Throughout history, the royal family took medicine to mitigate the dragon’s curse during the Ruby Moon.
However, due to Raynous being particularly afflicted by the dragon’s curse, he took medicine regularly and endured the Ruby Moon period in a specially designed room.
This time, during the festival, an unexpected incident led him outside, and he turned into a dragon.
‘Tirielle managed to calm it with her powers.’
Tirielle, who saved people’s lives, became an instant star.
Following this episode, the opposition to Tirielle, questioning how a bastard could be paired with the Crown Prince despite her purification abilities, vanished.
‘I didn’t want to make Tirielle a star.’
Why did Raynous come outside?
I tried to recall the original story, but it wasn’t a significant part, so I couldn’t remember well.
The Ruby Moon festival episode was meant to highlight Tirielle.
Come to think of it.
‘Why am I struggling alone?’
Isn’t the person involved right in front of me?
I decided to ask him directly.
“Your Highness, do you have any reason to leave the palace during the festival?”
“Why?”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t, since it’s difficult for you.”
“A day or two should be fine.”
As he fluttered his golden eyelashes and softly closed his eyes, a charming and beautiful smile formed.
Oh.
He looked like a man about to ask for a date, so I quickly averted my gaze to avoid temptation.
“We can date later.”
“The festival has a different vibe.”
“You might, um, not feel well.”
“I’ll make sure you don’t have to worry.”
He spoke with a bright smile, showing no signs of backing down easily.
As I held the cold teacup in both hands, pondering how to persuade him, I decided to be honest.
“I’m actually a bit worried. While I’m sure you’ll manage well, if things go awry, you’ll need Tirielle’s help, and then…”
“Ah.”
Raynous, seemingly understanding my concern, nodded with a sound of realization.
Then, with a slightly softer smile, he continued.
“I’ll never need to ask for her help. So you don’t need to worry.”
His voice was full of confidence.
Knowing the future, I was still uneasy, but with his assurance, I had nothing more to say.
If anyone knew the disaster of turning into a dragon, it was him. He must have a plan. The situation was different since he was going out with me instead of following the original story.
However, it didn’t take long to realize that thought was wrong.
“Lady Labyrinth, what kind of animal is this lizard-like creature?”
“It’s a pet from another country. It’s a rare species. You wouldn’t know even if I told you.”
“I see, how cute. What’s its name?”
“Uh… Beep?”
―Beeeep…!
It didn’t take long.
*** *** *** *** ***
The summer Ruby Moon festival was adorned with brilliant flowers.
Hydrangeas, lavender, marigolds, gladiolus, everywhere in the capital was filled with rich floral fragrances.
The tightly packed buildings around the central plaza, the cherub fountain at its center, and even the benches where couples sat closely together chatting were all decorated with colorful flowers.
Today was the first day of the long-awaited Ruby Moon festival. Perhaps that’s why everywhere was crowded with people.
‘Sigh.’
Being in such a noisy place drained my energy. A homebody like me should enjoy festivals from home.
As I was sighing and kicking the ground absently.
“My Lady.”
A soft voice called out as a dark shadow fell before me.
I reflexively looked up from the ground. And for a moment, I was speechless.
‘Wow.’
Even homebodies should come out occasionally.
Today’s Raynous was truly dazzling. His golden hair sparkled more than usual, his languid eyes, and the sophisticated ivory ceremonial dress that seemed prepared for this day.
If beauty incarnate were to descend upon the world, it would surely be Raynous.
I wasn’t the only one who thought so, as I could feel others stealing glances. Regardless, Raynous smiled brightly, looking only at me.
Ugh, my eyes.
“Did you wait long?”
“No, I just arrived too.”
I answered with narrowed eyes, trying to protect my precious eyesight.
When Raynous offered to escort me, I was about to take his arm when I remembered something and started with an ‘Ah.’
“I have something for you. I’ll give it to you now before I forget.”
I took out a small box from my picnic basket and handed it to Raynous.
“This is…?”
Raynous, surprised by the sudden gift, opened the box slightly wide-eyed. Inside was a white handkerchief with worn and frayed gold embroidery.
“It’s to thank you for the bracelet. Um, I wanted to make it prettier, but I ran out of time.”
May could embroider so beautifully, but why were my hands like this? Was I cursed?
Handkerchief No. 1 turned red from too much blood, No. 2 got dirty from constant handling and was thrown away, No. 3’s gold thread turned black…
I’ll say nothing more except that this was about No. 10.
Please understand this was my best effort. Though hidden by gloves now, my hands were covered in wounds.
