“A prophecy? What kind of…”

When Nigel stiffened, unable to say anything more, Widrun placed a folded piece of paper in Nigel’s palm.

Nigel unfolded the paper with trembling hands.

There was no subject, but the blank naturally filled itself in.

The Saint. The existence that the entire temple had been desperately trying to reclaim by any means since the day Nigel concealed her identity.

As long as it was certain she was the Saint, they would not care if she was a simpleton with an intact body or had damaged body parts. They would shackle her arms and legs with thick iron chains, cage her in a wide and beautiful birdcage, and never let her go until her last breath.

A cold shiver ran deep through Nigel’s entire body, as if clawing at her from all sides. Nigel touched her arm to check if it was still intact and opened her mouth.

“…Has the content of the prophecy spread to the public?”

“No, they say they are negotiating the conditions with the Imperial family.”

At those words, Nigel’s frozen body gradually relaxed.

It seemed her prediction was correct that they couldn’t rashly disclose it, given that the Imperial family’s name was included in the prophecy.

“I’ve now been asked to participate in negotiating those conditions. I will do everything in my power to prevent the prophecy from spreading, so you stay put in Sienna and don’t take a single step outside.”

Nigel nodded.

As the Imperial family’s direct educational institution, Sienna was not a place with free access, making it the safest option for Nigel.

Widrun, dressed in proper formal attire rather than his usual simple clothes, quickly passed by Nigel but then hesitated, stopping his feet.

“More importantly, that thing on your shoulder.”

−Thing! How rude to the dragon!

The furball that had been quietly sleeping on Nigel’s shoulder all along turned completely red in an instant when it was mentioned, flapping its ears and wings threateningly.

Nigel bit her lip in embarrassment and muttered softly.

“…A being that claims itself to be a dragon.”

−It’s not a claim, it’s a fact! Even if you’re someone I’ve acknowledged, how dare you ignore my existence!

Widrun, who had his mouth open for a moment, slowly spoke.

“I suppose we should ask the dragon to hide its identity for now.”

After finishing his words, Widrun quickly walked away.

As the dull sound of his shoes quickly disappeared, Nigel, left alone in the wide corridor, sat down on the floor as the tension drained from her body.

The coldness of the marble tiles seeping into Nigel’s skin seemed to remind her that all of this was real.

A prophecy, at this point.

Originally, prophecies came down once a century at most. Their content was usually just warnings to prepare for great famines or similarly urgent situations.

‘A prophecy with specific content, what could be the motive? Could it be telling us to find the Saint because of the monster rampage? But there were no signs of a monster rampage, am I overthinking this? Or is it simply telling me to give up my long freedom and return to the temple…’

−Human.

The dragon’s voice that came then completely erased Nigel’s complicated thoughts.

“…Ah, sorry.”

Nigel let out a faint sigh and stroked the dragon’s head.

The dragon closed its eyes gently, willingly accepting Nigel’s touch. When Nigel’s hand pulled away after a moment, it grabbed her hand with its short legs.

−Perhaps I’ve caused you trouble. Because I selfishly wanted to stay with you…

This dragon read Nigel’s emotions better than Nigel herself.

Nigel felt uncomfortable at the thought of worrying a dragon that wasn’t even a day old.

Looking at the dragon curled up small, when just moments ago it had been puffing itself up as big as possible, Nigel was reminded of when she was young and couldn’t do anything for the sick Nix.

“…No, how could the great dragon cause any trouble.”

−Of course not, right? This great dragon can do anything! Should I make myself invisible? I don’t like it if it’s not this elegant body, but I can transform into beasts or monsters if you ask. So tell me, human!

Seeing the dragon flying around happily just from her one word, Nigel felt both pity and love for its innocence. She momentarily forgot about the prophecy and opened her mouth with a small smile.

“Well then…”

“Nigel!”

“Where on earth have you been!”

As Nigel stepped into the second-year lounge after leaving the dean’s office, Noah and Allen approached, panting with flushed faces.

‘They must have heard about the prophecy.’

Nigel was certain, seeing their intense reactions.

Of course, although they seemed oblivious, one was the heir to the Beselion, the sword of the Imperial family, and the other was the heir to the Evans Trading Company, where all the money and information of the empire gathered.

