Regas Vol 1. Chapter 10

Dragon Forest.

Ashler walked down the long corridor with the permit in his hand. Did Abel wait for this?

After the first day, Abel hadn’t done much. Perhaps because his initial impression was so intense, expectations had soared—but Ashler had been disappointed to see Abel simply staying quietly by the prince’s side over the past few days.

As expected, his appearance was the only thing that distinguished him from the other Regas. Still, when evening ca, he would take the prince—who bled from his own nails and teeth—to bathe. That, at least, he did properly. Yet as Ashler neared the prince’s bedroom, his thoughts shifted.

No, maybe doing nothing is the real difference.

While other Regas showcased songs and dances, hoping to win the prince’s favor, so even spent the entire day silently reading by his side. None ever received the prince’s attention—and all of them eventually fled.

But Abel was different.

He simply stayed in the room—in the prince’s bedroom. And strangely, nothing happened during that ti. The prince was unchained, the windows were wide open, and yet... no dead animals, no injuries.

Of course, Abel bled every ti he bathed the prince. But thanks to the quiet of the past few days, the atmosphere had changed. Ashler opened the door and entered, nodding at the guards as they greeted him.

Sunlight poured in through the large window, brightening the room. Compared to just days ago—when it was dark, foul-slling, and oppressive—the space now seed transford. Though the prince was nowhere in sight, Ashler already knew where he would be.

He glanced beneath the massive bed and then walked toward it. The prince seed to sense sothing different about Abel. As if even his attacks wouldn’t affect the man, he’d begun hiding beneath the bed whenever Abel was around.

Abel sat nearby, showing no interest in the prince’s hiding. He simply remained on the floor, diligently crafting sothing each day. He didn’t try to interact—he just stayed close. Experienced with working wood, he peeled bark cleanly with a knife and shaped it with ease.

In just a few days, round cages and thin poles resembling window fras had accumulated around him. And even now, he was working on sothing again...

Ashler’s gaze shifted to the long stick in Abel’s hands. Whether he noticed or not, Abel rose to his ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) feet and greeted him.

“Sir, you’ve co.”

Abel’s face was dotted with small scars as he bowed. Still, his eyes held a steady smile as he looked up. Ashler returned the greeting and glanced back toward the bed.

“The prince...”

“Oh, yes. Well, as soon as I ca in this morning, he crawled under there again.”

Abel’s tone was innocent, tinged with regret. He had seed rough at first—like a true bandit—but now Ashler found him gentler than anyone. Still, the palace mocked his appearance, calling him a monster even the devil would flee from under the bed. But Ashler didn’t care whether he was a monster or a gentle soul; anyone who could bring change to the prince—who could give him a chance—was worth trusting.

“I have sothing to tell you.”

“Yes.”

Abel nodded, his eyes bright with interest. Ashler glanced toward the bed again, then looked back. Did he expect them to talk here? As if reading his thoughts, Abel followed his gaze.

“Oh, if it’s difficult to say aloud...”

Leaning closer, he whispered:

“Please speak softly into my ear.”

“....”

“Yes? What did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Why would I whisper sothing into his ear? I’ve never even done that with a woman...

Abel drew back, confused by Ashler’s cold response. He toyed with the stick in his hand, then glanced up again.

“Well then, what did you want to say...”

“Would you mind stepping outside for a mont?”

His voice turned slightly pleading. But Abel’s reaction was unexpected. He glanced at the bed in silence, as if thinking. He didn’t want to leave the prince’s side.

But they weren’t doing anything. They were just near each other. What harm could co from stepping out briefly? Ashler didn’t understand—but then Abel’s cheerful voice returned, as if he had made up his mind. He spoke loudly, almost theatrically.

“Yes, Sir Knight! Shall I step outside for a bit? Actually, I needed to test sothing I’ve been working on. I’ll be back soon! Really, right away!”

“...So, although a permit has been issued to enter the Dragon Forest, there are a few conditions you must take responsibility for. I don’t know if you’re aware, but only soone chosen by the royal family—soone who inherited the dragon’s power—and a Regas selected by them may enter. So if sothing happens while you and the prince are inside—Abel?”

Ashler stopped. Abel was staring blankly at the door, paying no attention.

“Mr. Abel!”

Startled by the sharp voice, Abel flinched and turned his head.

“Oh, yes? Um... I understand.”

“What do you understand?”

“Yes? Is it... that I’m allowed to go to the Dragon Forest?”

“....”

“Isn’t that it?”

Ashler realized Abel hadn’t followed a single word of what he’d said. Why does he keep staring at the door like that? He followed his gaze and asked,

“Do you dislike this place?”

Pointing to the bedroom Abel had been using, Ashler saw him quickly shake his head.

“No, not at all. I just want to go back quickly.”

