C 174
For the past two years, Lucilion has been in and out of my house almost every day.
If I needed anything, he got it right away, and he was always there for me during tough times.
"Lucilion, I... I don't have the confidence to love someone forever."
I wanted to build a family with someone and live a normal life. There was a time when that was the goal.
But is that even possible?
I'm a dragon, and Lucilion is just an ordinary human.
Is it possible to have the same feelings for someone for such a long time?
On the other hand, will Lucilion be able to maintain the same feelings for me for such a long time?
"Why are dragons called whimsical creatures in novels?"
Furthermore... I'm not sure how I'll change as time goes by.
"It's okay because I will love you."
"I... I can't even trust your heart."
No matter how strong one's feelings are, the time I will live is a very long time, during which a person's heart can break.
"If you feel that I've changed my mind, then you can kill me."
He said terrifying things without thinking. As I looked at him bewildered, Lucilion laughed cheerfully.
"Because that won't happen."
"How the hell can you be so sure?"
"You..."
Lucilion's lips moved slowly.
"From the moment you saved me from my fate, I made a decision."
Lucilion said firmly.
"The bun you gave me when we first met is the most delicious food to me."
I stared and lowered my head.
"I like you, and I don't want to leave you alone. So until the day your life ends... I will be by your side."
Did you say that because you know how long it will take?
I can't even understand it, so I'm scared.
"It will be a long, long time from now, won't it?"
"Yes."
"In the meantime, I might get tired of you, or you might get tired of me, or you might regret it."
"That won't happen."
I bit my lip at Lucilion's determination.
"You can live a normal life. Someday you might find someone you love... You can only live and die with a fixed fate."
"Because Lucilion is a great person..."
Lucilion laughed softly.
Lucilion lowered his eyelids slightly and opened his mouth, letting out a brief sigh.
"It's okay to make an oath, and it's okay to create a bond. If Eirin can't trust me, I'll give you my heart."
"...you."
"So, first of all, I hope Eirin will trust me."
Then the ring of light that was glowing on the back of my hand disappeared. Lucilion slowly stood up.
"Eirin, I have work for a week starting tomorrow, so I'll be going somewhere far."
"...somewhere far?"
"Therefore, please tell me the answer then. One week from now."
"...Lucilion."
Lucilion took a step back. I knew it was out of consideration, but for a moment, my heart skipped a beat.
This is the first time Lucilion is distancing himself from me.
"Come to think of it..."
In the last two years, he has been especially close to me. In fact, it got to the point where I had doubts about whether the High Priest was doing his job properly.
"What if I refuse?"
"...Umm."
Lucilion slightly tilted his head, seeming a bit embarrassed by my words.
Then, the corners of his mouth relaxed, and he smiled faintly.
"I'm not sure because I've never thought that far. I heard there's a new religion in the East that demands people shave their heads before entering. I think I should go there."
"What?"
"When I heard the rumor, they said it was a strange religion that severs its ties with the world and secludes itself in the mountains."
As I pursed my lips, I suddenly imagined a bald Lucilion, shivered, and shook my head.
"They say that once you go there, they force you into a cave and make you practice, not allowing you to leave the secular world for a while..."
"......"
"So maybe I can stop bothering Eirin for a while."
Lucilion lowered his gaze and murmured very sadly with a look full of melancholy.
I was speechless as I watched the scene brimming with sadness. Lucilion laughed.
"If Eirin really says no, I will. Until everyone around Eirin dies, and she feels alone."
"..... What?"
"And later, I'll appear in front of Eirin again, who is alone. To take advantage of Eirin's weakness."
When I opened my eyes wide at the unexpected words, Lucilion was looking directly at me.
"I'll do this until one day Eirin accepts me."
Lucilion wasn't smiling as usual. His slightly stiff expression seemed unfamiliar.
"I'm not sure what Eirin thinks of me, but..."
Lucilion slightly clenched his fist and pursed his lips.
"From that perspective, I'm worse than what Eirin believes."
"......"
"To the point where I'll wait for Eirin's wound to open and then take advantage of it."
"Lucilion..."
"The reason I served God was that I had to be a good boy in the temple to avoid starving to death, and the reason I always smiled and pretended to be good was that it was convenient."
Lucilion's deep blue eyes looked especially blue today. Somehow, I felt like I was seeing Lucilion properly for the first time in my life.
"I tried to be kind in front of Eirin, but I wasn't very trustworthy when I was kind, was I?"
"No..."
"I can kill people without thinking. Anything that could be a threat to Eirin."
"......"
Lucilion suddenly stopped speaking, looked at me, and pursed his lips.
"I'm sorry, but I... I just wanted to tell you that the fact that I'm always smiling doesn't mean I'm happy."
Lucilion smiled as usual. Today, it seemed like a slightly awkward smile.
"I'll come to visit you in a week. Eirin."
Lucilion slowly turned around.
"Me!"
Just before Lucilion opened the terrace door and left, I braced myself and opened my mouth with all my strength.
Lucilion stopped and turned around.
"This time... I'll come looking for you."
"...Eirin?"
"Because Lucilion always comes to visit. I'll come to see you when I have an answer."
Lucilion's eyes opened a little and then narrowed a bit. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Yes, I'll be waiting."
"Yes, I'll think it over carefully before giving an answer."
"Yes."
"I...!"
My heart felt strange as I looked at Lucilion's expression, which suddenly brightened, and he smiled cheerfully. I've known he's handsome for a long time, but this is strange.
"I don't know where you're going, but be careful."
"I'll be back soon."
Lucilion soon left the terrace.
Only after he was out of sight did I sigh and lean against the railing.
"Really, it's embarrassing."
I had no idea that Lucilion, who was always so gentle, would say such a thing.
"What is love...?"
Is it even possible to form a relationship and become a family for a lifetime?
"Forever...?"
Is that even possible?
"Eirin?"
I was leaning on the railing for a while, and when I heard a voice, I raised my head, and before I knew it, my father had entered the terrace and was approaching me.
"What's wrong? What happened? You seem to have a fever; we should go home..."
"Dad."
"Yes, daughter. Also, what is that special thing...?"
"I was proposed to."
Crack!
The wine glass in my father's hand shattered, and the wine soaked the floor as if it were blood.
"Dad will kill him."
"Oh no, it's not...!"
Dad turned around.
I quickly clung to my father's arm.
"Dad...!"
It was no secret that it took a long time to keep my father from going crazy.
* * *
"Ha..."
After the banquet, I returned to my room, lay down on the bed, and a white light appeared in the air.
Suddenly, I remembered a ring of light that was like a ring surrounding the back of my hand, and my shoulders shook.
As I jumped out of my seat, an innocent face suddenly appeared through the light.
"Hello, darling."
"Ah... Arma-nim."
"What's with that disappointed face?! I came to give you a gift, but that's too much!"
"A gift...?"
As I blinked, Arma smiled cheerfully.
"I said before that I caught and killed the Star Guardian, right?"
"Yes... that's right."
"And I told you that I'd give you a gift."
"Ah..."
Is this an extension of what happened in the past when Lucilion interfered in Cha Miso's world at a cost?
"Today, you'll dream."
"If it's a dream..."
"This is probably the happiest dream you've ever had. Congratulations on settling in safely, sweetheart."
A halo of pure white light slowly enveloped my body. It was a very warm halo of light.
"So this is a birthday gift from me."
At the same time, I felt an unbearable drowsiness. It took a moment before my vision darkened.
