Chapter 324-END - [Side Story] Child of the Dragon (2) [END] (1/2)

There was something strange about the sudden change in Crow’s demeanor, and the maid peered at him closely.

“Are you alright, Your Highness?”

But Crow’s eyes were only fixed on the maid’s neck.

Dugeun, dugeun, dugeun.

The red blood pumping underneath her skin made him feel greedy.

‘I want to drink.’

Only one thought occupied his mind. Just as Crow’s reason faded and he was about to tackle the maid, a voice called out to him from behind.

“Crow.”

A scolding voice spoke, and Crow turned back. There Carlisle stood with a fierce look. The maid belatedly realized the Emperor’s presence and hurriedly bowed her head.

“Greetings to His Majesty.”

Carlisle stared at Crow as if the boy was guilty of something, and spoke in a low voice.

“How long has Crow been like this?”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“That’s enough.”

Carlisle gave up on extracting further information from the maid, then turned to Crow. He seemed to know what Crow was hiding. The boy was terrified.

‘W-what should I do?’

But Crow’s worries were useless. Carlisle left his escorts behind him and picked up Crow’s small body.

“Son, there is something we have to talk about as men.”

Crow looked up in Carlisle in despair, worried that he might be in trouble. Carlisle walked forward with his son in his arms, and issued an order to his escorts.

“I have something to say alone to Crow, so leave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

And so, Carlisle took Crow somewhere.

***

Carlisle went inside a room. The palace was so large that there were countless unused spaces, and this was the nearest one. After confirming that no one else was here, Carlisle released Crow from his arms. He looked at his son and spoke in a serious voice.

“Tell me honestly. When did it start?”

“Father, I, uh…”

“Since when did you start feeling the thirst for human blood?”

“…!”

Carlisle really did know about his condition. Crow’s eyes immediately began to fill with tears.

“I’m sorry, Father.”

At the same time, Crow pulled off his shoes and showed his scaly feet to Carlisle.

“When I woke up from a nap my feet suddenly changed like this. And when I came out, the people smelled good, and it was hard to hold back.”

Carlisle carefully listened to Crow speak. Fearing his father’s presence, Crow cried even more.

“Uwaaah—”

Carlisle rubbed Crow’s back to settle him.

“Why didn’t you tell me or your mother right away?”

“I’m sorry. I thought you would be like this.”

Carlisle’s face hardened. It was as if Crow had hit some sensitive spot.

“…You don’t have to worry about that.”

“Papa, why am I different from other people? I’m afraid I turned into a monster.”

Carlisle stared at the Crow for a moment without answering. Then, he raised his right arm and struck it hard on the desk.

Kuuuung!

A crash rang out that sounded as hard and as heavy as iron. The loud noise startled the young Crow so much that he stopped crying. Carlisle rolled up his sleeve, revealing a black arm. He couldn’t control his abilities freely, so this was the only way to show Crow the scales.

“…Hic.”

Crow stared at Carlisle’s scales with wide eyes. They were the same as the ones on his feet.

“You’re not the only one, Crow. If you’re a monster, it’s because you’re my son.”

“P-Papa…”

“Do you hate being like your father?”

“No. I like Mama and Papa the best in the world.”

Carlisle patted his son’s small head.

“As do I. I didn’t explain this to you yet because you’re too young, but I didn’t think you’d find out all on your own.”

“Papa…you don’t hate me for looking like this?”

“Of course not. You’re my son.”

“…Hehe.”

Crow smiled shyly and wiped away his tears. If Carlisle and Elena continued to love him as they did now, nothing else mattered. Carlisle smiled faintly as Crow looked up at him cutely.

“There was a time when I hated myself for this. But now I’m glad. Because I inherited this blood, I was able to meet your mother.”

“Really?”

“Yes, your father saved your dead mother once.”

“What?”

Crow looked surprised to hear that his mother had died, and Carlisle hurriedly corrected himself.

“Forget what I just said. The important thing is… I would be born a hundred or a thousand times like this just to meet her.”

Crow stared at his father with his pure, innocent eyes, as if trying to understand his words. Carlisle looked at his scaled black arm with an emotional look on his face.

“So I appreciate this now.”

Carlisle turned to Crow with a soft gaze.

“Crow, you are the fruit of our love. I believe this power will help you one day, like it did me.”

Crow smiled back.

“Thank you, Papa. I love you.”

His sweet words drew a faint smile on Carlisle’s lips.

“Yes, I love you, too, son.”

Crow and Carlisle looked at each other and smiled with the same expression. Anyone could see that they were father and son.

It was then that the door burst open. Carlisle’s and Crow’s heads jerked towards the entrance, and they saw Elena standing there, breathing hard. She looked like she had ran all the way here.

“Haa, haa. What happened to Crow?”

“How did you know?”

“I heard from the maids that you disappeared somewhere with only him. I came straight here because I worried that something had happened.”

“News travels fast. Crow started feeling thirsty for blood, so I took him away where there were no people.”

At those words, Elena rushed towards her son and frantically looked him over.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes, Mama. I’m fine.”

“You should have told me first when you started feeling those urges. What if your father found you too late? Well?”

Elena’s worried tone gradually turned into a scolding, and Crow glanced at Carlisle for help. However, Carlisle shrugged as if to say, I’m sorry, but your mother is the scariest person in the world for me too.

***

After the busy events of the day, Crow, exhausted, fell asleep next to Elena and Carlisle. Once again, he met the black dragon in his dream.

“Mister?”

Crow tried to approach the dragon first, but the latter didn’t respond.

『…』

However, Crow could see that the dragon was observing the black scales on his feet. The boy sat down next to the dragon and talked about what happened that day. Although the dragon didn’t say anything, Crow knew he was listening.

“So my mom gave me a big scolding.”

For the first time, the dragon answered in a rumbling voice.