DMHS 23

Kian had a dream.

It was a memory from long ago, when his master was still alive.

–Then Master, I will be going now.

Kian bowed politely to his master. But his master swung the stick in his hand and stopped him.

–Do not go, you rascal. If you go, you will only nag. You must not do such things to a bride before her wedding.

–Master, how pathetic do you think I am? Do you really think I would cause trouble at my younger sister’s wedding?

–You would, and more.

Kian raised his wooden sword and charged at his master who clicked his tongue. His master jumped far back, as if he had predicted Kian’s move, and avoided the sword.

–See, even now. I said one word and you are already trying to devour me.

–Even if I try, do you think you could be eaten, Master?

–I can.

–Enough of these words with no nutrition. Tell me what you want me to buy when I go down to the village.

Suddenly, his master’s face turned serious.

–Yan.

Kian answered while checking the last item in his bundle.

–What is it.

–Your sword must not be used carelessly.

It was the lesson he had heard endlessly since the day his master took him in. Kian answered lightly.

–I know.

–It is not enough just to know. On this trip, promise me you will not use your power no matter what. When he raised his eyes, his master’s expression was more serious than ever before. Kian laughed and brushed it aside.

–What if I meet bandits on the road? Why make such a promise, Master. I am not a reckless brat like before. Thanks to your teaching, I have become a proper swordsman.

–Yan.

–Then I will take it you do not need anything. I will be back soon, so do not worry.

Kian left the hut where he lived with his master and set out on the road.

–……

But Kian should have known. His master never spoke empty words. On that road, Kian stained his two hands with the blood of countless people.

No matter how much he washed, the marks of death carved themselves into his body and could not be erased. Kian died like that, and he was born again.

“――!”

Kian opened his eyes.

His whole body was drenched in cold sweat from being tormented by nightmares all night.

He buried his face in his open palms.

‘I do not regret.’

Even regret was a luxury for things already past. But as Kian looked at the wedding attire Ibrahim had prepared the night before, he thought he should have told his younger sister she looked beautiful in her wedding robe that day.

‘It is all meaningless.’

Kian stood up and went into the bathroom. The sound of water pouring down from the faucet echoed noisily. It sounded like it was washing away the dream from the night before.

***

The wedding was held in the traditional style.

The hall was decorated with seven trees that blessed the bride and groom with happiness: viburnum, hazel, mock orange, wisteria, lemon, myrrh, and ash.

The two people entered, wearing cloaks of luxurious purple velvet.

The king, standing at the officiant’s seat, proclaimed the sacred marriage with a solemn voice.

“I now conduct the wedding of Gold Dragon Lucien, guardian of the holy Kingdom of Celestia, and his mate Kian Semes.”

Since this was the ceremony where a dragon took a mate, many members of powerful families attended.

Batonni South, head of the South Party, Urea North, leader of the North Party, the Knight Commander Harman Stanasila, and Medon Salvador, master of the Second Tower, and other important political figures all seemed to be present.

Ibrahim, unable to calm his pounding heart, looked at the back of his master as he entered the hall.

‘He said it was not true.’

In the end, Kian really was Lucien’s mate. The night before, when Kian found out, he ran to the Freesia Palace. Whatever happened there, when he returned he suddenly agreed to hold the wedding.

Honestly, Ibrahim found Kian’s reaction unexpected.

From what he knew of his master’s character, he thought Kian would yell ‘I will never be anyone’s mate!’ and escape the palace without a single letter.

But maybe, since he too was in the palace as the king’s guest, he thought that if he ran away recklessly, something serious would happen.

‘Either way, it is fortunate.’

Ibrahim nodded and looked at Kian standing in the hall. Kian in the wedding robe was so beautiful. Even the jewels added to make the robe look splendid did not stand out.

“You see, dazzlingly beautiful as always. Do you agree?”

Someone familiar standing beside him spoke. Since Ibrahim felt the same, he agreed readily.

“Yes. The jewels and decorations on the robe are not noticeable at all.”

“Of course. If it is Lord Lucien, he is beautiful today as well.”

Ibrahim doubted his ears.

“…Lord Lucien?”

