“The moment I saw him, I felt he was my destiny. I knew the emotion I felt from those calm, indifferent eyes was love. Of course, it was a destiny only I felt!”

Sella filled her glass and drank it all at once. It was strong wine that made you drunk quickly even when sipped slowly, but gulping it down like this would make even a dragon drunk.

Sella’s face flushed. Beside her, Igol was playing with toys Luden had asked the staff to bring.

Worried about Sella, Annelia quickly stood up and moved to the opposite side, laying down Sella who had been sitting unsteadily on the sofa. Lying on the sofa, Sella murmured with sad eyes.

“That man will never know. How I waited for the perfect opportunity and succeeded in one night.”

Sella closed her eyes, then opened them.

“Just lie down for a bit. We’ll take care of Igol.”

Sella nodded and closed her eyes.

“I won’t fall into deep sleep. I’ll just close my eyes for a moment and calm my emotions.”

After saying that, Sella’s breathing became faint. With us there and the effects of alcohol, she seemed to have dozed off slightly.

“How truly sad.”

Luden looked at Igol after hearing Sella’s words.

“The man she loves doesn’t see her. If Annelia hadn’t seen me, I would have been just as sad.”

Luden seemed lost in thought, seemingly recalling when we’d been at odds. Looking at Sella reminded me of the past too.

I hoped Sella’s love would work out well.

I took Igol to the hotel lounge. The sky was clear and the wind blew gently. Since there were few guests, Igol ran around excitedly. Luden and I followed behind Igol together.

But then it happened.

A fierce wind blew and a man slowly descended from the sky. Igol, who had been running, quickly stepped back and looked up at the man intently. Luden and I rushed over and stood behind Igol.

I could sense it. I didn’t know who this man was, but he wasn’t human.

“Who are you?”

Luden asked first. The black-haired man looked at Luden and spoke in an arrogant tone.

“The current Marquis Charlot? The red eyes of the Marquis family are still impressive.”

“Are you by any chance Lord Mesriten, the dragon who claims this territory?”

Mesriten looked like that? 

In mythology, he was described as an extremely cold and ruthless dragon. From his arrogant speech, he seemed cold and ruthless, but his face wasn’t as fierce as expected. He was a handsome man with sharp, cool energy. Of course, he wasn’t more handsome than Luden.

As expected, my husband has the best looks.

“If you know my identity, lower your guard.”

Then he looked at Igol.

“Sella’s son?”

At his words, Igol perked up his ears.

“What is Sella doing that you’re with the hatchling?”

He asked accusingly.

It felt unpleasant, like being treated as kidnappers.

“Sella is drunk and sleeping right now. We were taking care of Igol in her place. Igol likes us.”

Mesriten tilted his head.

“How can a hatchling like humans? When dragons are young, aren’t they kept away from humans?”

“Well, there are circumstances…”

I didn’t give details. Mesriten didn’t particularly ask further and turned his gaze toward Igol.

“Where is the hatchling’s father?”

Then Igol quickly grabbed Luden’s hand.

“Right here.”

“A human is the father?”

Mesriten looked at Luden sharply. Luden stared back at him without backing down.

“There are cases where children born between dragons and humans become hatchlings, but could it really be true?”

Energy flowed fiercely around Mesriten. Since it was sharp energy, I pulled Igol into my arms.

“There’s a child here!”

Mesriten withdrew his energy.

“My apologies. I lost my reason for a moment.”

Hm? At least he apologizes. Well, dragons aren’t hostile toward humans.

“What misunderstanding made you lose your reason?”

Luden asked with sharp eyes.

“I don’t know myself. The energy just flowed out without me realizing it.”

He said that and approached Igol. Igol stared at the man approaching him.

“I am the Dragon Lord.”

After formally introducing himself to Igol, he knelt on one knee to match Igol’s eye level.

“What is your name?”

“Igol.”

“Is this human really your father?”

At Mesriten’s gentle words, Igol’s eyes wavered.

This man seemed to be Igol’s father.

“I don’t know who Dad is.”

Igol said that and his eyes welled up with tears.

“Mom didn’t tell me.”

Igol sniffled. Mesriten sighed and looked at us.

“Take me to Sella.”

This man seemed to have lingering feelings for Sella.

Sella seemed completely unaware of this man’s feelings.

Though it wasn’t something I could interfere with, I decided to meddle because I wanted things to work out well for Sella.

“In exchange for taking you to her, I have a condition.”

“What is it?”

“Please spend tomorrow with Sella. Of course, only if Sella doesn’t refuse.”

If it was this man, he would definitely listen to me.

“What are you scheming?”

He was wary of me. I smiled brightly and approached him.

“Something good.”

Right, it’s not a bad thing.

He sent out energy, seemingly detecting the energy flowing through my body.

“You have the ability to make people cry. Did Sella give it to you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“If you’re still fine as a human with such an ability, I suppose I can trust you.”

I wasn’t fine though.

I’d almost been submerged by the weight of the past, barely stabilizing with Luden’s help.

For now, I decided to take him to Sella.

Sella might see him and say she didn’t want to be with him, but I predicted she wouldn’t be able to refuse this man.

* * *

When Mesriten and I entered the room together, Sella, who had woken at the sound, opened her eyes wide. She stood up from her chair and bowed her head upon seeing Mesriten.

“I greet the noble Lord.”

Igol, who had been standing beside me, approached Sella. Igol grabbed Sella’s clothes, looked at Mesriten, then looked at Sella.

“It’s been a while, Sella.”

