DMHS 20

Kian stroked the goat’s back. The little goat rubbed its head against his leg, acting cute, it liked the touch. Kian crouched down so their eyes were level and petted its head.

“Come to think of it, I was waiting for your master.”

Baa.

“Do you know where your master is?”

Baa.

“If you do, won’t you tell me?”

Baa.

As if such a question was too hard, the goat buried its small head into Kian’s chest.

Since it was already leaning against him, Kian lifted it into his arms. He slipped a hand under its front legs and held it up, and its little face was clearly visible.

Its snowy fur, the green glow in its eyes, and its wet nose all looked beautiful. But the goat seemed ‘anxious’ with Kian’s face being so close.

Baa.

It turned its head aside and wriggled to escape. Kian quickly let it go.

“It’s uncomfortable? I am sorry.”

Freed, the goat circled around at his feet. Watching it, Kian once more petted its back.

“I’d like to play with you longer, but I don’t have time. Lord Lucien will be here soon. Today is… well, an important day.”

That was the closest thing to an explanation he could give. Fortunately, the smart little creature seemed to understand.

Baa.

It sounded almost like “Yes.”

“Good. Can you get back to the palace on your own?”

Baa.

“If you can’t find the way, come back here. I might be a bit late, but I’ll take you back.”

Baa.

As if bowing in farewell, the goat dipped its head. Kian watched it amble away down the hall, then closed the door.

He had no idea that Lucien, too embarrassed to appear in his true form, had unconsciously transformed into the goat the moment Kian stepped out.

‘Same as before, he’s always wandering the palace, someone will recognize him and take him back.’

Kian returned to his chair. He folded his arms to check the time. knock, knock.

‘This time it’s real.’

He opened the door, expecting the dragon. But his expectation failed again. In the hall stood a boy he had seen before.

‘This child… the one I saw in the garden.’

The boy’s unreal appearance and unique aura had made Kian wonder then if he were dreaming.

But now it was certain. The boy was clearly a living creature.

His chest rose and fell slightly, his pupils quivered faintly, and his fingertips twitched. These were all signs of life.

‘But why is he here?’

Kian tried not to show surprise and spoke.

“Hello. We met before, right?”

The boy kept his eyes on the floor and answered.

“Yeah.”

How old was he? Seen up close, he was taller than expected, only a hand shorter than Kian.

But though tall, his frame was thin. His golden hair shone even in the dim hall, fine and delicate.

His flushed cheeks were as smooth as a baby’s skin. The crease of his eyelids, his straight nose, all gave off a childlike impression.

“I am Kian Semes. Did you come here to see me?”

This answer came even slower. The boy’s voice was husky, like other children his age.

“…Yes.”

Kian thought to himself,

‘Not just his voice, even his behavior is childlike.’

But he didn’t dislike it. He liked it. He had lived all his life as a swordsman.

He first held a sword at three years old. His father, once one of the kingdom’s greatest knights, had carved him a wooden sword with care when Kian showed interest.

–“Already a sword? Isn’t that too early for a child?”

His mother had gasped at the sight, but his father only laughed and answered.

–“It is never too early or too late to learn the resolve to wield a sword.”

Kian remembered the gentle gaze his father had shown him that day.

–“Yan, your sword is for protecting those you cherish.”

–“If you face an enemy, you must win.”

–“But toward those without swords, you must be generous.”

–“Protect the weak.”

–“That is the fate of one who holds a sword.”

So Kian’s expression always softened when he saw children. Even their clumsy stages before adulthood were precious to him. That was why he found Gavin, the youngest candidate, endearing too.

“…I’ll come in.”

Head lowered, the boy stepped inside. Before Kian could say anything, he sat opposite him and spoke.

“I came from the Freesia palace.”

“Ah.”

An ordinary person would have guessed the boy’s identity by now. That he was Lucien, the dragon. But even after hearing him speak, Kian did not realize this was the one he had been waiting for. The reason was simple. A fixed idea stuck in his head.

