Proof of Being a Dragon
“…?”
When I looked up, he had a distant expression on his face, as if recalling the past with narrowed eyes.
The moment we met must be what he was remembering.
“When I first met you, to be honest, I thought you were going to be a nuisance. Even if someone is full of enthusiasm, lacking in skill turns that into a liability.”
“……”
He’s as blunt as ever.
I forgot the earlier conversation for a moment, and my face stiffened.
In other words, he’s saying an eager incompetent is just baggage.
He’s not wrong. I understand that. But still, he could be a bit more tactful.
Ignoring my frozen reaction, Lord Runken continued speaking dispassionately, as if recounting a memory.
“I thought that if I acted a little cold, you’d give up right away. Noblewomen tend to be arrogant—pardon me, prideful. So I assumed that if I implied you were useless, your pride would be wounded and you’d go home.”
“…… Sorry for being so persistent.”
Remembering that time really is embarrassing—truly a dark chapter of my past. I don’t want to think too deeply about it.
Enthusiastic but utterly useless—a complete rookie. That was exactly me.
I averted my eyes out of discomfort and sensed that he was smiling.
When I looked up, Lord Runken was chuckling softly.
He always maintains a composed expression, so seeing his cheeks relaxed in a smile was a rare sight.
Caught staring, he seemed to notice my gaze.
He stopped smiling and looked directly at me.
His honey-colored eyes seemed oddly gentle, making me feel restless.
“… Even though I pushed you away, acted coldly, and tried to drive you off—you didn’t give up. Seeing that, I began to change my mind.”
It’s hard to tell if that’s a compliment or not.
(Should I take that as praise…?)
While I was still wondering, he continued.
“You always did your best, never allowed yourself to slack, and always tried to be fair to both yourself and others. You prioritized righteousness over your own happiness and tried to embody your ideals. Watching you, I…”
He stopped speaking mid-sentence.
When I looked at him, urging him to continue, he tilted his head and smiled.
“Somewhere along the way, I began to want to make you happy.”
“Wha…”
“Though I only realized it recently—when we spoke in Nympée. You’re far too indifferent to your own happiness. If you won’t treasure yourself, then I want to treasure you instead.”
“──”
At that moment, I didn’t know how to respond.
I’ve never been good with romance. The only person I’ve ever fallen in love with (a cringe-worthy memory) was that man—Brian.
My romantic sense is practically nonexistent. I’m entirely unequipped for this.
My face flared with heat, as if it had been set ablaze.
(B-Because…!!)
I frantically muttered excuses in my head.
I mean, who would ever expect Lord Runken, of all people, to say something so passionate!?
It was so embarrassing I wanted to cover my face and flee.
As I looked away in panic, Lord Runken gave a wry smile.
“I’d like to say you don’t need to answer right away, but given the situation, I can’t. Could you give me your answer within a month?”
A month—
His coronation is scheduled for next month, so that’s the deadline.
“… All right.”
When I nodded, Lord Runken visibly relaxed.
“Please don’t make your decision based on duty or obligation. Forget status and titles. Right now, I want you to prioritize your own feelings.”
That was just like him.
Smiling wryly, I looked up.
“… What will you do if I refuse?”
Even if I did turn him down, I’m sure he’d handle it tactfully, ensuring neither side suffered any inconvenience. I’d just seen how thorough he could be.
That’s what I thought. But what he said next caught me completely off guard.
“If that happens—well, I’m not sure I could give up. This is the first time I’ve ever felt this way.”
“… Eh.”
Then, I felt something brush against my cheek.
His palm had touched my skin.
“──”
(He… he touched me—)
Even though it was the lightest touch, I was so startled that my shoulders jumped.
He withdrew his hand almost immediately.
I instinctively wanted to cover my cheek with my hand.
(Wh-What was that!? What just happened……!!!)
Thank goodness it was night.
I was sure my face had turned impossibly red.
Even though it was just a brief touch—it felt like it meant something else entirely.
There was a hidden message in it, and my chest throbbed like rippling waves.
He didn’t seem inclined to explain, either. Lord Runken simply smiled in mild embarrassment.
“… Well then, until next time.”
“… Y-Yes.”
Still flustered, I managed to nod.
Asking “What was that just now?” would’ve been… probably tactless.
We would likely part ways here.
That’s what I thought—until he turned to leave, then suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“… Is something wrong?”
Still wary from the earlier contact, I asked.
Looking like he had just remembered something, he spoke again.
“There is something I want to tell you.”
“What is it?”
This time, it must be about business.
Come to think of it, we still hadn’t discussed what to do about Nympée.
As I considered that, Lord Runken silently rolled up his shirt sleeve.
“What are you…”
Doing? I wondered, watching him.
Under his shirt, pale skin appeared—and I gasped.
What I saw on the outside of his arm were… scales.
“This…”
Continuing where my voice trailed off, Lord Runken nodded.
“These are dragon scales. They’re also proof that I am a dragon.”
“So clear…”
I couldn’t help but stare.
From about the elbow down, his skin was no longer human—it had turned into animal-like scales.
After showing me, he rolled the sleeve back down.
Once covered, the evidence that he was a dragon disappeared completely.
“… It seems I’m a throwback; my dragon blood is strong. You may already know, but both of my former fiancées suffered mental breakdowns.”
“Ah…”
“The cause of their breakdowns… was me.”
Lord Runken declared this with certainty.
What do you think about this chapter?
