SOTBW - 157

Gwyneth’s room was quiet. The owner of the room had been away for a long time, staying at the cathedral, but everything was neatly in place.

Belshua sat on the worn-out leather armchair, positioned to face the window. The faint scenery outside was dimly visible through the thin curtains, with the winter sunlight streaming in.

Rakhshu had likely looked out of this window as well. The will of humans embedded in objects or spaces cannot travel far. If the sacred relics had remained in Gwyneth’s quarters, Rakhshu would have been bound here as well.

Belshua quietly placed a card, worn at the corners from frequent use, on the table. From behind the door, the faint sound of the maids’ laughter could be heard. They were collecting the laundry left outside by the knights.

The knights who had returned from the field would fall into a deep sleep until the noisy bell rang to announce lunchtime. Always exhausted, they fell into such a deep slumber that they couldn’t hear anyone shouting in the hallway. Therefore, they would not know that Belshua had left the room or snuck into Gwyneth’s quarters.

Belshua, having removed his gloves, placed his hands on his lower abdomen and leaned deeply against the backrest of the chair. The room smelled faintly of dust and incense.

Belshua’s mind drifted to the memory of Rakhshu’s sword being hidden under the bed.

When he had forced out the sealed magical power to save Najane, it was here that Gwyneth had helped him. At the time, Belshua had thought he had managed to suppress the agonizing pain from rotting flesh with a rudimentary healing spell, but looking back, it seemed impossible.

The Dragon Lord’s curse was incredibly powerful. That’s why Belshua had never dared to use magic while living as Mahilen. He should have been suspicious when he resolved such a powerful curse with a childlike healing spell...

Belshua sighed deeply, covering his eyes with his palm.

The sunlight, filtering through the curtain, made the room strangely bright yet dim at the same time. With his hand hanging limply below the armrest, Belshua turned his gaze back to the window.

As the light from the window filtered through the dust slowly floating inside, the curtain and window frame swayed with the drafts, causing the reflected scenery to wobble.

A large cloud passed over the knight’s quarters, and the sunlight that had filled the window faded, leaving the room gently darkened.

Belshua focused on the old wooden floor, and through the break in the clouds, he saw two legs gradually appear in the sunlight.

Those black leather boots… He remembered the time when he had fought alongside Aron, unwilling to cooperate, and had been knocked unconscious by a strike to the chin with those very boots.

As Belshua recalled the past, a small, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips, which gradually turned into a lonely expression.

At that time, Emaydis had been by his side.

They had always thought they’d be together…

The woman’s legs swung playfully under the window, and as her gaze rose to her ankles, her vivid red hair, falling to her chest, filled Belshua’s vision.

Belshua slowly met Rakhshu’s eyes. Despite the muted green hue, Rakhshu’s eyes held a clear, serene quality.

Belshua… no, Mahilen, gazed up at Rakhshu with radiant golden eyes.

Rakhshu, resting his chin in his palm, smiled gently.

“It’s been a long time, Mahilen.”

Rakhshu’s voice was exactly as Belshua remembered it.

Sitting by the window, Rakhshu elegantly descended and stood opposite Mahilen. Mahilen, who had never imagined meeting Rakhshu again, gazed at the former princess with surprised eyes before his gaze dropped to the place where he had set the card.

“Has it really been almost two thousand years since that day?”

Rakhshu, sitting on the sofa, arrogantly crossed his legs.

Mahilen responded in a calm voice.

“Exactly two thousand, one hundred and forty years.”

“Good grief, you’re still so precise when it comes to numbers. I expected you to start crying the moment you saw me, but I’m very disappointed.”

At Rakhshu’s playful remark, Mahilen chuckled softly, as though in disbelief.

“Since when were you bound to that sword?”

“Well, probably right after I died... I’m not really sure. I just woke up like this.”

Rakhshu shrugged.

Mahilen ran his hand over his face and let out a sigh.

“I had no idea you left behind a will. If I had known….”

“If I had known that my will was embedded in this sword, would you have been less lonely?”

Rakhshu posed the question to Mahilen and then answered it himself.

“No. You would have been just as lonely and anxious. The Mahilen I know was always like that. You were a huge bundle of affection deprivation, weren’t you? Well… you seem better now than back then, but I’m willing to bet it’s not because you’ve improved but because you’ve given up.”

Rakhshu’s tone carried a hint of sympathy. Mahilen remained silent as he picked up the card. He knew exactly why Rakhshu was saying such things, so he responded with silence.

Mahilen had always known that all dragons eventually consumed their magical powers to sustain the world, and that there was nothing they could do to prevent it.

For a dragon to survive, only luck mattered. And so, Mahilen desperately sought the reason and meaning behind his birth.

He thought that if he met a god, he would receive an answer, so he forced himself to the edge of the universe, entering the boundary of reincarnation. But there was nothing there. No god to provide answers, no reason…

A dragon ceases to exist when it is destroyed. There is no trace left—no skin, no bones, nothing. Dragons needed something to remember that they had once existed in this world: a lover, a family, a friend, a child, or a disciple.

