Chapter 117

Chapter 117

Translator: Yonnee

—

I’m sure he already knows. And he probably already solidified his resolve from the moment he let me cook. While I was choosing the right words for my explanation, he was also choosing the right words to persuade me.

The book he was reading when I first entered the dining hall was testament enough.

I looked squarely at him. His eyes, which were like the red sunset, reminded me of a sturdy, old tree that wouldn’t be shaken even by a strong gust of wind.

“If you’ve spent this much time thinking, then surely, you came up with a good explanation. I don’t know if you can convince me though.”

“……”

“Try and explain then.”

He spoke his command with the characteristic expression of a haughty monarch. As if he already read me entirely.

It’s true that Albert was able to read me quite well. Still, that didn’t mean that he knew everything about me. As a matter of fact, the closer people were to each other, the more they had to be careful of any preconceived biases.

“I went through the disaster, Prince.”

I spoke calmly. He must have already heard about the nature of Alexander’s disaster from Mercy.

So inevitably, Albert wasn’t surprised. The calm gaze that met my own was unwavering.

“Then you should know better. You’ve already experienced how painful it is to become a contractor.”

He went on to utter the statement as though he’s absolutely right. But no, he didn’t know—he didn’t know what kind of nightmare I went through.

I shook my head slowly.

“Prince, what I saw there was Blanc’s death.”

And it was only then that agitation could be seen on his countenance. He was like an immovable mountain just now, but he soon narrowed his brows. Then, he looked at me perplexedly.

“It was Blanc’s birthday and I watched him die painfully. I didn’t do anything, and all I felt in that moment was regret.”

“How long has it been since you first met?”

“It’s the same for me and you as well, Prince.”

“Dragons and humans are different, Rosé. The period of living, the way of life.”

“Prince, I can’t just watch and let Blanc suffer.”

I paused for a moment. I couldn’t bear to look him in the eyes while explaining this. I lowered my gaze and spoke in a whisper.

“I can’t just let my loved ones disappear, not anymore.”

“……”

“Because I sent off my family in the same way.”

I wondered what kind of expression he was making. This was the first time I’m confessing something from my past.

I raised my head slightly. Albert’s expression was difficult to read. I couldn’t even tell if he had erased his expression on purpose or not.

“To me, that’s the greatest pain.”

From the light of the chandelier overhead, a shadow sank around his eyes. He looked terribly exhausted. Pressing down on his eyelids, he blurted out the words as though he forced them out.

“You can’t.”

With that, I had a sudden thought that it wouldn’t be impossible to convince him.

“Rosé, this is suicide. Do you think you can save that dragon fledgling just by entering a contract?”

Albert must have thought the same way, seeing as he immediately tried to reason it out.

“At least if I enter the contract, the probability of Blanc surviving will increase. I’ll do my best to survive and become the contractor of a full-fledged dragon.”

“You’re being idealistic. I also hope that it works out as you say, but do you think that simply having the will to achieve that will make it happen?”

Albert cynically threw the sarcastic remark. Beneath the shadow that slanted obliquely upon his brow, his eyes flashed coldly.

Still as ever, the tone of his voice was graceful, but his words lashed out the truth like a whip.

I know. Me, too. I know it well enough.

“Even so, that’s why I’m here to talk to you about it. Like I said, I can’t just let Blanc die. Maybe before, when I didn’t know him yet, but I can’t turn a blind eye now.”

If Blanc had been sent away from the tower as soon as he took just one step inside, the story might have turned out different.

But that didn’t happen. I let the dragon inside. And that stemmed from the fact that I was a fool who didn’t want to give all of my heart to Albert.

The atmosphere was tense between the both of us. Neither side was willing to back down. I would have compromised with him normally, but I had no intention to do that now.

Albert looked at me.

Before I knew it, Albert went around the table and stood right in front of me.

As he looked at me with his head down, with his furrowed brows meeting in the middle, he still looked so picturesque. Was there ever a moment that he wasn’t beautiful?

Trapped between his arms at either side of me on the chair, Albert stared at me. No— it seemed as if he was staring at me, but his eyes weren’t on me.

“I thought you’d be attached to me, like a fool.”

“……”

“I can blame only myself. I should have killed that dragon when it first crawled into the tower. Then it wouldn’t have this much influence on you.”

“……”

As his eyes lost focus, they were terrifying. I was someone from modern society, so he and I had completely different moral codes. The difference between me and him suddenly became all too real.

Albert Grey was the kind of man who did not hesitate to kill.

Albert didn’t hide the murderous intent in his eyes. As if he was deliberately letting me know.

Chills ran down my spine.