#22. Regret Comes Too Late 

Taran flinched. What did Father mean by “again”?

‘When has Partanie almost died like this before?’

Even while thinking rationally, Taran was unconsciously realizing.

Yes, this had happened before.

A past that he couldn’t remember, or rather, refused to remember……

“Taran.”

The low call broke his train of thought.

Only then did Taran realize he was clutching his heart and panting.

“Fa-Father……”

The Grand Duke of Dragonia’s ice-blue eyes, reddened with burst blood vessels, gazed steadily at Taran.

As if measuring how much he knew.

“……!”

Taran shuddered at that snake-like gaze.

If he let his guard down even slightly, a chill ran down his spine as if a giant snake’s jaws would swallow him whole.

But….

“You, get out.”

That inexplicable, ominous feeling was brief.

The Grand Duke of Dragonia dismissed Taran in his usual cold voice, as if he had never reacted emotionally.

Taran snapped back to his senses and protested.

“But Father! Partanie—.”

Is dying. She might die, how can I……

The words rose to the tip of his tongue, but Taran couldn’t bring himself to say them.

Even Taran, famous for his thick skin and shamelessness, found it difficult to say he was worried about his youngest sister whom he had never properly looked after, and that it was hard to leave.

Because until now, not even once had he felt that way.

Above all, Taran knew.

That Partanie wasn’t doing well in the Blue Brick Castle.

But he hadn’t cared.

How could she be a lady if she couldn’t even properly control her subordinates?

A true Dragonia should be able to overcome that level of crisis on their own……

‘……or so I thought.’

Because that’s what he had done.

His younger brother Kalenso and older brother Siyeref both naturally did so, so he couldn’t understand why Partanie alone couldn’t.

No, that’s not it. In truth, he had thought even worse.

He had considered her pathetic for begging them for affection while being disrespected by her subordinates. He had thought her bird-brained and stupid for not knowing what was important……

“……Ugh.”

Taran bit his lip. Only now did he realize.

He and Partanie were different.

No, Partanie was different from any of the sons of Dragonia.

His youngest sister had no one to care for her, provide a foundation, or protect her.

He had the power of Barshava left by his birth mother and Penelope, while Kalenso and Siyeref each had their maternal families supporting them from behind.

‘But Partanie was alone.’

She had never not been alone from the day she first came to the Blue Brick Castle until now.

Although Father had given her a name and registered her, that was all.

Their father, who was indifferent even to his legitimate children, had no reason to be especially affectionate to the youngest brought in from outside.

Rather, Partanie was viewed with suspicion by all the vassal factions supporting their respective heirs, simply because the Grand Duke of Dragonia had brought her in.

No one helped her, cared for her, or protected her.

Even he, who called himself her brother, had only thought of her as a bird-brained fool.

He had found her clinging and pleas for help annoying……

‘B-brother Taran.’

Until now, he had considered Partanie’s small hand, extended even knowing she would be rejected, not only foolish but also cowardly and pathetic.

As if proving she was a half-wit, truly unlike a Dragonia.

Thinking that’s why she was disrespected even by mere servants.

Taran painfully clenched his teeth.

The real bird-brain, the true idiot, was himself.

He had never even tried to understand why Partanie so foolishly sought affection from them, or why she couldn’t properly deal with the persecution from her subordinates.

Only now did he realize.

He regretted.

‘If only I hadn’t done that.’

Taran thought.

If he had properly punished Penelope instead of just stirring things up half-heartedly.

If he had known in advance that her heated temper might be directed at Partanie and tried to protect his sister.

No, if he had paid even minimal attention.

‘Brother Taran!’

If he hadn’t turned away and pushed aside the hand reaching out to him for help, the face looking at him desperately……

‘Then this wouldn’t have happened.’

Taran was no fool.

That’s why he couldn’t help but know.

If he had paid even a little attention to his youngest sister, cared for her, helped her……

No, if he had even pretended to help, the servants and Penelope wouldn’t have been able to persecute Partanie so extremely.

He had simply neglected and ignored everything, only pretending to be friendly when it amused him.

And after showing interest a few times out of curiosity, he had abandoned her.

This was the result.

Partanie, unconscious and dying, not waking up.

“……”

Taran bit his lip until it bled.

People said the Grand Duke of Dragonia was heartless. They whispered that ice dragon blood flowed in their veins, leaving no room for human emotions.

When he heard those rumors, Taran had laughed, finding them amusing. He thought they stemmed from awe of the great Dragonia.

But now, Taran thought that perhaps those sayings might be true. To only realize his responsibility after disaster struck.

Recognizing reality, Taran clutched his chest. His heart felt crushed by a stone, making it hard to breathe.

“I, well……”

“Taran.”

The Grand Duke of Dragonia spoke without even looking at Taran’s pale face.

“Shut up.”

It was the same emotionless, cold voice as usual.

“The fact that you’re standing here on two good legs isn’t because you’re innocent.”

It’s just that your turn hasn’t come yet.

And perhaps because you might be useful in treating Partanie.

But the Grand Duke of Dragonia didn’t voice these latter thoughts and instead announced,

“Leave. You are unnecessary for treating Partanie right now.”

“……!”

Treating? Taran paused. Could Father heal her?

Taran urgently asked, as if he didn’t care what punishment he might receive,

“Can you treat her? No, even holy water couldn’t heal her, so how- Gah!”

Thud, a dull sound rang out.

Taran couldn’t continue speaking.

It wasn’t by choice. A strong hand had grabbed his teal-colored hair and slammed his head down into the bathtub.

“Keh, huh, huu……!”

Taran groaned in pain. The impact was enough to break facial bones.

His nose survived the worst impact only because he had instinctively reached out to cushion the bathtub his face was about to hit.

“……!”

Those witnessing this couldn’t even breathe.

Those who saw the Grand Duke of Dragonia’s anger didn’t dare to even look at them and prostrated themselves on the floor.

Everyone present was among the Grand Duke of Dragonia’s closest confidants.

That’s why they knew very well what position Taran held within Dragonia, and conversely, how the youngest lady Partanie was treated.

The nobility of the three Dragonia brothers and the youngest lady was clear.

‘No, to be frank, since no one witnessed her birth, we don’t even know if she’s truly the Grand Duke’s daughter.’

So people thought that even though they were bound as children of Dragonia, their status was clearly different.

The three brothers were noble, the youngest daughter was lowly.

But now they realized they had misjudged.

No, at least within the Grand Duke of Dragonia, the status of his children was not determined by their mothers’ origins.

“Kuh, huu……”

Taran, gasping in pain, slowly raised his head. This too wasn’t by choice.

“Taran.”

The Grand Duke of Dragonia, gripping his hair, called his name in a still emotionless and cold voice.

No particular anger could be read in the characteristically blue Dragonia eyes that stared at him.

That made it even more chilling.

Nothing showed on the Grand Duke’s handsome but rock-solid face.

Neither the intense anger displayed when the lady was dying, nor the anxiety revealed when she begged to be abandoned, nor the fear that seemed to flash when she lost consciousness again.

In a calm voice of unfathomable depth, the Grand Duke of Dragonia said,

“You’re noisy.”

A monotonous bass.

Taran clenched his jaw. He could no longer even utter groans of pain.

Because the ruler of Dragonia no longer permitted him to make any sound.