Mesriten examined Sella carefully, then turned his gaze to Luden and me.

“I’d like to talk with Sella alone.”

Sella’s eyes pleaded with us not to leave, but Luden and I quietly closed the door and left. If they had things to discuss, it would be better for them to do so alone.

“I hope their misunderstanding clears up well.”

Luden and I had also misunderstood each other for a long time. Because of that, it didn’t feel like someone else’s problem.

Luden grinned and poked my cheek with his finger.

“Annelia wants the people around her to do well.”

“That’s only natural.”

“There are those who wish otherwise.”

“Let’s not get close to people like that.”

Dealing with such people was mentally exhausting.

I held Luden’s hand tightly and spoke like making a vow.

“I’ll never become that kind of person.”

When Luden did well, and when things went smoothly for those around me, I wanted to be someone who blessed them. I didn’t want to become someone who ruined relationships by being consumed with inferiority.

* * *

Sella’s heart was racing wildly. Her chest was pounding so hard that she pressed it down firmly and lowered her head under Mesriten’s gaze.

He walked over and stood in front of Sella. After repeatedly curling and uncurling his fingers, he crossed his arms and asked her.

“What brings you to my territory?”

Sella caught her breath and answered in a small voice.

“I came to play with my son.”

“A hatchling.”

She knew he would sense his energy when he came to the territory. But she thought he wouldn’t be interested and would just pass it by.

“When a hatchling is born, shouldn’t you report to me first?”

He asked in a sharp voice. Sella, looking at his narrowed eyes, lowered her head and bit her lip. Anxious emotions wrapped around her body.

He was right. When a hatchling was born, she should report to Mesriten, the Dragon Lord. But Sella hadn’t. She was afraid he might recognize the child as his own and still turn away from that fact.

‘Phew.’

In any case, Igol’s father was Mesriten. She could lie to him and get out of this situation, but then Igol would lose his father forever.

Sella looked at him with a firm expression.

“There were circumstances.”

“What circumstances?”

“I thought the Lord would be troubled, so I couldn’t tell you.”

Hearing Sella speak carefully, Mesriten felt somewhat angry. Because he immediately understood why she hadn’t spoken.

“Did I seem like a man who would ignore his child?”

“Our relationship was just one night’s amusement. Even after that night, nothing changed between us.”

Sorrow poured down like rain in Sella’s heart. The night she spent with him probably wasn’t special to him, and the child wouldn’t be either.

She had watched him for a long time, but he hadn’t.

At least the consolation was that he didn’t deny the child. After hearing what she said, he acknowledged that the child was his son.

“As a father, I’m extremely displeased. To think I couldn’t see my son for five whole years!”

Mesriten glanced at Sella, then looked at Igol clinging to her side. Overall, the child resembled Sella greatly.

“Was this why the human woman asked me to spend tomorrow with you?”

“Annelia said that?”

“Yes, but what do you want?”

Under his cold gaze, Sella hesitated to speak. Selfishly, she wanted Igol and his father to be close, and she wanted to be with him too.

“Can you stay?”

“Yes.”

When Mesriten answered as though he’d been waiting, Sella’s expression brightened. Mesriten observed Sella’s reaction, then took her hand and placed it on his chest.

“Lord?”

“You say that night was amusement, but when did I ever say such a thing?”

The moment she said it was amusement, he felt angry somehow.

Just what kind of man did she think he was to say such things?

“I don’t sleep with someone for amusement.”

Through her palm, Sella felt Mesriten’s heartbeat. She sensed his heartbeat had quickened slightly.

“Is it because of me?”

Sella asked with a hopeful heart.

“If I said yes, would anything change? I don’t know why I’m like this either, but that night wasn’t a game.”

He pointed out what Sella had misunderstood.

At his words, Sella smiled gently.

“I see.”

Since Mesriten had never given his heart to any woman, she thought he would be the same with her. But now that he clearly stated otherwise, her heart fluttered.

Perhaps this man had some feelings for her after all.

* * *

When Sella, Igol, and Mesriten came out of the hotel, Luden and I turned our gaze toward them. They seemed to have talked things through well, coming out stuck close together. Or more precisely, Igol was staring at Mesriten, and Mesriten couldn’t take his eyes off Igol.

Then Mesriten looked at Luden and me, grinned, and asked.

“You’re Luden, right? Aren’t you the owner of this hotel? Is there a room where Sella, Igol, and I can stay together?”

“Together?”

“Of course, he’s my son.”

At Sella’s words, Mesriten spoke as though it were obvious. At his words, Igol’s eyes sparkled slightly as he looked at Mesriten.

“We have more to discuss.”

Mesriten took Sella’s hand and pulled her to his side. I widened my eyes at the sight. The two looked so well-matched. Sella also seemed not to dislike his actions and came along obediently.

Luden and I guided them to a good room, then returned to our own.

There was still some wine left from drinking with Sella.

“I actually wanted to drink a bit more.”

I recalled the wine we’d had earlier.

“I felt a bit unsatisfied too.”

“Really?”

“Should I say it felt too good to just end it like that? But now we get to drink alone together.”

Why did those words sound suggestive? My cheeks burned.

Luden tilted the bottle and poured wine into the glasses. The red liquid poured into the wine glass moved along as I swirled it around.

“No matter when I see it, the wine color resembles your eyes, Luden, and it’s so beautiful.”

The red hue resembled Luden’s gentle gaze.

We sat facing each other on the sofa and slowly clinked our wine glasses. Luden smiled and sent me an affectionate look.