“If Tirielle starts clinging to you, casually take this out.”
It was my special measure since rumors had been circulating at Lema Salon about Tirielle becoming the future Crown Princess.
Showing something clearly made by a woman might help ward off Tirielle’s advances.
“……”
Raynous, his face flushed, just stared intently at the handkerchief without speaking. I thought I glimpsed tears in his eyes.
‘Surely he’s not so angry about receiving such a shabby gift that he’s crying.’
I gave it to him believing he wasn’t that kind of person.
Worried, I added.
“You can throw it away if you don’t need it.”
“I’ll treasure it as a national treasure.”
“No, that’s a bit…”
As expected of the Crown Prince, even his jokes were imperial-grade.
“I really don’t mind if you throw it away when the contract ends. We can’t have other ladies getting jealous.”
“We can keep meeting after the contract.”
“That would work.”
I took his suggestion of continuing to meet as a joke and gently placed my hand on his arm. It was time to move along.
Raynous escorted me while carefully tucking away the handkerchief as if handling a national treasure.
Today’s first date destination was a performance at the exhibition hall.
It was a limited time show for the Ruby Moon festival, about how five heroes defeated a mad evil dragon.
‘Hmm, just like the original.’
Except for one detail about why the dragon, known as the embodiment of wisdom, went mad and became evil, everything was exactly as I knew it.
The evil dragon had a woman he loved.
She was a villainess who, knowing the dragon’s love for her, tried to use it to conquer the world.
The humans who opposed her succeeded in killing her.
The dragon, having lost his woman, went mad and razed the entire continent, starting with the kingdom where she was born.
Just before meeting his death at the hands of the five heroes.
He cursed the soul of their leader, Arzentime, implanting his consciousness, dreaming of resurrection to complete his beloved’s revenge.
‘Impressive.’
If that story was true, it meant the dragon loved the villainess for a thousand years, even in death.
Though it seemed like a legend, since dragons were a species incapable of forgetting, it was likely true.
‘I’m a bit envious.’
Receiving such blind devotion could drive anyone mad. If she’d been a bit wiser, she could have lived in luxury.
‘If it were me, I would have asked for something else.’
Like touring the continent, for instance.
Taking a plane abroad was my dream. Though I’d given up on it living paycheck to paycheck, with a dragon, continent-hopping would be possible.
‘I’d ask to ride on its back.’
Not too high or I’d freeze, not too fast or I’d miss the scenery, I’d ask to fly slowly at a lower altitude.
I was lost in thought instead of watching the show.
Since I knew the content and it was mostly royal praise, it was incredibly boring.
Eventually, I started nodding off.
“My Lady!”
Just before rolling off the chair, Raynous quickly caught me.
Gasp! I hastily wiped my mouth.
“Lean on me and sleep.”
“I wasn’t sleeping.”
We were seated in a box. When Raynous tried to draw the curtains as if telling me to sleep properly, I shook my head.
“I was just exercising. My body was stiff.”
I smiled pretending to stretch, and as soon as Raynous looked away, I pinched the back of my hand with my nails and widened my eyes.
Don’t sleep, Siella. Don’t sleep…
The performance had reached its middle, showing the birth of the five heroes.
Five heroes with different personalities and abilities gathered to save the world.
They went to the Northern end to kiss the evil dragon… no, to fight… no, that’s not it… Ku…
“Lean on me and sleep.”
Raynous gently caught my falling forehead.
Gasp! I jerked my head up, wiped my mouth, and brazenly said.
“I wasn’t sleeping. I was just meditating.”
“Okay, I understand. Lean on me and meditate.”
Raynous casually spoke and half-forced me to lean on his shoulder.
Ah, I really wasn’t sleeping. I was just meditating with my eyes closed. As I squirmed in embarrassment, within 10 seconds, I drifted into meditation, no, sleep on Raynous’s shoulder.
And not long after, I woke up shouting loudly.
“Ah, really! Stop kissing me, you pervert dragon!”
I’d just escaped from a dream where a golden dragon was openly courting me, promising to take me on a hundred continental tours if I’d marry him.
As I was fuming with a red face from the dragon’s embarrassing actions, I felt an intense gaze from above.
I reflexively looked up.
And met eyes with Raynous, who had been pressing his lips against the back of my hand while I slept.
“……”
Like someone who’d received a great shock, his complexion was deathly pale. His golden eyes were trembling severely.
After a moment of silence, he quietly put down my hand. Then, avoiding my eyes, he apologized in a trembling voice.
“I’m sorry for being a pervert who likes kisses…”
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