He looked to the side and saw an elderly man he knew. It was Walter, the head butler of the Freesia Palace.

Walter raised his chin stiffly and countered.

“Other than Lord Lucien, who else here is dazzlingly beautiful?”

“Lord Kian. It is Lord Kian who is shining brighter than the jewels!”

“Forgive me for saying this, but in beauty, Lord Kian cannot even reach our Lord Lucien’s toes.”

Ibrahim felt his neck tighten. He had never heard such nonsense, except when Kian, face covered in flour, stubbornly insisted it was not his fault.

He was furious, and before he knew it, he blurted out,

“He is just a brat after all.”

“……!”

A fire lit in Walter’s eyes. Calling his master a brat touched Walter’s reverse scale. On top of that, Walter’s mood had already been unsettled as he watched the wedding. The night before, he had found his master crying alone in his room.

When the mate came urgently looking for Lucien the evening before the wedding, Walter pretended not to know and sent him away, but it seemed he had still come and pleaded.

‘It seems his mate hates him.’

Lucien curled up his body and cried.

Walter swallowed a sigh and spoke gently to comfort Lucien.

‘That is not it. There must be some misunderstanding. He said he would attend the wedding tomorrow. Hearts can clash and then connect again. Please wait calmly.’

In truth, Walter did not like Kian. Because Kian did not want to become the mate of the master Walter had raised with such care. He had tried to overlook it since Lucien liked him so much…but it was hard to think well of the man who had made Lucien cry the night before the wedding.

That was why Walter, though the head butler, spoke roughly.

“If Lord Lucien is a brat, then Lord Kian must be a low-born of unknown bloodline.”

At those words, Ibrahim’s anger shot up to the top of his head. Without thinking, he let words tumble out.

“How can there be a groom smaller than the bride in this world? I worry whether a brat like him can even get through the first night properly!”

But the timing was poor. Just then the hall went silent, and everyone turned to stare at Ibrahim.

“……”

“……”

“……”

Caw, caw, caw.

A crow cried in the distance.

With all eyes on him, Ibrahim shrank back behind Walter’s back, not knowing what to do.

But Walter had more years than Ibrahim. Walter spoke to the people with a dignified voice.

“It was a child’s ignorant chatter. Please pay it no mind and continue the ceremony.”

The king on the platform smiled faintly and took over his words.

“No, it is a thought everyone here must have had at least once. As Luci’s closest friend, I will answer in his place. I swear by the Goddess, Luci has never had any sexual experien…”

The queen beside him quickly covered his mouth, and the strange story ended there. Walter let out a long sigh and watched the rest of the ceremony.

After the lengthy officiation, the pope of the Temple of the Goddess ascended the platform.

He sprinkled holy water over their heads in the name of the Celestia Goddess and held the blessing ritual.

Kian and Lucien knelt before the pope and received the blessing. Now only the final step of the wedding remained. The bride and groom had to kiss.

Everyone stared at the two with curiosity and interest. They seemed to wonder, just as Ibrahim had said, whether the little groom Lucien could manage to kiss a man taller than him.

“As the symbol of eternal promise, the groom shall kiss the bride.”

At the pope’s words, Lucien’s shoulders flinched. He turned toward Kian with an awkward posture. Even from a distance, Lucien’s fingers trembled as he lifted Kian’s veil.

“……”

Lucien brought his face close with a grave expression. But right before their faces touched, he turned his head to the right.

“…Ugh.”

The surroundings immediately grew noisy.

“Is it because he has no experience, he cannot even kiss?”

“He only looks like that, but he is old enough.”

“His Majesty the King was right. He really is nothing but a child. Hahaha.”

The ridicule at Lucien stabbed Walter’s heart like a knife. But Walter knew Lucien. Lucien did not fail to kiss because he was a child or because he lacked courage.

‘He believes his mate does not want him.’

Yesterday’s events seemed to have left a wound. When Lucien was about say that he could not do it,

Kian, who had been staring at him without expression, suddenly grabbed both of Lucien’s cheeks. Kian brought his lips straight to Lucien’s.

Smooch.

A kiss so explicit that it sounded obscene unfolded in front of everyone’s eyes.