Chapter 173…………………………………………….
“A dragon being engaged to a human… Even if the world isn’t exactly on the dragons’ side, this is still unbelievable. And if that dragon is Kyle, then it’s even more impossible.”
After witnessing an absurd engagement ceremony through a prophetic dream, Yuliter watched anxiously as he waited for Kyle to arrive.
He had lived for a long time, yet this moment felt longer than all the years he had endured.
[“Did you find out anything else?”]
[“Why are you only showing up now? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?!”]
The moment he heard Kyle’s long-awaited voice, Yuliter lost his composure and shouted immediately.
Kyle’s booming voice echoed through the silent forest, startling the birds that had been chirping and singing. They scattered into the sky, while the peaceful trees rustled violently as if disturbed by the commotion.
This was nothing like the Yuliter who had never openly displayed such emotion before—yet Kyle’s expression didn’t change at all.
[“Yuliter, I came at the agreed time. Did the appointment change while I was gone?”]
Kyle asked calmly, wearing an indifferent expression as though this was nothing unusual.
They had spent their childhood together, so they knew each other’s true nature better than anyone.
Though Yuliter was now dignified, before reaching adulthood he had been a dragon with a sharp, irritable temperament.
That was why Kyle wasn’t bothered at all by this uncharacteristic outburst.
[“Don’t tell me… you already went through with the engagement ceremony?”]
At the mention of engagement, Kyle’s face turned sullen.
Perhaps he was reminded of Yuliter’s younger days, when he had tearfully apologized as an unworthy disciple who could not reject his master’s deep intentions, despite having no room in his heart for human affairs.
[“If I’d known you were this interested in human matters, I would’ve been the one guarding this forest long ago.”]
Kyle, who normally loathed humans, had been assigned—by their master’s will—to take the place of the foolish dragon who once loved the founding emperor.
The Red Dragon had been excluded because he was so furious he might burn the human race into extinction.
The Blue Dragon had been excluded because he cried too easily and might drown humans in his endless tears.
One by one, they were ruled out, leaving only Kyle—the Black Dragon.
[“Ahem… I only reacted because I saw something horrifying in my dream. Nothing more.”]
[“Something even more horrifying than this?”]
Kyle’s mocking tone made Yuliter stiffen. Only now did embarrassment seem to hit him.
[“It was a dream where you became engaged to a human. Of course, even in the dream I could tell… she was extraordinarily beautiful. Hair as red as roses, eyes a deep turquoise, like the condensed essence of the Dragon Forest…”]
Kyle nodded with an uninterested look.
[“You remember it in great detail.”]
[“Of course. That human might even be the one who killed two dragons.”]
[“That won’t happen. She’s my fiancée. We got engaged recently.”]
Yuliter stared at Kyle as if he’d heard something he never should have.
Kyle met his gaze without flinching, then tilted his head.
[“Is there more you want to say?”]
[“In times like this, you’re engaged to a human? No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t seem like you.”]
[“I can’t deny that.”]
Even Kyle knew it wasn’t like him, so he didn’t want to respond with excuses or lies.
In a time when dragon vengeance was at stake, trusting and relying on someone was dangerous.
And yet, Kyle had forced through the engagement with Elupe Inferna.
Of course, she would never understand what his choice truly meant until the day she died…
[“Kyle, if something goes wrong, you could disappear from this world too.”]
[“That won’t happen. My revenge won’t be affected, so stop concerning yourself with my engagement.”]
[“Ha… Weren’t you the one raging about how absurd it was for a dragon to love a human? How can a dragon change so suddenly?”]
Yuliter’s heated voice made Kyle’s brows twitch.
[“So you’re saying you suspect me?”]
[…How could I suspect you? You’re a dragon sworn to vengeance. But if there’s a reason behind this engagement, shouldn’t I know it?”]
[“I was the one who desired her first. There was no reason to doubt her. That should answer you.”]
Yuliter froze, speechless at Kyle’s words.
Because the prophetic dream hadn’t revealed the full truth, he never imagined this was how it happened.
He had expected something like imperial greed or deception from a human woman.
That made his unease even worse.
* * *
After returning from meeting Yuliter, Kyle sat at his desk with a dark expression.
Even as he picked up the piled documents, regret filled his eyes.
The fact that Yuliter—who remembered the vanished past—was questioning Kyle’s engagement, something that hadn’t existed before, bothered him the most.
The engagement was already done, like spilled water that couldn’t be gathered back.
Yuliter’s fierce opposition could be ignored.
But what truly made Kyle so gloomy was something else.
“Even if marriage is just a formal procedure among humans, for a noble lady, it must be an incredibly important matter…”
Yuliter, sensitive and sharp by nature, would surely cause everything to fall apart if he continued trying to block Kyle.
Kyle’s irritation began to rise.
If revenge were over, it would be different—but if this dragged into an uncertain marriage…
Yuliter would inevitably leave the forest and stand beside him.
“Dragons are truly unbearable sometimes.”
The problem was, Kyle didn’t know when his revenge would actually begin.
He suspected it would be around this time, but if luck turned bad, he might have to wait decades… even centuries.
“By then, Elupe will be long dead.”
At a time when revenge could come at any moment, he didn’t want to foolishly let her go.
“Would El be horrified if she knew?”
Kyle let out a quiet laugh as he imagined Elupe, who never once pictured herself marrying him.
Even now, he believed it had been the right choice to intentionally give her room to pity his situation.
Elupe always smiled warmly like sunlight—
But she never allowed those who crossed her boundaries to get close.
“It’s unfortunate, but the wedding will have to be postponed for now.”
Maybe it was for the best.
Dragging things out might keep Elupe from growing suspicious.
Of course… first, he would need to resolve Yuliter’s doubts.
—Knock knock knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
Kyle snapped his index and middle finger together, and the door opened quietly.
Standing outside was Lekanon, wearing an awkward smile.
“I think the problem is that imperial education has become far too lax these days.”
Kyle’s words made Lekanon’s face stiffen.
An uncomfortable silence followed, and Kyle set down the papers and rose from his chair.
Fearing Kyle might leave, Lekanon hurriedly explained.
“I’m on my way back after finishing all afternoon lessons.”
Judging by the faint scent of soap, he must have completed training as well.
But Lekanon didn’t seem interested in small talk.
Kyle studied his expression, then shifted his gaze toward the window.
“Do you still hate me?”
“……”
Lekanon frowned slightly, displeased that the dragon assumed he was just sulking in anger.
But despite his feelings, he couldn’t give an easy answer.
It wasn’t hatred—
But it also wasn’t the same comfort as before.
“Dragons are all like that. Once they desire something, they’ll do anything to obtain it.”
“Then this time… you were simply lucky.”
“Lucky?”
Kyle was certain that human notions like luck had nothing to do with his engagement to Elupe.
But Lekanon’s eyes were full of conviction.
“Because Elupe chose you, Guardian Deity.”
Kyle’s brow furrowed.
“……”
“If she were someone you could take by force no matter what… then the one standing in that place wouldn’t be you. It would’ve been me.”
Lekanon wasn’t here just to say that, though.
“The reason I came today isn’t that. It’s because we need to investigate the monster that appeared last time.”
The monster that attacked Elupe’s carriage.
A problem caused when the gate, once blocked by the Red and Blue Dragons, had been opened.
They were searching for new dragons to guard the gate—
But dragons were a lazy race who preferred seclusion.
Finding a new gatekeeper would not be easy.
