Gardenia’s Heart

Tiamat’s unusual request made Lily tilt her head.

“A private matter with Rose?” the silver-haired girl murmured, glancing at the little girl in her wife’s arms.

“Perhaps I phrased that poorly.” Realizing her words might have sounded strange, Tiamat quickly corrected herself. “Of course, you can come along. I’d just like to have a moment with little Miss Rose to discuss something.”

For a moment, Lily wondered what someone like Tiamat could possibly want to discuss with her daughter.

Now that she was the leader of the Wing Clan, could she want to teach her descendants some aspect of their culture? Even after thinking about it, Lily couldn’t come up with an answer.

“Of course... I think. Nia, could you go with them?”

Concluding that there would be no problem if it was just a conversation, Lily called upon her trusted wife, who nodded in agreement.

Although she was curious as well, she thought it best to stay at the meeting in case anything important came up. This was a rare opportunity to learn more about the other races, so, even if she was reluctant, she needed to stay.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Rising from her chair and instructing Oriana to remain at the meeting, Tiamat crossed the wooden bridge with Nia and soon arrived at the plains.

Above the clouds, dusk took longer to fall. The sky stretched across the entire horizon, its orange hues slowly turning purple as stars began to appear, creating a breathtaking sight.

“Where are you taking us?” Nia asked as she walked behind Tiamat, stroking the silver hair of the little girl in her arms.

“Here is fine. I just wanted to get away from the others since I’m about to do something I don’t want them to see.” Noticing that they had already moved quite far from the lake where the meeting was taking place, Tiamat stopped walking.

Beneath the almost celestial sky, the white-haired woman with feathered wings slowly turned around.

It was a captivating sight.

Bathed in the light of dusk, the beauty this woman possessed was beyond imagination. Wielding such immense power, she commanded reverence. Endowed with knowledge, she was respected.

Tiamat was a woman who inspired both fear and sovereignty.

What words could one possibly say in the presence of someone like her?

Such a question alone could paralyze hundreds and silence thousands. Even so, the only thing that could come out of the little girl’s mouth was exactly what she said.

“Auntie Tiamat... is happy.” With a genuine smile on her flushed face, Rose spoke with great satisfaction as she climbed down from her mother’s lap.

Faced with those words, both the little girl’s mother and the woman they were directed at were taken by surprise.

“You truly are a special person, Rose.”

Approaching carefully, Tiamat knelt on one knee so that her eyes were level with the little girl’s.

Without her golden mask, her gentle expression was clearly visible.

The look on her flushed face was unlike anything she had shown before. It was calm, radiating a pure warmth filled with nothing but affection. As she gazed into those blue eyes, her gray pupils held both the steadfastness of a mountain and the fluidity of a cloud.

Nia panicked.

The metamorph didn’t consider herself capable of understanding other people’s feelings the way her wife and daughter could. Reading between the lines or picking up on hints was something she struggled with. Because of this, all Nia could do was apply her knowledge to find solutions.

And so, seeing Tiamat behave that way, she could reach only one conclusion.

“After failing to seduce me, you went after Rose!? I’m not handing Rose over to you to be your wife!” Rushing to stand in front of her daughter, Nia puffed out her cheeks.

Rose was amazing. She was a beautiful, intelligent, and strong girl. Because of that, Nia knew it was impossible not to fall in love with her.

Nia believed in love. She would never allow anyone seeking political connections to take advantage of her beloved daughter.

“My goodness, nothing like that ever crossed my mind.” Waving her hand repeatedly to correct the misunderstanding, Tiamat shouted in a panic.

Bowing her head several times, the beautiful white-haired woman placed both hands over her heart.

“Little Miss Rose is a person of far greater nobility and virtue than I am. The ability to reach out to others without any hidden motives and to genuinely care about someone is an extraordinary virtue. I am convinced that, in my current state, I am not worthy of coveting such a thing.”

The dragon woman’s words grew faster and quieter with every passing moment. Her heart was racing, and her face was as red as a beet.

Nia’s mind went blank.

Didn’t that mean she might try something someday?

Mentally classifying Tiamat as a dangerous person, the metamorph watched as the dragon woman bowed toward her daughter.

“I’m sorry about the other day. My incompetence put you through so much, didn’t it?” Tiamat whispered, averting her eyes the entire time.

