Regas Vol 1. Chapter 6

“In his dream, before he died, he told how you would fulfill your duty.”

“......”

“Go and call Abel.”

When he gestured for him to leave, lmond had no choice but to turn his body. As he reached for the doorknob, he heard Wiedel’s voice from behind.

“By the way, your wife doesn’t look well.”

Surprised, lmond turned his head, and Wiedel spoke again, his eyes serious.

“Send her to a place where she can rest. If your wife and child are important to you, do that.”

It took over an hour for the carriage to move from the entrance of the palace to the heart of the royal grounds. Abel seed stunned by the size of the palace and kept blinking his eyes, clearly in awe, unable to stop gawking at the imposing structure.

Thud!

“Stop staring.”

lmond slapped Abel lightly on the back of the head, prompting Abel to rub his skull, though he still couldn’t wipe the wide smile off his face.

“It’s incredible. This is where His Majesty lives. Wow—”

It’s less a sacred place and more a corrupt one. lmond silently thought, but opted to change the subject.

“But what did your master say?”

Earlier, lmond had been preoccupied with moving his wife to a nearby acquaintance’s house, not having had the chance to ask Abel anything. Despite Wiedel’s strange condition, his ability to recognize ailnts was well-known, so he had strictly ordered that his wife rest at a safe place, away from the palace.

“He just said to tell you what he dread about. He said I would do well.”

“Is that all?”

“By the way, if anything delicious cos out in the palace, he told to secretly bring it. Hehe—”

“......”

lmond imdiately regretted asking.

“Will I even get to eat sothing nice in the palace?”

“Dream on.”

“Oh, they won’t even give food?”

Does he not feel the weight of this mont? lmond frowned, staring at Abel. On the other hand, Abel just squinted and grinned.

“I think I should at least think about food to calm down a bit. Still, Mr. lmond, don’t worry. I may be nervous in front of the Duke, but I’ll convey the dreams I heard from my master properly.”

Truyde doesn’t seem interested in hearing this dream. Why did he insist on seeing Abel?

Surely, he doesn’t think the prince is broken and is trying to find a new Regas, as the rumors say?

As lmond thought over this, sothing clicked. Perhaps there was a reason the prince’s heart didn’t have a Regas from another faction. As soon as he ca to this conclusion, a new thought struck him.

“By the way, Abel. Even if you don’t know anything else, you must never ntion the color of the dragon’s eyes. Got it?”

After confirming this repeatedly with the confused Abel, lmond explained. The prince’s true eye color was yellow. Even if it wasn’t true, the Duke wouldn’t believe the dream this ti either, right?

lmond’s thoughts proved correct. As soon as Abel ntioned the word “dream,” Truyde showed no interest. Only the attendant frowning at the ntion seed slightly concerned, but that expression quickly shifted to one of surprise. That was until Abel spoke his final words.

“Black... potion?”

A cold, grim voice suddenly interrupted. lmond, who had been sitting under Truyde’s permission, turned to face the attendant who had stepped forward. The displeasure on his face vanished, and his skin turned ashen. Forgetting his position, he raised his voice to Abel.

“What black potion! What are you babbling about?!”

“I’m just relaying what my master saw in his dream.”

Abel repeated the words, flustered, blinking at the intensity of the situation.

“The royal palace burns down because of a dragon, but those who drink the black potion may not even know their own bodies are burning—they’ll just laugh...”

“Shut up! How dare you spout such nonsense about the sacred royal family, which has the noble blood of dragons running through it, while I’m listening!”

The attendant moved forward with venom in his eyes, clearly ready to lash out at Abel.

“You ignorant country bumpkin...”

“Attendant.”

Truyde’s calm voice froze the attendant in his tracks. As the attendant, still glaring at Abel, turned to face the Duke, Truyde slowly stood from his seat.

“Even if his words insult the royal family, isn’t his only cri relaying the contents of a dream?”

“Your Highness, but...”

“Or is there sothing that’s making you angry?”

Under Truyde’s scrutinizing gaze, the attendant took a step back without responding. lmond, watching closely, noticed the attendant’s lips tremble. Perhaps because of Wiedel’s words, the attendant had reacted sensitively to the black potion. But why was the attendant so rattled?

lmond’s thoughts were cut off as Truyde, fully standing now, moved toward Abel.

“Did you say your na is Abel? Did you receive Regas training from a young age?”

“Yes. I’ve trained for 12 years since I was eight years old.”

Abel bowed deeply, his waist almost breaking with the gesture. Truyde smiled warmly, patting his shoulder.

“You don’t have to be so tense.”

“Th-thank you. Your Highness.”

