Chapter 19
I Look Forward to Our Time Together
Back at the Cartel mansion, Charnellika was greeted by a group of people standing with their mouths agape.
“Master, why is she here again…?”
“I brought her back.”
The butler, the maids, the servants—all of them had shocked expressions, but the most stunned of all was Ferdinand. His face looked like he’d just seen a ghost.
“Hyung… What’s going on?”
Hyung?
Charnellika tilted her head, glancing back and forth between Derwin and Ferdinand.
Derwin had solid black hair, while Ferdinand’s was a deep navy that looked almost black unless examined closely. Still, their facial features were similar enough to be mistaken for brothers. That puzzled Charnellika—dragons born from the Game of Life didn’t have siblings.
“You’re brothers?”
“That’s correct.”
She had meant to ask if they were blood-related. Then again, asking that here might seem strange.
Charnellika smiled faintly. Then, wrapping both arms around Derwin’s right arm, she greeted them.
“Hello. I’m the Duke’s fiancée, Charnellika. I go by Chanel in public, so please call me Chanel.”
The people, taken by her lovely, crescent-shaped eyes, quickly shifted their attention from her to Derwin after hearing the bombshell she just dropped.
“…So treat her with respect.”
He didn’t deny the claim that she was his fiancée. The already surprised onlookers widened their eyes further.
“She’s really his fiancée…?”
Charnellika nodded with a demure expression. Derwin glanced down at her hanging onto his arm and added,
“I’d prefer if the engagement between Lady Charnellika and me remained private. Things could become complicated if word gets out.”
That sealed the deal. One servant, visibly excited, asked,
“Master, is it true? Then when will the wedding—”
“Wait, more importantly… Why did she leave before?”
“We’ll talk about the details later. Lady Charnellika will be staying here from now on, so I hope you all treat her well.”
Though Derwin spoke calmly, the others looked visibly flustered. Only one person—his so-called younger brother, Ferdinand—wore an unhappy expression.
He looks like he has a lot to say.
Charnellika figured that Ferdinand and Derwin must have talked about her already.
Back at the Vista Inn, when she insisted she’d only return to the mansion if acknowledged as the fiancée, Derwin had asked:
“Why do you need that title?”
“Because I don’t want to be looked down on as someone in an ambiguous position. If I’m going back, I want to be comfortable.”
Derwin accepted her condition without hesitation. Then she had asked whether the mansion’s people already thought she was strange.
“Only the butler and a few others know. Even after you left, I told them nothing.”
That had clearly been true. No one treated her like a crazy woman just because she was introduced as the fiancée.
Even if some of them had doubts, they didn’t show it. Only one person looked completely frozen.
Maybe I should talk to the ‘younger brother’ later?
But for now, she was tired. Even though Derwin had found her a walking stick and supported her all the way here, her ankle still hurt, and her body felt exhausted.
“Duke, I’d like to rest.”
She whispered softly so only he could hear. At that, his arm tightened slightly.
“I’ll take you to your room, Lady Charnellika.”
Derwin handed her walking stick to a nearby servant and gently lifted her into his arms.
A soft bed. A warm room. Sunlight streaming in. A far cry from the musty attic room at the inn.
In the overwhelming comfort, Charnellika clung to the blankets—then her eyes snapped open.
What time is it?
From her spot on the bed, she looked out the window and saw that the sun was already high in the sky.
Oh, right. It’s my day off.
She had panicked for a moment, thinking she was late for the palace.
“…”
The quiet, peaceful morning made yesterday’s chaotic events feel like a dream. It was hard to believe she’d worked so hard serving and singing just a day ago.
She checked her ankle. It was still swollen, but the pain had subsided a bit. She grabbed the stick by her bed and stood up.
“You’re awake, miss?”
Perhaps they heard the tapping of the stick. Two maids entered naturally.
“Ah…”
“You must be hungry. Since your foot is still hurting, we’ll bring your meal here.”
Charnellika was about to say she was fine, but stopped. Maybe she wasn’t used to being waited on after working so much. But if she had learned one thing through all her hardships, it was this: When things get easier, enjoy them fully.
“Thank you. I’ll stay here, then.”
“You can speak comfortably with us.”
“Alright.”
The maids hurried out. Charnellika inhaled deeply. The clean sheets smelled wonderful. It felt like heaven—just for a moment.
Knock knock.
A knock came from the door that had just closed, and before she could wonder who it was, it opened.
“Excuse me.”
The person who entered was Ferdinand. His dark navy bangs nearly covered his eyes, and his features were strikingly handsome.
But the atmosphere was completely different from last night. Then, he had seemed confused. Now, his hostility was clear.