“It was nothing. My mamas took care of me, so I was fine.” Holding her mother’s hand more tightly, Rose gave her a genuine smile.

Seeing that expression, Tiamat’s already red face became so incandescent that she had to cover it with both hands.

Turning her back on them while still crouching, the dragon woman trembled uncontrollably. Her eyes watered slightly as she frantically muttered incomprehensible phrases. The way her golden tail swayed from side to side reminded Rose of a little puppy.

Finally, as if a sudden flash of inspiration had brought her attention back to the situation, Tiamat stood up enthusiastically and coughed softly to hide her embarrassment.

“R-Rose, you know... could I see the fangs you’re carrying?

Hearing the stammered words, the little girl couldn’t hide a faintly sad expression. After discovering the truth about Tiamat’s older brother, Rose had known this moment would come.

“Here...” Carefully, the little silver-haired girl took out two objects that she had kept safely tucked inside her dress.

Although they were daggers, the blades were so large compared to the little girl’s body that they looked like swords in her hands. The white fangs that formed their edges were beautiful. Despite their rough craftsmanship, they were sharp enough to split rocks as effortlessly as a fluffy cloud. The black handles, crafted from the roots of underground caverns, were beautiful, their magnificent jet-black sheen contrasting with the blades’ almost lunar beauty.

Tiamat carefully took both daggers in her hands, an indescribable expression forming on her face.

“At that moment, during the banquet, I truly couldn’t contain my surprise when I smelled my brother’s fangs for the first time in so long.”

Her brother had been missing for centuries, and suddenly, his scent had reappeared beside her, coming from a little girl.

Calling it a shock would have been an understatement. The panic and surprise that overwhelmed her mind had been so great that she had forgotten all composure.

She had believed her brother had abandoned her. Although she could never reveal this to anyone else, deep in her heart, she had hoped that he would at least be happy, so that the suffering she now faced as the new leader would not have been in vain.

But he was dead.

She had received confirmation of that.

Now, how was she supposed to react to this?

Many people said that ignorance was bliss.

By choosing not to seek the truth about something, one could accept whatever was most convenient for one’s own peace of mind as the truth.

With Cicuta’s death, she now had definitive proof that she had no living relatives left. If Rose had never brought her that dragon fang, she could at least have continued living with the false hope that her brother was still alive somewhere.

It would have been a selfish lifestyle focused on self-preservation. Anyone could condemn her for it, but no one could blame her for making that choice.

Even so, Tiamat was certain of one thing.

That was not how she wanted to live.

“Thank you very much, Miss Rose.”

Rising to her feet with both daggers in her hands, a golden radiance spread across her body. Her eyes, once filled with melancholy, now blazed with determination.

The atmosphere changed.

Under a palpable pressure, Tiamat placed her right hand over the center of her chest. As if grasping something invisible, she pinched her fingers together and brought “something” toward each of the daggers.

The action was brief, lasting no more than a single minute, but both girls watching her had their eyes wide open at the sight.

When the golden pressure subsided, Tiamat let out a long sigh and crouched down, handing both daggers back to the confused girl.

Rose blinked several times, unable to understand what had happened. Nia, however, narrowed her eyes as she stared at Tiamat.

“You shared your innate ability?”

The metamorph asked, and Tiamat tilted her head, surprise written across her face.

“If you know about this, Lady Gardenia, then it will be easier to explain.”

It was the first time Nia had seen it being done firsthand, but she understood what had happened. Just as Nerine had shared the ability to hear fairies with the elves, and Bahamut had shared the ability to create crystal scales with Wisteria, Tiamat had now placed her own innate ability into the girl’s daggers.

“Is this what you didn’t want anyone to see?” Nia asked.

Bahamut had said that the number of people who knew this technique could be counted on one hand. Besides herself, only Nerine, the Primordial Fairy, had demonstrated knowledge of it. Tiamat wasn’t giving up her power, but rather creating a bond with it elsewhere.

“It isn’t exactly a secret exclusive to my people, but I would greatly appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone about the method except Lily.”

Tiamat’s words sounded like a request, but Nia knew they meant more than that. This was a valuable technique that many would covet. If people learned that it was possible to do this, extremely unnecessary problems would arise.

“Ideally, these would be my own fangs, but my brother’s will work because of our blood bond.” Tiamat smiled as she looked at Rose. “I’ve placed part of my essence in these daggers. With them, you’ll be able to use my innate ability.”

