Selene's POV

"... Takeda-san, wait up!!" I turned back and saw an acquaintance, Aizawa Yukino-san.

She's the daughter of the Chairman of AZW Group, so technically, you might think she's a spoilt brat. After meeting her for a while, one of the perks of being the class representative and her as the treasurer of the Student Council President, I thought of her as a misuderstood girl who is genuinely kind to everyone.

This is a fact that was known throughout the school; she has a huge crush on Kaichou. Like seriously, everyone would also talk how great they would look because they are in the same level in terms of monetary power.

Those idiotic fools would even gossip about the three of us being in a love triangle, which Kaichou mostly wasn't affected but the two of us were kinda awkward with each other. But I explained to her that I'm not interested with him, who is way out of my league, at all.

"Takeda-san, please wait for me..!" She pleaded while panting to herself.

"What's the rush, Aizawa-san?"

"Mou!! Can't we just call each other by our first name? I'm so desperate!!" I chuckled at her childish actions. "Please?"

"Fine... Yukino-chan."

"Thanks Kuroha-chan!!"

*fwaahh

I heaved out a sigh when I woke up. After a few minutes, I noticed that I was in an unfamiliar place, without the boy I was with before I was suddenly brought here. In my commoner eyes, this room might belong to a high-ranking noble or worse, a royal.

Mataku, this is not my fault. But, I don't remember being brought here by Max though. I just remember being with him at that ethereal scenery, his persistence in making me talk and then the sudden appearance of a 'D-Rank monster', a two-headed snake.

"It seems you're awake, Seraphine-sama." A russet-haired man in his late 40s with gray eyes curved in a crescent shape said beside me that I jolted up from the bed. He gazed at me warmly, like a father to his child. "Hello Seraphine-sama, I am Ryuuji Icytheus of a draconic viscounty in Daemonorops. I was your father's, Philippe Raizen Dracaena-ouji, personal butler. It's an honor to meet his and Serena-sama's daughter."

"..." I zipped my mouth shut and just made eye contact with him. He sweatdropped at my actions, maybe it's his first time to be treated with discourtesy.

"A-ah, s-sorry for suddenly introducing myself when you're still dealing with your confusion about this situation. Well, I brought you here under the direct order of His Great Majesty Wilhelmus Nehemiah Dracaena-ou." I nodded to him.

Did you expect me to tremble because of fear in an unknown place? I don't think so. I experienced my parents' death firsthand, it'd be weird if I wasn't affected by it.

"I see the situation. Even if I already heard from Scylla-sama and that human boy, I still couldn't believe it. Now that I've seen it, I'll just understand what is happening. Seraphine-sama, do you know your parents?" I just tilted my head.

*knock knock knock

"Come in." Ryuuji-san said and I gasped in amazement at someone that went in.

He was a handsome man in his early 30s, with silky raven hair with gray streaks and and sharp ruby eyes that instill fear into the hearts of his enemies with just his gaze. He had a regal air around him; he wore a shiny red cape over the left shoulder part of his white coat with golden trimmings. His slacks and other garments were also in the same design as his coat. Overall, he exudes the aura of a monarch.

"Glory to the Great Majesty, King Wilhelmus Nehemiah Dracaena!!" Ryuuji-san respectfully bowed in 90° at the man.

"Rise, Ryuuji-san. You are a long-time friend of me and my son, and now you're a benefactor for bringing my granddaughter back." The draconic king looked at me. "You must be Philippe's daughter, correct?" I cocked my head.

If you're jijue's father, shouldn't you have found out about what happened to your son and avenged him? How dare you kidnap me here!

"I'm sorry, Seraphine. Your father ran away with your mother Serena right after their wedding even if I insisted they didn't. After all, kidnappings of mixed breeds were frequent at that time and even royal families of other races began to take action." He explained in a grave tone and sat on a stool.

"His Great Majesty is right, Seraphine-sama!"

"I was deeply worried for Philippe, he was half-human after inheriting his mother's genes. It was already a disgrace that I married an illegitimate human princess, but we had Philippe. I was almost removed from my seat as the King."

"... at..?" I unconsciously asked with a broken voice.

It's been seven years since I talked, that must be a reason why my voice seemed to halt frequently.

"... yes, it's true."

"Yes Seraphine-sama, because as His Great Majesty said, it was extremely dangerous at that time."

"Hm, he insisted to live peacefully and raise a family without the shackles of being royalties. As a father, I was relieved that he asked me a favor and sad for his decision. He must've hated being a prince that much that he didn't want his child to follow that path." Ryuuji-san threw him a consoling look.

