DMHS 21

The conversation veered off track. One was too nervous, the other not nervous at all. Kian had decided the boy was unwell, he had other thoughts.

‘I’ll have Ibrahim ask later what this was about.’

He didn’t want to trouble a sick child for a message.

“And? Is that all?”

“…Do it.”

“What should I do?”

“Marr…iage. Marry me.”

“You want me to decide something?”¹

“Yeah.”

Kian nodded calmly.

“Understood. I’ll tell him that’s what you said.”

The chair Lucien had been sitting on clattered to the floor. He stood up.

“Really?”

“Yes. It doesn’t seem like such a difficult thing, so I’ll do it.”

That was how Kian ended up saying something he would bitterly regret just a few hours later.

If the Kian of the future had seen this scene, he would have grabbed his own collar and shouted, “No! What are you agreeing to! Don’t just say anything that comes to your mouth!”

But, whether fortunate or unfortunate, that didn’t happen. Kian had accepted Lucien’s proposal. Lucien, on the other hand, felt his chest about to explode from excitement.

‘Unbelievable.’

From earlier until now, he couldn’t tell if what was happening was a dream or reality. To Lucien, blinded by infatuation, today Kian was an angel without wings.

‘He called me cute.’

That had been when he was in the form of a goat.

‘He said I was good.’

That too, when he was a goat.

‘He poured me tea with affection.’

That was only because Kian thought he was thirsty.

‘He even held my hand kindly.’

…That one was Kian’s mistake.

‘And he said he’d marry me…’

It was all Kian’s fault. This is what happens when you live carelessly.

‘What should I do. I’m so happy.’

Lucien stared blankly at Kian.

Kian, who had just accepted his proposal, stood expressionless as ever. Lucien loved that too.

‘Is my mate shy too?’

Thinking something that would have made Kian faint if he knew, Lucien threw his arms around him.

Kian smelled like blankets well dried in the spring sun. Even his scent was perfect.

‘I’m happy…’

If it were up to him, he would have stayed like that all day. But there was no time, not with a wedding to prepare. Just as he was about to leave, Lucien stopped.

In his nervousness, he had forgotten the gift he’d prepared for today.

“Give me your hand again.”

Kian obediently held it out. His straight fingers were pleasing to see. Lucien lightly held his fingertips and slid a ring onto his ring finger. The gem on the ring was carved from a magic stone, one of the finest he owned.

“Wear it tomorrow, no matter what.”

Kian looked down at the ring with a puzzled expression.

“Ah… All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Before leaving, Lucien hugged him once more. Today was the happiest day of his life. Tomorrow would be the same.

And so, in their mismatched thoughts, the final test of the selection ended.

***

“Sir Kian, are you inside?”

Ibrahim peeked in through the cracked door.

“Come in.”

He bustled into the room and looked around.

“Wow, you even finished the tea I prepared?”

“Well…”

“How was your meeting with Lord Lucien? Did you have a nice talk?”

“About that… He hasn’t come yet.”

Ibrahim dropped the teacup in shock.

“Really? But I heard Lord Lucien visited every candidate’s room. I even heard he chose his partner already!”

“Guess it wasn’t me.”

“But not visiting your room at all is too much. Should I file a complaint with the Freesia Palace?”

“No. They sent someone. He must’ve felt sorry, since they sent a gift with the message.”

“A gift?”

Kian showed the ring on his finger. Ibrahim raised a fuss.

“A ring as a gift? That’s meaningful! Could it be… you’re the one Lord Lucien chose as his partner?”

“I doubt it. This is a magic stone.”

Kian pointed at the large gem set in the ring.

“Whatever magic is in it, people don’t usually use magic stones for engagement rings.”

Of course, that was a lie. The moment he saw it, Kian had grasped the function of the stone.

‘Time magic.’

The ring carried high-level magic related to time.

“That’s true. Magic stones are single-use. Once you use the magic inside, the stone breaks. They wouldn’t use it for a vow of eternity. But Sir Kian, how did you know it was a magic stone? It looks no different from an ordinary gem once it’s worked.”

Kian was caught off guard. Sometimes Ibrahim said things far smarter than his character suggested. At times like this, confidence was the only answer.