The dragon woman’s words were confident, but the little girl couldn’t have been more confused.

“You don’t want... the fang back?” Rose asked, stunned.

When she discovered that the bones she had found in the caverns belonged to Tiamat’s brother, Rose had been prepared to return her daggers and apologize for taking those fangs. However, crouching in front of her once again, Tiamat looked at her with flushed cheeks and a beautiful smile.

“Thanks to you and your mothers, I was able to find my brother’s body, and now I’ll be able to give him a proper burial.” Placing her hands over the girl’s, Tiamat adjusted Rose’s fingers around the daggers’ hilts, as if formally placing them in her possession. “As someone who failed to fulfill his life’s purpose in the war, having his fangs wielded by someone worthy and carried onto the battlefield could not be a more honorable fate for my brother. Given his personality, at least I’m certain he would agree.”

By observing Tiamat’s soul, Rose could see that conflicting feelings lay behind her words. Even so, there was no lie in her desire for Rose to keep the daggers.

“That day, at the banquet, if you hadn’t come to speak with me, I would have drunk the last lethal dose of tea and died.” Her cheeks relaxed, and an expression of tenderness spread across her face. “Even with Her Highness Elarielle’s medicine, the fact that I’m here today, that I was given a chance to fight for my life, was all thanks to you, Rose.”

The goodwill of an innocent child could change the world.

Such a thing might seem inconceivable, but there was no doubt that it was exactly what had happened.

“My debt to you is far too great to ever repay, but I swear that I’ll do everything within my power for the rest of my existence.”

Tiamat’s breathing grew excited, and her voice began to rise. Leaning forward until she was mere inches from Rose, the dragon woman radiated determination.

“Your weapons are now connected to me. If you ever need my help, use them to call me. You’ll know how to do it. No matter where you are or who your enemy may be, I’ll help you!”

Those were Tiamat’s final words before a purple tentacle sent her flying into the distance.

---

“Then let’s head out first, Rival.” Waving her hand, Selene began walking alongside Thelira and Cherry.

Watching the girls leave, Lily, who had been left behind, let out a long sigh in her chair.

It had been a long time since she had needed to interact with so many people like this. Although she had improved in some aspects of social interaction, she still found no pleasure in this kind of thing.

Fortunately, after Tiamat and Nia excused themselves to talk, it didn’t take long for everyone to decide to end the meeting. Once her wife and daughter returned, she could go to her room and rest.

“Ignis, you’re still here, aren’t you?” Lily asked, stretching her arms while remaining seated.

“Yes, my Suzerain.”

Kneeling behind Lily, a beautiful woman with indigo hair kept her head bowed in reverence.

“I’d like to ask you a few questions for future reference. Would that be all right?” Lily asked.

“Certainly. I will answer anything within my knowledge, my Suzerain.”

Noticing once again the way Ignis addressed her, Lily couldn’t help but force herself to swallow a sigh. Rhei called her King, while Selene called her Rival. For some reason, the people around her insisted on addressing her in all sorts of different ways.

Deciding to leave that matter aside, the girl turned toward the kneeling dragon.

“This might be a little late to ask, but what exactly does the Wing Clan do?”

Lily knew that the Wing Clan was a political group. However, unlike a military clan like Bahamut’s, it wasn’t clear what their responsibilities entailed.

Unlike other countries, power wasn’t centralized in a single person. Politics was related to governing, but from what she had seen so far, there didn’t seem to be any absolute governing authority.

“We are responsible for maintaining the laws and order among the three clans. We manage communal affairs and resources, and resolve conflicts.”

Hearing Ignis’s words, Lily crossed her legs and rested a hand on her chin.

From what she could understand, the clan had to deal with internal affairs, international relations, trade, and civil order as a whole.

Although they were powerful creatures, most dragons weren’t combatants. As a result, their civilization as a whole was quite similar to that of humans.

“We are also tasked with apprehending minor offenders and judging them according to our penal code,” Ignis added, but an expression of despair soon appeared on her face.

“So something like that exists here, after all?”

“Please forgive me, Lady Lily!”

Slamming her head against the ground, Ignis begged her Suzerain for forgiveness.

Because of her anger and stubbornness, she had refused to hold a proper trial for the elven delegation and had even accused a little girl without sufficient evidence.

Seeing Ignis begging for mercy once again, Lily couldn’t help but feel that the whole situation was embarrassing.

