It wasn’t hard to guess who she really was.

‘Damn it.’

I ended up swearing right in front of her. You really shouldn’t trust old women so easily.

“Believe in yourself and act accordingly…?”

I stood there blankly, mulling over her words.

If the choices I had made were correct, could things have gotten so tangled? I had felt this before, but the Sun God was really a lousy prophet.

* * *

After volunteering, I returned to the castle, half-dazed.

Out of habit, I found myself in front of my bedroom.

I hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and went in. Having spent the past few nights in Seren’s bedroom, the coal had been alone all this time.

‘She said not to lose him.’

I wasn’t entirely sure what she meant by ‘lose,’ but I didn’t want to keep things as they were with Shahar, so I decided to confront him.

In the dark room, lit only by a single candle the maids had left burning, the coal sat alone.

Even though I knew darkness was no obstacle for him, the scene looked incredibly lonely.

‘Why did Shahar have to say such unnecessary things?’

Blaming my indifference on him, I stepped into the bedroom.

“I’m back.”

“Yes.”

His curt response was surprisingly welcome after a few days.

I took off my coat, hung it up, and went straight to the table where the coal was placed.

“How was your time alone? Did you enjoy it without me?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, I felt a surge of anger.

“Liar. Answer honestly. If you keep this up today, I’ll really get upset.”

“…”

Even now, no answer?

“Should I leave again?”

“As you wish.”

“Alright then. I’m leaving. You stay here, Shahar.”

I put my coat back on and dramatically walked toward the window.

“I’m too lazy to walk down the stairs, so I’ll just jump out the window.”

Though my bedroom wasn’t on a high floor, it was obvious I’d get hurt if I jumped.

Just as I opened the window and leaned out, someone urgently grabbed my waist, and the window slammed shut. An angry voice came from above my head.

“What are you doing?”

Suppressing my wildly beating heart, I pretended to be calm and asked back.

“What do you mean? I thought you needed more time, so I was leaving.”

“Are you trying to threaten me?”

“Threaten? I’m just doing what you want. Move, I’m leaving.”

I heard a deep sigh from behind me.

“I’d rather leave myself.”

The hand that gripped my shoulder slid away. I quickly grabbed it.

“Where would you go?”

He flinched.

“Do you really not want to be with me? Answer quickly before I really leave.”

I tapped the window threateningly.

Reluctantly, Shahar confessed.

“I was lonely and sad without you.”

“Then why have you been so cold to me lately?”

“I thought another man suited you better.”

Hearing that, I finally understood why he had me travel from the Holy Kingdom to Pontos. The mission was just an excuse.

‘Did he put me through all this trouble just to meet other men?’

It was ridiculous. Of course, I had no right to complain since I had eagerly advanced with other men.

“Why do you think I should choose another man? Is there a reason you can’t be the one?”

“You decided everything ended when the boy and the priest left. I was by your side, but I didn’t bring you any comfort. You didn’t hold me in your heart as much as them.”

His words hit the nail on the head, leaving me speechless.

“T-that’s…”

“I’m not blaming you. Who could love someone like me? I can’t even maintain this form on land for long. Even if you chose me, I would eventually have to return to the Underworld.”

There were indeed too many obstacles for us to be together. The barrier of appearance was significant. Shahar must have felt it too, which is why he tried to pair me with other men.

“Perhaps hoping for a mate was too ambitious from the start.”

If I had heard this a few months ago, I would have agreed and pushed him aside while pursuing other men.

But not now. His words, so easily giving up on me, only fueled my resentment.

“How can you make such a decision on your own? I never said I didn’t want you. Do you know how hard the other men tried to win my heart? You didn’t even make an effort. You just received my affection…”

Lying shamelessly, I tightly interlocked my fingers with his, ensuring he couldn’t escape.

He was extremely reluctant to reveal his true form or touch me in ordinary places.

If I hadn’t resorted to extreme threats, he wouldn’t have come out even now.

He said that the dragon’s power in the dragon’s lair neutralized his energy, making it somewhat bearable, but even that happened only twice.

“Instead of thinking about sending me to another man, why not think about how to win me over? Aren’t you the most beautiful and strong? And I’m glad that you’re the King of the Underworld. At least we don’t have to worry about a lifespan difference.”

Compared to Enril, who had to worry about his lover’s future right beside him, and Michalis, who was so obsessed with his lover’s death that he clung to her remains, our future seemed much more optimistic.

“It’s not as simple as you make it sound.”

“Yes, I don’t know much. I don’t even know what life is, so I have no way of knowing what’s beyond death. But people die eventually. I can’t even guarantee I’ll be alive tomorrow.”

As we talked, it felt like I was the one clinging to Shahar.

Feeling annoyed, I stopped talking and clung to him.

“You.”

Shahar called out to me sternly, as if warning me.

“It’s okay if it’s just for a moment.”

If I missed this chance, I didn’t know when the next one would come.

I boldly tried to kiss him. But in the pitch darkness, I couldn’t find his lips.

“Stop here—”

Ignoring his words, I moved my lips toward the sound of his voice. As I felt his cool breath, I shivered involuntarily. It was a coldness that seemed to freeze me to the bone.

Ignoring the chills, I pulled his neck down. Our lips pressed together more deeply.

Before our tongues could entwine, Shahar grabbed the back of my neck and forcibly pulled me away. Undeterred, I clung to him tenaciously.

“Just a little more.”

This time, I found his lips immediately. Remembering my kiss with the Crown Prince, I moved more assertively, despite my clumsy technique.

But before things could get serious, he reverted to his coal form. Looking at the piece of coal in my hand, I felt deflated.

One thing was clear: I wanted more. But Shahar’s passive attitude made it seem like I was the only one enjoying it, which annoyed me.

To think I was so fixated on someone whose face I didn’t even know, no, a stone.

Even though I complained about the Sun God’s poor matchmaking, I couldn’t imagine having any other non-human male lead by my side now.

I hugged Shahar and lay down on the bed.

“I don’t want to think about the future. Let’s just focus on getting along right now. That’s complicated and stressful enough.”

When I insisted, Shahar reluctantly agreed.

‘By the way, he seemed pretty good at kissing. Could it be that he’s done it with other women before?’

I suddenly wondered if Shahar had ever loved someone in the past.

“Shahar, have you ever been in a relationship?”

“A relationship?”

Shahar’s voice sounded puzzled.

“Be honest. Have you ever seduced a pretty soul? Or at least, there must have been many souls who liked you, right?”

I said it casually, but then realized it might actually be true. Especially since he wouldn’t have been a mere stone in the Underworld but his original impressive self.

“I don’t know why you’re asking, but I swear I’ve never had a soul in my heart…”

Suddenly, Shahar trailed off.

‘What? So there was someone?’

Finding out that he once had a lover made me feel strange.

Well, given his age, it’s possible he had a past.

I decided to be mature and overlook his past. It wasn’t because I had a history of kissing other male leads.

“What does it matter? What’s important is that you’re with me now, right?”

Yes. Anyway, my mate, the stone, was in my hands.

I decided to fall asleep hugging Shahar after a long time. Holding Shahar, who had grown to a suitable size for hugging, felt good.

Having stayed up all night and been busy all day, I was sleepy.

I fell into a deep sleep, hugging Shahar.

It was the best sleep I’d had in a long time.