Some dragons left behind their names by supporting artists with their vast treasures. Others built orphanages and passed on their names to thousands of children. Some dragons, who took human form and became infamous for their womanizing ways, left behind a legacy, while others became mythical protectors of the weak.

And rarely, there were dragons who loved one human so purely that, after their lover’s death, they chose to cease to exist. These stories were often adapted into novels, poetry, and plays.

Dragons who obsessed over love were rare. Dragons did not see humans as equals. But Mahilen loved Emaydis. Since the moment Emaydis was born until the moment he passed, Mahilen shared every moment with him. And so, Mahilen’s love was excruciatingly lonely and anxious.

There were times when Mahilen wanted to kill Saintes, but he couldn’t. If Saintes disappeared, Emaydis would certainly suffer. Mahilen didn’t want to cause Emaydis any sorrow.

It was all because of love.

After being sealed in a human body, Mahilen lived only for one person.

Emaydis.

Emaydis….

Only for Emaydis….

Emaydis considered Mahilen to be family. The most precious family in the world. A brother who should be loved and cherished as much as Saintes.

So, even if Mahilen had known that Rakhshu left behind a will, even if he had wandered with Rakhshu’s sword, there would no longer be anyone to comfort his loneliness. In the end, Mahilen would have still been alone.

Rakhshu’s words came from knowing the true nature of Mahilen’s hidden heart. Rakhshu was the first to notice Mahilen’s feelings for Emaydis.

“Set the stage, Mahilen. Let’s play a card game. If you win, I’ll help you confess to the adorable Emaydis, even though I’ll feel sorry for Saintes. But if you lose to me… you’ll have to keep that heart hidden for the rest of your life.”

Mahilen, having shuffled the cards, placed one down and stared at Rakhshu.

That day, Mahilen lost to Rakhshu. He had thought he was adept at reading human psychology, but he lost completely.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of ruining his relationship with Emaydis. Rakhshu was the master of card games. Mahilen had never won against Rakhshu while staying with Astrun.

“Was it you who fixed my arm?”

Mahilen, setting down his stack of cards, asked Rakhshu casually. Rakhshu, who had been checking his hand, smiled as if he couldn’t believe it.

“What? You only just figured that out? My, you’ve become so oblivious compared to before. At this rate, you won’t even be able to imitate humans properly.”

Mahilen, stung by Rakhshu’s mockery, frowned.

“Why did you mention the gambling debt to Aron?”

“It’s true that I haven’t paid him back.”

“That’s because you…!”

Mahilen raised his voice in frustration, but Rakhshu laughed heartily and waved his hand dismissively.

“Alright, alright, calm down, Mahilen. Let’s not fight over something that happened two thousand years ago. Don’t you think it’s better to focus on the card game now? You’re 900 matches, 0 wins, and 900 losses against me.”

“899 matches, 0 wins, and 899 losses.”

Mahilen raised an eyebrow and corrected the number.

Rakhshu chuckled and revealed one card from his hand.

“Well then, looks like you’ll finally reach 900 losses this time. I’ll console you in advance.”

The first card Rakhshu revealed was the King of Hearts. Mahilen pulled out the Jack of Clubs.

Mahilen, holding the deck of cards, placed one card down in front of Rakhshu. It was another King. Rakhshu silently cheered and whispered, “One pair!”

Mahilen clicked his tongue and laid his card down.

“Are Maximón and Najane still happily dating like before?”

Rakhshu hummed a tune as he asked.

“Probably.”

Mahilen’s voice was a little gruff. Rakhshu held the deck and dealt the next round. Mahilen got the Jack, and Rakhshu got the Ace. Now, Mahilen had another pair.

Rakhshu, having laid down his cards, looked down at the revealed cards with a sly grin.

“I’ve been wanting to ask you something when I saw you.”

“What?”

“Why didn’t Najane fall in love with Maximón at first sight?”

“What does that matter?”

Rakhshu, listening to Mahilen’s indifferent response, dealt the next hand. Mahilen got the Jack again, and Rakhshu got the Nine. Mahilen now had a triple.

Rakhshu, sitting sideways on the sofa, smiled meaningfully. As Mahilen was about to check the laid-out cards, he saw Rakhshu’s smile and made a slight uneasy expression before stopping.

Rakhshu had asked why Najane didn’t fall in love with Maximón at first sight. However, Mahilen didn’t explain that Najane was Emaydis and Maximón was Saintes.

Mahilen’s expression darkened.

“…How do you know those two?”

“Looks like you’ve become a lot more oblivious. You should have caught on as soon as I mentioned it.”

Rakhshu smirked and gestured with his chin for Mahilen to continue dealing the cards. Mahilen, with a displeased look, stared at Rakhshu and, following the rules, added one card to each of their hands.

Rakhshu got the 3, and Mahilen got the 8. Neither of them had matching suits.

Rakhshu, with a frustrated look, rubbed his chin and continued speaking.

“A few years ago, I met Mackanon.”