As a descendant of the True Dragon Lords, she knows things that ordinary people don't.
She had heard the phrase "the filth of the Dragon Emperor" many times from her maternal grandfather, the "Rainbow Dragon Lord," and also knew some little-known information about it.
For example, the Six Great Gods are players.
For example, the Eight Greed Kings is a player.
For example, beings that descend from the sky and possess power beyond the comprehension of this world appear every so often.
"If it were a player..."
She said in a low voice.
"Who could it be? A descendant of the Eight Greed Kings? Or someone new?"
She shook her head, picked up her glass, and took another big gulp.
"Forget it, why think so much?"
She leaned against the window frame, gazing at the starry sky.
"Anyway, the Dragon Kingdom is safe for now, and that's enough."
A slight smile appeared on her lips, a look of relief on her face.
"Cheers."
She raised her glass to the starry sky, as if toasting someone unseen.
Then she tilted her head back, preparing to drink the rest of the red wine in her glass in one gulp.
"Isn't it boring to drink alone?"
Draudillon froze.
The wine glass stopped at her lips, the liquid swirled around the rim, and a few drops splashed out, landing on her white dress and spreading into a small dark red stain.
That voice--
That deep, calm, and slightly languid male voice.
It wasn't coming from outside the door, nor from outside the window, but from inside her room.
From behind her.
Draudillon took a deep breath, slowly put down her glass, and turned around.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating the room.
On her bed, a person was sitting against the headboard.
His long, jet-black hair gleamed with a cold sheen under the moonlight, and his black eyes were as deep as the night sky.
He wore a dark robe, but no armor or weapons, and his posture was as casual as if he were sitting in his own home.
A black cat sat on his lap, its golden eyes gleaming in the darkness.
"You--"
Draudillon's voice caught in her throat.
... Black Cat!
According to those who witnessed the divine punishment, there seemed to be a black cat among them!
"You are that--"
"Um."
Knowing what she wanted to ask, Higashino Makoto nodded and acknowledged his identity.
"I'm the one who burned down the Orc army."
Draudillon's lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.
She simply sat on the windowsill, staring blankly at the man, at the black cat, and at the moonlight flowing between them.
"How... how did you get in?"
She finally asked, her voice hoarse.
The moment she spoke, she knew she had asked a foolish question.
It's perfectly normal for such a powerful "god" to want to avoid the guards.
"They came in."
Higashino Makoto's answer was concise and direct.
Are the palace guards alright?
Am I the kind of person who enjoys indiscriminately killing innocent people?
The words of the "god" who had just killed at least 30,000 Orc left her speechless for a moment.
Draudillon remained silent.
She looked at Higashino Makoto, at his dark eyes, at his handsome, expressionless face.
"You... are a player?"
Higashino Makoto neither denied nor admitted it.
"If you think so, then it is."
Draudillon's fingers tapped lightly on the windowsill.
Why are you helping the Dragon Kingdom?
"Help the Dragon Kingdom? No, just because I heard that Orc are eating people."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"I don't like it."
Draudillon stared at him for a long time.
That's it?
"That's it."
Draudillon was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly.
The laughter carried a bittersweet feeling, a sense of relief, and an indescribable emotion.
"Tens of thousands of Orc... were wiped out because they didn't like it..."
She shook her head.
"You're a really scary person."
"I know."
Higashino Makoto got up from the bed, walked to the window, and sat down on the windowsill opposite her.
The black cat "Zafkiel" jumped off his lap, landed lightly on the windowsill, and squatted between the two of them, its tail swaying gently.
Do you drink?
Draudillon picked up her wine glass and swirled it.
There's still half a cup left.
"Then pour me a glass."
Draudillon glanced at him, then reached under the windowsill and pulled out another ceramic wine cup—
Equally rugged, equally inexpensive, equally large.
She poured most of a glass and handed it to Higashino Makoto.
Higashino Makoto took the glass and took a sip.
"... It tastes awful."
"Of course it tastes bad. This is something ordinary people drink."
Draudillon said matter-of-factly.
"The best wines in the palace are all in the cellar; I'm too lazy to go get them."
"You're the queen, and you don't even have someone to pour your wine?"
Yes, but I don't want anyone to see me like this.
Draudillon looked down at her own figure--
A full, alluring figure, completely different from the cute little girl she was during the day.
"That daytime appearance was fake."
She said it in a flat tone.
"This is the real one."
"I see."
Higashino Makoto took another sip of his drink but offered no comment.
Draudillon looked at him for two seconds.
Don't you find it strange?
"What's strange?"
"A queen who disguises herself as a child."
Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.
"It's strange, but everyone has their own reasons."
"Aren't you going to ask why?"
"You will speak when you want to."
Draudillon remained silent.
She lowered her head, looking at the red wine in her glass, watching the moonlight shimmer in the liquid.
"In order to... unite the people."
She finally spoke, her voice very soft.
"That kind of form might be more appealing to men, but it's not popular with women. In contrast, this new form can elicit a positive response from men, women, and children of all ages."
Higashino Makoto didn't speak, but his eyes held a hint of—no, a great deal of—interest, as if he had seen an interesting toy.
"So, I turned myself into a little child."
Draudillon continued.
"A small child doesn't arouse jealousy. A small child doesn't make people feel it's unfair. A small child only makes people feel sorry for them and that they need protection."
She looked up, her dark eyes fixed on Higashino Makoto.
Do you think I did the right thing?
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
You did the right thing.
He said it calmly.
"When strength is insufficient, finding ways to unite all forces that can be united is an effective way to ensure victory."
"But I still failed. If you hadn't suddenly appeared, perhaps..."
Draudillon's golden eyes were filled with lingering fear, worried that his country would be completely turned into a ranch for the Orc, and his people would become their food and livestock.
"No maybes. And it was you who, through that ridiculous method, made this country wait for my arrival. You did a great job."
Higashino Makoto reached out and ruffled the Dragon King Princess's hair, just like he would rub his pet dog.
No, Higashino Makoto has never owned a dog.
It should be said that it's similar to rubbing the head of Zafkiel.
"In my opinion, you are a good king."
Higashino Makoto withdrew his hand, picked up his wine glass again, took a small sip, and stared directly at her with his dark eyes.
"How rude of them to treat a king like this! Is this the arrogance of the gods?"
Draudillon's fingers tightened on the wine glass, a bitter smile playing on her lips.
"However, I never expected that someone like you would actually comfort me."
This is not a consolation.
Higashino Makoto directly denied it.
That's the truth.