He barged in without even checking if she’d gotten ready for the day. Rude, but Charnellika chose not to care.
Click.
He closed the door behind him, staring silently at her.
“If you’ve got something to say, go ahead.”
Charnellika already knew whatever he said wouldn’t be pleasant. But she also knew his words wouldn’t change a thing. So she’d rather just listen and be done with it.
“How’d you seduce him? My brother.”
The sudden informal speech and cheap accusation made his dark brows twist.
“You must think my brother is easy. But you’ll never become the mistress of this house. You should give up and leave.”
But it didn’t really feel like a threat.
“Are you really his brother?”
So she asked what she was genuinely curious about.
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
“I don’t think you are.”
“Stop dodging the question.”
“When did you first meet him?”
“Ha, him? You, someone with no background, dares—”
“Have you ever met his parents?”
Ferdinand glared at her like she was speaking nonsense.
“If you’re planning to keep spouting lies about being some foreign fiancée, forget it. He already told me—he said you’re not.”
“Oh, is that so? Then go ask him again. I’m sure he’ll correct himself and say he was mistaken.”
“You crazy woman, how dare—”
Just as Ferdinand’s anger peaked—
“Ferdinand.”
A deep male voice interrupted him from behind. In the open doorway stood Derwin, his face cold and stern.
“H-Hyung…”
Ferdinand looked flustered. Charnellika smiled slightly.
“Why are you being so rude this early in the morning?”
“No, Hyung, actually this is good. Let’s talk openly. Explain what’s going on!”
“Ferdinand.”
Derwin’s icy tone made Ferdinand shrink back.
“…Don’t say my name like that. It’s scary.”
“Leave.”
Ferdinand tried to speak again but backed down, realizing it’d only make things worse.
“…I’ll come talk to you later.”
To Charnellika, he now looked like a scolded puppy.
Once he left, Derwin approached the bed. The expression he’d worn for Ferdinand was completely gone.
“Are you alright?”
“Nothing happened.”
“I apologize. My brother was out of line—”
“It’s fine. I understand. But… is he really your biological brother?”
She didn’t seem upset, only curious. Derwin hesitated before answering.
“…No.”
“I thought so. But you took a while to answer.”
“Officially, he is my brother.”
“‘Officially’? Oh! Then you just told me a secret no one else knows!”
“…”
“Heh, but I already knew.”
She grinned playfully, as if she truly knew everything.
“Don’t we look alike? People say we do.”
“Maybe. But you’re a ‘Lord.’ There’s no way you have a biological brother. Your hair colors are a bit different, too.”
Derwin clamped his mouth shut. She’d said it casually, but as if it were undeniably true.
“…May I sit for a moment?”
“I’m waiting for breakfast. Oh, did you eat? If not, we can eat together!”
While Derwin looked serious, Charnellika was cheerful. He pulled over a nearby chair and sat. Her radiant face beamed at him.
“If I really am a dragon… your mate…”
Then, hesitantly, he asked:
“When will I regain my memories?”
A surprising assumption—and question. After blinking a few times, Charnellika’s eyes curved into a smile.
“Why? Do you think you really are a dragon?”
“Please answer first.”
“Hmm… probably in ten months!”
Well, it wasn’t about regaining memories. He’d turn back into a dragon by then.
When she held her Ascension Ceremony, she planned to summon her mate—by force, if necessary. Only then could she meet the god of this world. Whether he wanted to keep playing this “game” afterward wasn’t her concern.
“Is there a chance… I might not remember?”
“Hmm… maybe, if something happens to me? It might take longer.”
“Something like…?”
“But that won’t happen. So I want to stay here comfortably until then! Oh—wait, that’s not what I meant.”
She shook her head and rephrased.
“Anyway, just wait ten months.”
She smoothed out her tousled pink hair and smiled sweetly.
Ten months… Ten months.
“So… if I’m not your mate, you won’t be here after ten months, will you?”
Overcome by sudden, intense regret, Derwin spoke.
“Why? Will you miss me?”
“…”
Charnellika leaned in, eyes gleaming, snapping him back to his senses.
What did I just say?
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—don’t worry. You are my mate.”
“…”
“And who knows? Maybe you’ll recover your memory even faster because I’m by your side.”
“…”
“If anything feels odd or you’re curious, ask me anytime. I’m just a hatchling, so I don’t know much, but I’ll be more helpful than someone with amnesia.”
“…Alright.”
Faced with her unshakable confidence, Derwin gave a reluctant nod.
“Oh! I forgot to say something yesterday!”
She clapped her hands as if remembering something important.
“I look forward to our time together, my Duke.”
In that moment, Derwin thought her smile—despite her not even having washed her face—was one of the most beautiful he’d ever seen.
