from the southern city, who brought a plump white rabbit to the New Year's ball. It might be the mother. But she left the day after, and my letter hasn't gotten a reply yet. So for now, I'm keeping the babies in my palace."

Cui smiled warmly. His long hair was woven into two small braids that met at the back, the rest cascading over his shoulders, discreetly covering his elven ears. His jade-green eyes were soft as spring. He handed her a cup of perfectly warm oat milk. "You've done well, Rori." It was the tone one used with a promising child. Not a peer.

Gloria was suddenly intensely curious about Cui's age. If not for that flawless, exquisite face, his mannerisms reminded her of a grandmother knitting by the fireplace. She opened her mouth—then froze.

*Wait. Had she really just been influenced by that i***t knight Elstar?* She had more important matters.

---

Last night, the baby rabbits in her palace had all been inexplicably frightened, spending the whole night restless. The only unusual event had been Elstar's visit. Could his mere presence, some predatory aura, have terrified them? Gloria decided to ask the supposedly gentlest creature she knew to investigate. Elves loved all living things—surely Cui would be no exception.

"Cui, would you like to come see the rabbits this afternoon? They've been without their mother since birth—they must be so anxious."

"I'd love to. I'm very fond of young ones."

"Wonderful! Cui, you're the best!"

At that moment, the King entered. Cui and Suka bowed. Gloria flung herself at him, hugging his round belly. "Daddy!"

She eagerly recounted the rabbit arrangements. The King listened, chuckling, his old eyes crinkling behind his glasses. Then he glanced at the aloof Suka. "Suka, you'll be lonely by yourself. Go with them."

Gloria blinked. "But, Daddy—weren't we supposed to discuss when we leave for the academy?"

"Oh, such small matters can wait. Building relationships—" he coughed "—classmate friendships are far more important. Go on, my darling. Have fun. Daddy will take care of everything else."

He stroked her fluffy head, then crouched to embrace her. Looking over her shoulder at the two young men, something in his expression shifted. The old Holy Swordsman's edge flickered through. Then he blinked, and his voice softened to a level only they could hear.

"I entrust her to you both. My precious daughter has been spoiled by me. She can be willful, but she has never had a malicious heart. I hope you'll be patient with her and see her safely through the academy. As for anything beyond that... I trust by then, my Rori will be able to take care of herself."

As a father, all he wanted was for his daughter to stay as innocent and joyful as she'd been in childhood. But fathers grew old. They couldn't stay by their little ones forever. This was all he could do—smooth the path ahead.

---

Gloria, oblivious to the King's silent exchange with the others, happily led Cui and Suka back to her palace. Behind them, Elstar followed, his face dark beneath the helmet. Angry. Displeased. Jealous. Like a colossal pet ignored by its master, his eyes burned with the desire to tear apart all the irrelevant creatures nearby.

*What joy is there in raising a litter of useless rabbits?! Why not raise him instead? He'd guarantee her daily happiness beyond her wildest dreams!*