“For now, let’s leave that matter in the past.” Sighing as she gazed at the city on the grassy horizon, Lily narrowed her eyes. “Even though you deal with crimes, there don’t seem to be things like theft around here.”

Although Athamas, the city of dragons, was colossal in size, its population was smaller than that of any human city of comparable size.

“Cases like theft are rare. Most conflicts arise when two dragons decide to duel to settle a disagreement, and we have to intervene to prevent them from destroying the city limits.”

Hearing those words, Lily raised an eyebrow. So fighting really was a valid way to settle disputes.

Even though they had killed Fafnir, the former leader of the Wing Clan, his death itself hadn’t been the problem. It was the circumstances of the battle that had affected his honor.

A society in which killing was considered an acceptable way to settle a problem, as long as an honorable duel took place, seemed far too strange, even to Lily.

“To put it simply, we must maintain order and uphold the laws, and that doesn’t only include criminal law. We collect taxes to fund purchases from other countries and public services. We are also responsible for protecting the national treasury.”

“The national treasury!?”

The silver-haired girl swallowed nervously.

That meant all the wealth of this race was now under her responsibility to manage.

Although the idea of obtaining a large amount of gold was tempting, it wasn’t as if Lily could simply start emptying the clans’ coffers.

The Suzerain of the Fangs Clan wouldn’t interfere with her actions as long as they didn’t harm the dragons as a whole. Taking gold for her own interests would certainly fall into that category. In any case, Lily wasn’t that greedy. She wasn’t sure how self-sufficient the dragons were, but there were probably many families that depended on that gold.

“Ignis, you’ll take care of everything the way you normally would. Anything you can’t resolve, you should ask Tiamat about. Although I’m the leader, I really don’t want to deal with any bureaucracy, so only contact me if a problem arises.”

Although she didn’t want to be the leader, having Ignis in charge of everything didn’t seem ideal for the future. At the same time, killing every dragon in the Wings Clan didn’t seem right either.

So, since Nia had secured this opportunity for her, Lily would use her current authority to ensure that things at least proceeded in a way that benefited them.

“Certainly, my Suzerain.”

That way, she could avoid future problems while still making use of the Wings Clan’s strength when necessary. Considering everything they had put her through, it seemed like a reasonable solution.

Besides, if she left someone respected within the clan, like Ignis, to handle everything, she could avoid prejudice for being human and go home.

“We’re back, Lily.”

Accompanying her cheerful thoughts, a voice she adored reached her.

Walking back across the wooden bridge toward the gazebo, Nia had Rose by her side. The mother and daughter were holding hands as they walked happily together.

Standing up to welcome them, Lily planned to ask what Tiamat had wanted to discuss with Rose. She crouched down to pick up her daughter as she always did, but was surprised when the little silver-haired girl leaped toward Nia instead.

“Is something wrong, Rose?” Lily asked, shocked.

For some reason, her adorable daughter had wrapped her arms around Nia’s waist, refusing Lily’s embrace.

Had something happened? Had Tiamat done something? Had Lily herself done something to hurt her daughter?

Turning to look at her wife, Lily realized that even Nia had no idea what was going on.

As she prepared to figure out how she had upset her daughter, Lily couldn’t help but look confused when she saw the little girl’s expression.

“Little sisters~ Hehe~”

With a wide smile, Rose rubbed her cheek against Nia’s belly again and again.

Realizing that her daughter was simply excited about Nia’s promise to give her little sisters, Lily couldn’t help but sigh in relief.

“Yes, we’ll do our best to make sure Mama Nia has babies in the future.” Carefully, Lily picked Rose up and settled her in her arms. “I know you’re excited, but getting restless won’t do you any good.”

Caressing Rose’s silver hair, Lily tried to calm her daughter down. However, gripping her mother’s shoulders with a serious expression, Rose began shaking her head excitedly.

“That’s not it, Mama Lily.” Puzzled by her mother’s words, Rose, still in her arms, pointed toward Nia’s belly. “Mama Nia’s belly already has a glow.”

“Glow?” Lily tilted her head, confused.

Unable to understand what her daughter meant, Lily turned to Nia, intending to ask for her help in explaining the process of pregnancy to Rose. However, with both hands resting on her abdomen, Nia’s crimson eyes were wide open.

“An egg has been fertilized... I’m pregnant!”