"..."

It wasn't their fault right? Then why do I feel like I still have to blame them for not insisting for my parents to stay?

"... kay..." I tried to console them. "... me... ot... gry..." Curse this inexperienced mouth of mine.

"... does this mean we're forgiven, Seraphine?" The Dragon King asked, kind of relieved to hear it from his granddaughter. I nodded with a huge grin.

Body language is easier for me, for now. So I'll just use it instead of talking lengthy sentences.

"I promise you, I'll make sure that no one would hurt you again. Ryuuji-san, take care of my granddaughter, will ya?"

"I will, Your Majesty."

"Make sure that she eats thrice a day, excluding the snacks. She has to wear pretty dresses and play with many toys. Oh, that reminds me." He turned to me after chattering. "Seraphine, let's stop by a friend. I'll buy you many stuffed toys or dolls of your own choosing." I shook my head vigorously.

"... books..." I tried to muster up that they widened their eyes, then smiled.

"Okay, books it is." He patted my head and walked to the door. "A few maids will arrive to fix you up, see you at lunch." He waved to me goodbye and left.

"Seraphine-sama, shall I ask someone to bring some confectioneries?"

I just woke up for Pete's sake, how would I eat those? Shouldn't I eat some soup instead?

"Ara~ara~ Ryuuji-dono, Seraphine-hime shouldn't eat unhealthy foods right after waking up." A beautiful woman in her early 30s said in a threatening manner but with a smile that the man flinched.

"Eek!"

"Ryuuji-dono, let me take care of her."

"Y-Yes, of course! Seraphine-sama, I need to sign some paperwork at home so I'll be on my way!" He hurriedly went.

*gulp

How dare he leave me with this monstrous woman! What will he do if she killed me here?

Now that I take a good look at her, she's wearing a purple dress with a frilly apron over it. She's like a medieval maid like in those fantasy novels, right?

She has purple hair and sapphire eyes. Her gaze seemed scary and her overall being exudes a noble air.

Is she a noble?

"Hello himesama, I am Nereida from the Tyrranis Marquisate. It is an honor to meet the daughter of Philippe-ouji!"

Marquisate? Marquisate?! Is that king serious?! How dare I, a filthy hybrid, infiltrate this kingdom and even making the daughter of a marquis my maid?! Mou!!!

"..." I sealed my mouth shut and just nodded.

She could be a spy sent by her evil father to hurt me directly, or she could be an evil ex of jijue who hated my mother to the core so she will vent out her anger on me.

"H-Himesama, please speak. I will be unable to tend to your needs if you won't speak your mind. My coworkers are on their way here to care for you." She said to urge me but I just stared at her.

"..."

"..."

Silence reigned. I wanted quiet time and she never dared to talk again because it'll make things more awkward. Beads of sweat were evident on her face and I could feel that she doesn't harbor any ill feelings for me.

"Hime!!" A cheerful voice echoed through the room when a young gray-haired girl in her teenage years wearing a similar maid uniform with Nereida-ojou opened the door with a 'bang'.

"Shh, himesama doesn't talk!!" Nereida-ojou whispered to her friend. "Please lower your voice when speaking to the princess." The other slowly cocked her head.

"I'm sorry, himesama."

"Hn." I responded that they wore shocked expressions.

"You told me she doesn't talk, what was that?"

"That... I... why would my words matter? I think she hates me and prefers you..." She stammered with tears in her eyes. "Oh, himesama, please bless me with your voice!" I sweatdropped at her words.

What the heck? Why would I? First of all, you're a noblewoman with a high standing. Second, I'm scared of strangers which won't be shown in my face. Lastly, maybe you liked jijue in the past.

"..."

"Don't be too hard on yourself Nereida-ojou, maybe she's just a little shy?" The other maid tried to comfort her but she got annoyed instead.

"Excuse me? For your information, I am a children lover--"

"Pedophile?" I asked in confirmation that her face was flushed. She flared up in anger and shot me a glare.

"Y-You filthy hybrid..! If not for your royal blood, there's no way in hell that I'd bow for you. How dare you address me to such degree!"

There goes the fall of her graceful ojousama act.

*tch

I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

How dare she!! I'm terribly sensitive about my blood because my origins were unknown to me until now, and now she flaunts about how filthy it is if not for my royal blood? How disrespectful can she get?

"White lotus... bitch..." I muttered that further fueled her anger. "You," I pointed at her. "Bitch!" I called her that she took a step back.