“Are you not eating again today?”

Leon asked with concern.

Worried about me skipping meals and shutting myself in my room, he had personally brought a tray of stew instead of sending the maids.

“I don’t have much appetite.”

“Appetite or not, you’ll starve to death. Take at least one spoonful.”

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Leon brought a spoon to my lips. He insisted I eat at least one bite.

I reluctantly took a few spoonfuls before putting down the spoon.

“I’ll eat a little later. Go and attend to your duties.”

“That kid could have at least said something before leaving. What is this.”

He grumbled unnecessarily.

Seeing me sitting blankly against the bed, staring out the window, he seemed unable to bear the frustration.

“I’ll be back in an hour, so make sure it’s all empty. Understand?”

“Yes.”

After Leon left the room, I was alone again.

And once more, I gazed out the window endlessly.

I could see the Hayworth knights’ training ground. I used to smile watching Oscar bickering with Leon there.

‘It’s empty.’

Only silence hung over the training ground. Usually, even while training, Oscar would look up at this room’s window.

Whenever he did, I would smile and wave, and he would call out “Ari!” only to be scolded by Leon.

The memory made me smile spontaneously. As I smiled, I noticed the candy basket full on the side table.

‘I prepared so many candies for Oscar.’

I felt overwhelmed, wondering who would eat all these candies now.

‘I only scolded him every day. If I had known he would leave so suddenly, I wouldn’t have done that.’

Despite my constant reprimands and few kind gestures, Oscar smiled every day.

For a species known for its pride, second to none, he apologized quite often.

If I had been more generous in accepting him, would it have been better?

‘You said this was your nest. Where did you go?’

I missed that mischievous little one who always slept with me and hid his belongings under the bed.

The season had already turned to early summer. When I first met Oscar, it was spring with pale green leaves sprouting. Looking at the lush greenery outside, a whole season had passed.

He must have left after becoming an adult. Like a human coming of age and becoming independent, he wouldn’t return.

Yet why do I keep waiting, feeling like he’s just temporarily away from the nest?

‘You could have at least said goodbye. What was the rush?’

I felt resentful and bitter toward the little one who left without showing his face. My head throbbed again, making me dizzy.

‘Will he be alright with his unwell body?’

Though going to the ravine was instinctual, I had hoped to say farewell when he was healthier, not when he was sick.

Yes. This might be my selfishness, too. Not everything could go according to my wishes.

I just hoped that the time spent with me would somehow help Oscar in his future.

‘I should get some sleep.’

Life without Oscar was boring and empty. I lay down on the bed and pulled the covers over my head.

Things might get better after sleeping. With time, I would get used to the emptiness.

‘My head hurts.’

Due to the persistent pain, I finally took a headache medicine. Strangely, the headache hadn’t subsided since Oscar left.

‘I’ll feel better after a nap.’

With that thought and no motivation, I closed my eyes.

***

For several days, I had been sleeping lightly but for long periods. Partly because being awake wasn’t pleasant, and partly because I thought Oscar might return.

In that light sleep, I dreamed several times, repeatedly falling asleep and waking up.

“Still beautiful.”

A soft voice came through my drowsiness.

‘Judging by the brightness, it must be morning.’

Half-asleep, I wondered if it was an auditory hallucination. Wanting to sleep more, I squeezed my eyes shut.

A chill entered, perhaps from an open window. At the same time, my body felt heavy.

The lethargy that had become habitual made it difficult to raise my body. I curled my shoulders tightly like a baby.

“…Cold?”

A firm warmth was felt against my skin. Perhaps because I had been on edge all this time, I felt a sense of peace from the touch around my back.

But this was clearly someone else’s touch.

‘What is this….’

I felt I needed to confirm what it was. As I opened my eyes groggily, sunlight streamed in. When the brightness cleared, a surreal subject formed in my vision.

The first thing I saw was a man’s bare chest. Broad shoulders, neat collarbones, and a long neckline appeared in sequence.

‘What kind of dream is this? Really.’

My gaze fixed on the choker around his neck. A bright red pendant gleamed in the sunlight.

‘This pendant clearly belongs to… that cheater, that philanderer whose name I can’t mention?’