“Actually…”

As she was about to say that she already knew everything, Noah and Allen grabbed both of Nigel’s arms and dragged her away without listening.

Fortunately, since this was a common occurrence, everyone in the lounge paid no attention.

Only when they arrived at a lake in the woods, devoid of people, did Nigel’s arms gain freedom.

Without giving her a chance to speak, Allen closed his eyes and cast double, triple sound-blocking barriers, while Noah looked around fiercely, focusing on any signs of presence.

After a long while, the two finally opened their mouths.

“…Nigel. Don’t be surprised by what I’m about to say.”

“A prophecy has come down from the temple.”

The two looked around once more before handing Nigel a note.

The content of the note was identical to Widrun’s. With this, it was certain that the prophecy was referring to her without any error.

Nigel felt Allen and Noah’s gazes directed at her.

She was about to answer that it was alright, that she already knew, but she closed her mouth again.

The small possibility that she might have to part with them once it was revealed that she, the Saint, was actually Abelin’s daughter, momentarily silenced Nigel.

Then, suddenly, a small laugh escaped her.

More than being dragged to the temple because of the prophecy, more than having her lineage revealed in an unwanted way…

…To think that parting with these two bothered her more.

The small laugh grew larger and spread.

“…Has she gone a bit mad from the shock?”

“Nigel.”

Despite Allen’s bewildered face and Noah’s worried voice, Nigel’s laughter didn’t stop.

After laughing for a while, Nigel placed a hand on each of the two before her. On one side, she felt a firm hand as magic drained away, and on the other, a still weak frame, though thicker than when they first met.

“…No, I just realized I like you two more than I thought.”

She had blurted out her true feelings, distracted by laughter.

Nigel belatedly tried to cover her mouth, but words once spoken couldn’t be taken back.

And at the same time, Noah and Allen leaped at Nigel.

“Nigel, we’ll protect you no matter what happens.”

“Just trust us.”

The voices of Noah and Allen whispering in Nigel’s ears were full of resolute determination.

Nigel embraced the two.

When she was in their warm embrace, which had become familiar at some point, she felt like she could do anything.

“Ahem…”

The three, who had been hugging for a while, slowly separated their arms at Allen’s fake cough.

“Um, how do you think the situation will unfold?”

“I suppose Meriel will be the first candidate for Saint.”

Noah answered seriously to Allen’s awkwardly raised question.

“I guess that’s to be expected?”

Nigel let out a faint sigh at the negative impact this would have on Meriel. She had tried not to take anything from her, but she never thought she would cause harm in this way.

“Anyway, once it’s revealed that Lady Dien is not the Saint, the temple will soon come to Sienna.”

At Allen’s confident words, Nigel’s eyes widened.

She was about to ask what that meant when she suddenly noticed the emblem engraved on the left chest of Allen’s robe.

The emblem of the Arenius family, the Imperial family, with a golden dragon wrapped around it.

Only two places could use this emblem: the Imperial family and Sienna, its direct institution.

‘Why didn’t I think of this?’

She couldn’t decide whether to be grateful that she didn’t have to reveal her lineage, or to be sad that the temple’s arrow was now aimed at Sienna.

As Nigel stared blankly into space, belatedly realizing her mistake, a transparent colored slime appeared before her eyes.

“Ahh! A monster!”

Allen’s scream rang out as Noah’s elegant sword was drawn from its scabbard.

“Stop, Noah!”

At Nigel’s words, Noah’s sword, which was about to cut the slime, stopped instantly.

The slime’s transparent body turned red in an instant, bouncing off the ground and air in anger.

−Stu, stupid human! How dare you try to cut me! Keep your distance from this large human from now on!

Nigel tried her best to ignore the rising voice and held out her palm towards the slime.

The slime’s bouncing speed noticeably decreased, and it obediently settled on Nigel’s hand.

“Nigel, this slime…”

“This isn’t a slime, it’s a dragon. I told it to transform into a slime because it seemed too conspicuous.”

−Be grateful for my vast mercy, human!

Though its body had changed, Nigel bowed her head in gratitude to the slime’s eyes, nose, and mouth, which still looked like three beans stuck together.