“You can tell if you look closely enough.”

This method worked again.

“Is that so. Anyway, the selection is now over. The candidates are gathering for a dinner together, so let’s go there.”

“Alright.”

Kian went down to the dining hall with Ibrahim. The moment he appeared, the three who had gathered beforehand showed subtle changes in expression.

Daisy suppressed a smile, Frederick openly turned his gaze away, and Gavin stared at Kian without looking away.

‘So one of them has been chosen as the dragon’s partner?’

From expressions and atmosphere alone, it was impossible to tell who it was.

‘It must be Daisy, right?’

Seeing how she alone was smiling brightly, it seemed likely.

‘Then the North Party will have a feast.’

No sooner had Kian taken his seat than Daisy spoke to him.

“Congratulations, Sir Semes.”

“I should congratulate you instead… wait, is there something for me to be congratulated on?”

Kian corrected himself mid-reply. Daisy’s smile deepened.

“You’ve become Lord Lucien’s partner.”

“It seems there’s some misunderstanding. I was not chosen as the partner.”

“Isn’t that the real misunderstanding? Lord Lucien himself came to my room just now and said it clearly. That his partner is Kian Semes.”

Gavin and Frederick backed her up.

“That’s right. He came to my room too, he didn’t even let me say a word, just said that and left.”

“He told me the same…”

Frederick’s voice was noticeably smaller. But for Kian, the situation was nothing but baffling.

“Lord Lucien never came to my room.”

“That can’t be. He was wearing a frilled shirt with a navy vest. He looked like the young master of a noble house, so cute.”

That description matched someone Kian had met.

“Don’t tell me, a boy who looked too tall for his age, with emerald eyes and blond hair?”

“Of course. If that wasn’t Lord Lucien, are you saying there’s another Lucien in this palace?”

“He’s just, no, he’s a boy. But I heard Lors Lucien is twenty-nine this year.”

“If you count the years he spent in the egg, he’s over forty. Regardless, that was Lord Lucien. He’s looked like that since birth.”

Kian’s lips went dry. It felt like the world was playing a joke on him.

“How can there be a dragon that isn’t over two meters tall?”

“…..?”

“And his muscles were so flimsy! How could he ever block a rain of arrows like that?”

“…Excuse me?”

Without realizing how absurd he sounded, Kian blurted anything that came to mind.

“A dragon that pretty exists? I can’t accept it. I refuse to acknowledge it.”

Daisy, who had been listening seriously, suddenly laughed.

“You already care deeply for Lord Lucien? I’ve never seen someone give such a compliment by calling him pretty.”

But Kian heard nothing.

‘If that boy really was Lucien…’

He hurriedly recalled their conversation.

‘I checked his condition, thought he was unwell. Then he gave me something, asked me to reach a conclusion. What did I answer?’

His subconscious replayed the exchange word for word.

–What did you say?

–Li…ke you.

That was clearly a confession.

–What should I do?

–Mar…ry me.

And Kian, in his carelessness, had mistaken marriage for conclusion and answered yes. Cold sweat slid down his back.

‘Absolutely not.’

Marriage with a dragon.

Whether twenty-nine or over forty, to Kian he was still a boy with baby fat.

‘No. That’s just an excuse.’

To be honest, Lucien’s conditions didn’t matter. Even if they had lived the same timeline, Kian’s heart wouldn’t change. Kian had no intention of marrying anyone.

‘After dinner I must go to the Freesia Palace.’

He calmed his breathing, but it didn’t last long. Daisy leaned closer across the table and spoke.

“The wedding is tomorrow, right? Everyone suspected one of the candidates would be the partner since preparations for the ceremony started so suddenly. I had hoped it would be me, but Sir Semes… perhaps this was inevitable.”

“Excuse me, but I will skip tonight’s meal.”

1. Lucien says 결혼해줘 (gyeorhon hae-jwo) Marry me. But he’s stammering, so Kian mishears gyeorhon 결론 (gyeollon) conclusion. So instead of hearing “marriage,” he thinks Lucien is saying, “Give me the conclusion” / “Decide something for me.” ↩︎