The identity of the pendant’s owner flashed through my mind like lightning. My face flushed hot with embarrassment.

‘Oh God. Have I finally gone mad?’

After declaring myself unmarriageable and treating handsome male leads’ courtships like stones, was this the side effect?

Faced with the ethereal erotic scene before me, I couldn’t bring myself to look lower.

‘The child is gone, yet what kind of absurd dream is this?’

I had no conscience. Moreover, the man had someone precious to him.

‘No. Such pendants aren’t rare. It could be someone else.’

Who could it be? Even in this situation, cursed curiosity invaded my mind.

‘…Right. I’ll just check who it is and then wake up.’

I slowly raised my head and moved my gaze upward.

Red lips, exhaling shallow breaths, and a delicate nose.

When I met those languid yet intense eyes staring directly at me, it felt like my breath stopped.

‘Damn it. I really am trash.’

To have such thoughts, no, such feelings at a moment like this, in a situation like this.

Good heavens. It was indeed the man I had hoped it wasn’t.

For a moment, the man’s lips twisted slightly. I felt embarrassed even in a dream. My heart sank, and I closed my eyes.

“So this is a dream. A dream I need to wake up from quickly…”

To think I could experience sleep paralysis in such a blissful way. I muttered like someone casting a spell to regain my senses.

“It’s not a dream.”

Responding to my words, he twisted his body and climbed on top of me. The heavy weight felt vividly real.

‘Ah, damn, how confusing. Why does it feel so real…’

Opening my eyes slightly, that devastatingly handsome man was looking down at me with arrogant eyes.

“Arii. Wake up now.”

As he whined, calling my nickname, his breath tickled my cheeks.

My eyes widened to the point of bursting.

‘Why won’t I wake up?’

Even after shaking my head vigorously, the man’s appearance remained unchanged.

“Surprised?”

“……”

“I missed you so much.”

When I froze in shock, he smiled with crinkled eyes and playfully bumped his forehead against mine.

Surprisingly, the temperature and sensation on my forehead felt vivid. It seemed time to acknowledge it.

That this was definitely not a dream.

“What, what is this? How did you get in?”

“The window.”

He pointed proudly toward the window. The wide-open window and fluttering curtains caught my eye.

To confess to trespassing so shamelessly. I laughed in disbelief.

“After following me around, now you’ve resorted to doing this?”

“Doing what?”

The man asked with clear eyes. It was astounding. What kind of incomprehensible response was this?

He seemed completely unaware of what he had done.

“Get off me right now. If you don’t, I’ll scream.”

“Why?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

When I widened my eyes, the man immediately became dejected like a rain-soaked puppy.

“…Alright. Ari.”

He obediently got off me. I kicked off the blanket and commanded him.

“S-step away from me.”

“……”

“Hurry.”

“…Yes.”

He retreated hesitantly as instructed.

“Please! Cover yourself!”

Embarrassed by his sculpture-like torso, I averted my eyes and thrust the blanket toward him.

He reluctantly hugged the blanket. Still dejected, he asked glumly.

“…Ari, are you unhappy that Oscar returned?”

“What??”

I asked in disbelief.

“Oscar?”

“…Yes.”

He answered in a faltering voice. Unlike his usual confidence, he appeared thoroughly cowed.

‘Wait. Does this person perhaps know Oscar’s whereabouts?’

He clearly asked if I was unhappy about Oscar’s return. Then he might have some clue about Oscar. I decided to probe further.

“Did you bring Oscar with you?”

“Huh?”

“No, I mean, have you seen our Oscar? Do you know where he went?”

“Here.”

The man pointed at himself.

“……”

When I froze in shock, he smiled like spring sunshine.

“I’m back. Ari.”

What did all this mean? I was so dumbfounded that words failed me.

My gaze wavered, unable to grasp the situation at once.

[System: Congratulations! The Black Dragon has successfully grown into an adult.

-Lv.3 Master of Destruction]

Now, even the system, this game’s craziest entity, joined in spouting nonsense.

If several unbelievable things happened to me at once,

Could I easily believe it? No, even if it were true, I found it hard to accept.

[System: You have encountered the ‘Master of Destruction’.]

Please, stop lying!!