Ashler’s eyes dropped to the long stick in his hand.

“You’re in that much of a rush to make a fishing rod?”

Abel wiggled the stick back and forth with a strangely proud expression, as if to say, Isn’t it obvious?

“I said I’d be back quickly. So... I think I should go now.”

Ashler suddenly recalled Abel’s loud declaration from earlier—when he was still in the prince’s room. Is he serious? It’s not like he made a real promise to the prince. Ashler frowned and muttered,

“As expected, you really are a Regas. He didn’t hear a word of it, but you act like the prince did—and now you think he’s waiting for you.”

Abel’s face turned red as he quickly shook his head.

“No, I didn’t say the prince is waiting... I just ant, well...”

“It’s fine. I’ve said what I needed to. If you have nothing more to say, go back to the prince.”

Ashler opened the door and waited. But instead of leaving right away, Abel spoke.

“Since the prince is scared... I thought I should stay by his side.”

Ashler nearly laughed aloud. He thought the prince was scared—just because he was hiding under the bed? To Ashler, the boy wasn’t afraid at all. He was just lying in wait, hiding his claws until another chance ca. Just biding his ti.

“If you’re scared, do you attack with claws and teeth?”

The question was steeped in sarcasm. But Abel nodded seriously.

“Yes. That’s exactly right.”

“...Was that a joke?”

Abel gave him a strange look, as if confused by the question. As if asking, Why would that be a joke? Isn’t it obvious?

“Weak animals only attack when they’re scared. It’s their defense chanism.”

Weak animals... The phrase clung to Ashler’s mind as he walked back toward the prince’s bedroom. But his thoughts were abruptly interrupted when a startled soldier burst out of the open door.

“What’s going on?”

“Well, um...”

The soldier couldn’t form the words and simply pointed inside. Abel, who had been beside him, imdiately rushed into the room.

In just the short ti they’d been gone—barely enough for a cup of tea—the room had beco a disaster. The walls, the floor, the ceiling... they were all splattered with red blood, flesh, and scattered feathers. Whatever it was had been torn apart—ripped to shreds.

The prince himself was nowhere to be seen, but bloodstains on the floor and a small sar on the palm print beside the bed told the story. That was all the proof needed. He’d gone under the bed... and he was the one who killed the bird.

A weak animal, huh? Ashler clenched his jaw. No, this child wasn’t afraid. He was simply addicted to blood. Convinced, Ashler turned to see Abel blinking beside him.

“Are you surprised?”

“Yes.”

Abel turned wide, astonished eyes to Ashler and asked,

“Wow! How did he even catch a bird?!”

Ashler frowned. That wasn’t the point right now—wait, what?

****

Thump, thump.

“Hoo...”

Thump, thump.

“Hoo...”

Walking, sighing. Walking, sighing again. That’s all lmond had done around the palace for days now. Though his title was “librarian,” he mostly just dusted off books—and now he couldn’t even do that properly.

Several tis a day, he had the urge to rush over to check on Abel. Was he doing well? Was he still alive? But he restrained himself. He didn’t want to raise suspicions just by loitering near the prince’s palace. He couldn’t handle one more comnt about not trusting Abel’s abilities.

Thankfully, Nanny, who ca to the library daily on patrol, brought him updates. Ashler, who had once been Nanny’s superior and was now the prince’s bodyguard, was a source of great interest for him.

“Huff, huff, lmond!”

Right on schedule, the voice he’d been waiting for rang out, and lmond dashed to the entrance.

“Ah, what took you so long?!”

“Hoo, I ca as fast as I could. There was a sudden ergency summons... But more importantly—he went in this morning!”

“He went in? Where?”

“To the Dragon Forest!”

Dragon Forest... Did Abel really go there?

lmond’s expression stiffened with concern. Standing beside him, Nanny looked equally worried.

“Sir Ashler shouldn’t go in there... I’m afraid he’ll end up hurt, all because of a sense of duty. Once the escort’s over, I hope he hurries back to us. Haah...”

Nanny sighed deeply—but then his face lit up with sudden cheer.

“By the way, it looks like we’re both worried about the prince. Hehe. I feel like I’ve beco comrades with lmond!”

lmond, who had co to see Nanny as sothing of a comrade too—especially with his daily updates—gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.

“Yes. We’re both worried for them... but I’m sure they’ll co back safely. Try not to worry too much.”

“Yes. I suppose so. If Sir Ashler doesn’t return in ti for the swordsmanship competition next month, our team will be in serious trouble.”

“Yes, in trouble for the competition... Wait, what?”

“I’ve got a lot of money riding on it! Should I include you in the bet, too, lmond?”

Without saying a word, lmond picked up the thick book next to him and brought it down lightly on Nanny’s shoulder.

“Ack! Hey! Why are you hitting with a book? I thought we were comrades?!”