Abel finally raised his head, glancing down at Truyde, who was smaller than him. Truyde seed to scrutinize Abel’s face closely, questioning him about his training—what it entailed, how he received it, and the like.

Abel naturally spoke at length about his training, growing more animated with each word. Of course, he also claid that it was authentic Regas training. anwhile, lmond, watching from behind, couldn’t hide his unease.

The attendant’s discomfort was evident, and Truyde’s smile seed more out of politeness than anything genuine. Yet, they continued to listen.

Why? lmond’s unease deepened. There had to be a reason for bringing Abel here in the first place. His suspicion was confird when Truyde turned to the attendant with a question.

“What do you think? Do you think Abel, having received authentic Regas training for 12 years, is qualified?”

The attendant stared at Abel, his discomfort unmasked. When Abel’s broad shoulders trembled, the attendant twisted his lips in what seed to be satisfaction.

“To learn to communicate with animals and understand the laws of nature for 12 years is impressive, but in my ears, it sounds like boasting about things any country dweller would know.”

“Attendant.”

Truyde interrupted, and the attendant reluctantly lowered his head and apologized.

“I’m sorry. However, even if you claim to be a Regas, I can’t ignore your appearance.”

Truyde glanced at Abel’s flushed face and then scanned his large fra.

“Well, he seems perfectly healthy to . At least he won’t run away just because he’s scared of a child.”

The attendant’s face froze with embarrassnt, though he quickly lowered his gaze.

“I understand. If Your Highness takes a liking to this young man, I won’t oppose it.”

“Then, now that we have the attendant’s approval...”

“Wait a mont!”

A sudden voice interrupted Truyde’s words. Everyone’s gaze shifted to lmond, who had stepped forward. He spoke to Truyde, his expression pensive.

“I’m sorry, but the purpose of this eting was for our sect master to reveal the future he saw in his dream. But Your Highness... did you have a different objective?”

Truyde tilted his head with a smile and addressed lmond.

“Of course, both purposes were achieved. The warning about the ominous future seen by your master. Perhaps it’s a warning that the prince’s dragon abilities may manifest late, and that he should be properly guided. Let the proper Regas assist him.”

Truyde’s gaze turned toward Abel.

“I entrust the prince to you now.”

****

The five noble families, part of the King’s Heart, held the true power in the kingdom. Without their attention, even a noble could not ascend to the center of influence. They were left with only the option of becoming knights, serving in the royal palace.

Ashler, the son of a poor local lord, was one such knight. At 19, rumors spread of him soon becoming the captain of the guard due to his exceptional skills. Ashler himself had been anticipating the promotion, but the unexpected summons from his superiors threw him off. More specifically, it was the Captain of the Royal Guards, second only to the commander, who had called for him.

“So, you’re the younger son?”

The Captain, in his late thirties, looked down at Ashler’s record and asked.

“Your territory will go to your older brother. And by your position, # Nоvеlight # it seems your estate is poor, unable to even offer a single word of support. Is that right?”

“...Yes.”

Ashler barely managed to answer, suppressing his feelings. Yet the Captain, for so reason, continued to mock him.

“Even if you rise quickly due to your skills, the highest you’ll ever achieve is captain of the guards. Ah, if luck’s on your side, you might lead them like I have. But with that arrogant personality of yours, you’ll never bow to the King’s Heart for promotion. Instead, you’ll be despised and sent off to the border defenses, where you’ll die on so battlefield.”

“Captain, what are you trying to say?”

The Captain twisted his lips as Ashler, unable to hold back, asked.

“I’m telling you to seize this chance, even if it’s small and lucky.”

Chance and luck? Ashler silently stared at his captain, and the explanation ca slowly.

“There’s talk that a new Regas is coming for the prince. They’ve asked for a knight to be his shadow. I’m thinking of sending you.”

“Why ?”

“It feels like seeing the old .”

“......”

“If this new Regas wins the prince’s heart, the one closest to him will have a chance. It’s a golden opportunity in the eyes of the future King of this country.”

If the captain’s words were true, it could be an excellent opportunity, but Ashler didn’t believe it.

“I’ve heard that the prince’s Regas changes constantly. What’s special about the Regas this ti?”

Ashler had heard the rumors around the palace. The prince had snake-like eyes, and was said to be a madman who tore animals apart every day, drenched in their blood. Many had been hard by him. The whispers claid the prince inherited this madness from his mother.

If that was true, no one could help the prince.

“Ah, this one’s special.”

“Excuse ?”

Ashler looked at his captain, who wore a strange smile. His words were unsettling.

“It must be special if it’s real.”

Real? Ashler wanted to ask what “real” ant, but his captain had already turned his attention to the desk, ending the conversation.

“Since you have nothing to lose, do it.”