Chapter 68
“Miss Chanel.”
As always around lunchtime, Eleusis came to see Chanellica.
Unlike other days, today Chanellica was standing blankly in front of the window. Seeing her like that, Eleusis felt his chest swell.
Slow though it was, her complexion was slowly improving. And now she could even stand by herself. Eleusis couldn’t have been happier.
“You’re standing today. Does your leg hurt?”
Chanellica shook her head, meaning it was fine. Her leg, once brutally crushed by Stern, still hurt when she walked, but simply standing still was no problem.
Stern had seemed determined to destroy her body completely. Yet Chanellica recovered with a speed that astonished the palace physicians. She assumed it was because she was a dragon.
Since Eleusis was here, it was time for a meal together. When Chanellica started toward the table, he supported her as always, his strong arm holding her steady ever since she came to the palace.
Feeling guilty for always relying on him, she gently pressed her arm against his, as if to say she didn’t need help today. Eleusis only said,
“You may lean on me. That’s why I’m here.”
Understanding her heart, he spoke warmly as he helped her to the table.
Seated before it, Chanellica began eating warm vegetable soup. Since waking, she had only eaten soups so as not to strain her body. Oddly, she never grew tired of them. The menu changed daily, and each one was of the finest quality she had ever tasted.
The soft flavors melted on her tongue and warmed her inside—though only briefly.
“Miss Chanel.”
Eleusis spoke with a heavier expression while she focused on eating with her weak hand.
“I hadn’t wanted to tell you, but I think you must know.”
“…?”
“It’s about Stern Miaché and Ferdin Cartel.”
The moment those names reached her ears, Chanellica’s face stiffened. The warm soup in her mouth turned instantly bitter, like foul medicine.
“I’m sorry. Both were imprisoned in the palace dungeon… but they escaped. We’re pursuing them, but they haven’t been found.”
That cruel man—gone?
She didn’t care at all about the name Ferdin Cartel. Only one name struck her: Stern Miaché. The man who had beaten her frail body mercilessly. The memory of his brutal torture returned, vivid and raw.
When her face went pale, Eleusis, with firm resolve, said,
“Don’t worry. They will never dare approach you. I will protect you—in the name of the King of Campton.”
Her hand trembled as she lowered her spoon. She looked into his eyes—straight, unwavering, a gaze that inspired trust and dependence.
But even then, Stern’s, Ferdin’s, and Derwin’s faces flickered in her mind.
Who could have known they would change so much? And how was the man before her any different from them?
With a bitter look, she turned away. At her silent distrust, Eleusis quickly added,
“When they are caught, you will be the first to know. What is done with them will be your decision. Please trust me. I will capture them.”
“……”
“I know this is painful, but I thought it better you hear it now than later. Once more, I apologize.”
At those words, Chanellica looked back at him.
She realized that despite surely being curious about that day, Eleusis had never asked her about the incident. Even if she could not speak, she could have answered in writing. But he never pressed.
He must not have wanted to force her to recall such horror.
From how he had always treated her, she could tell—Eleusis had always shown her consideration.
Dependable… trustworthy.
But trust or not wasn’t the issue. The fact that Stern had vanished from his cell was.
Her instincts told her: Stern would never give her up. His greedy eyes, fixated on her dragon form, were unforgettable. One day, he would surely come again.
And hadn’t Stern said he knew Derwin was also a dragon?
Thinking back, his words hadn’t made sense. According to him, Derwin had revealed himself and handed Chanellica over, telling Stern to kill her instead.
But as Chel had said, if Chanellica died, Derwin’s dragon heart would also suffer.
If Lord truly wanted her dead, why go through such elaborate trouble in the human world—pretending amnesia, weaving such plots? How could he have known she’d come for him?
Her head spun.
Why did he want me dead in the first place? Was it because I once called myself a god? Yes, back then he’d glared at me with killing intent, calling me a “Light Dragon.” But then why take me as his mate, losing half his dragon heart in the process?
Her thoughts tangled further.
Maybe he hadn’t wanted to kill me. Maybe living as a human with me changed something? What really happened?
“Ugh.”
“Miss Chanel! Are you all right?”
Clutching her head with both hands, Chanellica groaned. Too many spiraling thoughts made her skull ache.
Her body was still unwell. The physicians had said above all she needed peace of mind—no dark memories, only rest.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken of it.”
Eleusis anxiously watched her, assuming it was the mention of Stern’s escape that upset her.
Still grimacing, Chanellica rose unsteadily. He rushed to her side to help her walk slowly toward the bed.
“I’m sorry. Don’t think of it—just rest. I’ll return later.”
He laid her down gently, worry etched on his face, before reluctantly leaving.
Chanellica closed her eyes. She saw again the magnificent Black Dragon, whose presence had filled her with joy. And the man with black hair and eyes, who made her heart race.
Fine. Let’s say it was all a misunderstanding. Then… why don’t you come to me?
She had no idea where Derwin was or what he was doing now. All Chel had told her was that he’d regained his memories and returned to the human world. If he truly was here, shouldn’t he have come to her?
Come. Come, and explain yourself—whatever the excuse, whatever the reason!
Covering her face with her weak arm, Chanellica cried silently to someone who could not hear.
Time passed.
Chanellica’s body recovered enough for her to live more normally. She could now walk without pain, and often went out for strolls—sometimes with Eleusis, sometimes alone.
“Lady Chanel, His Majesty the King asked me to inform you that he will visit after dinner today.”
One afternoon, as she walked in the garden under the sun, a maid came with the message. Chanellica showed little reaction.
Walking in the safe palace gardens—
For someone who had always hated confinement, this was the only thing that gave her any sense of breath and freedom.
Life within the palace walls was stifling. Yet she did not wish to leave them either, fearing Stern could be anywhere outside, waiting for her. The memory of that dreadful day still gnawed at her whenever it surfaced.
By the pond at one corner of the garden, she crouched down. In the water, fish flicked their fins and opened their mouths at the surface as if trying to speak.
Watching them, she recalled what the maids had whispered the other night.
They must have thought she was asleep. Even if she weren’t, their voices carried far from where they whispered to her bed—yet she had heard them clearly.
Her hearing was sharp. Dragons in polymorph form had heightened senses compared to humans. Especially at night, even the quietest whispers reached her.
“Do you think His Majesty truly means to pursue something with Lord Derwin’s fiancée? It’s already been over a month.”
“Considering how devotedly he’s cared for her every single day, I think so.”
“Then what about Lord Derwin, her original fiancé?”
“That’s already over, isn’t it? Lately rumors say Lady Chanel is in this state all because of him.”
“What? Why?”
“She was in terrible condition. Her fiancé must have abused her. His Majesty brought her here after learning that. Otherwise, how could Lord Derwin not have appeared even once till now?”
“No way! That would make Lady Chanel pitiful.”
“It’s only speculation. But seeing how broken her body was, she must have been beaten.”
“That’s terrifying. What is happening behind the scenes?”
“What’s certain is, we must serve Lady Chanel well. His Majesty, who always rejected talk of queens, has never shown such attention to a woman before.”
Hearing that, Chanellica had thought the rumors utterly absurd. The gossiping maids were foolish, and Lord—doing nothing to dispel such nonsense—was just as frustrating.
Up to that point, the talk had been tolerable. Strangers might think that way.
But what came next had truly set her nerves on edge…
