Chapter 23
“…Do human lives seem as light as flies to you?”
“I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Then what do you mean? Don’t kill him.”
“Alright.”
“…”
The reply came too quickly and too simply, considering the gravity of the subject.
“I mean it. Don’t kill Hanson.”
“Mm. If it’s something you don’t want, I won’t do it.”
The face that looked back at her was gentle, kind, without even a hint of ulterior motive.
That someone who had spoken such chilling words could wear such an expression… No, not someone. He isn’t human at all. I truly can’t make sense of him.
“…Alright then.”
With a heavy heart, Dalia turned her gaze to the window. She had never even seen Khalid’s true form. And yet, sitting before her was a man with an exquisitely handsome human appearance—who in truth was no man at all, but the terrifying, bloodthirsty creature they called a dragon.
Her heart, which had been fluttering with a sudden warmth of affection toward him, now sank into gloom.
Sensing her inner turmoil, Khalid spoke again.
“Then how about hiring that designer, Mielle, as your personal dressmaker? That way you’ll have clothes you like, without having to cross paths with this Hanson fellow.”
“Ah… no, that won’t be necessary. It’s fine.”
“I’ll handle the expenses.”
It might have been the simplest solution, but Dalia shook her head. Silvia’s situation aside, Mielle was destined to become a famous designer and even serve the crown prince himself in the future. Just because she disliked the designer’s husband, she could not in good conscience destroy Mielle’s chance at such a glittering career.
Of course, Dalia had plans to employ talent who could bring prestige to her household—but she would not stand in the way of someone who was meant for greater glory.
“Still… thank you, for saying that.”
Khalid only watched her quietly as she offered her gratitude with a conflicted expression.
…He is trying, in his own way, for my sake. Even if I feel unsettled, I shouldn’t show it.
She steadied her heart and gripped her dress hem tightly.
Meanwhile, in their absence, Roy was furiously tearing through the manor.
“Seriously, Aron, why’d you give that woman the best room in the house? A dusty attic corner would’ve been more than enough! Now I’ve got twice the work to do because her quarters are so damn big!”
He scrubbed furiously at the floor, grumbling, while Aron watched him with a look of disdain.
“You’ll never finish if you keep scrubbing the same spot over and over.”
At those words, Roy’s temper finally boiled over. He threw the rag hard onto the floor.
“Ugh! If it weren’t for that strange woman who suddenly appeared, I wouldn’t even be doing this miserable work—!”
He stomped on the rag, grinding it underfoot, when suddenly a dark shadow fell across him.
“What, Aron? You tease me and now you’re trying to stop—oh. Master.”
“Roy. Just now… what did you say?”
The blood drained from Roy’s face as he turned and saw Khalid standing there, his expression chilling, with Dalia beside him.
“Uh… I’ll just, uh, wash this rag and—ow!”
Before he could bolt, Khalid grabbed him by the collar. In an instant, both dragon and servant vanished down the hall.
“…”
Left alone with Aron, Dalia suddenly recalled how he had lingered the night before, unwilling to leave her alone with Khalid.
“Aron.”
“Yes? Why are you looking at me with such a dubious expression?”
“Dubious? No, I just have something to ask. Will you answer honestly?”
“I’ll decide after I hear the question.”
True to his prickly nature, Aron would not give her an easy yes. Dalia nodded and asked the words she had long held in her heart.
“The other night—you worried that if Khalid and I were left alone, he might… devour me. Was that truly your concern? Were you really afraid he might hurt me?”
“…What?”
Blinking as if he had misheard, Aron stared at her. She pressed once more.
“You know what I mean.”
For a moment he simply stared, and then a laugh spread across his face.
“You actually believed that? Khalid-nim has never once craved human flesh.”
She had suspected as much herself.
“Besides, haven’t you noticed how exceptionally he treats you? To think he would harm you is absurd.”