Kian knew one dragon well. Lucien’s ancestor, the hero Hellenos.

Hellenos had crossed into the human realm at the age of twenty in human years. By dragon reckoning too, it was the moment of adulthood. At that time, Hellenos stood 2 meters 23 centimeters tall. His hands were thick like pot lids, and his feet were huge like those of a giant.

His limbs and torso were all covered with muscle, tough enough to survive most blades.

‘Seeing Hellenos fight in the vanguard with protective magic layered on him was reassuring.’

So in Kian’s mind, dragons were like this. Massive reptiles. Reptiles with muscle even in the head. Reptiles that could take hits and not die. By Kian’s standards, Lucien could not be a dragon.

The boy looked as though a strong wind could blow him away… there was no way he was a dragon.

‘He must be here with a message from Lucien.’

Kian took out the teapot Ibraim had prepared.

“Would you like some tea?”

“…Yeah.”

The casual tone of address grated him slightly, but only for a moment.

‘He’s probably an attendant from some noble house brought here to serve the dragon.’

Kian poured tea for both of them. The deep red liquid gave off a fragrant scent as it filled the cups.

“These are leaves from the north. The aroma is excellent, please try.”

“…Okay.”

Lucien frowned faintly, then lifted the cup and drank it in one gulp. The tea had just been brewed, piping hot, yet he drank it like it was cold water. Kian was startled.

“Isn’t it hot?”

“Not at all.”

Kian forced himself to change the subject.

“You must be very thirsty. Shall I pour you another?”

“Yeah.”

Lucien emptied that one in a gulp as well.

“One more…?”

Nod.

In the end, he drank the entire pot. His eyes never lifted from the floor. Looking closer, that was not the only odd thing.

His voice was small, barely audible. His ears and neck were flushed red like ripe tomatoes. Under the table, his legs trembled like leaves in the wind.

To Kian, the sight of a dragon, shy before someone he liked, shrinking and almost burrowing into the ground, led only to a mistaken thought.

‘Is he sick?’

Kian had once worked as a physician’s assistant.

“Let me see your hand for a moment.”

Out of kindness, he took Lucien’s hand.

‘As I thought.’

Though the room was warm, his hand was ice-cold. Sweat dampened the spaces between his fingers.

Kian clasped both palms around it, gently rubbing the center of his palm with his thumb to help blood flow.

Each time, the boy’s shoulders trembled violently. His ears had turned so red they looked ready to explode.

‘A serious case of indigestion, perhaps. If he’s reacting this strongly, it must be bad.’

Kian’s misunderstanding deepened and he checked his pulse.

‘Is he all right?’

His pulse was far too fast.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.

Even after running, a heart would not beat this quickly. Kian decided to examine him more carefully.

“Look at me.”

But the boy’s eyes stayed down. Kian finally tilted his chin up. Startled at being forced to face him, his eyes trembled visibly. Even as Lucien sat so tense he looked ready to spit his heart out, Kian continued calmly.

‘His eyes are beautiful. Emerald, like the eastern sea.’

He briefly remembered the brooch Ibraim had pinned on him earlier, in the same color.

Kian touched his forehead and cheeks, then brushed his swollen lips.

“You have a slight fever. And your heartbeat is too fast. You should rest at the palace today. If it doesn’t improve by tomorrow, see a physician.”

“……”

“Did you hear me?”

“…Yeah.”

The boy now looked half out of his senses. Kian helped him toward the main point.

“So, what is it you came to say?”

“To say…?”

“You came here with a message, right?”

“Ah…”

Lucien slowly rubbed his face with his palm. He glanced up at Kian, then dropped his eyes again.

“…I lo…”

His voice was so small, Kian, sipping his tea by then, didn’t catch it.

“What was that?”

“I l-like you.”

“Give it?” ¹

“Yeah.”

1. Lucien tries to confess 좋아한다 (joaha-nda) “I like you.” But Kian heard 좋아한다고 (joaha-ndago) You must give it ↩︎