His blunt dismissal stung, but instead of flaring up, Dalia asked calmly,
“And yet, today in the city, after a rather unpleasant encounter, he turned to me and asked, ‘Shall I kill him?’ That man hadn’t done anything worthy of death.”
“Hm. And?”
“Is it because, to him, humans are nothing but insects? He may not eat them, but does that mean he has no qualms about killing them?”
Aron folded his arms and furrowed his brow, considering. His reply was not long in coming.
“Khalid-nim is not one to slaughter humans indiscriminately. If he said such a thing, then that person must have deserved it.”
Dalia frowned.
“‘Deserved it’? Are you saying he was worthy of death?”
“Yes. Without doubt.”
His certainty was absolute. He hadn’t even seen the situation, hadn’t heard the details. Such was his unwavering loyalty to his master.
Dalia, slightly daunted, nodded.
“Perhaps you’re right.”
Though what counts as ‘deserving’ is hardly a fixed measure.
Her doubts were far from resolved, but she sighed and handed Aron the small package she had brought back.
“Here. Take this.”
“…What is it?”
Aron blinked as he received the tiny objects. They glittered in the light.
“I picked them up in town. You said you didn’t need anything, but I thought these might suit you.”
They were two pairs of tiny stones set on short pins—beautiful, but clearly not made for him.
“Ah. Women’s earrings, are they?”
He let out a cold laugh.
“You think to find me a partner, so you can shake off my watchful eye? Wrong guess. I’ve no one—no one at all—to whom I would gift such things.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. Not a soul.”
She listened to his proud declaration with a faint smile, and then cut him off before he could continue boasting.
“You can use them too. Like this, on your shirt.”
“…What do you mean?”
“I’ll show you.”
Taking them back, she clipped them neatly onto his cuff. They fit perfectly.
Aron, who had been watching with suspicion, now looked down with widening eyes, curiosity overtaking his aloofness.
“They’re called cufflinks. You like them? I’m glad.”
He fiddled with them, half-entranced, before clearing his throat and muttering,
“Consider it payment for the information I gave you. For a human, you’re not entirely ignorant of propriety.”
Dalia only smiled warmly.
That was his way of saying thank you. I’m glad I bought them.
Days later, Aron would approach her again—awkwardly, almost sheepishly—to ask where exactly she had purchased them.
After her talk with Aron, Dalia bathed, changed into loungewear, and stretched across the sofa to rest her tired limbs. The day’s fatigue settled upon her. Just then, Roy timidly peeked through her open door.
“…Should I, um, massage your legs?”
“What? No.”
Flatly refused, Roy nodded eagerly and instead busied himself tidying the clothes she had set aside on the partition.
“What’s gotten into you?”
Since being dragged off earlier by Khalid, Roy’s fiery defiance had melted away into meek helpfulness.
What on earth did he say to him…
The sunlight slanted through the curtains, a soft breeze flowing in. Hands clasped nervously before his stomach, Roy fidgeted and asked again if she needed help with anything else. When she declined, he bolted.
She tilted her head, bemused, but soon let the matter slip and drifted into sleep.
She woke to a strange tickling sensation—and found herself staring into a man’s eyes.
Backlit by the window, she instantly recognized him. Khalid.
Once, she had confused him with Roy, but no longer. Now, even his silhouette was unmistakable. Yet the sunlight behind him made it impossible to read his expression.
“What are you doing, standing there?”
“I came to call you for dinner. But you looked so peaceful asleep.”
As she stirred, he extended a hand to help her rise. When he moved, the light struck her eyes, stinging. She rubbed them and asked drowsily,
“Were you standing there to block the sun, so it wouldn’t wake me?”
“Hm… The days do grow longer with the warmth.”
He deflected smoothly. Dalia studied him a moment, then slipped her arm through his.
“Now that you mention it, I am hungry. Let’s go.”
“Roy prepared something special today. A pie—guess what he put in it…”
Chatting quietly as they walked toward the dining room, Dalia decided to set aside, at least for now, the questions she could not answer.
✨ End of Chapter 23 ✨
